Chapter 209

The Joyous Day.
Shi Hai and Jian Sichun walk hand in hand into the holy matrimony.
The wedding was not extravagant, as both the Shi family and the Jian family had very few relatives. It was a small-scale banquet, and even appeared a bit desolate.
However, the wedding banquet was successfully held, and later moved to the church. They made a solemn vow until death do us part, exchanged rings, and sealed their commitment with a kiss...
She arrived back at their new home in the evening and collapsed onto the bed.
"Wow~ Finally home!"
Shi Hai loosened his tie as he spoke.
"Are you tired?"
Jian Sichun hugged a pillow and sat up, pouting and saying.
"It's okay... it's just that dad drank too much. He not only forced you to drink, but also cried and made a scene. It's really embarrassing..."
“哈哈, 毕竟是要把唯一的女儿嫁出去了嘛，难免会有些激动。”
“那你没问题吧？还清醒吗？”
婚宴上, 简思春的爸爸拉着时海喝了很多酒，简思春有点怕时海会回家就醉倒了。
If that's the case, the originally scheduled time for the couple might be gone.
However, Shihai seems to be in good shape.
"Hmm, even though I don't drink often, it seems like I have a good tolerance for alcohol."
"Phew... That's good..."
JS Chun patted her chest with relief.
"If there were more people, I might have actually passed out ... But because there weren't many people at the event, I didn't actually drink much alcohol. I don't know whether to regret or celebrate..."
Shi Hai felt that the only regret of this wedding might be that the scene wasn't lively enough.
"Well, after all, the conditions don't allow for too many people to be invited... And I already feel very happy... This is definitely the best day of my life."
"I see... Well, that's good."
"A smile appeared on Shi Hai's face. Being able to bring her happiness, that is his greatest happiness."
"But, today is not over yet!"
Suddenly, Jiansichun became energized and got up from the bed, spinning in place before saying,
"Although I also really like that pink wedding dress, with its veil and crown, it feels like I've become a princess..."
Today, Jian Sichun wore two wedding dresses. She wore a pink wedding gown at the wedding reception, and then changed into a more traditional pure white wedding dress at the church. The bouquet she tossed was caught by Mengmeng.
"But I still want to wear this outfit!"
She walked over to the wardrobe and opened it, revealing the third wedding dress handcrafted by Shihai.
The middle part had a high slit with a bodysuit design, with a transparent skirt around it. The upper part was designed like a separable piece, somewhat resembling a swimsuit, but could be easily lifted off...
Others are white silk stockings and long gloves...
Although it's still a wedding dress, it can't be worn out at all.
"I wanted to wear it as soon as I saw it... it's too revealing! Whether it's the exposed midriff and heart-shaped cutout, or the "lift the cover and drink" design on the chest, it's too much for me!"
You can tell that Ji Si Chun really loves this wedding dress, her eyes are sparkling.
"Hehe, I'll put it on for you to see now!"
"Hmm, then I'll go get the camera."
Shihai also wants to see her wearing this carefully designed wedding dress, and they will definitely take photos of it.
Although they cannot be sent out, they can also be recorded as their own experience.
So when Shi Haizheng was preparing to go get his camera as usual, Jian Sichun stopped him.
"Wait...this time, it's not for cosplaying, okay?"
Li Sichun's face became rosy.
"Today is the 'role play', right..."
"Hmm, today you are a real bride."
Shihai held her in his arms and said again.
“只属于我的新娘……”
“所以……以后你想看了, 我随时都会穿给你看，你想拍照片也都给你拍……但今天，就铭刻在我们的‘记忆’中吧？”
"Good...I will always remember..." this scene.
Unable to say the sentence in its entirety.
Because Shihai felt that something was wrong.
What's wrong?
And before Shihai could figure out what was wrong, she blurted out.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
She was a little confused, wondering why Shihuai apologized.
Apologizing on this joyous day... She turned pale and widened her eyes, asking in disbelief.
"N-No way, do you have another woman outside...?"
"No, how could I possibly... " fall in love with someone other than you."
"Once again, the words were left unspoken."
"There was a sense of dissonance..."
"This time, Sihai didn't let go of the slightest hint of dissonance, instead, he held onto it tightly and started to ponder..."
I slowly remembered it.
I recalled everything.
This... is not reality.
It is a dream world constructed by memories.
And I came in to find someone.
Shi Hai held his forehead and smiled bitterly.
"No, maybe it is..."
Jian Sichun bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes, but she forcefully held them back.
Then she squeezed out a smile and said with a tremor in her voice.
"Well... if it's just this kind of 'small matter', I can forgive you... You, you won't leave me, right?"
“……”
Shihai fell silent again, but his gaze did not falter. He looked directly at Jiansichun.
Looking at Shi Hai's face, Jian Sichun suddenly felt relieved.
She felt that Shi Hai had not changed his mind... he was still the Shi Hai who loved her.
"Are you... leaving?"
"Hmm, I'm going to leave."
"This ending is very beautiful, Shi Hai really wants to stay, wants to see the child in Jian Sichun's belly being born..."
"Although it has been 'completed' quite well, it is also logically perfect, and basically has no loopholes..."
But...this place is not reality.
"...Even if it is not reality, isn't it good to treat this place as reality?"
"Sisi, did you...notice?"
But... how is that possible?
This should be a memory world, and the Jian Sichun in front of me is just a virtual personality constructed from memories...
Jian Sichun covered one eye, and the golden pupils were emitting a radiant light.
"I don't know...but I also feel like this is 'fake'... So happy that it feels like a dream... Maybe all of this is really just a dream... just my delusion, that's all."
Shi Hai couldn't help but hold her in his arms.
"You're not stupid at all, really..."
She looked up at him with an almost crying expression.
"But... even if it's not reality, isn't it nice to treat this place as reality?"
"It's great, but the real you would curse at me."
"...I see... So it looks like this wedding dress will be saved for the real me to wear, huh..."
She wiped away her tears and smiled brightly.
"Remember to take good care of 'me,' okay?"
"...I will."
In that moment, 'time' stopped.
Or perhaps, the playback of memories was paused.
Shihai looked up and spoke to the air.
"I think... that's about it."
"But still, thank you."
"Even though it's not real, it's a way to make up for the regret of adolescence."
"If you're willing to pass on this memory to her later, she will definitely be happy."
No conversation.
When I responded, the view of the sea turned black.
Then I woke up again... seemingly still in my own house.
Although it is my own room, the layout has completely changed.
Memories slowly resurfaced in Shi Hai's mind.
No... These were all memories that he himself had lost.
It seems that this time he had entered Zhuling Jie's memories.
Is this to make him relive everyone's memories over and over again?
But I have already recalled it myself, so it's time to formally start looking for her.
However, just as Shi Hai was about to take action, he felt that the memories he had just remembered were being "covered up".
It seems that the master of the dream wants Shi Hai to immerse himself in the memories like this...
Shi Hai sneered and said,
"Ha... I will accompany you to the end."
So let's do it again.
I will still remember.
……
Shihai suddenly woke up, his eyes focused.
Zhu Lingjie walked over and patted his shoulder and said,
"Husband, the hot water is ready. You can go take a bath now..."
"Oh... you've worked hard."
"What are you laughing at alone?"
"Hmm? Am I laughing?"
Shi Hai covers his mouth... it seems he is really laughing.
Weird, what am I laughing at?
Shi Hai looked a bit puzzled and said with a bitter smile.
"Uh, I might be a bit silly..."
Zhu Lingjie asked with concern.
"Is it because of work fatigue... Shall I give you a massage?"
"Then I'll leave it to you, my personal maid."
"Serving my husband is my honor... as a reward, can we share a drink tonight?"
"You're craving again?"
"Hmm...I want to have a drink..."
"You little glutton."
"I just like it..."
"Do you like me or do you like the feeling of being tipsy?"
"I like you more..."
"You're a good girl."
"Husband..."
"Let's go, let's take a shower first."
"Mmm..."
……
Shi Hai awakened suddenly, furrowing his brow and rubbing his forehead.
It seems that he successfully passed the memory of Zhu Lingjie.
I have to say, the warm married life is really amazing. They didn't realize it until after twenty years...
And after realizing it, Shihai hesitated for a long time.
Because the reason he had to leave was also because of 'cheating', and cheating was the biggest shadow in Zhulingjie's heart.
Shihai was very afraid that he would hurt her... but in the end, she accepted it with a smile.
(What I fear is not that you will cheat, but that you will no longer love me... Wherever you may go afterwards, as long as you still love me, I will forever support your decisions... because I am your wife.)
She became the driving force for Shi Hai to continue moving forward.
New memories surged... Old memories were once again shadowed.
In this moment, Shi Hai was standing in front of a grand office building, with the woman next to him proudly saying.
"Times Co. is a company focused on future technology and using independently developed science and technology to popularize it among the general public... Welcome to join us, Shihai."
Today, Shihai officially joined Times Co.
His only purpose of joining is to invent a time machine and escape his destiny of death.
在成功前，自己是绝对……绝对不会对任何女人动情的。
……
顶楼总裁室。
时海又一次‘想起来了’。
这一次用时倒是不算长，也就三四年……
但回想起来后，时海就有点难堪。
因为……眼前有一只可爱的‘狗狗’正在蹭自己的腿。
“……汪？”
“咳……允许你说话。”
“……主人？你怎么了？”
“嗯……我没事，就是有点难以接受……”
没想到你居然是这样的学姐……
没想到我居然还能这么糟糕……
女王变牝犬……
不管是把你变成这样的我，还是乐在其中的你……
都太糟糕了。
这根本就是不能给任何人看的记忆啊……
不过时海现在倒是知道天水为什么一开始会那么执着于让他输了，因为是想复仇啊。
看着眼前这只不能再乖的宠物女王，时海还感觉蛮有成就感的。
既然已经想起来了就准备离开吧。
不过离开前还有一句话要对她说。
时海伸手摸了摸她的头说道。
“爬上来。”
天水很听话地爬上去，两只爪子搭在时海的肩膀上吐出舌头。
时海抚摸着她的后背，温柔地说道。
“抱歉，让你受委屈了。”
“道什么歉……你又没伤害到我的身体……”
“我也是做了不少功课嘛……”
“为什么……突然拆穿？”
“因为该结束这段关系了。”
"You...!"
“当然以后，你还想继续的话，我随时奉陪……但是，现在我不能再陪你了。”
时海抱住她，并在耳边说道。
“然后就是……一直以来都没有告诉你……其实，我早就喜欢上你了。”
“……！！！”
“再见啦。”
……
一次接着一次。
反复想起忘记。
重复这个过程。
精神没有崩溃。
意志坚如磐石。
时海仍在前行。
……
对面的女生忽然出声问道。
“……喂，你知道今天是几号吗？”
时海抬头，奇怪地看了她一眼回道。
“嗯？12月21吧。”
穿着白大褂的女生有点意外，就像是在说‘你居然知道？’，然指着时海手中的书问道。
“……那你现在才看有关世界末日的书？”
"Oh..."
时海这才明白对方为啥叫自己，看来是自己在2012年12月21日当天跑到图书馆借了一堆世界末日相关的书，这属实是有点奇怪了。
“实际上，我没觉得会发生世界末日啊。”
“……？”
对方有点不解，时海便解释道。
“如果我真觉得今天就是世界末日的话，也不应该是来图书馆里看书，而是应该去准备求生工具，又或者是彻底放飞自我，做一些平时不敢做的事情吧。”
“好像有点道理……”
“反过来说，正是因为今天是世界末日，我才会突然对玛雅预言之类的产生兴趣，这才跑到图书馆来看书啊。”
“嚯……行动力倒是满强的。”
“话说回来，你是在看有关记忆的书吗？”
“这是我的相关专业。”
“哦……那你觉得人的记忆有上限吗？”
"Huh?"
“你是专业人士吧，那我想知道，一个人的记忆有没有‘上限’？”
“你问了一个很有争议的问题……这个问题目前学术界也是众说纷纭。”
“你呢？你怎么觉得？”
“我认为记忆肯定是存在上限的……起码对我来说肯定是存在上限的。”
“那记忆到达上限后，最初的记忆就会被强制抹除吗？”
“我不知道……你有兴趣的话，不如自己研究看看如何？”
“确实……实验出真知。”
“……这是我的研究室地址，如果你不是三分钟热度的话，可以过来看看。”
“多谢，我会去的。”
然后她就先走了。
时海则是继续看书。
看到了太阳落山，时海奇怪地抬头看着天花板问道。
“嗯？这次就不打算再盖住我的记忆了吗？”
No response.
是说也根本不会有回应。
但这一次，自己确实是没有忘记。
在历经了所有人的记忆之后，这一次是来到了‘起点’。
刚刚那个人就是白玥。
这是自己和白玥的初次见面。
时海双手放在脑后，自言自语道。
“我懂了，因为没必要了是吧……”
因为从这里开始，将是白玥走过的漫长的旅途。
和之前相比根本不是一个量级的。
而时海还隐约记得，在几十年前……也就是在进入梦境世界前，‘白玥’曾提醒过自己。
随着时间流逝，他很有可能会忘记自己进入梦境是为了什么，甚至会忘记自己在梦里，彻底迷失在浩瀚如海的记忆当中。
时海摆脱了所有的温柔乡，取回了自己所有周目的记忆，迈过了‘不愿醒来’的阶段。
而接下来就是纯粹比拼意志力的环节了。
“……有意思，那我就走到尽头看看吧。”