Chapter 19 Motivation

He flipped through the book from start to finish once again, making sure not a single word was inside. He was instantly baffled.

Could it be he had accidentally hit the nail on the head and really failed to write a single word before dying?

I just wanted to cook for myself; could the consequences be this severe?

"That's not right, if death comes so suddenly that you can't leave behind a word or phrase, normally the whole book should cease to exist. But now the book remains, yet the content has vanished..."

Could it be that the Time-Space Administration noticed this was a "smuggled book" and so the content was 404'd?

Wait a minute! It seems like I've overlooked something...

He closed the book and noticed that the cover hadn't changed at all, and the title was still "Living."

"Living... living..."

Meng Lang chewed on these two words carefully, and then his eyes lit up suddenly.

...

If one says he is able to constantly twist the determined future, relying on this "autobiography that travels through time and space."

Then the moment in time when the "future" changes must be the moment right after he finished reading the "update," when his thoughts changed.

Take a chestnut for example.

I, this little butterfly, might have originally intended to flap my left wing, but after reading the "update," I immediately changed my mind and flapped my right wing instead.

As a result, the storm that should have occurred in the Eastern hemisphere now happens in the Western hemisphere, and the entire world's trajectory also follows a different path...

I think, therefore I am.

My thoughts are different, so the world is different, too.

Although making such a comparison might seem arrogant, who could blame Meng Lang? Now with his "autobiography" in hand, he was the only "variable" in the world.

To put it lightly, Meng Lang, this little butterfly, could change the trajectory of his life with just a flap of his wings.

To put it grandly, wherever a future storm might blow and how big it might be depends on how Meng Lang chooses to flap his wings...

According to this butterfly theory, the reason why the "future self" left a blank space is quite intriguing.

Does this not indicate that the "future self" did not want to change his thoughts at this moment?

Because... he succeeded?

"Living," these two words from a certain perspective, indeed carry a sense of pessimism and plodding forward.

But on the flip side, isn't there also a positive meaning?

Because living is the greatest victory!

Half past five in the afternoon.

Lin Xiaoyu had just carried her shopping bags up the stairs when she saw Meng Lang leaning against the door of 303, deep in thought.

"Uncle, hello!" Xiaoyu greeted him politely.

"Are you watching the sunset, Uncle?"

"Oh, Xiaoyu, you're back? I was waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?" Xiaoyu was taken aback.

"Yeah, this is the return gift for last time." Meng Lang said with a smile as he handed over the two bags at his feet.

Xiaoyu curiously took them and saw lively shrimps bouncing around and a grouper that looked quite expensive.

"This..."

Xiaoyu was about to refuse when she heard Meng Lang continue, somewhat embarrassed,

"I originally planned to cook it myself and bring it over, but my cooking skills are such that someone using an excavator to fry dishes would probably do better than me. I'm afraid you'll have to take on the task, Xiaoyu.

If you don't want it, then I'll have to waste such good ingredients and feed them to the stray cats."

Hearing Meng Lang's self-deprecation, Xiaoyu couldn't help but laugh.

"Well then... then okay, I'll also send a portion over to you once I've cooked it."

"Eh? You've seen through my plans, Xiaoyu? To be honest, the dishes last time were so good I nearly swallowed my tongue."

Seeing Meng Lang look like he had struck it rich, Xiaoyu's eyes curved with laughter.

"By the way, Uncle, what happened when you were looking for my sister last time? I asked her, but she wouldn't tell me."

"Oh, I met her, and boy, your sister's company really is impressive."

"I meant, how is my sister doing?"

"Huh?" Meng Lang was somewhat slow to catch on.

"Isn't my sister pretty?" Xiaoyu looked at Meng Lang with curiosity.

"Pretty... pretty..." Meng Lang replied awkwardly.

"Hmm! For the sake of this fish, I'll help you, Uncle!" Xiaoyu blinked and revealed a sly smile.

Meng Lang was taken aback.

So she thought his return gift was for her sister?

Well, it is normal for a single guy like himself to have thoughts about a woman with a great figure, great temperament, and one-in-a-million looks, who is also a top-notch lawyer.

It's not strange for Xiaoyu to think that way.

However... judging from their first meeting, unless I serve ten years in jail, there's probably no chance of me catching up with your sister...

"Cough! Xiaoyu, you've got it all wrong, I simply..."

"Xiaoyu! What are you doing?" A cold voice suddenly came from behind.

"Sister!"

Meng Lang turned his head, his face slightly unnatural. "Lawyer Lin, you're back."

"Xiaoyu, didn't I tell you not to talk to strangers?"

"Oh!" Xiaoyu did not argue and obediently nodded, then winked at Meng Lang and said, "I'm going to cook," before darting into 302.

"Ahem! Lawyer Lin, we're neighbors and we've met more than once. That doesn't really make me a stranger, right?" Meng Lang said with a forced laugh.

Lin Haitang looked at him for a while, then opened the door.

"Come in with me!"

Meng Lang was stunned.

There was nothing wrong with that phrase; it was a very formal invitation to discuss matters.

Only... why are you entering my room?

Being familiar doesn't mean you can just do this, right?

Meng Lang hurried inside, only to find Lin Haitang sizing up his rental place.

"The room is a bit messy, sorry for the laughter."

Meng Lang broke out in sweat on his forehead and quickly hid a pair of SpongeBob underpants from the bed.

Luckily, his collection of treasured magazines was well-hidden...

But seriously, what's up with this tense feeling from a girl's sudden inspection?

Lin Haitang inspected Meng Lang's rental without any expression, showing no shame in invading the room of a single man.

Only when she glanced at the indescribable black goo in the pot did her elegant brows furrow slightly.

"Cough! My cooking skills aren't great, please excuse me," Meng Lang said awkwardly.

Lin Haitang's mouth twitched. Is this something that can be described as just 'not being good at cooking'?

Could a normal person have made this with their eyes closed?

However, after a long observation, from his diet, clothing, and living expenses to the details like room decorations, she finally believed that this was the room of a single guy with just basic life skills and truly struggling financially.

"Who exactly are you? An ordinary insurance sales agent... I find it hard to understand how he could have discovered a stalker and come by confidential information about the 'Xu divorce case' like this.

For every day you don't clear up my doubts, that's another day I can't trust you."

Lin Haitang stared at Meng Lang.

"Even... I can suspect that you're the stalker specially sent by the Xu Group to get close to us!

The aim is to distract me and disrupt my litigation process."

Meng Lang was flabbergasted.

This is the conclusion you've reached after all this time?

What's more ridiculous is that Lin Haitang's reasoning actually held water.

Since the murder hadn't happened yet, Lin Haitang's worst assumption about the enemy probably only went as far as harassing her family.

So himself, who approached them actively and acted strangely, became the prime suspect...

After all, the only ones who knew she had taken on this divorce case, besides her own "people" at Lawyer Lin's firm, were probably just the "enemies"...

It seemed like leaking some information not only didn't increase her trust but made it look like he had thrown himself into the enemy's camp?

This is quite the mess!

What's even more frustrating is he couldn't reveal much to her now.

Tell her Xiao Yu was in danger?

Leaving aside whether she would believe him, what if Lin Haitang, out of fear, took Xiao Yu and ran away? Where would he find them then?

With the Xu Group's resources, finding them wouldn't be too difficult, and the situation might become even more dangerous.

He couldn't even disclose the real name of the killer; the crime hadn't happened yet, and he already knew who the murderer was?

This was beyond what any criminal investigation expert could explain; it was just plain foresight!

"Hey, hey! I was the one living here first, you and Xiao Yu came later, right? It's not like I arranged for you to move here, right?" Meng Lang said exasperatedly.

However, Lin Haitang looked around, her face expressionless, and commented, "Looks like you're short on money?"

Meng Lang facepalmed.

Great! Are you implying I could have been bought with money?

In the end, it's not that Lin Haitang was too suspicious.

The main issue was that Meng Lang lacked something to convince her.

Motive! He lacked a "kind-hearted" motive!

Seeing Meng Lang at a loss for words, Lin Haitang's gaze grew even more suspicious.

I genuinely did it for Xiao Yu...

In desperation, an idea suddenly flashed through Meng Lang's mind, recalling a quote from some great person.

There's nothing difficult in this world, only for those "with a heart."

He gritted his teeth and geared up as if he was going all in...

"Alright! I won't pretend anymore, actually... ever since you moved here on the first day, I've noticed you guys!" Meng Lang finally spilled the beans.

"Ha! You're finally willing to tell the truth?" Lin Haitang revealed a trace of cold laughter.

"Yes! Although it's not very appropriate to say this under these circumstances, but... I like you!"

Meng Lang said through clenched teeth, releasing a shocking statement.

"What... what?!"

Lin Haitang was astonished.

This wasn't unfolding as she had anticipated?

Her face turned red, then she glared at Meng Lang fiercely.

"You know what you're talking about?"

"Of course I do, I like you, so I approached Xiao Yu on purpose. I was trying to make a roundabout rescue, which led to this serendipitous discovery of the stalker.

I like you, so I 'accidentally' met you on the bus you take every day.

I like you, so I've been paying attention to you, trying every means to find out everything about you.

I like you, and that's why I need to protect you and Xiao Yu from harm by the bad guys!"

Now, isn't this reason enough for you?!