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Chapter 29

After recounting his experience at that year's tech conference, Liao Baixing led the students of Mecha Class 1 to the operations room.

En route, Lin Youhan and Si Muyun trailed the group. Suddenly, in his peripheral vision, Lin Youhan caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was Lu Zhao, whose steps were growing progressively slower.

His posture suggested a heavy heart.

Recalling the morning's events, Lin Youhan quickened his pace, placed a hand on Lu Zhao's shoulder, and asked casually, "What's wrong?"

Startled by the sudden touch, Lu Zhao turned to see Lin Youhan. He reined in his racing heart and, with a troubled expression, said, "I don't know. My grandfather came to Star Institute..."

Lin Youhan offered reassurance, "What's the big deal? Maybe his job hasn't been confirmed yet, and he's waiting for that before telling you."

"But..." Lu Zhao hesitated, "My grandfather retired ten years ago. Why would he suddenly come from Blue Star without a word, especially when I'm already here at Star Institute?"

Hearing this, Lin Youhan subtly veiled the emotions in his eyes, thinking: *Why else? A person who was 'dead' for ten years suddenly returns, and so openly. Anyone would come to see, especially someone who knows how he 'died'.*

Lin Youhan patted his shoulder. "Look, your grandfather taking a position here is good news. You should be happy."

Lu Zhao looked up at him, voicing his unspoken question: "Aren't you curious?"

"Curious about what?"

"What that person said this morning—that I'm a dead man."

Lin Youhan replied calmly, "I don't believe what others say. I only trust my own eyes."

Lu Zhao paused, then, after a few seconds, smiled in relief. "You're right. I'm standing right here. How could I be dead?"

How could he possibly be dead?

Even if he were dead, how could he be standing here, attending school with everyone else?

With his worries dispelled, Lu Zhao's pace noticeably quickened.

Lin Youhan coolly averted his gaze and turned to Si Muyun. "What do you want to ask now?"

"About the underground lab on the back mountain, or... about Lu Zhao?"

Si Muyun responded, "I'll know naturally when you're ready to tell me."

"What if that day never comes?" Lin Youhan countered.

No sooner had he spoken than his wrist was seized by Si Muyun. He looked up, meeting Si Muyun's intense gaze.

Lin Youhan hadn't seen that look in Si Muyun's eyes for a long time; the last time was when they met at the police station, with Si Muyun acting as a doctor.

For a moment, neither spoke, simply gazing at each other.

After a long silence, Si Muyun uttered something seemingly unrelated: "Your hair is white."

"Is it not good dyed white—" He stopped abruptly mid-sentence. "How could you tell?"

He had specifically asked the stylist to leave some black at the roots, and he had double-checked that the roots weren't entirely white. How did Si Muyun know his original hair color was white?

Or had Si Muyun noticed even before he dyed it back to white?

He looked up at Si Muyun. "You..."

"During your psychic instability episode," Si Muyun's voice carried an undertone of sorrow and a hint of pain, "your roots were white."

"So what?" Lin Youhan chuckled softly.

What did it matter if his original hair color was white?

What could white hair possibly signify?

That he was alive but already old?

...

Lin Youhan found himself unable to make any expression other than a smile.

He smiled at Si Muyun. "You want to ask how my hair turned white, don't you?"

Lin Youhan knew what Si Muyun wanted to ask and understood that if he didn't tell him now, Si Muyun wouldn't let it go.

"Ten years ago, I left Star Institute and went to Central Star because someone told me that the design plans for the Vermilion Bird were auctioned off at a high price and sold to a businessman who knew nothing about mechs—a man named Shao," Lin Youhan explained calmly. "When I got there, I found there was no Vermilion Bird and no businessman named Shao. I stood on Central Star's administrative avenue, and all that awaited me was an eye and a dying boy. That boy told me his name was Lu Zhao."

"It was a very calm day. That eye told me either I live and he dies, or I die and he lives. I shouldn't have been the one to die. I went to Central Star just to retrieve the Vermilion Bird's design plans. Besides, he was Lu Wenfu's grandson. Even if I were to die, I would never forgive Lu Wenfu. The descendant of my enemy—why should I sacrifice my life to save him?"

At this point, Si Muyun spoke softly, "But you still saved him."

Hearing those last words, Si Muyun felt as if his heart were being squeezed, making it hard to breathe.

Recalling the past, some parts Lin Youhan had almost forgotten, while others were burned deeply into his memory, impossible to erase.

Liao Baixing said he was that free-spirited, brilliant genius from ten years ago, but his memory of that period was a blank. The Four Symbols Mech, the Black and White Twin Stars... He only remembered the names. If it weren't for Migu by his side, he probably wouldn't have believed he had any connection to these legendary mechs.

His memories of Anyang Street were blank, his identity from ten years ago was blank, and even his understanding of the people and events around him was blank.

They all said he was a prodigy, but even prodigies die someday.

Lin Youhan said calmly, "After saving Lu Zhao, I didn't die. Instead, I was taken to a place without light or sound, filled only with medical equipment. The only thing I could do every day was sleep due to the drugs they injected. I had never seen their drugs before, but I knew my body's functions were deteriorating. I would forget many things and easily fall ill."

"I once heard them say this was called organ failure. When a person truly wasted away to nothing but bones, even the most advanced drugs couldn't cure the simplest cold. Then their experiment would be deemed a success."

Si Muyun asked, "What kind of drug is this?"

How could it cause organ failure?

"They called this drug 'Feiming'," Lin Youhan smiled.

After injecting 'Feiming,' cells died, tissues were damaged, organs failed... Melanin production in the system decreased, and the hair naturally turned white.

He slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing densely packed injection marks. "These are all from the drug injections. After the first injection came the second, after the first year came the second, repeating over and over, nonstop, day and night. They wouldn't stop until they achieved complete success. But what their next plan would be, no one knows."

Si Muyun looked at those densely packed injection marks and momentarily felt as if he couldn't breathe.

His mind went blank for a second, completely unable to imagine how Lin Youhan endured such inhumane treatment repeatedly.

"Did it hurt?" Si Muyun asked, his voice trembling.

Lin Youhan smiled and shook his head, pulling down his sleeve. "I've long forgotten."

"I haven't even cried, yet you're more upset than I am." He chuckled teasingly, pulling Si Muyun into an embrace and patting his back, sighing emotionally. "Buddy, now you know why I didn't want to talk about it, right? Such a dark past—anyone who touches it would be completely devastated."

"I like you, I can't bear to see you hurt. It breaks my heart to see you cry."

Before he could finish speaking, the shirt on his shoulder was already damp.

The usually steady Captain Si was now crying like a little kid, biting his lip hard, his eyes rimmed red.

Lin Youhan held Si Muyun in his arms, gently wiping away his tears, and sighed. "Yesterday you told me not to cry, and today you're the one crying. Si Muyun, that's pretty selfish."

Si Muyun stayed silent.

Lin Youhan sighed again. "Si Muyun, my heart is breaking in two. Can you please stop crying?"

He grabbed Si Muyun's hand and placed it on his own chest, asking, "Can you hear it?"

Si Muyun barely composed himself, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Hear what?"

Lin Youhan lifted his face, making him meet his gaze, and said seriously, "The sound of it shattering into pieces that say 'I love you'."

Si Muyun froze for a moment, then gripped his hand tightly, saying his name seriously.

"Lin Youhan."

"Hmm?"

"I want to kiss you."

A kiss.

Naturally, it didn't happen.

Lu Zhao, who had already gone downstairs, waited for a while but didn't see Lin Youhan and Si Muyun come down, so he headed back upstairs. As soon as he reached the floor, he saw the two of them hugging, with Si Muyun, who was half a head taller than Lin Youhan, saying he wanted to kiss him.

The moment Lu Zhao heard this, he immediately turned and ran, slapping himself as he ran, thinking, *What kind of situation is this? The couple is dating, and I had to rush up here to see it.*

*I must be sick!*

With that thought, he dashed downstairs at the speed he usually used to rush to the cafeteria. By the time Lin Youhan and Si Muyun reached the stairwell, there was no trace of Lu Zhao.

Lin Youhan glanced amusedly at the dark-faced Si Muyun beside him. "That kid runs pretty fast."

Si Muyun gave him a silent look, his tone flat as he said, "You pushed me away faster than he ran."

Lin Youhan: "..."

Lin Youhan let out an awkward laugh but didn't deny it.

When Lu Zhao had come upstairs earlier, he’d yelled both their names, and without a second thought, Lin Youhan had pushed Si Muyun away—so quickly that both of them were stunned by the sudden separation.

Especially Si Muyun, who looked at his empty hand and subtly hid the disappointment in his eyes.

But remembering what Lin Youhan had just said, Si Muyun added, "You said you liked me."

"D-Did I?" Lin Youhan stammered unusually, lowering his head and avoiding Si Muyun's gaze.

"You don’t want to admit it?" Si Muyun stared at the top of his head.

Lin Youhan fell back on his previous excuse: "We're students."

"This is university, not high school."

Lin Youhan: "..."

Si Muyun pushed him relentlessly. "Lin Youhan, we're not really students. Everyone knows we like each other, everyone thinks we're a pair. You said you liked me too—are you still trying to hide?"

Lin Youhan suddenly realized: "You weren’t really crying earlier."

Si Muyun: "...?"

He let out a gritted-teeth laugh. "Fine, you didn’t say you liked me, and I didn’t cry. Everything just now was fake. Lin Youhan, let’s see how many more 'no's you can say with that mouth of yours."

Suddenly realizing he’d thoroughly angered Si Muyun, Lin Youhan guiltily rubbed his nose. *Why does it feel like I’m shooting myself in the foot?*

He glanced around for a moment, then hurried downstairs ahead of Si Muyun, quickly changing the subject: "We’re gonna be late."

Si Muyun was so angry he laughed.

In the operations room, the students from Mecha Class 1 who had arrived early were already admiring the mecha placed inside.

Lu Zhao had reached the operations room before Lin Youhan and Si Muyun. By the time the two stepped into the classroom, the bell for class rang in the hallway outside.

Lin Youhan chose a corner seat. Since it wasn’t yet time for the full mental connection, aside from the final exam requiring mental energy, all he had to do most of the time was sleep next to the mecha.

As he thought this, he noticed someone sitting next to him out of the corner of his eye. He turned to greet them and nearly jumped out of his skin.

But before he could show his shock, the other person leapt up first. "Holy shit, what are you doing here?!"

Lin Youhan: "...I was about to ask you the same thing. What are *you* doing here?"

Jiang Xun pulled his collar over his mouth and nose, standing far away as if getting closer to Lin Youhan would kill him.

He looked around Lin Youhan disdainfully, didn’t see Si Muyun, and grinned widely. "Serves you right for two-timing! Now no one’s here to protect you!"

Lin Youhan, the alleged two-timer: "..."

*This kid must be sick. I’m purer than purified water!*

"Where are your lackeys? Did they ditch you because you’re useless?" Lin Youhan retorted without backing down.

Never mind that Liao Baixing hadn’t mentioned the practical class would be with Mecha Class 2, but Jiang Xun had chosen the seat right next to him—who was really the unlucky one here?

"What lackeys?" Jiang Xun asked, confused.

Since when did he have lackeys?

Lin Youhan reminded him, "Weren’t those guys who came to provoke us at the door your followers?"

Jiang Xun let out an "oh" and said disdainfully, "Those good-for-nothing wastes think they can be my followers? I’m a top talent headed for the Science and Technology Conference!"

"?"

Lin Youhan gave him a flat look.

Jiang Xun: "What’s with that look?! Who do you think you’re looking down on?! Starting from this class, I’m gonna crush you into the ground!"

"With what, you?" Now it was Lin Youhan’s turn to be disdainful. He looked Jiang Xun up and down—he wasn’t even as tall as him, and only had a bit of muscle on his arms. If Zhao Minglang stood next to him, he’d look like a figurine.

"Lin! Han! Han!"

Jiang Xun was so angry he wanted to hit Lin Youhan.

Suddenly, everyone in the lab looked toward where Jiang Xun and Lin Youhan were.

Jiang Xun noticed the sudden quiet in the air and looked toward Liao Baixing standing at the front of the classroom. As soon as he lifted his head, he saw Lin Youhan beside him giving him a bright smile.

Jiang Xun: "..."

He cursed Lin Youhan in his head, then turned to look at Liao Baixing, who was staring back with a blank expression.

Jiang Xun: "..."

Five minutes later, Jiang Xun stared at his seat in the first row, and felt completely speechless.

Is Lin Youhan human?

He pointed at the empty seat next to him and asked Liao Baixing, "Teacher, since I’m already sitting in the first row, shouldn’t he have to sit here too?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a very tall person sit in that seat, his muscles particularly noticeable.

Hearing Jiang Xun’s words, he turned his head and said, "This seat is mine."

It was Zhao Minglang.

Jiang Xun turned to look at another empty seat, about to speak, but when he turned, he saw Lu Zhao smiling at him. Seeing Jiang Xun look over, Lu Zhao raised his hand and greeted, "Hello."

Jiang Xun: "...?"

He turned back to glare at Lin Youhan, but instead met a pair of deep dark eyes. The intense oppressive gaze instantly brought back childhood memories of being beaten.

"Cousin..." Jiang Xun said weakly, then turned away and went silent.

Lin Youhan, that jerk!

He seethed, turning his attention to the mecha in front of him.

Left alone, Lin Youhan leaned back against the mecha and waved at everyone watching him. "Pay attention to class, I’m going to sleep now."

The students looking at him: "..."

Is this really okay?

With that, Lin Youhan really fell asleep, looking completely at peace.

He didn’t notice that after he fell asleep, someone quietly opened the mecha he was leaning against. The mecha’s eyes quickly turned red, but soon, as if there was a poor connection, the red light in its eyes faded away.

At the same time, in the principal’s office of Star Institute, an eye suddenly opened. A person wearing the Star Institute uniform stood before it and said respectfully, "My dear master, long time no see."

"Chen Wen, where is he?"

Chen Wen smiled slightly. "He’s in the operations room. Our people have already opened the mecha corresponding to him. If you wish, you can connect to that mecha’s psychic energy field."

"However, Migu and Snow are both by his side, and there are three people with 2S-level psychic energy nearby. If you act now, it might be risky."

"Is that guy named Si also by his side?"

Chen Wen: "Yes. The child he exchanged his life for ten years ago is also with him."

"Who?" The mechanical voice suddenly turned sharp.

"My dear master, no need to rush," Chen Wen reassured. "That child is named Lu Zhao, the grandson of your friend. He is currently in Mecha Class 1 and is very talented. If nothing goes wrong, he will be one of the participants in the Tech Conference."

"Lu... Zhao." The eye enunciated the name syllable by syllable. Suddenly, as if remembering something, it paused and burst into laughter. A frightening mechanical laugh echoed throughout the office.

"A dead man... how pathetic humans are."

After the lab class ended, Lu Zhao planned to return to his dorm. Zhao Minglang, who was packing his things nearby, asked him, "Want to get dinner?"

Lu Zhao shook his head tiredly. "No."

Hearing this, Zhao Minglang looked up at him and asked in surprise, "Why is your face so pale?"

"Probably overused his psychic energy," Lu Zhao said, rubbing his temples.

"Then rest well. I’ll bring you back food."

"Thanks."

After saying thanks, Lu Zhao walked back to the dorm.

Once in the dorm, he washed his face, dragged himself exhausted to bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

After Zhao Minglang returned to the dorm, he placed the food on the table and went to wake Lu Zhao. However, no matter how many times he shook him, Lu Zhao didn’t wake up.

He sighed helplessly and pulled the covers over Lu Zhao.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed from the corner of his eye that Lu Zhao’s lips were trembling. He quickly stopped and reached out to feel Lu Zhao’s forehead. The moment his hand touched it, he jerked back from the heat.

"Lu Zhao, Lu Zhao... what’s wrong?" Zhao Minglang dampened a towel and placed it on Lu Zhao’s forehead.

Lu Zhao parted his lips unconsciously, his lips trembling violently as he muttered something.

Zhao Minglang leaned in closer. A pleading voice reached his ears.

"Save me..."

"...Grandpa... I don’t want to die..."

...

With a "bang—", the dorm door was kicked open.

Zhao Minglang turned to look—it was Lin Youhan.

Lin Youhan looked like he had just woken up, but his eyes were sharp. Beside him was a white robot half a person’s height.

"Brother Lin," Zhao Minglang called out.

Lin Youhan glanced at Lu Zhao, then looked up at him. "What did he do today?"

Zhao Minglang didn’t know why Lin Youhan was suddenly asking this, but he answered honestly, "He used psychic energy to interface with the mecha."

"Psychic energy?" Lin Youhan frowned.

He didn’t use any psychic energy today. Why was Lu Zhao affected?

Even if Lu Zhao were to exhibit such a condition, it should be due to the influence of his own psychic energy.

Without time to think, he walked toward Lu Zhao. "Migu, detect his psychic energy threshold."

"Okay." Migu scanned Lu Zhao's entire body with its eyes and said, "My results show that his psychic energy threshold has reached the 2S critical level. His psychic energy reservoir seems to contain three strands of psychic energy: one is his own, and the other two..."

Migu hesitated and glanced at Zhao Minglang nearby. Noticing its gaze, Lin Youhan said calmly, "Continue."

"Alright."

Following the order, Migu recited the data by the book: "I detected one strand belonging to your psychic energy, but it's a trace amount and almost imperceptible. There's another strand whose psychic energy has already surpassed the level required to pilot the 35th-generation mecha. I reasonably suspect that someone is illegally constructing military mechas and intends to harm humans."

Lin Youhan: "..."

He kicked Migu. "Just state the results. Don’t mention unverified speculations."

Migu: "..."

Zhao Minglang, standing nearby, was utterly confused. "Lin, sir, what does this mean? Does Lu Zhao’s psychic energy reservoir contain your psychic energy?"

"A little, but not much," Lin Youhan explained indifferently, then suddenly chuckled. "It seems yesterday’s pounding wasn’t hard enough."

"Huh?"

Lin Youhan said casually, "It's nothing. Take good care of him."

Before leaving, he turned back and added, "Don’t make a sound no matter what you see."

Zhao Minglang stared dumbly.

After leaving the dorm, Lin Youhan’s expression turned cold. He looked up toward the highest point of Star Institute and sneered, "So eager to meet me, are you?"

"Migu, mecha form. Take me up."

Migu transformed into mecha form—a large mechanical form hovering mid-air. It slowly extended its palm, and Lin Youhan leaped onto it.

Together, the man and the mecha flew toward the tallest building of Star Institute.

"Look! What’s that?!"

On campus, someone exclaimed at the sight of a white mecha flying through the sky.

But when they saw the mecha steadily holding a person in its palm, they were speechless.

After a moment, someone nearby shouted, snapping him back to reality, but he soon fell into deep thought.

"Isn’t that Lin Hanhan from Mecha Class 1? Why is he flying toward the principal’s office?!"

"Was it him who trashed the principal’s office last night?"

As soon as the words were spoken, an angry roar echoed from the sky: "Lu Wenfu, show yourself!"

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