Chapter 33: An empty-nest old man
“Xiao Ye, come, take your medicine,” Yu Yan said as he approached the silver wolf lying on the lab table with the medication.
The huge silver wolf, which had been lying weakly, suddenly lifted its head and opened its mouth, snapping at the air in front of it.
Yu Yan, who skillfully and promptly stepped back, couldn’t help but smile with amusement at the sight.
Not having bitten the annoying person, Xiao Ye shook its head and made an unhappy noise in its throat.
As it moved, a large amount of fur shook out from its thick coat, floating in the surrounding air like springtime willow fluff.
Because it had been shedding excessively recently, Yu Yan had to wear a breathing mask whenever he was close to it.
When its owner was not around, the silver wolf was always uncooperative, but Yu Yan still took pleasure in teasing it with the medicine, just to see it shaking its head like a stapler.
When Su He came back, she saw them “playing” again. She took the medication from Yu Yan’s hand that had been difficult to administer and stepped forward to pry open the silver wolf’s large mouth and squeeze it in.
The silver wolf struggled slightly, its tail wagging vigorously.
“Awwoo-awwoo-woo,” the poor little wolf complained softly to her.
Yu Yan said from behind, “It looks like a husky when it does that. Also, junior, it just bit me again.”
“Arrff!!!” The giant wolf barked loudly at him.
This was something that happened almost every day after Yu Yan joined the silver wolf’s evolution research.
After taking the medicine, the weakened giant wolf closed its eyes and fell asleep. To make sure her beloved pet was comfortable, Su He arranged the lab table to look like its nest.
Not long after, the giant wolf began to change in its sleep. Its body elongated, and much of its fur faded, revealing a form resembling a human.
The shift towards a more human-like shape was a sign of a high-level mutant. Xiao Ye now spent more and more time maintaining this advanced mutant form.
The difference between high-level mutants and humans is that they retain some animal characteristics, such as Xiao Ye’s ears and arms resembling wolf claws.
The giant wolf turning into a doll-faced beast with animal ears never failed to amaze Yu Yan, no matter how many times he saw it.
After checking its body, Yu Yan marked several checks on the examination form: “Very healthy, no issues. The recent excessive shedding might be a psychological issue. It feels that its human form is ugly with little hair, so it’s a bit depressed.”
Su He, who was examining Xiao Ye’s brain, looked at him with skepticism. “Really?”
Yu Yan responded, “Really. I took a psychology elective, trust me.”
Su He patted her beloved pet’s head. The long-time companion had changed so much, with only the thick fur on its head remaining. Now, all she could do was stroke that area.
“Once Xiao Ye’s condition stabilizes, I’ll announce the news. Then, I’ll receive an invitation from the Central Research Institute and go there to continue my research.”
The Central Research Institute was the most unique research institute in the Central District. It was not under any group’s control and was a high-threshold tower that gathered various geniuses.
Any researcher would want to go there to realize their aspirations, except for those like Yu Yan who simply wished for a stable nine-to-five life.
Knowing the plot, Yu Yan was well aware that going to the Central Research Institute was Su He’s destiny.
As the protagonist, Su He had a tragic past. Her father had been a researcher at the Central Research Institute, only to be framed by villains, have his research stolen, and be killed.
The research on upgrading low-level mutants was one of the studies Su He’s father had left unfinished.
Su He inherited her father’s legacy, hiding herself over the years and gathering strength in the outer districts, all to one day make a dramatic return and seek revenge—this was very protagonist-like.
In the original plot, the virus source 012 spread the terrifying mixed virus everywhere, causing a crisis. Su He, along with Xiao Ye, who had hastily upgraded and was left with many sequelae due to the stimulation, went to the Central Research Institute.
However, this time the mixed virus did not break out, and Xiao Ye’s upgrade proceeded naturally without any side effects. Su He’s path at this stage should be smoother.
Yu Yan encouraged, “You’ll make it. Gold will shine wherever it goes.”
Su He, feeling a bit embarrassed, responded, “I also owe a lot to you, Senior. This honor is partly yours.”
Yu Yan was unconcerned. “Xiao Ye’s upgrade is due to you having adjusted its mutation direction and unlocked its genetic locks over the years. I just helped you avoid a few detours at the end.”
“And you’ve helped me a lot too. Consider it my way of repaying you.”
Su He looked at him with gratitude and couldn’t help but say, “Senior, you’re somewhat like my father.”
Yu Yan touched his face, thinking, “…” Being a father is not so bad.
Su He explained, “What I mean is that your approach to mutant upgrades is very similar to my father’s, unlike me who is eager for success.”
Yu Yan smiled, “Let’s say your father is helping you from beyond, guiding you in the right direction.”
Su He was so touched she almost called him “Dad” on the spot.
…
Soon after their conversation, Su He’s reputation soared, and she was transferred from the Fifth District Evolution Research Institute to the Central Research Institute in the Central District.
Though she left, she left behind countless discussions. For over a month, the hottest topic at the research institute was this young genius researcher.
She was the first to break through the barriers between mid-level and high-level mutants.
Her peers were overshadowed by her brilliance. At the Fifth District Institute, Yu Yan heard plenty of envious remarks.
Some even came up to him to complain about her.
“Dr. Kang, weren’t you and Dr. Su working on secret research together over the past few months? Shouldn’t the results be shared between you two? How come she went to the Central Research Institute alone, leaving you behind? That doesn’t seem fair.”
Yu Yan responded, “Yes, I think so too. Let me contact her, and you can reprimand her in person for me.”
“Heh, that’s not what I meant.” The visitor awkwardly laughed and left.
Thanks to Yu Yan’s attitude, no one tried to stir up trouble in front of him for long.
With Su He gone, the biggest impact on Yu Yan was losing a place to drop by during work and a colleague for gossip and chatting.
He had to go look for Lu Qiufeng every day.
To his surprise, he heard that Lu Qiufeng was also leaving.
“You’re going to the Central District too?” Yu Yan asked.
“I’m going to the outer districts,” Lu Qiufeng said. Noticing Yu Yan’s raised eyebrow, he quickly added, “It has nothing to do with you or your experimental subject 012. I received a message from a… long-lost friend and am planning to visit.”
“And, I’m currently hitting a research bottleneck and want to get out and seek some inspiration. So, I’ll be joining the institute’s collection team.”
Yu Yan recalled the information about the “collection team” from Kang Shi’s memories.
Every larger research institute has such teams responsible for gathering and capturing experimental subjects in the wastelands to stock their labs and meet the experimental needs of researchers.
Many of the plants and experimental subjects Yu Yan used to set up the rainforest tank were collected by these teams.
Each year, the institute offers spots for researchers to join the collection teams going to the wastelands. The institute requires the team to take a researcher along each time, but it’s not a desirable job.
Everyone knows how dangerous it is beyond the barriers. Many researchers have lost their lives while collecting experimental subjects.
Despite the generous allowances, researchers are still reluctant to go.
Kang Shi wasn’t familiar with this because such grueling tasks usually fall to junior researchers and are unrelated to senior researchers, especially those with connections.
Naturally, someone like Kang Shi had never been involved in such work.
This time, Lu Qiufeng was going, and the institute didn’t stop him. Instead, they doubled the number of the collection team, with half of them being hired bodyguards.
“Outer districts are so dangerous. Are you really going?” Yu Yan sized up his friend and thought he looked like a wealthy young master, doubting he’d last two days in the wastelands.
To his surprise, Lu Qiufeng scoffed at him. “You think I’m like you? This isn’t my first time going to the outer districts. How do you think I learned about those channels out there?”
It’s true that appearances can be deceiving. Yu Yan applauded him. “Well, safe travels, my friend.”
…
Soon enough, Lu Qiufeng left with the collection team, and Yu Yan was left truly alone at the institute with no one to chat with.
He spent his days brushing the back shell of his turtle in the hot sand pit, pleased that its shell disease had finally been cured.
The turtle would tug at his pants, eagerly distancing itself from him to cozy up with another stone turtle.
Initially, when Yu Yan saw the dragon snapping turtle climbing on the stone turtle’s back, he moved it away, admonishing it not to bully its roommate. Later, he realized they were actually courting.
With spring arriving, the small animals in his care were all looking for mates. Even the firebird had laid a nest of eggs with the new firebird.
Yu Yuan was the only empty-nest old man who couldn’t even find someone to talk to.
Now, the only senior researchers left at the institute besides him were Li Shang.
During lunch in the cafeteria, Li Shang came over to greet him.
After a few casual exchanges, Li Shang gave him a suggestive wink and said, “Xiao Kang, you look a bit stressed. Have you been too busy lately? How about joining me for a relaxing evening?”
“Can you handle S-rank mutants? Do you like playing with winged ones?” Li Shang chuckled, thinking himself quite humorous.
Yu Yan responded with a blank stare. Some people really aren’t fit for sharing a meal; they can be quite off-putting.
Noticing Yu Yan’s lack of interest, Li Shang continued, “It’s not that I’m saying this, but Xiao Kang, at your age, you should be looking for a partner. Being single isn’t good for your health. A man needs an outlet, you know.”
“Su He is great, but she’s too proud. I don’t think you have much chance with her now. How about I introduce you to a few suitable candidates?”
Yu Yan began to suspect that as people reached a certain age, they started to enjoy playing matchmaker for others.
In his past life, he was often set up by leaders at the hospital, and now, it seemed he couldn’t escape it here either.
Having been forcibly set up by unfamiliar colleagues at lunch, he now faced an unfamiliar woman’s forced matchmaking in the evening.
Zhou Sheqing, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, reached out to him.
She looked noticeably thinner and in poor spirits, showing that she had been having a hard time recently.
“How have you been considering the marriage proposal I mentioned earlier?” Ms. Zhou asked emotionlessly.
Given everything that had happened, including 012’s departure, Yu Yan couldn’t understand why she hadn’t given up on the ridiculous proposal.
“I appreciate your affection, but I have no intention of getting married,” Yu Yan declined.
Zhou Sheqing gave a peculiar laugh. “I see your family, the Kang family, seems quite willing. You say you don’t want to, but if your family is willing, can you refuse?”
It sounded like she was preparing to force the issue.
“Do you have any news about 012?” Zhou Sheqing suddenly asked.
Yu Yan looked puzzled. “Hasn’t Su He told you? 012 has been sent away. I don’t know his current situation.”
Zhou Sheqing scrutinized him closely. Seeing no sign of deceit in his expression, she seemed to believe he was unaware of the details and finally withdrew her gaze.
“Think it over carefully. I’ll give you two weeks.”
After the call ended, Yu Yan rubbed his temples in frustration. He couldn’t understand why Ms. Zhou was so insistent on this.
The Zhou family’s upheaval had settled, and despite losing some ground to other family factions, they remained a significant power in the Central District.
Yu Yan could guess that once Zhou Sheqing expressed any intention of marrying him, the Kang family would eagerly send him to the Zhou family as a son-in-law.
Though he could find ways to resist, the constant harassment would affect his quality of life.
In the midst of his frustration, Lu Qiufeng, who was heading to the outer districts, sent him a brief message.
He wrote: “I saw 012 in the outer district.”
