After the police searched for me to no avail, they had no choice but to leave the scene, which gave me a brief freedom. I took the homeless man to a nearby ramen restaurant and treated him to a bowl of beef ramen.
He was wearing tattered clothes that he found in some trash heap, but they didn't have a strong smell. He was very clean, and he probably washed them in the park's pool several times.
Seeing him wolfing down ramen, it was hard for me to connect this middle-aged homeless man with a fifth-grade elementary school student.
"People develop so fast nowadays..." In the end, I could only sigh helplessly.
"I thought you would question me first." Zheng Qingqiu, the homeless man, answered me vaguely and continued to eat noodles.
"Anyway, I'll take you home first." Although I don't know why he suddenly ran away from home, but now that the person has been found, it's easy to say anything. Even if he has nothing to do with the incident, it's not in vain.
Okay, of course this possibility is very small.
Zheng Qingqiu rolled her eyes at me with a look that said, "What are you talking about?" and said, "How can I go back when I'm like this?"
I suddenly realized that it was really embarrassing to run away from home for a few days and then go back in despair, especially when he looked like a beggar now, it would be even more shameful. But no matter what, you have to go back home.
"How can I go back when I grow up?" Zheng Qingqiu repeated.
You have to go home when you grow up...wait, grow up?
I finally realized belatedly what Zheng Qingqiu meant by not going back, "You mean you were not like this before?"
"Nonsense, do you think I look like a primary school student?"
"I thought you were young and mature..."
"What the hell!" Zheng Qingqiu slammed the table anxiously, "Whose young man can become middle-aged? You are crazy!"
"Okay, okay, who told you to say you are Zheng Qingqiu? I have never seen what you looked like before." Seeing everyone around me looking over, I quickly comforted him.
"Do you believe me when I say it?"
"Then are you Zheng Qingqiu?"
"Of course I am!"
I spread my hands and said, "Then it's over."
After saying that, I saw that Zheng Qingqiu was planning to slap the table again, so I quickly gave him a high-five and said seriously: "So... what happened to you?"
At this stage of the matter, it is absolutely certain that those energy fluctuations are due to Zheng Qingqiu, and his bizarre growth is probably inseparable from those remaining energy fluctuations.
Speaking of this, Zheng Qingqiu's eyes quickly dimmed. He turned over his right wrist and let me see the children's watch on his wrist. Now this watch naturally looks a bit cramped on this adult's body, but considering that
There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with his homeless appearance.
"This watch can pause the time."
Time paused?! I instantly realized the element, "Let me be healthy!"
Zheng Qingqiu didn't do what I wanted, so he shook his head and took his hand back.
At this time, Zheng Qingqiu had finished eating ramen, and we walked along the nearby road while talking. After all, this kind of thing is somewhat confidential and a bit fantasy. Most people think you are either a chuunibyou or a psychopath.
"This time is not free..." As he said that, Zheng Qingqiu showed a strange look, which was regretful, "Are you wondering how long I took a break to grow to such a big size? In fact, I only took a few breaks.
It only lasted a few minutes, and it became what it is now because of the cost of time..."
“Three days ago, I bought this watch in a small store, and when I was adjusting the time, I accidentally discovered that I could pause the time. I can’t remember the specific duration, but it didn’t last long anyway. I was very excited at first.
I had a great time eating snacks at the nearby canteen. Just when I was about to go to the toy store to pick up some toys, time suddenly started to flow again, so I was discovered by the boss, so I immediately paused time again and ran out.
I was scared and excited at the same time, and then I understood."
"What did you realize?" I asked.
"I can definitely cheat in future exams and get perfect scores every time. I can just ask my parents to buy whatever I want. There is no need to steal it!"
I:"……"
At that time, Zheng Qingqiu was still immersed in the beautiful fantasy of the future, but the next moment, time told the still young Zheng Qingqiu a simple truth: the gift given by fate has already been secretly marked with a price.
Time is no exception.
Along with a dizzying nausea, Zheng Qingqiu felt that her whole body was filled with a swollen feeling. Only after the sound of tearing fabrics emanating from all over her body did she get some relief.
However, what greeted him was a brand new and unfamiliar world. Not only did his perspective increase, but the clothes all over his body became tattered. Zheng Qingqiu quickly looked at the glass of the store next to him, and what he saw was a tall man.
A young man about 1.7 meters tall...
When Zheng Qingqiu said this, he stopped to explain.
I didn't think much about it. When he had finished all the explanations and suddenly grew up, this was probably the price to be paid for wasting time.
The sky was getting dark, and many nearby residents had already eaten dinner and went out for a walk. The two of us were walking aimlessly among the crowd. I was reviewing the cause and effect of the entire incident, although Zheng Qingqiu had already told the story clearly.
It's very clear, but I always feel like something is wrong.
A little loli walked in front of us, carrying a small schoolbag and looking around. When I saw her, I realized the reason why Zheng Qingqiu suddenly shut up.
Liu Ziyou, Zheng Qingqiu’s elementary school classmate.
Zheng Qingqiu stopped explaining to me the first time he saw her, as if he was afraid of being recognized by her.
The little loli looking around naturally noticed us. She didn’t pay too much attention to the homeless man next to me. She also treated me as a “traitor” coldly. She snorted and turned her head away, not thinking much about it.
Take care of me.
I can't get enough of this.
The three of them just passed by each other in silence.
After walking a certain distance, I said to Zheng Qingqiu: "She is still looking for you. Do you owe her money?"
Zheng Qingqiu snorted coldly and said impatiently: "She is my neighbor and classmate. She follows me every day like a follower. It's annoying to death."
"Next, I'm going to take you to a place and hand over your watch. You won't be reluctant to part with it, right?" After understanding the cause and effect and satisfying my personal curiosity, of course I have to get down to business.
In fact, the direction we are walking is exactly the subway station. Taking a taxi is of course much faster, but you can save money if you can...
"Yeah." Zheng Qingqiu responded dully. Naturally, he would not part with this watch.
This is not a good thing. At the age of eleven or twelve, he experienced three days of wandering life because of this watch, experienced the harshness of the world in advance, and even completed half of his life...
Zheng Qingqiu suddenly paused on the spot, stopped in his tracks, and looked back as if he felt something.
I followed his gaze and looked back, and saw Liu Ziyou who was also looking back.
PS: I am very touched that I have collected 5 more items. I will try my best to update them to serve the readers!