Chapter 119 A Golden Insight: The Persistent Cat Dad and the Indifferent Cat Mom...
The core area was deathly silent.
Bai Ling squatted down and slowly buried her face in her palms.
Iron Wall maintained his usual calm expression, but his fists were clenched tightly.
Zhulong stood there, silent for a long time.
Everything they had fought for, everything they had believed in, the sense of accomplishment they had felt from the successful completion of their missions…
It's all built on lies and bloodshed.
Those worlds, those lives, those "mistakes" they themselves purified...
"We..." Bailing's voice was muffled, "How many people have we killed? How many people have we indirectly caused to die?"
“It’s impossible to count…” Iron Wall’s voice was hoarse, “but each mission taker has at least dozens of worlds under their name, and each world has at least one extraction target…”
That is the lives of tens of thousands.
And they were accomplices of the executioner.
“The doctor knew all along,” Zhulong finally spoke, his voice eerily calm. “That’s why he chose to disappear, that’s why he orchestrated things, that’s why he chose Xinglin, because he knew everything. And we, too, need to repent, those worlds need to make amends, and this system…”
He looked up at the emerging data landscape around him.
"It needs to be completely changed."
"How can we change things?" Bailing looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. "Do we...do we still have the right to change anything?"
“We don’t,” Zhulong said frankly, “but the innocent people who lost their lives because of this need it, and the mission takers who are still alive and being deceived also need it.”
He turned to face the two of them. “The doctor left the final choice to us: either continue to wallow in guilt, or pick up the tools he left behind and try to make amends for everything that can be made up for.”
Iron Wall slowly loosened his fist. "The new agreement has ended the plundering. Time will heal, but some damage is irreversible."
"Just as the main system can't do that either, it can only deceive us into believing we can return to our own world and start over, we also can't bring back those who have died..."
“Then let’s do what we can,” said Zhulong. “First, let’s rebuild the mission provider system, help restore all the worlds that were on the verge of being destroyed by the main system, clean up all the remnants of the old system, and…”
He looked in the direction where the stars were dormant.
"When he wakes up, the doctor must have had a deeper meaning in choosing him. If what remains is such a broken and damaged body, the doctor will not be willing to just disappear like this."
Bai Ling wiped away non-existent tears, stood up, and said, "I'll join. Anyway... I have nowhere else to go."
Tiebi nodded, "Count me in. Debts must be repaid."
The three of them reached a consensus, unsurprisingly.
But the somber atmosphere did not completely dissipate.
Knowing the truth is one thing; accepting it is another.
“I want to…” Bailing whispered, “to go see my family in those worlds, either as mission takers or… to see how they are doing now.”
“Okay,” Zhulong said. “The new agreement allows for minimal intervention, but remember, we can’t get involved too much. They may have already started to accept the loss of their loved ones, so don’t hurt them anymore.”
“I know.” Bailing took a deep breath. “I just… feel guilty.”
The farm was completely unaware of the overwhelming waves of the data world.
Life goes on, warm and reassuring.
The four furry little ones have already managed to stumble out of the birthing room and explore the limited space of the warehouse.
The little male kitten, who inherited his leopard cat father's markings, was the most mischievous. He always tried to run outside, but Tangyuan would bring him back time and time again.
"Little Spot! Don't run around!" Tangyuan scolded the disobedient little brat for the nth time, "There are cars and big dogs outside, it's dangerous!"
The little spot blinked its green eyes, its face saying, "You're so long-winded, but I'll listen to you anyway."
The follow-up activities of the Pet Season proceeded smoothly.
The weekly small pet gatherings have become a regular event, with a limit of fifteen groups each time to ensure quality.
Master Sun's handmade furniture was in high demand, but he still insisted on the spirit of a craftsman, inspecting each piece again and again before handing it over to Shi Wan.
Many people have also learned about Master Sun's contact information and wanted to order directly from him, but Master Sun politely declined with a stern face.
Firstly, he was already too busy with the orders from Shi Wan to take on other people's orders; secondly, he had his own little principles, otherwise, if Shi Wan had taken the initiative to ask him to customize something, he would probably still be bored out of his mind right now.
That afternoon, seeing that everything was going smoothly and that the personnel and work processes were well-integrated and in a proficient stage, Shi Wan held a small tea party in the activity room of Zone 2, inviting the core team and several regular guests to discuss the theme of the next Pet Season.
Isabella was very enthusiastic. She brought a bunch of proposals. "In addition to the 'Endless Summer' theme, we can also do an 'Autumn Fairy Tale' theme, or a 'Warm Winter Healing' theme, combining Christmas and New Year, and focusing on the emotional connection between people and pets."
Su Qing was flipping through the sample booklet. "By the way, speaking of the winter theme, the factory has made a new batch of pet Christmas sweater samples. The design was done after I consulted with the designer, and there are also matching owner scarves. They are very suitable for the winter theme. After all the product samples are sent over, I will take them to President Shi to see if they need to be modified or remade. If it is decided, we can place the order now and prepare the inventory."
While sipping his tea, Chen Xi also offered practical suggestions: "I also have suggestions regarding winter activities. We should consider increasing the proportion of indoor activities, and heating and safety facilities should be checked in advance."
Everyone was having a lively discussion, and the activity room was filled with laughter and the sparks of inspiration.
Tangyuan squatted on the windowsill, watching the kittens playing in the soft play area. Little Spot tried to climb the cat tree, but got stuck halfway up and meowed anxiously.
"Idiot!" Tangyuan jumped down, used its head to push against the little spotted bottom, and helped it climb up.
Shi Wan couldn't help but laugh as she watched this scene.
She took out her phone, took a picture, and posted it to the farm's account, captioned "A typical day in the life of a farmer taking care of his kids. [Image]"
Comments appeared quickly.
"Help! It's so cute!"
"Tangyuan is such a model farmer! Does she really have to worry about such trivial things as taking care of a baby?"
"I have a question... Tangyuan is really a male cat, right..."
"You dare upstairs! Watch out, the Tangyuan Master might scratch you! Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
"The spotted pattern is so pretty! Can I adopt it? I really love it! I live in a three-story villa, and the indigenous people there are very kind! Looking for adoption!"
Shi Wan replied with a smile, "No adoptions allowed~ They're all mine!"
The comments section is more active now.
"Oh my god, I'm so angry! This Xiao Wan is a bit arrogant, I'm going to go steal the cat by following the internet cable!"
"Ah!! My dream cat! It's not that Mommy doesn't love you..."
"Oh my god, why isn't it open for adoption? How can you manage to take care of sixty or seventy cats by yourself? Isn't the point of finding homes for cats to provide them with better care? Are you just doing this for clicks???"
"Upstairs?? Can't handle it all?? Didn't you see those semi-trailers weighing over ten kilograms each in the photos and videos?"
A small argument broke out in the comments section. Shi Wan frowned as she read it, but didn't pay much attention.
There are always comments saying that she has too many cats and it's difficult for her to meet all her emotional needs.
At first, Shi Wan was a little at a loss and thought about explaining, but after it happened a lot, she got used to it.
They argued for a couple of days, but the argument quickly faded away.
She put down her phone and continued the discussion.
The tea party continued.
Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.
Deep within the world of data, new work has already begun.
Zhulong, Bailing, and Tiebi split up and acted separately.
One team began organizing all the data from the old system, preparing to establish a true historical archive.
One sets out to contact scattered mission participants, explain the truth, and offer choices.
A plan has been initiated to revisit and assist all mission worlds.
The dormant aura of the Starfall is still faint, but stable.
Occasionally, there are extremely subtle fluctuations, like having a quiet dream in deep sleep.
In my dream, there was sunshine, meowing cats, and laughter.
There was also a girl's gentle voice, babbling on and on, but it was hard to hear what she was saying.
But the voice was very familiar and comforting.
That might not be a dream.
Perhaps it is a genuine longing and worry transmitted across dimensions.
Xinglin is unaware of this yet; he is trying hard to wake up.
After the kittens were born, Golden Spot would occasionally visit, but he never managed to get into the farm.
One reason was that Rou Rou didn't show any desire for him to come over, and Shi Wan was afraid that the two cats would fight if he came in.
One is that every time Jin Dian comes over, Shan Feng keeps a close eye on him, and Da Huang and her two puppies follow suit and keep a close eye on him too.
One dog could probably take on the challenge.
With a pack of dogs staring at him, Jin Dian inevitably froze.
One evening, after the kittens turned one month old, that familiar figure reappeared outside the west fence of the farm.
Jin Dian was squatting by the grass in the setting sun, his emerald green eyes intently gazing in the direction of the warehouse.
He looked a little different today; besides the exquisite leather collar around his neck, he had something in his mouth that gleamed faintly in the twilight.
It was the mountain wind that first discovered it.
The military dog let out a low growl, sounding a bit annoyed. If translated, it would probably be something like, "Why is it you again, you brat?" But she remained well-behaved and didn't attack. Instead, she turned and trotted off to find Chen Xi.
Chen Xi was inspecting the fence of Zone 2 when, after hearing the warning from the mountain wind, he contacted Shi Wan on the walkie-talkie with a complicated expression.
"Mr. Shi, the cat dad is here again by the west fence. This time he seems to have... brought a gift?"
Shi Wan was in the kitchen preparing postpartum nutrition meals for Rou Rou when she heard this and her hand trembled, almost spilling fish oil outside.
Goodness, did they come to visit because they know the kids are all grown up?
You even brought a gift?
So particular?
She put the nutritious meal down, wiped her hands, and said, "I'll be right there."
When Shi Wan arrived at the west fence, the scene she saw made her both laugh and cry.
Jin Dian had already put the gift down.
It was half a fish that looked very fresh, its scales shimmering in the setting sun.
He was sitting upright next to the fish, the tip of his tail swaying gently, gazing in the direction of the warehouse, his posture as elegant as if he were attending a formal occasion.
Inside the enclosure, the succulent had somehow wandered out.
She recovered very well after giving birth; her long, silver-gray fur was fluffy and soft, and her little face was round and beautiful.
She crouched inside the fence, three meters away from Jin Dian, her icy blue eyes calmly watching him, neither excitedly approaching nor coldly leaving.
Shi Wan looked left and right.
This atmosphere... doesn't it feel a bit like a divorced couple visiting their child?
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