The night wind howled through the towering city skyscrapers, carrying a chill that seemed to pierce the soul. Shen Yuchen and Jiang Tianyou stood in the desolate parking lot, surrounded by the quiet hum of a city that never truly slept. Su Wan Ning remained unconscious, her pale face softening as her breathing became steadier. Jiang Tianyou waited in silence, his expression unreadable, as Shen Yuchen glared at him, gripping the metallic disk tightly.
"Explain this to me," Shen Yuchen demanded, his tone cold and sharp. "What is this thing? And what do you expect me to do with it?"
Jiang Tianyou let out a slow breath, his voice steady but tinged with weariness. "That disk is the core fragment of the 'Fate Equation.' It was shattered into countless pieces and scattered across both the real and virtual worlds. And you—" he paused, meeting Shen Yuchen's piercing gaze—"are the only one who can put it back together."
"Me?" Shen Yuchen narrowed his eyes, his voice filled with doubt. "Why me?"
Jiang Tianyou's expression darkened, a shadow of pain crossing his face. "Because long ago, you were already part of this experiment—no, more than that. You were the center of it. You were their only success, but also their greatest anomaly."
Shen Yuchen's mind raced as fragmented memories surfaced—fleeting images, distorted voices, and an overwhelming sense of familiarity he couldn't shake. After a moment of tense silence, he spoke in a low voice, "So they erased my memories? Turned me into some kind of tool by stealing my past?"
Jiang Tianyou nodded grimly, his voice heavy with regret. "Not just your past. They took your choices, too. You were molded into a pawn for their game of fate."
A Hidden Truth
The oppressive silence deepened as Shen Yuchen lowered his gaze to Su Wan Ning, his expression conflicted. "If I accept this Fate Equation, what does that mean? And if I refuse…"
Jiang Tianyou's eyes turned sharp, his voice colder than the wind that swept through the parking lot. "If you accept, you'll gain the power to change the world—but at a cost you can't even imagine. You'll have to confront the truths buried deep within you and face the memories they sealed away. But if you refuse…" He paused, his tone growing heavier. "They won't let you refuse."
"Who are 'they'?" Shen Yuchen's voice was tense. "Why are they so obsessed with this equation?"
Jiang Tianyou's expression turned grave, a mix of anger and resignation in his eyes. "They call themselves the 'Observers of Fate,' a group who claim they can manipulate the future. Their goal is to use the equation to eliminate all variables and create a 'perfect world.' But you—your existence is the greatest threat to their vision."
Shen Yuchen scoffed, his voice laced with defiance. "A perfect world? Sounds more like a cage without freedom."
Jiang Tianyou didn't argue. He merely nodded. "Exactly. And you, Shen Yuchen, are the key to breaking their control."
Su Wan Ning's Awakening
Before Shen Yuchen could respond, a soft groan broke the silence. Su Wan Ning stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. Shen Yuchen immediately knelt beside her, gently taking her hand. "Wan Ning, how do you feel?"
Her unfocused gaze slowly found his, and she managed a faint smile. "Yuchen… are we still together?"
"Always," Shen Yuchen reassured her with a rare, soft smile. "We're still together."
Su Wan Ning's fingers weakly clutched his sleeve, her voice fragile but determined. "I… I remembered something… about myself… about them…"
"What did you remember?" Jiang Tianyou asked, stepping closer with urgency in his tone.
Closing her eyes, Su Wan Ning seemed to gather her thoughts before speaking. "They're not just after the equation. They're looking for a… 'vessel.' Only certain people can contain the power of the equation, and… I think I might be one of them."
Shen Yuchen's heart sank. "What? They're trying to experiment on you?"
Su Wan Ning nodded faintly, pain flickering in her expression. "They used me to get close to you, to make you cooperate. But then I learned their true intentions and ran away."
Jiang Tianyou's brow furrowed, his voice grim. "That explains why they've been relentlessly chasing you two. They need both of you—one to decode the equation, and the other to embody its power."
A New Choice
Su Wan Ning's hand reached up to touch Shen Yuchen's face, her gaze unwavering despite her weakness. "Yuchen, no matter what happens, we can't let them succeed. I'll stand by you, no matter the cost."
Shen Yuchen held her hand tightly, a fierce resolve burning in his eyes. He stood and turned to Jiang Tianyou. "Tell me what I need to do."
Jiang Tianyou's expression softened slightly, his voice steady but resolute. "You need to find the other fragments of the equation and piece them together. But the real challenge will be deciphering its secrets and finding a flaw within it. Only then can you destroy its control forever."
"And where are these fragments?" Shen Yuchen asked.
"They're scattered across the intersections of the real and virtual worlds," Jiang Tianyou explained. "The first fragment is located in the heart of this city—in the Fate Tower."
Shen Yuchen's gaze shifted toward the city skyline, where a towering skyscraper pierced the heavens, its lights glowing like a beacon of power.
"Fate Tower…" Shen Yuchen murmured, determination hardening his expression. "Then that's where we'll start."
He carefully lifted Su Wan Ning in his arms and turned to Jiang Tianyou, his tone decisive. "Lead the way."
Together, the three of them disappeared into the cold embrace of the night, their silhouettes swallowed by the endless shadows. Far above, unseen eyes watched their every step, the threads of destiny weaving tighter around them.