016 A Reassuring Experiment
After hanging up the video call, Wang Heng immediately asked, “That… Spacetime Administrator, you can hear me now, right!”
A text window that didn’t belong to any software process gradually appeared on the screen.
【What’s the problem?】
“What do you think?” Wang Heng gritted his teeth. “This Lu Qi… It’s one thing to bump into her while looking for freelance work, but she’s actually going to Rongdu too. This is all part of your script, isn’t it?”
【I’ll remind you one last time: I am only a Spacetime Administrator, not a god. I cannot directly interfere with the development of the worldline; I can only observe from the sidelines and intervene to a limited extent. Moreover, my interventions, like this conversation with you, will inevitably expose my existence. Only the worldline’s self-correction mechanism can change the course of people’s destinies without them noticing. And this correction mechanism does not have self-awareness. You can’t talk to it and ask it to dispel your romantic fortunes.】
After a moment of contemplation, Wang Heng said in a low voice, “So if this continues, will I die by yandere again?”
【That’s hard to say. However, in the first timeline, the minds of those few girls were influenced by certain factors, which is why they became so extreme. With those influences removed this time, the risk you face is much smaller. Besides, you’re on guard in advance now. You should be able to avoid a situation where your relationships spiral out of control.】
Wang Heng nodded, his emotions having calmed down.
At that moment, his Q account received another new message, from Lu Qi: 【Send me your bank card number. I’ll transfer the deposit.】
“No ‘please,’ no question, just a straight-up command…” Wang Heng muttered. “But she’s very generous with money. That’s her style, alright.”
He still remembered that when he worked under Lu Qi, his salary was higher than the industry average. And as time went on, he found that his workload was getting lighter and lighter, while his salary and bonuses were increasing. It sounded like a good thing, but it was actually the beginning of a nightmare.
Wang Heng shook his head, pushing those terrifying memories to the back of his mind. Then, he sent Lu Qi the bank card number his father had given him.
Anyway, it was still safe for now. He might as well make some money first.
**
It was another Sunday. When Wang Heng arrived at the milk tea shop early in the morning, he saw Han Yixuan sitting in a chair with a troubled look on her face.
The girl stood up, her hands still resting on the tabletop. “You’re here…”
Wang Heng nodded. “Yeah. Is the manager here yet?”
“He came earlier than usual today and told me…” Han Yixuan fiddled with the bangs by her ear, looking quite distressed. “Today should be our last day working part-time. He said it’s all settled. The shop will be transferred to someone else starting tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You already knew?” The girl’s eyes widened. “Then why didn’t you tell me!”
“I was going to tell you, but I forgot. Sorry.”
“Then what will you do? Find another part-time job somewhere else?”
Wang Heng shook his head. “No need. I’ll just stay at home from now on. I found a new job online.”
“Online, working from home?” The girl tilted her head. “A rich lady coming to your door?”
“How is that possible… It’s just writing some code.”
“You can write code!”
“I’m teaching myself. By the way, since it’s the last day, do you want to tell your friends to come for milk tea? The last batch of ingredients will go to waste if we don’t use them up.”
Han Yixuan thought for a moment and nodded. “Okay, I’ll ask them.”
Having finally diverted the girl’s attention, Wang Heng immediately went into the back kitchen to help the manager. Even if he wasn’t needed, he had to look busy.
After today, at least for this summer vacation, I shouldn’t be pestered by this girl anymore… he thought to himself.
**
Han Yixuan’s friends were all busy today. On the other hand, Wang Heng’s friend was easily summoned, although it was only Xiao Renjian who came to get free milk tea.
“It’s so hot… Hey, can you turn up the AC in your shop?”
As soon as he entered the shop, Xiao Renjian started clamoring.
Wang Heng ignored him, just glanced over and asked, “What do you want to drink?”
“What’s the most expensive thing you have here?”
“I’ll give you an Original Milk Green Tea.”
Xiao Renjian looked at the menu and slapped his thigh. “Isn’t that the cheapest one!”
“It suits you best. Anything more expensive would be a waste on you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Yixuan, who was standing nearby, couldn’t help but laugh. “You two are so interesting when you talk…”
Wang Heng shrugged, waited for her to finish making the milk tea, took it, and handed it to Xiao Renjian.
This guy had rushed over after getting a call saying he could drink free milk tea to his heart’s content, so naturally, he didn’t need to pay a cent.
Xiao Renjian took a couple of sips, then suddenly leaned over, patted Wang Heng’s shoulder, and whispered, “You’ve been with this girl for so long and you still haven’t fallen for her?”
“Nope.”
“Seriously, could there be something wrong with you psychologically?”
Wang Heng scoffed. “How is that possible…”
“How is it not possible?” Xiao Renjian stole a glance at the girl not far away and lowered his voice even more. “Have you… you know… recently?”
The smile on Wang Heng’s lips instantly froze. “Why are you asking that?”
“I’m just asking. Have you performed the ritual recently? What about the ritual materials? Do you still have any physiological needs for girls?”
“Of course I do!”
On Xiao Renjian’s face, that pair of thick eyebrows, which were almost connected, twitched again. “Really? I’m very skeptical…”
At that moment, Han Yixuan also came over, causing the two boys to immediately shut their mouths.
“What are you two talking about?” the girl asked curiously.
Wang Heng and Xiao Renjian said in unison, “Nothing!”
Han Yixuan narrowed her eyes. “Really? I feel like you two were badmouthing me behind my back.”
Wang Heng was shaking his head, about to say something, but Xiao Renjian beat him to it. “He was telling me how cute you are. How could that be badmouthing?”
Han Yixuan was stunned for a moment, then pouted. “Hmph, I don’t believe you!”
**
When Wang Heng got home, his father hadn’t returned from work yet.
He recalled Xiao Renjian’s teasing in the afternoon and suddenly felt a little uneasy. Thinking back, since his rebirth, he really hadn’t engaged in any… self-generation activities. Was it because he was busy making money? Or was it the psychological trauma from the yandere incident?
After a few seconds of contemplation, he quickly came up with a solution. To find out the truth, he just needed to conduct an experiment.
Wang Heng opened his computer, skillfully searched for resources, found a desirable code, dragged the magnet link, and started downloading.
Twenty minutes later, the resource was downloaded. He took the computer and headphones into his bedroom.
Another twenty minutes later, it was done. The tissues were thrown into the toilet, flushed, and the evidence was destroyed.
Wang Heng thus confirmed: “Yep, no psychological problems. No problems at all.”
