Lin Xiao arrived home, pushing open the front door with a familiar creak. The house was just as he'd left it. The soft hum of the refrigerator, the scent of freshly brewed tea, and the faint chatter from the TV in the living room all greeted him like a warm embrace.
"Mom, I'm home," Lin Xiao called out, slipping off his shoes by the door. His voice echoed through the house, sounding too ordinary given the chaos he had recently experienced.
His mother appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, a smile on her face. "Xiao Xiao, you're back! I was just making some tea. Want some?"
Lin Xiao blinked at her casual demeanor. After everything that had happened—the twin blood moons, the world shaking, the visions—how could she be acting like nothing had happened?
He hesitated, not wanting to alarm her but needing to check. "Mom... do you remember anything strange happening a few days ago? Like the sky... or the moon?"
His mother raised an eyebrow, her expression puzzled. "The moon? What about it? Nothing strange as far as I know. Everything's been normal. Are you feeling okay?"
Lin Xiao's heart sank. He could tell by her relaxed smile and confused tone that she had no memory of the events that had shaken his world. He forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… must've been a weird dream."
His mother nodded and headed back to the kitchen, not pressing further. Lin Xiao remained frozen for a moment, letting the reality of the situation sink in. The events that had turned his world upside down seemed to have left no trace.
The blood moons, the tremors, the eerie visions of the golden river—all of it had vanished from everyone's memory. Or worse, maybe none of it had ever happened here.
Lin Xiao wandered into the living room, glancing at the TV. A news report flashed across the screen—just the usual updates about the city's latest developments.
No mention of the blood moons or the bizarre phenomena he had witnessed. The people outside had been living their normal lives, completely unaffected by the chaos he had endured.
Something gnawed at him. Why was everything so normal? It felt almost wrong, as if the world had quietly reset itself while he had been away.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. His mother's serene response was unsettling. Had she really forgotten, or had something changed?
Deciding not to dig too deep for now, Lin Xiao sat down on the couch, running a hand through his hair. He had so many questions, but pressing for answers felt dangerous. If the world had somehow reset, who or what had done it?
"Everything's back to normal," Lin Xiao muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the TV. But the normalcy felt forced, too perfect.
He glanced around the room once more, as though waiting for something to be out of place. But nothing was. It was just a quiet, peaceful afternoon, with nothing strange about it.
But Lin Xiao knew better.
Lin Xiao rushed up the stairs, his mind still reeling from the unsettling normalcy of everything. When he reached his room, Xiao Bai and Little Blackie were lounging on his bed, their usual playful and calm selves. For a moment, Lin Xiao felt a wave of relief. At least his cats were still here.
"Xiao Bai, Little Blackie," Lin Xiao called out, his voice tight with unease. "What happened to the red moons? And the earthquake? You were both there with me. Don't you remember?"
Both cats lifted their heads lazily, blinking at him in confusion. Xiao Bai tilted his head, his blue eyes wide and innocent. "Xiao Xiao, what are you talking about? Red moons? Earthquake? I think you're still half asleep, meow!"
Little Blackie, usually more serious, narrowed her eyes but still looked puzzled. "Yeah, Xiao Xiao. I don't remember anything like that. Are you sure you didn't have a strange dream or something?"
Lin Xiao's heart sank. Even his cats, who had been with him during the chaos, seemed to have no recollection of the bizarre events that had unfolded. This wasn't right.
"No way..." Lin Xiao muttered, pacing the room. His mind raced. He had to talk to someone else, someone who might remember what had happened. Li Jing. She'd been there when the world was shaking, when the red moons appeared. If anyone would know, it'd be her.
Without wasting another second, Lin Xiao grabbed his phone and dialed Li Jing's number. He pressed the call button, the familiar anticipation building as he waited to hear her voice.
But instead, the phone gave an abrupt beep, followed by a cold, robotic voice: "The number you have dialed does not exist."
Lin Xiao froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. He checked the number, dialed it again, but the same message played: "The number you have dialed does not exist."
"What the heck?!" Lin Xiao's voice trembled as he hung up and tried again, only to be met with the same result. He tried calling another friend, but it was the same. It was as if Li Jing had vanished from existence. How could her number not exist?
Lin Xiao's heart pounded in his chest as panic began to creep in. He sat down on the edge of his bed, trying to process what was happening. Everything was starting to feel surreal. His mother didn't remember the events, his cats were confused, and now even Li Jing's number didn't exist?
It was as if some part of his world had been erased, leaving only him with the memory of what had happened.
"This doesn't make any sense," Lin Xiao whispered, running a hand through his hair. What had changed? What had really happened while he was gone?
His mind raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last.
Lin Xiao descended the stairs quickly, his mind still swirling with confusion and worry. He needed answers, and the only place he could think of was the military base where Li Jing worked. If her number didn't exist anymore, maybe seeing her in person would help clear up this strange situation.
As he entered the kitchen, his mother was preparing lunch, humming a familiar tune. The normalcy of the scene was almost unsettling to him. Everything felt too ordinary after what he had experienced.
"I'll be back in about an hour," Lin Xiao said casually, trying to keep his voice steady. He didn't want to alarm his mother or drag her into the weirdness that had unfolded. There was no point in explaining something she didn't even seem to remember.
His mother glanced at him and smiled. "Alright, but don't be late. I'm making your favorite tonight."
Lin Xiao nodded and forced a smile, though his mind was elsewhere. He grabbed his jacket, slipped on his shoes, and headed out the door without further explanation. As the door clicked shut behind him, the sense of urgency grew. He had to see if Li Jing was at the base.