Chapter 46: Your brother is still your brother
In the conference hall near the Central Research Institute in the Central District, Zhou Sheqing stood up from her seat and waved to Su He.
“Su He, over here.”
Su He smiled when she saw her friend whom she hadn’t seen for a long time, and walked over to sit next to her.
“Sheqing, have you finished with things at home?”
“Not yet,” Zhou Sheqing replied, looking her over. “Why have you overworked yourself again? Look at those dark circles under your eyes—haven’t you had any rest recently?”
Su He gave a wry smile. “I’ve been getting by with stimulants.”
Zhou Sheqing’s expression grew serious. “Those old guys at the Central Research Institute, they’ll just drain you dry.”
“Su He, I’ve said it several times before, come work at our Zhou family’s research institute.”
Su He hesitated but shook her head.
Zhou Sheqing suddenly tightened her grip on Su He’s hand. “This time is different, Su He. I really need your help.”
“Look at this.” She pulled out a printed document and eagerly placed it in front of Su He.
“What’s this?” Su He glanced at the contents briefly, her expression turning grave as she picked it up and began to read it closely.
After a while, she exclaimed in shock, “This is a new direction for gene evolution?!”
Nowadays, the pinnacle of evolution was achieved through edited genes, but the field had reached a bottleneck and could not progress further.
For instance, Zhou Sheqing’s father had forcefully edited genes a second time, causing gene collapse syndrome, which required long-term treatment and prevented him from managing Zhou family affairs.
Su He had upgraded the intermediate mutant, Silver Wolf, to a high-level mutant, unlocking its gene lock.
This development caused a stir in the research community largely because it offered hope for breaking through the human gene bottleneck.
They hoped to resolve the stagnation in evolutionary genes through the upgrading of mutants.
But all of this was still theoretical. Now, however, a viable human gene evolution research direction lay before Su He, leaving her astonished.
The document proposed using the integration of mutant evolution genes for multiple de-differentiation recombinations.
From just the initial sections, it was somewhat similar to Su He’s research, though she had never considered human mutant evolution channels.
The author of this document had thought further than she had.
“Is that all there is in this document? What about the rest? Whose research is this?” Su He asked urgently.
Zhou Sheqing did not answer. With some excitement, she said, “So, Su He, you also think it’s feasible, right? If this research succeeds in experiments, we will gain unimaginable rewards!”
“With this, the Zhou family’s research institute will be mine. All the difficulties the Zhou family is facing now will be resolved, and we can even suppress the other families and monopolize the market!”
Due to the deaths of He Xiaoyan and Zhou Xiangcheng, the Life Group was in turmoil, and other families took the opportunity to annex it, severely wounding the Zhou family, which had yet to recover.
Zhou Sheqing had also faced criticism and had most of her power taken away. She was eager to achieve something to change this situation.
So despite the dubious origins of the research document, after reviewing its contents, Zhou Sheqing chose to take a risk.
“Su He, help me. If it’s you, you’ll definitely make this idea come true and get this drug on the market as soon as possible,” Zhou Sheqing said with hopeful eyes.
Su He looked at her flushed, excited face, and after calming down slightly, hesitated and said:
“But once this drug is on the market, it will inevitably, like gene editing, only serve the upper echelons of society.”
“Is it really a good thing if only the genes of the upper class are further evolved? The Central District has already been divided among the major families, and the class divide in other districts is becoming more severe…”
Zhou Sheqing was well aware of her thoughts and character and did not press the issue. Instead, she asked, “Then can’t you think of me? If this research succeeds, I won’t have to worry about my gene collapse syndrome anymore!”
Zhou Sheqing had begun to show symptoms of gene collapse syndrome a few years ago, similar to her father’s, though less severe. But this incurable disease was bound to worsen.
This was also one reason her status in the Zhou family never matched up to Zhou Xiangcheng’s, as she was destined for an early death.
Gene collapse syndrome, at its core, resulted from selecting too many “good” genes and eliminating “bad” ones during gene editing. This led to genetic incompatibility and the collapse of the body during development.
It was one of the most common and incurable diseases among the upper class.
Hearing this, Su He hesitated. She certainly hoped for her friend’s health.
Zhou Sheqing patiently reassured her: “I understand your concerns, but I promise that once the research is successful, I will do everything in my power to make it a widely available dr*g. Once I have control over the Zhou family, I can dominate the market.”
The data Zhou Sheqing obtained was incomplete and required extensive experimentation to validate. There were also many issues to resolve before it could be applied to humans.
Since Zhou Sheqing couldn’t address these problems herself, she turned to her friend Su He.
If anyone could succeed, it was Su He—so capable that she was both admired and envied.
“And Su He, you need to think about Xiao Ye too. The people at the Central Research Institute want to collaborate on Xiao Ye’s research, but their methods are unacceptable to you, right? Even if you keep delaying, how much longer can you postpone?”
“Come to our Zhou family’s research institute. If we succeed, they won’t be able to keep their eyes on Xiao Ye anymore. Then it will be their turn to beg us, and clearing your father’s name will become much simpler.”
After persistent persuasion from her friend, Su He finally agreed.
*
Four months later, in the Underground City, Golden Light District.
The laboratory had been transformed into a makeshift hospital, equipped with numerous new medical devices and dr*gs, including a surgical room and two patient wards.
Yu Yan, dressed in surgical scrubs with his eyes calm and emotionless above the mask, worked with a blood-stained scalpel.
On the operating table lay an anesthetized child. Yu Yan removed several tumors of various sizes from the child’s abdomen, making Xiao Gao, who had assisted in many surgeries, look away in discomfort.
Yu Yan methodically performed the incision, tumor removal, examination, and suturing.
The newly purchased medical equipment proved very helpful. The previous surgeries had been successful, and this one was no different.
Post-operative care was handled by Xiao Gao, who, as a former researcher now skilled in medical care, managed the task proficiently.
Having learned from a past lesson, Xiao Gao was now diligent and willing to do anything, making him even more effective than before.
After changing clothes and leaving the disinfection room, Yu Yan received a communication from Lu Qiufeng.
“The director has given you a final notice. If you don’t come back soon, you’ll be expelled from the research institute,” Lu Qiufeng said coolly.
“Oh,” Yu Yan said, rummaging through the cupboard for a small bread roll to eat.
“I can’t believe you’re actually planning to stay in the Underground City. It’s been six months already!” Lu Qiufeng’s patience was wearing thin.
“You were initially avoiding Zhou Sheqing’s forced marriage, but now you don’t need to worry. I’ve received news that the Zhou family’s evolution liquid has been successfully developed. You won’t be able to reach them now, so you should hurry back.”
“Evolution liquid, huh? I’ve heard it can allow people with evolutionary genes to undergo a second evolution, enhancing their bodies and improving their overall capabilities,” Yu Yan said. “Young Master Lu, aren’t you interested in trying it yourself?”
“Not interested,” Lu Qiufeng replied with a heavy tone. “The news just came out, and the people in the Central District are already going crazy. It feels odd to me, too quick. I have a bad feeling about it.”
Quite perceptive.
Yu Yan laughed and suggested, “Not feeling good? Why not come to the Underground City for a vacation and relax?”
“Are you out of your mind? A vacation in the Underground City, a place that never sees the sun? Have you lost your mind over your romance?” Lu Qiufeng felt Yu Yan had become irrational.
“What’s wrong with the Underground City? It’s actually quite nice—away from conflicts, with friendly and warm neighbors who often bring gifts. The children on the streets are polite and cute, and I’ve planted many flowers in the garden, which are blooming nicely these days.”
Yu Yan spoke with a sincere tone.
The last part was true — the local children had given him many of those dark little bulbs, which he had scattered around the yard. Recently, they had bloomed into a large patch of flowers.
Without leaves, the low, translucent little flowers made it look like a large patch of mushrooms had sprouted on the ground.
Lu Qiufeng hung up the call without a word.
Yu Yan clicked his tongue and muttered to himself, “I’m just trying to help you.”
The evolution liquid had been released so quickly; Ms. Zhou Sheqing was indeed fast.
Yu Yan tried to reach his junior, Su He, but was still unable to get through.
Not surprisingly, she was likely cut off from external contact by Zhou Sheqing.
The kind protagonist was finally realizing that her good friend might not be as harmless and friendly as she had imagined, and she was about to face another wave of painful growth.
*
In the Central District, at the Zhou Family Research Institute, Su He entered Zhou Sheqing’s office just in time to hear her instructing her subordinates:
“Control the quantity of the evolution liquid. The first batch should be prioritized for…”
Seeing Su He, Zhou Sheqing paused and made eye contact with her visibly troubled friend.
“Sheqing, do you remember what we agreed on back then?” Su He’s tone was stiff, suppressing her anger.
Zhou Sheqing signaled her two subordinates to leave first and then stood up to pour Su He a cup of water.
“Su He, I’m also very helpless, but this is my uncle’s decision, and I can’t refuse,” Zhou Sheqing said. “Besides, we’ve conducted many clinical trials on the evolution liquid, and the results are excellent. It’s ready to be marketed and sold.”
Over the past few months, Su He had slowly realized that things were drifting away from her initial expectations.
Her long-time friend Zhou Sheqing had become somewhat deranged over the evolution liquid, and they had argued about it many times.
“I told you before, the evolution liquid is unstable. In fact, it’s fundamentally flawed. This direction of evolution is wrong…”
“Alright, Su He, stop saying that!” Zhou Sheqing interrupted her. “I will handle these issues. You just need to focus on your experiments and do them well.”
Su He had been working on the experiments with Zhou Sheqing over the past few months. The results were indeed good, but just as success was within reach, Su He suddenly claimed that the direction was wrong and wanted to overturn it.
With success so close, Zhou Sheqing couldn’t possibly give up.
Moreover, she couldn’t see the problem. Su He only said something was wrong without offering a better direction. Zhou Sheqing, unable to wait, persuaded Su He to produce the initial batch of the evolution liquid.
Now that the final product was out, Zhou Sheqing was immersed in the joy of success. She had gained recognition, taken control of the Zhou Family’s laboratory, and acquired a substantial share of Life Group’s stocks. Even Su He couldn’t stop her from doing what she wanted.
The two parted on bad terms. Su He returned to her laboratory, feeling even more exhausted as she looked at the sleeping silver wolf, Xiao Ye.
Since Xiao Ye had evolved into a high-level mutant, his abilities had increased dramatically. Initially, Su He was pleased for him, but the enhancement didn’t stop. His power grew to a frightening degree, causing her increasing anxiety.
Then, one day, Xiao Ye suddenly fell into an unexplainable coma. Even when he briefly woke up, it was painful for him.
Su He had no choice but to use medication to keep him asleep while she searched for a solution.
The hidden dangers of the evolution liquid, Xiao Ye’s illness, Zhou Sheqing’s madness and deception—all of these made Su He feel defeated.
“What should I do?” Su He knelt beside the recovering Xiao Ye, burying her face in the thick fur of the silver wolf.
*
The evolution liquid had caused a huge stir in the human residential areas, and almost everyone was talking about it. The prominent families in the central zone had already started using the first batch of the evolution liquid.
As the craze for the evolution liquid spread to the Fifth District, Yu Yan welcomed Lu Qiufeng to the underground city.
Yu Yan: “Hmm? Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”
Lu Qiufeng: “Everyone around is talking about the evolution liquid, it’s getting annoying. I came here to get away from it.”
He casually toured Yu Yan’s small laboratory, sneering: “So this is the batch of experimental equipment you asked me to send? I thought you were researching something here, but now it looks like you’re just making medicine and running a hospital.”
He saw several resting children in the wards and commented with a sarcastic tone: “I didn’t expect you to be such a great philanthropist here.”
Yu Yan patted his arm: “Actually, I performed surgeries on them, but I can’t handle the radiation sickness they have. Could you take a look?”
Lu Qiufeng: “Do you think I’m as idle as you are?”
With a face clearly showing disdain, Lu Qiufeng entered the laboratory and said to the smiling Yu Yan: “Just this once. There won’t be a next time.”
Yu Yan: “Alright.”
…
Three months after the emergence of the evolution liquid, the first batch of people who used it began to experience problems.
They developed characteristics of mutant creatures, with some losing their human consciousness and going berserk, harming others.
“Gene contamination! It’s gene contamination! The human genes have been assimilated by the mutant genes—they’re undergoing mutations!”
“The evolution liquid is a huge scam! It turns humans into monsters! It’s even scarier than gene collapse syndrome!”
…
Lu Qiufeng sat in Yu Yan’s courtyard, flipping through these reports.
“Ha, the Zhou family is probably finished. No, they’re all done for. The prominent families in the Central District—every single one of them, not a single exception—they’ve all mutated.”
“Although I don’t like mutants, seeing them in such a sorry state, haha, they truly deserve it.”
Not hearing any response from Yu Yan, Lu Qiufeng asked, “What do you think, Old Kang?”
Yu Yan, sipping on honey wine, replied slowly, “I think it’s actually quite interesting—growing feathers, hooves, or even wings…”
He suddenly chuckled as if struck by a thought, “How adorable.”
“Oh, it’s almost time,” Yu Yan said, checking the time and heading upstairs.
He approached the bird nest, reached in with a syringe, gently touched the sleeping little bird bat’s face, and administered a dose of medicine.
Yu Yan waited by the nest, and after a moment, 012 slowly opened his eyes.
“How are you feeling today?” Yu Yan asked.
012 looked at him and said, “Don’t leave me.”
Yu Yan waved his hand in front of 012’s face, puzzled, “Still not fully awake?”
012 grasped his hand weakly, indicating his frailty. “Are you going to leave?”
Yu Yan replied, “I’m planning to go back to the Fifth District soon, but…”
012 sat up, gripping Yu Yan’s hand tightly. “Don’t go. I’ll get better soon. I’ll be okay.”
“Alright, don’t move so much,” Yu Yan said, gently pressing him back into the soft nest. “Doesn’t it hurt to move around?”
012 struggled to hold on, trying to kiss him.
Seeing as he was sick, Yu Yan let him. However, after a while, when 012 didn’t let go and Yu Yan was almost suffocating, he pinched 012’s chin and pushed him away slightly, taking a deep breath.
012 immediately came back to cover his mouth, with rough movements.
Despite his weakened state, Yu Yan easily held him back and sighed as he wiped his lips, “It’s not that I don’t want you to kiss me, Yao’er, but I need to breathe too.”
Even though it was the little bird bat who was acting rough, his eyes were filled with sadness.
“Why do you look like I’m abandoning you?” Yu Yan asked, gently brushing his cheek with his thumb.
“I can’t protect the nest anymore. You’re going to abandon me,” 012 said.
It sounded somewhat pitiful, and Yu Yan couldn’t help but laugh. He affectionately scratched 012’s ear feathers and reassured him, “No, I’m going to find you a doctor.”
“After all, I don’t want to become a widower.”
