Chapter 143: Third Station — Future Station
Inside Sandy’s bedroom, Shen Yu had finished washing up.
He put on a loose suit and wiped the remaining droplets of water from his hair.
As he did so, he wondered what else he could do to increase Sandy’s affection.
"Cough."
"Cough, cough."
Suddenly, he noticed Sandy clearing her throat.
She was standing in front of the microphone as though preparing to make an announcement.
"The train has completed its passage through the tunnel."
"There are ten minutes remaining until the third station, Future Station."
"Passengers, please prepare to disembark."
"Please—"
Sandy continued broadcasting.
But while she was speaking, a strong embrace suddenly came from behind.
Shen Yu buried his face in her hair.
His warm breath brushed against her ear.
A soft, involuntary sound escaped Sandy in the middle of her precise broadcast.
She immediately covered the microphone.
Her face turned red as she looked back at him in panic.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m broadcasting!"
"If the passengers hear that—"
"But don’t you think this is thrilling?"
Shen Yu leaned closer, teasing her.
Sandy’s face became even redder.
She glanced nervously at the microphone still in her hand, then at the man behind her.
She continued the announcement despite her embarrassment.
"If Dad finds out, he’ll scold me."
Shen Yu smiled.
"Don’t you like this?"
Sandy’s cheeks burned.
"The train will arrive at the station in five minutes."
"Please, passengers—"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Please prepare to disembark."
"Please prepare."
The strange broadcast echoed throughout the entire train.
And then—
A familiar system notification rang in Shen Yu’s ear.
[Sandy the Goddess’s affection for you has increased by 10.]
[Current Affection: 50.]
[New Affection CG unlocked.]
[Would you like to view it?]
[Yes / No]
Shen Yu glanced at the notification.
"No."
He wasn’t in a hurry to check the CG.
The woman in his arms had already finished broadcasting.
She turned toward him with an eager expression.
Meanwhile, Bill and Malin were still chasing each other through the carriage.
They suddenly heard the strange broadcast.
Both stopped.
They stared toward the front of the train in confusion.
"What...?"
"Was that the broadcast?"
Bill’s expression became strange.
"Was that... a moan?"
Nearby, Menloa was still teasing Gene Benua.
The moment he heard the broadcast, he also froze.
He instinctively looked toward the front carriage.
Then he glanced at Bill and Malin.
"Wait."
"Was that sound just now part of the broadcast?"
"Was that... a moan?"
The live-stream barrage instantly exploded.
666:
"It’s still Shen Yu!"
"Wow, he’s playing like this?"
"Is this like when the boss goes on a business trip and the husband calls?"
"Answer!"
"He has to answer!"
"Damn! What’s happening upstairs?"
The viewers were completely stunned.
Front Compartment — Sandy’s Bedroom
"Come on, darling."
Sandy was about to continue when the scenery outside the train window began moving more slowly.
A series of loud horn sounds came from the front of the train.
Woo—woo!
Then—
A sign flashing with red light appeared outside.
FUTURE STATION
The moment Sandy saw the sign, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
The intense mood from moments earlier disappeared.
After a brief hesitation, she stopped.
She leaned back into Shen Yu’s arms.
Her elongated eyes stared at his jaw for a moment.
Then she walked toward the closet.
She pulled out a pair of gloves and a helmet.
She handed them to Shen Yu.
Her fingers lightly brushed across his face.
"Here."
"When you come back, remember to wear these."
"I don’t want anything to happen to your perfect body."
"A body covered in scars isn’t something I like."
Sandy said it casually.
But Shen Yu’s brows furrowed slightly.
Lucian had once said that her greatest strength wasn’t her talent.
It was her ability to pick up girls.
Sandy had also claimed that the train was one of her father’s employees.
Perhaps because she was treated like a favored daughter, those words had given Shen Yu an important clue.
Don’t get injured.
That was what Sandy cared about.
Shen Yu nodded slightly.
He put on the helmet and gloves before wrapping an arm around Sandy’s waist.
"Then, baby..."
"Do you have any more thoughtful instructions?"
Sandy laughed.
"Hehe."
"Darling, asking for too much help will make me think you’re just a pervert."
"All right, then."
Shen Yu slowly closed his eyes.
Something suddenly occurred to him.
He clicked on the newly unlocked affection CG.
[Affection: 50.]
[SS-Rank CG Unlocked.]
The screen changed.
Warm sunlight poured through a window.
It landed upon a white hospital bed.
An elderly man leaned against his pillow, staring blankly at the sky outside.
People walked back and forth beyond the hospital ward.
But the old man seemed to feel nothing.
He simply stared at the sunset.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
A worn figure with long, slightly wavy hair appeared in front of him.
The elderly man stared at the newcomer for a moment.
His expression remained blank.
Then he turned his gaze back toward the sunset.
On the bedside table stood a vase containing a small sprig of greenery, symbolizing hope and happiness.
The visitor quietly covered the elderly man with a blanket.
Then she stood silently beside the bed.
A long silence followed.
Drip.
Drip.
Soft sounds could be heard.
Tears seemed to fall from the visitor’s eyes.
Then another crisp series of footsteps approached.
A doctor appeared at the door.
"Family of the patient."
"Do you still want to continue the treatment?"
"To be blunt, given your financial situation, there isn’t much reason to continue."
"There is no cure for this kind of mental illness."
"He may remain like this."
"His condition may continue to worsen."
"Eventually, he could become completely unconscious and require constant care."
"Instead of clinging to a hopeless treatment, it may be better to take him home and let him enjoy his remaining years."
The doctor spoke earnestly.
But the visitor only shook her head.
"No."
"Keep treating him."
"Whatever the future brings, I’ll accept it."
"No matter what happens to him, I’ll accept it."
"Because he is my father."
The scene suddenly ended.
Shen Yu opened his eyes.
The CG disappeared.
His gaze remained fixed on the affection screen.
[Affection: 25.]
He frowned slightly.
He began piecing the clues together.
The elderly man.
The woman.
The medical records.
The doctor’s words about the future.
If all those clues were combined with everything he had experienced so far, he could roughly understand the situation.
Sandy had a father.
And she loved him deeply.
But in the CG...
Her father seemed to have forgotten her.
Forgetfulness.
Amnesia.
That was connected to the Memory Train.
In the first CG, the elderly man must have been suffering from some form of memory loss or dementia.
That was why he hadn’t recognized Sandy at the station.
In the second CG, his condition seemed to have worsened.
Yet Sandy still insisted on continuing his treatment.
She was willing to accept whatever uncertain future awaited him.
The future...
Shen Yu’s eyes narrowed.
What exactly happened in that future?
And was that what eventually gave birth to the Memory Train?
Clang!
Before Shen Yu could think any further, the Twilight Express came to a steady stop in front of the station.
Sandy smiled.
"Darling, we’re getting off now."
"I’ll wait for you at the next departure point."
She leaned forward and kissed his chest.
"See you later."
Then she quickly walked back toward the microphone.
"The train has arrived at Future Station."
"The next stop is Fiction Station."
"This train will remain here for three hours."
"If you wish to continue your journey, please purchase a transfer card before reboarding."
The announcement echoed throughout the train.
"Damn!"
"Damn!"
"Don’t scare me with that knife!"
Bill hurriedly backed away.
"Are you not getting off at the next station with us?"
"Shouldn’t the survival rate be a little higher?"
"You!"
"You!"
"You!"
"And you!"
He pointed toward the others.
"You big bear!"
"Show me some respect!"
"Wasn’t it me who didn’t want to save that Chinese kid back then?"
"I can only take one person!"
"I have my own difficulties!"
As the announcement continued, the rear door of the carriage opened.
Bill immediately jumped off the train.
He looked extremely excited.
Behind him, Malin and Menloa stared at him with displeasure.
Then—
Thud!
The door of the front compartment suddenly opened.
Shen Yu stepped out.
He was wearing a clean suit.
A helmet covered his head.
Gloves covered his hands.
And most importantly—
He was completely unharmed.
The three people outside stared at him in astonishment.
Bill’s eyes widened.
"You dragon country kid!"
"You..."
"You’re not dead?!"
He nearly stumbled on his remaining leg.
Malin rushed toward Shen Yu.
"Shen Yu!"
"Are you okay?"
She quickly threw herself into his arms.
"You’re still alive!"
Menloa also considered giving him a bear hug.
In the end, he awkwardly walked over to Shen Yu’s side with a foolish grin.
Shen Yu looked at the three of them.
"If I had died, wouldn’t I have respawned inside the carriage?"
"It seems the people who actually die become monsters."
"You three simply weren’t careful enough."
As he pulled away from Malin, who was clinging to him like an octopus, Shen Yu smiled and pointed toward the station waiting hall.
"Let’s go."
"I don’t know what the situation here is yet."
The four of them finally moved forward.
And this time—
Shen Yu was truly at the center of the group.
Although Bill maintained a straight face and said nothing, he had to admit something.
In that previous situation...
He probably couldn’t have made the same decision as Shen Yu.
Using himself to break the deadlock.
Using everyone.
And somehow making everyone willingly allow Shen Yu to use them.
That was the difference.
Shen Yu had turned everyone’s abilities into part of his own survival strategy.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
The four entered the waiting hall.
The door leading outside the station immediately closed tightly behind them.
But this waiting hall was completely different from the previous one.
Various LCD screens hung from the walls.
The screens continuously displayed strange clips.
One showed Shen Yu, Malin, and Menloa eating together.
Another showed Shen Yu sleeping.
Another showed Malin sunbathing.
Another showed Menloa wrestling with a bear.
If they didn’t know this was a waiting hall, an ordinary person might have mistaken it for an exhibition of their daily lives.
The four looked around carefully.
Then they noticed something strange.
A common pattern appeared across all the screens.
Shen Yu had countless images.
Malin had images.
Menloa had images.
But—
There wasn’t a single picture of Bill.
Not one.