Chapter 7: Threads of the Past Begin to Stir
The world had changed—but not in the way one would notice in a flash of light or a gust of wind.
It was in the subtle things.
The way Lin Xiya smiled more openly now, or how the weight that once dragged at Yun Fei's chest had lifted. The ache of that regret—her regret—was gone.
But as the happiness settled like morning dew, the Regret Index shimmered to life once more, this time without warning.
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Regret Index Notification
> New Regret Shard Detected
Shard #012 – "The Friend Who Walked Away"
Description: A childhood bond, fractured by misunderstanding and pride. One you never repaired. His path led to ruin.
Recommended Time of Interference: 3 days from now.
Location: Eastside Overpass, 9:00 PM.
Risk Level: Moderate
Potential Emotional Damage: Guilt, Loss of Trust, Internal Conflict
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Yun Fei stared at the glowing text in his mind's eye. This was new.
Not just a past mistake—but one he hadn't even thought of in years.
Jiang Chen.
His best friend until they were fourteen. The one who always had his back. The one he blamed for a fight that wasn't his fault—and never spoke to again.
In his past life, they never reconnected.
And Jiang Chen?
He ended up in debt, involved with street gangs, and by the time Yun Fei read about him in the news, it was already too late.
He had died alone.
Yun Fei had barely cried then.
He was too numb.
Now?
He clenched his fists. Not this time.
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The Next Day – Walking with Lin Xiya
"I got another notification," he said as they walked near the riverside trail. The golden sunlight reflected off her hair like strands of liquid amber.
She tilted her head. "Another regret?"
He nodded. "An old friend. We fought when we were fourteen. He went downhill after that."
"Do you want to fix it?"
"I have to. But I'm nervous."
She smiled gently and took his hand. "You were brave with me, weren't you?"
"That was different."
"Why?"
"Because with you, I knew what I wanted. With him… I'm scared I'll open the door, and there'll be no one on the other side anymore."
She squeezed his hand. "Then knock harder."
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Memory Fragment Recovered – Year 2013
The memory came unbidden.
Two boys under a rain-soaked bus stop, sharing a cheap umbrella.
Jiang Chen, all sharp laughter and louder dreams, promising they'd both become legends one day. Yun Fei, quieter, the realist, the planner.
Then—betrayal.
Yun Fei had been accused of cheating on an exam. Jiang Chen had defended him—only to be suspended for supposedly threatening the teacher.
Yun Fei never thanked him.
Instead, he let his silence become a wedge. He let others' whispers become truth.
He never once asked Jiang Chen for his side.
Now, it echoed painfully in his mind.
"I stood up for you, and you walked away."
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The Meeting – Eastside Overpass, 9:00 PM
Three days passed.
Yun Fei waited beneath the rusted overpass, listening to the low hum of traffic and the occasional bark of stray dogs.
Then a figure emerged from the shadows—hooded, taller, rougher than he remembered.
But the eyes were the same.
"Yun Fei?" Jiang Chen's voice was deeper, colder. "Didn't expect you to actually come."
Yun Fei took a deep breath.
"I came to say something I should've said a long time ago."
Jiang Chen lit a cigarette. "Let me guess. You want to clear your conscience."
"No," Yun Fei said, stepping forward. "I want to clear yours. You defended me. You took the fall. And I let you suffer for it."
Silence.
The wind howled between them.
"Why now?" Jiang Chen asked. "After all these years?"
"Because if I don't speak now, I'll regret it until the day I die."
Jiang Chen exhaled a long plume of smoke. "You think words fix everything?"
"No," Yun Fei said. "But they start something."
Another pause.
Then—surprisingly—Jiang Chen laughed.
"Damn. You really changed."
"Not enough," Yun Fei said honestly.
Jiang Chen looked away. "You know… there were days I wished you'd show up. And then, days I hoped you never would."
"I don't blame you."
"But you're here. And that counts for something."
They stood there, under the overpass, saying nothing more. But in that quiet, something long-dead flickered to life again.
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Regret Index Notification
> Regret Shard #012 – The Friend Who Walked Away: PARTIALLY RESOLVED
Emotional Status: Trust Rebuilding Initiated
Timeline Shift: Jiang Chen avoids involvement in gang-related activity this week.
Affinity Score: 0% → 28%
Potential Future Ally Path Unlocked – "The Lost Brother"
Warning: External Interference Detected – Target may still be pursued by unknown hostile parties. Stay alert.
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Back Home – A Growing Realization
As Yun Fei lay in bed, staring at the cracks in his ceiling, a realization hit him.
This wasn't just about cleaning up emotional messes.
The system wasn't only tracking regret.
It was reshaping destiny.
People's fates were shifting. Entire timelines were bending around his decisions.
That meant…
Some regrets might be tied to far larger consequences than personal pain.
And maybe, just maybe—
There was more to this system than just atonement.