Chapter 752: Shadows of Change

The old security guard sunk deep into memories, his face finally free of that overwhelming terror.

If anyone were to describe him now, it would be that he seemed almost relieved by the changes in Lu Xin over the years.

Listening intently to Lu Xin’s words, he nodded silently. Rather than recounting the details of their reunion, he simply looked up at Lu Xin and concluded, “To be honest, I was a bit afraid of you at first. I never dared to kick you out, always watching, until I realized you’ve truly changed – become wonderfully average and as kind as any ordinary person.”

“If I had to describe how I feel about you…”

After a moment of silence, the old security guard finally looked at Lu Xin and said, “I’ve seen you in three distinct states.”

“Other ability users often slip from control to chaos,”

he continued, “while you reversed that trend, moving slowly from utter chaos back to normalcy…”

“…”

Once the old security guard finished speaking, the atmosphere in the restaurant settled into quiet calm.

The hospitable little restaurant owner, stifling a yawn, kept an eye on them as they ate. Satisfied that the tension had eased, he nodded approvingly at their conduct.

“See? You three big men can really talk it out, can’t you?”

“…”

“…”

Lu Xin remained silent for a long while, lost in thought over the guard’s words.

It had been three years since the first generation of researchers had escorted him away and then allowed him to meet Teacher Xiao Lu again.

Strictly speaking, it was just shy of three years.

Before he met Teacher Xiao Lu, even though his memory was still a muddle, he could recall bits and pieces – memories of attending high school, entering the company, living on his own for many years…

His memory gradually sharpened from that blank expanse to the moment he met Teacher Xiao Lu.

Analyzing it that way, his true period of amnesia lasted just a little over a year.

So what exactly happened during that year?

When he first headed to the research institute, Doctor An had mentioned that those leading the current research were strictly second-generation. The first-generation researchers all belonged to a time before the Red Moon incident – they were the original founders of the Red Moon Research Institute, established even in the Pre-Civilization Era.

Yet Doctor An knew nothing more about them.

Or perhaps, had she deceived him back then?

Why did the first-generation researchers take him away at all?

The old security guard claimed he knew them, but just how had he come to know them?

Prison…

What did that concept really represent?

“…”

“…”

Questions began to crowd his mind, and Lu Xin fell silent for a long time.

Both Number Eight and the old security guard remained quiet.

They sat there, either utterly lost or resigned to accepting punishment.

Waiting for Lu Xin to deliver the verdict.

At that moment, he wasn’t in the mood to deal with any of it either.

After a long pause, he heaved a deep sigh and said, “Let’s discuss these matters later.”

“It’s getting late, and I’m quite tired too.”

“…”

Number Eight and the old security guard both looked up at him in surprise.

Number Eight’s face showed disbelief, as if he wanted to speak but wasn’t quite sure how.

The old security guard, however, was taken aback.

“Life is just too complicated…”

Lu Xin slowly stood up, offering a wry smile as he added, “But I have to keep trying to make things work, don’t I?”

“So let’s each handle our own affairs…”

“…”

As he spoke, he turned toward the restaurant owner and commanded, “Check us out!”

Pausing briefly, he added, “And pack the leftovers.”

“…”

“…”

Leaving the old security guard and Number Eight behind in the restaurant, Lu Xin stepped out carrying his takeout bag.

Outside, the street had once again fallen into quiet.

Those planning on heading home tonight had already arrived, while those not returning were asleep in the shelter. The narrow street was devoid even of a lit car – only a solitary, dim streetlight glowed.

Lu Xin walked slowly along the road, not expecting the Special Cleaning Department to send a car for him.

Facing Number Eight and the old security guard, he had many things he wished to say but held them close to his chest.

Yet his exchange with Number Eight and the old security guard had been a success.

He had been candid with Number Eight, and the old security guard hadn’t hidden anything about the past.

It was a meaningful conversation. Lu Xin couldn’t help but admire them, though seeing the pain and fear caused by his past self left him with a tinge of regret. Had he truly been that terrible?

After all, both Number Eight and even the penitent old security guard were, at their core, kind souls…

It was just that back then, he only knew how to destroy and kill – inflicting endless terror and suffering on others…

So how could anyone blame them for being afraid of him?

He was desperate to leave, unwilling to voice any more opinions, for he felt utterly unworthy of criticism…

Perhaps if he tried a bit harder in the future, he might erase the lingering shadows of the past in others’ eyes.

“…”

“…”

Lost in thought, Lu Xin halted at an intersection.

In the empty street, only the solitary Red Moon in the sky kept him company.

He suddenly realized he was still over ten kilometers from home, forced to rely solely on his legs, with no idea when he might return.

It was like some hope in his heart – seemingly so near, yet its arrival was uncertain.

After standing quietly for a long while, Lu Xin resumed his walk.

No matter how far, one must eventually return, even if the road is utterly deserted…

Loneliness is shameful, but whose fault was it that his past self faltered?

The sound of rushing footsteps splashed in the distance…

As these thoughts crossed his mind, a light clattering of chains echoed from behind. Lu Xin turned in surprise to see Doll slowly descending from the sky, a white chain swaying and chiming melodiously…

She hadn’t rested yet?

Lu Xin smiled, tucking the takeout bag behind him. “This time, you can’t have the leftovers. I remember you loved those beautifully colored, nicely shaped dishes – last time it was foie gras, and I knew you’d adore it. Today’s meal is just greasy, overcooked scraps from a roadside joint. You surely won’t like it.”

Doll didn’t seem to catch a word of what he said; she simply drifted closer to him.

As Lu Xin moved ahead, she followed silently, smiling subtly whenever he glanced at her, though she remained a man of few words.

From behind came the muffled thrum of a helicopter.

It appeared the Captain of the Nanny Teams had come to Second Satellite City’s Security Hall after noticing that Doll was missing.

But after a quick survey, the helicopter’s sound soon faded, as if they didn’t want to disturb them.

“Doll’s behavior seems a bit odd today, doesn’t it?”

The Captain of the Nanny Teams arrived at the Security Hall of Second Satellite City with his group.

A convoy of vehicles sped toward the area where Lu Xin and Doll were.

“Odd?”

Someone queried, “She met a Single Soldier – hasn’t she always acted this way?”

“She’s always been affectionate, but today, it seems there’s something extra…”

The Captain frowned in confusion, patting the driver’s shoulder and saying, “Keep your distance this time.”

“Give them some privacy.”

“…”

“…”

The street lay silent.

Lu Xin and Doll walked quietly along the deserted road, their shadows stretching long under the streetlights.

“You really are clueless…”

Lu Xin ambled on with a hint of resignation, “Don’t you know I used to be a monster?”

Doll tilted her head slightly, studying his expression before softly shaking it.

“I’m just so lucky…”

Lu Xin turned away subtly, hiding his eyes as he continued forward.

And Doll, as usual, silently trailed behind him, accompanying him down this long, endless night.

Yet every so often, when she glanced at him, a long-forgotten scene flashed in her mind.

“…”

“…”

In Doll’s earliest memories, when she first arrived in Qinggang, she wore dirty clothes stained with blood, her small face marred by terror.

Surrounded by a crazed mob, she cowered in a corner. Unable to control her mental strength, she didn’t know if these people cared for her or were simply a pack of demons wanting to devour her. The fear swallowed her whole.

Overwhelmed by panic, she could only clutch her little head, trembling with dread. She’d grown accustomed to such scenes, but sometimes the pressure pushed her mental strength to the brink of collapse.

It was then that another child, looking lost, walked over from down the street.

The frenzied mob that had adored Doll suddenly froze as if encased in ice.

After a long time, Doll cautiously peeked out one eye to look around.

The little boy, also covered in blood and dirt, strode past her. He glanced at Doll with eyes filled with dark particles, and in that instant, Doll’s turbulent mental strength calmed completely.

Somehow, on some level, her mental strength also affected him.

He then stopped in his tracks, fixed his gaze on Doll, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still as their eyes met.

After a long pause, he slowly reached out and helped Doll up before continuing on his way.

“…”

Like two ripples on water, a brief touch and they parted once more.

That one contact held little meaning.

In the years that followed, they never crossed paths again – as if one of the ripples had even forgotten the encounter.

But who can say they never collided at all?