Lin Xian took the painting and folded it back into his black notebook.

He secretly resolved to throw it away as soon as he left; this scourge couldn't be kept...

However, Chu Anqing was genuinely easy to get along with, down-to-earth and unpretentious, and very considerate and understanding. Lin Xian gave her personality a score of 100 in his heart.

She saw him making a fool of himself and took the initiative to help him out; moreover, even after helping him out, she didn't show any narcissism and even gave him a way to save face...

Lin Xian was really envious that Chu Shanhe had such a caring daughter. He wondered if he would have one in the future.

"Then... can you sign my Rhein Cat?"

Chu Anqing giggled and handed over a Rhein Cat doll:

"This bun-haired qipao Rhein Cat is my favorite. Maybe after you become a globally popular designer, this autographed cat of mine will increase in value!"

"But I definitely won't sell it. I feel that a Rhein Cat with the founder's signature is very memorable."

"Of course."

Lin Xian took the Rhein Cat, pinched the cloth tag, and signed his name on it:

"Seriously... this is the first time I've signed a Rhein Cat."

Lin Xian smiled as he signed:

"No one has ever asked me to sign a Rhein Cat before. You're the first. Everyone usually just likes the cats and doesn't care who designed them."

"Really? Then can you write 'No. 1' on it? Hee hee, that would be even more meaningful!"

"No problem."

Lin Xian felt that his mood improved when he was with this little ray of sunshine.

He pinched the cloth tag and wrote a small "No. 1" under his signature, representing the first autograph of his life.

But he didn't think there would be a second.

Product designs are different from novels. Apart from industry insiders, few people pay special attention to the creators.

Even with a strong brand like Hello Kitty, few people know that the designer is Yuko Shimizu, and even fewer know that the IP image belongs to Sanrio.

"Okay, here you go."

Lin Xian returned the Rhein Cat doll to Chu Anqing.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Chu Anqing accepted the Rhein Cat and waved to Lin Xian:

"I'm leaving now."

"Take care."

Waving goodbye to this ray of sunshine, Lin Xian sighed softly.

Thank goodness.

He almost experienced the Waterloo of his life.

If she were a spoiled young lady who went back and complained to Chu Shanhe, saying that he was a toad trying to eat swan meat and secretly in love with her, that would be terrible!

In comparison,

Chu Anqing had a good temper, was easy to communicate with, and was reasonable.

"Chu Shanhe raised his daughter really well," Lin Xian sincerely acknowledged.

At the celebration banquet, after seeing that Chu Anqing and CC looked exactly the same, Lin Xian had imagined a possibility—

Could it be that one day, the hibernation pod was successfully developed, and Chu Anqing hibernated to 600 years later and became CC?

At first, when Lin Xian analyzed it, he denied this idea.

Because in the future world of "First Dream," the hibernation pod had not been successfully developed. Even the hibernation pod filling liquid was only developed in 2477 or 2200. Where would Chu Anqing go to sit in a hibernation pod?

And there was one more thing that didn't make sense.

Even if the hibernation pod could be successfully developed, that would be a few years later.

Perhaps by the time Chu Anqing could sleep in a hibernation pod, she would already be in her twenties or even close to thirty. She couldn't possibly become younger again in the future, right?

Not to mention, why would someone in good health go into a hibernation pod for no reason?

There was also the risk of amnesia, and she would have to separate from her family. Chu Shanhe wouldn't want that either.

But...

Later, Xu Yun told him that the side effect of the hibernation pod was varying degrees of amnesia.

Lin Xian didn't know what form this amnesia took, but CC also said that she had many memories in her mind that didn't belong to her.

Combining these two things...

Lin Xian found it difficult to judge whether there was any connection at all.

After all, CC's description was also very vague. How should one understand memories that didn't belong to her?

Memory fragments were not connected. How exactly were they not connected?

She said that although her memories didn't belong to her, they were still the life she lived. Then, if understood in terms of parallel universes... what kind of parallel universes would they be?

Currently, it seemed that there were still no clues about the mysteries surrounding CC and Chu Anqing.

"Does CC... still exist?"

Lin Xian suddenly thought of this question.

After the change in space-time, the dream world changed greatly, and everyone's fate changed, naturally including CC.

In this future world...

Where is CC?

Is she still stubbornly opening that safe?

Perhaps, does that safe even exist?

"That's hard to say."

Lin Xian shook his head, feeling that fate was really a magical thing.

Some people are like karmic debts. Even if the world changes and the whole world is renewed, they can always stick to you like chewing gum, never abandoning you.

Like Big-Face Cat.

And some people, perhaps without realizing it, you have already seen the last side of their lives, but you have not yet noticed it.

Like CC.

Such a big world, such a big Donghai, and even a bigger and more sci-fi New Donghai City...

Lin Xian had no confidence that he could meet CC again.

"Unless, I also have a karmic debt with her."

...

After the lecture, the counselor insisted on arranging a time to have a couple of drinks with Lin Xian.

But Lin Xian politely declined.

Because tonight, in his dream, there was something more important to do—

[Find Big-Face Cat's father, ask him clearly what the Cosmic Constant is, and try to analyze the secrets of the Genius Club from it.]

Back home, he quickly washed up.

He looked at the time, 5:10 PM.

A little earlier than the last time he went to sleep to enter the dream.

But a little earlier was just right; it's always good to leave a little extra leeway.

Closing the curtains, Lin Xian got into bed.

He closed his eyes.

...

...

...

Without the familiar summer breeze and the harsh cicada chirping, Lin Xian was a little unaccustomed.

Because the surroundings were crowded with self-built small buildings, blocking the sunlight, the whole village exuded a coolness, which was quite comfortable.

Lin Xian opened his eyes...

He had successfully entered the dream and once again appeared in that rugged, crooked, crowded, and poor little village.

He looked at his watch.

17:32.

There were still about 10 minutes before the thief who robbed Grandma Li's handbag passed by here.

Lin Xian hid in a nearby alley, leaning against the brick wall.

He was waiting for the rabbit.

Waiting for the appearance of the "Three-Sword Style Master."

This was the fastest way to get in touch with Big-Face Cat.

Time passed by, minute by minute.

Finally.

"Catch—catch the thief! Catch... catch... the thief!"

Grandma Li's panting voice came from outside the alley.

Lin Xian moved his wrist:

"You're finally here... Roronoa Zoro!"