Inside the mall, the atmosphere was tense.
The bandit was on the fourth floor, watching everything with a look of madness on his face.
On the first floor, the bombs on the five children had been discarded.
Wei Yan was rushing with all his might towards the other bound woman, his eyes reddened.
But, it was all too late.
2,
1,
0,
The countdown ended.
The bomb on the woman exploded.
Blood and flesh flew.
She died right before Wei Yan's eyes.
Bang, bang, bang!
At the main entrance, his teammates rushed in.
Gunshots echoed.
Wei Yan stumbled towards the woman's remains, his eyes bloodshot.
His ears buzzed, and he could hear nothing.
The world seemed to stand still at that moment.
...
The next second, time rewound.
The entire mall returned to the moment Wei Yan had entered.
What appeared before his eyes were the children and his wife, bound with timed bombs.
And the bandit, holding the switch.
A difficult choice presented itself to him once more.
"Wei Yan, aren't you a good police officer?"
"Now, can you save them? Hahaha..."
As the bandit pressed the countdown switch, Wei Yan began to run again.
Save the children, save his wife...
But no matter how fast he ran, time was never enough.
Bang—!
The explosion made his ears ring.
It also tore his heart apart, leaving it bloody.
Yet, it was still less than a tenth of what he saw before him.
...
Jiang Lin watched this scene in silence.
Without a doubt,
the mall before him was replaying that day's events over and over.
From the moment Wei Yan collapsed at the mall entrance,
his soul had never left this place.
...
"He's still experiencing all of this..."
Watching these endlessly repeating scenes, the viewers in the live stream were stunned.
The three parties arguing fiercely also fell silent.
At this moment, they suddenly realized.
No matter what they said... it all seemed so pale and powerless.
Because they were not the people involved.
They didn't know the thoughts of those involved, nor their choices.
Even more so,
if they were in such a situation, could they do better?
Was this police officer a good one?
Undoubtedly, yes.
Did he love his wife?
Undoubtedly, yes.
Did he have the resolve to lose his life for his wife?
Undoubtedly, yes.
Because even knowing it was too late, even knowing he would be hurt.
With three seconds left on the countdown, he still rushed towards her with all his might.
"He... has never left this place?"
"Is he in a coma because his soul is still lingering on that day?"
Facing difficult choices again and again, wanting to save his wife each time.
Yet, watching her die before his eyes...
"Suddenly feeling a bit sad, what's going on..."
Perhaps, they were not qualified to comment on his choices.
The only one present who was qualified was the woman tied with the timed bomb.
Only her.
...
Jiang Lin stood in the mall,
watching the bandit press the switch again and again.
Watching Wei Yan rush towards the children, then immediately turn and run towards his wife.
Watching the bound woman, tears filling her eyes.
Watching her husband run in the opposite direction of her, time and time again.
Not once did he choose her.
Tears fell to the ground, vanishing with the sound of explosions.
At that time, was she despairing? Sad?
Or perhaps hate?
"What should I do to help you..."
Jiang Lin recalled the wish on the note and murmured.
Wei Yan was indeed trapped here.
But with his own strength alone, he couldn't have lasted here for half a year.
Accompanying him here was another lost soul.
—Wei Yan's wife.
Perhaps it was obsession? Or unwillingness? Or some other emotion...
that turned her into a ghost.
Together with Wei Yan, she was here day after day, repeating that day's ordeal.
Pulling them both out of here directly?
But if they were taken out, their obsessions would still remain.
In that case, would that be considered helping?
Jiang Lin felt that it was, but not entirely.
...
Bang—
The explosion sounded again.
As a large group of police officers rushed in, everything rewound to the beginning.
Wei Yan appeared at the mall entrance.
Facing a difficult choice.
'What is he thinking?' Jiang Lin looked at Wei Yan below.
The moment the countdown appeared,
Wei Yan rushed towards the children, and then towards his wife.
He wanted to save her.
Jiang Lin looked at Wei Yan's wife.
That woman, from beginning to end, only looked at Wei Yan.
Tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks.
She was crying, silently.
Was it because of fear, or because Wei Yan turned away, or because...
she knew it was too late?
Why was she performing this scene with him, time and time again?
Was it to see him rush towards her without hesitation?
Or perhaps...
Jiang Lin suddenly thought of something and decided to try.
He retreated to a corner of the mall.
He waited quietly, for the scene to rewind again.
...
Bang—
As the explosion sounded, Wei Yan's eyes were bloodshot.
Numerous footsteps and gunshots appeared at the mall entrance.
The next moment,
everything returned to the beginning.
Wei Yan, in his police uniform, walked into the mall.
Jiang Lin moved his fingers slightly, without alarming anyone.
As if by magic, Wei Yan's police uniform disappeared.
In its place was casual wear.
He walked to the center of the mall. To his left were a group of children, and to his right was his wife.
And both of them were bound with timed bombs!
Wei Yan's pupils contracted, his heart becoming heavy and cold.
On one side, five lives.
On the other, the wife he had sworn to protect for a lifetime.
The best way was to attract the bandit's attention, and then let Captain and the others get closer.
To launch a surprise attack.
As long as he could stall for time...
However, before Wei Yan could speak.
Tap, tap, tap,
footsteps echoed from the stairwell on the fourth floor of the mall, unmasked.
A man stood there, looking down at Wei Yan.
He held a switch in his hand.
He smiled at Wei Yan and pressed it directly.
Beep—
The bombs on both sides immediately began their countdown.
[0:14]
[0:13]
"Wei Yan, aren't you a good police officer?"
"Now, can you save them? Hahaha..."
The mad laughter echoed through the mall.
Wei Yan's heart tightened. Reason told him he should save the five young lives first.
But...
Wei Yan changed direction and rushed towards his wife without hesitation.
He was just an ordinary person!
He was now a husband who wanted to save his wife!
Even if he had to bear everything afterward, he would protect her!
Just like on their wedding day—
In front of everyone, he held her hand and said:
"I do."
"I am willing to marry Bai Shuangshuang."
"Whether in poverty or wealth, health or sickness."
"I am willing to love and protect you."
"To spend every day and night, every season with you."
"To grow old together, never leaving or abandoning."
...
Wei Yan shouted, "Bai Shuangshuang!"
Seeing the figure rushing towards her, Bai Shuangshuang froze.
Tears from the corners of her eyes slid down her cheeks.
Wei Yan reached her, pulled out a knife, and cut off the timed bomb tied to her.
He threw it far away.
Then, he hugged her tightly.
"I'm here."
Bai Shuangshuang raised her hand and hugged him back.
She closed her eyes, letting her tears fall.
"Mmm."
You are here.
I knew you would come.
So, I waited for you here.
...