Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Rule 3 of the Time Machine Experiment Manual: Subjects should not stay in a different time-space for more than 15 days. Excessive duration may cause damage to the subject’s physical performance.

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“I think you should stay there for a few more days this time? You probably won’t be able to find out much in just a day or two,” Qiu Ziyu suggested.

“You think I don’t want to?” Nan Mu sighed helplessly. “Do you know what I lack most after I cross over?”

“What?”

Nan Mu made a gesture of counting bills. “Money.”

The founder of a listed company being short on cash-it was hilarious.

After laughing at him, Qiu Ziyu said, “How about I lend you some?”

“How? You can’t bring money back with you.”

“When I say I’ll lend it to you, I don’t mean the current me, of course.” Qiu Ziyu arched an eyebrow.

Nan Mu chuckled at that. “You’re certainly generous with other people’s money. But never mind.”

“Why? Worried your brother from the past will go hungry?”

“No.” Nan Mu glanced at him. “I’m worried I’ll go soft and end up having to give you some of the money.”

Qiu Ziyu wasn’t nearly as reliable back in his youth as he was now. Whenever he got his monthly allowance, he’d live like a king at the start of the month, eat instant noodles and steamed buns by the middle, and survive on handouts by the end.

Qiu Ziyu also recalled his ridiculous youth and let out a couple of sheepish laughs. Then his eyes darted around. “Hey, there’s someone else who definitely has money.”

Nan Mu looked at him skeptically.

“Think back. Where did Uncle Nan like to hide his private stash? Go grab it and use it before Auntie finds it. Anyway, even if Uncle Nan notices it’s missing, he won’t dare say a word.”

Nan Mu was stunned for a moment, showing a hint of admiration. “As expected of you… that’s a wicked idea!”

The Uncle Nan and Auntie that Qiu Ziyu referred to were Nan Mu’s parents. Their mothers were best friends, so the children called each other’s mothers “Auntie.” As for why they used that specific term, it was entirely because the two women felt that other maternal titles sounded too old.

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Nan Mu went home the next day and subtly fished for information regarding the locations where Nan’s dad might have hidden his private stash in the past.

Nan’s mom had no idea what her son was up to. She recounted the history of her battles of wits with Nan’s dad and how she had discovered his hidden money, her face full of pride.

“You have no idea. One time, your father hid his stash inside that globe. If I hadn’t decided to clean up for him that day, I never would have known he’d hidden so much money in there!”

Nan’s dad was a geologist, and his study was filled with various survey instruments. Because she didn’t understand those things, Nan’s mom was afraid of breaking them and usually didn’t move anything in his study.

“It was over ten thousand yuan! That was the most he ever had at once.”

Hearing this, Nan’s dad instinctively retorted, “How was that the most? Wasn’t the time in the vase more than the globe?”

“What vase?”

Nan’s dad choked on his words. Realizing he had just let the cat out of the bag, he quickly lowered his head to focus on his food, attempting to gloss over the blunder.

Seeing this, Nan Mu suppressed a smile and spoke up for his father. “Alright, alright. Mom, I have to say, the family has money now. You shouldn’t keep such a tight leash on Dad. Let him enjoy whatever he wants to play with.”

“Exactly, exactly.” Seeing his son taking his side, Nan’s dad straightened his back significantly. “Nan Mu’s company is already listed. With so much money coming in every year, he doesn’t need my pocket change…”

“You think I want to manage him? Didn’t he have a high salary before? With all those annual subsidies and bonuses, which of my sisters didn’t envy me? But who knew my suffering? His money was either lost to a friend’s investment or ‘donated’ to the team for some emergency… If it weren’t for me, do you think you’d have lived long enough to start a company? You’d have starved to death long ago!”

Nan’s dad was a scholar through and through, and a sentimental one at that. In his youth, he had lent out a lot of money because of various social obligations; as a result, a lot went out, but very little came back. That was why Nan’s mom took over the finances later, and Nan’s dad, feeling guilty, didn’t dare to object.

Though Nan’s mom complained, seeing Nan’s dad’s head hanging lower and lower, she couldn’t bring herself to say more.

She knew her husband. He was good in every way, except he didn’t know how to say no. Thinking about what her son said, it did make sense. She had been controlling the household finances all these years…

In the past, it was because the family didn’t have money, so all of her husband’s expensive hobbies were cut short because she refused to give him funds. Now that the family was wealthy, the old man didn’t dare to buy anything anymore. Even if he wanted to, he had developed the habit of not daring to mention it.
“Fine, I’ll give you that biggest stash of private money then,” Nan’s mom said, deciding she had to give her son some face. However, letting go completely was out of the question; her husband simply wasn’t the type of person who could save money.

“Really!” Nan’s dad’s eyes lit up, but then he paused and said solemnly, “The biggest stash is the money in the vase! You can’t count the one in the globe.”

“What vase?”

“That vase!” Nan’s dad pointed to the floor vase in the living room. “I just got that 30,000-yuan bonus. I originally wanted to get a better camera lens… I never expected it. I only put it in the vase for a single afternoon… and your mother took it. I didn’t even dare say a word for fear she’d scold me!”

“What 30,000-yuan bonus? I never took that. When was this?” Nan’s mom glared at Nan’s dad in confusion.

“Many years ago, maybe eight or nine years… It was the year our son got himself hospitalized with a fracture trying to save that kid who fell from the floor above…”

Nan’s mom frowned as she thought about it. It had been a long time, and she wasn’t quite sure. Still, she asked suspiciously, “Did that happen that year? How come I don’t remember?”

“It happened,” Nan’s dad said firmly.

“Impossible. I’d definitely remember that much money… Fine, Old Nan, are you trying to turn the tables on me now?”

Nan’s dad wanted to argue further, but seeing Nan Mu frantically signaling him from behind, he immediately swallowed his words. He decided it was better not to provoke his wife. Besides, his son would secretly give him money anyway. In the past, he never dared to bring his expensive hobbies home, but now that his wife had relented, his precious treasures could finally see the light of day.

Seeing Nan’s dad suddenly back down, Nan’s mom didn’t even have to look back to immediately warn Nan Mu, “You are not allowed to give him money! If I find out, I’ll break your legs.”

Nan Mu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, alright, I won’t give him any.”

“By the way, about that blind date your second aunt set up for you…”

Seeing the fire was about to spread to him, Nan Mu quickly made an excuse and slipped away.

After leaving his parents’ house, Nan Mu went to the company to briefly settle some matters.

“In short, handle the urgent company matters first. Regarding anything involving capital, no matter who it is, stall them for two days and wait until I get back.”

“Understood, President Nan.” The assistant thought he was going on a business trip. “Is President Nan going far? Do you need me to book your flight and hotel?”

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”

After finishing his work, Nan Mu arrived at 110 Lijiangbei Street, Lin’an District, just in time. Qiu Ziyu was already waiting at the door.

Following the notes in the experimental manual, the two of them cautiously adjusted the precision instrument before them.

By the time the time was set, both were covered in a cold sweat.

“This really isn’t a job for humans,” Qiu Ziyu panted, squatting on the ground. “My eyes are going blurry.”

This wasn’t a game where you could restart if there was a bug. This was the machine that was going to send Nan Mu away, so he didn’t dare be the least bit careless, fearing he might misadjust some data.

“Check it one more time,” Nan Mu said, his forehead also covered in a thin layer of sweat. “Arrival time.”

Qiu Ziyu leaned in, checking it word by word. “April 9th, 2022.”

According to the Gu Family, Gu Zhishu went missing on April 20th. Therefore, after some discussion, Nan Mu and Qiu Ziyu decided to set the timeframe from the 9th to the 23rd. Firstly, it gave them enough time to investigate the cause of the incident; secondly, Gu Zhishu might not have died immediately upon going missing. Staying there for a few extra days was a precaution.

“Return time setting.”

“15 days.” After checking, Qiu Ziyu collapsed onto the floor. “Alright, everything should be fine.”

They rested for a moment.

Nan Mu boarded the Time Machine, and Qiu Ziyu helped hand up several pieces of clothing.

Since the weather in April was a bit chilly, Nan Mu specifically wore a thin down jacket, fearing it would be cold once he arrived.

As Qiu Ziyu was handing things up, a button fell from the clothes and landed right on the instrument’s keyboard.

The instrument panel let out a soft beep, but neither of the men, who were busy talking, heard it.

Nan Mu returned to the past for the third time.