I'm sorry, this is what happened.

I had already finished today's update and was preparing to post it early.

But then...

Just as I turned to grab a glass of water, a chubby hand suddenly reached out from the monitor!

That chubby hand grabbed the mouse, deleted the update document, and then emptied the recycle bin.

I was furious!

But I was afraid it was some kind of Cthulhu tentacle, so I didn't dare approach it. I gritted my back teeth until they shattered, blood vessels burst in my eyes, and I hated my helplessness as I watched the chubby hand do all this and then casually retreat into the monitor.

...

I put down my glass, sat in front of the computer, and stared blankly for a long time.

I tried to think like Lin Xian by twirling a pen.

But I found that my chubby fingers weren't nearly as nimble. The pen slipped twice and landed in the water glass, so I gave up on twirling the pen, but I didn't give up on thinking.

I had a feeling that this wasn't a supernatural event, because nothing in this world can't be explained by science; if there is, it's just that scientists haven't discovered the principle behind it yet.

Fortunately.

I'm not the first person to encounter something like this.

Lin Xian's Genius Club invitation was also handed to him by a hand reaching out from a mirror.

Could there be some connection between these two things?

I called Lin Xian.

He said that he still hadn't figured out what was going on with the invitation from the mirror, or the smiling man who looked exactly like him in the mirror.

"But, it should be soon."

On the phone, Lin Xian's tone was firm:

"I've already found Newton and discovered the same invitation in his vacuum safe. I expect I'll soon be able to solve this seemingly supernatural mystery... As a staunch materialist, I don't believe this is a supernatural event at all. This should be a kind of [science], a kind of... [closed loop]."

"That's right."

I nodded in agreement:

"That's what I think too. Perhaps this is a historical closed loop, some mysterious force deliberately preventing me from posting this chapter update today. And if I force it out... it might cause very serious consequences."

"Then take a day off today and update tomorrow."

Lin Xian said calmly:

"Once I figure out what's going on with the invitation in the mirror, I believe I'll naturally understand why the chubby hand in the monitor deleted your update document."

...

That's what happened.

After typing this, I'm going to throw away this cursed monitor and buy a new one to take home.

So, I have to take a day off today, please forgive me!

By the way.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival in advance! May you be happy and fulfilled!