Chapter 1237: Chapter 57 The Real An Qing (Monthly Ticket Bonus!)_3

“And then An Qing said in a daze, ‘Fireworks…’ I asked, ‘What?’ She replied again, ‘I want to see… fireworks…’ Then she fully woke up, just like Zhang Yuqian in the videotape, rubbed her eyes, lifted her head blankly, and said she remembered nothing.”

Su Xiuying turned her head, surprised:

“Really? Why haven’t you mentioned this to me before?”

Chu Shanhe sighed:

“She had a dream–why is that worth mentioning? Besides, we’ve pampered An Qing so much, it’s not like she hasn’t seen fireworks.”

“On the opening day of Disney in the East Sea, we brought her there. Later, she went countless times with friends and relatives. She must have been sick of the fireworks show at the castle by now. Think about it–has An Qing ever expressed a strong desire to see fireworks since then?”

Su Xiuying thought for a moment:

“Seems like… not really. An Qing rarely asks us for anything, and we’ve pretty much fulfilled all her wishes.”

Their conversation grew distant in Lin Xian’s ears.

[Fireworks.]

Another keyword.

And this keyword wasn’t unfamiliar!

On the last day in The Seventh Dreamland, Lin Xian had once asked CC:

“If one day you really get to celebrate your 20th birthday, what gift would you want the most?”

At the time, CC didn’t think twice and blurted out:

“Fireworks.”

“I really want… fireworks that belong to me.”

That answer surprised Lin Xian.

He never expected that the birthday gift CC desired so decisively would be just a display of fireworks.

Later.

Lin Xian asked CC why she longed for fireworks, but CC shook her head and said she didn’t know:

“But in my mind, this [obsession] has always been there.”

Obsession.

Was it the same kind of obsession as Rhein Cat belonging to Zheng Xiangyue, the 17th Time Assassin’s name, and Angelica’s revenge?

Lin Xian couldn’t understand the origins of this fireworks obsession.

But today…

Listening to Chu Shanhe say these things…

The clues about the Millennium Stakes once again began to connect.

An Qing’s dream contained fireworks, CC’s obsession included fireworks, and then there were those chaotic montages in Zhang Yuqian’s dream.

It was almost certain.

[These Millennium Stakes dreams might really all be fragments of the same dream, the same scene, the same story!]

“Mister Chu, Aunt Xiuying.”

Lin Xian snapped back to reality, looked seriously at the two:

“You’ve seen Zhang Yuqian’s reaction on the videotape just now, and considering what I just told you and Yingjun… it’s becoming increasingly clear that something critically important happened in 1952. That’s why the Millennium Stakes appeared, and all these strange events occurred.”

“This is also why Yingjun and I came to visit you today. I believe Yingjun has already mentioned it to you… The two of us intend to enter the hibernation pods once the children come of age, set out for the year 2234, and use the Time Shuttle Machine to travel back to 1952 to uncover the truth.”

“At the same time, I will do everything I can in 1952 to find a way to save An Qing and bring her back home to you.”

“The promise I made here before–I’ve never forgotten it for even a single day. So… I hope you can give me a little more time. Please wait a bit longer, I swear, I’ll keep my word and bring An Qing back!”

Chu Shanhe walked forward and patted Lin Xian on the shoulder:

“Lin Xian, your Aunt Xiuying and I have always believed in you and have never doubted you for a moment.”

“We know exactly the kind of person you are, which is why I haven’t called you this past year or pressured you. I know better than anyone how hard you’ve been working.”

“Yingjun has visited several times earlier, and we’ve learned a bit about the situation. To be honest, seeing this videotape and photo album today has actually made me feel a little more at ease.”

“But… Zhang Yuqian is Zhang Yuqian, and An Qing is An Qing. I will never rush you, Lin Xian. I only hope that one day, when we wake up from the hibernation pod…”

“[What you’ve found for us will be the real An Qing.]”

Lin Xian nodded:

“I understand.”

He grasped Chu Shanhe’s meaning.

Chu Shanhe didn’t want the Millennium Stakes; he wanted Chu Anqing–the Chu Anqing with memories, with her past intact.

Therefore, even though Chu Shanhe acknowledged that in three years, in 2028, somewhere in this world, a little baby girl would be born who looked exactly like Chu Anqing… he still wasn’t willing to keep waiting in this era.

It wouldn’t matter.

Even if she looked identical to Chu Anqing, she wouldn’t be Chu Anqing.

Besides.

Even if found, what would be the point?

The Millennium Stakes girl born in 2028 would still inevitably and helplessly dissipate into Blue Stardust in 2048…

Would they let Chu Shanhe’s heart break all over again?

“Don’t worry, Mister Chu.”

Lin Xian locked eyes with Chu Shanhe, his gaze firm:

“This decision Yingjun and I made to hibernate and head to 1952 wasn’t taken lightly.”

“It’s not just about rescuing An Qing–there are many other important things waiting for me to address. I won’t let anyone down.”

The end of the world,

human extinction,

World-Ending White Light,

these issues–Lin Xian had to resolve them one step at a time.

Cut the weeds at their roots!

Catch the king to defeat the thief!

If the ultimate mastermind wasn’t taken down, none of it would mean a thing.

Another Millennium Stakes girl would perish,

another World-Ending White Light would flare,

another round of human extinction would come.

The [source] had to be found.

Only by finding the source and eradicating it could everything truly be saved.

Chu Shanhe moved to Su Xiuying’s side.

He sat back down on the sofa.

Holding his wife’s hand, he looked at Lin Xian:

“When China’s ‘Hibernation Law’ was passed recently, your Aunt Xiuying and I discussed it and decided to sort out the things around us and enter the hibernation pods.”

“In a world without our daughter, every breath feels heavy, making it hard for us to breathe… We want to hibernate directly into the future where you’ve rescued our daughter; life without An Qing is still too hard for us to endure.”

“Originally we planned to bring this up later, once everything was ready, but since you’re here today, we’ll talk about it now.”

He paused.

Exchanging a glance with his wife, he turned back and continued:

“We’ve already saved enough money in our hibernation account to last us a lifetime. I intend to hand over Shanhe Corporation to you–consider it… a modest form of support for your work and plans.”

“You’re doing something truly remarkable, even if I don’t know the details. I know it’s certainly a great and respectable endeavor.”

“I don’t understand the research behind the Time Shuttle Machine, but it must cost a lot, right? Even though I know you don’t lack funding, consider this the heart of our family. Please, don’t reject this offer. Soon, both of us will hibernate, and giving you financial support is the best way we can help.”

“As for how you handle Shanhe Corporation, it’s up to you. Whether you merge it with your company or anything else… I’m entrusting it completely to you, and I won’t concern myself further.”

“Lin Xian, don’t feel overly pressured either. We can wait inside the hibernation pods. When you finally bring An Qing back, just bring her along… to wake us up.”

Thinking of that happy moment,

Chu Shanhe broke into a rare smile:

“[My greatest wish right now is to open my eyes one day and see my daughter’s smiling face.]”