Of course, Shen Lan couldn't really just jump into the sea with Xia Chuan and "flee in panic". Otherwise, not only would Xia Chuan have to fight him, but when the people present woke up later, they would probably surround him and beat him up together.

After he hugged Xia Chuan and pounced into the sea, he instantly transformed into a mosasaur. He then lifted the drenched Xia Chuan onto his back and floated to the surface, quietly drifting near the shore.

The position was chosen well, allowing them to converse with the people on shore without getting stranded, and if things didn't go well, they could run away at any moment.

Just as Shen Lan transformed from human to beast, playing the "I'm blind and can't speak human language" card, Xia Liang and the others got up with their families and walked to the shore.

Xia Chuan wiped the water from his face, glanced at Shen Lan from the corner of his eye, and then calmly said to the people on shore, "Well then, we'll go find the exit and head back first. If it's really like you said, Professor Linton's life over the past 20 years must not have been easy. He had to avoid surveillance and use every opportunity to perfect the device you mentioned.

"One careless move and he might be targeted by the company. If he's really being watched, his actions this time may not go smoothly. If we return earlier, we can lend a hand and make things safer."

After all, none of them present, whether it was Xia Chuan, Shen Lan, or Xia Liang and the others, would want the final outcome to be unsatisfactory.

"Mm." Xia Liang nodded, then waved at him and said, "Alright, if you're going to leave, hurry up. As for you two..." His gaze swept back and forth between Xia Chuan and the mosasaur beneath him. "When I really wake up, I'll have a chat with you. Playing dead won't work then."

Xia Chuan felt the giant beast's tail flap under him, as if it was about to transform back to argue. He patted its back and calmly said, "Don't move around. If you make me fall into the sea again and get soaked in the fishy smell, I'll fillet you and dip you in mustard when we get back."

Shen Lan: "..."

After he finished speaking, he raised his eyes and his gaze met Xia Liang's. The father and son, who looked not far apart in age, stared at each other expressionlessly for a few seconds.

Then, they both suddenly curled their lips, revealing an extremely faint smile. From the side, it was as if they were carved from the same mold.

"I want to say that talking when we get back won't change anything. He and I are already like this. When you return, you can choose to live with us, or I can find you another house further away from us, out of sight, out of mind." Xia Chuan maintained his rare smile and said, "But I thought about it and decided to leave you something to look forward to. Maybe that will make you wake up faster. I'll wait for you there to talk, don't stand me up."

Xia Liang also smiled, "I'm not so rigid that seeing you two would make me lose my appetite. I've already missed all your growing years. At least let me make up for that time before we split up. You should at least call me 'Dad' once before leaving."

The corner of Xia Chuan's mouth twitched. He said helplessly, "How can I call you that with a face like yours?"

"Okay, in the future, Anyao and I will draw some elderly makeup for you to call us, then we'll take it off." Xia Liang had a look of "see how considerate and open-minded your dad is" and elegantly spread his hands.

Xia Chuan: "..."

"Little Amos," Gardner said in a pained, drawn-out tone to the huge mosasaur, "Other people's sons know to say goodbye to their dads. How come you just play dead? Alright, I know you're shy. If you don't want to change back, at least wag your tail and pretend. Even dogs can wag their tails..."

Shen Lan: "..."

Xia Chuan: "..."

Xia Liang looked at him with his arms crossed, unamused, "It's a good thing Amos didn't go through his rebellious phase with you, otherwise you'd have to fight him every day."

Anyao added from the side, "Then Gardner would definitely be the one getting beaten..."

Gardner: "..."

Shen Lan nodded his tail in agreement, splashing up a large expanse of white waves. The last wave was aimed directly at the shore, accurately drenching Gardner from head to toe, making him look extremely wretched.

Xia Chuan waved at everyone, bent down and patted Shen Lan's back, indicating that they could leave. However, after patting a couple of times, he seemed to remember something and raised his head.

He looked at Xia Liang and the others and asked in a seemingly calm tone, "Although it's not very auspicious to say this, I still want to ask, what if..."

"What if we don't wake up?" Xia Liang very considerately finished the second half of his son's sentence.

Xia Chuan's deep brown eyes stared at him without blinking, not saying a word.

"Remember what Buddy said before he left?" Gardner suddenly said solemnly.

Xia Chuan: "What did he say?"

Gardner said, "He said this is the sea's memory zone... Perhaps there are many such special zones in this world. In the sea, on land, in mountains and rivers, and the most common and ordinary one..." As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to his own head, "Everyone has one here too."

"Many years ago, when Liang and I were drinking with Buddy, we chatted about these topics. At that time, our lives were happy and our careers were going well. We were all living well. Back then, we felt that this world was actually very gentle. All the lives that had existed in this world left traces that were preserved in various forms - text, images, bones, ruins... even stories, dreams, and memories."

"Now, the three of us are old, dead, or maybe have a chance to wake up again, or maybe not... But I still believe this. You and Amos standing in front of me are the best proof. If we really don't wake up in reality, then just take this encounter as a gift from this gentle world. You've seen us and remember us, and we feel the same. What could be more lasting than that?"

Indeed, there is probably nothing more lasting than people who live on in memory. However many years you remember them, they can accompany you for that many years. Although it's regrettable, it can be considered a lifetime in another sense.

"Not bad, right?" Xia Liang smiled and said to Xia Chuan.

Xia Chuan was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Indeed, not bad."

"Then it's time to say goodbye." Xia Liang pointed to the vast, boundless sea, "Go back. We'll meet again." He touched his eyes, then his forehead, "Whether it's with these, or with this."

Shen Lan flicked his tail one last time in Gardner's direction, then turned and swam towards a farther place with Xia Chuan on his back.

They had already experienced two different worlds and knew these were just fragments of memory that had an end. Passing through that end, they should return home...