Chapter 29

Chapter 28: Mountain and Sea 6

The third floor of the castle was unusually quiet.

Not even the sound of wind or waves could be heard.

So the two who were staring at each other could only hear each other’s breathing.

After such a long silence, He Zhen spoke a sentence that seemed unrelated to Shi Zong’s question.

“After I moved into the university dorm, I had a roommate who really liked watching a talent show. It was played out loud. Several times, that sound drew ridicule from other roommates.”

“Oh? What did the voice say?”

“It was a mentor. Every time he saw a trainee, he would ask them one question—

‘What is your dream?’”

If it were elementary school students, encountering this topic in an essay, they might actually think seriously about it, then write with naïve longing something like, I want to be a scientist or I want to be a doctor.

But 18-year-old students are different.

They consider themselves past the unrealistic “childish” stage and would not answer such childish questions easily.

At the same time, most of them don’t have enough experience to understand the truth of life, unable to accurately know what they truly want in this lifetime.

So such questions appear very hollow and pretentious to them.

Therefore, when the mentor in the show repeatedly asked this question, and the trainees almost invariably answered “I was born for the stage” or “I only want to sing in this life,” it seemed fake and ridiculous to them.

Shi Zong could easily imagine this.

But he didn’t understand why He Zhen brought it up.

Shi Zong didn’t rush him, quietly waiting for him to speak.

After a moment, he heard him say, “Before you, no one ever asked me this question.”

What do you most want to pursue?

What is your dream in this life?

No one had ever asked He Zhen this question.

After a while, Shi Zong looked at him and said, “I roughly understand your situation. From the moment you were born, your parents pointed out what you had to do.

“They wanted you to become the head of the He family, giving them status and glory. They wanted you to live for them, without caring at all about what you wanted. Is that what you mean?”

He Zhen smiled. “Let’s just say so.”

Shi Zong raised an eyebrow. “Just say so?”

He Zhen turned his head toward the pitch-black door.

In his mind appeared a world without sunlight.

It was the boundary between life and death, where spirits were born and faded away.

Red flames illuminated red flowers. The flowers stretched along a river, spreading endlessly into the distance.

He stood quietly by the river, the voices of the elders in his clan echoing in his ears—

“This is the mission you were born to bear.

“You must remember, the order between life and death must not be disturbed, for it concerns all living beings in the world.

“You cannot deviate even a single step!”

In fact, he had forgotten these things for a long time, but today they resurfaced for some reason.

From a very young age, he was never allowed to want anything. Not even a piece of candy.

The elders of the clan used various methods to gradually improve his self-control until he was capable enough to shoulder the responsibilities he was supposed to.

Always diligently fulfilling his mission, executing his duties; unaffected by anyone or anything, always dealing fairly and justly with everything…

This was the result of his education and training, and he had always lived this way.

He Zhen turned to meet Shi Zong’s gaze. “I don’t want anything. I only need to complete my mission.”

Shi Zong blinked at him. “You live in chains, never thought of breaking free?”

He Zhen shook his head. “Not everyone has the right to do as they please. I have things I must accomplish. Since birth, there’s been no escape. I never thought to escape. Because those things are very important. When it falls to me, I must do it well.”

Shi Zong squinted, slightly surprised. “Not a trace of rebellion?”

—Willingly living a monk-like, ascetic life, how can such people exist in this world?

But it’s just the He family, what ‘mission’ is so vital that only he can accomplish it?

Or… all that he said has nothing to do with the He family, nothing to do with his mother’s shattered wealthy dreams, and nothing to do with his father’s illegitimate child?

Hearing the word “rebellion,” He Zhen gave Shi Zong a half-smile, then did not continue the topic.

He pointed to the door beside him. “Go in?”

Shi Zong no longer delayed, nodded, and pushed the door open.

The door numbered “20010304” swung open.

Behind it was an impenetrable fog.

Shi Zong and He Zhen had just stepped inside when the door suddenly closed.

They found themselves in an extremely narrow and dark space. The two of them could barely kneel shoulder to shoulder to fit.

Shi Zong turned on a flashlight and shone it around.

Behind them, the door still remained, with the same number, though much smaller. To return to the castle through it, they would have to crawl.

Inside this space, many clothes hung from above, with stacked drawers beside them…

It was the inside of a wardrobe.

Shi Zong raised an eyebrow—

So… through a single door, he and He Zhen ended up inside a wardrobe.

What’s outside the wardrobe?

Both were fairly tall. In the cramped wardrobe, Shi Zong turned slightly, bumping He Zhen into the wall of the wardrobe, producing a small noise.

Soon, a man’s voice came from outside. “What’s that sound?”

Shi Zong quickly turned off the flashlight and froze completely.

The wardrobe fell silent.

After a while, the sound of a window closing came from outside.

Then a gentle female voice spoke: “The wind picked up. Must be the window, nothing to worry about.”

The sound of high heels on the floor moved from near to far.

Then came the sound of a phone call and a woman speaking.

“Send a bottle of whiskey to Room 1042, thank you.”

From this, Shi Zong confirmed that through the door numbered with a date, he and He Zhen had entered a hotel room.

So… was the door some kind of portal set by the Director?

Something like a wormhole, transporting him and He Zhen to another space-time?

After a while, the couple inside began speaking sweetly, seemingly paying no attention to the wardrobe.

Shi Zong quietly opened a small gap in the wardrobe, just enough to see them sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

The blackout curtains weren’t drawn; the inner sheer was only halfway across.

So it was clearly night.

The floor this room was on was obviously very high.

Through the window, thousands of lights and traffic could be faintly seen.

Against this romantic backdrop, the man and woman sat at opposite ends of a small round table.

Roses and desserts were on the table.

It was clearly a sweet date.

They smiled at each other, holding hands as they talked.

After a while, there was a knock on the door.

It was the person delivering the whiskey.

He not only delivered whiskey but also brought a six-inch cake.

The man stood, took the whiskey and cake, and presented them to the woman.

“How did you know I like this brand of cake?”

“I asked your agent.”

The woman smiled sweetly at the man, eagerly picking up a spoon to taste the cake.

Soon, she bit into something hard, surprised and delighted, pulling it out—it was a ring.

What followed was natural.

The man proposed and kissed the woman.

Kissing, they rolled onto the bed, the scene quite intense, all visible to the two in the wardrobe.

Shi Zong watched everything impassively.

To him, the man’s proposal routine was not only clichéd but dangerously reckless.

What if the girl swallowed the ring?

Thinking this, Shi Zong glanced at He Zhen beside him.

He wore the “male lead” melancholy aesthetic face, showing no expression as he looked out.

A normal 18-year-old boy, in puberty, full of hormones, seeing this would inevitably have a physical reaction, at the very least blushing and gasping.

Yet He Zhen had no reaction at all.

It seemed this person was made of wood.

Right? What did he just say?

That he has strong self-control?

Shi Zong found it somewhat amusing.

Catching Shi Zong’s gaze, He Zhen also glanced at him, then turned back silently, keeping his face cold as he looked outside.

Shi Zong thought, maybe in his eyes, I’m made of wood too.

The activity on the bed grew more intense, their breathing louder and heavier.

At the height of it, the woman spoke: “Qianshan, you’re really amazing.”

The man immediately replied: “Yuyan, you’re the best.”

How does it feel to unexpectedly see another version of yourself with a woman in bed?

How does it feel to unexpectedly hear yourself say extremely cheesy lines?

Shi Zong, playing Human Realm Qian Shan: “……”

He Zhen, playing Hell Realm Qian Shan: “……”

A system prompt immediately appeared in Shi Zong’s mind—

【You have arrived on March 4, 2001, and seen Qian Shan living in this period】

【By witnessing his experiences firsthand, you can gain further understanding of yourself】

【At any time, opening the door behind you allows you to return to the castle】

【But remember, each door can only be entered by the same person once per night】

【If you let this timeline’s Qian Shan meet you, irreversible temporal disorder will occur, and you will become trapped here until death】

【Remember, do not let Qian Shan in this place know of your existence】

After finishing, the two on the bed went to shower together.

Qian Shan finished first; Yuyan stayed in the bathroom.

Once Qian Shan was fully dressed, Yuyan’s phone rang.

Qian Shan picked up her bag and called to her outside the bathroom: “Yuyan, you have a call.”

“Qianshan, why don’t you answer it for me?”

Yuyan’s voice came through the water.

After a brief pause, she added: “I know, I have a lot of scandals, and people in the industry often say I’m easygoing…

“Those are all lies spread by people trying to slander me. Don’t believe them. To prove to you I’m fine, I’ll let you check my phone freely. The password is your birthday.”

Qian Shan glanced at her phone, then walked to the bathroom and handed it through the door.

“You should answer it yourself. The caller ID says it’s an entertainment reporter. If they hear me answering, they might write something wrong.”

“Okay. Probably just a reporter checking interview content. Really, they could’ve gone through my agent.

“I have to go to the set after I shower. I probably won’t have time today, not sure how to handle it. So annoying. By the way, Qianshan—”

“Rest a little longer before going to the set. I need to leave immediately. I told you, right? I have an interview program, I have to rush there now. Sorry, I can’t see you off today.”

“That’s fine. Drive safely, be careful.”

After saying this, Yuyan finally answered the phone.

“Okay.”

Saying this, Qian Shan walked out from the bathroom, placing Yuyan’s bag on the bedside table.

It was a beautiful, delicate handbag, the “LV” logo clear.

Shi Zong looked at the bag a few times, then saw Qian Shan open the door and leave.

After the sounds of the door opening and closing, the room fell silent, only the bathroom continuing to make soft water sounds.

Looking at the empty room, Shi Zong thought, he and He Zhen just can’t be seen by this timeline’s Qian Shan, but checking with Yuyan, asking a few questions, should be fine.

Of course, all this assumes Qian Shan doesn’t return.

Thinking of this possibility, Shi Zong paused on leaving the wardrobe.

But he still looked at He Zhen beside him, gesturing subtly toward the outside of the wardrobe, wanting to see his plan.

He Zhen met his gaze, then quickly shook his head, indicating he would stay in the wardrobe.

Decided so fast?

Shi Zong didn’t comment, turned his head, and continued watching outside through the wardrobe gap.

Only 15 minutes later, Qian Shan really did return.

The bathroom water had been off for a while, but Yuyan had not come out yet; maybe she was using the toilet or doing makeup.

Probably hearing Qian Shan’s footsteps, Yuyan asked: “Qianshan? Why are you back?”

“I left my car keys. Came back to get them,” Qian Shan said.

A TV cabinet was opposite the bed. Returning, Qian Shan first checked there.

Because his back faced the wardrobe, Shi Zong couldn’t see what he did exactly.

About three minutes later, Qian Shan left.

Shi Zong clearly noticed he didn’t have any car keys in his hands.

About thirty minutes later, Yuyan slowly emerged from the bathroom.

She had applied extremely delicate and beautiful makeup, still wearing a bathrobe.

Walking to the bedside table, she first used the landline to make a call.

“Yes, come quickly, change the sheets, slippers, everything.”

After finishing, she took out her phone and called another number. “Qianshan? Already at the interview location. Okay. Good luck. Contact me when done. Miss you.”

That wasn’t all. Soon, Yuyan made a third call.

Her voice was still charming, but the man on the other end was clearly different.

“Brother Wen, did you get the address? Hurry over.

“Almost there? Okay, I’ll wait.

“Came in a rush, couldn’t book the presidential suite. No business suite either, just a standard room.

“Yes, yes, yes, he’s just a self-important poor scriptwriter, can’t compare to you, Brother Wen.

“When you go to the set, don’t let it slip.

“I even lied to our scriptwriter, said I’ve never been to this hotel.”

……

At the start of this Mountain and Sea scenario, Shi Zong hadn’t sensed much melodrama.

The scenario initially felt empty, detached from reality, with the concept of six-path reincarnation having a philosophical tone.

But now, the so-called philosophical tone had completely vanished.

The system dumped the entire primetime melodrama on him in a very short time.

He yawned lightly, adopting a spectator’s stance, watching outside the wardrobe with interest.

Occasionally, he glanced at He Zhen beside him.

He Zhen sat cross-legged, back straight, chin slightly raised, expressionless, still holding that superior, scrutinizing posture.

Anyone who didn’t know him would think he was a judge listening to commoners’ disputes or complaints, not realizing he was just an 18-year-old freshman.

Watching a melodrama only.

Why so serious?

Shi Zong continued watching outside the wardrobe.

After a while, the man Yuyan called “Brother Wen” on the phone arrived.

Shi Zong and He Zhen were forced to witness a second scene of passion.

Only this time, the male lead was different.

About 40 minutes later, Yuyan, leaning on Brother Wen, left the room.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and Qian Shan returned again.

He went to the TV cabinet, fiddled with the vase, then took out a small black device.

From this angle, Shi Zong couldn’t see clearly but guessed it was a camera.

Apparently, when Qian Shan first returned claiming to “look for car keys,” he was actually placing this camera.

This meant when he previously proposed and was intimate with Yuyan, the device wasn’t there.

Returning to place the camera, Qian Shan must have made some discovery or suspicion while Yuyan was showering, prompting this secret recording.

Could it be that while he helped Yuyan with her phone, he saw something that made him suspect her of cheating?

But he likely didn’t unlock her phone to check the contents.

Moreover, since Yuyan let him see her phone, it meant any evidence of her interactions with other men had already been cleaned.

Qian Shan wasn’t suspicious because of her phone.

Then how did he detect a tendency toward infidelity?

Outside the wardrobe came heavy inhaling and exhaling—Qian Shan breathing forcefully, trying to calm himself.

He probably didn’t want to believe what had happened, even though he clearly saw the intimate traces on the bed.

He then activated the camera, took out its memory card, inserted it into his laptop.

The chaotic sounds of breathing and slapping forced Shi Zong and He Zhen to witness a third scene.

Fortunately, this session didn’t last long.

Because Qian Shan quickly shut down the computer in anger and began smashing things in the room, muttering curses under his breath.

The sight of him, going crazy for a woman while speaking cheesy lines…

Was completely at odds with Shi Zong’s understanding.

As Human Realm Qian Shan, the version in his memories was a paranoid, awkward, artistically inclined creator.

Romance and love were only a tiny part of his life.

He should look like a serious, unsmiling scholar, obsessed and mad for his creation, ultimately killing for it.

Therefore, the two Qian Shans were clearly different.

Qian Shan had undergone two major cycles of reincarnation, having lived through Human Realm twice.

Could it be that the oily, flirtatious Qian Shan in this timeline belonged to a different Human Realm from the one Shi Zong knew?

For now, Shi Zong had no opportunity to explore further.

The system prompted that his time in this world had been sufficient and instructed him to leave immediately.

He glanced at He Zhen and saw that He Zhen had already turned and opened the door.

It seemed he had received the same prompt.

The wardrobe was too small, and the two of them were tightly cramped, so He Zhen’s movement inevitably made some noise.

Shi Zong glimpsed through the wardrobe crack and saw Qian Shan approaching with a suspicious expression, so he quietly urged He Zhen to hurry.

But He Zhen still moved deliberately, slowly lowering himself, as if he were someone of high status, completely unused to bending down and crawling through such a door.

Shi Zong, growing impatient, raised an eyebrow and gave him a shove with his foot.

One minute later, on the third-floor corridor of the castle, He Zhen, with a clear shoe print on his backside, said: “……”