Memory Lost

It’s near.

It’s very near.

Stepping on the rugged path, A licks his lips without anyone noticing.

The secret room is just ahead. It’s just that form the outside, its location cannot be seen. And in a few steps more, it’s where he has planted the bombs and within R’s area of surveillance.

But how can he detonate them without hurting Xu Si Bai? That’s the big question.

He lowers his head and looks at the three shadows on the ground. Probably because the path is becoming narrow, Xu Si Bai is walking behind Han Chen about one to two steps back. That’s just enough room for R to detonate the bombs precisely.

A is a little stunned.

There’s no time to think. He steps across the bomb and hears Han Chen following.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven……” he counts in his heart. From years of partnership, he can be sure that R will definitely choose to act now.

“……three, two, one!” A dashes forward suddenly, and at the same time, a loud “boom!” can be heard from behind.

“Bang!”

Shots are fired into the air. A feels something hit his body hard and a stabbing pain surging up his chest. He looks down and sees a small hole bleeding from his right chest. He falls to the ground.

Intolerable pain accompanied by blood rushing out of his body makes him feel as if all of his energy is being drained from him. Even though he’s down on the ground, he turns his head with all his might and sees Han Chen standing behind the small burst of dust after the explosion. And Xu Si Bai is standing in front of him; they both have their guns pointing at each other with stern looks on their faces. There’s another gun lying on the ground not far away from A. It’s his gun.

A had missed seeing what happened in the blink of an eye just now.

In the second before the explosion, Han Chen somehow sensed what was happening and dived forward, dodging the impact. And he shot at A at the same time!

Xu Si Bai also avoided it. He quickly pointed his gun at Han Chen and tossed the other gun at A. But before even turning his head, Han Chen had already switched his gun to point at Xu Si Bai.

In the smoke, the resonating sound of the explosion is like a bell ringing; piercing into their ears and echoing deeply in the atmosphere. Many areas of the ground are sinking due to the explosion; it’s as if it’s about to collapse. But the two of them are standing still without a word. A wants to grab the gun on the ground, but he can’t lift his hands.

Han Chen’s face is cold and his eyes are stubborn and cruel. He says, “You are really S.”

Xu Si Bai holds the gun firmly pointing at him. Even when facing death, his eyes are calm like still water. He doesn’t answer, but A is in a bit of a shock.

“S……” his raspy voice says. His lips are cracked but he looks extremely happy, “S, S……you’re finally awake?”

Xu Si Bai nods slowly.

A laughs out of loud suddenly. He struggles in an attempt to get up, but he falls back down again. He lets out a long sigh and covers his bleeding chest with his hand as he murmurs, “I have no regrets for dying. I have no regrets……”

Xu Si Bai doesn’t look at him, but his eyes seem to have grown deeper. Han Chen, on the other hand, is on full alert as he continues to aim his gun at Xu Si Bai.

The two of them stand quietly for a while before Han Chen says suddenly, “The remote is to detonate the bombs on the bridge?”

A’s consciousness is going hazy, but he’s surprised with Han Chen’s sharp senses.

“Yes,” Xu Si Bai answers lightly. 𝗳r𝗲𝙚w𝐞𝚋𝘯𝚘ѵ𝗲l.𝑐oｍ

“Will you detonate them?” Han Chen asks further.

Xu Si Bai remains quiet for a few seconds and then answers, “No. Give me L and A, and I’ll give you the remote.”

Han Chen keeps silent for a moment and responds, “Deal.”

A is stunned from listening. He’s happy yet upset.

“Where’s L?” Xu Si Bai asks.

Han Chen tells him a location.

Xu Si Bai holds the gun with one hand and fetches for his phone with the other. He puts the phone against his ear, “R, confirm L’s location.”

They stand quietly while Xu Si Bai waits on the phone.

Han Chen’s voice grows a bit raspy, “Where’s Su Mian?”

Xu Si Bai remains quiet for a second before answering, “I will let her live the life she wants.”

Han Chen’s expression doesn’t change. He responds after a while, “Okay.”

_____

Su Mian wakes up in the room with dim lighting. She is tied to a chair and unable to move. Xu Si Bai is nowhere to be found. Only Ris sitting on the couch and smoking. There is a wall of monitors across from him.

In the very middle, it’s showing an image of A, Han Chen, and Xu Si Bai on a small dirt hill. This is before the explosion happened.

Su Mian feels her heart in her throat.

She realizes two things immediately.

Number one, Xu Si Bai is lying to Han Chen;

Number two, Han Chen is also lying to Xu Si Bai. He is already suspecting his identity.

If Xu Si Bai’s identity is already exposed, there is no way for them to be this peaceful together. But there is a very big loophole here. That’s A.

Based on the personalities of the seven-member organization, even if they were to die, they would never lead the way for Han Chen. Unless it’s a trap, or that A doesn’t want the other person to be staying outside and dying outside, so that’s why he’s leading the way.

And that person is Xu Si Bai, S. Moreover, if she can think of this, Han Chen can definitely think of this. Xu Si Bai is one of the important connections to many of the incidents.

And then, the explosion happens.

……

Su Mian already has a very bad feeling of this watching the two of them pointing their guns at each other. And when Xu Si Bai calls Rand tells him that he would like her live her own life with Han Chen answering “Okay,” Su Mian feels her heart ache. 𝒇𝙧𝚎𝐞𝙬𝒆𝑏𝑛𝑜v𝚎𝒍.c𝑜m

They want to die together.

They’ve both made up their minds to go all out. This is why they’re having this conversation.

There’s no way for Han Chen to let Xu Si Bai off. Since Xu Si Bai has recovered his memories, there’s no way for him to back down either.

They’ve decided to kill each other.

Su Mian’s heart becomes ruthless as well. She jerks her body and rams into the wall with the chair. But the chair doesn’t break. Rturns around watching her. Realizing that she’s just a beast trapped in a cage, R quickly returns to the monitors and switches the images.

Based on Han Chen’s location details, he finds a nearby surveillance camera. But he frowns after switching over to it. It’s because, in the dark image, there’s only a broken handcuff left at the pole of where Han Chen said. There’s nobody there.

He holds up the phone and says to Xu Si Bai, “S, L’s not there. There’s only half of a handcuff left. It seems to have been broken with a bullet.”

Su Mian pants as she lifts up her head. She watches Han Chen and others on the monitor.

Her shoulder is dislocated and in an awkward position, but she still can’t free herself from the rope.

And at the scene on the dam-like dirt hill, A’s breathing is thin like a gossamer. Han Chen and Xu Si Bai both fall silent hearing that Lis not there.

“There’s another person underground who hasn’t shown up yet,” Han Chen says slowly.

“Mm,” Xu Si Bai answers.

“When did you guys come up with the plan?” Han Chen raises his voice suddenly, directing the question to A. And R, hearing Han Chen asking the same question as Xu Si Bai, is stunned.”

“Three……” A mumbles.

“Three months ago,” Xu Si Bai answers for him.

A opens his eyes wide immediately. He understands it now. This plan is top secret and only members know about it. But three months ago, there was another person in this world who knew of the plan.

“But……” A says in doubt, “why would he……”

Xu Si Bai doesn’t respond.

Instead, Han Chen looks toward the darkness and says calmly, “Come out, Xu Nan Bai.”

From a column nearest to them, a shadow comes out. He’s wearing all black and looks just like a shadow. But he’s no longer the once elegant and refined looking man. There are stubbles on his chin, and his face is abnormally pale. There’s no way of knowing how long he’s been hiding underground, and no way of telling how long he’s been here watching them secretly.

His expression is calm, but there’s a hint of a mocking smile showing from his mouth. He’s also holding a gun in his hand.

“Long time no see,” he says slowly with a smile. It’s uncertain whom he’s greeting. Han Chen and Xu Si Bai still have their eyes on each other and both don’t turn to look. A is panting and looking at him with his eyes wide.

Xu Nan Bai walks closer to them and stands in a few meters away.

He then points his gun toward Han Chen.