Chapter 29: Floded Time and Area

Cheng Zesheng introduced again a portion of chestnut duck wings. Can he nonetheless be allergic to frequent poultry corresponding to rooster, duck, fish, and meat? If he can’t eat these, it might be extremely pitiful and inhumane. What pleasure is there in life?

Upon returning residence, he regarded up and seen a freestanding whiteboard subsequent to the TV in the lounge, much like the type they use for conferences within the workplace. There have been whiteboard erasers, whiteboard markers, and magnetic stickers beneath it. It appeared that the fridge door may lastly return to its unique goal and wouldn’t must double as a writing board anymore.

Cheng Zesheng positioned the chestnut duck on the desk, standing in entrance of the whiteboard, hesitating and never daring to the touch it. In accordance with the principles that they had deduced for the alternate of things, in the event that they touched issues introduced again by one another, these issues could be transferred to their very own worlds. So, if Cheng Zesheng touched the whiteboard that He Wei had purchased, He Wei most likely wouldn’t have the ability to see it. The fridge door was nonetheless simpler in that regard.

He Wei got here downstairs and instantly seen the takeout on the desk. The aroma was trapped inside the bag, however it couldn’t cover its engaging scent. It was the form of scent he may take pleasure in.

Cheng Zesheng heard the sound of the plastic bag rustling because it was opened, so he walked over and handed a small word: “Are you able to eat this?”

By the point he acquired the word, He Wei had already picked up a gentle and candy chestnut and put it in his mouth. He couldn’t write conveniently, so he used chopsticks to make three strokes on the desk, paused, then made one other stroke, adopted by a faucet and one other stroke.

“…” Cheng Zesheng was speechless. Why use Morse code for one thing so simple as consuming?

Evaluating the Morse code chart, the alerts He Wei despatched spelled out the letters “OK.” Realizing that he wasn’t allergic, Cheng Zesheng felt relieved. He went to the kitchen, heated up the remaining crayfish within the fridge, and sat throughout from He Wei. One was consuming chestnut duck wings, whereas the opposite was nibbling on thirteen-spice crayfish.

He Wei slowly gnawed on the duck’s wing. He knew Cheng Zesheng was on the opposite facet as a result of the aroma of the crayfish with 13 spices was actually irresistible. He freed one hand and used chopsticks to faucet out Morse code on the desk. Cheng Zesheng understood the message and was as soon as once more speechless.

He Wei mentioned, “It’s too aromatic, let’s change locations.”

Who was supposed to vary locations? It was undoubtedly him. Cheng Zesheng had initially meant to remain put, pondering that He Wei wouldn’t have the ability to do a lot to him if he simply sat there. However contemplating that he couldn’t fulfill his urge for food with the tantalizing aroma round him, he felt a bit pitiful. He obediently picked up the small crayfish and moved to the couch space.

The scent of the small crayfish wafted away, and the field appeared on the espresso desk. He Wei’s lips curled up barely, quiet obedient.

Half an hour later, He Wei wiped his fingers clear, feeling content material. He had by no means tasted chestnut duck wings this scrumptious—candy chestnuts and well-flavored duck wings. He puzzled if that they had this restaurant on their facet. He determined to ask Cheng Zesheng later, when he had the possibility.

The desk was now clear, and He Wei rolled up his sleeves, able to do some chores and tidy up the home.

This was one of many explanation why Cheng Zesheng may tolerate residing underneath the identical roof with an unseen neighbor like He Wei. He Wei was a clear freak; at any time when he had free time, he would do chores round the home. He would mop the ground till it was spotless, making it look as pristine as a mannequin residence in a gross sales workplace. Furthermore, he by no means demanded Cheng Zesheng’s assist. As an alternative, he set some guidelines, like not permitting moist slippers in the lounge and ensuring no leftover dishes have been left within the kitchen.

Cheng Zesheng had all the time suspected if He Wei was a Virgo resulting from his cleanliness habits. After checking the knowledge, he realized He Wei’s birthday was in January, making him a Capricorn. This revelation appeared fairly affordable to Cheng Zesheng. Being a hygiene-conscious Capricorn, it was lucky that they didn’t meet in individual; in any other case, they may have ended up arguing over such minor points.

He Wei’s cleansing routine was easy—prime to backside, from the lounge to the kitchen. When he completed tidying the upstairs rooms, together with Cheng Zesheng’s room, he got here downstairs with a material and seen the remaining small crayfish have been unfinished, with their shells haphazardly piled on the espresso desk, which aggravated him.

Strolling over to have a look, he discovered there have been just a few left within the field. Decisively, he reached out, cleaned up the crayfish shells, and swept them into the trash bin with swift and environment friendly actions.

Cheng Zesheng was merely his cellphone, considering altering the video program. When he regarded up once more, the field and crayfish have been nowhere to be seen.

…Effectively, he had virtually completed consuming anyway, and it’s not like he could be heartbroken over not ending them. Cheng Zesheng wiped his fingers and felt a bit awkward having the neighbor do all of the home tasks alone. With good intentions, he wrote a word asking if he wanted assist.

He Wei replied promptly: “You possibly can mop the ground.”

Because the cleansing neared its finish, solely the mopping was left. Since somebody was keen to assist, why not?

He Wei went upstairs and tapped out a Morse code message on the wood staircase railing along with his fingers. He knowledgeable Cheng Zesheng that he wanted to make use of the lavatory first and could be having a shower quickly.

Throughout He Wei’s bathe time, Cheng Zesheng mopped the complete home. Wanting on the shiny, newly-shined ceramic tile flooring that gleamed within the mild, he felt a major sense of accomplishment. He had hardly ever achieved family chores from childhood to maturity, and voluntarily provided to assist was even rarer. Sometimes doing it made him surprisingly content material.

The “swoosh” of the bathe glass door opening was adopted by He Wei slipping barely as he stepped out, shortly grabbing onto the door to regular himself. When individuals are startled, their heartbeats instinctively quicken. This occurred to He Wei; his coronary heart appeared to have jumped into his throat as a result of sudden fright.

The ceramic tiles all through the lounge mirrored mild to the purpose of glossiness. He Wei’s lips twitched, suspecting that perhaps he hadn’t slipped by chance. He puzzled if Cheng Zesheng intentionally mopped the tiles so wetly to make him fall.

Helpless, He Wei needed to get one other dry mop and redo the areas that have been clearly watermarked and overly shiny.

Cheng Zesheng sat on the couch, eagerly anticipating He Wei’s reward. The toilet door had already closed and opened fifteen minutes in the past; why wasn’t there any motion but?

In simply three seconds, the small word that Cheng Zesheng hoped for appeared.

[Don’t mop the floor in the future; you’re not suited for it.]

———

After that they had every completed their respective duties, it was already previous ten o’clock, and it was time for the case evaluation.

He Wei held a stack of paperwork and started by putting particular person images and photocopies on the whiteboard utilizing magnetic stickers. With a whiteboard marker in hand, he meticulously wrote down the tangential concepts and speculations sparked by the supplies. It was as if he have been conducting a case evaluation with a specialised workforce.

He had purchased this whiteboard within the afternoon with Chong Zhen’s assist and set it up at residence. It was thought of an merchandise introduced in by Chong Zhen. This concept was born out of necessity. Since they belonged to totally different worlds and have been restricted by the principles of merchandise alternate, objects bought by others have been exceptions. Each of them may contact and work together with these objects, they usually wouldn’t disappear.

Chong Zhen was stunned and couldn’t fathom why He Wei needed a whiteboard at residence. He steered he ought to work extra time on the workplace, the place there have been loads of whiteboards. He additionally talked about that that they had blackboards if the whiteboards have been all taken.

He Wei advised him to not waste phrases; it had its goal. Chong Zhen persistently requested what the aim was, solely to obtain a chilly smile from He Wei. “To talk with Cheng Zesheng.”

“…” Chong Zhen’s physique was lined in goosebumps, and with out hesitation, he pulled out cash, saying, “I’ll purchase it, I’ll purchase it.”

Cheng Zesheng got here downstairs, holding a small pocket book and sporting a pair of frameless studying glasses. He regarded like he had come to attend a lecture. The whiteboard was densely full of content material. Cheng Zesheng pushed up his glasses and punctiliously learn the knowledge written on it.

[The whiteboard and materials can be touched, but not the photos. They’re original documents.]

These have been the primary few phrases on the prime of the board, adopted by the formal heading: “Case Evaluation of the Deceased Cheng Zesheng.”

“…” After a whole night, Cheng Zesheng was left speechless for the third time. He didn’t describe him as “the deceased He Wei”, proper? Seeing his identify juxtaposed with the phrases “deceased” did really feel unusual.

Then again, He Wei didn’t share the identical sentiment. The one who died on his facet was certainly Cheng Zesheng, however the pianist Cheng Zesheng. How else may he describe it? Was he supposed to write down “Evaluation of the Loss of life of Cheng Zesheng #1”?

What made Cheng Zesheng really feel much more peculiar have been the images of the deceased’s physique. The person, who regarded identical to him, had a pale complexion and a gap in his chest. The physique was proven from varied angles, depicting the situation of the deceased magnificence in a vivid and detailed method.

Beneath the images of the physique have been footage of the crime scene. The mansion the place the capturing came about was precisely the identical because the scene he had surveyed. The shattered glass home windows have been equivalent in form. The physique of “Cheng Zesheng” was additionally in the lounge, and at first look, the place of the footprints within the crime scene matched intently with their very own scene. Wanting on the post-mortem report, an thought began to type in Cheng Zesheng’s thoughts.

He requested He Wei to take out the photocopies of the crime scene images he had introduced again yesterday and positioned them beside the images of the physique. He Wei complied, attaching the picture of the “He Wei” physique and the pictures of the 2 units of footprints beneath. Cheng Zesheng stroked his chin, calculated the space primarily based on each side’ crime scene reviews, and steadily widened his eyes.

Might it’s… He shortly checked the time of demise and located that each deaths have been estimated inside the similar time-frame—between 3:00 a.m. and three:30 a.m. His coronary heart pounded fiercely in his chest, and he dropped his pen on the ground.

“Snap!” The crisp sound echoed conspicuously within the silent condominium. He Wei heard it too, however he had no time to concentrate as a result of, at that second, he was furrowing his brows, realizing the gravity of the scenario.

[You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?]

[Yeah.]

They stared on the positions of the footprints and the our bodies, each silent, seemingly lastly understanding who the elusive third social gathering that was all the time untraceable could be.

In accordance with the crime scene information from each side, the physique of “Cheng Zesheng” was discovered near the damaged footprints found in the lounge on Cheng Zesheng’s facet, the space between them being lower than a meter. The physique of “He Wei,” alternatively, was situated close to the group of footprints discovered on the entrance on He Wei’s facet, the space between them being lower than half a meter.

A number of minutes handed, and Cheng Zesheng lastly picked up his pen once more, slowly writing on the whiteboard: [In the first set of broken footprints, there’s an unknown shoeprint that might be mine.]

As he wrote these phrases, his throat felt dry. He thought it was too abrupt and weird, but upon cautious consideration, he discovered that there was a hint to comply with, one thing that made sense.

The nook of He Wei’s lips curled right into a uncommon bitter smile as he gazed on the group of footprints and the physique of his parallel self. He couldn’t assist however sigh on the unimaginable incredibility of all of it.

After they had extracted Cheng Zesheng’s footprints together with an unidentified set from that group of footprints, he had all the time believed that there was a 3rd social gathering current with Cheng Zesheng, somebody who had cleaned up the scene, leaving all the things spotless, together with the physique. Nonetheless, he couldn’t perceive why they hadn’t achieved something concerning the bloodstains.

Now he realized, it won’t solely have been the work of a 3rd social gathering; the distinctiveness of that mansion’s surroundings performed a task on this scene as nicely.

Now that the main points of each side’ instances have been clearly laid out, each of them felt a way of confusion. The traces of their respective scenes appeared to have turn out to be intertwined and chaotic.

Right away, He Wei felt a contact of perplexity. Was this a take a look at by the god of deduction or some kind of magic inside the universe’s spacetime?

[There is no third party; the third party is ourselves.]

He Wei put down his pen, sat on the couch, and pressed his brow along with his fingers, remaining silent for a very long time.

On that evening, it was unknown what sort of story unfolded, inflicting the 2 separate time-space dimensions inside that mansion to by some means fold and overlap.