As the New Year's Eve countdown began, my husband suddenly said, "She waited for me for nine years. In the tenth year, I don't want to disappoint her anymore..." I swallowed the sweet candy in my mouth. "She? You mean Chloe?" He didn't answer. But he didn't know I had already seen the diamond ring he hid. I picked up the phone and dialed. "Professor, I volunteer for the Time Regression Experiment. Send me back ten years." The man on the other end was silent for a moment. "If it fails, you won't survive." If I don't go, I won't survive anyway... 1 Two days. Professor Chen said the preparation would take two days. Once the experiment started, I might cease to exist in this world. "If you need to, say goodbye to your loved ones," he said. But it was New Year's Eve. A day for family reunions. My phone was silent. Not even a generic "Happy New Year" mass text. I... ran out of loved ones a long time ago. In the dark, I let the phone ring for a long time. Finally, the other side picked up, complaining immediately: "It's New Year's Eve, why are you calling now?" My mom's background noise was chaotic. Someone shouted, "Sis! Come quick, your daughter is here!" My mom answered cheerfully. She sounded so happy, but her tone dropped when she spoke to me. "Your sister is sensitive about you, you know that. You don't need to call for New Year's. If it's nothing important, don't call." Click. My phone screen lit up. The call ended. Right. I forgot. After my mom remarried, she never wanted to hear from me again. In the living room, I heard the rustle of clothes. Julian put on his leather shoes and pushed open the bedroom door. He hesitated, then said, "I'm leaving." I looked up. "Going to be with her?" Julian pressed his lips together. His gaze softened slightly, lowering his voice to persuade me. "Chloe stayed in the city just for me. I can't let her spend New Year's alone." I didn't know how to react. I just sat there, dazed. My eyes stung, but no tears came. Julian walked into the bedroom, reaching out as if to pat my head, but stopped halfway. He didn't touch me. He said, "Stay home. I'll... be back as soon as I can..." He turned and left. Slam. The door closed. The brightly lit apartment suddenly felt empty. Only his fresh footprints remained on the floor. 2 That night, Julian didn't come home. I sat alone in the living room. From dusk until dawn. Until my phone rang. It was a nurse from the hospital. Her voice was gentle. "Ms. Li, don't worry. With active treatment, recovery is possible. You have a long life ahead of you..." I was surprised she had my number. The young nurse sounded a bit shy. "That day, you looked so down, so I secretly wrote it down. I wanted to tell you, you have a great life ahead. Don't give up..." I didn't interrupt her. I looked out the window just as a mediocre firework exploded in the sky. It seemed to burn my eyes. I said, "Thank you." But the words "I won't give up" stuck in my throat. I couldn't say them. After hanging up, I saw a new post on Instagram. Julian posted it. [Having you by my side is my greatest pride.] The picture was of a hand. Wearing a dazzling diamond ring on the ring finger. Our mutual friends liked it. [Julian, showing off even after all these years?] [Bought the wifey another ring? So jealous.] Julian replied to everyone: [Not Leah.] This time, the comment section went silent. No one congratulated his happiness anymore. I stared at that photo for a long time. Screenshotted it. No comment. 3 New Year's Day. No food delivery available. I found a pack of dry noodles and cooked them. The phone rang. Julian's voice was apologetic. "Still busy. Eat something first, I'll be back soon." Next to him, a woman's voice, full of joy. "Julian, let's eat at that place." Julian's voice was helpless but indulgent: "Don't rush, let me park first." The woman whispered, "Forgot you were on the phone. Is it Leah?" Julian hummed a yes. And then. His voice was cut off, as if someone sealed his lips. A muffled groan. The breathing on the other end quickened. I was silent for a moment, then reminded him flatly: "If you're going to hook up in the car, please hang up first." A few seconds later, the sound of a car door closing. Julian spoke again. "Leah, don't talk nonsense." On the other end, Chloe's cheerful voice: "Julian hurry up~" Shop staff yelled: "Happy New Year, welcome!" I didn't speak. Silently hung up. I didn't want to hear their happiness. At that moment, I smelled something burning in the living room. The pot of noodles had boiled dry and stuck to the bottom. I exhaled gently. Turned off the stove and called the Professor again. "Not ready yet?" The man on the phone sighed. "The technology isn't perfect. Once it starts, I have zero guarantee I can bring you back. Leah, have you really decided?" "Yes." I was incredibly serious. "I've decided." 4 When I arrived at the lab, it was completely dark. Professor Chen was waiting for me at the door, looking conflicted. "They say you lived a happy life after marriage, husband rich and loving." I smiled. "But what they say is useless." The Professor fell silent. Before stepping into the lab, my phone rang. Julian sounded surprised: "Where are you? Why aren't you home?" He knew me. He knew I had nowhere to go. Or maybe because I didn't respond for a long time, Julian said in a low voice: "Don't be emotional, Leah. You and Chloe don't conflict." "Do you know, Julian? There's something I never told you." "What?" "Trash like you makes me sick." I hung up. I found the screenshot and posted it online. [Wishing my husband and Miss Chloe a hundred years of happiness!] Next moment, I turned off the phone completely. Professor Chen's expression was complicated. "I thought that call would change your mind..." I closed my eyes. "Professor, goodbye." Opening my eyes again, I glimpsed his red-rimmed eyes. "I'll find a way to bring you back... Leah, don't say goodbye to me..." 5 Turns out there's no weightlessness in the time capsule. Opening my eyes again, I was on the most familiar street in my memory. Not far away, a girl was sitting on the steps, hugging her knees, crying silently. I walked over. Gently touched the top of her head. She jumped. Stared at me with teary eyes. Of course I knew her. This was my 21-year-old self. The Professor's time regression had a deviation; it brought me back nine years. This was the first year I was with Julian. I wanted to tell her. I am you from nine years later. But I couldn't hold back the pain in my chest and started coughing violently. Little Leah was so scared she forgot to cry. She hurriedly patted my back. She said, "Why does my heart hurt when I see you?" I wanted to tell her, I am you. But before I could speak, the taste of rust filled my mouth. I lost consciousness. I suddenly remembered the causal paradox the Professor mentioned. Unknown information source violates the law of conservation of information. So I couldn't tell my past self: Don't be with Julian...
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