The cycle begins to repeat itself today.

"If you're not leaving, I'm not leaving either. I'll stay here and watch you go back. If you're thinking of what's best for me, then you should go back quickly, okay?"

Ye Zi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, softly saying "See you tomorrow," before turning and walking towards her home. I watched her figure grow smaller and smaller until she disappeared into the flow of people heading home, onto the side road. I took a deep breath, then exhaled heavily. Now it was time to confront that killer. I made up my mind and headed home. Perhaps because it was so late, fewer and fewer people were on this road, just like I had seen before. My heart, which had begun to calm down, started to pound again.

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. If you're afraid, you'll definitely die. You have to find out his true identity, you absolutely have to find out, so you absolutely mustn't be afraid.

I took another deep breath and then stepped forward.

Chapter Seventy-Seven Forgotten Things

I walked from the bridge towards home. The number of pedestrians gradually decreased, and the darkness became deeper and quieter. My shoes were just ordinary, no-name brand sneakers; the quality wasn't anything special, but the sound of my footsteps on the pavement wasn't particularly loud either. However, to me now, that sound was exceptionally clear and distinct. Walking in this environment made my heart pound uncontrollably. Both sounds seemed amplified infinitely, swirling in my brain, making me feel irritable. If I paused for a moment, the sound of my footsteps would disappear, but the pounding of my heart would not stop—of course, it wouldn't stop; as long as I was alive, my heart would never stop. I wanted to muster some courage, but I was afraid that taking the short sword out of my bag would alert the other person. Surviving wasn't my current goal; what I needed to do was catch the murderer, or at least see his face, and then do everything in my power to bring him to justice. I could only continue moving forward, and I began to regret wearing those shoes in the first place.

However, since I've considered my own footsteps, my thoughts drifted elsewhere. I remembered that person's footsteps clearly then, but now I only vaguely recall that they were very rhythmic. I can't describe the specifics anymore; perhaps I'll remember them when I hear them again, perhaps not—we'll find out soon enough. Considering how she ambushed and killed me, even when she quickened her pace, there was still a certain rhythm to her steps. What does that mean? Perhaps it means she was a law-abiding person? But would a law-abiding person kill? I'm not sure. While a person's walking frequency shouldn't change drastically if their state doesn't change frequently, a rhythm that's easily recognizable should be considered a characteristic, perhaps useful for identifying her. But that's not really necessary; if we can catch the perpetrator in the act, she absolutely won't escape.

I was getting closer and closer to the intersection where the murder would take place, but the surroundings remained eerily quiet, not even a dog barking. The silence was almost unbearable, and a sense of unease began to creep in. In this clearly audible environment, I could sense any movement, at least enough to take precautions before the other person entered my safe zone. However, my courage didn't match my rationality. My palms were sweating with tension, my mind, which had been wandering slightly, was now tense again, and my heart was pounding. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, I heard a faint noise behind me. It wasn't loud; I didn't know if the other person was deliberately keeping quiet, or if the distance between us made the sound faint, but even in this quiet environment, I heard it. I felt my whole body tense up, my mind filled with the thought of turning around to confirm who it was, but I had to wait a little longer... It was nighttime, and the lighting was poor. If the distance was too far, I could only barely make out the other person's movements. At least I couldn't make out their face. That was the only thing I couldn't let go of, so I had to be patient for a while longer.

The footsteps grew closer and more hurried. I had a feeling I'd overlooked something again. As I walked, I estimated the distance between us. When I felt we were about ten meters apart, I quickly turned my head and saw a figure—a familiar figure. Approaching me rapidly wasn't anyone else, but the girl I'd grown somewhat familiar with, the girl I'd only decided to entrust my trust to almost twenty-four hours ago—it was Ye Zi. Even in the dim light, I recognized her instantly. What she was holding also looked familiar; it seemed to be that short sword—the one she'd used to kill me once, the one that should now be in my bag. The only thing I kept in my bag was probably gone now.

At a distance of about ten meters, I felt Ye Zi rushing towards me at a sprinting speed, without the slightest pause. Those two seconds or so filled me with unbearable bitterness and a hint of despair. I didn't know what exactly was causing my bitterness, but I knew exactly where my despair came from. The girl I had decided to trust was now charging towards me with a short sword, unwavering... Everything I had done was wrong. Ye Zi hadn't changed from the beginning; she was still that girl mired in the dark mire. And me? I thought I had changed something, but now it seemed I was nothing. I didn't even have the strength to make a face; I stood there, utterly powerless. In that instant, many things came to mind, but they were all completely overwhelmed by this ever-expanding despair.

Perhaps from the very beginning, it didn't matter how it was done.

Such a thought flashed through my mind, but I didn't even have half a second to reflect on it. I heard the voice again, a voice that suddenly appeared near me, a voice that made no attempt to conceal itself. It suddenly rang out behind me, in a way that was extremely familiar to me, with a rapid, yet rhythmic, approach. I was extremely familiar with this voice, so familiar that the moment I heard it, my body reacted and quickly retreated. The despair that had spread throughout my body in an instant was instantly replaced by another emotion. It made me tremble, it made me terrified, it was called fear.

I realized something. When Ye Zi ran towards me, she was very fast, heading straight for me, but her footsteps didn't sound familiar. She was just running towards me with all her might, using both hands and feet, simply running towards me. But the person behind me—her footsteps were so familiar, so very familiar. The moment I heard them, I remembered. This inexplicable familiarity could only be her, only her!

I quickly turned my head, and what came into view was Lin Wan'er's face, almost touching mine. She was laughing, a silent, maniacal laugh, her eyes filled with an evil darker than endless night, a madness more chaotic than tangled threads. She reached out and grabbed my left sleeve, her right hand holding a sharp blade, aiming it at me. She didn't speak, but her will to kill me was stronger than words. My whole body was filled with confusion, but I didn't die. Lin Wan'er's body was thrown back by the powerful force, but she didn't let go of my sleeve, and I was pulled to the ground. I saw Ye Zi's body blocking Lin Wan'er's path, and a blade tip, almost piercing my eyeball, emerged from Ye Zi's body…

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Lost Lives

Lin Wan'er pulled me to the ground, my right shoulder slamming violently against the earth. What should have been a agonizing impact was completely averted by the blade less than a centimeter away. Even in the darkness, the blade gleamed with a cold, silvery light. Blood flowed from Ye Zi's body, pooling on the blade and dripping onto the ground. The suffocating feeling of being so close to death gradually subsided, but I was speechless with shock at Ye Zi's condition. Despite the scene, none of the three people present made a sound until Ye Zi coughed softly. I snapped out of it, easily freeing myself from Lin Wan'er's grip on my sleeve. I leaned back slightly, moving away from the blade, and checked on Ye Zi's condition. She lay down next to Lin Wan'er, or rather, half of her body was on top of Lin Wan'er. Her left hand held the hilt of the short sword, which was...right on Lin Wan'er's chest. The short sword was probably already embedded in Lin Wan'er's body. I didn't have time to check too much, nor did I want to. I carefully supported Ye Zi's body, trying to get her into a better position. I didn't know what position to keep her in. I wanted her to lie down, but the knife or something else that had pierced through her body was too long. I didn't want to move her around too much, afraid of causing further injury.

I knelt on the ground and gently helped Yezi turn over so that she could rest her head on my lap. I saw that her mouth was full of blood, and more blood was gushing out. She was looking at me, as if she wanted to say something, but she coughed again as soon as she opened her mouth slightly. I gently stroked her face and brushed away her disheveled hair.

"Don't speak, don't speak yet. I'll call an ambulance. You'll be alright, don't speak yet..."

I reached into my pocket with my other hand and pulled out my phone. My trembling fingers dialed the emergency number. In my rare experience using a phone, this was the first time I'd felt so incredibly impatient after just two or three rings. Listening to the dial tone, I felt a surge of anger, but couldn't find any way to vent it. Yezi was lying on my lap; I couldn't move her, or she would get hurt. As I dialed, I looked at her. I saw her eyes staring straight at me, a completely incongruous smile on her blood-stained face. She opened her mouth, and a muffled, trembling voice sounded in my ear.

"I'm so glad you're alright."

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. Hang in there, the ambulance will be back soon. Don't say anything yet."

I tried to calm Yezi down and get her to focus on protecting her own life, but this time she didn't obey my orders as I expected. Just like how she had followed me here on her own, she didn't care about what I was saying and continued talking.

"I'm sorry for secretly taking that sword... and for secretly coming with you... I'm so sorry, please don't be angry..."

"I'm not angry, really. Don't say anything, hang in there, everything will be alright."

"In that case, would you say I've been helpful?"

"Please, stop talking. I'm begging you. Think about yourself!"

I was getting angry and extremely frustrated because the emergency call hadn't gone through. What did this mean? Why hadn't anyone answered after ten or twenty seconds? Were all the people in the hospital dead? What were they doing?!

Yezi in my arms was still smiling shyly, then coughed twice, coughing up a lot of blood. She looked even weaker, and a sense of despair, even greater than before, enveloped my heart once again.

"Well, that promise can't be kept... In that case, could you kiss me one last time?"

Ye Zi gently raised one hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. The scattered bloodstains made her look even more fragile and pitiful.

"That way, it won't be dirty."

My heart ached so much that tears welled up in my eyes. I stroked her cheek but dared not move. I felt that if I did this, Yezi would die. I couldn't bear to see her die, nor did I want her to die, but if this continued, Yezi would still die. Damn it, I couldn't get through to the hospital, and I didn't know any first aid. Right now, all I could do was watch over her, unable to help at all. This made me feel utterly useless, and even more painful than this feeling of helplessness was the sheer powerlessness I felt. Yezi was still looking at me, her eyes almost closed, her breathing growing weaker and weaker. I couldn't hesitate any longer. I knew Yezi was about to give up. I bent down and kissed her lips. I dared not do anything, dared not do what I had done to her in the alley, and dared not use too much force. The taste that spread from my mouth, besides Yezi's, was mostly the sweet, metallic scent of blood. I felt Yezi's body, which was resting on my lap, completely relax. An immense sense of oppression pressed down on me, making it hard for me to breathe. I felt something run across my face and drip onto Yezi's face. I quickly wiped it away, but the tears mixed with blood stretched the bloodstains on her face even longer.

I heard the same low, labored breathing beside me. A completely different emotion welled up inside me, a stark contrast to my reaction to Ye Zi. In a fit of rage, I smashed my phone, which hadn't connected, to the ground, shattering it. I coldly glanced at the other person lying beside me, the one who had caused all this. She was tilting her head, looking in my direction, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, and she seemed surprised. Surprised? Why was she surprised? What right did she have to be surprised? How dare she be surprised? I had suppressed my anger the entire time, afraid that my emotional outburst would hurt Ye Zi. But now, my fear was gone, and all of this was her doing.

I supported Ye Zi's back, but felt no signs of life remaining in her body. Her chest wasn't rising and falling, and she wasn't breathing. Ye Zi was probably dead. I gripped the hilt of the knife and gently, very gently, pulled it out. It shouldn't have remained inside Ye Zi's body. I slowly laid Ye Zi's body down on the ground. There weren't many other options now; I had to make do with her for a little while... I turned to look at Lin Wan'er, feeling that my gaze should be filled with icy coldness.

Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Right to Regret

Carrying the knife, I walked to Lin Wan'er's side. She lay on the ground, coughing, a short sword piercing her body. She showed no sign of struggling; she had been looking at Ye Zi, only turning to me when I reached her. The doubt in her eyes had vanished, replaced by an overwhelming malice and madness. She didn't speak, showing no fear as I approached. I was surprised to find something: though I was beside her, I unexpectedly became calm. Only my hand gripping the knife tightened. Things I had previously resisted and feared flashed through my mind. Looking at Lin Wan'er lying on the ground, I couldn't bring myself to stab her.

This was my mistake, and there's no excuse for it. I knew which killer it was—Lin Wan'er's rhythmic, distinct footsteps—but I overlooked that. I mistook Ye Zi, who had rushed to save my life, for the murderer about to kill me. I presumptuously assumed she was the killer, presumptuously despaired because of her, even giving up on my own life. I presumptuously let her bear the responsibility I should have borne and die. All of this stemmed from my doubt and wavering. This is the biggest mistake I've made, and it's beyond redemption. Lying on the ground, Lin Wan'er is the murderer who killed Ye Zi, and also the murderer who killed me once. Even now, she shows no sign of remorse. She remains silent, except for the occasional, uncontrollable cough. She looks at me with those indescribable eyes. I still hate her, despise her, and even want to kill her, but these emotions intensify when I think of myself. If I hadn't made a mistake, it wouldn't have been Ye Zi who died. She died in my place. This shouldn't be happening. No one can die in place of another, especially someone like me who isn't even worth saving. If only the leaf had survived, why was it me who survived? If only I could do it all over again…

I looked at Lin Wan'er lying on the ground, her breath growing weaker and weaker. I had no intention of dealing with her. Judging from the current situation, Lin Wan'er was undoubtedly the one who had gone wrong in this round. She possessed a great deal of information that I needed to know, but I probably couldn't figure it out anymore. Lin Wan'er's feelings towards me were evident in the way she looked at me—very unfriendly. Moreover, I was her primary target, yet now I was standing here while she lay on the ground. I had no injuries other than a few stumbles, while she was about to die. I didn't think she could provide me with any useful information in this state. The saying "a dying man's words are kind" isn't always true; sometimes, a last-ditch effort is the most terrifying thing. I just looked at her, because I knew that if Lin Wan'er continued in this state, she would definitely die, and soon. I didn't have the courage to personally take someone's life, even in the face of such intense hatred. This situation was the best outcome for me. Lin Wan'er won't die anytime soon, but death is constantly looming over her. This should be the best punishment for her, and I will never waver because of it. Ye Zi's body is lying right behind me; I shouldn't let her down...

The scene was slightly bizarre. In the dimly lit street, apart from the three people, there were no other living beings. One person stood perfectly intact in front of a person on the verge of death, looking down at her. Another person, showing no signs of life, lay behind the standing person. Just imagining this scene almost made me laugh. What could be more ridiculous than this? All around was quiet. The only sounds I could hear were the thumping of my own heart and the faint breathing of another person. Soon, even that breathing stopped. I watched Lin Wan'er remain staring at me, the darkness in her eyes frozen, forever etched in my memory. I took a deep breath. Although I had decided to stand by and watch her die, the feeling of watching someone who had a chance to live die, even if she had wanted to kill me, was still unpleasant. I looked at the knife in my hand, thought for a moment, then threw it next to Lin Wan'er. I squatted down, reached out and grasped the short sword that was stuck in her body. The familiar feeling reached my hand, and I pulled the short sword out. There was no blood splattering, probably because her heart had stopped working. However, blood was still flowing out. I don't know why, but I thought of the scene after Ye Zi jumped off the roof of the teaching building. I wiped the short sword with my clothes.

I don't know why, or when it started, but my life has become surrounded by death. Whether it's my death, Ye Zi's death, or Lin Wan'er's death, I feel a dark wind always swirling around me, and a pair of eyes, more crazed and twisted than Lin Wan'er's, watching me from the darkness. My life has been completely changed; there's no going back. I sighed softly, holding the short sword in my hand, and finally made up my mind. I'm a failure, I've accomplished nothing. I tried to uncover the truth of something but was killed, and the girl I wanted to save was led to her death because of my hesitation and weakness. The enemies of both incidents were right in front of me, yet I still couldn't bring myself to avenge myself, clinging to a ridiculous bottom line, acting like someone I thought was human, but in reality, I'm nothing. I kept saying I wouldn't regret it, constantly striving towards my future. No one has the right to regret, but the one who uses that right the most is myself—it's disgusting.

I pointed the tip of my short sword at my heart, pressing it against my skin. The tip had already pierced my skin. Was this what Ye Zi felt back then? No, it shouldn't have even felt a fraction of that pain. There was no point in hesitating. If I died, it would be like dying alongside Ye Zi. If I miraculously survived...

I felt a sharp pain in my body, but this pain didn't make me wince. A familiar, even somewhat comforting darkness was spreading through my consciousness. My body lost its strength and I collapsed to my knees. The boundless darkness swept over me, and I completely lost consciousness.

Chapter Eighty: An Unexpected Discovery

My consciousness wandered in the boundless darkness, feeling somewhat hazy, but soon I sensed a breeze from the outside world—a feeling that had gradually become familiar over the years. I slowly regained control of my body, and with a little effort, opened my eyes. The darkness that greeted me made me think I wasn't fully awake yet, but then I saw that familiar figure standing there somewhat uneasily, looking at me, her hand unconsciously tugging at the hem of her clothes. The environment felt somewhat unfamiliar, but I quickly remembered—this was the dark alleyway where I had done things that would hurt Ye Zi. Ye Zi stood there, not leaning against the wall, and not holding a short sword; things hadn't progressed that far yet. This was… wonderful, wonderful, wonderful…

It's so good that Yezi hasn't been bullied yet. It's so good that I'm back to twenty-four hours ago. Yezi is still alive. It's so good. I felt ecstatic, but my body and expression didn't know how to react to express this emotion. This was the first time I'd ever been so happy. I was just trembling, trying hard to control myself, but I felt like I was about to lose control. I watched as Yezi's bewildered eyes gradually turned into worry. I knew I couldn't hold back anymore. I rushed to her side, reached out, and hugged her, holding Yezi, this living person, in my arms, feeling her life. But that wasn't enough, that wasn't enough. I moved away slightly, letting go of her body. I saw the look of disappointment on her face, so cute. One more time, I directly stroked her face with one hand, making her face me, and then kissed her again. That was all I knew how to do. I looked at Yezi's face, which gradually turned to surprise, and my hand unconsciously tightened. I was still a little scared, scared that she would just disappear like that.

After a while, I released my hand from her face. Even in the dim light, I could easily see that her face was incredibly red.

"May I call you Yezi?"

I asked her, worried she might disagree, since I'd only brought it up afterward. Things hadn't gone according to plan, and I was afraid I'd be heartbroken if things didn't go well or the conditions weren't right. Thankfully, Ye Zi nodded in agreement. I realized I was becoming addicted to this right to regret, to negate everything I'd done in the past and only keep the future that benefited me. But I hadn't forgotten what I needed to do. I'd gathered a lot of intelligence; I'd even figured out the killer's true identity and her exact target, Lin Wan'er. I had to find a way to deal with her, otherwise, it would just be another endless cycle in this circle. Although I had a lot of information, there was still much to investigate, like why she was targeting me, or the origin of Lin Wan'er's current state. I'd leave the hatred to the past. As long as I was alive, as long as Ye Zi was alive, there was always a chance… I saved Ye Zi from her suicide attempt; I was sure I could find a way to suppress Lin Wan'er.

Once the exact target was known, things became relatively simpler. Originally, I had chosen to temporarily set aside Lin Wan'er's matter to focus on investigating the murderer, but now that the two had overlapped, there was no need to hesitate any longer. I already had a plan for obtaining information about her after seeing this place, but I didn't know if she had left or not, so I was unsure whether to go back or not. What I needed to do was similar to what I had done with Ye Zi. Since she hadn't revealed any more information to me, I would find it myself. I felt my mind was exceptionally clear and calm.

As for now... since I don't know where Lin Wan'er's murderous intent towards me comes from, I've decided to maintain the status quo and first complete today's cycle with Ye Zi. I've completely confirmed Ye Zi's reliability and will no longer have any doubts about her. Moreover, with a clear objective, the efficiency of our actions and the things we need to consider have greatly improved, but the specific details still need to be carefully considered.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

I was talking to Yezi when, for some reason, she suddenly took a deep breath, her already rosy face turning even redder. I didn't say anything. Yezi nodded and then walked towards the alley's exit first. Although I was a little curious, I remembered that Yezi seemed to be in good condition. Since she was leaving, I would just follow her. As I walked out of the alley, I habitually looked left and right. Just when I was surprised to find nothing, I saw another figure that looked somewhat familiar. Lin Wan'er was walking this way from the direction of the school; she was probably going home this way too. My alertness rose, but I pretended not to see her and turned around to continue walking. However, I quietly tugged at Yezi, slowing her down. Although Yezi was a little confused, she complied with my command and slowed down. Because of the slowing down, I heard familiar footsteps gradually approaching. Lin Wan'er's footsteps were very distinctive. Even in this crowd, even though her footsteps were mixed with the surrounding sounds, I could still hear them if I deliberately looked for them. While there are some fixed patterns in how ordinary people walk, these patterns are not as obvious as Lin Wan'er's, which is like hitting the beat of music. It's as if she is deliberately maintaining this frequency, and her footsteps sound very distinct.

Yezi and I walked rather slowly, and after a short distance, I sensed Lin Wan'er had caught up behind us. The scene that had just unfolded seemed to be right before my eyes. I pulled Yezi slightly to the side, a small gesture that gave me a sense of security. I saw Lin Wan'er quickly overtake Yezi and me, heading towards the pedestrian bridge. I realized that her route largely overlapped with ours. Was it a coincidence? I wasn't sure, especially since Lin Wan'er was no longer someone I could underestimate. All my judgments about her needed to be verified more carefully.

Chapter 81 Three Goals

Lin Wan'er walked ahead of Ye Zi and me, and her pace was significantly faster than ours, which we had deliberately slowed down. We hadn't even finished crossing the pedestrian bridge before she disappeared from sight. I wanted to catch up, but Ye Zi was still beside me. Suddenly changing my speed would arouse her suspicion—Ye Zi is a very intelligent girl. I don't know how she deduced that Lin Wan'er would come to my neighborhood yesterday…and tomorrow night to kill me, but I was certain I had slipped up somewhere. Although I trust her, that doesn't mean I want to take her on this risk. Lin Wan'er is someone with a clear objective and is equally unafraid to kill, much like Ye Zi, even more so. Putting Ye Zi in danger is not something I want. I want to continue investigating this matter without her knowledge. Even if Lin Wan'er kills me again, it's just starting over. Or maybe not, but at least Ye Zi won't die because of me. Don't try to take advantage of things you can't control, because you can never know what they will bring you or take away from you. You are not the one who measures the gains and losses.

Soon, Yezi and I arrived at her building. It was still just as quiet. We went upstairs together, arriving at Yezi's house at the same time for the third time. Yezi asked me to sit on the sofa and went to the kitchen. It was then that I noticed something in Yezi's shirt pocket. Although my memory was a bit hazy, it should have been the popsicle I had bought for her "not long ago." Even after everything that had happened, she was still holding it… No, for Yezi, not much had actually happened. The only one who felt overwhelmed was me, experiencing this period for the third time. If you include the three times I had to start over because I didn't know what had happened, this was the sixth time. I had experienced more than ten days in just two or three days. This situation really didn't make me laugh.

The leaves were gone, replaced by the faint sound of flowing water. Having witnessed this before, I knew what the leaves were doing. My feelings were complicated. After everything that had happened, it was hard for me to clearly define my current feelings for the leaves. But one thing was certain: I wouldn't do anything I shouldn't have; my bottom line remained unchanged. Since I had the right to regret, I naturally wanted to use that right to achieve my desired outcome, and this didn't include my personal relationship with the leaves. Using her mental state to do bad things—my disgust for her had become even clearer than before. She shouldn't be treated so easily.

The leaves haven't sprouted yet, so there's no point in thinking too much. Just sticking to what we did before is fine. I started thinking about my own situation; I still have a lot to organize.

First and foremost, the primary target—the culprit who killed me—is undoubtedly Lin Wan'er. Although I don't know why I overlooked her distinctive footsteps, based on the information I received before my suicide and the scene I witnessed, she is undoubtedly the murderer. However, knowing she is the killer brings with it a greater number of questions. Firstly, what is Lin Wan'er's motive for killing me? In other words, what is her reason? Why did she want to kill me? My interactions with her were limited to conversations between classmates and class monitor at school. I didn't even remember her name, and given my circumstances, if I had any real conflict with her, I couldn't possibly forget her. Why did she want to kill me? This is a crucial question. Just as Ye Zi killed me to prevent me from interfering with her date that night, Lin Wan'er must have had her reasons for targeting me. These reasons may be illogical, but they cannot be absent. If it were a crime of interest, she wouldn't have engaged in scouting or lying in wait. Moreover, her target was clear; her eyes, representing evil and chaos, remain vividly etched in my memory. The first question that needs to be addressed is why she wanted to kill me.

Secondly, what exactly happened to Lin Wan'er? Like Ye Zi, one of my methods for returning to the past was to end my own life. This began the night before Ye Zi's suicide attempt, the time when Ye Zi started exhibiting abnormal behavior. I only decided to continue investigating after witnessing Ye Zi's fall from the rooftop, ultimately leading to the current situation. The time reset that occurred on the day I successfully saved Ye Zi didn't happen. In other words, after I changed Ye Zi's fate, my timeline returned to normal. Therefore, the reason for my reincarnation must be related to Ye Zi. After resolving the events surrounding her, the reincarnation naturally ended. My arrival in tomorrow and experiencing Lin Wan'er's attack is the best proof of this. My first time back wasn't a natural occurrence; on that very night, Lin Wan'er stabbed me through the heart, pinned me to the ground, and repeatedly stabbed me with a sharp blade until I died. I don't know the details of my death; all I need to know is that I was murdered. The second time was because Ye Zi sacrificed herself to save me, dying alongside Lin Wan'er. I couldn't accept this situation and participated in a gamble with my life on the line, only to gain the right to regret it. Based on this, I deduced that something had also happened to Lin Wan'er, and that there should be some connection between her and Ye Zi. This connection also leads to the real reason I got into this situation, which is also one of the questions that must be explored.

Thirdly, regarding what I'll encounter on my way home tonight. That drunkard lying under the bus stop sign—I could easily strip him of the "suspected murderer" label—but I still find him strange. Even if he isn't a murderer, his presence at that time and place, in that state, makes it impossible for me to completely let him go. I suspect he's hiding something. Also, I'm curious about how Lin Wan'er concealed herself that night. How did she manage to keep me completely hidden? If I have the chance, I'll try to investigate.

Chapter 82 A Clear Plan

The main issues are actually quite few, but there are also some minor details worth considering. For example, what's with Lin Wan'er's unusually rhythmic footsteps? I've never seen anyone walk with such an almost unchanging gait, even giving off a familiar feeling and making it exceptionally easy to recognize. This might be the result of her strict self-discipline, but I can't think of a reason why she has to do it this way. She usually seems poised and generous, although she treats people at my and Ye Zi's level or higher with considerable indifference. Yet, she holds a seemingly central position within the elite group of top students, which is peculiar, but not incomprehensible. However, against this backdrop, Lin Wan'er's strange footsteps seem somewhat odd, a kind of awkwardness that's hard to define. I don't know if I'm the only one who thinks this way, but no one else I've seen seems to have any particular reaction to Lin Wan'er's footsteps. I'm certain I heard that clear sound myself, so the problem can only be with Lin Wan'er.

Then there's Lin Wan'er's modus operandi and route. I only found out where Ye Zi lived by following her, and because my skills weren't good enough, she discovered I was following her. This time, I'm hesitant about whether to follow her again, perhaps to get some unexpected results. But if I do, I probably won't get anything useful besides Lin Wan'er's home address. Not everyone is like Ye Zi, whose parents are very busy and rarely come home for work. And not everyone is as easy to talk to as she is, agreeing to my various requests even after what happened, and even inviting me to her house, although her intentions aren't anything worth discussing.

Another thing that bothers me is something Ye Zi said: she mentioned that Lin Wan'er has a good relationship with the teachers, especially the homeroom teacher, and that they are often seen walking together. While it's normal for the homeroom teacher and class monitor to be close due to their positions, and many students enjoy interacting with their teachers, for Ye Zi to say that she "often sees them walking together" suggests that their relationship might be better than I imagined. Frankly, it's a bit much to be suspicious to this extent, but what I'm doing now doesn't allow me to be careless. I generally try my best to investigate anything that can be investigated, although it's a lower priority compared to things that absolutely must be done and investigated. Finding clues would be great, but if nothing is found, I feel there's no need to force it.

These are about all the issues I can think of right now. I've noted them all down in my mind, and I'll carefully consider the details of the operation later to avoid any oversights. As for now, the sound of water, which had been barely audible earlier, has long since disappeared. Yezi will soon be standing in the living room, wearing the same lingerie we met once before, waiting for me to see her. I need to calm Yezi down first. Things are unfolding exactly as I expected. This is my third time visiting Yezi's house, and strictly speaking, it's also the third time Yezi has clearly tried to lure me into crossing my line. She's invited me to her house three times with the same intention, which shows her insecurity and her obsession with "me." I'm trying my best to suppress similar thoughts for Yezi's sake. Yezi appears as I expected, wearing the same pajamas I guessed. I use the same method as last time to make her give up on that idea. I don't plan to change the details of that agreement. If I increase the total number or the difficulty, Yezi will easily see that I'm making things difficult for her. If I reduce the target number, it will become too easy to achieve, which would be a very bad outcome for me.

Ye Zi was wearing the dress I found for her last time. I went to her room again to look for it, then dressed her and had her sit next to me. I'll probably stay until the same time as before and then go back, but I've abandoned my planned activities for tomorrow. Now that the murderer has been identified, all of tomorrow's actions are meaningless. Following the same pattern as before, I'll leave tomorrow's plans alone and use the time for other observation activities to find clues. If time resets, whether I'm still attacked by Lin Wan'er or I fall asleep at home and end up back 24 hours in the past, it's enough to prove that the core problem hasn't been solved. This way, I can rule out the possibility that my actions tomorrow will affect the core event. If it doesn't reset, it means my changed behavior has triggered the time reset. Whether this matter passes or not, it provides me with a basis for reference. Combined with Ye Zi's previous incident, perhaps I can find some clues.

However, no matter how well I plan, the three most basic questions must be answered. Without resolving Lin Wan'er's issue, none of this can begin. Solving these questions requires a large amount of clues and information. Ye Zi has already revealed everything she knows, perhaps with some omissions, but they are insignificant. I've decided to go to the school again tonight at 3 AM. This is the time I entered the school at night while following Ye Zi. At that time, even the barking of dogs is almost inaudible, and naturally, there's hardly anyone to be seen. Although there's a possibility that Lin Wan'er might be lying in wait, it's a necessary risk to uncover the truth. Taking risks to avoid danger is a joke in theory, but I have no choice. The school offers a wealth of information; it's currently the most convenient and efficient way to obtain information, and I have no reason to give it up.

Yezi sat obediently beside me. I checked the time and realized there was still quite a while before I was supposed to leave. I didn't have anything else to do, so I started chatting with Yezi who was sitting next to me.

Chapter 83 Doubtful Motives

Having arranged everything except arriving at school early, Yezi and I made a new agreement. The general content remained the same; the main point was to give her a goal to strive for. I also stabilized Yezi's emotions and state of mind, just as I had done before. Seeing that it was almost time, I stood up, ready to say goodbye to Yezi. But before that, I went to Yezi's window again and looked down. Because of the poor lighting, I couldn't see anything clearly, and I wasn't hoping to find Lin Wan'er through this action; I was just trying my luck. Perhaps my action was a bit sudden, because when I turned around, I saw Yezi's puzzled look.

"This place isn't safe at night, so don't go out too late. And remember to lock the door when you get home, okay?" I instructed Ye Zi, watching her nod earnestly. I felt she was being a little too obedient. While that was a good thing, it also meant I had a significant influence on her thinking. In the long run, this wasn't necessarily a good thing for her to return to a normal state. But I wasn't in a hurry to correct her. I had plenty of time to try and change her. If I kept going back and forth like this, everything I was doing now would be in vain. So, dealing with Lin Wan'er was what I should be focusing on right now.

After saying goodbye to Ye Zi, I left her house. She stood at the door watching me. I went downstairs, and after a while, I could no longer see her floor before I heard her close the door. She probably couldn't even hear my footsteps anymore. I continued downstairs. Compared to last time, I felt more relaxed this time, perhaps because I already knew who the murderer was. But that was all. If I made any unusual moves that alerted Lin Wan'er, things might develop in ways I didn't expect. I already had a clear goal and method for investigation, and this change wasn't necessarily a good thing for me. So, maintaining my original modus operandi was still necessary, at least for today.

Although there aren't many things to do today, there are still some important matters, and I won't be careless. Walking uphill from Ye Zi's building, I'm back near the hospital. If my prediction is correct, Lin Wan'er should be somewhere within the hospital grounds, already aware of me, and trying to follow me. Her motive for wanting to kill me might become clear later, but how did she know I was going that way? Was the hospital really her starting point? Thinking about it now, that possibility seems unlikely. Lin Wan'er clearly has murderous intent towards me; she's coming for me. But if she were just waiting for me in this hospital area, she would have chosen to ambush me here. It's dark here, and there are many obstacles, like the grass wall where I followed Ye Zi—it would have been a perfect hiding place. If she wanted to attack me, that would undoubtedly be the most suitable place. But she didn't act here. Did she have a change of heart and decide not to kill me? I'm not that naive. Excluding that possibility, the remaining reason she didn't kill me must be that she couldn't, or that she wanted to but didn't meet certain conditions. There weren't many people around at the time, and there were relatively few surveillance cameras. Killing me here would have been much more discreet and easier than killing me at the intersection near my house. She had a way to kill me, so the former can be ruled out. That leaves the possibility that certain conditions weren't met.

Lin Wan'er wanted to kill me for some purpose, that's for sure. The fact that I didn't die today suggests that my value to her isn't comparable to her goal, or that killing me is a secondary priority. To achieve this, she needs to kill me under certain conditions, and those conditions are met at the intersection near my house, where something not present here exists. But I don't see anything abrupt about it. Even during the day, aimlessly searching for a target you don't recognize as an object, event, or environment is impractical, especially at night. However, Lin Wan'er undoubtedly wanted to kill me for some reason; otherwise, her obvious murderous intent is inexplicable. Unless… when those crazed eyes looked at me, it wasn't murderous intent, but something else entirely. These intangible things are beyond my comprehension and judgment, but judging from the outcome, I think it was undoubtedly murderous intent.

Leaving aside the condition that needs to be met, it's now confirmed that Lin Wan'er won't attack me on the road from Ye Zi's house to the hospital. However, this doesn't mean she's lying in wait for me at the hospital. Since I'm her target, she needs to ensure I walk down the road she's targeting. But how does she know where I'll go? Although I've been to Ye Zi's house three times, this should be my first time there to them. How did she know I'd take the hospital route instead of retracing my steps and going back? Is she really just waiting in the hospital for someone to pass by and kill if they seem suitable? Does that mean I won't be in trouble if I just walk down the road after leaving Ye Zi's house? Or is it that Lin Wan'er won't kill anyone today, but is simply choosing a suitable target, scouting the area, gathering necessary intelligence, and then lying in wait on my likely route the next day to deliver a fatal blow? It's not impossible. After all, Lin Wan'er walks quite fast. On the night we didn't go into the alley, she might have been right behind Ye Zi and me, and walked all the way to the hospital. After she killed me, I wasted a lot of time in the alley, so she passed me ahead of time. Then, when I committed suicide and returned to the past, I didn't waste much time. When I came out, I happened to see Lin Wan'er. Ye Zi and I slowed down and didn't follow her, but she must have gone to the hospital.

But if that's the case, then Lin Wan'er can kill anyone she finds without hesitation, which would be a huge threat to me.

Before I knew it, I had left the hospital grounds and come to the main road.

Chapter 84 Information about the Drunkard

Stepping onto the sidewalk beside the main road, I already knew what was going to happen, so I didn't stop and headed straight home. As I expected, those familiar footsteps sounded again. I knew it was Lin Wan'er, but I didn't think she would attack me at this time, because her exact attack time for both times was the same as tomorrow night, at that same intersection. What I had done so far hadn't changed much from before, so I wasn't too worried about her suddenly appearing. However, just to be safe, I stopped where I had been looking back, performing the same action as before. I was a little worried that I had missed something, and she might send me back twenty-four hours to the past, or send me straight to hell. Although I had experience with this, I still couldn't handle so many things happening at once, and there was no need to take the risk. Just standing here and glancing back briefly was enough. Just like before, Lin Wan'er's footsteps were initially far away, only faintly audible, but gradually grew louder. I was a little curious about where she was following me, but I didn't pay too much attention, because I knew I probably still wouldn't find her location. I arrived at the intersection, and this time I couldn't help but look around. Sure enough, I couldn't find the drunkard anywhere. Whether he came here by chance or with some purpose, I still couldn't figure it out.

I continued walking and arrived near the police station. Just as I was about to see it, and Lin Wan'er's footsteps seemed to be right next to my ear, I quickly turned around. But all I saw was that same scene—not completely invisible, but no one in sight. I became increasingly curious about Lin Wan'er's method of concealing herself. I tidied myself up a bit and then turned back. After walking a short distance, I saw the drunk man again. He was lying there, just like before. This time, I felt much more at ease and walked towards him, wanting to investigate. Having the police search him last time ensured my safety, but it also meant losing the possibility of personally searching for clues on him. I had also witnessed how their commotion hadn't woken the drunk man, which gave me some confidence. So I walked over to him, squatted down, turned on my phone's flashlight, and began searching him.

He was a typical middle-aged man, but he looked somewhat down on his luck. His clothes weren't suitable for a formal occasion, but he seemed to have a job. I found his wallet; I'd seen the police take it out of his pocket before, so finding it was easy. I found his ID card and a stack of business cards. I looked at the ID card, at the string of numbers that accompanied a citizen throughout their life. His numbers started differently from the ones I was familiar with; they were a different string. He might be from another city, or even further away, and was just a freight carrier. His business card was poorly made; it didn't have a company address, only the company name—Black Horse Freight. It listed services for transporting large quantities of goods, as well as specializing in transporting large construction vehicles like those carrying soil to construction sites, or other miscellaneous items. Then there was a contact person and a phone number. The contact person's name didn't match his; his surname was Li, and his given name was Li Guoqiang—a name full of the aspirations and hopes for the future of the country that people had held forty or fifty years ago, and it was one of the most common names at that time. He was probably just an employee working at this company, but it seems he's not doing so well now; usually, no one gets drunk to this extent.

He didn't have much money in his wallet; I counted it roughly, only three or four hundred yuan. For a middle-aged man like him, it wasn't much, just enough to get by. Perhaps he had kept all his money at home. There was a photo in the wallet. I glanced at it under my phone's light. It showed a man, a woman, and a child, a teenager, who only reached the woman's waist. The three of them looked at the camera, seemingly happy; they appeared to be living a fulfilling life. I looked at the man's face in the photo and compared it to the drunk man lying on the ground. The real man wasn't as tidy as he looked in the photo. Even in the dim light, I could see his stubble, which looked like he hadn't groomed in a long time. But they were probably the same person. He had a small tattoo on his arm, which looked like a leopard. I couldn't make it out clearly, but drivers, especially long-haul truck drivers, often choose animals representing speed and stability as their talismans. The meaning should be similar.

I rummaged through his pockets and found his phone. I checked it; it was locked, and the battery was below 20%, showing a red indicator. Unable to unlock it, I couldn't find any more clues. I put the phone back and started pressing on other parts of his body, trying to find something else, but unfortunately, I found nothing except his wallet and phone. There weren't many places on him to put things; besides the phone and wallet, there was only the bottle in his hand—he was clearly a drunkard. Will I become like that someday? I drifted off into thought, a slight worry creeping into my mind about that future. I quickly dismissed these thoughts and stood up. I was about to call the police to come and take him away, but then I put my phone back. I felt it was necessary to conduct another investigation of the area while they hadn't taken anything.