Two Years Later
Seasons changed. Returned. Winter again — the same season she had transmigrated into.
— In those two years—
Luoli learned how to tie his own shoes. He became more outgoing. Made a few friends. Several, apparently, without much effort.
One afternoon—
"Mom… I made a new friend" "Oh? That's great"
He tilted his head. "Why do they like me so much?"
Qinran blinked… then laughed.
This little narcissist who do you take after.....
She walked over and gently pinched his cheek. "Maybe because you're kind"
He considered that seriously.
"…Or maybe because I'm handsome"
She burst into laughter.
Definitely narcissistic.
Luoli's 5th birthday. He wanted to invite everyone.
At his birthday party—
The apartment was filled with small shoes by the door. High-pitched laughter bounced off the walls.
Qinran paused at the hallway entrance.
Luoli stood in the center of the living room, surrounded by children, animatedly narrating some heroic story with exaggerated hand gestures.
"…and then I jumped from the dragon's back—!"
Gasps. Wide eyes. Complete admiration.
Qinran smiled.
She carried out the cake carefully.
"Who wants cake?"
The children froze for half a second. Then— "USSSSSS!!"
Tiny hands shot into the air in perfect unison.
"Alright, gather around the table"
Luoli stood proudly in front of the cake. He squeezed his eyes shut to make a wish.
"I wished for a dog!" "Luoli you're not supposed to say it—" "Oh"
Qinran watched quietly.
Grow well, she thought.
He cut the cake — slightly crooked.
— At the office —
Error logs flooded the screen.
"Qinran, it's crashing again—"
She rolled her chair over. Eyes scanning.
"Line 200. Infinite loop. Remove it"
Typing. Run.
The error disappeared.
"…How did you see that so fast?"
She didn't answer. She just turned back to her screen.
"Rework it. Debug it"
The developer blinked. "What?"
She paused.
For half a second — she wasn't here.
Conference room. Applause.
"Leader Ran deserves it!"
The Late nights.
Her old team, exhausted but grinning. "Rework it!" "Debug it!" "No time like today!"
The memory dissolved.
"…Nothing," she said softly.
And kept typing.
— Weekends —
She and Luoli still visited the café.
"Oh? You two are here?" Nana called out. "Here to help," Qinran replied. "Hello, Sister Nana!" Luoli shouted energetically.
Nana gasped dramatically. "Oh my little prince has become a big prince!"
She came around the counter and tickled him.
"Haha— stop— Sister Nana—!"
The café still smelled the same. Coffee. Warm air. Familiarity.
Some things didn't change.
On the other side of the city—
Beichuan woke up abruptly. Again.
"…"
He sat up slowly. He pressed his fingers to his temple.
These dreams were coming more often. And they were changing.
He leaned back against the headboard.
That laugh. Quiet. Dry. Yet… charming.
Why were they so vivid? As if he had lived them.
He frowned.
"Who are you…" he murmured
Another evening—
"Beichuan, this is—"
"Excuse me. Who are you?"
He looked at the woman standing beside his mother. One glance. He understood.
Not again.
He exhaled sharply.
"I'm leaving"
He turned.
"Beichuan—!" Su Huilan called.
But he was already gone.