By the time he stepped out of the subway station, it was already past nine in the evening.

Autumn Ease had thought today would wrap up after just seeing Feng Yulan off. But unexpectedly, it took so long.

Though a bit tired, meeting an old classmate he hadn’t seen in ages still lifted his spirits.

After half a day together, they’d almost rediscovered that old best-friend bond from years ago.

Perhaps true friends, even after long silences, can quickly grow close again when reunited?

In 2014, Gaosha Road was still a developing new district.

Most infrastructure was built, but small-scale construction continued in many spots.

Behind Autumn Ease’s apartment lay a development zone. Old farmhouses had been demolished. New residential buildings—mostly apartments—were rising, meant for university students or fresh graduates.

Some office buildings stood finished. The commercial street was complete. But with few shops open, it felt eerily quiet.

Many shell companies rented offices here. At this stage, rent was dirt cheap.

Of course, "cheap" was relative. Autumn Ease felt his apartment cost wasn’t much lower than elsewhere.

Still... his neighborhood was lively enough. The construction zones lay further back.

Hangzhou’s public bikes were convenient, sturdy, and plentiful. But they had a major flaw: after 9:30 PM, many stations stopped rentals and returns. True 24-hour spots were rare.

In this area, only two existed—one near his workplace, one near his home.

Obviously, he couldn’t trek all the way to his office. And by the time he neared home, renting a bike was pointless.

So walking was the best choice.

Or taking a taxi.

Thanks to the university district, taxis were everywhere. Even without apps, hailing one was easy.

But Autumn Ease was broke. Saving every penny, he chose to walk home.

He hadn’t noticed the bike rules recently changed. Now, rentals and returns worked until 10:30 PM...

The notice at the station had completely slipped his mind.

As a university district, the area buzzed with youthful energy. Couples cuddled on roadside benches, lost in each other.

Some even flaunted affection mid-street. Autumn Ease inwardly cursed them to get hit by a car.

Well, that’s just how he was sometimes—cynical to the core.

The long street held few pedestrians. Withered yellow leaves drifted down lazily now and then.

On the city’s edge at night, lights stretched into the distance. Neon signs still flickered behind him. Yet an inexplicable dead silence hung in the air.

“If only Milk Candy were here with me today,” Autumn Ease thought.

A streetlight a few meters away flickered suddenly, like unstable voltage.

Near construction zones on the city’s edge, that was common.

But Autumn Ease instinctively froze.

He had a razor-sharp intuition now—able to sense danger closing in.

Just like when another version of himself had appeared, intent on killing him.

His hair stood on end.

He hunched slightly, scanning warily. Cold sweat dripped from his brow. He felt multiple pairs of eyes on him—not just watching, but poised to attack.

Like a venomous snake had locked onto its prey.

The street, busy moments ago, now stood empty.

Figures burst from corners ahead and behind simultaneously.

All wore deep black, covered head to toe. Only their tall frames showed. Faces hidden, they revealed only pairs of blue or green eyes.

Definitely not Chinese.

A dozen burly men rushed him without warning, slamming Autumn Ease face-first into the cement.

These were over a dozen hulking men. Even ordinary people—forget men, even a dozen women—he couldn’t fight off.

He was utterly defenseless.

His face scraped the hard ground. Hands were yanked behind his back and bound tight.

“Who are you! What do you want!” Autumn Ease panicked. Wild thoughts flooded his mind—human experiments, kidney theft, gang rape by muscle-bound bros...

Undoubtedly, the last was the most terrifying.

A minivan pulled smoothly to the curb. Bound and helpless, Autumn Ease was tossed into the back.

The van sped through the city’s night streets.

It soon left urban lights behind. On rural roads, its speed turned reckless.

Jostled violently, Autumn Ease nearly vomited. No one cared.

“Who the hell are you!” he shouted again. Truthfully terrified, he yelled only to steady his nerves.

Duct tape sealed his mouth. A blindfold covered his eyes.

Helpless, fear spread through him like ice.

What was happening?

Why was he kidnapped?

And by foreigners?

After long silence, a Chinese voice came from the driver’s seat.

“The capture of Autumn Ease succeeded. Hand him to the next team.”

“Yes, the—”

A foreign accent. Autumn Ease braced to process English—but the speaker fumbled badly.

“Damn, English is impossible. Let’s stick to Chinese. Only us two manage this zone anyway. Others won’t understand.”

“Enough talk. Move the target out. Backup’s almost here.”

“Ugh, why complicate it? Just ship him to port and smuggle him out.”

“Idiot. This way’s safer. Harder to trace.”

“Seriously, what does our organization even do? Why kidnap this guy? He’s a broke nobody. Does he have superpowers or something?”

“Shut up. We get paid. That’s all.”

Hearing “organization,” Autumn Ease realized he was in deep. A transnational terror group?

But terrorists wouldn’t want him. Even as a suicide bomber—why him? Too costly.

Yet... “superpowers” sparked a memory.

If we’re talking abilities, he did have one: entering distorted historical nodes.

Was this a foreign research team that uncovered his secret?

He’d trust Chinese labs over foreign ones any day.

What if they dissected him for study?

Even if he lived, experiments would flay him alive.

Chinese institutions were state-run. Safer. Foreign ones? Unpredictable.

“Mmm—mmm!” Autumn Ease writhed. A one-in-ten-thousand chance—maybe someone saw his kidnapping?

His struggles meant nothing. They carried him like livestock, dumping him in a dark room.

Autumn Ease never imagined a harmless-looking guy like him would be kidnapped.

Panic clawed at his chest. First time ever!

Tear off the tape and scream? Impossible.

Untie the ropes and flee? Even less possible.

He couldn’t even see his surroundings.

Soon, car brakes screeched outside. A man’s voice, thickly accented, called out: “Jame be outside! We, prepare to execute!”

Like a foreigner butchering Chinese—or a bizarre dialect.

“Fuck, I don’t wanna die! I haven’t even slept with a girl! Don’t make me a lab rat! Help!” Autumn Ease screamed inwardly. “Gods, buddhas—save me! I’ll worship you forever! HELP—!”

But no gods existed here. Only humans could save him.

And humans arrived.

“FREEZE!” A thunderous shout startled Autumn Ease—then flooded him with hope. Had the state tracked his phone? Sent troops?

He was the only time traveler alive. They had to protect him.

Relief washed over him—then a cold rod pressed against his temple.

“Don’t move! If we can’t have him, neither will you!”