"I want to go home." Chen Xiao sat up.
The two policemen frowned.
Chen Xiao sighed, her expression calm: "I can't afford to stay in the hospital... I don't have much money."
A hint of sympathy flickered in the eyes of the two policemen, and one of them said, "You don't need to pay for the emergency treatment today, so don't worry..."
“But I still have to go to school, and I still have to work to earn money.” Chen Xiao gave a bitter smile. “I can’t just lie here and do nothing. I still need to eat. Besides, my injury isn’t that serious. Lying here is no different from lying at home. I should save as much as I can.”
Chen Xiao persisted and was finally allowed to be discharged from the hospital. However, the police kindly sent a police car to take him home.
At the entrance of her residential compound, Chen Xiao declined the police officer's offer to help her upstairs to her home—her child couldn't be seen by others! Besides, that little girl didn't like wearing clothes, and if the police saw her, they might suspect her of human trafficking, which would be troublesome.
"Alright. Be careful." A slightly older policeman thought for a moment, then quickly took out a pen and paper and wrote down a number: "This is my phone number... If you remember anything, please give me a call, it might be helpful for the case. My surname is Xu, you can contact me directly."
After saying a friendly goodbye to the police, Chen Xiao stood downstairs at his apartment building and sighed – what bad luck! Absolutely terrible luck!
I lost all the clothes I bought today, and even left my bicycle at the bank entrance. I have to go back and ride it back myself... I'm covered in injuries now, and tomorrow is Monday—I can take leave from school, but it's not so easy to take leave from my workplace.
After struggling upstairs to get home, Chen Xiao opened the door. It was dark inside, but he immediately saw Ya Ya sitting quietly on the sofa in the living room—thankfully, she hadn't gone back to sleep in the freezer.
Seeing Chen Xiao walk in like this, Ya Ya was stunned for a moment: "You..."
"Something came up." Chen Xiao waved his hand, his left arm in a sling across his chest. He walked over to Ya Ya, sat down, and then sighed, "I'm sorry, the things I bought for you are all gone... And it's so late, you haven't eaten anything yet, have you?"
Ya Ya looked at Chen Xiao, her eyes filled with worry: "Your body is damaged... is..."
"It was just an accident." Chen Xiao shook his head. "Are you hungry? I can't cook like this, but there's some bread in the fridge..."
Ya Ya suddenly smiled, her smile sweet and gentle: "I made something to eat!"
"…………you?"
Chen Xiao looked on with suspicion. Just 24 hours ago, this girl didn't even know what "hunger" was!
Ya Ya pointed to the coffee table in front of her: there was a book on it. Chen Xiao looked at it and was surprised to find that it was a cookbook.
"I found it in your room, just flipping through it."
After saying that, Ya Ya seemed a little proud and excited, and happily ran into the kitchen. A short while later, she came out of the kitchen with two bowls...
Uh... fried rice? Egg drop soup?
Chen Xiao stared at Ya Ya as if he'd swallowed an egg, his mouth agape: "You made this?!"
She probably only learned how to use the stove and other things in the kitchen this morning!
However, looking at the steaming fried rice and the soup with the aroma of eggs in front of him, Chen Xiao felt a warmth inexplicably welling up in his empty heart...
Shaking his head, trying to calm himself down, he suddenly remembered what Hong Qi had said earlier that day: "Ya Ya, I have a question for you... this freezer... uh, I mean this miniature bio-chamber, do you know how to operate it? Can you open it and let me see it?"
Chapter Ten of the Main Text: [The Relics Under the Freezer]
Chen Xiao remembered what "Red Seven" had told her: There's a surprise in the freezer...
Although she didn't quite understand why Chen Xiao made such a request, Ya Ya complied anyway. She could indeed operate the bio-pod, and she recognized the unfamiliar characters on the buttons.
Soon, the red light next to the freezer turned green, and then a "hiss" sound came from a recessed part of the freezer base, followed by a small metal compartment slowly and automatically sliding out.
There are three things inside.
A letter.
A small notebook with a leather cover.
A silver metal tube, roughly the size of a glass pane.
Chen Xiao thought for a moment and then picked up the letter. The letter had already been opened, but what excited Chen Xiao was... on the envelope, there was a line of delicate and beautiful handwriting that read "To my dear friend".
This mark was clearly my mother's handwriting!
With slightly trembling fingers, Chen Xiao opened the letter—to his slight disappointment, the letter was not addressed to him.
Dear Three:
Haha, I really don't like your new name 'Black Three'. I told you before that this name is not suitable for a woman.
I'm sorry, but I can only write this letter in this primitive handwriting style because security and access control are extremely strict here. It's very difficult to smuggle any electronic storage devices or small instruments in or out; I couldn't even bring out a USB drive. It's a pity that these guys are probably too accustomed to technology and have forgotten the most basic things, which is why I have the opportunity to write this letter to you.
Lately, my husband and I have been feeling increasingly uneasy—because we can't face the work we're doing now, from a conscience.
I remember my professor telling me back in school that a scientist should have an unwavering belief in pursuing the truth—even if it's a bit extreme. Because, as is well known, almost all great scientists in history have been fanatics.
However, I believe that a bottom line of conscience should also be added to this.
We have made the decision that such a cause is sinful, and even God would not tolerate it—although my husband and I are both from the East and we do not believe in God. However, we still have our own inner beliefs, such as our conscience.
Life should not be "made," much less born in a test tube. To this day, I firmly believe that every life in this world deserves its dignity, and that dignity should not be trampled upon.
Please forgive me, my friend, I have been lost for far too long. And our wisdom has been exploited by those who have brought so much suffering to these lives.
By yesterday, all fifteen test subjects had died. They had made the decision to continue experimenting on Ya Ya—a mad decision, but one we couldn't resist. We believe that the evolution and breakthroughs of life should bring something beautiful…not evil or disaster to humanity.
These days, I am constantly tormented by my conscience. Although I know that these are not my sins, seeing our research results and data become the butcher's knife in the hands of those people, I think that if we die, we will go to hell.
Then I thought of you, my former best friend, and how when we reunited, you seemed to be working in some mysterious field. I thought, perhaps you could help us end this evil.
Please believe in my sincerity, because this has nothing to do with pursuing the truth of science, but only with the conscience of an ordinary human being.