Chapter Seventy-Four: The Transparent World (Another chapter will follow soon. Please vote for me!)

(First chapter today)
Chapter Seventy-Four: The Transparent World

Gonggong was the last to enter. When he emerged, his expression was unchanged, but the keen-eyed Chen Xiao faintly sensed a subtle shift in Gonggong’s gaze—so slight, yet Chen Xiao caught it nonetheless. Still, because of the rules, Chen Xiao didn’t ask Gonggong what Fireworks had said to him—even if he did, Gonggong wouldn’t tell.

As they reached the alley entrance, Chen Xiao hadn’t gotten into the car yet, his mind replaying Fireworks’ mention of “the incident at the alley entrance.” He instinctively looked left and right...

Suddenly! A scream echoed from afar—

“Robbery! Robbery!”

A woman’s voice. Then a man came sprinting out of the alley, clutching a lady’s handbag in one hand and gripping a knife in the other.

From a distance, the man charged forward, brandishing the knife and cursing viciously, “Move! Move! If you don’t want to die, get out of the way!” Occasionally, pedestrians saw his fierce demeanor and the gleaming knife and hastily dodged aside.

Chen Xiao was about a hundred meters away. Seeing this, he didn’t hesitate and rushed forward!

The robber had already dashed out of the alley, running madly toward the opposite side of the street. In his haste, he failed to notice a minibus speeding around the corner.

Chen Xiao was now less than ten meters away, watching as the robber sprinted across the road. The minibus driver hadn’t expected anyone to dart out so recklessly, and slammed on the brakes in panic, sharply turning the wheel—the car screeched, tires grinding against the pavement, leaving a U-shaped mark. The minibus crashed headlong into a roadside utility pole, then flipped over!

The utility pole was struck, its front windshield shattered. The driver’s face was covered in blood, but fortunately the brakes stopped the vehicle in time. Then came a metallic groan—the pole snapped in half, sparks flying as the wires broke, crashing down—half the pole lay across the street, one end smashing into a shop window, and soon flames appeared. The shop was ablaze...

A chain reaction left Chen Xiao stunned. The robber had fallen, dropping the stolen bag and the knife, staring in shock at his surroundings.

Chen Xiao’s dazed state lasted barely twenty seconds. By then, chaos reigned—the minibus passengers screamed, startled pedestrians cried out, shopkeepers shouted for help...

In that moment, countless branching paths seemed to appear before Chen Xiao!

What should he do first?

The robber was scrambling to his feet, trying to flee. The minibus driver was gravely injured, needing help. The terrified passengers were trapped, the overturned vehicle’s door blocked. Inside, people pounded on the walls, some trying to shatter the glass to escape...

The broken utility pole had set the shop ablaze...

At that instant, Chen Xiao recalled Fireworks’ words from earlier...

Your future is made up of countless forks and choices!

In the blink of an eye, so many options appeared... Should he chase the robber? Help those trapped in the overturned vehicle? Fight the fire?

Chen Xiao finally acted, rushing to the wreck, leaping onto the vehicle and smashing the window with his fist. He struggled to pull two people out. By then, more pedestrians joined to help, someone called the police...

As for the robber, amid the chaos, he slipped away, leaving behind the knife and the handbag...

“His life is made up of countless choices. The reason I say his future is the strangest I’ve ever seen is just this. I’ve seen many people; most have futures like straight lines, predetermined inevitabilities—but he is different. His future is full of variables.”

Fireworks reclined in her chair, her gaze calm as she looked at the ceiling. Phoenix stood by the window behind her, hearing the distant sound of sirens. “He chose to save the people in the vehicle first, as there were the most trapped, and if gasoline leaked and exploded, the casualties would be greatest—so his choice wasn’t wrong. But I know that if he hadn’t acted, the vehicle wouldn’t have exploded, no one would have died, and at most six would be lightly injured. As for not catching the robber, it seemed minor—a simple theft—but I know that in a month this robber will commit a home invasion, kill three and injure one, and eventually be caught and executed. Four lives lost. The shop fire—because the fire wasn’t extinguished immediately, a valuable item will be destroyed, the owner will go bankrupt and commit suicide... leaving behind a wife and two children with no means of support...”

Phoenix raised her eyebrows, surprised: “Does that mean... Chen Xiao made the wrong choice?”

“Not exactly.” Fireworks’ voice was weary, and she sighed, “Based on the scene, his choice isn’t wrong—after all, he doesn’t know what the future holds. And if he hadn’t helped, the driver would have bled out, be hospitalized, unable to work for a long time, causing the car company to fire him, leading to conflicts... also bringing serious consequences...”

She finally turned to look at Phoenix, “What I mean is... the future is made up of countless possibilities, and every choice brings more variables. Especially for him... His fate is so unique, even I can’t see what lies ahead.”

Phoenix smiled wryly, “But since you know all these variations... why didn’t you explain everything to him?”

“Because I can’t.” Fireworks gave a bitter smile, “His fate is too special. If I spoke, the future might change again! Besides... I’ve never liked playing the role of destiny’s judge. Phoenix, you should understand this.”

Phoenix sighed, “I still don’t understand. Maybe you speak too profoundly.”

Fireworks was silent for a while, then shook her head, “I’m tired.”

She lay back down, closed her eyes, and said no more. Behind her, Phoenix sighed softly and quietly left.

After Phoenix had gone for some time, Fireworks suddenly opened her eyes, murmuring as if to herself, “Meeting you is his fortune, but for you, is it luck or disaster... That is hard to say. Ah, variables, variables... I have always hated inevitability and sincerely wished the future would not be predetermined, but now I’ve encountered such a unique boy, who is connected to my best friend... Life is truly contradictory.”

She stood up, walked to the wall and pulled a cord. A bell rang, and the middle-aged woman from the courtyard entered.

“Pack up—we’re moving. We’ve stayed here long enough,” Fireworks’ voice was weary.

The woman hesitated, respectfully asking, “Miss... are we leaving now? We’ve only been in K City for less than a month.”

“Go...” Fireworks seemed to smile, “Since I can’t see through it, I’d rather not keep watching. Phoenix’s fate is always her own.”

Chen Xiao had no idea that a simple choice made in less than twenty seconds would trigger so many future changes, but... perhaps that was a kind of luck.

By the time the police and fire trucks arrived, Chen Xiao had already slipped away, boarding Xu Eshao’s car, and the group left the district, returning to Unfinished Street.

In the car, everyone noticed Chen Xiao was in a heavy mood.

Chen Xiao frowned, seemingly lost in thought.

He was truly shaken!

That Fireworks... would every word she spoke really come true? Would it really happen?

Suddenly, he spoke, asking Gonggong, “Brother Gonggong... that elder Fireworks... is it true that you can only meet her once? If I wanted to see her again, could I...?”

Gonggong paused, then shook his head, “I don’t know... but the chances are slim. In fact, most who have met her hope for another chance at her guidance, but no one has ever found her again. You know, with her abilities, if she wishes to avoid someone, no one can find her.”

Chen Xiao was silent.

Indeed... she can foresee the future! With such ultimate power, who could ever deceive her?

In her eyes... the whole world is transparent.

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