Chapter 66

Chapter 66

His voice was truly deep and magnetic. Sanan was still growing and had to look up to meet his eyes, feeling a twinge of envy.

"I am."

"He's already gone in?"

Sanan didn't catch on: "Huh? What?"

Yan Zhuo paused for half a second, then said naturally, "Your Brother Fu Yun."

Sanan's expression changed several times before realization dawned, his cheeks flushing with excitement. "You— you're—"

His eyes darted around for a long time nervously, but he didn't dare speak the title aloud. He stammered, "I think so. They said everyone else had already left, just waiting for us to transfer."

But Yan Zhuo suddenly spread his hand and gripped Sanan's neck, forcing his head up.

"What, what's wrong?"

Sanan barely suppressed the urge to resist. He was never comfortable with physical contact, especially with someone so dangerous that it made his hair stand on end.

Sensing his resistance, Yan Zhuo quickly let go. "Already been copied?"

Sanan didn't understand: "Huh?"

But the other man didn't respond further. He simply turned and walked away, motioning for Sanan to follow.

The soldiers behind them caught up, not bothering to hide it from Sanan as they listed off the personnel inside: "All replicated modified humans, including several soldiers on record with the Alliance."

Yan Zhuo hummed in acknowledgment, saying nothing else.

Sanan followed behind, unsure if he should keep trailing them, but since no one told him to leave, he stayed.

Listening to their baffling conversation, it wasn't long before they reached the starship exit. Yan Zhuo finally turned back to look at him.

"I have a task for you."

Sanan instantly perked up. "Yeah? What is it?"

"We're going inside soon. I'm entrusting someone to you—keep an eye on him. The moment he leaves, notify me immediately."

Meeting Yan Zhuo's trusting eyes, Sanan felt both flattered and nervous. "Am I up to it? I've never done anything like this."

"Just act naturally."

Then someone put a hand on Sanan's shoulder and gestured for him to follow.

Dazed, Sanan followed, led to a starship docked in the docking bay. The door opened, and he heard a very familiar voice.

"Brother Fu Yun?" Sanan said in surprise.

But when the person turned, he realized it wasn't Ruan Yunchu. Though the face was identical, his eyes and his demeanor were completely different.

04 stared at the person outside the door for a second, recognizing who it was. "How are you here?"

Sanan hesitated, feeling reluctant and resistant inside, but still stepped in.

"Didn't you call me here? I went to that place and got caught."

04 stared at him, then seemed to lose interest. He pursed his lips and turned away. "Forget it. You already know I'm not him, so why bother pretending?"

Since 04 was willing to be upfront, Sanan breathed a little easier. He used to be a decent actor, but only when crying after getting caught stealing. Now that he'd reformed, he didn't want to pretend anymore.

"Are you a replicant?"

He walked over and sat on the small sofa, keeping two meters between them, and studied the other man seriously.

"Mhm." 04 had a cube in his hands, and on the bed was an already-complex starship model.

Remembering Yan Zhuo's instruction, Sanan guessed he was supposed to keep this person occupied. Even though he wasn't naturally talkative, he forced himself to find topics.

"Back when I was at the lab, I saw a lot of replicants living in the same room. Was it like that for you back then?"

At that, 04 suddenly snorted. "Hah, no way! I was really favored, I had my own room."

"Why?"

Sanan was genuinely curious, but the question seemed to touch a nerve. 04's face immediately darkened.

"Because I'm strong, obviously."

"Oh." Sanan let out a silent sigh of relief, relieved 04 wasn't angry—or he'd feel terrible. "So you've been with the rebels since then?"

04 didn't confirm or deny it.

"You said you're strong. So you've helped them do a lot of things?"

"Of course. I never went to the front lines, but..."

Half an hour later, Sanan was sure that 04 was nothing like Brother Fu Yun. At least Fu Yun was quiet and concise, not this much of a chatterbox.

If 04 kept going, he'd shatter the cool and aloof image Fu Yun had in Sanan's head.

Fortunately, not long after, 04 finished recounting his exploits, took a big swig of water from the bottle on the nightstand, and asked in return, "I've said plenty. Time for you to share something."

Sanan snapped to attention. "What do you want to know?"

"About him." 04 looked at him with a half-smile. "You seem pretty close to him. Tell me, what's different about him compared to me?"

Sanan instinctively resisted. Fu Yun had done him a great kindness, and he didn't want to talk about their relationship with a stranger, especially without Fu Yun's permission.

But 04 had a "you have to tell me" attitude, so Sanan hesitated and finally said, "He's a good guy. Sometimes he says mean things, but he's actually soft-hearted. I don't think anyone who's met him could hate him."

"Oh, really?" 04 rested his chin on his hand, speaking quite earnestly. "I really don't like him."

Sanan: "..."

He paused, then finally burst out, "You've never even talked to him."

"I've seen him lots of times, but he never noticed. Someone that slow..." 04 said with amusement, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. "Why does everyone crowd around him? I think he's fake."

"You don't know anything at all, because you're not a real person," Sanan said bluntly. "Sure, you weren't locked in a room like the other replicants, but isn't your own room still a cage? The environment you grew up in was so boring—do you have family or friends? Have you ever gone out to buy breakfast?"

For the first time, 04 was speechless. After a moment, he said, "The Chief said I'm his child."

"Would your Chief be willing to die to protect you?"

"......"

04 stared at him for a moment, then suddenly seemed to think of something and smiled smugly. "You probably don't know this, but your brother—his family doesn't like him either. In fact, they wish he were dead. Even if he isn't a Replicant, he's just like me—no one would die for him. Don't make him sound so noble."

Sanan couldn't help showing a look of pity after hearing this. He sighed heavily.

"That's why I said you don't understand human emotions. I don't know about Brother Fu Yun's family, but if he needed it, I'd be willing to die to protect him. I believe there are many people who would do the same."

"Is that so?" 04 looked unconvinced.

"The Chief said I'm a more perfect version of him after the modifications. I'm much stronger than him."

"What?"

04's last muttering was too faint for Sanan to catch.

But 04 was no longer willing to speak. He seemed a bit unhappy, stopped chatting with Sanan, and sullenly continued building the starship model.

Now that he was finally quiet, Sanan breathed a sigh of relief. Talking to this guy really made him nervous. If the two of them could just get along peacefully until the Alliance's forces finished everything, that would be best.

After another half hour, Sanan felt drowsy. He saw that 04 had finished the model and was curled up on the bed, asleep. So he got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face.

He patted his cheeks in front of the mirror, feeling much more alert under the cold water's stimulation.

Refreshed, Sanan pushed open the bathroom door—only to find that the person who had been lying on the bed was gone. He quickly scanned the room, confirmed the person wasn't there, and hastily sent a message to Yan Zhuo.

-

Level B-6 was an entire research institute. On both sides of the long corridor were identical glass houses, all filled with replicants in white lab coats. Some of the houses were packed with nearly a hundred people, with barely room to stand, while others held only a handful of occupants in a spacious room.

The deeper Ruan Yunchu went, the more elegant the decoration inside the glass houses became. The people inside seemed accustomed to being under 24-hour surveillance, acting quite at ease. Some, upon seeing a stranger, even deliberately approached the glass to look out.

Gazing at those eyes—some simply curious, others hostile—Ruan Yunchu couldn't help stopping and making eye contact with a woman who was very close.

He remembered this person. She had once taken care of his daily needs and was Yan Zhuo's assistant.

The rebels' reach extended this far. If given more time, Ruan Yunchu had no doubt they could plant agents right next to Yan Zhuo.

Seeing him arrive, a few researchers who had been on the starship walked over.

"She's very powerful, but somewhat difficult to control. We can't send her out on missions yet."

Ruan Yunchu looked away. "Are all these... your killing machines?"

The researcher glanced at him in surprise and laughed. "That's exactly what they were created for. Even with the best genes, it's still impossible to fully trust something—soulless creatures."

"You're more cruel than I imagined."

Ruan Yunchu stopped looking at the sides and headed toward the center of the institute, where genetic fusion and decomposition were underway.

They had a brief discussion. Ruan Yunchu was about to leave when a sharp bell suddenly rang overhead—but only three times before it stopped.

"What's going on?"

The people around looked up, but hearing only three rings, they went back to their work.

The researcher beside him answered, "It's nothing. Probably just a test. This happens often; after all, it's been a while since anyone came back."

"Mm."

Ruan Yunchu didn't ask further. He said goodbye and left, taking the elevator back to Level B-3.

It was very quiet here. The long corridor was silent. He scanned his face at the door, which slid open automatically. As he stepped into the room, his left eyelid twitched slightly.

Before he could step back, someone who had been waiting in the room slowly stood up and smiled at him.

"Yunchu, I brought you something."

The automatic lights came on, illuminating Noah's face. He looked at Ruan Yunchu with a patient expression.

Ruan Yunchu hesitated for two seconds but still walked in.

"I'm about to rest."

"What's the rush? I didn't say I was going to do anything to you. Besides, the Chief already warned me." Noah spread his hands in a gesture of goodwill and sat down. "I just wanted to ask how you're settling in since you just arrived at the base."

Ruan Yunchu glanced around the room and asked, "You didn't touch my stuff, did you?"

Noah laughed. "I wouldn't stoop that low."

Ruan Yunchu said nothing more. He walked to the coffee table, poured himself a glass of water, and didn't give Noah a single look.

Noah stared at him intently, then softened his voice. "Yunchu, I've seriously thought about what you said that day. You do have a point. I was too radical before, and my methods were wrong. Can you give me another chance? I promise I'll treat you well from now on."

"I don't need your promises. Just stay away from me, and everything will be fine."

"Are you really going to shut me out like this?" Noah's patience was wearing thin. "Even though you can never return to the Alliance's protection?"

Ruan Yunchu sighed softly. He was truly tired of talking to people like Noah, but he had no choice.

"A person won't die from being alone. I don't have to be with anyone."

Noah took a deep breath, as if trying to control his emotions, but ultimately failed to hide his inner rage. "Do you think the Chief will always have your back? He only sees you as useful."

"I know that better than you."

"You can't be useful forever. Let's be honest—your heat period is coming up. The Chief is in a hurry for research results and won't give you a long break. When the time comes, you'll have to find someone to get through it with. And that person will be me."

Ruan Yunchu was silent for two seconds, then looked at him. "And why would I choose you?"

Before Noah could answer, he added, "You're very confident, but you've been a ghost for too long. You've forgotten how to be human."

Noah could no longer restrain himself. He stood up abruptly.

"Ruan Yunchu, since you won't take the soft or the hard approach, don't push me. I've been by the Chief's side for years—getting you is as easy as a word. Once you're no longer useful, you'll be thrown onto my bed like trash. Just wait for that day!"

Ruan Yunchu slowly set down his water glass without looking back. "Get out."

The door flew open. Someone stormed out in a fury, slamming hard against the door as it was still opening, causing a dull thud.

Ruan Yunchu raised his eyes and saw the door hesitate for two seconds. Detecting no one, it slowly closed automatically.

The room fell back into silence. He placed his used glass aside and took a new one, filling it with water. When he turned around, someone was already standing silently behind him.

Ruan Yunchu wasn't startled. He slowly looked up and studied the familiar eyes hidden behind the goggles.

Only now, upon truly meeting again, did the surreal feeling of a lifetime apart faintly emerge.

The person before him hadn't changed much, but carried a sharper, more distant aura. Yet when he looked down at him, that familiar sensation remained.

"Miss me?"

Yan Zhuo stepped forward, pressing him against the counter. His imposing body leaned in slightly, forcing Ruan Yunchu to tilt back a little.

"How did you get in?" Ruan Yunchu didn't answer him.

"Don't ask."

Yan Zhuo raised a hand to remove his face mask. The knuckles under the finger-guard gloves were long and slender, carrying a faint smell of gunpowder.

When that handsome and sharp face came into view, Ruan Yunchu's expression shifted. He instinctively twisted to escape from the gap between Yan Zhuo's body and the counter, but a hand caught his waist, and he was hoisted up by the waist and set on the counter.

"Yan Zhuo!"

He snapped, anger in his voice, but the next moment, a hot palm cradled the nape of his neck, and Yan Zhuo kissed him with urgent, heavy intensity.

His entire body was enveloped; the overpowering aura of an Enigma clung to him like a shadow. Even sitting on the counter, Ruan Yunchu was only barely level with him. He reached out to push against the broad, firm shoulders, but could muster no strength at all.

Yan Zhuo kissed deeply. After a moment of sucking at his lips, he impatiently parted his teeth. He kept his eyes open, the aggression in his dark irises terrifyingly intense, as if he wanted to make up for all the intimacy lost in the past two months all at once.