Hank couldn’t find the words. All he had cared about was preventing Tina’s death, but now that he thought back on the previous three loops, it wasn’t hard to notice the pattern.

Every time, Tina had willingly died in his place.

The one who was supposed to die... was him.

He looked deeply into Tina’s eyes before turning back around.

“So I understand now. You’re saying that if I die, Tina will survive, right?”

“If my theory is correct, then yes.” Su Lingyan slowly nodded. “But... maybe you could try avoiding it?”

Would he really gamble his life on an uncertain theory?

“Darling, why are you standing over there?” Tina asked in confusion.

Hank took a deep breath and made up his mind. He walked toward Tina.

“Coming.”

“May I ask one more question? What about Ms. Tina’s biological parents? How are they doing?” Su Lingyan asked.

“They’re doing well. Why?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

It was now 11:38.

Hank stared at the clock on the wall as he sat in the middle of the sofa.

“And this is...?” Tina looked at the suddenly appeared Su Lingyan.

“I’m here for work. Don’t mind me.” Su Lingyan smiled.

Hank, Tina, and the butler all looked confused.

“Do you know this lady?”  the butler asked. A stranger had suddenly walked in, so naturally he had to confirm things first.

“She’s... a friend of mine. She happened to have business with Mr. Williams today,” Hank explained.

“I see. I’ll prepare some tea for everyone.” The butler left.

“I’m Zerion. Nice to meet you,” Su Lingyan said to Tina.

“I’m Tina. Though... I don’t think I’ve ever heard Hank mention you before?” Tina turned toward him. Hank was sitting between the two of them, making the conversation feel a little awkward.

“Darling, why don’t we switch—”

“Mr. Williams is here,” Hank interrupted.

He stood up and walked a few steps forward, moving away from directly beneath the chandelier.

“Hello, everyone.” Mr. Williams nodded as he descended the stairs.

Tina and Su Lingyan turned to look at him.

Then they heard movement from the ceiling.

The crystal chandelier shook violently several times before crashing down.

But it didn’t fall straight downward.

It dropped toward Hank, as though it had eyes of its own.

“Hank!”

Amid Tina’s scream, Hank seemed to smile.

Then the chandelier smashed heavily into his head, knocking him to the floor.

“So it really can’t be avoided...?” Su Lingyan looked up at where the chandelier had originally been hanging, then at the shattered remains scattered across the ground. The actual point of impact was clearly offset from where it should have fallen.

“Hank! Wake up!” Tina burst out with astonishing strength and forcibly shoved the chandelier aside.

But Hank didn’t respond.

His eyes remained shut, a faint smile still lingering at the corner of his lips.

“There’s no need to call an ambulance anymore, right?” Su Lingyan stepped onto the first stair and asked.

“I know what you want to ask, but I have no solution either. It’s a cursed music box. Unless it disappears...” Mr. Williams shook his head regretfully.

After confirming that Hank had completely stopped breathing, Tina saw the horrifying damage across his back. There was absolutely no chance of survival.

“How could this happen...? Mr. Williams, why did your chandelier fall?! Why?!” Tina completely lost her usual gentle demeanor, sounding almost hysterical.

“The music box... So can it be destroyed?” Su Lingyan asked.

“Would you dare destroy it?” Mr. Williams replied.

Even if it was cursed, it also carried the hope of starting over again.

Would you really risk losing the chance to rewind forever just to destroy it?

“...”

Su Lingyan wasn’t sure.

“A witch’s creation isn’t something that can be destroyed so easily,” Mr. Williams said.

Tina paid no attention to their conversation.

Suddenly, she felt as though the music box was calling to her.

Wind the music box. Let its beautiful melody soothe your soul.

Tina slowly walked toward the music box, carefully picked it up, and began winding it.

Su Lingyan quietly listened to Für Elise.

Then time reversed.

The quest window updated.

Please help Tina save her husband.

The theory had now been confirmed.

Both Hank and Tina wanted to save each other, and in the end, they became trapped in an endless loop.

“Though... the sound from the music box grew softer again. Does the music box have limited power?”

Su Lingyan returned to the familiar street once more.

She touched the branch-like object the man had given her inside her pocket and headed directly toward the villa.

She arrived quickly and knocked on the door. The moment the butler opened it, she tossed out a quick “I’m here to see Mr. Williams,” before walking straight inside.

“Wait!” The butler tried to grab Su Lingyan, but she slipped past him like a gust of wind.

During the first loop, the butler had quickly handed the box to Tina, meaning the music box had to be on the first floor and not too far from the entrance.

After a quick scan, she spotted it resting on a table in the living room.

Su Lingyan grabbed the music box and turned to leave, only for the butler to block her path.

“Put the music box down and leave. I won’t call the police,” the butler warned.

“Move.”

Su Lingyan raised a handgun.

Earlier, while holding the branch, she had wondered what use it had. Why not just give me a gun instead? The next second, the branch transformed into a handgun.

“Alright, alright, I’m moving.”

The butler clearly hadn’t expected someone to pull a gun over a music box. Fear spread across his face as he slowly stepped aside.

Su Lingyan left the villa without trouble.

As soon as she was gone, the butler hurried upstairs to report to Mr. Williams.

“Sir, the music box was stolen by a woman.”

Sitting on the sofa, Mr. Williams turned his head.

“Not the lady who came to retrieve the family heirloom, but a woman with curly black hair?”

“Yes. Should we call the police?” the butler asked.

“...No.”