Chapter 8: Back to Yesterday

"I am not joking, don't you know?" I asked in surprise

Just as Lin stepped into the room, I noticed her exposed shoulder, its skin smooth and unblemished, with no marks whatsoever, and her neck bore no red impressions, which further confirmed to me that at this moment, I remained outside the cycle of reincarnation

I hesitated for a moment and intended to advise everyone in the travel group not to go while on the road, but when I opened my phone, I realized that there was no such travel group.

Although I am the one who created the group, I rarely speak, believing that such matters are best decided by everyone. I do not mind where we go to have fun; the main thing is to enjoy ourselves together.

"Go to sleep, we have to gather early tomorrow." Lin had already finished washing up and came out, opening the door to my bedroom and slipping inside.

I calculated the sequence of events in my mind, considering that two days before the disaster occurred, which was yesterday relative to my current time, Xiaotian called me, and later I encountered Lin at the cold noodle shop

After taking another look at the phone, I realized that perhaps Xiao Tian is unaware of this matter, which is similar to not having established a group for the trip

Yes, I completely forgot. I touched my nose and then remembered that for her now, that was yesterday

I looked up at the three exotic characters 'Vienna' on the hair salon sign, realizing that I had already arrived at the entrance of the shop. Originally, this store was just diagonally across from my residential community.

I looked in the mirror, observing the red marks on my chest, with some areas showing even darker bruises, which have clearly developed into contusions. This must have occurred during the previous instances when I died, as I was struck in the same location.

It seemed that she sensed my gaze, and Lin instinctively adjusted her clothing with her hand

From the very beginning, I found it strange how such a lively chat record could exist, yet when we gathered, everyone seemed quite unhappy. Could it be that some unpleasant remarks occurred along the way

"I have arrived." I responded, realizing that Lin had already gone in.

I have already died thirty-seven times, I thought to myself, and turned around to take another look at my back; comparatively speaking, there are still far fewer red marks on my back.

Oda spoke in a serious tone: "I know what I know. If you are deliberately making excuses not to go, I won't say anything about it. But how can we go if you say it like this?"

Xiao Tian's deliberately mature tone came through the phone: "Am I not giving you an opportunity to choose? Young people should have the ability to make decisions"

I glanced at the information and then set my phone aside

You ... ...

Upon hearing what I said, Lin, whose eyes were still not fully awake, clearly froze for a moment, then suddenly brightened up, looking at me with joy. Before she could say anything, tears began to flow.

I looked at her awkwardly and explained, "I did not intend to look at you, but it is the mark on you; I have it as well, and I also know that I have died thirty-seven times."

Before I could introduce Lin, she introduced herself first, stating that she is my girlfriend

After she finished speaking, I suddenly remembered that during my thirty-sixth death, I naturally assumed that the one who called me to get up, Lin, was my girlfriend, and I indeed introduced her as such!

Upon hearing my words, Lin's face turned as red as it did 'yesterday'. The barber awkwardly cleared his throat and deliberately walked away, and only then did Lin quietly say: 'You already asked me once yesterday'

Because I am certain that I have seen a red mark on Lin's neck, just like the one on my body, which was left as a result of death

The people your organization selected for the outing are not suitable, and I no longer wish to go. I began to make excuses, intending to sabotage this outing. I do not want to die for the thirty-eighth time; the pain experienced at the moment of death is not something an ordinary person can endure.

The door suddenly opened, and Lin was just about to come out when she bumped into me at my door, startling both of us.

I could not fathom why at that time I felt so naturally that she was, rather than just a verbal designation.

At that time, Lin was indeed my girlfriend, there is no mistake about it

It seems there is no opportunity to decline Xiaotian's invitation to go out...

I have come back to life once again, just like last time, returning to the day before the disaster occurred. Each time it is the same, though I am not quite certain how many days back I will go, as last time I returned two days prior, when Xiaotian had just called to invite me on a trip.

It seems that I have been struck dead from the front many times, and I sighed helplessly

However, at that time, I felt that Lin was my girlfriend, and it was not because Lin told me so now that I introduced her to my friends in that way

I brought Lin back, which also makes it convenient for traveling early tomorrow morning

However, I still feel that there are some aspects that are not quite right, but I cannot recall them.

She was scrolling through her phone screen, and I was watching, among which was the place called Ocean Park

I have truly returned to the day after Xiaotian called me, which is today, and I am no longer within the cycle of my thirty-seven deaths

It was not until the evening, when I lay on the sofa, that I noticed the conversations in the group gradually dwindling, and there was no sign of any unpleasantness, which left me perplexed

Then you should go honestly tomorrow. After Xiaotian finished speaking, he urged me several more times to go, and then hung up the phone

No, that is not what I meant. I also do not know how to explain it well.

I heard a response.

Indeed, she enjoys lively atmospheres; otherwise, she would not be so proactive in going on outings with us, who are just acquaintances.

Today, Lin is getting her hair done outside, and shortly she will provide me with the address of the hair salon. Then I will meet her to discuss the specific plans for our trip

When I saw this message, I looked up at Lin, who was doing her hair. She appeared somewhat shy, as if she had sensed my gaze, yet she deliberately tried to avoid looking at me.

Why did you suddenly cry

I looked at Lin in confusion, feeling that her tears were, surprisingly, of a kind that expressed relief.

He is only a little over ten days older than my birthday. After graduating and starting work, he has always spoken to me in this tone. I have gotten used to it now and don't care about his tone. I directly said: "I feel that something will happen tomorrow, so we might as well not go."

Right next to my house, I just glanced at the name of the shop and was certain that there would definitely not be any other shop with the same name as theirs

I observe the lively chat messages in the group, and I only respond with a couple of sentences when I am @ mentioned

By the way, I have not yet established this group at this time. After I meet Lin later and finalize the alternative travel destinations, I will then create this group

No, I meant to ask, are you my girlfriend? I also felt a bit awkward, but I still asked.

Before I could finish speaking, Lin quickly interjected, "I want to go to this ocean park; it just opened, and there should be many people going. I enjoy the liveliness."

"You are already awake?" Lin looked at me in surprise

I lowered my head and looked at the hung-up phone, murmuring to myself. In these thirty-seven experiences, I had the impression that Xiao Tian was aware that we were all trapped in a cycle of constant death, but how could he be completely unaware of this during our recent phone call

Ocean Park, the place finally chosen by Lin, met with no objections from anyone

And Lin just smiled at me

It seems that my direct approach startled him into silence, and after a while, he burst into laughter: "I am at work, please don't make me laugh; if the boss finds out, my days will be difficult."

Lin tentatively asked, "You don't have a girlfriend, do you? Then when you introduce me tomorrow, you can say I am your girlfriend, but we need to first see how we get along as friends."

Why don't you come in

When I woke up, my phone had not yet rung. Seeing that it was almost time, I went to the bathroom. As I came out, I happened to pass by the bedroom door

After a while, I began to talk to Lin about the trip and then created a group for the outing. Since everyone was too familiar with each other, when Lin was added to the group, everyone teased me.

I suddenly remembered that I did indeed ask once at the liangpi shop, but for me, that was not yesterday, but a long time ago

There is no need; this introduction is quite good. I feel as though I have been with Lin for a long time, yet seeing her shy demeanor makes it seem as if we have only just begun to interact.

Hearing Lin's voice, I looked up and saw her at the entrance of the hair salon, pushing the door open and waving at me, her long hair cascading down, wearing a beaming smile.

I watched the chat messages, and soon Lin blended in with them, starting to talk about the trip. Everyone was very considerate of me, and surprisingly, they really let Lin decide the location.

"Go to sleep," this is the message Lin sent me to urge me before bed

Upon thinking of this, I took a deep breath, why do we keep returning to before the cycle and then enter into it again, is it to make me or us do something

In summary, I have a strange feeling as if something is not right

After midnight, or at some point tomorrow, though I am not sure exactly when, we will collectively enter into the cycle of reincarnation

It seems that you haven't expressed your opinion upon seeing me, Lin whispered softly: "Do you think I am being too proactive? Then you..."

After dying in the cycle of reincarnation, I will most likely return to the time before the cycle, just as I did in the previous thirty-seven times, and then enter the cycle again

When I walked over, Lin had just discussed the hair dye color and price with the barber. Upon seeing me approach, she took out her phone to show me the travel destination she found last night.

Noticing Lin's probing gaze, I seemed to sense what she was about to say next, and indeed, she said it.

I nodded slightly, looking at Lin in front of me, and suddenly noticed a very obvious red mark on her neck, and there were also visible marks on the exposed part of her shoulder that had not yet faded

So I called Xiao Tian, and he immediately asked upon answering the phone: "Have you decided on the travel destination?"

Just as I was contemplating how to inform Xiaotian about the impending disaster, Lin's message arrived. Upon opening it, I found that she had sent me the address of the hair salon where she was getting her hair done.