He Shun wanted to explain everything to Luan Xie. However, he knew that Luan Xie did not believe in anything. The latter did not even let He Shun continue talking before he stood up and dashed out the room.
He Shun was stunned and quickly followed Luan Xie out. He was scared that Luan Xie might break something in his house. However, he saw Luan Xie standing in pure disbelief as he looked around the house.
He Shun slowly traced his steps towards Luan Xie as he placed a hand on the latter's shoulder. Luan Xie backed off instantly, looking at He Shun with panicked eyes.
If Luan Xie did not know only where he was, it would not be a big deal because the latter was a fearless warrior, but Luan Xie did not know what the place he found himself in was, and it frightened him instead.
"Where am I?" Luan Xie asked, maintaining a safe distance between himself and He Shun. He did not even let He Shun to be within five metres closer to him.
"My house," He Shun said. He was fully aware that this was not the answer Luan Xie was looking for, but he wanted the latter to ask for the details himself, rather than He Shun to explain everything in one go.
Luan Xie frowned. He took a step back, accidentally tripping over his own feet, and fell on the couch. Its softness was beyond understanding for Luan Xie. He never sat on something this soft before. His curious eyes made contact with He Shun.
"That is a couch. I bought it with money," He Shun explained, slowly making his way beside Luan Xie. Upon noticing the distance closing between them, Luan Xie got up and walked to the corner of the room, not letting his guards down.
"Money? Do you mean gold and silver coins?" Luan Xie asked.
He Shun shook his head. He felt like he was educating a young child who had just begun to understand the world. "Notes and coins. This type of money is what I am talking about," He Shun took out his wallet and pulled out a few bills and coins.
Luan Xie was baffled. He approached He Shun slightly to get a better view of the modern money. He shook his head. "How can a piece of paper have value?" He asked.
"This is what works in 2024," He Shun said as he stored his bills and coins back in the wallet and placed it in on the table.
Luan Xie snapped his head towards He Shun. "Did you say... 2024?" He asked. His eyes widened in shock, not believing a word out of He Shun's mouth.
He Shun slowly nodded. "It is 2024," he said, confirming Luan Xie's doubts. He carefully observed Luan Xie for any changes in his facial expression but received nothing. Luan Xie looked alright, not freaking out or yelling in shock.
In reality, Luan Xie was simply trying to calm himself down. He kept glancing at He Shun whenever the latter looked away. He could not believe that he could go in the future.
Talking about the future, He Shun looked at Luan Xie. Was Luan Xie someone in the past, or simply someone the author of the series created? He did do some research about Luan Xie but got nothing in return.
"I don't think you have travelled into the future," He Shun said as if he knew what was going on in Luan Xie's mind.
Luan Xie, still standing with his guards up, gazed at He Shun. He stared for a few minutes, contemplating about He Shun's words. "How can you say so?" He asked.
He Shun turned his body towards Luan Xie while remaining seated. His eyes were radiating confidence to talk. He looked determined to explain his theory. He did not do so many mystery films for nothing.
"If you time-travelled, you should have been in China, not here. This is America," He Shun leaned back on the couch, his eyes slightly flickering on the script.
Luan Xie frowned. "What is... Ah-meh-ree-ca?" He asked.
He Shun pointed at the world map taped on the wall behind Luan Xie. "That small continent on the bottom right is America," he said.
Luan Xie turned around and looked at the map. He let out a small gasp, perhaps in amazement. "Is this..?"
"The world map."
Luan Xie traced his fingers onto the map, layering each country and ocean. He was amazed. "This is the world..." he said, almost in a whisper.
He Shun looked at Luan Xie, amused by the latter's behaviour. Luan Xie was said to be sinister and malicious in the novel. The Luan Xie in front of him was just like a toddler, curious and amazed.
Luan Xie retracted his hand back and turned to He Shun once he realised that he diverted from the original topic. "You still haven't answered me," he said.
He Shun looked away, almost immediately. He did not want Luan Xie to know that He Shun had been staring. "Right. Your question."
Luan Xie waited, his stance almost questioning He Shun's words. He wrapped his arms around each other as he leaned back against the wall.
"You are a character of a novel. You did not exist in the past," He Shun said.
Luan Xie blinked, his mind processing He Shun's words. He was not dumb not to realise the meaning behind it. He was a villain after all, and villains were supposed to be wickedly smart. "So, I... transmigrated."
He Shun nodded a slow yes. "Yes. Yes, you did."
Luan Xie took a step closer, his eyes not leaving He Shun's. "And you said I belong in a novel. Is it the one I torn up earlier?" He asked.
"Yes, it is."
Luan Xie walked several steps until he reached the single couch. He took a seat down, looking seriously. He seemed to be thinking about something. Perhaps, how he got in this situation. He was shaking his legs, fidgeting with his hands.
"How did my story end?" After what seemed like an eternity, Luan Xie spoke up. His eyes were looking worried, a glint of hesitation of the answer he'd get.
He Shun took his time before answering. He was wondering whether he must say the truth or not. After all, even if Luan Xie was a fictional character, he was alive in front of He Shun at the moment, and He Shun wondered whether it was a good thing to reveal the potential future.
In the end, He Shun gave up and answered. It was not like he would lose anything. If Luan Xie wanted to know, then let him know. He was not someone real. Even if he was, it was none of He Shun's business to keep the latter sane.
"You burnt to death."