Chapter 147: Spacetime Fluctuation·1978 Countdown

Zhao Jianguo's finger still hovered over the Terminal screen, his fingertip just a millimeter from the confirm button. Wind blew in from the Courtyard Gate, flapping the banner with a rustling sound, the Shuang Baotai chasing the fluttering cloth corner, giggling and reaching out to grab.

He didn't move.

The prompt on the Screen kept flashing: 【Detected high‑intensity cognitive resonance, recommend immediate deployment of Spacetime Stabilizer to the top floor of the Science Building】.

Su Qing came in from outside, holding the freshly aired sheet, and seeing his demeanor, she casually draped the sheet over the bamboo pole: "What are you spacing out about now? The kids are about to turn the flag into a kite."

He finally withdrew his hand and tapped confirm.

The navigation popped up instantly, an arrow pointing straight to the newly built Science Building in the city center, the countdown box floating in the lower right: 71 minutes 48 seconds.

"I have to go." He slipped the Terminal into his pocket, bent down and lifted a child who was about to climb the locust tree, "You take them back to rest; there's some work on the top floor that needs finishing."

Su Qing raised an eyebrow: "At this late hour, what work could be up there?"

"Old Jia left a Toolbox, saying he'll need it tomorrow." He tossed out a reason, already stepping out, "The key's on the Meal Ticket table, the pot has porridge—just heat it up."

She didn't block him, just followed a few steps: "Then don't take too long; the kids are especially clingy to you today."

He turned back and smiled: "Just ten minutes, a breeze‑blowing matter."

He said that, but his steps didn't slow at all. Through alleys, turning onto the main road, streetlights lit up one after another as if someone flipped a switch in the distance. He pulled out the Terminal again, glanced at it; the countdown read 68 minutes 23 seconds, the Coordinates locked onto the east‑side platform of the top floor.

The building wasn't fully operational yet, security roamed only the first floor. He, knowing the place well, circled to the freight elevator, swiped a temporary pass and went up. As the elevator rose, the Terminal buzzed again, popping up a new prompt: 【Stabilizer components are in place, please complete assembly and activation promptly】.

"Got it, got it, like a death‑wish." He muttered, and as soon as the door opened he rushed out.

The platform was open, the wind far stronger than below. In a corner stood a silver‑gray box, its surface etched with fine patterns like a circuit diagram mixed with year numbers. He walked over, opened the casing, began wiring, calibrating angles, fastening the base bracket—swift motions, as if he'd done it a hundred times.

But the final step got stuck.

The activation panel lit up, demanding Biological Information. He placed his fingerprint; a red light flashed, rejecting.

"What's going on?" he frowned, tried again, still no luck.

The Terminal automatically displayed an explanation: 【Dual trigger required—Biological Information + emotional resonance. Recommended to operate jointly with the closest person】.

He was stunned for two seconds, then gave a wry smile: "So we still need parent‑child interaction for the feelings, huh?"

Just as he was thinking how to contact Su Qing, his ears twitched and he heard the elevator "ding."

Turning back, he saw Su Qing leading the two kids out, her hair blown into a mess, slightly out of breath: "You actually came up? I told you you were rushing, the kids were crying to follow you…"

"How did you bring them up?" he hurriedly greeted her.

"Security said you were on the top floor, so I thought, since I can't sleep anyway, why not come up together for some fresh air." She nudged the two kids forward, "Look, they still want dad's hug."

Zhao Jianguo crouched, one hand cradling a child. The smaller one pointed at the box and asked: "Bright box?"

"Yes, bright box." He nodded, "In a moment we'll press it together, and it will sing."

The older one immediately clapped: "I want to press! I want to press!"

He led the two kids to the panel, pointing at the central round button: "Ready? Three, two, one—press!"

Two plump little hands slapped down together.

Hum—

The entire building shuddered violently, the ground sprouted a ring of pale‑blue Light Pattern, rippling up the outer wall like water. Lights responded, illuminating from the bottom floor to the top, layer by layer, so fast it dazzled the eyes.

Immediately after, all the city's streetlights flashed three times in unison.

On, off, on, off, on—

From afar came a few startled cries; residents pushed open windows to look, and someone shouted: "Did the circuit trip?"

Su Qing grabbed a child: "What's happening?"

Zhao Jianguo stared at the device's readout, exhaled a sigh of relief: "Not a fault, just signal synchronization." He looked up at the sky; the cloud layer began to churn, faint blue specks glimmered, like misaligned stars.

The Terminal vibrated nonstop: 【External corrective force intervening, system Permission undergoing reverse probing, defense protocol activating…】

He instantly opened the backend interface, entered a long string of code. The Screen flashed red, prompting a need for a second verification of the traveler's identity. He took a deep breath, typed his original sign‑in date and location into the blank field.

Confirm.

The system was quiet for a moment, then a surge of blue light.

But just as the fluctuation was about to stabilize, the base suddenly heated, currents surged erratically, his knee gave way, he knelt on one knee, bracing the device's edge, sweat beading at his temples.

"Dad—" a child broke free from Su Qing's grip, staggered back, pressed a small hand to the machine's side, humming a song: "Every day we learn tech, everyone has a skill, drawing plans, fixing machines, we are the new‑era good workers…"

It was the Night School's "Technician's Song".

Strangely, as the singing began, the blue light steadied, its frequency smoothing out. The other child, seeing this, also hopped over, two little palms pressed to the metal surface, humming along to the off‑key melody.

Su Qing stood a few steps away, didn't step forward, just gently handed him a thermos cup to his lips: "Have some ginger soup, warm yourself."

He bit the rim of the cup and took a sip, the spiciness making him squint: "Why did you even bring this?"

"I saw you left the house without even changing your Coat, figured you'd try to show off again." Her tone was casual, as if saying "Meal Meal …".

He smiled faintly, handed the cup back to her, propped himself up to stand.

The light spots in the sky multiplied, forming a vague numeric outline—1978.

The countdown kept ticking: 00:03:15… 00:02:50… 00:02:33…

His vision blurred a bit, and intermittent whispers reached his ears, like someone murmuring: "Watch out for 1978… opportunity… not danger…"

He shook his head, reached up and rubbed his face.

Su Qing sensed something off, walked over and whispered: "The kids are all fine, you need to come back too."

Those words were like a rope, pulling him out of the chaos.

He looked up, seeing the Shuang Baotai hopping and pointing at the sky, laughing loudly: "Bright! Bright! Flying fish!"

It wasn't really flying fish; it was the Data Stream refracting in the atmosphere as aurora, multicolored ribbons weaving between clouds like festive streamers.

He slowly took Su Qing's hand, the other hand gathering the two kids, and stood at the very front of the platform.

The eastern horizon lightened slightly, the city fell quiet, only scattered lights flickered gently, like breathing.

"No." He stared at the sky, his voice low but clear, "This isn't danger."

Su Qing turned her head to look at him.

This is the fireworks of the new era.

She curved the corner of her mouth, said nothing, only gripped his hand tightly.

Three tiny points of light streaked across the sky, dragging a faint golden tail, like meteors, and also like the Starting Point of some signal.

The child raised a hand, trying to catch that flash of light that swept by.