’Just a body to fill the ranks?’
In any case, he certainly wasn’t the star pupil Teacher Zhang would proudly boast about... Jiang Ran was self-aware enough to know that.
Then, there was the second thing he was concerned about.
’Second, did my research project with Zhang Yang ever succeed?’
Quantum Tunneling and the Time Travel Machine.
’Seeds for these two absurd projects were planted in 2025. I wonder if they’ll bear any fruit in the next twenty years.’
’The Quantum Tunneling research must have yielded some results.’
’Otherwise, why would Teacher Zhang be in prison?’
He had considered it before. ’If Zhang Yang had actually listened to me and stopped researching Quantum Tunneling, I most likely wouldn’t be seeing him in this prison in 2045.’
’Cell 4 might be empty, or occupied by a different convict. But it wouldn’t be the innocent Zhang Yang.’
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the present-day Zhang Yang hadn’t given up his research on Quantum Tunneling, so he would most likely follow the same future trajectory—
delve deep into his research, achieve a breakthrough, get thrown in jail, suffer mental torment, and turn into a regret-filled, depressed Bookworm.
’Not so bad, I guess.’
’At least it guarantees I’ll run into someone I know in prison.’
’It’s the perfect chance to ask Teacher Zhang if there had been any breakthroughs on my Time Travel Machine project, or if a finished product ever saw the light of day.’
"I’m ready!" he shouted into the room.
"Okay, I’m starting the countdown!"
Chi Xiaoguo picked up her phone, dialed Jiang Ran’s number, and then shouted out the window:
"5! 4! 3! 2! 1! 0!"
The Positron Cannon flared with a blue light and came roaring toward him as Jiang Ran pressed the answer button on his phone—
VMM!
VMM!
VMM!
The perfectly predictable dizziness washed over him, the world spinning on its axis.
The Positron Cannon 2.0 (Battle-Damaged Edition) was performing as reliably as ever.
’This feature that sent him to the future was nice and all...’
...but Jiang Ran was more desperate to follow any and all clues—whether it was finding the 2005 schematics for the Positron Cannon or tracking down the trio of upperclassmen from the 2005 Film Club—to get this thing fixed as soon as possible.
’Fix it sooner, so I can save Cheng Mengxue sooner.’
In his entire life, he had never been separated from Cheng Mengxue for this long.
Even if they didn’t meet every single day, they saw each other at least every other day; not even the New Year holidays could disrupt that rhythm.
But now, they hadn’t seen each other for two months.
The high school reunion was scheduled for the summer break.
This reunion...
Cheng Mengxue, of course, wouldn’t be able to make it.
’What a shame.’
...
Two seconds later, his five senses returned, and Jiang Ran opened his eyes.
"Do you know what the most important thing for a successful prison break is?"
Sang Biao’s classic line arrived right on schedule.
Jiang Ran sat on the edge of the innermost bed, waiting for the unskippable cutscene to play out.
"Weapons."
The stupid young man in Cell 2 said,
"If you want to pull off a prison break, you have to rely on weapons and charge straight out."
Jiang Ran pressed his hand to his forehead.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Jiang Ran already knew their conversation—the same one, day in and day out—by heart, forwards and backwards.
Sometimes, he even had nightmares filled with these exact, word-for-word lines, echoing in his ears like a broken record that wouldn’t stop.
After the stupid young man in Cell 2 finished speaking,
it was supposed to be the Bookworm in Cell 4—Teacher Zhang Yang—’s turn to speak.
He would say it’s timing.
Then he’d rattle off a whole analysis.
After Teacher Zhang Yang was done, it would be the Assassin.
He would say it’s luck.
"Luck."
’Huh?’
In an instant, a chill ran down Jiang Ran’s spine.
’What’s going on?’
’What is going on?!’
’This had never happened before—’
’Why did the Assassin speak before Teacher Zhang Yang in Cell 4 answered?!’
"Without enough luck, nothing else matters."
To his right, from Cell 5, the Assassin’s voice was as sharp and clear as ever.
"Wrong!!"
Sang Biao roared from Cell 1:
"Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!"
"You fuckers sit around all day with your theories and your armchair strategies! What fucking good is any of it?!"
"I’ll tell you what! The most important part of a successful prison break is to actually fucking break out of prison! You gotta have the balls to try if you’re ever gonna fucking succeed!"
...
Sang Biao’s curses continued to echo.
Jiang Ran stood blankly in his cell, but he was in no mood to listen.
’What happened?’
’Where was the Bookworm from Cell 4, Teacher Zhang Yang?’
Everything was playing out exactly as before, but Teacher Zhang Yang’s part was missing!
’Where were his lines?’
’Where was his part in the scene?’
’Or perhaps...’
’Where was he?’
"Teacher Zhang Yang!"
Jiang Ran crossed to the iron bars in two strides.
"Teacher Zhang! It’s Jiang Ran! Can you hear me?"
He peered into the deep darkness of Cell 4.
There were no lights on inside, making it impossible to see if anyone was there.
"Teacher Zhang!"
Ignoring Sang Biao’s questioning gaze from the side, Jiang Ran shouted again.
But...
...there was still no answer.
CLACK.
Suddenly, he heard a sharp sound come from inside Cell 4.
It was the sound of a toilet lid being closed.
’This meant one thing!’
’There really was someone in Cell 4!’
’Who was it?’
’Was it still Zhang Yang?’
’If it was...’
’...why didn’t he answer me? Why didn’t he respond to Sang Biao’s question? Why wasn’t he reacting at all?’
A terrible feeling washed over Jiang Ran, and he began to shake the iron bars frantically.
"Sang Biao! Open the door!"
"Huh?"
Sang Biao froze.
"You’re willing...?"
"I’m willing!"
Jiang Ran urged him on.
"Prison break! Let’s do it! Right now! Hurry up and open the door!"
KLUNK. KLUNK. KLUNK.
Sang Biao unlocked the cell doors for the stupid young man, Jiang Ran, and the Assassin in succession, then waved for everyone to start moving.
"What are you doing?"
Jiang Ran remained frozen in place, pointing to Cell 4.
"You missed one! How could you be so sloppy this time? Hurry up and open this one!"
"Tch! Why do you care about him?"
Sang Biao spat.
"You want to take him with us? Give me a break! You’d have to carry him on your back!"
’Carry him?’
’What did he mean by that?’
’Does that mean the person in Cell 4 can’t even perform the basic act of walking anymore?’
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