Chapter 119

During the period between the merging of the two worlds and the outbreak of war at the base, the survivors hid underground, anxiously waiting for the battle to end.

About half an hour after the explosion stopped, they heard no further noise and eagerly opened the protective door of the underground passage to return to the surface.

Looking around, the scene was one of devastation, with smoke billowing everywhere.

Seeing the survivor base they had painstakingly built turn into ruins filled them with resentment and grief.

Before they could even compose themselves, a devastating piece of bad news struck them like a thunderclap.

"The director is injured!"

Pei Yuheng's injury was, of course, staged, because at this historical juncture, such a calamity was destined: the hospital was bombed, and all the research materials that could prove Pei Yuheng's hard work and dedication were destroyed in the flames, forcing its reconstruction. Not long after the reconstruction was completed, Pei Yuheng died from his injuries, and his partner Fu Zong took over.

This was a particularly difficult and chaotic time for everyone at the survivor base.

The base was destroyed. Even though the disaster was anticipated and personnel were evacuated without major casualties, the losses were still devastating for countless people.

The world has changed drastically. Their home seems to have returned, yet it also seems to have vanished completely, never to return to what it once was.

Some people left to seek other opportunities. Some people, bewildered, chose to return home and disappeared without a trace.

During this period, some of the people who left returned, leaving behind some supplies, and then disappeared again.

Like a pillar of the institute, the director collapsed because he accidentally came into contact with pollutants when he was injured. He could not receive effective treatment and his body weakened day by day. He could not bear the burden of rebuilding the base and had no choice but to accept the assistance from his rival, Fu's Pharmaceutical.

Fortunately, the other two of the base's three pillars are still there: Deputy Director Pei Yu and Dr. Li Anmin.

With their intervention and negotiation, everything quickly got back on track.

The people at the base also discovered that when they went against Fu's Pharmaceuticals, it seemed like they couldn't move an inch in the world. They couldn't buy daily necessities, various equipment stores were not open to the public, and the reconstruction process was stuck at the application stage.

But when Fu's Pharmaceuticals became an ally of the base, the whole world seemed to give them the green light. Not only did supermarkets offer discounts and conveniences, but various stores also offered free VIP memberships, making them VIP users. They didn't even need to pull strings or find people to negotiate with; a single phone call was all it took for the construction team to arrive within an hour. They didn't even need to worry about the materials for the reconstruction; everything was arranged by someone else.

In comparison, the treatment is vastly different.

Gradually, some snobbish people's mindset changed, and their pride began to rise. They complained that Pei Yuheng should not have offended Fu's Pharmaceuticals in the first place, otherwise they would have been living a good life long ago, instead of being so frustrated in the early stages.

These people gathered together and discussed it: rather than letting the sickly Pei Yuheng occupy the position of dean and do nothing, it would be better to support Fu Zong as the new boss!

By then, they will have "meritorious service in supporting the emperor"! They will definitely be promoted to senior management, receive better benefits, and money and power will be within their grasp!

Unfortunately, before they could even begin their daydream, their secret plot to have Fu Zong remove Pei Yuheng from power was exposed in public.

Xie Xubai didn't tolerate them at all.

In front of everyone, Jin Guang wielded the golden light like a long whip with great force, whipping these traitors until they cried out for their parents, ran away in a panic, and fled the base in a sorry state.

Not only that, Xie Xubai also broadcast a notice, making the matter widely known in the surrounding areas and sternly warning everyone in the base to take it as a warning.

Pei Yuheng was worried that Xie Xubai would bring retaliation.

However, he didn't question Xie Xubai's actions, but felt that they weren't ruthless enough. Letting those people leave so freely would likely leave behind future troubles.

Xie Xubai asked Pei Yuheng: "If one day they slander you behind your back, and their descendants also harbor prejudice against you because of those false accusations, question your qualifications, cause a lot of controversy, and even affect your work, and you can't defend yourself and can only suffer in silence, would you be afraid?"

In later generations, some medical staff believed the rumors spread by their fathers in resentment and slandered Pei Yuheng, saying that he almost killed someone because of his pointless good deeds and that he was just an empty shell with no practical ability.

Dr. Li, who had just become the director, happened to pass by and overheard the rumors. Enraged, he immediately turned on someone and beat them up, completely escalating the conflict between the two factions in the hospital.

Pei Yuheng was taken aback, then smiled calmly: "Judgment of right and wrong comes from the heart; praise and blame are determined by others." (Note: From a couplet at Yuelu Academy)

Xie Xubai stared intently at Pei Yuheng, making the latter unable to resist touching his face, wondering if there was something dirty on it.

The next second, the young man pulled out a video camera, slung it over his shoulder with an air of importance, and said with great interest: "Come on, repeat what you just said in the same tone."

Pei Yuheng: "..." He didn't understand what was triggering the child's excitement, but looking into those sparkling eyes, he felt a sense of being worshipped and couldn't bring himself to refuse.

And where did this camera come from?

A flash of golden light appeared in Xie Xubai's hand, and in the blink of an eye, the camera he was holding disappeared from Pei Yuheng's sight.

Inside the pristine white hospital room, sheer curtains swayed in the breeze, and a fan whirred gently.

However, the person lying in the hospital bed was not Pei Yuheng, who was pretending to be seriously injured, but Xie Xubai.

Xie Xubai's method of absorbing a massive amount of faith power through cheating is equivalent to adding fuel without restraint to an oil drum with a fixed capacity, and this fuel also contains unfiltered impurities.

The moment he gained control of Fu's Pharmaceuticals, he felt dizzy and his pale face became almost transparent in the sunlight. Cold sweat soaked his back, and he almost staggered and fell to the ground.

Let alone mastering and applying it to one's own use, this burden is simply unbearable.

After several days of recuperation, Xie Xubai finally regained some of his energy, but the level of confusion in his consciousness was even greater than that of those seriously ill patients.

Faced with Xie Xubai's kindness, how could Pei Yuheng bear to refuse him? He almost always granted his requests.

But reality has shown that children shouldn't be spoiled, especially Xie Xubai, who is a troublemaker.

One second the young man was obediently curled up in bed to rest, the next second he stared at Pei Yuheng's relaxed expression and said expectantly, "I want to be discharged."

Pei Yuheng subconsciously retorted, frowning with a stern face: "No, you can't even walk steadily, what do you want to do?"

"I don't want to make a fuss," Xie Xubai said. "I want to go to the provincial science and technology park."

As Pei Yuheng and Xie Xubai analyzed earlier, it is highly likely that his mother, Xie Yuchun, works in the Provincial Science and Technology Park, and that her position and achievements are not low.

For so many days, Xie Xubai hadn't mentioned the search for anyone, but when he did say this, he used an exceptionally solemn and serious tone.

Pei Yuheng's expression relaxed slightly, and a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

If it weren't for his own affairs dragging Xie Xubai down, the other party wouldn't have suppressed his desires and endured them until now.

However, Xie Xubai's health condition was really not suitable for traveling far. Pei Yuheng gently coaxed him, "Be good, wait until you feel better before you go, okay?"

Xie Xubai stared at him intently, then suddenly started to whine like a child: "No, let's go now."

Pei Yuheng was both amused and exasperated: "How are you going to get there? Are you suggesting we have someone bring a stretcher?"

Xie Xubai remained silent.

Seeing his head hanging low, Pei Yuheng felt a pang of sympathy, sighed softly, and resignedly went to push the wheelchair.

As soon as he turned around, the young man reached out and wrapped his arm around him: "Then carry me on your back."

"You carried him before too." Xie Xubai specifically referred to the time when he sneaked into the basement of Fu's Pharmaceutical Company, and Pei Yuheng, seeing that he was exhausted and weak, unusually insisted on carrying him on his back.

That day she was still putting on a brave face, but now she's acting like a shameless child, throwing a tantrum and insisting that Pei Yuheng carry her.

Pei Yuheng sighed helplessly, "Alright, alright, memorize it."

Xie Xubai smiled triumphantly, reached out and wiped Pei Yuheng's face. In less than a second, Pei Yuheng's appearance changed, and he took on the look of Fu Zong.

He then carried Xie Xubai out of the ward.

This was a makeshift concentration camp; a curtain pulled between two beds created a separate cubicle.

However, Pei Yuheng and Xie Xubai, as the deputy director, received preferential treatment and were able to have private wards.

The sun was shining brightly outside, the weather was fine, and melodious birdsong drifted from the treetops.

Not far away, the broken walls and ruins were towed away by cleaning trucks, the newly paved granite road was clean and tidy, the air freshener masked the acrid smell of the explosion, and the dilapidated garden was replanted with lush vegetation.

The construction team member, wearing a red hat and speaking loudly, was holding engineering blueprints in his hand and methodically directing the work: "Come on, come on—put it here! It's crooked! Move it a little to the left! That's right!"

Looking around, several newly built buildings stand tall, showing the grand scale of modern architecture. The plaque of the First Hospital is hung high, reflecting a bright luster in the sunlight.

Everything was thriving.

The clinic was originally located in a remote area, but the surrounding shops and streets were expanded several times, which made it a landmark in the city center, the original site of the First Hospital.

H City is the provincial capital, and the provincial science and technology park is located in the bustling center. It is in the same economic and business district as the health center, but they are located in the south and north of each other, and are more than a dozen stops apart.

Pei Yuheng had no intention of carrying Xie Xubai across. Even if he had the stamina, Xie Xubai wouldn't be able to withstand the cold wind all the way. So he simply asked someone to bring a car over and take them to the Provincial Science and Technology Park.

The driver took a shortcut, and they arrived at their destination about twenty minutes later.

Without having a driver accompany him, Pei Yuheng took out a wheelchair and helped Xie Xubai sit down.

He was surprised to find that Xie Xubai had pleaded and begged incessantly before setting off, but when they actually arrived at the science park, he was extremely calm and indifferent, as if he had no expectations at all.

Pei Yuheng suppressed his doubts and pushed Xie Xubai to begin their search for the missing person at the Provincial Science and Technology Park.

The kindergarten director seemed very happy to hear that the two of them were coming to visit. Upon hearing the news, he and other staff members rushed out to warmly welcome the guests.

Pei Yuheng explained his purpose, but the director and others had no recollection of Xie Yuchun. They looked at each other and asked, "Have you ever seen someone like this before?"

"No." "Hmm, I know almost all the neurology experts, but I can't quite place them all." "Even if there were, H City's medical standards aren't top-tier in the industry. If that person had lofty ambitions, they'd probably already been recruited by the capital..."

Pei Yuheng's initial trepidation and anticipation gradually sank to the bottom.

He looked at Xie Xubai, the young man in the wheelchair, who appeared calm and composed, as if he had expected the outcome.

But the hands resting on her knees clenched involuntarily and trembled slightly.

After searching for the entire morning, with the sun high in the sky and people rushing around, Xie Xubai finally took the initiative to stop: "I'm a little tired, Dean, let's rest for a while."

The two found a bench by the roadside and sat down to rest.

Xie Xubai, with his long, slender hands supporting him on the back of the chair, moved from the wheelchair to the bench and sat down next to Pei Yuheng.

He looked up and stared ahead for a long time, then said cryptically, "Actually, I know she's not here."

That day, Xie Xubai received a large amount of faith power, and his consciousness swept across the entire city in a circular pattern. At that moment, he discovered that Xie Yuchun was not in this city at all.

Pei Yuheng was stunned. He turned his head to ask: Since you knew she wasn't in the Provincial Science and Technology Park, why did you still insist on coming over?

But before he could speak, Pei Yuheng met Xie Xubai's eyes, which seemed bright but were actually dull and lifeless, and the question he was asking instantly stuck in his throat.

He immediately thought of it.

In this unfamiliar era, Xie Xubai only had two relatives. Apart from Xie Yuchun, he was the only one left. Now, unable to find any trace of Xie Yuchun and with each dashed hope, Xie Xubai was naturally filled with anxiety, disappointment, and despair.

Pei Yuheng thought to himself: No wonder... no wonder A Yu changed her usual strong demeanor and started to act coquettishly towards him.

Instantly, his heart ached as if it were being ripped apart. He stroked Xie Xubai's hair and asked, "Are you tired?... Do you want to lean on me and rest for a while?"

Xie Xubai remained silent for a moment, then leaned down, resting his forehead on Pei Yuheng's shoulder, and closed his dry eyelids.

Pei Yuheng felt Xie Xubai's breathing gradually become even, and guessed that Xie Xubai had probably not slept well for so many days because of this matter. He was immediately heartbroken.

It was cold, and he was about to take off his coat to cover Xie Xubai with it, and then ask the driver to bring a blanket from the car.

Suddenly, a pair of slender hands reached out from the side, took out a blanket before he could, covered Xie Xubai's body, and tucked it in.

After the woman finished doing all this, she sat down next to Xie Xubai, gazing gently and calmly at the young man's deep sleeping face, her expression a mixture of sigh and laughter: "...Before I knew it, he'd grown so big."

It took Pei Yuheng several seconds before he belatedly realized the chill that was creeping down his spine.

He didn't know when the woman approached them, nor where the thick blanket came from. People were coming and going around them, and no one questioned the woman's sudden appearance.

It's as if she belonged here, blending naturally into the environment without any sense of incongruity.

Pei Yuheng felt goosebumps all over his body, and cold sweat poured down his back. His first reaction was to shield Xie Xubai in his arms and stare warily at the woman who had suddenly appeared.

The woman was plain-looking, with nothing particularly outstanding about her, but she possessed a quiet and captivating charm.

A subtle feeling welled up in Pei Yuheng's heart, and he tentatively asked, "You are... Xie Yuchun?"

Author's Note:

I overestimated it; it won't end in one chapter. There are still two plot points to cover. I'll try my best to finish it in the next chapter. =.=