Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
At lunchtime, they successfully met up with Shui Su, who was still full of energy after a busy morning. The sight of them basking in the sun outside the restaurant attracted the attention of many passersby, with some young people sneaking photos on their phones. In contrast, Xiao Mei and Song Bunan, who had been sitting all morning and drinking coffee, looked more like they were at work—listless and drifting, resembling wilted eggplants.
It wasn't until the plates filled with chicken legs appeared that the two wilted eggplants snapped back to reality, suddenly robust as they began to eat. Shui Su gently wiped the grains of rice stuck to Xiao Mei's face, her elegant dining manner making it seem as if they were enjoying a grand feast rather than fast food. Xin Yi recalled how he had watched Shui Su eat corn yesterday; it had been just as graceful.
"This afternoon we need to go to the Psychiatry department for a meeting. There will be professors providing you with systematic training on important points, and it will take a while. After you finish eating, you should rest in the lounge for a bit before the meeting at two o'clock. If you think you might get sleepy, I can order some coffee for you," Shui Su said, her gaze almost exclusively on Xiao Mei despite addressing everyone.
Xin Yi declined the offer, saying he didn't need any coffee. Song Bunan chuckled and mentioned he still had half a cup in the office. Xiao Mei scratched her face and mumbled that she needed a pot of tea. "I just can't get used to that stuff; it's sour, bitter, and astringent. I'd rather have a bowl of traditional medicine," she remarked.
"Once we get to New Life Hospital, I might be running around as an exchange doctor. If you haven't been assigned any tasks, please be careful during your investigation. I've received reports from those who went there today that security has been tightened and there are signs of modified individuals," Shui Su said in a lowered voice.
It was clear that they had heightened security to mitigate risks before their arrival. Song Bunan swallowed his last bite of food and flashed a sly smile like a fox. He winked at Shui Su and whispered, "Don't worry; nothing has been moved underground. Strengthening security won't help; those people don't have much power."
Song Bunan spoke with confidence, even shaking his fists to emphasize his strength. Xiao Mei shot him a pitying look filled with disdain, clicking her tongue in disappointment, which made Song Bunan roll his eyes at her.
"Hey," Song Bunan provoked playfully, "Looks like you're not convinced."
"Convinced? Who would dare not be? Our Boss Song is the one who can down eighteen bowls at Jingyang Ridge; anyone who disagrees will get hammered," Xiao Mei replied with a sarcastic tone, especially skilled at teasing Song Bunan.
However, Xin Yi genuinely believed in Song Bunan's capabilities; during their time in the mountains, he had shown more initiative than many in Mighty Falcon. Suddenly pulled into the conversation, Xiao Mei asked him if he had seen that hidden side of Song Bunan when they went out together.
He didn't understand where this "hidden side" came from. But the person across from him smiled knowingly at his question and raised an eyebrow while saying, "Come on now; I know people in Mighty Falcon too. You two killed two experimental subjects when you were in the mountains. He definitely got involved; how could you not have seen it?"
He truly hadn't seen it. Xin Yi answered honestly and briefly recounted what had happened that night. Upon hearing about Song Bunan climbing trees, Xiao Mei's expression turned complicated as she shot him a look filled with disappointment.
"You little brat, you're quite good at pretending," Xiao Mei dismantled Song Bunan's facade right then and there. "And those people got away? How could they escape once they were in your hands? Wandering Soul g them up in trees like kites! You’re not telling the truth; something’s off with you!"
The exposed individual shrank awkwardly into his chair, his small frame nearly sliding under the table as he stammered defensively, "I wasn't familiar with Brother Xinyi back then; I had to leave a good impression on my friends! What if I scared them by showing my fierce side right away?"
“Pfft—” Xiao Mei spat.
Unbeknownst to her, Xin Yi received a remorseful smile from Song Bunan, who used a rare, adorable tone to apologize, saying, “I’m sorry, Brother Xin Yi.” Xin Yi took it in stride, assuring that it was no problem. One could only imagine what kind of scene that must have been.
The meeting revolved around the basic operational processes of the hospital and what an ordinary doctor needs to do. The professor summarized the problems they might encounter in their work, categorizing them into several points for a brief explanation before focusing on how to resolve them. After all, they were not in a position to treat patients, but they could identify and solve problems alongside Bunan.
The professor was well aware of each of their roles and tailored a series of coping strategies based on their different professions and the habits that might arise from them. He specifically mentioned Xin Yi, noting that those in the Mighty Falcon department tended to have a bit of a temper and needed to remain rational when faced with difficult patients.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Mei and Song Bunan couldn’t help but laugh, not bothering to look at Xin Yi’s expression as they covered their mouths and chuckled to themselves. The one being pointed out remained calm and responded that he would take note. The conversation then shifted to Xiao Mei; the professor seemed quite familiar with him and took advantage of the fact that everyone in the meeting room knew each other to directly suggest some adjustments to his personality. The smile on his face shifted over to Song Bunan, who nearly burst out laughing.
When it came time for Song Bunan, the professor’s gaze softened as he smiled and said that the young man should just be himself, only needing to be cautious about revealing his identity.
This could be considered special treatment. Xiao Mei’s complaints immediately flooded the group chat on his phone, with seven messages in a row expressing dissatisfaction over Song Bunan being favored. A hamster emoji appeared with a smug expression saying, “After all, it’s me.”
The professor at the table observed their antics with a smile, allowing the two kids to bicker while he took his tea cup and sat beside Xin Yi. Nearly eighty years old, the professor had white hair and a rosy complexion; his eyes sparkled with vitality, making him appear more energetic than many younger people as he walked steadily.
Meeting Xin Yi’s gaze filled with approval, he placed a broad hand on his shoulder and said, “When Shui Su handed me your information, I immediately recognized your potential for trustworthiness. Meeting you in person certainly confirms that feeling. If you need any assistance from us doctors or nurses once you’re over there, be sure to let us know; don’t try to handle everything alone.”
Xin Yi understood he was being advised and promptly replied that there would be no issues. The professor looked at the two still engrossed in their phones with affectionate eyes and spoke in a calm tone: “Years ago when that experiment first showed promise, I was invited too. Unfortunately, I’ve never been interested in living too long, so I declined their offer. I never imagined it would become so troublesome later on and result in so many innocent lives lost. When Shui Su and Xiao Mei suggested sending personnel from our hospital to investigate New Life Hospital, I was the first to agree. It’s dangerous but indeed a good idea.”
He didn’t understand why the professor suddenly brought up these matters with him and sat quietly listening. “Speaking of Mighty Falcon, I once worked alongside someone who managed things there; I wonder if he’s still around. Young man, do you know Mo Ke from the Heavenly Department?”
Mo Ke? Xin Yi shook his head. The Heavenly Department never communicated with the Earth Department; even if there were matters to discuss, it was always left to past captains who would return tight-lipped about anything concerning that side. Therefore, he had no knowledge of such a person existing.
The person who received the answer showed an expression of realization, nodding and continuing to smile, "You have such rules within your organization? Back then, my relationship with you was quite good. I even visited your Mighty Falcon territory. Unfortunately, too many things happened later, and we gradually lost contact. Well then, you all continue to familiarize yourselves with the process; I’ll head to the office."
By the time the tea in the cup was finished, it was already five in the afternoon. The two people who had been arguing had long since fallen into a deep sleep, their heads resting on the table. Xin Yi saw the professor off, and as he stepped outside, he heard the old man's voice gently drift back to him. He advised that if he ever encountered the "leaders" of the Heavenly Department in the future, he should be cautious.
With that, he watched as the professor strode away with great vigor, as if that last statement had been a mere illusion. Xin Yi gazed at the old man's upright figure and felt that this person was definitely not as he described himself; he had merely collaborated with Mo Ke. Now that there was a traitor within Mighty Falcon, leading to a rift in their department and even prompting independent actions, it was impossible for the Heavenly Department to be unaware.
Could it be that people from the Heavenly Department were colluding with the laboratory? Xin Yi began brainstorming possibilities regarding this matter. If this infiltration truly started from above, then much of what they had done over the years would have been under surveillance from the laboratory.
He couldn’t help but recall his failed mission from years ago. Despite numerous suspicions, everything had been kept tightly under wraps; even the files remained classified until there were significant movements in the laboratory again. That mission had been designated with the highest level of secrecy from the outset; only the planner, commander, and participating team members knew all its details. If there was indeed a traitor among those involved, then suspicion would most likely fall on either the planner or commander.
He had replayed every detail of that operation more than once, scrutinizing every point from when he joined in until it ended. He went over it from day to night and nearly memorized everything but still failed to identify where things went wrong. Looking back now, he realized that the issue lay not with him or the operation itself but with those who participated in it.
The infiltrator caused destruction in places he could not see, like termites invading wood—outwardly intact but internally riddled with holes.
Xin Yi returned to his seat, feeling increasingly restless. That failure changed him; he had once thought he could disregard emotions, but witnessing a body before him made him start reflecting on his relationships with teammates. He became reserved when interacting with others later on, fearing that if he invested too much again, he would lose them once more.
And all of this stemmed from that inexplicable experiment pursuing immortality, which forcibly intertwined with their lives and ultimately destroyed them. Without this experiment or those who proposed it, he should still be part of that team, living and working alongside his comrades.
In all his investigations into what the laboratory had done—covering various factions—he had never considered personnel from Mighty Falcon. Deep down in his subconscious, he had always believed that people from Mighty Falcon wouldn’t engage in such bizarre activities.
But reality often proved that he hadn’t thought things through enough and had placed too much trust in human nature.
Comment 0 Comment Count