Xiao Daidzhao

Growing up with eccentric materialistic parents who left him in the care of his grandfather for a job overseas, Zhang Heng had learned to adapt and be unfettered by the oddities and challenges in life. But he would soon learn the baffling truth about the world he thought he knew when one day at midnight time froze and he found himself in a world so quiet and still it was deafening. That night, he discovered that he had 24 hours more than everybody else and thus, marked the beginning of his adventures. The mysteries surrounding his newfound ability only deepened when a strange old man claimed to have given Zhang Heng that ‘gift of time’ and recruited the young man to participate in a cryptic ‘life-changing’ game on his behalf. Little did Zhang Heng know that accepting those terms meant embroiling himself in many versions of reality and exposing himself to the hidden secrets of the world—a decision he could never undo.

48 Hours a Day

The nearest bus stop at 102nd-Street was located about 700 meters away from the school's east wing. There was an old commercial street called Shanghai Market, but it had nothing to do with Shanghai, just like the standardized Qilihe across the country.

Multitudes flocked to the Shanghai Market on Friday, and Zhang Heng chose to meet here because the crowd allowed him to avoid being recognized by someone he knew.

Since he was first to arrive at the rendezvous point, he bought three cups of milk tea at the shop next to him.

"Are you on a date today?" A voice came from behind him.

"Can you guys just give me a break?" Zhang Heng took the receipt and sighed.

Zhang Heng knew who was standing behind him. Like the staircase incident, the college student had been waiting for him outside the school and followed him once Zhang Heng left. Since he did not take the initiative to speak, Zhang Heng had no intention to talk to him.

Milktea is Soulless Without Pearls