Chapter 152 World Five [10]

"Director?" Chu Ci couldn't help but look back at Jing Ke and asked tactfully, "Director, why did you... bite my vines?"

"Oh, this is part of an experiment. Do you have any questions?" Jing Ke slowly released the vines, looking confident. "You got bitten. How does it feel?"

Chuci: ...

After a moment of silence, Chu Ci said with a complicated expression, "It hurts a little bit, but the captain's teeth are fine."

"Really? I think so too. I have good teeth." Jing Ke smiled faintly. "Are you hungry? Do you want some chocolate?"

Chocolate? Chu Ci was stunned for a moment, and then he quickly remembered what happened when he ate the first piece of chocolate after losing his mind.

At that time, I seemed to regard Jing Ke's fingers as food, so I bit them for a long time and didn't let go.

After thinking about this, Chu Ci no longer felt any dissatisfaction about the vine he released being suddenly bitten.

If you really think about it, the person who is more excessive should be myself.

"Thank you, Director, but I'm not hungry for the time being. Director, do you want to continue studying the vines? The vines can sense changes in temperature. They will behave differently when soaked in cold water or roasted on fire." Chu Ci chose to change the subject, and his guilt towards Jing Ke grew even stronger.

"No, I want to study you." Jing Ke said, "Chu Ci, please lie down on the bed."

"Okay, okay." After seeing the vines being loosened, Chu Ci retracted the vines and lay down obediently on the only bed in the laboratory.

This was the special bed where she had lain many times when she had lost her mind.

Jing Ke put on special gloves and added, "Take off your coat and leave only one top on. That's enough."

"Okay." Chu Ci sat up and quickly took off his coat and shirt, leaving only the black vest underneath.

The black vest is tight-fitting, outlining Chu Ci's body curves while also highlighting her lean muscles in her lower abdomen.

The fair skin on his arms and neck was exposed to the air, and after just a few days, five or six tiny scars appeared on his originally smooth skin.

Jing Ke gave up the complicated instruments and chose a relatively basic stethoscope instead. He sat on the chair beside the bed and pointed the stethoscope at Chu Ci's left chest.

"Relax a little, don't be nervous." Jing Ke said slowly.

Chu Ci hummed a sound. She tried to relax, but her body seemed to be unable to control itself. As Jing Ke leaned over, Chu Ci smelled her unique scent, and her heartbeat began to speed up.

"Chu Ci, relax. I'm checking your body and I won't do anything to you." Jing Ke said.

The more rapid the heartbeat sounded from the stethoscope, the more Jing Ke's lips curled up.

Wasn't Chu Ci very bold when he lost his mind? Didn't he want to stick to me anytime, anywhere? How come he became so useless after recovering?

"Chu Ci, what are you nervous about?" Jing Ke asked without hiding the curve of her lips.

Chu Ci opened her mouth, but she was not good at dealing with this kind of thing, so she hesitated for a long time and couldn't give a definite answer.

"Are you afraid of me?" Jing Ke asked.

Chu Ci shook his head and said dryly, "No, I'm not afraid of the director. I'm probably too nervous because I'm going to be checked."

"Is that so? You don't need to be afraid. You are in good health and your heartbeat is strong." Jing Ke took off the stethoscope and hung it around his neck.

Then Jing Ke asked with a smile: "Chu Ci, can I study your body in depth?"

Chu Ci met Jing Ke's gaze. After a brief silence, he slowly spoke, "Could you please ask the director, to what extent should this in-depth research go?"

"It's probably the extent you think." Jing Ke kept smiling.

Jing Ke can guarantee that she is definitely not a person who holds grudges. The reason why she wants to conduct a thorough examination is purely out of a sense of responsibility. She just wants to make sure that Chu Ci is healthy inside and out and there are no problems. It has absolutely nothing to do with holding grudges.

Chu Ci's eyes changed slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded, ready to silently accept everything Jing Ke did to her.

The director had been able to endure this until now, which showed that he was very considerate of the overall situation. Hadn't he been mentally prepared for this long ago? There was no need to be so hesitant at this moment.

After seeing Chu Ci's fearless expression, Jing Ke's eyes showed a hint of mockery.

"Chu Ci, I need you to control the vines to cover your eyes." Jing Ke said, "Or, you can just close your eyes."

Chu Ci swallowed nervously, closed his eyes, and then covered his eyes with vines.

"Director, is this okay?" Chu Ci asked.

After losing his vision, Chu Ci couldn't help but become nervous. His already sharp perception became even sharper after losing his sight.

"Sure, you're good and obedient." Jing Ke said with a smile. When he saw the person lying on the hospital bed tense up, the smile on his face became more obvious.

It was true that Jing Ke wanted to tease Chu Ci, but she had no intention of actually doing anything to him. At most, she would be more careful and attentive when examining certain parts of his body.

The examination process lasted exactly three hours. When Jing Ke allowed Chu Ci to open her eyes, her face was so red that blood seemed to be dripping out.

"Director, is there anything else you need my cooperation with?" Chu Ci said haltingly, and couldn't help feeling a sour taste in his mouth.

There was no other way. When being examined, Chu Ci could only control his body by gritting his teeth to avoid any abnormal physiological reactions during the normal examination.

"There are no more today." Jing Ke slowly took off his gloves, then picked up the clipboard and started writing. "If you are free, you can come for a check-up. There is no extra charge for you."

Chu Ci hummed sullenly, put his clothes back on, and walked to Jing Ke's side.

"Director, I..." Chu Ci suddenly fell silent halfway through his words.

"Huh? What?" Jing Ke looked up at Chu Ci.

"It's nothing. If the director needs anything else, you can tell me. I won't disturb you from continuing your research." Chu Ci said, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.

-

"General, why did you come back so early? Didn't you say you would cooperate with the director to have a thorough physical examination?" Adjutant Xiao Ma, who was busy with official duties, was a little surprised to see his boss come back in less than a day.

"The inspection is completed. The director is very quick." Chu Ci said, sat in his own seat, and read the documents in silence.

Adjutant Xiao Ma's intuition told her that something was wrong with her general's condition, and he seemed a little unhappy?

"General, are the examination results not very good?" Adjutant Xiao Ma asked tentatively.

Chu Ci hesitated to speak, then shook his head, "How's the collection of the supplies I gave you earlier?"

"Almost there. There are a lot of useful things inside the Glorious Base. Once we complete the inventory and put them into storage tomorrow, everything on the list will be complete." Adjutant Xiao Ma said.

"Okay, tell me as soon as you finish counting the items." Chu Ci ordered.

Adjutant Xiao Ma didn't think much about it and agreed directly.

Chu Ci’s idea was simple. She wanted to give herself one more day to prepare before going to meet Jing Ke.

But not everything will develop as Chu Ci himself planned.

"General Chu, just give the list of supplies to me." When Chu Ci came to the door with the checklist, he was stopped outside the laboratory by Jing Pingping.

"Ms. Jing, I would like to talk to the director about some other things." Chu Ci said as he stopped.

"The director's research is at the most important stage. You can discuss anything with me first. I will inform the director of any decisions I cannot make." Jing Pingping said, looking at Chu Ci with caution.

As someone who lives and eats with Jing Ke every day, Jing Pingping was the first to notice that something was wrong with her child.

Ever since meeting Chu Ci yesterday, the smile on his child's face has become particularly obvious. When the experiment ended yesterday, he even took the initiative to greet the guard, which had never happened before.

Thinking of the experience of her own child sleeping in the same bed with Chu Ci, Jing Pingping couldn't help but become more vigilant.

Although Chu Ci has been behaving well over the past few years, people's hearts are fickle. What if Chu Ci becomes a bad person after this experience? Will she try to use her own child to achieve her own goals?

Bai Xiaohui is the best example. Before his true identity was exposed, wasn’t his own child also deceived by him?

Chu Ci felt a little guilty about being targeted by Jing Pingping, because she did have ulterior motives. Chu Ci just wanted to see Jing Ke under the pretext of checking the list and sending some friendly signals.

"If the director is busy, please ask Ms. Jing to go to the warehouse with me." Chu Ci did not force it.

If we can't meet today, we can meet tomorrow. At worst, I can use a more direct reason and say I'm here for a physical check-up. Chu Ci comforted himself in this way.

Jing Pingping nodded, followed Chu Ci out of the laboratory, and went to the warehouse to check the quantity of supplies.

-

Jing Pingping was not lying. Jing Ke's research was indeed at a very important stage.

After changing the research ideas, Jing Ke's medicine ushered in new changes and began to move towards low success rate and no side effects.

As for the first trial product, the ten mice participating in the experiment are still alive and kicking after the third round of testing. The success rate is pitifully low, but so far, no side effects have been reported.

This discovery made Jing Ke very happy. Even though she found out that Chu Ci had never come to her for a physical examination, she didn't care too much.

As long as the potion in her hand is successfully developed, it means that most of the survivors can become evolvers who are more powerful than mutants.

By that time, clearing out the zombies would only be a matter of time. As a religious figure within Base One, Chu Ci only needed to outline a general battle plan within the base. She had plenty of time to get the other party to volunteer as a test subject.

Just like that, a month passed in a flash.

After confirming that the latest version of the evolutionary drug did not kill the mice after dozens of rounds, Jing Ke, as the director of the institute, convened a meeting of all members of the institute and announced that the No. 1 evolutionary drug had officially entered the human trial stage, and that priority would be given to the institute's employees and their relatives.

"The current failure rate is zero, but I can't guarantee it will be zero when used on humans, so I need to conduct human trials."

Jing Ke stood on the stage and clearly stated the pros and cons of drug testing. "It will take at least three months from trial to official launch. If successful, not only can you gain superpowers earlier, but the first batch of trial participants will also be announced. I will discuss with Chu Ci and give you better treatment."

"Or, when Evolution Potion No. 1 is produced, those who test it will have the right to purchase it in advance, with a limit of 100 doses per person per day. You can provide it to friends and family on a limited basis, or sell it at a high price. I won't interfere."

Drug testing involves risks, so Jing Ke was not reluctant to give them some money and power to compensate them.

Needless to say, the institute had a high level of trust in Jing Ke. The first batch of 30 drug trial spots were all snapped up by everyone present within just three minutes of Jing Ke's announcement.

"The director is a genius who can research the number one drug. I trust him and volunteer to be the test subject."

"Me too. I've long felt that simply having a loud voice is useless. If I could become an Evolver, maybe I could get a promotion and a raise sooner."

"My family and I are only alive thanks to the Director's No. 1 Potion. When the Director needs me, I have no choice but to help."

In this way, thirty mutants who were willing to try the drug quickly stepped forward.

Jing Ke did not hesitate. After writing down their names, he gave them half a day to rest and asked them to report to the special observation room the next morning.

-

"Ms. Jing, this is the thirty-first time you have stopped me. May I ask why you do this?" Chu Ci asked good-temperedly.

"There is no reason. The director is very busy. General Chu, just tell me directly if you have anything to say. I will convey it on your behalf." Jing Pingping still used the same old rhetoric to perfunctorily deal with Chu Ci, waiting for the other party to give in on his own initiative.

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you, Ms. Jing." But this time Chu Ci reacted differently. She took out an envelope from her pocket.

"I have written down what I want to say to the director on the letter. I hope Ms. Jing can pass it to the director for me." Chu Ci said.

Jing Pingping frowned. To be fair, she felt that Chu Ci, who had not yet gotten angry after being stopped by her for 31 consecutive days, could indeed be considered an emotionally stable person.

But the more patient Chu Ci is, the more ambitious she is. Perhaps Chu Ci wants more than just her child's research success; she wants both the research and her child to go with her.

"If it's not convenient for Ms. Jing, I can wait here until the director gets off work and then hand it to her personally." Chu Ci said.

Jing Pingping frowned even more after hearing this. After weighing the pros and cons, she chose to accept the letter in Chu Ci's hand.

"I understand. I'll pass it on to the director," Jing Pingping said. After taking the letter, she began to shoo the people away. "If everything is fine, General Chu can go back to his work. More and more people outside are starting to pay attention to Base No. 1."

"Don't worry, Ms. Jing. No matter how the situation outside changes, the area around the institute is absolutely safe and there is absolutely no possibility of it becoming a battlefield." Chu Ci assured.

"I hope so." Jing Pingping responded indifferently.

Jing Pingping had heard a little about the situation outside. The combined Base No. 1 was the largest existing base and had the largest number of evolvers.

After the launch of the No. 1 potion, its reputation has soared, and the total population has reached nearly four million. If it continues to grow and successfully recruits members from small bases, the population is expected to reach five million by the end of the year.

-

"Hmm? Chu Ci gave it to me?" Jing Ke took a letter from Jing Pingping after dinner, and raised her eyebrows slightly. "Sister Pingping, didn't Chu Ci say anything else?"

I just gave Chu Ci a hard time during the examination. There's no need for her to hide and be shy for a whole month, right?

Seeing the confusion in Jing Ke's eyes, Jing Pingping calmly stuffed the cut fruit plate into her child's hands and said, "No, she found different excuses every day to want to see you, but I always rejected her by saying you were busy. This was the thirty-first time she came to see you, and she asked me to give it to you."

Jing Pingping did not hide what she had done. If Chu Ci had not taken out the so-called letter and asked her to pass it on, she would probably have continued to stop him.

"The thirty-first time?" Jing Ke blinked, and after a simple calculation of the time, she knew that Chu Ci had been reporting here every day since she had examined him.

"Commander, I know General Chu is a good man, but..." Jing Pingping paused, "We should always be on guard against others. Commander, I don't need to emphasize this again. An accident has already happened once, and I don't want it to happen again."

"Sister Pingping, I know what you mean." Jing Ke put the letter in her pocket. "I won't meet Chu Ci until the human experiment phase is over. When the time comes, please, Sister Pingping, take the reply to Chu Ci."

Jing Ke knows how to prioritize things. If the two of them interact too closely at this critical juncture, they will become each other's weaknesses.

Some things just need to be taken slowly, there is no need to rush. Only by taking one step forward at a time can we reach the end together.

After saying good night to her sister Pingping, Jing Ke returned to her room, opened the letter and read it word by word.

The first part was an apology that Jing Ke had heard countless times, the middle part contained some daily concerns, and at the end, the writer revealed his own little thoughts and asked Jing Ke in a roundabout way whether he needed a bodyguard with strong enough combat capabilities.

Jing Ke finished reading it with a smile, pulled out a piece of white paper, picked up a pen and started writing.

Half an hour later, a handwritten letter of about a thousand words was completed.

In order to avoid waste, Jing Ke put the money directly into the original envelope and handed it to Jing Pingping the next day, asking her to pass it on.

-

After seeing Jing Pingping holding a familiar envelope in her hand, Chu Ci slowed down his pace.

Chu Ci's first reaction was that the letter he sent was rejected. After Jing Ke completed his small counterattack against him, he was ready to draw a clear line between them.

This realization made Chu Ci's eyes dim. Jing Pingping didn't kindly remind him, but just handed over the obviously opened envelope.

"The director asked me to give this to you." After leaving this sentence, Jing Pingping left.

The human experiments have already begun, so she has to pay special attention to the security situation in the institute and has no time to waste here with Chu Ci.

Chu Ci's shoulders drooped, and he looked at the envelope in his hand silently, with a feeling of loss gradually surging in his heart.

As expected, I don't deserve to be forgiven for doing such an excessive thing.

Not to mention that my behavior was tantamount to repaying kindness with enmity. Even if I was not sane at the time, it still could not change the fact that I was the culprit.

After letting herself wallow in the emotion of failure for three minutes, Chu Ci slowly adjusted her state. By the time she left the institute, she had become the dignified base commander again.

It was not until Chu Ci returned to her residence and prepared to regroup and write a new letter that she realized that the thickness of the back envelope was not right, and the seal that should have been firmly stuck together seemed to be loose.

This discovery turned Chu Ci's sadness into joy. After taking out the paper that was obviously not the original letter paper, he began to read it with trepidation.

Jing Ke did not say in the letter that she forgave Chu Ci. She only wrote about the success of the pharmaceutical research in the past month, and said that starting from tomorrow, the drug will officially enter the human trial stage.

It was not until the last paragraph that Jing Ke answered the question raised by Chu Ci at the end, saying that she did not need a personal bodyguard at the moment, but when the potion was announced to be successfully developed, she might encounter more dangers.

If there is no direct rejection, then there is a chance!

Chu Ci read the contents on the white paper over and over again, and after repeated consideration, he took out the letter paper and picked up the pen to write.

Jing Ke was sharing with her what happened in the laboratory, so she might as well share with Jing Ke what was happening outside.

For example, the total population of Base No. 1 has now reached four million. With the advent of Potion No. 1, many people have seen the hope of rebuilding human civilization and are more passionate about their work. The territory of Base No. 1 has become much larger.

For example, the scientific researchers we recently accepted are working on a very interesting project, which is an artificial womb.

The current research and development progress is very impressive. It can not only simulate all the environments of the fetus in the mother's body, but also break free from gender restrictions.

You only need to extract the corresponding DNA, and you can conceive your own child, regardless of whether you are of the opposite sex or the same sex.

The original intention of the developers of artificial uteruses was to prevent mutants and evolvers from experiencing a decrease in combat effectiveness during pregnancy, and to prevent originally outstanding women from being squeezed out of leadership by male authorities because of pregnancy.

Base No. 1 is headed by a female leader, which is one of the main reasons why Artificial Uterus chose to go here. She feels that only women can empathize with other women.

Chu Ci had a lot of things he wanted to share with Jing Ke, and he reluctantly stopped after writing eight pages of letter paper.

After making sure there were no typos on the letter, Chu Ci folded the letter, took out a brand new envelope and put it in, preparing to send it to the research institute the next day.