Chapter 85 Aphrodite Has Someone Backing Her

An affair?

Bai Heng believed that this was a perfectly legitimate demand.

After all, the only person who could make Sang Li feel guilty was herself.

Isn't that right?

Sang Li licked her lips: "Looks like you're not looking for me. Aren't you and Lu Jin on bad terms? I always felt like you two were at each other's throats. What happened? Suddenly you're best buddies, inseparable?"

"..."

Bai Heng: "Your speech has become increasingly rude lately."

Sang Li: "You'll get used to it. Speaking gently won't put food on the table, haha. He's not here yet, but he'll probably be back soon. Why don't you sit here for a while? I'll go get you something to drink. Or, if you'd like, the esteemed Ms. Sang Li can also make you some tea. I'll give you the best pre-Spring Equinox Longjing tea that Lu Jin has been hoarding, but it's this year's..."

Bai Heng walked up to her, took a small velvet box from the inside pocket of his suit, and placed it in front of her: "It's for you. Here's a gift for you."

"?"

Sang Li opened it with a puzzled look. It was a strawberry-shaped bracelet, enamel-painted, small and delicate, as if it were tailor-made for her.

Somewhat cute.

It matched the pink dress she wore while camping that day.

"...Why did you suddenly give me this?" she asked, but her hand unconsciously picked up the strawberry pendant.

It also seems to have a strawberry aroma.

“I think it suits you,” he said softly. “Do you like it? Should I put it on you now?”

Before he could finish speaking, the office door was pushed open.

It's Lu Jin.

His gaze swept around the room, and when it landed on the sofa, his eyes immediately turned cold.

"Why are you here?" Lu Jin asked, somewhat displeased.

It was as if their territory had been invaded.

Bai Heng sat next to Sang Li, not far away, in fact, one might even say "too close".

It was a distance that made people instinctively uncomfortable.

And this is clearly my own office.

Even that sofa was basically only for Sang Li and the team members who were reporting.

"When did you learn to show up uninvited?" Lu Jin asked calmly.

Bai Heng: "Something's up."

Lu Jin sneered and turned to look at Sang Li: "Come sit here."

Don't get so close to him.

They're all going to be put up.

This person is so old and doesn't even know what a safe distance is.

Sang Li pouted, feeling the air temperature drop suddenly. Hesitantly, she stood up from the sofa and subtly shifted her position.

She moved to Lu Jin's chair across from her desk, automatically escaping the eye of the storm.

This is bad.

It's like this now...

The two alphas are releasing pheromones into each other.

Tsk.

Bai Heng seemed unconcerned, remaining seated with his legs crossed and one hand casually resting on the back of the sofa: "I found out what you asked me to look into."

He looked directly at Lu Jin, his eyes devoid of any emotion: "Hong Yu from the Technical Inspection Department is one of the authors of Appendix 2 of BEAM-071."

Lu Jin's expression changed, and he frowned slightly: "Appendix 2?"

Sang Li pointed to herself: "Me?"

She is BEAM-071.

Why is everyone connected to me?

Sang Li: "Am I some kind of rare existence?"

"certainly."

"yes."

The two men spoke in unison.

Sang Li was somewhat petrified.

"Could he also have a crush on me? Oh no, I've never even met him." Sang Li clicked her tongue and shook her head.

Bai Heng: "I checked the database, and you didn't have any endings or access records. However, I'm also curious why 071 was commissioned to write it, since he didn't have the necessary research privileges."

Lu Jin: "I don't know."

Sang Li moved Lu Jin's mouse, looking at the various information about BEAM-625 on the computer screen.

"Oh right, what's my nickname? Is it Moonlight Siren, Rose Collapse, or Person in a Painting? I don't even know my nickname yet." Sang Li was very interested and leaned on Lu Jin's desk.

“Aphrodite,” Bai Heng replied casually, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Does it sound nice?”

The air suddenly went silent for a second.

Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty in ancient Greek mythology.

Sang Li: "..."

She had certainly read the relevant legends and knew the meaning behind the name.

but.

Putting that burden on myself would be too much to bear.

but.

Although she wasn't that pretty...

Sang Li blinked slowly, her eyes full of suspicion as she looked at Bai Heng: "Are you... indirectly insulting me?"

Bai Heng smiled but didn't say anything.

Ha, could these two have some kind of prophetic ability?

I'm actually quite well-behaved.

Lu Jin leaned against the edge of the desk, on the same side as Sang Li: "Appendix 2?"

[BEAM-071 exhibits a certain degree of aggression when experiencing extreme emotional fluctuations, with biting being the most common behavior.]

[Appendix 2: Case records show that ███, the leader of Squad A at BEAM Site-██, was bitten by BEAM-071 during the initial capture mission and became infected, exhibiting the aforementioned symptoms. This individual has been renumbered BEAM-071-1, contained in a high-risk anomaly zone, and is scheduled to meet with BEAM-071 regularly to maintain stability.]

The person who recorded Appendix 2 is the one who was killed by Fei Ling this time.

Hongyu.

Sang Li: "So, I feel like they're all coming for me?"

Bai Heng: "When was the last time you saw BEAM-071-1?"

Sang Li: "About half a year ago, you should have a report on that."

She paused, then suddenly asked, "Yeah, it's been half a year, why hasn't anyone reminded me to comfort him? To be honest, I do feel a little guilty towards him."

Lu Jin: "He's dead."

Sang Li was shocked: "Dead?!"

Lu Jin: "More than two months ago."

Sang Li: "I don't know about this."

It's confirmed; they're all related to me.

Am I destined to be the kind of person who causes murders wherever I go?

Bai Heng glanced at Lu Jin and lowered his voice: "I just discovered by chance in the system that Hong Yu once applied for and successfully obtained a permission."

"What permissions?" Sang Li asked instinctively.

Bai Heng gently tapped his palm: "Access to your body data. Logically speaking... no one else should have this access except me."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Sang Li's pupils contracted slightly: "What did you say?"

Lu Jin straightened up, his brows furrowed, and his tone was clearly displeased: "Who granted you this permission?"

Bai Heng stared at him: "Who else could it be?"

BEAM's senior management.

This is absolute access.

The air felt compressed, so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Sang Li sat stiffly in the chair: "So, are my physical data important? Is there something wrong with my physical data?"

But no one answered her immediately.

Lu Jin lowered his head, his gaze falling on the desk.

Bai Heng unconsciously rubbed his wristwatch with his fingers.

They certainly know why they should remain silent.

It's not that I'm unwilling to talk about it, but that I have no way to talk about it.

Because the meaning behind that string of permissions is all too clear.

The "normal" physical data was fabricated by Bai Heng and Lu Jin in collaboration with them. This was an unspoken secret, intended to allow Sang Li to return to the real world and leave the containment facility.

They concealed or modified some of her activity indicators, masking abnormal values.

Bai Heng and Lu Jin always thought their plan was a success.

but.

Now it seems...

The higher-ups have always known.

Not only did they know, they also tacitly accepted it all.

This means that they had already tacitly approved of Sang Li's release from the shelter.

Even every step she took to appear beside Lu Jin might have been "planned".

Bai Heng hadn't broken out in a cold sweat in a long time.

Lu Jin also felt a chill run down his spine.

It seems as if an unseen hand is manipulating all of this.

Why would the administration condone this behavior?

Was it for some kind of experiment?

10 PM.

get off work.

Bai Heng asked Lu Jin to see him off.

Lu Jin raised an eyebrow and nodded: "Where to?"

"The suburbs. My personal laboratory." Bai Heng walked slowly, his voice carrying a faint hint of weariness.

Indeed, upon hearing this news, Lu Jin's irritation became somewhat palpable.

Sang Li sat in the passenger seat, Bai Heng sat in the back, and Lu Jin drove.

None of the three spoke.

After seeing Bai Heng off, Sang Li sighed, "So you're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

Lu Jin: "Don't ask."

Sang Li: "Okay, but you still have to tell me if it threatens my life, health, or property."

"OK."

Sang Li: "So?"

Lu Jin: "There's no 'there'. Trust me, you're perfectly fine."

Sang Li: "So the Bureau is watching me?"

Lu Jin: !

Sang Li shrugged: "Goodness, am I stupid? You guys tampered with my physical data, didn't you?"

Lu Jin looked at her and reluctantly admitted, "Okay, yes."

Sang Li: "So, do I have any chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, myocardial infarction, or uterine fibroids?"

"No."

"That's good."

Sang Li relaxed.

It's good that you're not sick.

After all, she didn't know if she could use medical insurance.

Lu Jin: "Aren't you going to ask anymore?"

"As long as you're not sick, it's fine. If your legs and feet are okay, you can run fast." Sang Li said leisurely.

The car was restarted, but we didn't get on the highway.

The night breeze was cool, and the city lights outside the window were gradually replaced by sparse streetlights.

She really enjoyed riding in Lu Jin's car.

Very stable.

I always feel like I'm the female lead in a luxury goods advertisement.

Night fell quickly.

Sang Li knew this stretch of road all too well.

She looked at the somewhat desolate street scene outside the car window and suddenly paused.

Which way do we go?

"This one in the eastern suburbs," Lu Jin said, "is the route recommended by the navigation system."

Sang Li paused for a moment: "When I was a child, I often walked this route to the hospital when I was sick. Thinking about it now, I still think my mother was pretty good to me, at least she didn't neglect me. I often had headaches, stomachaches, and joint pains when I was a child, tsk, I was so pitiful."

Which hospital?

"Pediatric Medical Research Center"

Lu Jin frowned.

Sang Li: "What's wrong? You're being so jumpy today."

Lu Jin: "The Children's Medical Research Center is in Nancheng."