After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: A Long Goodbye

 

The young man’s voice rang out like a spring thunder, echoing through the still water.

 

Rong Haoyu opened his mouth, and after a long while, he felt himself breathing again.

 

He heard the sound of his heartbeat, so fast, so fast, as if it were some kind of ecstatic joy after regaining what was lost, yet cautious, as though afraid to miss something. In a voice as soft as if not to blow away a dandelion, he asked quietly, “Return… to where?”

 

The black-haired young man did not look back.

 

“Of course, back to the side of the person you want to see,” he said. “Are you willing to gamble?”

 

This was a question that did not need to be asked.

 

Rong Haoyu heard his own mouth speak: “What do I need to give up?”

 

“You will never be able to return to your original world. Your doctoral degree, your family and friends, your future—all of it will leave you. According to the trajectory of this world, if the crossing incident had never occurred, you would have published another first-author article in a top journal in the next two years. You would have been appreciated by the mentor of your advisor—an industry giant. His recommendation letter would have granted you the opportunity to join the top company in this world’s industry.

 

“You would have worked at that company for five years, returned to the country, and started your own business. The excellent relationships you built as a student would have left you with strong connections, and when seeking investments, your classmates from various fields and government agencies would have trusted and supported you. They would have opened doors for you, and you would not have disappointed their expectations. At the age of forty, you would have achieved unparalleled success among your peers and been recognized by the nation for your outstanding reputation. Perhaps you would have had an exceptional wife and a child. That girl named Kang Xin, with her excellent family background, would have had many intersections with you in your future entrepreneurial journey. Perhaps she would have become your wife.

 

“Now you know the life you could have had in this world—adorned with flowers and thriving in abundance. You wouldn’t need to shoulder the burden of ruling a nation, nor face potential pandemics, floods, enemy pressures, or hidden dangers. It would be a life of effort but without the pressure of stepping into a bottomless abyss due to a single misstep. Even in the worst of times, you would receive the support of your strong nation, of China itself. Society and the country would be the safety net for all your challenges. So…

 

“Are you certain you want to go there?” The young man finally turned his head to look at him.

 

He looked like a beautiful doll, his gaze unwavering as he stared at him.

 

And then Rong Haoyu gave his answer.

 

“This world doesn’t have him.”

 

“I promised him I would stay by his side, no matter how far I have to go.”

 

The young man stared at him for a long time. Finally, he smiled.

 

When he smiled, his eyes squinted like a cat’s: “Alright.”

 

“My authority allows me to open a fissure in time and space, letting you traverse back to that world. But unfortunately, I cannot control the time of your arrival. You could appear anywhere, at any time, in any identity—perhaps in the dynasty where Zhou Xun lived, or perhaps a thousand years after that dynasty. Because you are not a suitable candidate for crossing. That timeline does not belong to you, and you do not belong to it. In that timeline, you will have no anchor point. You will wander as a drifting soul across all times and spaces unless you can accurately find your anchor point and reach the time you need to return to before your energy runs out.” The young man’s tone was unhurried. “It will be very difficult and dangerous. If you fail to reach it before the energy is depleted…”

 

“What will happen to me?”

 

“You will be annihilated in the crevice of time and space, completely erased.” The young man said, “Knowing such a possibility, do you still want to go back?”

 

Rong Haoyu was silent for a moment. He looked at the gray screen and slowly exhaled.

 

“If I stay here, I will spend my whole life looking for him too,” he said. “Every day, every moment, when I wake up, when I walk down the street, when I pick up a trophy, when I put on my doctoral gown, when I grow old and sit in a rocking chair…”

 

“I will always feel that there should be someone else by my side.” He smiled slightly, “That movie earlier—Drunken Life and Dreamlike Death—is such a wonderful thing. Drinking it lets you forget everything, but I wouldn’t drink it because.”

 

“Loving him is the best thing in my life.”

 

That was a very clear answer.

 

The young man quietly looked at him, as though observing a monster. After a long time, he shrugged and said, “Alright, if you insist, we can start now.”

 

With that, he extended a finger and pointed into the void.

 

“But before that, can I do one more thing?” Rong Haoyu suddenly smiled, scratching his head, “I’m already making so many requests, how impolite of me.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“From the way you put it, this world seems to have treated me so well,” Rong Haoyu said, his eyes soft and bright. “Before I leave, I’d like to say goodbye to it. Of course, if that’s not possible, I can leave right away.”

 

…

 

Rong Haoyu wrote his donation slip meticulously, handing it over to the staff.

 

The amount was fifty thousand yuan—not much, but it was a planned portion of his savings.

 

He planned to donate this money to a Hope Primary School in his hometown. As for the rest of his assets, apart from the house carrying memories of himself and his parents, he had allocated all of them for different purposes, with parts being donated to various causes.

 

When he left the post office, he saw the young man standing under a streetlight, yawning with his arms crossed. Rong Haoyu had learned the young man’s name—Number Five.

 

“Sorry to trouble you even now,” Rong Haoyu said.

 

“No problem. I actually enjoy it when you linger here longer. Maybe someday in the process, you’ll change your mind, develop an attachment to this world, and decide not to leave. That would make me happiest.” Number Five winked at him. “That way, my task would be complete.”

 

Rong Haoyu smiled faintly and said nothing.

 

The next afternoon, he returned to his university. The school happened to be hosting a reunion event for alumni, and his arrival delighted his old political science teacher.

 

After hearing about his plan to donate three hundred thousand yuan, however, the teacher immediately frowned.

 

“You’re so young, not a trust fund baby, and you’ll need money for so many things. Why are you thinking of donating to the school already? Take it back, take it back!” The teacher waved him off angrily. “What’s this about? That’s something fifty- or sixty-year-old alumni with spare money do. You, at your age, should use this money to start your career. Serve the country well. Use your knowledge to give back to society—that’s the purpose of the education you received! When you’ve made a name for yourself as a scientist or entrepreneur and have money to spare, then come back and donate. I definitely won’t stop you then!”

 

Hearing this, Rong Haoyu smiled, but as he smiled, there was a hint of melancholy on his face. The teacher noticed something amiss and cautiously asked, “Xiao Rong, did something happen to you recently?”

 

“Ah, well, Old Wang,” Rong Haoyu scratched his head, chuckling after a moment. “I’m about to graduate from P University.”

 

“Oh, oh, ready to start working? Found an internship yet? Are you staying in the country or working abroad? I remember you wanted to return to China—going back to S City?” The rapid-fire questions were classic Old Wang.

 

“No, I’m going somewhere farther away.”

 

“Farther away? Shenzhen? The United States? The UK?”

 

“None of those,” Rong Haoyu replied. “Too far away, so I feel… a bit ashamed I might not be able to repay the school in the future. That’s why I wanted to take this opportunity to show some gratitude. Old Wang, please don’t turn it down.”

 

Old Wang thought for a moment, then smiled, patting Rong Haoyu on the shoulder. “Well, all of you students who leave the school end up going all over the world. I’m not sure about your situation since you don’t seem keen to talk about it. But wherever you go, as long as you use your knowledge to help more people, you won’t have let down the school’s efforts in educating you.”

 

“…Mm.” After a long pause, Rong Haoyu finally spoke. “Of course! Oh, by the way, Old Wang, actually…”

 

He lowered his voice, “I won the lottery! That’s why I’m donating!”

 

“Wow, I didn’t see that coming!”

 

“The money’s donated now. It’s not much, so if it’s too little, just use it to fix the cafeteria. Oh, and Old Wang, take better care of yourself, exercise more, and drink more tea!” Rong Haoyu waved his hand. “I’ll leave once the paperwork’s done!”

 

He left the university and turned back to look at the school gates in the sunset. The emblem of his alma mater reflected in his eyes. Rong Haoyu stood there, staring at it, silently mouthing words.

 

“You were right,” he said. “Thank you, S University.”

 

Thank you for letting him believe that helping people in another world would not betray the education he received.

 

…

 

When Rong Haoyu returned to P University, he brought gifts for everyone he was close with—one for each. Seeing this, Cheng Hang pulled him into a room and whispered, “Holy crap, you hit the jackpot or something?”

 

Some time ago, Cheng Hang had been busy running around for his own matters, so much so that stubble had grown on his chin. Watching him scratching his head and tinkering in front of the computer, Rong Haoyu curiously asked, “What are you up to?”

 

“Starting a business! You didn’t know? That thing I submitted a year ago, the one I thought had no hope—it got accepted!” Cheng Hang spoke with his feet propped up, his tone filled with pride and joy. “Graduation’s just around the corner. Time to get my stuff together and kickstart my business!”

 

When he spoke about this, Cheng Hang was brimming with energy, his tone practically dancing with excitement. Rong Haoyu looked at his long-time good friend and remembered that Cheng Hang had indeed been preparing for this for years. He had only paused in the last two years, held back by the need to graduate. Rong Haoyu asked, “What kind of business are you planning?”

 

“I’m working on…”

 

Cheng Hang animatedly described his startup plan, which had started taking shape but stalled a year ago. “Actually, picking it back up now isn’t too late. Oh, by the way, Haoyu, why don’t you join me? You’re skilled in your field!”

 

“I won’t be joining. I’m leaving in a few days,” Rong Haoyu said, tossing a bank card over to him. “We’ve been brothers for so many years. Consider this my gift. Take this remaining 100,000.”

 

“You’re leaving… Wait, what?!” Cheng Hang was stunned, his chair tipping over as he stared at Rong Haoyu in shock. “What do you mean leaving? Where are you going? You’re not…”

 

“I’ve found a way to go back.”

 

Cheng Hang gaped at him, utterly dumbfounded, unable to pick up the bank card. After a long while, he finally blurted out, “Damn, so, so…”

 

“Don’t overthink it. The money’s for you. I won’t be needing it since I won’t be coming back,” Rong Haoyu said nonchalantly. “Thanks for all those midnight snacks over the years, brother!”

 

“Wait, can you tell me how you got there?!” Cheng Hang exclaimed, “Forget the money—just tell me how you managed to time travel?!”

 

Rong Haoyu: ???

 

Cheng Hang: “If we had that technology, why bother with a startup at all?!”

 

It was only after a while that Cheng Hang calmed down. “Brother, I can’t take your money. What if you end up coming back someday?”

 

“I won’t. I already asked,” Rong Haoyu replied. “Life doesn’t work that conveniently. Besides, I trust you. You’re capable, talented, and have a solid plan. I can rest easy leaving the rest of my money for your business. I’ll go save the other world, and you take care of our motherland!”

 

Cheng Hang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly typed furiously on his computer and bolted downstairs. When he returned, his forehead was covered in sweat. Wiping it away, Cheng Hang slapped a piece of paper onto the table in front of Rong Haoyu. “Sign this!”

 

“What is it?”

 

“An investment contract. From now on, our little studio will have a share under your name! If we make money, it’s yours. If we lose it all, don’t blame me—you’re the one who gave me the cash!” Cheng Hang glared at him. “Sign it if you still consider me your brother. If not, we’re done!”

 

Rong Haoyu sat silently for a while before picking up a pen and signing his name.

 

“Done!” Cheng Hang cheered. “Two copies—one for you, one for me. What are you, a wandering monk throwing money around? When your dad—that’s me—becomes a Fortune 500 CEO, and you come crawling back, you can walk away with my millions!”

 

Rong Haoyu swallowed hard, fist-bumping him. “Thanks, brother.”

 

…

 

The last place Rong Haoyu visited was the cemetery at sunset.

 

The cemetery was cloaked in a veil of twilight. Under the fading light, he placed a bouquet of lilies in front of a gravestone.

 

The gravestone bore a photograph of two people, smiling radiantly.

 

“Dad, you used to love this wine the most. This time, drink to your heart’s content. Mom always used to stop you, and you’d sneak out to the balcony to drink.” As he spoke, he poured the entire bottle of wine onto the soft earth before the gravestone. “And Mom, don’t worry. I haven’t stayed up late in ages. I get up at seven every morning, and I go to bed around eleven or twelve at night. I’m perfectly healthy, with a head full of shiny black hair.”

 

After emptying the bottle, he sat cross-legged in front of the grave and began talking.

 

He rambled on and on, sharing that he had gotten a first-author paper in a top journal, earned his PhD, and recounted bits of daily life. Finally, he said, “Mom and Dad, you always told me to find someone I truly love. I’ve found him now. He’s beautiful and gentle, way more talented than your son—but he’s a guy. But you two were always so open-minded. I’m sure you’d understand, right?”

 

“These past few years, I’ve had the most incredible experience. I became an emperor, married a wife as beautiful as a movie star, and chatted with literary geniuses. It still feels surreal to me. Today, since there’s time, let me tell you the whole story.”

 

He recounted everything in vivid detail—the past events flooding back to him, layer upon layer. The photograph on the gravestone gazed back at him warmly. Even separated by life and death, he could still feel his parents’ unwavering support.

 

“Compared to him, I’ve been so fortunate. I’ve had good friends, a great school, and you two. But I admire his courage so much. If I were in his shoes, I could never have done better.” His voice grew softer, his head lowered, and then he smiled. “He’s someone whose every scar feels like a badge of honor, someone who continues to love bravely no matter how many times he’s been hurt. The world has lied to him so many times, so now, I need to keep my promise. Mom, Dad, you’d understand, wouldn’t you?”

 

“I know you would, because you were brave in your own way. Even though you left so early, I’ve always been proud to have you as my parents.”

 

They had given him courage, and now he would take that courage to another world, for someone else.

 

As the sky turned red with the setting sun, he peeled an orange, eating it slice by slice. “Mom, Dad, it’s getting late. I’m leaving now.”

 

Descending the steps one by one, Rong Haoyu thought that his parents had never truly left.

 

Those two warm souls lived on in his heart. Life or memorials did not define their existence. As long as someone remembered them and loved them, they were more alive than anyone else, happily residing in the hearts of their loved ones.

 

He walked out of the cemetery. For the last time, he looked back at the orange-streaked sky and this beautiful world where he had lived for more than twenty years.

 

He had said all his goodbyes and repaid every kindness. Now, he had no regrets left.

 

With dignity and grace, he left the world that had nurtured him and filled his life with warmth. Now, he carried all his hopes to traverse space and time to reunite with another.

 

The doll-like young man stood under the streetlamp, looking at him. When he saw him approach, he smiled. “Are you ready?”

 

Rong Haoyu nodded.

 

“I’m ready,” he said.

 

“Alright.”

 

The young man raised his finger to the air and gently tapped, speaking softly, “Your jump is about to begin.”