To the tunnel.
This was also something that had been agreed upon with his best friends in advance.
Descending from the old house behind the hospital, the path split into two directions: to the right lay the basement room, and to the left was the unknown. Back then, the water there had been too deep, leading Zhang Shutong to deduce that something was blocking the way. Now that the water had mostly dried up, the group planned to pick an auspicious day to go down again.
In reality, that meant the weekend.
On Friday, because Mr. Song had left, everyone was utterly listless and in no mood for an adventure.
Saturday was spent hanging out off the island for the entire day, so having finally made it to Sunday, if they didn't go now, then when?
The path to the right, after all, led straight to that basement room.
Not just the others, but Zhang Shutong himself was also incredibly eager to know where the left side led. If it was an air-defense shelter, yet they had reached a dead end in less than ten minutes, an air-defense shelter shouldn't be that short. So, what was hidden on the left? Was it another secret chamber?
After going to school here for so many years, he had never heard of an air-defense shelter entrance existing anywhere on the island.
As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. To be safe, Zhang Shutong naturally called Lu Qinglian along.
In truth, she would have gone even without being asked.
Perhaps Lu Qinglian's mind was even more urgent than his own. The clay figures, her mother, the temple keepers, and the person in the basement room—they were like an iceberg on the ocean surface, with only a single corner revealed.
Thinking of this, Zhang Shutong cast a glance at Lu Qinglian. This was likely the reason why she wasn't wearing her green robe today, opting instead for a short down jacket that made it easy to move around.
Soon they rode to the entrance of the service outlet, located in the south-central part of the island, not far from the school. The only building on this street that Zhang Shutong was familiar with was that nail salon.
Stopping the bicycle, the two walked side by side, resembling a pair of students out shopping. Lu Qinglian would occasionally size up the shops along the street, while Zhang Shutong perfunctorily wrapped his chewing gum. Today was excellent weather, with brilliant sunlight on the ground. There were quite a few combinations like theirs; students had stepped out early, carefree smiles hanging on their faces as they bought milk tea, got their nails done, slipped into a bookstore—in short, just wandering around everywhere.
The only difference lay in the fact that while some people would head toward the island's shopping mall shortly after, others were about to plunge themselves back into the dark and deep underground, and still others were currently taking the ferry over to the island.
Zhang Shutong was certain that the girl named Su Yunzhi was currently strolling somewhere on the island—perhaps on the commercial street, perhaps by the lakeshore, or perhaps on a bus. Zhang Shutong knew she owned a card camera that she would hang around her neck whenever she went out to play, snapping a few photos whenever she encountered a scenic spot.
Zhang Shutong also understood her character; since she said she was coming to play on the island, it meant she really had planned this trip in advance, rather than using it as an excuse to treat him to a meal.
The relationship between the two of them was far from being close enough to that extent—how could her "heart be secretly promised" just because he helped find her phone? Although she truly was grateful, it was only to the degree of a thorough thank-you.
In fact, his senior sister had mentioned wanting to treat him to dinner last night, but Zhang Shutong had to hurry to catch the ferry back to the island, so they had only chatted briefly before he took his leave.
It had even triggered a minor mix-up. When he saw his senior sister at the time, he had found it truly unbelievable, thinking to himself how such a coincidence could exist. On the original timeline, the two had gotten to know each other precisely because he had used his time-looping ability to help her solve a minor trouble. Should it be said that she possessed a bit of an unlucky temperament, or that a twisted fate truly existed between them?
Zhang Shutong couldn't figure it out either, merely calling out "Senior Sister" instinctively. But his senior sister was only a first-year in high school this year; where would a junior come from?
Su Yunzhi had been startled, asking if he was her junior from middle school. This kind of thing couldn't be faked, so Zhang Shutong had a sudden flash of wit and said, "When you guys were doing volunteer work, I recognized that you were a student from City First High School. Because I want to apply for First High next year too, I took it upon myself to call you Senior Sister."
Upon hearing this, his senior sister smiled warmly. She had always been a helpful person. Before Zhang Shutong could say anything, she "took it upon herself" to claim him as her junior, actively adding him on QQ and saying she would send him some exam preparation materials later.
"Keep it up, okay."
Accompanied by such a phrase, Zhang... Shutong and Su Yunzhi had become acquainted.
Reflecting on it later on the ferry, Zhang Shutong figured the other party probably viewed him as a somewhat brash younger boy or little brother type?
It didn't really matter either; he was merely lamenting the wonder of fate. Zhang Shutong's feelings toward his senior sister had always been very complex. On the original timeline, after he took a leave of absence from school, he had transferred to another town. For a period of time, he couldn't leave his house, and his senior sister had specifically taken a train over to encourage him. But given his state at the time, he couldn't offer any response, so the girl had returned to her city alone by train. Subsequent events had amounted to nothing, and the two had faded into mutual oblivion.
But what he hadn't anticipated was that on the cold-blooded timeline, he had actually ended up together with his senior sister again. That time he had been an absolute bastard, deceiving her feelings. His senior sister had perhaps faintly discovered the truth, yet she told him:
"Shutong, no matter what, I don't blame you, but you really can't go on like this... You're on that island right now. I'll go find you tomorrow..."
Sometimes having too good a memory was also a burden. Zhang Shutong clearly remembered every single word from the other end of the line, and also remembered that they had talked on the phone that night right on the street outside this exact service outlet. The streetlamps were dim, casting a long silhouette. But at that time, he couldn't afford to figure out the emotions contained in this phone call, wanting only to quickly verify the conditions for the loop.
It was only upon reaching the stray dog timeline that Su Yunzhi seemed to have vanished from Zhang Shutong's life. He had therefore made up his mind not to involve himself with her anymore. Even if he went to school in the city proper later and entered the same high school, it would amount to nothing more than a certain senior sister existing among the older students. But over three years of high school, there were plenty of seniors; there was nothing special about it.
Yet when he returned home last night, he received a message from his senior sister. True to her word, she had sent over the middle school review materials. After figuring out that he was a student on the island, she said in pleasant surprise that she and her friends were coming to the island to play today, and asked if they should grab lunch at noon if he was free?
In fact, the time she initially suggested was midday.
But Zhang Shutong consciously had business at noon and had already politely declined once, which was why it was changed to the evening.
He hadn't anticipated that he would forget his mother's arrangement, causing a conflict with treating Lu Qinglian to dinner.
Zhang... Shutong didn't intend to rekindle an old flame. The gap between a first-year and a second-year in high school might not be far, but the gap between a fourth-year in middle school and a first-year in high school was like two different worlds. Even if a list of romantic competitors truly existed, Zhang Shutong's grand name could absolutely never appear on that list.
Yet for some reason, he still wanted to go meet her once.
If his future life developed as he expected, Zhang Shutong could roughly foresee that he and Su Yunzhi wouldn't have much intersection again. He and his best friends would attend high school in the county town, while his senior sister would be in the city proper, like two parallel straight lines—
The meaning of this phrase was that if he didn't go to this dinner, he wouldn't go to the city proper to look for her again either.
And as for his senior sister's side, he was just a "junior" who had helped her find her phone; she would express her gratitude if given the chance, but if missed, it was impossible for her to chase after him to treat him.
Zhang Shutong still found it difficult to reach a definitive conclusion.
Right now it was only nine o'clock in the morning. His senior sister wasn't visiting the island alone, but with a few friends. The group had their own arrangements, and Zhang Shutong didn't count as a host; he had merely recommended a few scenic spots and a few characteristic restaurants. As for whether to go to the appointment in the evening, there was no great rush to reply.
The island wasn't like the city proper. If they were both in the city proper, the city was too large, and the geographical distance was almost immeasurable. But if they were both on the island, the island was very small, and perhaps they would accidentally cross paths at the next corner.
A queue had already formed inside the service outlet. He took a number and waited on a chair, his gaze lingering on a pull-up banner for a mobile plan. The advertising slogan read, "Thinking of you at all times, in all places," and another read, "Knocking on your heart's door at any moment." Even advertising slogans were this artsy nowadays, but it wasn't wrong either; some people just appeared in your life like this without any warning signs.
He suddenly felt this was quite magical. Some people you had known for a very long time, and one day you stood on the exact same piece of land; you didn't have to put in much effort to find her, yet there was no reason and no necessity to do so.
These thoughts were merely pondered in his mind.
Zhang Shutong didn't forget that there was still serious business in a bit; best to make it quick.
He picked up a flyer, studying the plans on it, occasionally discussing a few words with Lu Qinglian. True to form, she understood nothing at all, listening with great focus. Zhang Shutong suspected that if she came to get a card on her own, she would be hoodwinked into setting up a bunch of bundled plans, and then by the end of the year, her phone bill would be entirely deducted to nothing.
Zhang Shutong also instructed her not to reply recklessly to text messages from the service provider. She nodded, resembling a classic ditz at this moment.
"Don't treat me like a fool," Lu Qinglian would say helplessly whenever he spoke too detailedly.
Before long, their number was called. The service outlet on the island held a monopoly status, and the clerk's attitude could hardly be described as good. The other party merely asked carelessly:
"Hello, what business would you like to handle?"
"Set up a new number."
Zhang Shutong pointed at Lu Qinglian and handed the ID card over.
The clerk didn't even turn her face, seemingly accustomed to it:
"If it's only setting up one... hmm, how about this, handsome? You change your plan, we have a promotion running right now?"
Left with no choice, Zhang Shutong reiterated that he wanted to set up a new phone number.
"I know, ah. I mean setting up a couple's plan for the two of you, offering unlimited calls within the province between the two lines?"
"No need," the two declined calmly in unison.
Zhang... Shutong had long anticipated this kind of dramatic misunderstanding.
The clerk paused for a moment, and only then did she shift her gaze away from the computer.
"Don't be shy, it really is a great deal. How about I introduce the specific details of the plan to you guys..." Saying this, she cast a glance at the ID card, and suddenly said awkwardly, "Oh, sorry, I thought this was the girl's ID card... What relation is this lady to you?"
"My mom."
Zhang Shutong thought they would finally enter the process, but the clerk scanned the ID card and asked again:
"Does your mother already have a phone number under this ID card?"
Zhang Shutong nodded. The other party said with regret, "We're running a user acquisition promotion lately, so this won't qualify for the discount. However—" Her eyes lit up: "However, I have a method. Do you want to change your plan, handsome?"
Zhang Shutong thought to himself, Why do you keep trying to trick me into changing my plan? But the clerk spoke with astonishing words:
"I can set up a parent-child number for you two, which also allows unlimited calls, oh?"
The clerk was a young girl, and she gave a playful wink when she said this phrase.
Parent-child... wait, no. Zhang Shutong and Lu Qinglian exchanged a glance.
I think it's better not to save this money. This was the meaning in Zhang Shutong's eyes.
As for Lu Qinglian—she merely spared Zhang Shutong a glance, then turned her face away:
"How much money can be saved?"
The clerk knew who made the calls:
"Beautiful, it saves quite a bit compared to setting up a phone number individually. Look here, it saves ten yuan a month, which is one hundred and twenty yuan a year, and the new number even comes with three gigs of data..."
"I understand." Lu Qinglian nodded her chin politely, then turned her head to ask, "Will this cause trouble for Auntie?"
This will cause trouble for me, Zhang Shutong thought speechlessly.
The plans they had studied just now suddenly had no place to be applied.
"The problem isn't that," he had no choice but to say. "I didn't bring my ID card, so I can't change the plan."
"Your number is also under your mother's ID card, handsome."
Zhang Shutong really didn't remember. He said hesitantly:
"A single ID card can also set up a parent-child... family number?"
The clerk nodded.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
The good news was that money was saved; not only on Lu Qinglian's new number, but even his old plan was cheaper by five yuan.
The bad news was that despite saving money, Zhang Shutong had a feeling of being taken advantage of.
Now he stood beside her watching Lu Qinglian pick a number:
"You can pick a lucky number, like a six, eight, or nine, or you can pick a homophone for your name. For instance, your name is Lu Qinglian, so the homophone would be... 670, oh, that's actually quite smooth."
Saying this, Zhang Shutong realized her name made it very easy to pick a number. By contrast, since his name was Zhang Shutong, it was very difficult to match a number:
"But usually it's also hard to pick such a perfect coincidence, just pick any one."
If it were an average young girl, picking a number would take half an hour. But Zhang Shutong knew Lu Qinglian wasn't an average girl. She merely swept her gaze over a pile of number SIM cards, and then pulled one out:
"This one?"
The last digits of this card were 2670.
Zhang... Shutong had long known her luck was decent; the fishing from before could prove this point. But he hadn't expected it to be good to this extent. He froze for a moment:
"Just this one then."
Very quickly, the two exited the service outlet.
Lu Qinglian operated that button phone with one hand, her slender fingers flying nimbly across the keypad, not looking at all like someone who had just come into contact with a phone. Zhang Shutong watched in admiration, and recited his own number.
He possessed an excellent memory, memorizing her phone number after reciting it silently once.
Zhang Shutong also told her Mr. Song and Ruoping's phone numbers, then opened his address book. The pinyin for "Lu Qinglian" appeared in the input method for the first time. He selected the character "Lu" first, preparing to find "Qing" and "Lian" to enter them one by one, but he hadn't expected the first predictive word to pop up to be "Qinglian"—as in the black silver carp.
This proved that Zhang Shutong truly was a person who loved fishing.
He deleted the character "Lu," preparing to leave just the last two characters, but felt an unfriendly gaze cast toward him.
Lu Qinglian shifted her eyes away from his screen:
"Delete it."
"Do you remember that time we went fishing and caught a black silver carp? Its head was massive, actually it looked quite..."
"Delete it."
"In the future when you have a QQ account, I suggest calling it Black Silver Carp. Right now, having a unique nickname is the top priority..."
"Classmate Zhang Shutong, parent-child number."
Zhang Shutong typed in the three characters for Lu Qinglian.
He let out a sigh, feeling that another piece of leverage had been handed over.
This kind of thing would make people die of laughter if spoken aloud.
"Are you truly not doing it on purpose, back when setting up the plan?"
"What are you thinking about again?" she said flatly. "Auntie is helping me top up the phone bill; should we pick a more expensive plan?"
Zhang Shutong had nothing to say.
Indeed, the plan price was 10 yuan a month, which was one hundred and twenty a year. The clerk had even offered a discount, only charging one hundred, and threw in a universal charger at the end.
It could only be said that the profit margin was massive.
Having finally finished the first matter of today, Zhang Shutong stretched his body, the time approaching nearly ten o'clock.
He rode his bicycle very quickly, so he wouldn't see that after he left, a group of fashionably dressed boys and girls passed by the entrance of the service outlet.