The memories of all humanity are awakening, except for mine.

Chapter 169 Returning Home, Searching for Clues to the Special Dream.

11:45 AM on September 30th.

A minibus is traveling through the city.

Since the organization involves classified information, they couldn't take a taxi or use the hotel's car. The person who drove to pick them up was a secretary from the secretariat.

In the car, Tian Tian stared at her phone, frowning as she said, "Look at this photo, it makes my face look a bit big."

Zhong Huahua said, "It's already very cute..."

Tian Tian's brows immediately relaxed: "Really?"

Zhong Huahua nodded sincerely: "Yes."

At this moment, Ai Zhe said, "Where's Brother Chuan? Why isn't he here?"

Tian Tian has already started editing the photos, but that doesn't stop her from answering Ai Zhe's question:
“He returned to the agency with the inspection team that night.”

"..."

He said he needed to go home.

The air in the car suddenly fell silent.

Everyone knows about Jiang Chuan's situation and that his parents have passed away.

So last night, when they sent Mid-Autumn Festival greetings and photos to their families, they deliberately avoided Jiang Chuan.

Last night was indeed a very happy Mid-Autumn Festival, but for Jiang Chuan, it must have brought back some memories.
But the silence didn't last long.

While editing the photos, Tian Tian broke the silence: "Didn't any of you take any pictures?"

Lin Ci shook his head: "I didn't take any pictures."

Tian Tian looked up and glanced around, then raised her eyebrows: "Post all the photos in the group chat. Why am I the only one doing it?"

"Ugh, please don't post pictures that make me look bad..."

Chen Ming said, "I don't have any, only one video."

Liang Cheng followed up by saying, "I have a few photos."

He took out his phone and started sending messages to the group.

Song Xi suddenly realized that she also had photos to post, but as soon as she took out her phone, Li Yi stopped her.

After all, it's best not to post swimsuit photos in group chats...

Li Yi snatched Song Xi's phone and started helping her choose photos to post in the group chat. She saw the swimsuit photo that Jiang Chuan had taken of the two of them.

Zhong Huahua also took out her phone and started selecting photos to send to the group.

Tian Tian also glanced at Zhong Huahua's phone screen.

She saw many photos in the album, and noticed the only thing they had in common: the same person was always present.

She noticed that Zhong Huahua was hesitating about which photos were okay and which weren't so good, but after choosing and choosing, she exited the photo sending interface and started saving the photos sent in the group.

Tian Tian thought to herself, "That idiot."

Lin Ci looked at the photos in the group chat, a rare smile appearing on his lips.

Then, he opened a short video recorded by Chen Ming. Although it was called a short video, it was actually more than ten minutes long.

This was recorded during the day on the 29th, when everyone was deciding what to do at the hotel...

Song Xi and Li Yi were watching a video posted by Tang Songming, a record of everyone eating mooncakes together before the end of last night.

……

Jiang Chuan went home, and it had been a long time since he had returned to his two-bedroom apartment, which he had been renting off-campus.

I looked up at the familiar building, saw my own window, and then stepped into the stairwell.

This is a very old-fashioned walk-up building. Before my parents passed away, I remember them occasionally talking about selling this old building once they got into high school and choosing a place near the school so that Jiangchuan wouldn't have to travel too far to school, and they could also enjoy the greenery and high-quality property management of other people's communities.

But of course, all of these plans fell through.

He had originally planned to go home and stay overnight when he returned to Qing City.

However, the vacation plans were disrupted, which meant that subsequent plans had to be postponed.

Now, all I can do is take advantage of the afternoon of the 30th to look at the things my parents left behind, and see if there are any clues among those belongings that are related to my special dream.

He skillfully inserted the key, turned the lock, and pulled the door open with a creak—a series of smooth, fluid movements.

After all, it's his own home, and he's done this routine countless times.

But after pushing open the door and looking at the dusty floor, Jiang Chuan suddenly thought of another person... Xu Linlin.

"Why did you suddenly think of her?"

Jiang Chuan muttered something to himself, suppressing any further thoughts.

Don't talk to your deceased relatives, lest they be reluctant to leave and become wandering ghosts.

He had just banished the image of Xu Linlin splattering his hands with blood from his mind when he immediately thought of Li Guo'er...

I thought of her statue, and how I wished I had that statue.

Jiang Chuan picked up a broom and started sweeping, then mopping, and then wiping away the dust.

I clean it every time I come back.

The difference is that before he would be exhausted, but this time he wasn't; he didn't even have to catch his breath.

Only after he had finished all this did he lift the large box containing his parents' belongings out of the corner.

He has hardly touched this box in the past two years since it was placed here.

Jiang Chuan searched through the contents and took out three cell phones, two photo albums, an account book, and an extremely old diary.

Jiang Chuan thought about it for a moment and then put the diary back.

After hesitating for a moment, I threw the photo album back into the box.

He had thoroughly studied both of these items back then, cried countless times over them, and had an extremely deep impression of them. There was no way he could have missed anything.

He grabbed a charger to charge his phone, but then realized the charging port was an old-fashioned one, so he got up to look for a data cable.

Once his phone was finally charged, he began to look through the account book.

January 1st, new accounts, new beginnings! Make sure to keep a detailed record of every expense this year!

On February 7th, I spent 24 yuan at a stationery store for my son. I also bought 151.4 yuan worth of household goods at the supermarket.

On February 8th, I got my nails done and it cost 50 yuan.

On February 9th, fruit and vegetables cost approximately 79 yuan. Old Jiang bought cigarettes for 120 yuan.

[February 20th, Spring Festival supplies: 120 yuan.]

Jiang Chuan read through the entries one by one, and the daily life he experienced during that period five years ago flashed before his eyes like flowing water.

[4.3, Tutoring class 500 yuan. Spicy hot pot 36 yuan, Lao Jiang bought clothes 1150 yuan.]

[On April 5th, a gift of 500 yuan and fruit worth 50 yuan were given.]

He didn't look at it for very long.

The ledger entries stop there.

There are no secrets here; it's just my mother's record of our family.

Jiang Chuan read it over again from the beginning, then put it aside.

Next up is the mobile phone.

He skillfully entered the password; all three members of his family used the same password, including their bank card password—Jiang Chuan's birthday.

I unlocked my phone, checked my text messages, and then opened my photo gallery and notes...

Aside from the most mundane daily life and occasional photos, there are also some social engagements.

I flipped through them one by one, but found nothing.

Then I tried another phone, but found nothing. Then I tried the last phone, and still found nothing.

This forced recollection was torture for Jiang Chuan.

He had some reservations.

What secret is there?

I just don't dream...

My parents knew I didn't dream. They took me to several hospitals back then, but none of them could figure out what was wrong. There were no dream interpreters back then.

But Jiang Chuan actually had some premonitions in his heart.

He had long understood that there would be no clues among these scattered relics.

Because he had already thoroughly searched through it and explored every possible possibility.

But he still came back to take a look.

However, he now has some doubts about himself, wondering if he really came back to find clues.

Or is it simply that you want to go home and tell them that your life is getting better?
At this moment, Jiang Chuan suddenly remembered the vampire.

Remembering that question about humans and vampires, his silence at the time...

Jack knew, of course, that he was no longer human, but he still craved recognition, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of that issue…

Perhaps he really is obsessed with this?

It's like knowing there won't be any clues, but still coming back to check.

Humans are inherently contradictory, two-sided, and prone to double standards.

Perhaps in this respect, Jack can be considered a person?

Jiang Chuan shook these inexplicable thoughts out of his mind.

He put away his phone and ledger, then looked at the diary in the box. After hesitating for a moment, he picked up the diary again.

That was a diary written by my mother when I was just born, when she was only 26 years old.

Jiang Chuan's fingers were a little stiff when he picked up the diary.

That familiar feeling of suffocation filled my lungs once again.

Every time I read this diary, I feel incredibly sad.

The intense love that permeates the words is almost suffocating.

“My son doesn’t cry much. He’s such a good boy. Grow up quickly so he can protect his mom.”

"...This kid is too precocious. He was rolling his eyes yesterday. I should have taken a picture to record it..."

"...Yesterday I read an article in a story magazine. That mother was so great. I want to be a great mother too..."

"My son called me 'Mama' yesterday! Little Jiangchuan is really something! He's much smarter than other kids, haha, no wonder he's got my genes!"

Jiang Chuan remembered that he was probably in kindergarten or around that time.
People often praise me for being smart and outstanding, saying I'll definitely succeed in the future.

At this time of year, my mom will definitely bring up how she could call me "Mom" when she was only four months old.

"oops……"

He couldn't stop thinking about it.

That gentle face, radiating immense pride over such a trivial matter, reappeared clearly before my eyes…

"call……"

Jiang Chuan composed himself and continued reading the diary.

My mom is unpredictable, and she doesn't write in her diary very often...

Looking at it from all angles, there were no hints of any secrets, no subtle clues, and no hidden poems or acrostic poems.

He put away his diary, then flipped through the photo album.

Of course, there was no source of information in the album.

Aside from breaking down defenses, nothing in his own home could help him find clues about the strange dreams.

My dad is a salesman and my mom is a clerk. How could my unusual dreams be something they did intentionally?
The expense list was clearly remembered; their family was just an ordinary family, neither rich nor poor.

Without blood ties, without a family, no one will suddenly tell you that this is all a trial, that your parents are not actually dead, or that you are actually the designated heir to a company worth hundreds of billions or trillions.

The origin of this dream...

Maybe it was just a coincidence by some twist of fate?
Jingle bell bell bell!

His phone rang, and Jiang Chuan cleared his throat and answered the call.

On the other end of the phone, Yue Wen's voice came through: "I've arrived in Jiangchuan, come downstairs."

Jiang Chuan hummed in agreement, put the photo album away, and resealed the cardboard box, returning it to its original position.

Then, I quickly checked the water and electricity, and finally prepared to leave.

Before leaving, he looked back at the two black and white photos hanging on the wall and paused for a moment.

"Dad, Mom, I'm leaving now."

He thought to himself, then closed the door and left.

……

On the way back to the organization, Yue Wen did not disturb Jiang Chuan, whose eyes were somewhat dazed.

He vaguely guessed that the old building must be where Jiang Chuan and his parents lived together.

Neon lights flashed outside the window, but the atmosphere inside the car was somewhat oppressive.

Yue Wen wanted to say something to divert Jiang Chuan's attention.

But I always feel that Jiang Chuan should be alone for a while right now.

So this somber atmosphere continued...

Until Wu Zhen got into the car.

"Brother Chuan!"

When Wu Zhen saw Jiang Chuan, he spoke in this manner.

Jiang Chuan was stunned for a moment, then looked at Wu Zhen, surprised that this kid was calling him that too?
Wu Zhen said, "My mom told me to learn from you."

Jiang Chuan then noticed that Du Shengjie was waving at him from outside the car window, and standing next to Du Shengjie was a rather fierce-looking woman wearing an apron, and her thin husband.

He reached out and handed over a bag of mooncakes: "These are mooncakes my mom made herself! Brother Chuan, have a taste!"

Please take care of me in the future!

Then he turned around, looked at his parents and master, and waved goodbye: "Dad, Mom, I'm leaving!"

"I've said everything you asked me to say!"

"Jiang... Brother Chuan is a good person! He will definitely teach me!"

"Go back!"

The car started again, and Jiang Chuan looked at Wu Zhen in surprise, asking, "What's going on?"

Wu Zhen looked back with lingering fear and then said, "My master has been praising you to my parents. They insist that I learn from you. Don't mind it, Jiang Chuan."

Jiang Chuan smiled: "Are you being this obedient? I thought you'd be arguing your case, talking about sworn enemies and rising stars...?"

Wu Zhen snorted: "One cannot disobey one's parents' orders, nor can one betray the words of one's teacher!"

Jiang Chuan was taken aback for a moment: "You're... quite filial."

Wu Zhen said smugly, "That's for sure."

Jiang Chuan looked at the bump on Wu Zhen's head, smiled, and said nothing.

(End of this chapter)