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

After everyone had left the room, the old shaman waved at Zhang Heng.

The latter walked up to her. Kuna looked at Zhang Heng with a complicated gaze. A moment later, she reached out a hand and gestured for Zhang Heng to place his palm on hers.

Their palms were pressed together. Kuna's hand was only half the size of Zhang Heng's, and it was very thin. When she held it, it felt like a piece of wood, but surprisingly, it was very warm.

Zhang Heng held the old shaman's hand, and the next moment, his vision changed. He was still in Kuna's room, but a huge figure appeared in the direction of the satellite TV on his left hand.

It was a snow-white polar bear. It was sitting on the floor, its head almost touching the ceiling.

A Gamble