Yu Hanjiang and Xiao Lou had just started their jobs, and since there hadn't been any major criminal cases recently, they both had a relatively free week. Yu Hanjiang took Xiao Lou around Jiangzhou to familiarize themselves with the area. However, Yu Hanjiang drove Xiao Lou to work every morning, and Xiao Lou worried that their colleagues would become suspicious of their relationship after a while. So, Yu Hanjiang considerately made up an excuse, saying, " Xiao Lou lives just across the street from my house, so I'm picking him up on my way to work."
Since Captain Yu looked so upright and serious, his colleagues in the team naturally had no doubts about his explanation.
The two interacted like ordinary colleagues. Leveraging his extensive experience from the past three years, Yu Hanjiang quickly familiarized Xiao Lou with the Police Station. The workflow of a Forensic Doctor.
A week has passed in the blink of an eye.
As agreed, everyone met at the location Chu Huaying had booked after work on Friday.
She chose the Taekwondo training center run by her parents. To facilitate their secret exchange, the training center was completely cleared out, with no members present. Chu Huaying even meticulously locked the door from the inside. Two students, Liu Qiao and Ye Qi, somehow convinced their parents to come as well, along with everyone else from Jiangzhou.
Looking at the sandbag in the room and Chu Huaying's black sportswear, Lu Jiuchuan couldn't help but tease, " So Huaying studies Taekwondo. I knew it. Even if a girl's physical abilities are enhanced, she can't possibly be that agile."
Xiao Lou thinks that back in the real world, if it were a one-on-one fight, only Yu Hanjiang and Lu Jiuchuan could beat Chu Huaying. Everyone else would be taken down by this "kung fu" sister in no time.
Liu Qiao looked at her with admiration and asked, " Sister Ying, could you teach me a few self-defense techniques?"
Chu Huaying readily agreed, "No problem, you can come to me for private lessons whenever you have time."
She invited everyone to sit down in a lounge, poured a glass of water for each person, and then continued, "After all, we have come back from another world. My father has handed this training room over to me to manage. It is very secluded, so you don't have to worry about being overheard by anyone while you are chatting."
Shao Qingge smiled and gave a thumbs up. "Great! We can use this as our temporary base from now on. " Ye Qi excitedly said, "Our private gatherings are starting to feel more and more like a spy movie!"
They looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
Long-lost smiles; this was their first gathering since leaving Card World, a gathering free from the pressures of survival.
It's so great to be back with so many friends and to have so much in common.
Looking at Ye Qi, who is only 16 years old, Shao Qingge couldn't help but pat Ye Qi's head and say, "You were quite cute when you were little."
Ye Qi angrily retorted, "What do you mean by 'when I was little'? I'm not little anymore!"
Shao Qingge smiled enigmatically, "Where are you not small?"
Seeing that these two, who often bickered, were about to veer off-topic again, Yu Hanjiang immediately became serious and said, "The main reason I've gathered everyone here today is to discuss the Old Gui issue. What are your thoughts?"
Chu Huaying said, "I have Old Gui's detailed address, and Mr. Tang has also found out. Old Gui took a flight back to Jiangzhou last night. Should we visit him directly, or try to find his contact information and contact him gradually?" She looked at Yu Hanjiang, " Captain Yu is a Criminal Police Officer; finding someone's contact information should be easy for him, right?"
Yu Hanjiang nodded and placed the note with the phone number on it on the table. "These days, phone numbers are all registered under real names, so it's easy to find out his contact information. We can call him first to see what he's up to. However, after I found his number yesterday, I tried to add him as a WeChat friend, but I haven't been accepted. I think Old Gui probably doesn't remember us."
Xiao Lou paused, then turned to look at Yu Hanjiang. "You mean, Senior Gui didn't travel through time like us, and the Senior Gui we're about to face is the one from three years ago?"
Yu Hanjiang said, "His identity is Hunter. Just because we cleared the game doesn't mean he cleared it too. Returning to three years ago with his memories is Card World's reward for Challengers. Hunters probably won't receive the same reward."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qi couldn't help but scratch his head, puzzled, and said, "So, the old man has no memory of the next three years, nor any memory of Card World. He doesn't know any of us at all."
Yu Hanjiang nodded seriously. "That's right." The others exchanged bewildered glances.
But upon closer reflection, this ending might be the most reasonable one.
If the killer can retain their memories due to time reversal, then that's really unfair to the Challenger who worked so hard to complete the game.
For example, if ruthless hunters like Cheng Ziyang and Xu Muran were also reborn back in time with their memories intact after going back three years, wouldn't they constantly cause trouble for Xiao Lou and his friends?
Those who complete the game retain their memories and are reborn to change their fate; those who don't complete the game remain unchanged, and unless Xiao Lou and his friends deliberately rescue them, Xu Muran, Cheng Ziyang, and others will still die within three years.
But if Xiao Lou and his group had intervened in the events, these people might have been saved.
This is actually quite easy to verify.
Xiao Lou immediately looked at Liu Qiao, "Xiao Liu, does your sister remember Card World?"
Liu Qiao quickly replied, "Actually, I've been wanting to tell everyone about this for a while now. My sister doesn't remember anything. I've tested her many times, and she has no idea about the existence of Card World or anything that will happen in the next three years. The person I met must be my sister from three years ago."
Lu Jiuchuan frowned slightly. "So it seems Old Gui, like Liu Ying, is also a Hunter. We've pushed the timeline of this world forward by three years, but only our..."
The 11 players who completed the game possess the memories that followed.
Tang Ci said earnestly, "This is the greatest reward Card World gives to those who complete the game."
If they could go back three years and have the memories of the next three years, there would be so many things they could do.
For example, Liu Qiao might remember the exam paper three years from now, allowing him to work hard and get into a better university; Shao Qingge might remember the best-performing stock in the past three years, naturally leading to a booming company; Lu Jiuchuan might know the crisis he will face; Tang Ci might know the company's projects, saving him from many detours; Yu Hanjiang might even know the timing of criminal cases and the perpetrators in the next three years.
This is practically like giving them a "rebirth cheat code".
In fact, they should have discovered this a long time ago. Although everyone didn't know Old Gui's information, Old Gui knew CEO Shao and Xiao Lou's phone numbers very well. If Old Gui remembered everything about Card World, he would have called everyone immediately even if he wasn't in Jiangzhou City.
But until now, no one has received any message from Old Gui.
Having fought side by side for so long, Gui Yuanzhang's inability to remember his former comrades made everyone feel terrible. The room fell silent, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
After a moment, Xiao Lou took a deep breath and said softly, "Perhaps, when he chose to become a Hunter, he was already prepared to be completely wiped out. At least he's still alive now."
Lu Jiuchuan said seriously, "Yes, it's actually quite good to forget those bloody and cruel experiences and be a normal person. He's so old now, he should retire at home, play chess or go fishing every day, and enjoy his old age."
Enjoy your retirement.
Perhaps for Senior Gui, this ending is actually the best.
Tang Ci whispered a suggestion: "No matter what, we have to prevent him from dying of a heart attack. Don't mention Card World in front of him; he probably won't believe it anyway."
Xiao Lou agreed, "Even though he doesn't know us at all now, Senior Gui's personality hasn't changed. We can still gradually become friends with him, right?"
Hearing these words made everyone feel much better.
The elderly person has heart disease, so let's not upset him. It's better to let him enjoy his later years happily. The Card World experience was full of hardship, but also incredibly precious. Those who remember will remember for a lifetime; even those who don't can live a peaceful and stable life and die a good death.
They exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
Shao Qingge rubbed his temples and said, "In that case, we can't just rush up to find Old Gui. If so many strangers come knocking, it might scare Senior Gui into having a heart attack prematurely."
The crowd
In Gui's opinion, it was quite frightening that a group of random young people would suddenly show up at his door.
Yu Hanjiang suggested, "Since he doesn't know us, if we abruptly disturb him and ask him to get a heart checkup, he'll think we're crazy. So, let's find a way to get him out for a medical examination."
Shao Qingge thought for a moment and suddenly said, "This is easy. I know a lot of people in the business world, and some of them must know Old Gui's son. I will first approach Old Gui's son and take the initiative to instill the idea that the old man must have regular check-ups. I will send him a luxury package of full-body check-up at a private hospital in the name of my company and have him go back and give it to his father."
Xiao Lou said, "I know a cardiology expert who has a very good relationship with my mentor. I contacted Professor Sun in advance to help my senior with a comprehensive examination. If the coronary artery stenosis is not severe, we can intervene with medication in advance or place a stent to prevent a sudden myocardial infarction three years later."
Ye Qi couldn't help but applaud and cheer, "This method is quite roundabout. However, this way, the senior won't doubt our intentions, and he can also obediently go for the physical examination."
Old Mo chuckled and said, "I remember Hua Ying said that Old Gui's house is going to be renovated, right? I can do a few designs for him for free under the name of my studio, so that he can live more comfortably."
Long Sen scratched his head and said, "I don't think there's anything I can help with. Oh right, does he have a grandson? Does he like playing badminton or table tennis? I can teach him for free."
Qu Wanyue said, "I wonder if Old Gui has a granddaughter? If she wants to learn to dance, I can teach her for free."
Ye Qi excitedly exclaimed, "I can teach musical instruments!"
Liu Qiao: "I can tutor children in math, physics, and chemistry. My science grades have always been good."
The crowd
Are you guys planning to take over the livelihood of three generations of the Old Gui family?
However, working together to help Senior Gui felt like we were back in the days when we were all trying to find a way to clear the game. To everyone, Senior Gui was an integral part of the team. Even if he went back three years and didn't have those memories, they wouldn't abandon him. They just wanted to stay by their old friend's side in another way.
At this moment, Gui Yuanzhang, who had just finished dinner and felt a bit stuffy in his chest, suddenly sneezed three times in a row.
He rubbed his nose in confusion.
There's a saying that if someone sneezes repeatedly, it means someone is thinking about them.
Hmm, is someone thinking about him?