Chapter 1160: Fate’s Plan

—That afternoon, I fell asleep on the beach watching you surf. When I woke up, you were gone. I was terrified. I asked everyone I ran into if they had seen my boy. I couldn’t speak the language, and I was in a wheelchair then. I was so anxious.

—I kept thinking about how I should face the family and live with myself if I lost you. I kept thinking I must find you, I must.

—Then you returned. I was beside myself. Although it was raining outside, it was sunny in my heart.

—I was overjoyed, yet I scolded you. You had to comfort me and make peace. I’m not a good enough father. I’ve regretted it and wanted to apologize to you.

—Do you know, Yang Yang? I dreamed about that afternoon sometimes. I dreamed of myself staying on the beach in my wheelchair. The wind was strong, and the sky filled with dark clouds, like a thick mist. I kept calling your name to the sea. I felt like I heard your response, but it also felt like an illusion. I don’t know how to put that feeling into words. Loneliness, helplessness, regret. I always woke up before finding you.

—I told your mother about the dream. We talked about it for a long time and came to an agreement. I’ll tell you what we think now.

—It’s not that we have created you as parents, but you have chosen us to be your parents.

—Yang Yang, your mom and I didn’t create you. It’s you, who already exists, choosing your mother and me and coming to this world as our child.

—It may seem like fate has given you a special role, that it has chosen you, but that’s not true. You chose fate.

—No matter how many people you lose, no matter how many difficulties you face, don’t be scared and don’t feel lost.

—You may laugh, you may cry, but just keep going. Keep making one step after another.

—Sweetheart, say a few words to Yang Yang too... Hey, don’t be like that. Just a few words for the boy to remember you by.

—Yang Yang, it’s mom.

—Your dad has said what we wanted you to know, so I’ll just say a few words. It’s something that’s been said to me since I was little. I’ve always kept them in my heart.

...

Qing Ling stood before the counter of a restaurant. “One pork chop rice and one beef rice...”

“One pork chop rice and one beef rice.” The cashier quickly typed out the order. “Anything else?”

Qing Ling hesitated for a moment. “And two fried eggs.”

—Everything originates from an origin...

In the old rundown region of the city, a car parked by the road, the window rolled down. In the back, Zhang Wei waved his phone around, telling White Dew about an online novel he had been following.

Vermilion Bird, the driver, got out of the car, leaning against the tail of the car with a cigarette between her lips. She exchanged information with Liao Liao, Hong Xiaoxiao, Nainai, and Old Seven.

Soon, Liao Liao and her team vanished with their hands linked, the resulting gust rustling Vermilion Bird’s hair.

—Everything goes to a destination...

In the Golden Arch in the downtown area, Mischievous Monkey, Dead Pig, Lovely Lamb, and Gregor sat at a window seat, having a family meal set. Lovely Lamb played with the gifted toy with visible joy, while Dead Pig patiently fed her french fries dipped in ketchup

Drinking cola, Gregor was on his phone with War Tiger.

Meanwhile, War Tiger sat on the merry-go-round of an abandoned amusement park, smoking and sharing their current situation with Gregor.

Crouching on a patch of grass nearby, One Stone checked her medical kit for the umpteenth time with a serious expression.

—We cannot know the trajectory...

On the rooftop of the teaching building in the abandoned Eleventh Highschool, a murder of crows hovered in the air, scattering black feathers like black snow. Nine Frost and Chen Ying sat with their back against the rusty metal railing. Chen Ying chewed on a chocolate stick, and Nine Frost sipped on instant coffee.

Adept Horse and Harvest Song sat cross-legged on the water tank in companionable silence, watching the same darkening sky while missing each of their lost love.

—We need not fear...

A bouquet of fresh white flowers was laid for Ghost Horse’s tomb in the Taiping Bridge Graveyard. A beautiful androgynous man sat before it. Slowly, he looked up at the coming night, slowly tying his silky black hair into a ponytail.

—Fate has its plan.

...

On a night with heavy snow, a drunk man reeking of alcohol kicked open the door to his son’s bedroom. The lock was long beyond repair.

The sickly boy making a model plane under the desk light shot to his feet in panic, hurriedly shoving the components he had made himself into a large paper box.

“Playing with your trash again. Are you a trash collector or what?”

“These aren’t trash,” the boy said quietly but stubbornly with his head lowered.

Although the components were mostly bottle caps, food packages, and disassembled everyday items, the boy managed to transform them into components to create planes and spaceships. It was the boy’s only hobby. He had explained it to his father, but the man wouldn’t listen.

“They are trash! Only a stray dog digs into trashcans every day! Why don’t you spend the time learning boxing? You think I can’t pay for that? I have the money!”

“I don’t like boxing,” the boy grumbled.

“Boxing is a man’s hobby, not digging into trash every day!”

“I don’t like boxing,” the boy repeated.

“Shut up, brat! I’ll show you what boxing is today—”

He rushed at the boy and knocked him to the floor with a punch.

“What’s that look? Don’t look at me like that! Don’t fucking look at me like that!”

The man brought the boy down once more with a kick.

“Don’t think I don’t know how you’ve always looked down on me! You think I’m a failure! Why do you think I failed? It’s because I met your mother and had a little bastard like you!”

“I wouldn’t be in this situation if not for you!”

“Get up! Fight back! Stand up now! Stand up like a man!”

The boy slowly got to his feet and wiped blood from his nose, glaring at his drunk father.

“Good! Hahaha! This is more like it!”

The man clenched his fists and bunched up his shoulders with his back arched, hopping in place with his overweight body. In his alcohol-muddled mind, he was back in the boxing ring as a young man.

“Come on, swing your fist!”

“Make a punch, bastard!”

...

In an empty alleyway in Xijing District, War Tiger sat with his back against the wall and his head tipped up, resting.

Suddenly, his fierce eyes opened, and his right hand reached toward the dagger at his waist—someone was coming.

He relaxed when he recognized the footsteps. From the mouth of the alley, One Stone came up to him with food, looking shocked. “You...fell asleep?”

“Yeah.” War Tiger grinned. “I even had a dream.”

“As expected of a seasoned fighter who has been through countless battles. You could still fall asleep at times like this.” One Stone was genuine with her admiration. She hadn’t gotten a lick of sleep the night before.

She took a pack of cigarettes from the plastic bag she was carrying, tossing it to War Tiger.

War Tiger caught it and tore it open with practiced ease, pulling a cigarette out with his teeth. “What time is it?”

“Eleven thirty-one.” One Stone sounded worried. “We’re half an hour from midnight, but no one has discovered the death monsters.”

War Tiger narrowed his eyes. “That so?”

“Could this be a scheme? Have we all fallen for it?” One Stone didn’t realize how much her voice was trembling. “Could the death monsters be luring us to Li City in order to eliminate us all with a large-scale attack? Like the previous Crimson Tide...”

“One Stone.” War Tiger patted the concrete staircase beside him. “Here. Have a seat.”

One Stone hesitated before sitting down.

“You’re too nervous,” War Tiger said.

“How can I not be? I’m terrified.” One Stone’s face contorted in panic. “Where’s Uncle Xin? Why hasn’t he come?”

“Something else came up.”

“What?!” One Stone blanched. “So it’s just the two of us against Wrath?”

“Why, don’t you trust me?” War Tiger grinned. “50 yuan for my thought.”

One Stone didn’t respond to the joke. She said in despair, “Team Leader War Tiger, I heard that you weren’t able to make Wrath go into his second form the last time even though Green Snake was with you.”

“Nonsense!” War Tiger shot back. “That’s because we hadn’t gone all out! Besides, I’ve become much stronger now. Just follow the plan. We’ll win.”

“Follow the plan...” One Stone only became more anxious. “I’m just a healer. Without Uncle Xin’s support, I’ll just be watching from the back.”

“Yes, just watch,” War Tiger said.

“Huh?” One Stone was flabbergasted. “Are you out of your mind?”

“One Stone, do you know what’s most important in a match?” War Tiger lit his cigarette and took a drag in a dramatic manner.

One Stone shook her head in confusion.

After only one exhale, War Tiger cast the cigarette at the wall across from him, scattering embers in the dark.

“The spectators.”