Chapter 1 Yan Qiaoqiao Wants to See Me... "Urgently"?

What exactly is going on?

Lin Xian remained silent, looking down at the space-time clock next to his laptop.

The numbers on it were stable, showing the space-time curvature of the current world line at -0.0000336, without a doubt.

The world line has changed.

The future historical development trajectory has also embarked on a new direction, a new path.

So... the age-old question.

Has the established fact that I would be decapitated on July 7th... been changed by this?

Actually, predicting my own death date is really difficult to do. Whether it was Angelica telling me the news of my death in the Fifth Dream or Turing honestly explaining these problems in the Sixth Dream, they were all telling me through someone else's mouth. Although Lin Xian didn't doubt the authenticity of this information... he was indeed in a very passive position, knowing almost nothing except for a date.

That includes now. Now that the world line has changed, will I still die on July 7th?

Looking at it positively, I've been saved. The assassination scheduled for July 7th has disappeared with the shift in the world line.

That would be great, and I wouldn't have to worry anymore.

But... what if we look at it negatively? Because of the change in the world line, the established history has also changed. The space-time assassin still beheads me, but the date isn't July 7th, but has been brought forward, killing me much earlier! This concern isn't unfounded. After all, the future development trajectory has changed, so all changes are reasonable, including my life and death. Could it be... Yan Qiaoqiao has recovered her memory ahead of time? Is she so eager to see me now to take my life? Lin Xian said quietly, without showing any emotion, "It's Qiaoqiao, what's wrong with her? Why does she suddenly want to see me? It's quite sudden for me."

"Hehe."

Zhao Yingjun chuckled on the phone, "This child has indeed grown up. You'll never guess what she wants to see you about."

"I really can't guess."

Lin Xian answered truthfully. It wasn't that he really couldn't guess, but the result he guessed was rather terrifying. "Has Yan Qiaoqiao been normal these past two days?"

Lin Xian asked, "For example, her physical changes, personality changes, etc. Has she suddenly become stronger, or suddenly become taciturn, or something like that?"

"No."

Zhao Yingjun was very surprised that Lin Xian would ask such a question, "Qiaoqiao has been quite normal these past few days, no different from usual. She said she wanted to see you this morning... Okay, I won't hide it from you."

On the other end of the phone.

Zhao Yingjun's voice was full of smiles, "Qiaoqiao... wants to give you a surprise."

Surprise.

Lin Xian smiled wryly when he heard this word.

What's called a surprise?

It should be a shock!

However.

Lin Xian still captured the subtle clues in Zhao Yingjun's words. To put it bluntly, what Lin Xian feared most was that Yan Qiaoqiao would suddenly regain her memory and then cause a big scene and betray him righteously.

But according to Zhao Yingjun, Yan Qiaoqiao hasn't had any abnormal changes these past few days. As two people who spend every day together.

If Yan Qiaoqiao really had anything wrong, Zhao Ying would definitely tell him as soon as possible.

That is to say... the current Yan Qiaoqiao has not recovered her memory as Lin Yuxi, so his head should be safe for the time being. Thinking of this logic, Lin Xian breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that the idea just now was too extreme.

At present, the most direct way to confirm whether there has been any change in the July 7th decapitation tragedy is to go to bed early and take a trip to the dream world, see what the Seventh Dream has become, and find a way to find information about his history inside.

But this is not a panacea.

It depends on whether he can still meet his acquaintances.

In short.

Since Zhao Yingjun clearly knows what surprise Yan Qiaoqiao has prepared for him, there is nothing to be nervous about. Just go to the appointment boldly.

Since the last time they parted ways on Children's Day, he hasn't seen Yan Qiaoqiao for half a month.

"Okay."

Lin Xian agreed directly, "It's not too early at this time, let's go directly to the restaurant."

"Since Qiaoqiao has prepared a surprise for me, then I'll treat her to dinner to thank her. Ask Qiaoqiao what she wants to eat, I'll book a restaurant and tell you, and we'll meet there."

After some remote negotiations, it was finally decided to eat hot pot.

Recalling the way the fake Yu Xi devoured food in the hot pot restaurant, Lin Xian really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Did hot pot become lost in the future world?

Why do all the time travelers like to eat hot pot so much?

Hanging up the phone.

Lin Xian packed up the things on the ground, looked at the Alpha business car and walked towards it. After putting it on the car seat and turning off the laptop, Lin Xian looked up at the driver, Xiao Li, "Let's go, to this hot pot restaurant."

At noon.

Lin Xian deliberately arrived a little late, looking inside through the transparent glass window of the hot pot restaurant, he could clearly see the figures of Zhao Yingjun and Yan Qiaoqiao.

This location was specially booked by him.

Close to the window, convenient for him to observe from the outside.

He squinted his eyes and looked at Yan Qiaoqiao for a while... Indeed, he didn't find anything unusual. Whether it was her eyes, expression, or demeanor, they were no different from before.

Her figure hasn't changed either, still so petite. No matter how you look at it, she is very different from the war god Lin Yuxi, not like the kind of violent killer who can cut off someone's neck... Lin Xian exhaled a long breath.

After all, it concerns his own life, it's always right to be careful. After confirming that it was safe, he walked towards the entrance of the hot pot restaurant, pushed the door open, and sat opposite Zhao Ying and Yan Qiaoqiao.

"Lin Xian, you're here."

Zhao Ying looked up at him and handed over the electronic menu on the table, "Qiaoqiao ordered a lot of meat, do you want to add something?"

"No need, no need."

Lin Xian's mind wasn't on this, "Just order directly, I just had breakfast not long ago, I'm not very hungry. Today I mainly came to see Qiaoqiao."

Turning his head.

He found Yan Qiaoqiao looking straight ahead, staring at the gradually boiling yin-yang pot, looking very expectant.

"Speaking of which,"

Lin Xian looked at the two of them, "What's the surprise? You've made me quite expectant."

Zhao Yingjun smiled mysteriously.

She stretched out her right hand and rubbed Yan Qiaoqiao's head, "Qiaoqiao, didn't you specially prepare for a long time yesterday, preparing to give it to Lin Xian today? Why are you embarrassed again now?"

"No."

Yan Qiaoqiao shook her head, staring at the hot pot, "I'm waiting for the meat."

Lin Xian and Zhao Yingjun looked at each other, both speechless, not knowing who she inherited this rice bucket constitution from.

But Yan Qiaoqiao was obviously also being stubborn, because after Zhao Yingjun opened the rhythm for her, she didn't stare at the hot pot anymore, but turned around, opened her small backpack, carefully took out the things inside, and then handed them to Lin Xian, "Brother Lin Xian, this is for you."

Lin Xian looked at what she handed over.

It was... a watercolor painting framed in a picture frame!

And it was still a watercolor painting with a not-low level. Although it didn't reach the professional level, it was definitely top-notch in the amateur level.

The entire picture depicted the upper body of a young man, frowning slightly and rubbing his chin.

Looking thoughtful.

This... isn't this himself!?

Lin Xian looked at this self-portrait and couldn't help but laugh, "Did you paint this? Did you, Qiaoqiao?"

Yan Qiaoqiao nodded, "Painted yesterday."

Lin Xian took the not-very-large picture frame, looked at the details carefully, and indeed painted it well. It was hard to imagine that this was painted by a beginner, "You painted this too well..."

Seeing this, Zhao Yingjun also chuckled, "Right? I was also quite surprised, I didn't expect Qiaoqiao to have such talent."

"It all started a few days ago. I took her to the park to play, and there were many stalls selling children's toys. She was quite interested, so we went to take a look."

"There were those DIY stalls, where they give you a stone statue and let you color it however you want, draw it however you want, just for kids to play with. I didn't think so much at the time, so since Qiaoqiao wanted to play, I bought her one and let her sit at the stall and draw randomly."

"As a result... it was completely beyond my expectations. Qiaoqiao's use of color and aesthetics is simply outstanding. She was obviously touching painting for the first time, but she used the brush and paint with ease and quickly painted the white stone toy well, and it was also painted vividly. At that time, the stall owner was shocked and asked me if this child usually had painting classes."

"Then Yan Qiaoqiao became obsessed with painting. She painted many stone statues at that stall, each one was painted perfectly, and the color matching was also great. She's simply a natural painter."

Speaking of this.

Zhao Yingjun looked up and gave Lin Xian a meaningful look, "Could this be considered heredity?"

Lin Xian was still admiring himself in the oil painting, analyzing, "Strictly speaking, painting skills belong to acquired skills. Acquired things can't be inherited. Otherwise, why are most artists' children no longer artists?"

Zhao Yingjun nodded thoughtfully, "What you said makes sense. I suddenly remembered that it seems that many great artists in history have no descendants."

"Beethoven, Da Vinci, Van Gogh... they all lived alone, had no children, and didn't pass on their talents and artistic cells."

"But you're quite lucky. At least..." She glanced at Yan Qiaoqiao, who was waiting earnestly for praise, and smiled, "At least the artistic cells have successors."

Lin Xian withdrew his gaze from the watercolor painting and looked at Yan Qiaoqiao, "So, this is the surprise you said you were going to give me? It's really a great work of art, I like it very much, thank you, Qiaoqiao."

"It must have taken a lot of effort to paint such a painting, right? How long did you paint it yesterday?"

"All day."

Yan Qiaoqiao said softly, "I kept painting until night."

Instantly.

Lin Xian felt that the painting in his hand was a bit heavier again.

Zhao Yingjun also added, "Qiaoqiao painted many of them, but she was never satisfied, so she repainted and repainted... She painted until dawn before she was relatively satisfied with this painting, and she revised it for a long time before going to bed."

"I also persuaded her for a long time yesterday, saying that a beginner, and a self-taught beginner in painting, is already very good to be able to paint like this, so there's no need to ask so much, be a perfectionist."

"But Qiaoqiao seems to have an obsession, inexplicably demanding very high, saying that you are very good to her, so she wants to paint the best painting for you with all her heart to express her gratitude."

Listening to Zhao Yingjun's description.

Lin Xian could also roughly imagine the scene of Yan Qiaoqiao constantly squeezing watercolors at home all day yesterday, squeezing from morning to night.

I'm afraid the bucket for rinsing brushes would have to be changed several times.

And so seriously... just wanting to paint the most perfect and exquisite portrait for him, for this reason, she even stayed up until very late at night before going to bed. Lin Xian couldn't help but feel a little emotional, "This intention is good, but there's no need to be so anxious... Qiaoqiao, you can completely paint slowly and learn slowly. I'm not in a hurry to receive the gift, whenever you give me this painting, I'll be just as happy." However... Yan Qiaoqiao shook her head, "It's different, it has to be today."

"Why?" Lin Xian was a little puzzled.

He saw Yan Qiaoqiao stretch out her judging right index finger again, pointing to the back of the picture frame in Lin Xian's hand, "I wrote it on the back."

Lin Xian then reacted. So there was something on the back. He turned the entire picture frame over and found that there was actually a handwritten greeting card attached to the back, with three sentences written in delicate handwriting: "Happy Father's Day, Brother Lin Xian!"

"Thank you for being willing to play my dad and take me to Disneyland... I'm really happy."

At that moment.

Lin Xian felt like his respiratory tract was blocked by something.

It was an indescribable feeling.

He then suddenly realized!

Why it had to be today. Why Yan Qiaoqiao stayed up so late yesterday and was so eager to see him today. Because... today, June 16, 2024, is actually Father's Day.

All along, among the festivals of each year, Father's Day is a not-so-conspicuous, not-so-memorable festival.

Many men themselves are not aware of the arrival of the festival, and probably rarely receive gifts from their children on this day. But Lin Xian never expected that his first Father's Day in his life would arrive so unexpectedly, and he would unexpectedly receive his first Father's Day gift.

Thousands of words cannot express it.

Lin Xian admitted that he was indeed at a loss for words at this time, not knowing what to say. Before coming here.

He suspected Yan Qiaoqiao's purpose in every possible way, fearing that his head would fall to the ground. After all, on a perfectly good day, why was she in such a hurry to see him?

It turned out... she wanted to give him a Father's Day gift. Even though in Yan Qiaoqiao's eyes, he wasn't her biological father, that trip to Disneyland did make her feel the warmth of family.

Therefore.

She wanted to give him thanks and gifts on the special day of Father's Day. Lin Xian still didn't know what to say.

After all, the relationship between the three people at the dinner table was too complicated. The true and the false, the space-time loops, it probably couldn't be explained without half an hour.

But it doesn't matter.

What you call it is fake, the emotion is real. "Thank you."

Lin Xian looked at Yan Qiaoqiao and said softly, "Actually, I rarely receive gifts. I've never had the habit of celebrating birthdays, and no one gives me gifts on other festivals either. This Father's Day gift really came very suddenly and is also very precious. I will cherish it well."

He put the glass picture frame gently on the seat next to him and moved it inward, afraid it would fall down.

At this time.

The waiter also put the massive amount of mutton and beef on the shelf. The red oil and clear soup in the mandarin duck pot on the table were boiling vigorously. Yan Qiaoqiao pointed at the blood-red mutton and beef, her eyes shining, "Meat!"

"Okay, okay."

Lin Xian took the initiative to stand up, smiling and putting meat into the pot for Yan Qiaoqiao, "Eat more, grow some meat, and you'll be stronger."

After finishing the hot pot.

It was rare for the three of them to meet, and Yan Qiaoqiao liked to stick to Lin Xian so much, so naturally they couldn't just disband on the spot.

So they went to play in the park next door.

It was Sunday.

There were many people in the park, adults and children filling every corner, with constant sounds of playing and chasing.

Naturally, such places are indispensable for small vendors.

"Ah."

Yan Qiaoqiao suddenly stopped, pointing at an uncle selling various cartoon masks in front, "Rhein Cat!"

"Hmm? Where?"

Lin Xian looked in the direction of Yan Qiaoqiao's index finger... it really was.

This uncle's stall had all kinds of cartoon masks, Ultraman, Armor Warrior, and some Lou Hua Country anime characters, it could be said to have everything.

Lin Xian wasn't surprised that these super big IPs had mask peripherals, but the Rhein Cat mask.

It was the first time he had seen it in reality because... this thing shouldn't exist in the first place!

Rhein Company currently doesn't sell the copyright to any toy company. All peripheral products are self-produced and sold. Among the various peripheral branches, there is no mask production line at all. So needless to say, this uncle is selling pirated products. "Do you want it?"

Lin Xian asked Yan Qiaoqiao. "Want."

Yan Qiaoqiao looked at the children playing and making noise on the lawn next to her, wearing various Ultraman masks, making various poses and sliding or attacking... with an expression that she wanted to join the matching battle. "Okay, then I'll buy it for you."

Lin Xian smiled, "Which one do you want? Is it Ultraman like them? Or that Rhein Cat mask?"

"I like Rhein Cat."

"Okay, we'll go buy it now."

So, the group of three came to the uncle selling masks.

Lin Xian pointed to the Rhein Cat mask, "How much is this mask?"

"Five yuan each, ten yuan for three."

The uncle picked up the only three remaining Rhein Cat masks and handed them over together, "There are only three left, buy them all together! The whole family wears them, a neat and tidy family!"

Lin Xian was amused by the uncle's eloquence, "There's no such thing as a family all wearing masks."

"You have to cherish the opportunity, young man!"

Seeing that eloquence sales didn't work, the uncle started hunger marketing, "You have to know that this Rhein Cat mask isn't something you can buy if you want to! I dare to guarantee you... leave my store, and you won't be able to find a second store selling Rhein Cat masks in the entire Donghai City! Do you believe it!"

"I believe it."

Lin Xian nodded truthfully, "Who dares to sell this thing without copyright, they'll have to pay through the nose if they get caught... only you dare to sell it."

"I don't want to sell pirated copies either!"

The uncle played the misery card, "This thing doesn't have an authentic version in the first place, where do I get the goods? Your uncle is also a law-abiding person. I've been selling masks in this park for more than twenty years... if this Rhein Cat mask had an authentic version, I would definitely sell the authentic version!"

"So, young man, do a good deed and buy all these pirated goods, giving your uncle a chance to reform, get back on the right track, and make a comeback!"

"Okay, okay."

Lin Xian felt that the uncle's eloquence was worth 10 yuan, so he treated all three Rhein Cat masks as a gift.

Scanning the QR code on his phone to pay.

Money in one hand, goods in the other.

"Obtained Rhein Cat Mask x3." "The authentic Rhein Cat mask will be authorized soon."

Lin Xian instructed the uncle, "Support the authentic version."

The uncle handsome handsome Mediterranean hairstyle "Next must."

Lin Xian handed a Rhein Cat mask to Yan Qiaoqiao.

Yan Qiaoqiao put it on smoothly, transforming into a Rhein war cat, joining the sliding elbow attack army on the lawn, and starting a freestyle fighting competition.

Lin Xian then took the remaining two masks, walked to Zhao Yingjun's side, and handed her one, "One for each of us."

"I'll tell Brother Wang later, let him find a better OEM factory and start producing authentic Rhein Cat masks... Making money or not is secondary, anyway, this thing doesn't cost much and doesn't make much money, it's all to cultivate a new generation of children's awareness of authentic versions."

Zhao Ying smiled and took the Rhein Cat mask, looking at it and examining it, "To be honest, I've never played with this kind of thing since I was a child, and I don't know what it feels like to wear a mask."

Lin Xian looked at the Rhein Cat mask in his hand. He felt... that this mask was the source of all the wind and waves. The big-faced cat in the First Dream had a Rhein Cat mask on his face. In the Second Dream, the Rhein Cat mask changed to his face.

After that dream, there was no occasion or necessity to wear a mask anymore. After all, the greatest meaning of a mask is to cover the face and deceive people. Generally, if you are not engaged in criminal activities, there is really no need to wear a mask.

He raised his head.

Looking at the rays of sunlight shining through the treetops in the sky, 0.0000336. What will the Seventh Dream of the world line be like?

At this time.

Yan Qiaoqiao, wearing a Rhein Cat mask and covering her face completely, trotted over and looked up at Lin Xian, "Done."

"Ah?"

Lin Xian didn't understand for a moment, "Done what?"

Yan Qiaoqiao stretched out her judging index finger, pointing to the lawn where she had just been playing. Lin Xian looked in the direction of the finger. "Si."

He couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.

He saw that the children who had been playing and chasing on the lawn were all knocked down! None of them were standing!

"I'll go..."

Lin Xian was already a little scalp-numbing, not knowing how to face the incoming parents' army later. He reached out and pushed the Rhein Cat mask on Yan Qiaoqiao's face up, looking at her innocent and clear eyes, "Everyone is playing games, you're wrong to be serious."

"I wasn't serious."

Yan Qiaoqiao blinked her eyes and tilted her head, "I haven't used any force yet, and they just fell down."

"Hehe."

Lin Xian smiled speechlessly, "You still shouldn't develop in this direction, it makes people... feel very insecure."