Chapter Four: The Timeline Belonging to the Future, Quietly Altered

After returning to the rundown courtyard, Su Wen leaned his rattling old bicycle against the door and hurriedly wiped the unstoppable sweat from his forehead. The summer in Jiangnan was truly unbearable, especially after spending half a day performing “voluntary labor” by the roadside without pay.

Despite nearly risking his life, Su Wen managed to restrain himself with a strong will to survive. Now that the crucial temporal cycle was complete, the stifling heat and sweat instantly became his new “survival crisis.”

Turning on the air conditioner, taking a shower, and changing clothes—all in one smooth motion.

After completing these steps, Su Wen looked into the mirror and objectively assessed the refreshed, handsome version of himself—no belly, seemingly renewed.

“Hmm, as dashing as ever. That’s a relief,” he said.

He sat down before his computer. The screen began displaying continuous system prompts:

【“Time-Space Transit” Character Card Update:】

【Attribute Enhancement】 — 【The chief player has contacted the origin point of life evolution; the initial origin imprint has been activated; first life transition (minor) loaded】

【Due to the chief player acquiring the “Extraordinary Trait—Evolution Origin Point—Natural Selection Theory—Trade Wind”】

【Beginner Game “Sprout” Node Updated】

【Timeline Correction:

1. Night Watcher “Ash Watch” alert node lifted

2. Mother Civilization Homeworld “Gravitational Bridge” future plan revised

3. Kane Corporation “Star Ring World” outer space project content amended】

【Due to significant changes in the three-thousand-year future progress】

【“Sprout” game concluded】

Click.

The death countdown before Su Wen’s eyes finally ceased.

He breathed a long sigh of relief, his tone tinged with playful sarcasm:

“Finally, I don’t have to pick a sunny spot for myself anymore.”

Then, the computer screen transformed into a vast expanse of blue stars.

The perspective descended to a massive rooftop garden constructed with flexible architectural materials—a lush ecological garden.

A young woman clad in a white researcher’s coat, her figure graceful and curvaceous, held a data screen and explained:

“Ecological Protection Organization R301—Senior Rainforest Researcher Qin Xiaodie, record number 751. Currently, based on the phenotypic analysis of first- and second-level extraordinary plants, Kane Group’s excessive exploitation of terrestrial vein resources has indeed increased the pressure on the city’s Eden circulation system.”

Nearby, a middle-aged woman gently spoke to her:

“Xiaodie, like your father, you can’t just focus on work; you must also rest.”

The scene shifted.

In a grand stepped conference hall on a high floor of a building, Su Wen saw a scholar with black-rimmed glasses and a resolute expression.

Qin Mingyuan stood at the center of the exhibition hall.

Behind him, a three-dimensional blue data model bore the title of the meeting:

【Post-Starsea Era, Humanity’s Sole Mother Civilization Homeworld】

The game screen paused there.

Su Wen suddenly felt a sense of relief, quite different from the emptiness he usually felt when lazing in bed.

He smiled faintly and muttered to himself:

“A fine ending.”

A dialogue spanning three millennia reached its pause.

【Game Settlement Phase】

【Three-Star Hidden Objective: Locate “Knowledge Cache” via encrypted map—Completed.】

【Game Rating: Three Stars】

【Countdown Refresh: Current death countdown—“15 days,” timer paused】

【Obtained Item: Extraordinary Life—Evolution Origin Point—Hyacinth (Herbaceous Plant)】

【Obtained Reward Ability: Identification (Low Level) (Cooldown: 1 hour)】

【Special Settlement Reward: Plant Cultivation R75 Specialized Nutrient Solution (120 vials per box), three-slot storage box function unlocked】

【Note: The flower language of the hyacinth—will to rise, the fire of a life consumed, rebirth of love, unwavering resolve.】

Su Wen had already tried out the Identification ability.

But the storage box function exceeded his expectations.

A two-slot storage box was not large, roughly the size of a large hiking backpack. Backpack functionality was standard in games.

However, if usable in reality, its significance would be immense—storing firearms or confidential documents, for example.

It represented an absolutely secure, utterly private, portable space.

Su Wen had no twisted intentions to become an assassin—for now.

But if any “Time Travel” game required such a function, it might prove remarkably useful.

After all, the death countdown was merely refreshed and temporarily paused, reminding the unlucky “chief player” Su Wen that this was only the beginning.

“I really celebrated too soon.”

Since life was like this, giving up wasn’t really an option.

So, he would just quietly enjoy it.

Su Wen took out the only item currently stored in the box: a silver iron case.

The box had no lock. Opening the first layer revealed a sheet of paper:

【I seem to have forgotten something; only in dreams did I hear someone say he came to save me.】

【— Qin Xiaodie】

On the back was the instruction manual for the “Plant Cultivation R75 Specialized Nutrient Solution.”

This was the pinnacle of life sciences three thousand years after the Origin Era.

If Su Wen took one vial to the Academy of Sciences, there was a small chance of shocking the academic world and having his name recorded in next year’s scientific annals.

But the more likely outcome was that he would be unable to fabricate a source and end up sharing a cell with that fire-breathing elder, experiencing a second phase of life behind bars.

The nutrient solution’s effect was powerful; for the currently dormant “Life Origin Point,” it only needed to be injected into the soil.

Su Wen considered whether to inject himself.

But knowing Qin Xiaodie probably anticipated someone might do that—and besides, he was no plant—he prudently declined.

He laid down and fell asleep.

That night, as the hyacinths gently swayed under the moonlight, the ripples of life across the Silver Sea quietly spread.

Unbeknownst to Su Wen, system prompts refreshed:

【Chief Player Attribute Increased, Life Activity +0.1】

【Chief Player Attribute Increased, Psychic Adaptability +0.1】

【Chief Player Attribute Increased, Life Activity +0.1】

...

...

Morning passed.

Su Wen was awakened by the ringing of his phone, cocooned under his quilt.

He answered groggily:

“Miss Jiang, what’s up?”

“Su Wen, it’s already 8:05. Why aren’t you here yet? Today’s big lecture is by the department head. If you’re later, she’ll mark you tardy. Hurry up!”

The female voice belonged to his university classmate, Jiang Menghan.

In truth, the concept of a university class was quite loose. If Su Wen hadn’t been Jiang Menghan’s competition partner before, she probably wouldn’t bother to care.

The department head.

The one who wielded near-mythical power over the notoriously high failure rate physics course? The menopausal nun of extinction?

!!!

Su Wen instantly perked up.

He didn’t even check his “Sprout” status.

Throwing on a jacket, he hopped on his battered bicycle and dashed out of the house.

At the bustling gate of Binhai University, the clattering noise of Su Wen’s old bike was especially distinct.

Even Lin Xiqing, who had just stepped down from a Porsche and was about to enter the campus, heard it clearly.

That sound was all too familiar—it was him.

That silent hero who did good deeds without seeking recognition.

Yesterday, Lin Xiqing had specially asked her grandfather to check with the local street office about recent voluntary laborers.

Surprisingly, the date field for yesterday was blank.

This only made her more attentive to Su Wen.

Indeed.

She did not regard such behavior as the hallmark of a rigid, oblivious man.

On the contrary, the more she imagined, the more she believed Su Wen to be selfless, radiant, and handsome.