Liana Xiu Ying stood motionless in Qiao Ling's living room, her heart racing as she processed the shocking revelations they had just uncovered. The golden thread she perceived within Cheng Xiaoshi was the same aura she sensed in Bo's wife, Hui, during her recent endeavor to solve their marital dispute. It was a connection that ran deeper than she initially comprehended—a web of intricacies that bound them all through an extraordinary experience she never anticipated sharing with her friends.

"How is this even possible?" Liana thought, her mind whirring with confusion. Her fingers subconsciously grazed her arm, as if trying to soothe a sudden chill creeping beneath her skin. Had her former college friends always possessed the same abilities? Why hadn't she ever realized it before? After all, they had been intertwined in countless memories, yet the threads of their powers had remained hidden under the surface, just waiting for the right moment to be unveiled.

From a distance, she could see Lu Guang glancing her way, an expression of deep contemplation etched across his face. There was an unspoken language between them now, one that resonated with shared bewilderment. They had shared so much over the years, from the awkwardness of their undergraduate classes to the chaotic karaoke nights that often left them in stitches.

Liana's thoughts drifted back to their college days. What a tapestry of memories they had woven together! She recalled how she had pursued a Bachelor's in Emergency Medical Services, and though her friends studied diverse fields—Qiao Ling's business focus, Cheng Xiaoshi's fine arts, and Lu Guang's sociology or psychology—it never stopped them from experiencing spontaneous outings fueled by laughter and camaraderie. They'd crash into each other in campus cafés, trying to juggle midterms with smiles and ice cream cones, sharing endless cups of coffee and stories under the sunniest skies.

But there was one day that stood out in her mind like a beacon.

It was a sunny spring Thursday, around noon, when the blossoms adorned the trees like negative space in a vibrant painting. Liana had decided to stick around campus, her morning classes had wrapped up, but she could not bear the thought of returning home to the quiet solitude that plagued her existence. Instead, she immersed herself in the crowd, seeking solace in the midst of strangers bustling about.

As she strolled through the campus, near the fountain at the center of the arts facility, a fluttering movement caught her eye. There, perched precariously atop the ornate fountain's pillar—surrounded by a cascade of sparkling water—was a fluffy cat. Its regal white fur glinted in the sunlight, the dappled patterns of shadow and light weaving around its form like a spontaneous dance.

"What in the world?" Liana thought, stifling a laugh. The absurdity of it all was too much to not capture. She pulled her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and snapped a picture, her heart lightened by the sight of the impromptu feline king on his throne.

But as she shook herself from her trance, realization hit her like a cold splash of water. The fountain was on; that kitten must have spent the night up there when the water system was off. And yet, nobody seemed to notice the delightful predicament. With a sigh, Liana scanned the area but noticed the crowd rushing past, consumed in their own lives.

"Seems like everyone's busy," she thought.

"Might as well try to help," she murmured. "Fine, I'll do it myself."

Resolutely, she tucked her phone away and approached the fountain. It stood about nine feet high, its smooth stone surfaces gleaming but treacherously slippery. Yet, the broad base surrounding the pillar beckoned to her sense of adventure.

"That's it," she thought, her eyes lighting up.

With a deep breath, she kicked off her tennis shoes and stepped into the fountain. Water splashed against her legs; she relished the refreshing bite. Drawing closer to the base of the pillar, she steadied herself as she called up to the cat, determination etched on her face. "Okay, buddy, just stay calm! I'm coming to get you!"

Her voice rang out above the rush of the water, filled with purpose. The cat, wide-eyed with uncertainty, shuffled on its rocky perch, hesitant yet captivated by the hopeful connection. "Just a little closer!" she encouraged, arms outstretched, coaxing it gently.

Suddenly, she heard a voice from behind her, dripping with sarcasm. "Hey! What do you think you're doing, weirdo?"

Liana chuckled, still focused. "What does it look like I'm doing?" she thought. Instead, she shouted back, "This cat's in trouble! He can't come down, so I decided to help!"

"Yeah, the one who'll need saving after will be you, smartass!" another voice chimed in, and the familiar banter warmed her heart. At least someone noticed her absurd quest.

Ignoring their jibes, she climbed higher. Now on the basin's ledge, she felt exhilaration coursing through her veins. The cat had inched a little closer, flush with anxiety. "Come on, you can do it!" Liana urged, maintaining her calm demeanor.

The feline hesitated, teetering at the edge. Liana leaned in further, her heart racing as someone in the back chimed in with encouragement. "You've got this!"

With a burst of courage, the cat leapt toward her outstretched arms. She caught it with a joyful gasp, laughter spilling out as she stumbled back slightly, the soft weight of the animal nestled against her chest. "I got you!" she whispered, cradling the fluffy creature like a delighted child.

But in her excitement, she lost her balance and slipped—"Oh no!"—she thought, anticipating the splash. "Catch him!"

In that fleeting moment, her world turned upside down. Instead of the cold, unforgiving water beneath her, she found herself enveloped in warmth as she fell. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her aloft.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked, breathless yet calm as Liana opened her eyes to find herself gazing into bewitching gray ones—eyes that looked like morning mist hovering just above the surface of a lake, filled with mystery and allure. Heck, had she accidentally drowned and ended up in Heaven? She could hardly think straight, her heart racing.

With a gentle firmness, the boy guided her back onto solid ground, his grip reassuring. Concern settled on his brow as he let her steady herself. He glanced at his vibrant-eyed friend with hair as dark as obsidian.

"Oi, Cheng Xiaoshi! Did you catch the cat?" Lu Guang asked, shooting her a look of disbelief.

"Of course I did, Lu Guang! Who do you take me for?" Cheng whined, proudly lifting the rescued kitty in his arms.

Lu Guang exhaled sharply, relief washing over him. Turning back to Liana, he shook his head and remarked, "What you did was idiotic."

"Pardon me?" she retorted, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride.

"Well, I think what you did was wicked!" Cheng said with a laugh, handing the purring cat over to her.

Liana cradled the cat close, her heart soaring. "He looked so scared up there, and no one seemed to care!" she pouted defensively.

Lu Guang raised an eyebrow. "You could have found a clerk to assist, you know?"

Blushing slightly but standing her ground, Liana replied, "Sure thing, but what's the fun in that?"

Cheng smiled at her determination. "She's my new pal! What's your name, sweetie?"

"Liana Xiu Ying," she said, cheeks reddening under Cheng's playful gaze. "Pleasure to meet you."

In the present moment, Liana was torn from her reverie by the overwhelming tension hanging in Qiao Ling's living room. The silence felt heavy, suffocating almost, as if the very air around them was imbued with their unspoken realizations.

Cheng, Guang, and Liana stood there, numerous questions swirling together, their shared revelation pulsing like a silent beat reverberating through the room.

Finally, Cheng broke the silence, furrowing his brow. "So we can all see the past now, huh? This is just... confusing."

"Exactly!" Liana replied, leaning against the wall, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she processed the whirlwind of thoughts. "I had no idea there were others like me. Why didn't I ever sense it before?"

Lu Guang rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "We need to figure out why this is happening. It feels like we inadvertently crossed some threshold."

Just then, Qiao Ling returned, a glass of water in hand, having noticed the sudden change in Liana's demeanor. "Here," she said, gently handing it over. "Drink this; it has some sugar in it. You look pale."

"I'm still recovering from the flu," Liana waved her off, needing an excuse, anything to deflect the weight of the moment. Her heart raced as she turned away and caught Lu Guang's gaze—serious, deep, intent. Despite the heaviness around them, a fluttering warmth blossomed within her.

As Qiao Ling began guiding them to the kitchen, announcing that dinner was almost ready, Liana felt the tension remain, thick as a shroud, lingering as they settled at the table, the tantalizing scents of dragon rolls and tempura shrimp wafting toward them. Each dish was a masterpiece, colors vibrant and inviting, the promise of savory delight igniting their enthusiasm.

"Cheng, don't you dare eat all the tempura!" Qiao Ling admonished playfully, rolling her eyes as he reached for another piece.

Cheng feigned innocence. "Me? Never! Besides, these look far too good to share."

Liana Xiu Ying chuckled, the atmosphere lightening as tempura disappeared into Cheng's mouth shamelessly. As they ate, she and Lu Guang occasionally exchanged glances, a silent rapport vibrant between them, even as Cheng Xiaoshi and Qiao Ling bickered back and forth, that familiar dynamic almost nostalgic.

"You're going to ruin your dinner, you know!" Qiao Ling teased, her laughter infectious.

"I'll run a marathon afterward. No sweat!" Cheng retorted between mouthfuls.

As dinner rolled on, the playful bickering mixed with grilled eel and crispy shrimp created an easy, comforting ambiance. Yet, just as quickly as it warmed, the mood shifted again. Qiao Ling's phone buzzed with a text notification, cutting through their laughter.

"Sorry, guys! Something came up," she announced, glancing at her device with a hint of disappointment. "I'll be back in a bit. You three should catch up!"

As she slipped away, the tension solidified in the silence she left behind. Liana Xiu Ying, Lu Guang, and Cheng Xiaoshi exchanged glances, the previous ease dissipating rapidly.

They began speaking at once, voices overlapping in a muddled chorus before quickly trailing off, a slight humor breaking through the tension. "Sorry," they all mumbled, laughter echoing lightly.

Lu Guang took a deep breath, guiding the conversation forward. "Alright, let's slow it down. Yelling won't help us figure this out."

Cheng turned to Liana, his expression curious yet concerned. "How long have you been able to travel to the past?"

Liana clenched her jaw, weighing how much to share. "Since I was little," she said finally, struggling against the memories that spiraled to the surface. "I don't remember when it started exactly, but I know it happened after a car accident."

Silence swallowed the room as her revelation hung heavily in the air. Liana continued, "I can sense auras by touching frames and connecting with people's emotions, but it's not just limited to photographs. I can feel energies—sometimes overwhelming—by being present in the places where events occurred or by just observing."

Cheng's eyebrows raised with intrigue. "And you can enter the past too, but can't do anything? Just... observe?"

"It drains a lot of my energy," she admitted, a hint of frustration etching her tone. "But it feels vital, like my senses are heightened and alive only for a moment."

"What about you, Lu Guang?" Xiu Ying directed the conversation back to their solemn friend, a glimmer of desperation shining in her eyes.

Lu Guang hesitated, silence filling the air before he spoke with deliberation. "I can see the twelve hours following the moment a photograph is taken—events unfolding, emotions swirling."

"And I can enter a person's consciousness during that period," Cheng interjected. "We share consciousness while I'm there to ensure I know what to do."

Understanding settled in for Liana. "And you two need each other to guide what happens without mistakes."

Lu Guang nodded, and Liana offered a small smile in appreciation for their teamwork. "That's fascinating!"

Underneath the concentration, she felt the shadows of her recent case loom over them. "I've been working on a divorce case recently with a couple named Bo and Hui. It's been strange... I felt a presence there."

Cheng's eyes locked with hers, the vividness of her words igniting interest. "It was us. Their names are Bo and Hui. We saw someone there as well, actually."

"Pardon?" Liana blinked in surprise, heart racing as Cheng continued. "We saw a note that said, 'Who are you?'"

Her mind whirred. "I left that note!" she exclaimed. "I thought someone was trying to steal my job! I wanted to scare whoever it was off."

Amusement flickered in Cheng's eyes. "Seems like we're all in this together, doesn't it?"

Relief washed over Liana as she smiled at them—those kind souls. For the first time, she felt comforted that there was someone else out there with a gift like hers, someone she could trust.

"While I can't interact with individuals directly," she admitted, "sometimes I can move objects."

Lu Guang's brow furrowed slightly, and Liana Xiu Ying sensed her secret connection to him turning into something more profound in this shared space.

As she glanced at him, their eyes locking once more, Liana fleetingly thought about how those enthralling misty eyes held something more. An unvoiced understanding pooled between them; she felt like they were dancing on the edge of something exquisite.

Then Cheng broke the moment, cheerily offering a proposition. "Why don't we work together on this case? C'mon, all of us are stuck on it. Two heads are better than one, and I bet three could save a marriage."

Her gaze slid from Cheng Xiaoshi back to Lu Guang as she considered the unexpected proposition. Could they really work together? Gladly extending a hand, she confronted her own skepticism. After all, they trusted one another.

A determined facade creased her face as she extended her right hand, palm down. "Together."

Cheng's grin widened as he placed his hand atop hers. "Together! C'mon, Guang, let's do this!"

Lu Guang hesitated for a moment, a thoughtful expression passing over his features, but finally surrendered as he placed his hand on top of Cheng's. "Together."

Together. The word resonated, weaving a sense of belonging and shared purpose that warmed Liana's heart as they sealed their fate—the beginning of a collective journey that transcended time.

author's note;
Do you think Lu Guang is a bit out of character on this one? It's kinda complicated writing about such complex character... Anyways, I hope you enjoy! 💙