Chapter 45: Reaper 012
Having a sudden idea to buy flowers to decorate the nest really wasn’t a good idea.
Perhaps in the little bird bat’s mind, decorating the nest was equivalent to courtship, which was why he had been excited all night.
Yu Yan, although in good health and at an energetic age, couldn’t withstand his excessive enthusiasm.
When he got up and stretched his arms and legs, he heard his bones crack and felt that his recent lifestyle had not been very healthy.
Yu Yan thought to himself that he couldn’t indulge this little brat any longer. How could a young person eat meat at every meal, and eat as if each meal were the last?
He went downstairs to unpack the box of honey wine that 012 had brought back yesterday. Inside, he found a note, glanced at the address written on it, and, with a calm expression, put it away and took a jar of honey wine upstairs.
The bearded boss seemed to have some issues with him, casually slipping the message he had asked to find into the box without worrying about losing it.
“You’re not going out today?” Yu Yan asked.
“No, the people I needed to kill have already been killed,” 012 replied.
Whether or not to continue killing would depend on what they did next.
“If you’re not going out today, I am. So…” Yu Yan didn’t finish his sentence, but 012 had already stood up.
It was clear that he couldn’t just leave him behind.
Yu Yan took him out, and on the way, said, “Coincidentally, the person I’m going to see this time is someone you also know.”
“Who are you looking for?” 012 asked.
“You’ll find out when you see them,” Yu Yan teased.
Yu Yan hadn’t been in the Underground City for long, but 012 noticed that he seemed very familiar with the surroundings. The maze-like alleys were typically only used by locals taking shortcuts, yet Yu Yan naturally led 012 through them and successfully guided him out.
012 was puzzled about when he had become so familiar with the area.
Noticing 012’s gaze and seeming to guess his confusion, Yu Yan turned and smiled, “Thanks to a bunch of little kids who taught me the way.”
The children who survived here had their own survival wisdom.
District 89 in the underground city was a chaotic and lawless slum area named by numbers, with no recognized “boss” managing it.
If the single-family homes in the Golden Light District could be considered the “high-end area,” then District 89, with its huts made entirely of scraps and trash, was the “beggar district.”
The residents here were mostly elderly, disabled, and sick. Even the small-time criminals who lived by robbery and theft avoided this place because there was nothing worth stealing.
The stench of District 89, resembling a massive garbage heap, was detectable from afar. Newcomers often struggled to find the entrances to the shanties hidden within the heaps of trash.
Occasionally, the path underfoot would disappear, causing the trash to slide away and making Yu Yan lose his balance. 012 quickly steadied him.
Such “roads” posed no challenge for 012. He flapped his wings slightly, remaining half-hovered and not firmly grounded.
They saw no one along the way, but 012 could sense the heavy breathing of people hidden beneath the trash.
After a long search, Yu Yan politely knocked twice on a door. However, the door, pieced together from plastic, was so fragile that it fell apart immediately.
He immediately saw a figure lying on a makeshift “bed” made of scrap metal and cardboard in the narrow, dimly lit shack.
Supporting himself on the doorframe, Yu Yan leaned in and greeted the person, “Long time no see, Xiao Gao.”
Gao Nianze, who used to be an assistant researcher at the Evolution Research Institute.
The figure jolted in shock, staring incredulously at Yu Yan at the door and the half-visible 012 behind him.
The panic and fear were palpable; finding no place to hide, he clumsily fell from the bed, kneeling on the ground and repeatedly banging his head. He mumbled incoherently, unable to articulate a single clear word.
He was now gaunt and dirty, and one of his legs could not move when he fell. Even his former colleagues who were most familiar with him would find it difficult to recognize him.
“I couldn’t find you when I asked someone to look for you in the Central District before. This time, I had someone search in the Underground City and finally found you.”
Yu Yan squatted in front of him, lifting his head with one hand, and smiled warmly:
“I’m planning to set up a laboratory in the Underground City and need an assistant. Could you come help?”
Xiao Gao froze suddenly, his tear-filled eyes wide as he looked at Yu Yan, who didn’t seem to be joking. His tear-filled eyes went from silent sobbing to loud, uncontrollable crying, his expression shifting from confusion to elation.
The betrayal he did hadn’t led to a bright future but rather mockery and poisoning.
Xiao Gao was well aware of the nature of those dr*gs. He managed to save himself just in time, narrowly avoiding death but injuring his throat so he could no longer speak. Later, to evade the Zhou family and the institute’s search, he fled to the Underground City.
Surviving in the Underground City was no easy feat. He had offended people when he first arrived, had his leg broken, and eventually ended up in District 89, living a life as fearful and uncertain as a rat.
Everything felt like a nightmare, and he often looked back with deep regret.
Listening to his sobs, Yu Yan smiled and asked, “So, you’ve learned your lesson and won’t make mistakes again, right?”
…
On the way back, Yu Yan asked 012, “Do you remember Xiao Gao? He did some bad things to you back then. Do you mind?”
012’s expression was always indifferent when talking about others. “It doesn’t matter.”
Yu Yan teased him deliberately, “Really? I was thinking, if you did mind, I’d have to figure out a way to make it up to you.”
012 asked, “How would you make it up?”
Yu Yan suppressed a laugh and pondered, “Well, maybe buy you some flowers?”
012 inquired, “To decorate the nest?”
Yu Yan laughed, “Haha, no, flowers for a little girl to wear!”
He wrapped his arm around 012’s shoulder and said, “Yao’er, listen to me, you can’t just waste everything while you’re young. It’s about sustainable development.”
012 also wrapped his arm around Yu Yan’s waist, watching him intently, and suddenly licked his cheek.
Yu Yan thought: Great, not a word got through.
…
Kang Shi had always felt inferior about his birth. His greatest desire was to surpass his siblings who had evolutionary genes.
To achieve this, he had focused his research on genetic evolution and became a senior researcher, having made some notable accomplishments in the field.
Xiao Gao, having been Kang Shi’s assistant for the longest time, had learned a lot. If not for Kang Shi’s jealousy and inability to tolerate others’ excellence, Xiao Gao would have already been promoted to a mid-level researcher.
Yu Yan’s research was somewhat complicated and time-consuming, so having Xiao Gao’s help would save him a lot of effort.
The laboratory equipment that Lu Qiufeng helped to have shipped in were installed in the small villa next door to 012’s. With an experienced assistant in place, Yu Yan quickly immersed himself in his research.
The small lab had only two people: Yu Yan and Xiao Gao. No one else knew what exactly was being studied.
Xiao Gao had resumed a normal life and was full of gratitude. He diligently and enthusiastically carried out whatever tasks Yu Yan assigned him, never asking too many questions even when he felt something was off with the research.
Fearing that Yu Yan might recall his past mistakes, Xiao Gao worked tirelessly in the lab, hoping to avoid being sent away.
However, Yu Yan, the main researcher, couldn’t spend all his time in the lab. There was a clingy guy next door who would occasionally come to check on him.
The laboratory was separated by glass. After finishing his tasks, Yu Yan felt a familiar gaze and turned to see 012 standing outside the glass door, watching him. It instantly reminded him of the times when they used to gaze at each other through the glass.
Standing up to stretch, Yu Yan walked out and asked with a smile, “What’s up? Missing me again?”
012 lowered his head and touched Yu Yan’s hand, noting the needle marks.
For the experiment, Yu Yan had been drawing blood over the past two days. The marks were very small, but 012 always noticed them.
He could quickly detect every tiny change in Yu Yan.
“No more drawing blood,” 012, who usually didn’t interfere with Yu Yan’s lab work, issued his first warning.
“Okay,” Yu Yan agreed readily, “It’s not needed in large amounts; it’s already enough.”
Yu Yan propped his legs up while eating, and 012 sat beside him, gently licking the tiny needle marks on his hand.
Yu Yan pretended to lift his hand and said, “Let me see if my Yao’er’s saliva has any healing properties… Oh, it actually does; the needle marks are gone.”
012 replied, “I don’t have such abilities.”
Yu Yan grinned, “Look at how diligently you’re licking. I’m complimenting you, you know.”
Pleased by the praise, 012, the “little bird bat,” walked away satisfied. This “satisfaction” was something Yu Yan saw above 012’s head, as his expression gave no hint of it.
…
Over the past few days, strangers had been visiting the Golden Light District to see 012. They were former subordinates of the previous boss from the Red Corner District.
Today, they came again, bringing gifts and money. It seemed that the “little bird bat” had become the new boss of another district.
So, more and more new underlings were lining up, calling him “Big Brother.”
Yu Yan found it amusing and interesting to see 012 being hailed as “Boss” by the crowd through the window.
However, the new underlings weren’t smiling.
Seeing 012 reminded them of the headless corpses and the fact that anyone seeking revenge in recent days had been killed without a trace.
They felt as if eyes were constantly watching their every move, and a sword seemed to hang over each of their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
No matter how refined or beautiful the face was, 012 now seemed to carry a ghostly deathly aura. The few closest to 012 even had beads of sweat forming on their foreheads due to the cold.
Once the offerings were made and accepted, it meant 012 would not take further action, temporarily easing everyone’s fears.
Finally, they didn’t have to worry about their heads disappearing at any moment.
“Boss, when do you have time to go to the Red Corner District to set some rules for the brothers?” a nervous member of the Red Flower Gang asked.
He was just a small character in the Red Flower Gang, but now that the top leaders were gone, even someone like him had to step up.
“Now, let’s go,” 012 replied.
This was a serious handover. After the few who had plotted to trick him into a trap and ambush him had vanished one morning just like the previous bosses, everyone was terrified, and no one dared to resist anymore.
However, while no one dared to challenge the Grim Reaper directly, some still had their own little schemes.
“Boss, the Red Corner District is quite large. When do you plan to move here? We can help you clean up the place,” a scheming subordinate tentatively suggested.
“I won’t live here,” 012 said.
Someone immediately pretended to be troubled: “If the boss doesn’t live here to maintain order, the new rules might not be enforced.”
“I’m not human,” 012 said, sitting far from them with a detached and indifferent tone. “I don’t want to manage humans. If chaos arises, it will be because there are too many people. As long as the number of people decreases, there won’t be any disorder.”
Everyone instantly thought of the Golden Light District, where there were very few people and almost no conflicts had occurred in the past six months.
Was this district always so sparsely populated?
The more they thought about it, the paler their faces became. The one who had previously acted troubled forced a smile and assured, “Don’t worry, Boss. We will definitely manage the Red Corner District well and make sure you don’t have to worry about it!”
“Yes, yes! There will definitely be no problems!” The others hurriedly promised, visibly anxious.
012 stood up, and everyone stopped talking. They watched as he walked past them and out of the house. After a moment, someone hurriedly got up to follow him.
Outside the house, 012 surveyed the yard and said, “This is my territory.”
“Yes, yes, of course it is yours!”
A car stopped outside the house, and a young man in the driver’s seat called out, “Boss, I’ve brought the things!”
Inside the car were several heads. As they were unloaded, seeing the heads of the Red Flower Gang’s leaders and some familiar faces, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
“Bury these around the house.”
*
Yu Yan worked late into the night. After a full day of intense mental effort, he massaged his aching forehead, tossed his lab coat onto a chair, and after exchanging a few words with Xiao Gao, went back to the house next door.
He didn’t turn on the lights and headed toward the corner where the nest was.
The little bird bat, who had been flying around all day, had returned to rest in the nest.
012, who was cold and scary in front of his new underlings during the day, curled up in the nest, his wings covering himself, showing just a small portion of his beautiful face.
Yu Yan looked at him with a soft smile, leaned in, and gently pulled back his wings to reach into his clothes.
On a hot night, the cool touch of 012’s body felt especially comforting.
Woken up by his late-arriving partner, 012 immediately opened his silver-blue eyes and pulled Yu Yan into the nest.
…
After living in the underground city for two months, Yu Yan ignored repeated urgings from the research institute and the Kang family, pretending not to have received them. He settled comfortably into his routine, conducting research during the day and sleeping in the bird’s nest at night, leading a regular and healthy life.
012, initially unsettled, gradually became accustomed to Yu Yan’s daily return home.
“Finally finished,” Yu Yan said with satisfaction as he reviewed the results from this period. “Not bad, it didn’t take too long.”
He organized the data and sent it to Zhou Sheqing via an anonymous account.
“Now it’s up to you, Ms. Zhou,” Yu Yan said with a smile as he stretched lazily.
