Chapter 0: A Text Message That Shouldn't Exist

　　In the slowly moving black Passat, Eric Bennett leaned against the back seat, resting his chin on one hand, and asked inexplicably, “Does the theory of parallel spaces really exist?”

　　“Hm?” Brian Harper took his right hand off the steering wheel, casually turned off THEBACKHORN’s music, and glanced at the rearview mirror: “What did you say?”

　　Grace Cooper, sitting in the front passenger seat, also pushed up her glasses and looked at Eric Bennett.

　　After pondering for a moment, Eric Bennett shook his head self-mockingly: “I mean, at this very moment, could there be another me in another space? Maybe he’s living a life completely different from mine, maybe…”

　　“What’s up with you today?”

　　“Nothing, I’ve just been reading too many novels lately.” Eric Bennett spread his arms, his gaze falling on the darkening clouds outside the window. “It’s a pretty pointless question, yeah, just ignore me.”

　　Grace Cooper and Brian Harper exchanged a glance, then turned around seriously. “I don’t think that kind of thing exists. Maybe you think that in another space, you’d make better choices about things you once hesitated over, but in reality, you are you. Those inevitable choices won’t change. You’d still go to the same high school as us, still meet Teacher Gu, still…”

　　“That’s enough!” Brian Harper frowned and interrupted his girlfriend, watching Eric Bennett’s reaction in the rearview mirror.

　　Grace Cooper looked at Brian Harper. “So, even if such a parallel space exists, you’d still be chatting with us in the car right now, wouldn’t you?”

　　Eric Bennett considered Grace Cooper’s words, then sat up a bit straighter. “Yeah, that makes sense. But, if there were a turning point, even a tiny, tiny one, history could change.”

　　“Unfortunately, that kind of turning point will never happen.”

　　Screech…

　　Brian Harper parked the car in front of the Meilianmei supermarket. “Go ask the you in another space, then you’ll know everything, haha. I’ve got a phone here, why don’t you two give it a try?”

　　Eric Bennett chuckled, maybe feeling he’d been a bit too silly, and didn’t continue the topic.

　　“Mouse, Little Grace and I are going to buy a few things. You wait in the car for a bit.”

　　“Go ahead.”

　　Ten minutes later, a roar echoed through the night sky…

　　Brian Harper and Grace Cooper could never have imagined that the simple words “Go ahead” would be the last thing Eric Bennett ever said in this world.

　　……

　　One day later.

　　Looking haggard, Brian Harper leaned his forehead on his hand, sighing alone in the living room.

　　Grace Cooper let out a gentle sigh, shuffled over in her slippers, and squatted in front of him. “Don’t be like this. Didn’t Uncle Ren ask you to notify Mouse’s friends?” She picked up the phone from the coffee table and put it in her boyfriend’s hand. “Check his contacts and call them one by one.”

　　Brian Harper rubbed his eyes hard. “I know all his friends. Do I really need to check his contacts?”

　　“Huh, there’s an unread text message.” Grace Cooper squinted and looked closely, her face clearly stunned. “Wei, look at this…”

　　Brian Harper impatiently leaned over and read the message aloud: “Hao, stay at my place tonight.” Seeing this, Brian Harper quickly checked the number. It was a Global Link number, but since Eric Bennett’s contacts didn’t have it saved, neither of them knew who it was.

　　“Why do I feel like it’s from a woman?” Brian Harper paced back and forth with the phone. “But Mouse didn’t have a girlfriend when he was alive. Oh right, didn’t you say you were going to introduce your classmate to him a few days ago? Could it be that she secretly contacted Mouse?”

　　“No way, right?” Grace Cooper took Eric Bennett’s phone from her boyfriend. “Wait, let me try calling the number with my phone.”

　　Tap tap tap…

　　Grace Cooper thought, if it was someone she knew, her phone would automatically display the name when dialing.

　　“Huh, it really is someone I know.”

　　After dialing the number, a woman’s name popped up on the phone screen.

　　Brian Harper shook his head and sighed. “Which classmate of yours is it? Sigh, you’d better be the one to tell her about Eric Bennett… Hm? Little Grace, what’s wrong?”

　　Brian Harper shook the dazed Grace Cooper. “What’s wrong? Say something, will you? Don’t scare me, okay? Little Grace! Little Grace!”

　　Grace Cooper’s hand was trembling. “Do you remember the time of Mouse’s death?”

　　“Yeah, 8:34. Why are you asking?”

　　“See for yourself…” Grace Cooper turned the phone screen toward Brian Harper. “Time sent: 8:34.”

　　Brian Harper said in confusion, “So what?”

　　“So what? You’re actually asking me so what?” Grace Cooper suddenly became agitated, grabbing Brian Harper’s shirt with one hand and shaking the phone with the other. “Look closely! Look at the sender’s name!”

　　“Calm down!” Brian Harper held her hand. “Is this person your classmate or a colleague? How come I’ve never heard of them?”