Chapter 273 Epilogue - The New World Arc (Part 70)

It's all him.

Whether it's Shen Yun or Shen Yingxue... in the end, they are all individuals from the same sample E026.

They were simply given different names due to individual differences.

"Well, could we consider it a humanistic consideration?"

As Shen Yun led the way, she said this, her indifferent voice carrying a hint of a joke.

Therefore—

While shocked, Yu Qingzhou couldn't help but feel a sense of inexplicable absurdity.

Why can this person so casually bring up such a heavy topic?

Especially when the focus of the discussion is on the young people themselves.

Seemingly sensing the boy's doubts, Shen Yun slightly tugged at the corners of her mouth, making the curve of her lips slightly wider than it actually was.

"Was that expression one of sadness for me?"

"I……"

Yu Qingzhou couldn't explain it.

Answering yes or no seems inappropriate.

Yu Qingzhou did not deny that he had similar thoughts, but looking back, did he really have the right to sympathize with the other party?

After all, if what Shen Yun said is true.

The person in front of me and the Dr. Shen I knew before, as experimental subjects from the same sample, shared the number E026.

So what am I, as E025?

Could it be that in some unknown corner, there actually exists a female version of myself?

Just the thought of this possibility sent shivers down Yu Qingzhou's spine.

In a daze, he seemed to smell the strong incense scent in the damp storage room again.

Red wax dripping from the corner of the old wooden table, meandering like dried blood and tears.

The rotten apple, with its thick, brown juice, clings to your fingers like nauseating corpse fluid; no matter how carefully you wash it, it leaves behind a lingering stench of decay.

A sudden spasm surged in my stomach.

At the same time, the hoarse, confused calls from the depths of memory also resurfaced.

【Xiao Rou…】

That was the cry of a neglectful mother to her daughter who died far from home…

It was also that crazy old woman who did this to herself—

Yu Qingzhou opened her mouth and suddenly bent over to gag.

Fortunately, my stomach was empty, so in the end only a few drops of gastric juice came back up, burning my mouth and throat with a sour and bitter taste.

"...What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

As they spoke, Shen Yun had already approached.

Seeing Yu Qingzhou's slightly disheveled and pained appearance, he wanted to reach out to help her, but she decisively waved him away.

"I'm fine. I just remembered some unpleasant memories."

"Is that so?"

After receiving a clear signal of rejection, Shen Yun did not force her way closer, but instead took a half step back and stood beside the boy.

Watching the latter fumble in his pocket for a mint, unwrap it, and pop it into his mouth—that fluid movement was perhaps something even Yu Qingzhou himself didn't notice.

As the candy melted little by little, the boy's expression gradually relaxed.

Shen Yun could see clearly and recognized that the candy was Li Nian's, the one that E027 liked to carry around.

Based on past performance, E027 didn't actually like mints that much before.

Judging from the procurement list, the supply of this sugar increased significantly at a certain stage... seemingly around the time E027 and E025 came into direct contact.

Shen Yun wasn't surprised at all that E027 knew what E025 liked.

When something unusual happens too often, it becomes commonplace.

It's like E027's innate obsession with E025, or like repeatedly retrieving related knowledge from one's memory.

In truth, all of this began largely because of one person's obsession with another.

It's not E027 versus E025—

Rather, it was Chen Yun's interpretation of Yu Qingzhou.

Of course, the "deep charm" mentioned here does not refer to the young man himself.

Rather, it is the original E026 that was preserved as a sample and then "revived" in this body through modern technology.

However, despite inheriting almost all the memories of each E026, including the initial sample.

It is still a deep and resonant charm.

He learned from this experience and memory, but did not develop any empathy.

Of course, he admitted that he did have some interest in the boy in front of him.

However, let's leave it at the research level for now.

Shen Yun would instinctively hug the curious boy because of his touch. But once she came to a conclusion that it felt good, she would decisively let go.

Shen Yun didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Excessive emotions can cloud judgment, just like with one's colleague.

If it weren't for the idea of ​​taking the boy away, things wouldn't have come to this... Shen Yun didn't think any further.

After all, from a certain perspective, Shen Yingxue is Shen Yun, and Shen Yun is also Shen Yingxue.

Shen Yun has no interest in self-criticism.

However, he immediately picked up the handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms.

The handkerchief was originally in the boy's coat pocket.

The other person was busy rummaging through their pockets for candy and didn't notice it fall out. And they didn't even realize it...

I can't quite describe the feeling of being immersed in it.

Ultimately, it's a trivial matter, nothing to worry about. In fact, the handkerchief wasn't even a gift from him to the boy.

At one point, Shen Yun unexpectedly felt the same way as Shen Yingxue, who was not present.

It's probably the moment when a boy carefully peels off the candy wrapper and puts the mint into his mouth.

It's just a piece of candy... It's just candy that can be bought anywhere, why treat it so preciously?

On the other hand, this handkerchief is gone, so it's not a question of whether it matters or not.

Because the boy was completely unaware.

Shen Yun frowned imperceptibly, and finally just silently put the handkerchief away.

That's all.

He said to himself.

Anyway, the boy didn't seem to need it much.

Anyway, it'll probably be a long time before we meet again, and by then, I might already be...

Shen Yun had not forgotten the purpose of her trip.

He came to see someone off.

Once the person is delivered to their destination, someone will naturally meet them.

With different departments having different responsibilities, Chen Yun could not predict what the future held.

However, it's always better to be able to go out and see the world than to remain locked up in this prison made up of false memories.

Even if it's just entering a bigger cage... it was something E027 begged and pleaded for.

What seemed like an incredibly willful wish to Shen Yun was unexpectedly granted.

It was unexpected, but also somewhat reasonable.

After all, that guy was different from them. Although he had a similar bloodline, he was a genuine human being.

Therefore, they are more vulnerable, and it's not uncommon for some, like this one, to be born with severe defects...

"...That's fine."

Shen Yun heard the boy say this.

Looking at the other party's calm and composed demeanor as they regrouped, Shen Yun felt a strange sense of familiarity.

When was that?

A pale-faced boy stood amidst a blanket of white snow.

When she looked at herself, she seemed to have the same indifferent expression.

Snowflakes fell one by one.

The boy's figure gradually blurred, merging into the mottled white.

A deafening roar shook the ground overhead.

The world collapsed in an instant.

He watched helplessly as the boy disappeared before his eyes, swallowed up by the boundless sea of ​​snow, never to be seen again...

Is this the place?

A boy's voice came from nearby asking a question.

Shen Yun nodded, suppressing all the emotions that shouldn't have been there.

"Okay, that's enough for now. The people over there will be here soon."

"I see." Yu Qingzhou nodded.

He thought the YMCA was going to leave.

You can see that Shen Yun is standing still, not looking like she's about to leave.

He had no choice but to ask again, "Is there anything else?"

Given that there were surveillance cameras everywhere along the way, Yu Qingzhou didn't think his abilities would cause the other party to have unnecessary worries about him escaping.

So, is there anything else you need to explain to yourself?

"Here, take this."

In the end, Shen Yun simply handed over an envelope.

"What is this?" Yu Qingzhou asked, puzzled.

"You'll know once you open it."

Shen Yun paused, then added, "But let's wait a bit, before that—"

……What?

The question that hadn't been voiced was answered by a deep hug against the back of the neck.

It was so brief that it vanished in an instant, yet it felt as if all the energy had been used up.

"sorry."

"..."

"Also, thank you."