Mask?

Lin Xian blinked...

Now that everyone had shown their cards and were all on the same side, what was the point of wearing a mask?

"Is it for safety, Brother Lian?"

"Yes and no. Actually, a mask doesn't really offer any safety. It's more of a tradition now."

Big Fat Cat tossed his cigarette butt on the ground and ground it out with his shoe.

"There are a lot of people doing this kind of thing around here. I don't know when it became a convention, but everyone wears cartoon masks. When we see each other, we know we're all here to steal something, not enemies, so we don't panic."

"Usually, when we see someone wearing a cartoon mask, we just say hello and pass by. No one needs to make things difficult for anyone. On this point, everyone, regardless of whether they know each other or not, actually gets along very well."

……

Alright, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Lin Xian followed Big Fat Cat to another warehouse.

It was completely dark now.

In the distance, the lights of New Donghai City were beginning to twinkle.

*Click.*

Big Fat Cat turned on the warehouse lights and pointed to the children's toys piled inside.

"There are a lot of masks in here... Ultraman and stuff. Just pick one that fits. It doesn't really matter what you use."

"What kind of mask do you wear, Brother Lian?"

Lin Xian was quite curious.

In the first dream realm, Big Fat Cat wore a Ragdoll cat mask. But in this world... was there still a Ragdoll cat? Could it still be popular for 600 years?

"I wear this kind."

Big Fat Cat picked up a robot mask from the ground. It looked a lot like Gundam, but it clearly wasn't.

"My son likes this cartoon. It's about robots fighting."

"I see."

Lin Xian smiled.

Alright.

His daughter was rebellious and disobedient, so Big Fat Cat had now turned to spoiling his son.

Lin Xian began rummaging through the pile of toys, looking for one that he liked...

Huh?

Lin Xian suddenly picked up a cat mask!

"Ragdoll Cat."

Seeing his own Ragdoll Cat design in this unfamiliar new dream realm... felt incredibly heartwarming.

Wiping the dust off the mask, Lin Xian cleaned it with a rag he found nearby. A cute and mischievous Ragdoll cat mask was revealed in his hand.

Lin Xian really liked this cat, especially seeing the Ragdoll Cat he had personally designed in a different world. He couldn't help but smile.

"Are Ragdoll Cat toys... still popular now?"

"Of course, they're popular!"

Big Fat Cat scratched his armpit and laughed.

"This Ragdoll Cat... is one of the few toys that's popular in both New Donghai City and Old Donghai."

"Actually, it's not just New and Old Donghai, this cat is incredibly popular all over the world. My daughter used to love it when she was little. I bought her a lot of these toys."

"Sometimes when I go to the garbage disposal plant to steal things, I always steal back any Ragdoll Cat-related garbage I see. After washing it, she loves it."

……

Lin Xian couldn't put down the Ragdoll Cat mask in his hand.

Every line on it came from his own hand... there was no reason not to choose this mask.

"Then I'll wear this mask when I go out tonight."

"Hey... Little bro, I didn't realize you were so childish? Isn't it a little ridiculous for a grown man to wear a Ragdoll Cat mask?" Big Fat Cat said with some disdain.

"If other people see it, they'll think that Big Fat Cat has taken in a mentally ill little brother! What kind of real man would wear a Ragdoll Cat mask? It's girly and childish!"

"What do you mean? It's pretty good."

Lin Xian was very unconvinced.

"Since this cat has been popular for 600 years and hasn't gone out of style, and you said it's very popular in New Donghai City, then it just goes to show that this cat is very powerful. Don't underestimate this world-class IP."

"It is cute, I can't deny that. The designer has some talent," Big Fat Cat said honestly.

Lin Xian put the mask on his face and followed Big Fat Cat out of the warehouse, smiling as he looked at the fat figure's back.

"Brother Lian, you'll never guess who designed this cat."

"How could I not know?"

Big Fat Cat turned his head, wearing an expression that said it was obvious.

"Everyone on Earth knows that this cat is the mascot of X Company."

Lin Xian was very surprised.

He took off the mask and stared at Big Fat Cat...

In the "first dream realm," whether it was the level of technology or the standard of living, it was far more developed than the current "second dream realm" of Old Donghai.

But even in that situation, the true origin of the Ragdoll Cat, its creator, and the history of X Company had not been passed down.

Lin Xian had searched through various design collections and online resources, but he couldn't find any information about the founder of the Ragdoll Cat, himself, or X Company. There was nothing to be found.

And the origins of the Ragdoll Cat were subject to much speculation. There were all sorts of theories, but none of them were the correct answer.

Lin Xian was quite annoyed at the time.

But later, he understood... 600 years was simply too long of a time. It was normal for himself and X Company to be forgotten in the river of history, covered by the dust of time.

So, he accepted this reality.

But now.

He actually heard the name X Company from Big Fat Cat's mouth, and he was so sure that the Ragdoll Cat was the mascot of X Company!

This meant...

In the second dream realm, the related history and fate of X Company had also undergone a synchronous space-time change.

Lin Xian guessed that perhaps because the Ragdoll brand was very successful after obtaining Professor Xu Yun's authorization, X Company had jumped to become a world-class beauty giant.

Then it was conceivable that Ragdoll brand cosmetics may have been popular in the world for hundreds of years, and the Ragdoll Cat would naturally have been popular for hundreds of years along with it.

It was even very likely that the girls in the world were still using Ragdoll brand cosmetics, and X Company had not yet gone bankrupt!

"Brother Lian, is X Company still around now? Hasn't it gone bankrupt?" Lin Xian asked curiously.

"What silly things are you saying, little bro?"

Big Fat Cat looked at him like he was an idiot.

"How could X Company go bankrupt... it might not even go bankrupt if the Earth is destroyed."

"Then this company must have a history of 600 years?"

"Probably, I'm not too sure about that," Big Fat Cat picked his nose.

"Anyway, it must be one of the most awesome companies in the world."

"Is X Company still making cosmetics now?" Lin Xian continued to ask.

"Are you kidding me!"

Big Fat Cat was amused.

"They are a world-class giant company. New Donghai City was built by X Company. Why would they still be making cosmetics!"

*Thud*—

Lin Xian stopped in his tracks.

He felt an unusual chill...

"What did you say?"

He stared at Big Fat Cat.

"You said that this steel science fiction city... New Donghai City, was built by X Company?"

"Yes, isn't that common knowledge?"

Big Fat Cat stretched out his right hand and pointed to the brightly lit, colorful New Donghai City in the distance.

"Look at the tallest building in the very center, the one that's the twin towers. Do you see the words written on it?"

Lin Xian followed his finger.

In the very center of New Donghai City... there was a twin-tower building that was obviously much thicker and larger than all the other high-rise buildings.

It also reached high into the clouds, with no visible top, and it was unknown how tall it actually was.

But on the waist of the twin towers...

There were two extremely large black background, white light giant logos— the two English letters—

X

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.

He was too familiar with the shape of these two letters.

He saw them countless times in countless places every day on his way to work.

On the top of the company building, on the background board of the front desk, on the stickers in the elevator, on the scratch paper in the office... even Lin Xian's work card, were printed with these uniquely shaped two letters...

The last time he looked at New Donghai City was on the roof of Big Fat Cat's house. Due to the angle, these two letters were blocked by the high-rise buildings in front, and he didn't see them.

But now, looking from Li Cheng's home, he could see the giant letters emitting white cold light very clearly.

X

Needless to say.

The most central, most magnificent, and most spectacular twin-tower building in New Donghai City must be the headquarters of X Company.

To be precise, it was the headquarters of X Company 600 years later.

It was so tall.

So magnificent.

So majestic.

This twin tower was like a sea-stabilizing needle in New Donghai City, firmly suppressing this behemoth.

What kind of changes had taken place in these 600 years... that would allow a cosmetics company that was only well-known domestically to successfully transform into a super-giant company that dominated the world and could independently build a future science fiction city?

What was the history behind it?

How did it develop to this point?

This sole proprietorship company established by Zhao Yingjun from scratch... who was now in control of it?

Suddenly.

Lin Xian widened his eyes.

He thought of a terrifying possibility...

The current world, the world of 2023, was no longer the same.

With the spark of hibernation technology ignited in 2023, mankind officially entered an era of rapid technological advancement, and no one could estimate how future technology would develop or how the world would change.

Professor Xu Yun once optimistically estimated that a hibernation pod that could reduce life activity efficiency by 90% could be developed in two or three years...

But the potential of mankind was infinite.

Who could say for sure?

If, according to the most optimistic estimate, the hibernation pod was successfully developed soon...

The more Lin Xian thought about it, the more terrifying it became, and his back became increasingly cold.

He looked up...

At the crescent moon in the sky that was divided in half by the huge black hand shadow,

Looking at the black right hand that stretched out its index finger and pointed straight upwards,

Thinking of Big Fat Cat's father, who died tragically under the truck in the first dream realm, thinking of Xu Yun's cracked corpse in the snow at 00:42 on New Year's Day,

Thinking of the invitation letter that Zhao Yingjun received from the Genius Club,

Thinking of the white mouse in Xu Yun's laboratory that successfully hibernated for 40 hours and successfully woke up...

"Brother Lian."

Lin Xian's voice was low, and he stared at Big Fat Cat.

"What's the name of the current president of X Company?"