The first time Shen Yao saw him was in the shadow of the abandoned hospital.
That man had a pair of eyes that were too heavy for his age.
Later, Shen Yao found out that this man was called Shen Zhou. Someone commented that he was "as oily as a loach." He smiled and said nothing, turned around and continued the layout.
But Shen Yao always felt strange - every time they fought side by side, the opponent's sword was always one step ahead of him; every time he rushed too fast, a hand pulled him back from behind. The force was not heavy, but there was no room for resistance.
"Why are you always dragging me down?"
Shen Zhou tightened the lid of the teapot: "You look like me when I was young. Frizzy."
Shen Yao curled his lips: "You are not much older than me."
He didn't know that Shen Zhou was indeed him. It was the version of himself that had reached its end ten years later and fell into pieces in front of the light gate.
In this life, Shen Zhou came back early. Carrying an old injury and a pot of bitter tea, he returned to the starting point where everything had not yet begun. He found his 20-year-old self who had not yet learned to sacrifice, and stood in front of him and said:
"Don't rush so fast. I'll go in front, you follow."
He didn't say "I'll die for you." He just walked in front, stepping on the pits he had stepped on in his previous life with every step, then turned back and stretched out his hand to the younger self behind him.
I died once, so you don't have to die again.
Intention: In desperate situations, choosing to stand side by side rather than sacrifice is the real strength.