Chapter 24

Chapter 24

024

A New Path

The professor saw Chu Li come out and waved at him. "Young man, do you know me?"

It was a strange question since this old professor had already taught him a lesson, hadn't he?

However, as Chu Li opened his mouth to answer, he suddenly realized that he didn't even know the professor's name.

He blushed and said, "I'm sorry, Professor, I don't know your name."

The professor wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled warmly. "My name is Wen Renjian."

Chu Li was surprised. "Your surname is Wenren?"

Wen Renjian looked even more astonished. "You know it's a double surname?"

"Ahh..." Chu Li realized that he was no longer in his own era; this was an entirely different world.

Wen Renjian responded, "This is an ancient Chinese surname. Very few people know that my surname is Wen Ren, not just Wen. I see now that I didn't misjudge you."

Chu Li quickly waved his hands. "Oh no, oh no, it was just a coincidence..."

But as he spoke, he became slightly curious. "What happened to the ancient Chinese civilization? Why do so few people know about this surname?"

Wen Renjian explained, "Double surnames are already rare. During the interstellar navigation era, humanity lost an ark, causing many Earth civilizations to fall. There's very little information left about China. To be honest, even though I'm from the Wen Ren family, I don't know much about my own clan. This is the first time someone outside has recognized my surname."

Seeing that the professor had a good impression of him, Chu Li asked, "Professor Wen Ren, were you waiting for me here for a particular reason?"

Wen Renjian said, "My research team is missing one member. Would you like to join us?"

"Ahh?" Chu Li was taken aback and momentarily failed to react. Soon, he realized that this was a major figure extending an olive branch to him.

Chu Li was incredibly surprised. "Me? But I just transferred to the healthcare department today. Is this... appropriate?"

Wen Renjian replied, "The team's research doesn't focus on healthcare, and it's a newly established group. The content will be unfamiliar to everyone. If you join, you'll start from scratch with the rest of us. Besides, what I need right now is an assistant, not someone with extensive knowledge."

"And..." Wen Renjian paused and smiled. "With you transferring to the Healthcare Department, your expenses will definitely increase. If you join my team, there'll be additional income for you, which should be enough to cover your daily living expenses."

There's a salary!

Chu Li's eyes lit up upon hearing this!

He had to go! He had to!

But before giving his answer, Chu Li maintained a slight sense of decorum and asked, "Why did you choose me?"

Wen Renjian put his hands behind his back and gazed into the distance. "The technological level in this era is highly advanced... so much so that it conceals human efforts. With medical pods, the Medical Department has transformed into the Healthcare Department. People only need to learn how to operate various instruments. Even nurses and doctors in small towns may not understand the human body's structure since simple illnesses can be treated by medical devices, and they might even do a better job than humans."

Wen Renjian turned back to Chu Li. "Have you used a medical pod before?"

Chu Li shook his head. "No, but I've seen others use them."

Wen Renjian continued, "Nowadays, people heavily rely on technology and medical methods. Treating diseases has become the responsibility of the research department, which doesn't involve us much. The school teaches basic healthcare knowledge... you should have experienced that already. I want to form a team where having genuine medical knowledge isn't crucial, but a strong desire to learn is essential."

At this point, if Chu Li didn't nod in agreement, he would seem ungrateful. He said, "Teacher, I'm willing to do it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Wen Renjian smiled and said, "We'll help each other succeed. After classes tomorrow afternoon, come to Office 302 in Building 3 of the Teaching Building. I'll handle the paperwork for you and we can also visit the lab. At first, you'll be doing some simpler tasks, so I hope you can be patient and learn well."

Chu Li replied, "I understand."

In his previous life, as a graduate student, he was destined to clean test tubes as well. Chu Li wisely included such tasks, along with sweeping floors, running errands, and fetching takeout. To him, earning money was good, no matter what the job entailed.

He would see how it went first.

---

That evening, the various items Chu Li had purchased arrived.

The school prohibited deliveries, so he had to collect them at the entrance. Fortunately, there were delivery vehicles that would automatically follow him to his dormitory door after placing the packages inside.

Chu Li wheeled the cart to the entrance of his dormitory building, then moved the items in bit by bit like an ant carrying its load.

When Little Li Hua Cat didn't appear during the process, he knew it wasn't at home.

It was a free-spirited cat, and Chu Li didn't want to restrict it forcefully. In the safety of the school, there shouldn't be any danger. He let it be.

The cat tree and cat food for Li Hua Cat had arrived. Chu Li took out the cat bowl, poured in the cat food, and then found a corner on the first floor – this would be Li Hua Cat's designated dining area from now on – though he had a premonition that the little cat wouldn't eat at all.

Next, he sat on the floor to assemble the cat tree.

To save money, he had chosen Class A service, which didn't include delivery or assembly, so most of the work had to be done by himself.

Halfway through the assembly, Li Hua Cat returned from outside. The elegant feline first cleaned itself on the doormat before leaping into Chu Li's arms.

Chu Li was sitting cross-legged on the floor at the time. For convenience, he only wore shorts, exposing his long, fair legs. Li Hua Cat's eyes darted around, then it rolled onto its back on Chu Li's lap, rubbing against his legs as if inviting him to pet it.

Chu Li, overwhelmed by the pile of parts, silently stroked the cat once before resuming his work on the cat tree.

Li Hua Cat waited for a long time but only received one pat. The entire cat was stunned.

Had the biped already grown tired of it? This was just one night!

"Meow."

"Meow... meow..."

Li Hua Cat descended from Chu Li's lap and began circling around him, gently hooking the tip of its tail at Chu Li's ankle, causing a ticklish sensation.

Chu Li couldn't help but laugh, finding it impossible to continue his task. He swiftly grabbed the little kitten beside him and pressed its face against his own for a loving nuzzle.

With a concerned expression, Li Hua Cat stared back at Chu Li with its hind legs, softly pushing against his face, almost as if playfully resisting his affection.

Holding the kitten, Chu Li chuckled and said, "I'm making you a cat tree, don't disturb me, it'll be done soon... I've never seen such a clingy little kitten."

It seemed as if it wished to be inseparable from him at every moment.

"Miaow!" As if understanding, Li Hua Cat let out a soft meow towards Chu Li.

Letting go of it, Chu Li found that the kitten refused to leave obediently, insisting on squeezing into his embrace, positioning itself between him and the cat tree.

Focusing intently, Chu Li ignored the kitten. After a while, Li Hua Cat, feeling bored, curled up into a ball and fell asleep.

As Chu Li assembled the cat tree, his fingers would occasionally brush against Li Hua Cat's ears.

Perhaps due to the itchiness, its ears twitched a couple of times, and it drew its head further into its body. It even extended a paw to press down on its perked-up ear.

Despite this, it stubbornly refused to leave Chu Li's embrace.

This left Chu Li torn between laughter and tears. He playfully reached out to tug on its ear.

After twenty minutes of diligent work, the cat tree was finally assembled. Chu Li stood it up next to the cat bowl. The little Li Hua Cat, without any guidance, quickly leaped onto the cat tree and nestled inside the transparent, semicircular ball.

However, it was too slender for its own good. When the entire cat curled up inside, it didn't even fill the hemisphere completely; a tail dangled out, swaying back and forth towards Chu Li.

Chu Li casually stroked the cat's tail and then turned to open some cat food for it.

Today, Chu Li hadn't fed the cat yet. Unlike any other felines he had encountered, Li Hua Cat was particularly indifferent to food; it had never eagerly sought out a meal.

In this interstellar era, cat food was mostly wet, and upon opening the can, a fishy aroma wafted out. Unlike the pungent smell of cat food tins from his previous life, this scent was unexpectedly pleasant.

Unable to resist, Chu Li leaned in for a sniff. It smelled nice—was this something humans could eat too?

He placed the cat food into the bowl, calling for Li Hua Cat to come and dine. To his surprise, the little cat gracefully leaped beside him, gave the bowl a cursory glance, then disdainfully walked away.

Chu Li: "???"

Unwilling to accept defeat, Chu Li retrieved the cat and forcefully held it in front of its food bowl, attempting to make it eat. However, the little Li Hua Cat protested with meows, resulting in a half-day struggle between them, during which the kitten didn't take a single bite.

"Sigh, I guess it's not hungry," Chu Li concluded, temporarily putting away the rest of the cat food.

It had indeed been a busy day – the first day of classes in his new major, an invitation from Professor Wen Renjian, and the construction of a cat tree. Even though the cat refused to eat.

"Still, things are looking up, aren't they?" Chu Li said to himself after washing up, lying in bed while stroking the warm, soft little feline beside him. Its fur was silky smooth, providing an excellent tactile experience.

He hadn't chosen to be transported to this world, but the chance at a new life was a blessing for him, even if the societal norms here were... somewhat amusing yet perplexing. On the whole, however, things were improving.

Moving closer to the little Li Hua Cat, Chu Li nudged its nose with his own, whispering, "Goodnight."

The kitten responded with a gentle purr, as if acknowledging Chu Li's words.

---

The next day, after finishing his classes, Chu Li followed Wen Renjian's instructions and headed to Building 3.

Upon entering the office, he found that the professor was absent, leaving only a plump male Beta teacher inside.

Spotting Chu Li, the plump teacher greeted him warmly with a smile. "You must be one of Professor Wen Ren's students, right? Here for registration? Unfortunately, he had an urgent matter and was called away by the principal. He won't be back anytime soon. The lab is upstairs; I'll show you there."

Chu Li nodded.

As they walked, the teacher introduced himself. "I'm Wang Xunhui, your professor's assistant. Our lab has just been established, and we haven't determined our research direction yet. But I believe Professor Wen Ren has some ideas in mind. He's always wanted to find a few suitable students from the Medical Department to become his disciples. Unfortunately..."

Wang Xunhui sighed in disappointment. The Medical Department's students and teachers were overly reliant on medical equipment. Many fundamentals were either unknown to the students or only vaguely understood by the teachers, making it seem like mastering medical equipment was all that mattered in medicine.

Wen Renjian was dissatisfied with this state of affairs. Despite years of searching, he hadn't found a suitable disciple.

Wen Renjian had shared these concerns with Chu Li, who appreciated his eagerness to learn. Chu Li nodded gently. "So who else is in our research group?"

"There are a few other teachers, but we're still recruiting students..." As they spoke, Wang Xunhui paused at a room door. "Here it is. Go take a look."

Chu Li pushed open the lab door and was stunned. The lab... was completely empty except for a few dusty test tubes and beakers on the tables.

While he expected the newly formed research group to have humble beginnings, he never imagined it would be this spartan.

"Cough, cough." Wang Xunhui seemed embarrassed and covered his mouth with his hand, coughing softly. "Since the research direction hasn't been decided, the school hasn't allocated any funds to us. For now, we've temporarily found this space... Initially, we might need to study some materials collectively. Once everything is settled, we'll move the lab to the main laboratory building. Don't worry, at least your salaries will be paid in full..."

Just as he finished speaking, Wen Renjian's voice rang from behind, "Little Li is here."

Chu Li turned around to see Wen Renjian holding a thick stack of documents in his arms.

Wen Renjian casually handed one over and said, "Take this home and look through it."

Chu Li took it and found it to be a set of human data filled with numerous intricate diagrams and statistics.

He nodded and replied, "Alright."

Wen Renjian continued, "Our laboratory project has been successfully submitted to the principal. Our experimental materials just arrived. Since Little Li is here, come in and take a look."

Chu Li followed Wen Renjian into the lab.

A small door inside the lab opened, revealing a clean and orderly room. Along the walls were rows of shelves holding a dozen sealed glass tubes. Instead of water, they contained air, and within each tube swam a jellyfish-like creature, about the size of a human thumb, colored bright orange.

The room was quite cold, causing Chu Li to rub his arms.

Wen Renjian explained, "These are a type of free-floating organism that can survive in space. They coexist with the cosmic tree spirits. Under cosmic light, they reflect a brilliant orange hue, resembling the setting sun on ancient Earth. Hence, people named them 'Dusk's Afterglow.'"

He gently tapped the glass, and the captive sunset light seemed startled, darting around the bottle in panic.

After a moment, it shrunk into a tiny dot in the corner, its colors fading into dullness.

Chu Li exclaimed, "What's happening to it?"

Wen Renjian replied, "It's... dead, or rather, it's beginning anew. This process will take about a week, and it's quite remarkable."

As he spoke, he swirled the glass, allowing everyone to observe the sunset glow from various angles.

"There was an ancient legend on Old Earth that a magnificent bird could be reborn from the ashes – they called it the Phoenix. Initially, people intended to name this cosmic creature after the Phoenix's tail feathers, but upon witnessing its radiant display when reflecting light, they changed their minds and named it Sunset Glow. However, while the Phoenix is a mythical creature, this one truly exists. The mystery of its rebirth is highly worthy of study."

Upon mentioning this, Chu Li suddenly thought of another life form on Earth. "Is it returning to its juvenile state to start growing again?"

Curiosity sparkled in Wen Renjian's eyes. "You know about this?"

Chu Li said, "There's a creature on Earth called a jellyfish, the Turritopsis dohrnii, which behaves similarly."

Wen Renjian chuckled. "You really are knowledgeable about Old Earth. Perhaps when my project here is finished, I can recommend you for a transfer to the Human History Research department."

Chu Li hurriedly waved his hands. "Oh no, I just happened to know."

It was because he was from Earth. He hadn't expected that this world would share similarities with the place he had lived in his previous life.

Wen Renjian didn't persist on the matter and instead smiled. "Immortality is a timeless human pursuit. Even with our current level of technology, no one can truly achieve eternal life. The AI body swapping technique was disproven years ago. We have to approach it from a different angle. Sunset Glow holds the key to our future hope. I hope that the genetic information of Sunset Glow will aid us in unraveling the secret to immortality."

It sounded like an ambitious and lofty ideal. Chu Li felt that he wouldn't be responsible for the core part of the project. He probably was just here to wash test tubes. Thus, he nodded along obediently.

Wen Renjian took out some documents and handed them to Chu Li. "These are the files on Sunset Glow. Our lab currently has five Sunset Glows. They're extremely expensive and valuable assets. Now, I'm entrusting these Sunset Glows to you, Student Chu Li. Until there's a new task, your job is to breed these Sunset Glows."

Chu Li nodded gently and accepted the documents.

He flipped through the files and discovered that the breeding conditions for Sunset Glow were very strict. The water and food given to them every day had to be measured precisely down to the milligram. Not only that, but they required regular exposure to light, and the temperature difference couldn't exceed five degrees. Despite their resilience in the universe, why were they so delicate in artificial breeding environments?

However, this phenomenon wasn't uncommon. In the past, his friend had nurtured flowers with the best water and fertilizer, moving them according to the plants' habits daily. Yet, the flowers in pots never thrived as much as those in the wild. His roses kept dying one by one. The roses in the roadside flowerbeds, covered in dust from vehicles to the point where their leaves lost their color, could still bloom during the scorching summer days at 40 degrees Celsius, thriving under direct sunlight.

Perhaps, this was the power of 'freedom.'

It was also what Chu Li was desperately striving for: 'freedom.'

With the added responsibility of tending to Sunset's Dusk, Chu Li's school life became even busier. He had to wake up at five in the morning to visit the laboratory and check on the AI before heading to the nearby cafeteria for breakfast.

After his healthcare courses, which typically filled his mornings, he would quickly gather his belongings and dash out of the classroom as soon as the class ended at eleven. Of course, his haste wasn't to rush for lunch but to make another quick visit to the lab before the cafeteria rush.

About ten minutes later, Chu Li would join his classmates in reaching the cafeteria. After a brief meal, he would carry his food box back to his dormitory to feed Little Li Hua Cat.

Knowing his daily routine, the kitten hardly ventured out during noon and would obediently wait at home for Chu Li's return.

The tiny creature refused to eat the cat food Chu Li bought for it, insisting on human meals instead. Concerned yet helpless, Chu Li continued feeding it the same food he ate, choosing low-sodium and low-oil steamed dishes from a specialized window to avoid burdening the cat's health. Occasionally, if the flavors were too strong, he would rinse them in water at home before serving.

Surprisingly, the kitten didn't mind and enjoyed its meals heartily.

Afternoons were usually reserved for private tutoring sessions with Professor Wen Renjian. With much to learn, Chu Li listened attentively to every lesson.

At first, he was the only student. However, after a few days, Wen Renjian took on two more: a Beta female and an Alpha female.

It was Chu Li's first encounter with an Alpha female, and he couldn't help but steal a few more glances. The beautiful lady with her hair tied up in a high ponytail smiled at him openly and said, "Although I'm quite attractive, you already have an Alpha. You shouldn't look at me like that; I might fall in love with you uncontrollably."

Chu Li was left flustered by the playful teasing, finding it difficult to adapt to his new identity as a male on Earth. He shifted his gaze away awkwardly.

The other Beta female appeared introverted, observing them silently without speaking.

While Chu Li was chatting with the pretty lady, Wen Renjian entered from outside. Seeing the situation, he laughed and said, "This is our new classmate. Have you all introduced yourselves?"

The Alpha woman said, "Hello, my name is Zhan Jiaqing."

The other Beta female chimed in, "I'm Liu Wei."

Chu Li nodded, about to introduce himself when Zhan Jiaqing chuckled and said, "There's no need for that. As an Omega who transferred from the Omega Academy, everyone in the school knows you, Chu Li."

Chu Li wasn't someone who sought attention, but since arriving in this world, he had been doing things that garnered notice. Hearing Zhan Jiaqing's words, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Zhan Jiaqing, however, found Chu Li intriguing. Not only was he good-looking, but his demeanor after meeting was completely different from what she had imagined. He wasn't as haughty as she had expected, and instead, he seemed rather shy. His fair skin blushed with a delicate flush, making him all the more endearing with each passing moment.

Unable to resist teasing him, Zhan Jiaqing asked, "How old are you, little brother? Are you free after class? Would you like to grab a meal together?"

Chu Li was already flustered, and with this question, his face flushed even more, not knowing where to place it.

Standing on the podium, Wen Renjian tapped the desk lightly with a smile in his eyes. "Student Zhan Jiaqing, you're here to study, not to court an omega. If you have any thoughts, save them for after class."

Zhan Jiaqing, whose advances had been thwarted, smiled but didn't press the matter further.

Turning back to her book, Chu Li heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn't because he felt charmed, but rather, he couldn't handle the disparities in this world. Add to that the embarrassing incident she mentioned, and he felt like his social life was crumbling right before him.

With the young lady's attention off him, he relaxed and quickly immersed himself in learning.

Today's lesson was a brief history of human biomedical science. Chu Li couldn't help but feel that Wen Renjian's course content seemed quite different from what he'd studied in the nursing program, leaving him uncertain about his future path.

By the end of the third class, the sky outside was painted with hues of dawn. Chu Li ended up joining Zhan Jiaqing and the others for dinner, simply because it was on the way.

The three of them walking together on campus drew plenty of attention.

There were many group projects at school, but the combination of an omega and an alpha was quite rare. Without even asking, passersby could guess that the omega in question was the one who had famously slapped an alpha into an rut and then saved them – none other than Chu Li.

They attracted constant stares throughout their journey.

Zhan Jiaqing had been joking before class, but now he sobered up. However, as they walked and encountered those gazes, he teasingly remarked, "I didn't expect you to be so popular, Junior. It's probably because you have an Alpha's mark. If not, these Alphas would probably devour you alive."

Chu Li: "..." Appreciate the invitation, but I've already experienced the openness of your world.

Initially, I thought that the mistake made during my initial transition, resulting in a permanent mark, was an utterly terrible misfortune. However, to my surprise, since enrolling, this permanent mark has proven to be quite beneficial, almost like a stroke of serendipity.

Chu Li felt that perhaps he could elevate the Alpha who marked him from the category of "dog" and temporarily acknowledge him as a "human."

At that moment, Li Hua Cat, crouched in the dormitory waiting for Chu Li, suddenly sneezed mightily. What was going on? Was the two-legged creature thinking about it?

The trio attracted attention as they made their way to Restaurant Number 3. Compared to Chu Li, Liu Wei seemed even less accustomed to it. Once they entered the canteen, her obvious relief was noticeable.

Chu Li, aware that he was the cause of her discomfort, suggested, "Find somewhere to sit. I'll go get our food."

"Uh?" Liu Wei was taken aback. Wasn't it inappropriate for an Omega to fetch the food?

Before she could react, Zhan Jiaqing spoke up, "Go sit down, both of you. I'll get it. What do you want to eat?"

Chu Li: "..."

Only then did he recall his current status as the one being taken care of. He couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. After a moment, he said, "I'll go with you instead."

"No need."

Zhan Jiaqing was still insisting on being polite to Chu Li, but Chu Li replied, "There are people in the dorm waiting for me to bring them food."

"Oh?" Zhan Jiaqing was taken aback. After a while, he squinted and smiled. "Could it be your... Alpha?"

Chu Li said, "It has four legs and is furry."

Li Hua Cat, who was far away in the dorm: Meow?

This reason sounded too much like an excuse. Zhan Jiaqing gave Chu Li a teasing smile but didn't say anything more.

Liu Wei had a mild personality and was easygoing when it came to food. So, Zhan Jiaqing bought her the same fried rice as his own. Chu Li, as usual, went to the steamed dishes counter, where there happened to be boiled prawns today. He ordered a portion.

After buying their meals, they found that Liu Wei had claimed a seat in the far corner. A large potted plant next to her had sprawling branches, and when they sat down, its lush green leaves perfectly shielded their heads.

Apparently, this world also had the concept of 'wearing a green hat' as a joke. Upon seeing Chu Li sit down with the leaf right above his head, Liu Wei became so nervous that she could hardly speak. "Sorry, I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. T-this... Let's switch seats!"

Chu Li lifted his gaze, and it was indeed mealtime. The cafeteria was packed with people, leaving few unoccupied seats. If they were to go elsewhere, they would have to share a table with strangers.

Gazing at Liu Wei's socially anxious appearance, Chu Li smiled reassuringly. "It's alright, just sit here."

Upon finishing his statement, Chu Li's words visibly relieved Liu Wei, who promptly seized the meal that Zhan Jiaqing had brought for her and began devouring it with her head bowed.

Chu Li was amused by her gesture and leisurely picked up the chopsticks beside him, just as he was about to dig into his meal, a familiar laugh echoed from behind, "Well, well, isn't this my brother? Long time no see."

Author's Note:

Gratitude to the little angel who cast a landmine: Sea Salt Fluffy Bun, 1;

Thank you to the little angels who nourished with nutrient solution: Chocolate Lover, Chattering An An, 2 bottles; Pigeon King, 1 bottle;

I adore you all ——