The youth's initially bewildered and fearful emotions calmed the moment he saw that string of numbers. He knew that if he did nothing, he would die when the countdown reached zero.
He had to live. Although he didn't know what he should do once he survived, or what meaning there was in living, he knew he wanted to live.
This was an instinctive desire to survive. What to do after living was something to consider later.
The youth didn't know how to make the countdown increase, but he knew standing here, lost in confusion and hesitation, would only waste time.
However, he couldn't just rush outside blindly either. Searching for the hope of survival in this vast and unknown world seemed far too slim a chance.
The youth began to think. This strange countdown must be related to his resurrection after suicide.
Perhaps he wasn't truly abandoned by that entity. Maybe that entity used some means to erase his past memories, forcing him to start over almost from zero.
His past self, burdened by past memories, would have had many concerns and thoughts acting as constraints. But now, having basically lost his past memories, perhaps driven by the instinct for survival, he would be better able to complete the mission.
Did that mean getting involved in the so-called plot, changing something, might increase the countdown?
The youth returned to the bedroom and began rummaging through the desk where the computer sat. Soon, he found an identification card in the desk drawer.
"Xin Yu... Is this my original name? Qian Yu Academy, Year Two... Am I a student here?"
The youth—no, Xin Yu—put the ID card away safely. Fortunately, he now knew where he should go next, and he knew his name.
Xin Yu continued searching the villa. Soon, he found the place he was looking for: the kitchen.
He went to the refrigerator and opened it, finding it packed with a dazzling array of ingredients. Many vegetables and meats were piled inside, enough to last a single person for a long time.
Xin Yu glanced at the frozen-solid meat and some fish in the freezer section but didn't touch them. Instead, he found some vegetables.
He then located a bag of rice in the kitchen, took out some, put it in the rice cooker, and added some water. He looked at the water, which barely covered the rice, thought for a moment, scooped some more water in, and then started cooking the rice.
Only after the rice cooker started did Xin Yu suddenly realize—did he forget to wash the rice?
It probably doesn't matter, Xin Yu thought. He picked up the vegetables he'd just taken from the fridge, washed them, placed them on the cutting board, and picked up a kitchen knife.
Inevitably, accidents happen when a novice uses a kitchen knife.
Xin Yu calmly looked at the cut on his finger. Blood flowed from the wound, and pain followed, but for some reason, Xin Yu didn't feel much about the pain. It hurt, yet he wasn't afraid.
This time, however, the wound didn't heal as rapidly as the gash on his left wrist had when he first woke up.
Xin Yu stopped paying attention to the wound on his finger and continued clumsily chopping the vegetables on the board with the knife. He didn't recognize the names of these vegetables, nor did he know the best way to cook them to make them tasty. So, he simply threw them all into a pot, added oil, water, and sprinkled in some seasoning. A simple stew would do.
Xin Yu looked at the several types of white crystals in the spice box, all looking remarkably similar. He didn't know which one was the salt he recognized, so he simply touched one of the white crystals with his finger, intending to taste it.
But he forgot about the cut on his finger. When the wound touched the salt, the stinging pain made Xin Yu's brow furrow involuntarily.
It was only then that Xin Yu remembered the cut on his finger and that contact with things like salt would apparently cause pain.
He retracted his finger, then put it in his mouth. He could only taste the metallic tang of blood; any other flavor was imperceptible.
Xin Yu didn't know how much salt to add. Looking at the stew in the pot, he used a plastic spoon to scoop up what felt like salt from the box and dumped three or four spoonfuls in.
After this haphazard cooking session, he carried the vegetable stew to the dining table outside the kitchen. Then, he opened the rice cooker and used the rice paddle to scoop the somewhat sticky rice into a bowl.
Xin Yu used chopsticks to pick up a leaf from the vegetable stew and put it in his mouth.
No taste. The half-cooked vegetable leaf tasted like paper in Xin Yu's mouth.
Xin Yu ate expressionlessly. He didn't know how food was supposed to taste good, nor why, despite adding so much seasoning, there was no flavor at all. He only knew that not eating might lead to death.
To him, eating wasn't about satisfying cravings but a necessary act for survival.
Xin Yu finished the utterly tasteless vegetable stew with the rice. While washing the dishes, he noticed in his reflection on the kitchen knife that the countdown timer had increased by one hour.
"I see. Ensuring three meals a day can also extend my lifespan."
Xin Yu nodded. He understood now that eating three meals a day was essential. Even though it tasted like nothing, it was necessary.
During his earlier exploration, Xin Yu had already found a backpack, the kind a student would carry, containing some books and the keys to this house.
He checked some information on the computer and learned that today was a school day, and he was already very late.
Xin Yu didn't mind. He grabbed the backpack and keys and left the house.
Xin Yu took out an object called a "mobile phone." This thing was like a portable computer, capable of many functions. Right now, Xin Yu needed to use the phone's navigation feature to get to the school he was supposed to attend.
Xin Yu walked down the bustling street, observing the pedestrians coming and going. He lifted his head, looking around at everyone nearby.
Some people had anxious expressions, dressed formally, seemingly busy with something important.
Some had calm expressions, their clothes neat and clean, walking at an unhurried pace, as if strolling.
Some wore smiles, their steps light, their clothes brightly colored, looking carefree.
The passersby included the old and the young, men and women. They were all walking their own paths; everyone knew where they were going, knew what they needed to do today.
"That new coat is so expensive, but it looks really good. I want to buy it so bad!"
"Then just find a boyfriend! Have him buy it for you, right? Just give guys a little something sweet, and they'll willingly cough up the money to buy you what you want. When you run out of money later, just break up with them."
Two fashionably dressed women chatting walked towards him from the front. To avoid colliding, Xin Yu deliberately moved aside.
One of the two women noticed Xin Yu beside her. After a brief glance, she complained to her companion, "That guy's face is so pale! And his hair looks like an old man's. So gross!"
"Looks like a real weirdo."
Xin Yu watched their receding backs. He took out his phone and looked at his reflection in the dark screen.
"So, I look... disgusting... In that case, I probably won't be liked..."
Xin Yu put away his phone, glanced around at the people bustling past him, lowered his head slightly, and stopped looking at anyone around him.