Lin Xiao awoke to the soft chirping of birds outside his window, sunlight filtering through the curtains. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness of the morning.
The room around him felt familiar, yet every small detail—his desk, the bookshelf, the clothes scattered around—felt like it carried more significance now that he knew this was the prime timeline. He was truly back.
"Back to normal life," he thought, though the weight of his memories made him question how "normal" things could ever be again.
He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His two cats, Xiao Bai and Little Blackie, were curled up at the foot of his bed, still snoozing peacefully. For a moment, Lin Xiao hesitated, watching them breathe softly. He smiled slightly. At least they were still here with him.
Shaking off the haze of sleep, Lin Xiao stood and stretched. Today was his first day back at school. The thought made him feel oddly anxious, even though he knew the building and routine all too well. But things are different now, he reminded himself. I'm different.
Heading to his closet, he pulled out his school uniform: a simple white shirt, a navy blue jacket with the school emblem embroidered on the pocket, and matching slacks.
He ran a hand over the fabric, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia. It had been so long since he'd worn these clothes, even though the time spent in other timelines made it feel like an eternity.
Lin Xiao quickly changed, the routine of getting dressed grounding him in the present. Once he was fully dressed, he stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar.
He stared at his reflection for a moment. Same face, same uniform, same boy—yet, beneath the surface, so much had changed. His memories of the other timelines had made him see the world differently.
As he turned away from the mirror, Lin Xiao heard the soft sound of a door creaking open. He glanced toward the hallway and saw his younger sister, Lin Meiying, stepping out of her room.
She looked half-asleep, her long black hair a little messy as she rubbed her eyes. She wore her own school uniform, a navy-blue pleated skirt and a matching blazer with the school insignia.
"Morning," Lin Xiao greeted, his voice breaking the quiet.
"Morning," Meiying mumbled, still rubbing her eyes as she trudged toward the stairs.
Lin Xiao watched her for a moment, noticing how she looked exactly the same as in the other timelines. That was one comforting constant—his sister had always been his anchor. In this timeline, in others, she was always there, and he cared deeply for her.
As Meiying headed downstairs, Lin Xiao followed, listening to the familiar clinks and clatters coming from the kitchen. Their mother was undoubtedly up and preparing breakfast, just like every other morning in this household.
Lin Xiao felt a warmth in his chest at the thought of this simple, peaceful routine. It grounded him in the reality of this timeline, in the mundane but comforting details of everyday life.
As they descended the stairs, the smell of freshly brewed tea and fried eggs wafted through the air. Lin Meiying perked up a little, her earlier grogginess fading away at the scent of breakfast.
"Mom's making eggs again," she said, her tone still sleepy but tinged with anticipation.
"Yeah, smells like it," Lin Xiao replied as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
The dining area was small but cozy, with a round table in the center, a few chairs around it, and a window that let in the morning sunlight. Their mother stood at the stove, her back turned to them, humming a soft tune. Plates of food were already on the table—scrambled eggs, toast, and steamed buns—and a pot of tea sat steaming in the middle.
"Morning, you two," their mom called out without turning around, flipping an egg in the pan.
"Morning, Mom," Lin Xiao replied, his voice warm.
Meiying slid into a chair, immediately reaching for a steamed bun. Lin Xiao sat down beside her, pouring himself a cup of tea. His mom turned around, a smile on her face as she set down a plate of eggs.
"Excited for school?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
Lin Xiao chuckled softly, unsure of how to answer. Excited wasn't exactly the right word, but he nodded anyway. "Yeah, sure. It's been a while."
His mom smiled knowingly. "You'll get back into the swing of things soon enough."
Meiying took a big bite of her steamed bun, nodding enthusiastically. "School's not so bad, Xiao-ge," she said with her mouth full. "You'll be fine."
Lin Xiao smiled at her. She always had this simple, innocent way of looking at the world. It made things feel less complicated.
They ate breakfast together, the atmosphere light and peaceful. For a moment, Lin Xiao let himself get lost in the normalcy of it all. The sound of clinking forks, the occasional joke from his sister, and the warmth of family. It was almost enough to make him forget about everything that had happened before—the missions, the portals, the alternate timelines.
But deep down, he knew that this peace wouldn't last forever. The system was still there, lurking beneath the surface.
After finishing breakfast, Lin Xiao thanked his mom, gave his sister a quick nod, and grabbed his schoolbag. The morning sun bathed the neighborhood in a soft, golden glow as he stepped outside. The air was fresh, with a slight chill, making him tug his school jacket a bit tighter around his body. The road leading to school was quiet, and the sound of his footsteps echoed slightly as he started the familiar walk.
It felt strangely peaceful, almost like he had never been gone, as if none of the chaos from the other timelines had ever happened.
The trees lining the streets, the rows of similar-looking houses, the distant hum of the city waking up—it all felt so... normal. Yet, deep down, Lin Xiao knew he wasn't the same person who used to walk this route every day.
What next? he thought. The mundane rhythm of this life was in sharp contrast to the storm of questions and uncertainties swirling in his mind.
As he walked, the thought of the system resurfaced. He had avoided checking it since waking up, but now curiosity tugged at him. He couldn't ignore it forever.
After all, the system had been the one constant across all timelines. And now, with its recent update, there was no telling what new information it had. He slowed his pace, taking a deep breath as he mentally prepared himself.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby. With a flick of his wrist, he tried to access the system.
Immediately, a familiar screen appeared in his mind's eye, with faint shimmering letters and an interface that he had grown used to over time.
The system had a slight new gleam, as if it had been polished in his absence.
At the top, a notification blinked in soft blue light: [System Update Complete: New Features Available!]