novelTele Chapter 10 We'll Always Be Waiting for You
Chapter 10 We'll Always Be Waiting for You
"According to your childhood friend Qin Dongyu, the two of you used to have a very deep relationship."
With the Ice Age looming, it's probably not safe for her to be alone in the US. Aren't there any plans to bring her back to China?
Faced with Lu Yi's suggestion, Li Xiaming shook his head and said:
"No need, Brother Lu, I have no intention of getting back together."
He looked up at the distant sky, his eyes somewhat vacant.
"I survived two whole years in that glacial apocalypse... I walked on the edge of life and death so many times, and many things that I thought I couldn't get through before, now seem so insignificant."
"I can't even remember what she looks like now... Maybe she's not that important to me."
Lu Yi didn't respond, but just listened quietly.
Li Xiaming continued:
"As for her safety, I actually reminded her on the first day I came back."
While not explicitly stating that an ice age apocalypse was imminent, the narrative shifted to something like the Federation's future being far less secure than that of the homeland.
"The result was that she didn't believe it, saying that I was preventing her from pursuing her American dream, and that I was feudal and chauvinistic, and didn't respect her personal choices and freedom, etc."
Then they deleted me.
Li Xiaming shrugged, his tone not one of frustration, but rather of helplessness.
He suddenly realized that he and his ex-girlfriend had absolutely no understanding or trust with each other.
If it were Qin Dongyu, no matter how outrageous the matter was, he would definitely believe him unconditionally.
So how could I have been so head over heels in love with a woman like this before?
It's kind of ridiculous.
"Anyway, I've done what I could. Everyone has their own destiny. She chose her own path, so let's respect her personal fate."
At this moment, Lu Yi reached out and patted Li Xiaming's shoulder heavily.
"Yes, it's good to let it go."
"There are plenty of fish in the sea, why be hung up on just one?"
"Let me tell you, there are quite a few beautiful and capable girls in our base, whose looks and temperament are definitely much better than your ex."
"Go out for a walk these next couple of days, you might just find yourself with a lucky break in love!"
Li Xiaming turned his head and met Lu Yi's smiling eyes, finally unable to help but chuckle:
"Brother Lu, I've noticed you've been trying to introduce me to girls these past few days. Is this... the organization testing me with their charms?"
"Comrade Xia Ming, the organization is not testing you, but is worried about you."
"Are you worried about me?"
Li Xiaming was slightly taken aback.
Lu Yi didn't reply immediately, but just looked at him quietly for a moment, his gaze seeming to confirm something, or perhaps to carefully consider his words.
Then, he spoke slowly, his tone sincere:
"One of the psychologists on the assessment team said that you have returned to the present from an ice age apocalypse two years in the future."
They are very likely to develop psychological problems such as existential anxiety and cognitive dissonance.
"What do you mean?"
Li Xiaming's lips tightened slightly.
Lu Yi paused, watching Li Xiaming's gradually hardening expression, and continued:
"Experts say you need an anchor point, an anchor point that makes you feel that 'this moment is real, this place is reliable.'"
"So... this is why the organization wants to introduce me to a girlfriend? To make me feel like I belong in this world?"
Lu Yi looked at Li Xiaming with a calm gaze:
"So, Xia Ming, you... don't really feel that this world is your home?"
His voice was soft, yet it was like a pebble thrown into a silent, deep pool, and Li Xiaming did not answer him directly.
"Perhaps in your eyes, this is just another timeline that is extremely similar to the timeline you once lived on."
You are an outsider who stumbled into this world by chance.
Even more so, it could be someone who has taken over the identity of "Li Xiaming" in this world.
"Since you feel that you have taken on the identity of Li Xiaming in this timeline, you should do more for him and make greater contributions."
Li Xiaming listened to Lu Yi's story in silence.
He neither denied nor admitted it, but simply lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his clasped hands, his knuckles turning slightly white.
Lu Yi took a bottle of mineral water out of his backpack, unscrewed it himself, and handed it to him.
"Xia Ming, I'm telling you this."
I'm not here to debate whether the world that was nearly wiped out by the apocalypse is the same as the world that is about to face its own end.
"What I want to tell you is, Comrade Xia Ming, you are you."
"Whether it's a time rewind, a world restart, or a real parallel universe travel... you will always be you, and we will never change."
You will always be a part of this country, a compatriot connected to us by blood.
"Even if... we fail to survive the Ice Age this time, or fail in the future [Earth's End Version Update 2.0, 3.0]."
Please don't feel guilty, regretful, or even desperate because you couldn't save us.
Lu Yi gently placed his hand on Li Xiaming's shoulder and smiled:
"Because we will always be waiting for you at the next rollback point, again and again, over and over again."
Li Xiaming looked up and stared blankly at Lu Yi.
In Lu Yi's eyes, he saw a light that was almost a belief.
"Comrade Xia Ming, our country and our civilization will surely win this race against the end of the world."
"Because of your existence, humanity is able to fight a protracted war."
"You are the only one who runs with his memories intact, something even the being who orchestrated the [Earth Apocalypse Update] couldn't do."
Li Xiaming's throat bobbed.
A surge of warmth rose from the depths of his heart.
He couldn't quite explain what it was, but perhaps... it was something like faith!
"Brother Lu."
"I've figured it out! I don't need women or anything like that to give me a sense of belonging... but I want to learn and become stronger!"
Li Xiaming took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and said, "Martial arts, shooting, mathematics, programming, engineering, astronomy..."
"Even if I don't learn this timeline well, I'll learn the next one, and the one after that, sooner or later."
"Since I may have almost unlimited time, I want to contribute even more to saving the world from the apocalypse!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yi smiled and extended his hand to Li Xiaming.
"Of course, Comrade Xia Ming."
Li Xiaming grasped Lu Yi's hand.
At that moment, he felt that he had truly become a part of this world.
……
……
Two days later.
"Math is so hard..."
After the math tutor who had come to tutor him left, Li Xiaming, clutching his throbbing head, slumped onto the table.
Lu Yi, who was standing nearby, handed over a bottle of water and said:
"Didn't you say this morning that fighting and physical training were difficult, and that you got beaten up and had a bruised face, and then asked to study academic subjects this afternoon?"
Li Xiaming didn't take the water; he just groaned and buried his face in his arms, his voice muffled.
"That's different... Fighting hurts your body, but math hurts your brain..."
Lu Yi said, "How about we cancel your shooting training class tonight? You can rest in your room."
"No!"
Li Xiaming suddenly sat up straight, grabbed the water bottle, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.
A drop of water slid down the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away casually. Then, as if challenging someone, he said, word by word:
"I've only persisted for two days, how can I give up so easily!"
"Your body needs to learn self-discipline!"
"Wisdom, show me your limits!"