novelraw Chapter 11 The Vote
Chapter 11 The Vote
“I’m in favor.”
Cheng Mengxue raised her hand without hesitation.
“I don’t think there’s anything to hesitate about. The whole point of researching time-traveling text messages in the first place—isn’t it to make up for regrets and avert tragedies?”
“If it were some stranger, fine. I’m not so overflowing with saintly compassion that I want to save everyone.”
“But Yan Rui is different! She’s not only my big sister—she’s also your friend. And more than that, it was because of her help that we were able to get the Positron Cannon back.”
“Now we’ve gained the ability to text the past through the Positron Cannon. Doesn’t that mean Yan Rui has a share of the credit, too? How can we just stand by and do nothing?”
She turned her head to look at Jiang Ran.
“I’m against it,” Jiang Ran said.
“You—!”
Cheng Mengxue’s eyes went wide.“I feel the same way you do. I want to save Yan Rui, too.”
Jiang Ran lifted his head and met her gaze.
“If there were no mysterious text, no string of meaningless digits… I would start the Positron Cannon without a second thought, send a time-traveling text message, and bring her back.”
“Just like you said—there’s nothing to agonize over. She’s our friend. She’s your big sister, and my childhood companion. If it wouldn’t cause any loss or consequences, then of course we save her.”
“But in a situation like this, who can say for certain that the text and that string of digits aren’t a [danger warning]? A [danger signal]?”
He paused, then let out a long breath through his nose.
“I’m afraid that if we act rashly, things won’t get better—rather… they’ll get worse.”
“Is it possible that after we send another time-traveling text message, Yan Rui lives… and the one who dies is you? Is me? Is Qin Feng?”
“And besides, I never said we should stand by and do nothing. I’m just arguing that we should first figure out what that text and those digits mean—what they represent. Once we’re sure there’s no risk, then we save Yan Rui.”
Cheng Mengxue gave a snort.
“But we can only send texts three days into the past. We can only change history within three days.”
She pointed at the calendar as a reminder.
“Today is March 26. If we still can’t crack that string of digits by March 29, then we’ll lose the chance to save her forever!”
“We can probably improve it later.”
Jiang Ran clenched his fist.
“We should be able to find… a way to send texts to an earlier past.”
“You’re just trying to soothe a child!”
Cheng Mengxue slammed the table as she sprang to her feet, furious.
“Hey, hey, hey—don’t fight, don’t fight.”
Qin Feng hurried between them to calm things down.
“I think what Jiang Ran said makes sense. Being safer, being steadier—that matters more than anything.”
“We still have two days. So how about we slow down before deciding and put everything into cracking this passcode first?”
…
Three days later—March 29.
Morning. The rooftop terrace.
Qin Feng pushed open the stairwell door and looked at Jiang Ran, who was sitting on the edge.
“Why aren’t you going to the club room?”
Jiang Ran sighed.
“You know exactly why.”
Over the past three days, the three of them had tried many methods to decode that mysterious string of digits.
The outcome was deeply discouraging. They still couldn’t tell what it actually meant.
Jiang Ran lowered his head.
“You definitely think I’m being overly cautious. Overly sensitive.”
“A little,” Qin Feng answered honestly. “But I understand you.”
“Because you’re not like us. Whatever the unknown reason is, you’re the one who can keep your memories from before a temporal shift. You’re the one who can personally experience the process of a temporal shift. So you have a deeper feel for what spacetime is, and naturally you have more concerns.”
Jiang Ran stood and faced the blazing red newborn sun.
“I’m torn, too. I’m not made of stone.”
He turned back.
“But this whole time-traveling text message thing started because of me. And it was me who dragged you two into it. I have to take responsibility for your safety—for your lives.”
“Don’t say it like that.”
Qin Feng stepped forward.
“It wasn’t you dragging us in. We chose to follow you. We listen to you. We like you. We accept you.”
“You’re my best friend. I’m willing to share any pain for you—and I’m willing to face any risk with you.”
“Since we met in high school, you’ve always been the idea guy, the one with endless schemes in your head. Sure, you weren’t great at studying, but you really do have tons of interesting ideas. I respect that.”
“Come on…”
Jiang Ran sounded helpless.
“My grades are already good, okay? A 680 on the college entrance exam counts as ‘not good’? Who can score 740 like you?”
“If you’re bad, practice more.”
“Oh, so now you’re putting on airs? When you game, why don’t you practice more and beat me?”
“Everyone’s built differently.”
…
Jiang Ran stared at Qin Feng, speechless.
“Heh.”
He couldn’t hold it in—he laughed.
He knew Qin Feng had to be smug inside right now.
Those were Jiang Ran’s exact words from a few days ago, when they were carrying the Positron Cannon out of storage and he’d teased Qin Feng with them.
Back then it had choked Qin Feng red-faced and wordless. Now Qin Feng was flipping it right back on him.
“You’re so noble. You and your 740—go to Tsinghua, then. Why squeeze in here with the two of us?”
“If I went to Tsinghua, wouldn’t I lose the chance to be with you two?”
Qin Feng looked at Jiang Ran.
“To me, you two matter more than Tsinghua… much more. You’re my only two friends. I hope we’ll always have this kind of relationship.”
“Don’t make it so mushy.”
Jiang Ran glanced at his watch.
9:37.
Yan Rui had drowned at noon three days ago. And time-traveling text messages could only be sent three days into the past.
So if they still didn’t decide…
It really would be too late.
“Let’s vote.”
“What?” Qin Feng didn’t understand.
“You haven’t voted yet, have you?”
Jiang Ran turned around.
“On whether to use time-traveling text messages to save Yan Rui—Xiaoxue and I already voted. One in favor, one against. But you—haven’t voted.”
“If we’re a team, then we follow our rule. The minority obeys the majority. Right now we’re missing your deciding vote.”
The sun climbed. Their shadows shortened until they overlapped.
“Just like you said—we’re best friends. Whatever we do, we should decide it together.”
“So say your choice, Qin Feng.”
Jiang Ran set a hand on Qin Feng’s shoulder.
“I trust you.”
…
Qin Feng fell silent for a few seconds, then spoke in a low voice.
“These past two days, I’ve thought a lot too. But I think the reason we’re stuck in a swamp like this is because we’re trying to force a path with nothing but wild speculation around that string of numbers. That won’t lead anywhere.”
“This might be risky. But what scientific experiment isn’t? And besides, we have no idea what those digits represent. That [danger warning] you’re guessing at… honestly, it might not even be right.”
“And anyway, we’re only changing the history from three days ago. It won’t produce any severe temporal butterfly effect.”
“If something unexpected really happens… can’t we just text the past again? We can find a way to make up for it.”
Jiang Ran looked at him.
“So what are you saying?”
“I’m in favor.”
Qin Feng said it firmly.
“I’m in favor of using the time machine we built—to send a text to us three days ago…”
“[Save Yan Rui.]”
Sparrows leapt from the power lines and flew off in a flock.
Just like that day they shot the film.
Rooftop. Slanting shadows. Two people. Locked eyes.
…
…
At last.
Jiang Ran, silent, nodded.
“…Okay.”