"No...no problem, probably..."

Bryce replied, his voice quickly returning to normal, as if Lin Xi had simply misinterpreted his earlier unusually serious demeanor.

“Based on these physiological data, I shouldn’t prescribe any more sedative gels for you,” Bryce said, but seeing Lin Xi’s incredulous look, he conceded. “However, your dark circles do seem to have caught my attention. Three low-dose sedative gels are my bottom line, and you need to promise me that you’ll stop taking them as soon as your sleep improves—”

"Okay, I will. I promise I won't do anything reckless! It's only for helping me sleep!"

Lin Xi raised his hands toward Bryce and solemnly assured him.

Although Lin Xi was a little disappointed that she didn't get the extra-strength calming gel stick she wanted, something was better than nothing—Lin Xi wasn't the kind of person who was too greedy.

He watched with delight as Bryce took out the prescribed amount of gel stick and placed it in his hand, then looked at his personal terminal and feigned a troubled expression.

"Oh no, the monitoring system reports that another water hyacinth orchid in the lab has been infected by insects."

Lin Xi exclaimed in a slightly exaggerated low voice.

"I was planning to have lunch with you, but it looks like I need to deal with that water-bearing orchid first. Ugh, those damn bugs are driving me crazy..."

As Lin Xi spoke, she grabbed the gel stick and stuffed it into her pocket, then quickly walked towards the door.

Bryce watched Lin Xi's exaggerated performance with a sense of helplessness, but did not expose his brother who was not related to him by blood.

"Remember to have Professor Ando take that egg case back with him. Your cabin is for resting and sleeping, not for raising insects!"

However, he couldn't help but follow behind Lin Xi, repeating the same things he had said many times before, emphasizing them over and over again.

Lin Xi brushed it off with a forced smile, but didn't really take those words to heart.

Ando Shizuo seems to have been busy taking care of Liz, whose condition is deteriorating (otherwise, seeing the egg case so active, he would probably have tried to make a bed on the floor next to Lin Xi's bed and observe his beloved little darling 24 hours a day).

On several occasions, Lin Xi brushed past Ando in the lab corridor, the latter not even noticing his presence. The baby-faced man who always wore a smile now looked more like a pitiful, dried-up corpse. There was no way Lin Xi would actually do as Bryce demanded, returning the Star Butterfly's egg case to that unfortunate man in this chaotic situation.

As for Bryce's nagging, well... Lin Xide admitted that Bryce was indeed very good to him, but his nagging was really annoying. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to avoid lunch with Bryce.

"Lin Xi—"

Just as Lin Xi was walking quickly out of the medical room and about to turn at the end of the corridor, Bryce suddenly called him back.

"What's wrong? Is there anything else? Like, did you suddenly change your mind and want to give me some more calming gel sticks?"

Lin Xi took a deep breath, then turned around and forced a smile at Bryce.

His brother was standing at the door of the medical room, staring at him. That strange look was back on his face, and this time Lin Xi was certain it wasn't his imagination.

"Bryce?"

Lin Xi became a little more serious.

However, after waiting for a long time, what came out of Bryce's mouth was still the same old story that Lin Xi had heard to death.

"Eat less of the food packets, and stay away from the exploration team. Don't always try to take advantage of them; your reputation is bad enough already. Promise me you won't do anything reckless, especially during these special times..."

"I know, I will. I've already turned over a new leaf. You should trust your brother a little more, okay?!"

Lin Xi didn't know why, but she felt relieved after hearing the familiar murmur.

He dealt with it perfunctorily as before and then ran away without looking back.

What he didn't know was that after his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Bryce stood there for a long time, looking in the direction he left before dragging his heavy steps back to the medical room.

Instead of efficiently and quickly going through his routine, he retrieved Lin Xi's physiological data and then, with a flick of his finger, pulled out several other physical examination reports, placing them side by side with Lin Xi's on the electronic screen.

Bryce took a few steps back, staring blankly at the reports, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

The reports he retrieved came from different people on the Helios, and all were dated after the spacecraft crash-landed on this unknown planet.

Most of the reports came from exploration team members who frequently went out to explore, and some came from technicians responsible for repairing the spacecraft's cabin.

These people came to Bryce for various reasons. Some had allergic reactions to insect bites, while others had developed mental health issues due to accidents and excessive work stress. However, when Bryce examined them, their physical condition was also quite good.

Just like Lin Xi.

However, compared to Lin Xi, the physical data of the exploration team members and technicians were significantly better: their metabolism, cell activity, and blood oxygen levels all far exceeded the average.

Bryce had previously attributed this change to the pristine, unpolluted environment of this strange planet (at least according to the data analysis robot's report, the natural environment here was indeed far superior to Earth's, after all, that planet had been almost completely ravaged by humans). In addition, another important factor was the food packets the crew consumed daily.

Compared to other frozen and packaged foods on the spacecraft, this food, specifically developed for space travel, is rich in nutrients. In addition, due to the addition of Earth Milk, this food pack can also adjust the body's condition and improve physiological functions to a certain extent...

After the Helios made an emergency landing, Captain Taran approved the use of this expensive food in order to avoid unnecessary loss of life after the accident.

Everything seemed to be in perfect order, just as Bryce had told Lin Xi before.

However, a subtle, inexplicable sense of unease gradually spread in Bryce's heart.

He nervously flipped through the data and documents left behind by the crew.

...Yes, that bug bit me. No, there was no direct contact, I'm sure of that. But even through the protective suit, there was still a deep wound on my hand...but it healed very quickly...

—File number hz1876a

Crew member: Chris Sudara

Position: Level D member of the External Environmental Survey Team

I feel great, Doctor, though it sounds a bit unbelievable, maybe because my leg pain hasn't flared up in a long time, which is a miracle. Ever since I accidentally broke that leg ten years ago at the lunar base, it's been a reminder of my recklessness from time to time... Oh God, it's amazing, you mean the old injury isn't showing up on the scan?

—File number hz2342b23

Crew member: Sirius Christopher

Position: Level A Member of the External Environment Exploration Team

Thank you, doctor. I feel much better after the treatment... Ah, yes, sorry for asking, but I'm just so curious... My tattoo is gone after these treatments, so can the treatment device really remove old tattoos? I made a bet with my friend, who insisted that the device wouldn't touch laser tattoos on your skin. But look, I used to have my ex-boyfriend's name on my arm, but that damn word is really gone now...

—File Number: hz88671234

Crew member: Ava Lania

Position: Senior Electrical Technician, Advanced Technology Department

...

During the therapy session, Bryce listened to the audio recordings left by the clients repeatedly, as if they were background music.

Rapid wound healing.

The healing of old wounds.

And the fading of tattoos.

These are all good things, Bryce muttered to himself.

However, he still felt panicked.

Thinking that way was rather impolite, but when Bryce saw the exploration team members whose old wounds had healed and whose new wounds were healing quickly, his first thought was of Liz.

The fetus inside the Sunu-Mixed woman's womb was rapidly expanding, so vibrant that it threatened to dehydrate and kill her.

Is this increased vitality really due to the food packet?

still……

Bryce put down his work and slowly walked to the window of the spaceship. Even though the Helios had been here for so long, Bryce still couldn't get used to the bright and curled "plants" that were right in front of him.

Those "plants" that seemed almost alive and were always trembling slightly reminded Bryce of many unpleasant things. For example, colorful insects, the indescribable monsters in the ghost stories of his childhood, and the paintings of a certain postmodern painter whom he particularly disliked.

"call……"

He couldn't help but sigh deeply. Just now, he almost told Lin Xi his baseless speculations, but at the last moment, seeing the undisguised exhaustion on Lin Xi's face, he ultimately suppressed those bad premonitions in his heart.

If only that person were still here.

Suddenly, a pale face appeared in Bryce's mind.

When that man was still alive, both he and Lin Xi felt incredibly at ease and relaxed, because they knew very well that no matter what problems they encountered, that man would resolve them in his own way.

However, just thinking of him brought back a long-lost grief that, like a venomous snake, instantly peeked out and gnawed at Bryce's heart.