Chapter 60
Lin Ran, hiding in the closet, heard footsteps approaching. He peeked through the clothes and saw a tall figure walking towards the casual wear section. Was that really Snowball? He seemed so calm and collected despite the commotion downstairs.
As the figure opened a drawer, Lin Ran saw it was filled with hearing aids, disguised as earrings. The figure put one on, then left.
After the footsteps faded, Lin Ran cautiously approached the drawer, confirming it was full of hearing aids. So, it was Snowball, and his ear hadn’t healed in this timeline. But how had he ended up being investigated by what seemed like the police?
He looked out the window, trying to see what was happening downstairs.
Outside, the Human Supreme Monitoring Bureau agents waited impatiently, facing the uncooperative staff. This luxurious villa, though secluded, was suspected of harboring secrets.
A young man finally appeared. “There seems to be a misunderstanding. We receive many unwanted visitors and paparazzi, so we have tight security. I’m sure you understand,” he said calmly, though his tone was unapologetic. It was, however, true.
The young man, a child star since a national commercial made him famous, had starred in countless successful movies and TV shows, his earnings allowing his family to purchase this multimillion-dollar villa. He had even bypassed the usual child-star curse of fading popularity, almost winning a prestigious award at sixteen, then, after a three-year hiatus, returning to claim the award and entering a top university, his career and academics flourishing.
Zou Zhen Yuan, the agent in charge, knew about his seemingly perfect life. But the Bureau’s investigation into An Xun had started eight years ago, yielding no results. He was like a ghost, his secrets elusive. Zou Zhen Yuan sometimes felt like he was being toyed with, a predator’s prey, soon to be abandoned.
“This is your sixteenth search, Agent Zou. If you find no evidence, I’ll file a lawsuit and expose the Bureau’s harassment of a law-abiding citizen. And I’ll question your motives for repeatedly searching my private residence,” An Xun said, his words making the agents’ faces darken.
“We just want to check a few more areas, like the backyard, attic, and basement,” Zou Zhen Yuan said, forcing a smile.
Lin Ran was relieved they weren’t searching the closet. And An Xun, lingering by the closet door, prevented them from approaching it. Their previous search of the suspiciously well-organized closet had only revealed An Xun’s hearing impairment, nothing else.
Zou Zhen Yuan felt conflicted about An Xun. He was sure there was something suspicious about him, but the deeper they dug, the more tragic his story became. His hearing impairment was the result of childhood abuse, his parents having slapped him so hard he bled from his ear, never seeking medical attention. No one would believe such a story. And An Xun, at that time, was already earning a substantial income for his family. Zou Zhen Yuan couldn’t understand their actions. And now, with his parents insane and his younger brother neglected, their former manager having committed suicide, he suspected An Xun’s involvement.
“Let’s go,” he said, defeated, then, turning to An Xun, added, “You might have escaped this time, but don’t do anything you’ll regret. Making deals with demons will not end well. You have everything; why risk it all for some apocalyptic fantasy? What good will the end of the world do you?”
An Xun, usually expressionless, looked at him, his gaze unreadable. “Here are two movie tickets, Agent Zou. Take a break,” he said, offering him tickets for a movie titled “Doomsday.”
“Is he mocking us?” his deputy asked, as they drove away.
“My mom loves his movies. I can’t warn her,” another agent said.
“Who knows what goes on in a monster’s mind,” Zou Zhen Yuan muttered, a sense of unease settling upon him.
Meanwhile, Lin Ran saw a notification:
[Special Quest: Doomsday Interception. Prevent your cub from triggering the apocalypse in this future timeline.]
Snowball, trying to end the world? Was this a bug? Snowball’s future was full of surprises. And how could he, an ordinary human, stop an apocalypse?
[You are the only one who can.] “Demon World’s” reply was unusually serious.
“Are you coming out yet?” An Xun’s cold voice asked from outside the closet. He was wary of the intruder’s ability to enter his secure home, suspecting Zou Zhen Yuan’s involvement. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be a problem once it was dead. He sent a tendril of dark blue magic towards the closet—
—but it dissipated before reaching Lin Ran, unable to penetrate further. Lin Ran, confused, touched the icy spike, and it shattered.
“Crash—!” The closet and the entire dressing room collapsed, burying the expensive clothes in debris.
“Cough…” Lin Ran emerged from the pile of clothes and saw An Xun, now eighteen, his features even more striking, a few strands of dark hair falling across his forehead, his eyes deep and dark, a true celebrity aura, his demeanor calm and collected, his emotions hidden. And he was taller than Lin Ran now.
Lin Ran wondered how to explain himself when the housekeeper’s voice came from outside.
“Mr. An, is everything alright? Should we clean up?” Her voice was laced with fear; they were bound by magic contracts, forced to serve this seemingly perfect celebrity who was, in reality, a terrifying demon.
“Shh—” Lin Ran, however, shook his head, not wanting them to come in.
An Xun hesitated, then, as Lin Ran gently touched his arm, he dismissed the staff, his gaze lingering on the hand on his arm. As a child, he would have hugged Lin Ran by now.
“No need. I’ll handle it myself,” he said.
“Sorry…” Lin Ran quickly retracted his hand, remembering this was an adult Snowball.
An Xun’s disappointment was palpable.
A few minutes later, Lin Ran sat in the lounge, sipping tea, wondering how to approach this. Could he just ask what he was planning?
“Aren’t you afraid it’s poisoned?” An Xun asked, referring to the tea.
“Is it… poisoned?” Lin Ran asked, looking at him like a misbehaving child.
“No,” An Xun said, avoiding his gaze, and Lin Ran chuckled. Some habits never changed.
“What are you laughing at?” An Xun frowned.
“Did I laugh? You’re mistaken…” Lin Ran tried to deny it.
“You laughed,” An Xun insisted, his seriousness making Lin Ran sigh. He was even more stubborn now.
“Fine, I laughed. Happy now?” he said, and An Xun frowned again, annoyed by his own reaction to the human’s words. He was being affected by him.
“Who are you?”
“Do you remember me?” they both asked at the same time, then hesitated.
Lin Ran wasn’t sure if Snowball remembered him. Sootball had somehow recovered some of his memories.
“Have you… heard the name Snowball?” he asked gently.
“No,” An Xun said, though a strange familiarity resonated within him.
“Are you… a snow leopard?” Lin Ran asked, and An Xun, his eyes widening in disbelief, tried to pin him down, demanding to know how he knew. But his ears popped out.
“Your ears have grown too, Snowball…” Lin Ran said, ignoring his aggression, then noticed his other ear, his expression changing.
“Still think it’s funny? Mistaking me for… Snowball?” An Xun’s voice was laced with mockery, but Lin Ran sensed the underlying anxiety. The ear was mangled, almost completely corrupted by demonic energy, the white bone visible, the wound barely held together by a magical seal.
Lin Ran gently touched it. “Does it hurt?”
“Yes,” An Xun admitted, surprised by his own honesty, a rare display of vulnerability. It wasn’t just pain, but a constant, high-pitched ringing, amplified by his growing demonic power, a never-ending torment. He hadn’t slept properly in ages, relying on magic to sustain him. Zou Zhen Yuan’s words had been meaningless to him. He wanted to end it all, only clinging to life to see his tormentors suffer, to confirm their misery before letting go.
“Does this help?” Lin Ran asked, his hand, enveloped in a cool, blue aura, gently covering An Xun’s ear, and the ringing subsided. He had been experimenting. The necklace allowed him to access some of Snowball’s magic, a pure, icy blue, different from his current corrupted aura. Perhaps it could alleviate the pain.
He held his ear for a long time, then, receiving no response, looked down and saw An Xun, transformed into a snow leopard, asleep on his lap.
“He fell asleep,” he murmured, surprised. He had been so alert before. Did his magic have a sedative effect? He couldn’t resist petting the now-adult snow leopard, its fur less sleek and fluffy than before, noticing its weakened state.
“None of you are easy to take care of,” he sighed, not wanting to wake him. Even as an adult, he was undeniably beautiful, a majestic predator, his aura different from Yuanbao’s fiery arrogance. He remembered Snowball being dragged into Sootball’s schemes, and chuckled, imagining the adult Snowball wearing a pirate eye patch. A childhood memory, hopefully forgotten.
[Using the “Box of Memories” during deep sleep enhances its effect. Activate?][Yes][No] A notification appeared. So, the box was meant to help him recover his memories?
[Yes. Reduces danger level by 90%.] Lin Ran hesitated, then clicked “Yes.” He didn’t believe Snowball was a dangerous monster. He knew there was a reason behind his actions, even his animosity towards his parents. He was sure that if they hadn’t caused him so much pain, he would have taken care of them, despite his cold exterior.
Meanwhile, An Xun was dreaming of his childhood, his vulnerable self. He was about to fight back against his abusive parents when the scene shifted to a snowy mountain, the screech of Snow Birds, the gnawing hunger, and a familiar voice:
[Are you scared? You’re safe now…]
A-Ran…
And his memories returned, flooding his mind: the warm baths, the gentle voice, the mermaid’s song, the cozy nights at A-Ran’s home, Grandma’s cooking… It was all so dreamlike. He had even let go of his resentment, watching his parents play happily with their new child, feeling no pain. He knew A-Ran would always be there for him.
But he also felt a surge of wronged. Why had it taken so long for this world to find him?
He opened his eyes, the first rays of dawn filtering through the window. He had slept for almost twelve hours. He was lying on A-Ran’s lap, a blanket draped over him, Lin Ran asleep on the sofa, one hand still gently stroking his ear, the other holding the blanket. He was worried about him getting cold. But snow leopards didn’t get cold; they had fur.
“Mew…” He didn’t move, looking at A-Ran’s sleeping face, his long eyelashes casting shadows. Had A-Ran come looking for him? He had a strange thought. In his dream, A-Ran had taken care of him. Could he take care of A-Ran now? Growing up didn’t seem so bad after all. He transformed back, carefully carrying Lin Ran to his bed.
Lin Ran woke up in an unfamiliar, luxurious bedroom, much larger than his dorm room. He sat up, his mind foggy, then remembered he was in the Time Mirror. An Xun had fallen asleep on his lap.
“Knock knock—” There was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
A housekeeper entered. “Mr. Lin, breakfast in bed or downstairs?” she asked, not surprised by his presence.
“Downstairs, thank you,” he said, rarely eating in bed.
“Are you An Xun’s live-in nanny?” he asked, noticing her tense demeanor.
“Yes,” she said after a long pause.
“Do you know about those people who came yesterday? Are they investigating An Xun? You can tell me; it’s okay,” he asked, testing her, and her expression tightened, a dark blue, seal-like mark appearing on her neck. So, the quest wasn’t just a game mechanic. An Xun seemed to use his magic freely in this world.
As he ate breakfast, the door opened, and An Xun entered.
“You’re awake… A-Ran,” he said, as if confirming something.
“Yes, where did you go?” Lin Ran asked casually, not mentioning the quest yet.
An Xun hesitantly placed a vase of flowers and plants on the table.
“You remember?” Lin Ran asked, surprised. They were the same plants he had been cultivating by the River of Demon Energy, some even out of season. Where had he found them so early in the morning?
“Do you like them?” An Xun asked, eager, like a cub bringing a gift to its parent.
“Of course! I always like your gifts, and Sootball’s,” Lin Ran said, touching the flowers, some things never changing.
