The Third Human Base Research Institute, Underground Research Lab.
Eleven was lying flat on the dissection table, one of his arms outstretched, the skin on the inside of his arm cut open to reveal the mechanical structure inside, as precise as a real living organism.
He is currently keeping his eyes closed, and his body is in a dormant state.
Zhou Ziqi, dressed in a white lab coat, stood in front of the experimental table, studying the equipment while pinching his brow. After operating the instruments, the robotic arm next to the dissection table began to attempt to repair the simulated skin on Shiyi's arm.
"Rather than a special relationship, it's more like... symbiosis?"
Zhou Ziqi leaned against the experimental table: "Although I don't understand the reason, the life of the mechanical structure and his consciousness are not consistent, but it is precisely in the fluctuation of consciousness that we are connected."
"In short, his body can be destroyed, and his consciousness can be transmitted back to other mechanical constructs without harming either of us. However, as a human, if my body dies, my consciousness cannot be transmitted back in a mechanical link, and he will also die. Similarly, if his consciousness transmission fails or his consciousness dies, so will I."
After saying that, Zhou Ziqi couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes filled with even more mockery. Perhaps on a spiritual level, they could be called the same person, but alas—they would only kill each other.
This possessiveness called "love" is a twisted spell.
Ruan Qing'an, who was listening from the side and was completely confused, remained silent for a moment: "In terms of research, Mr. Zhou is indeed unmatched."
"Xiao Ruan's praise is becoming increasingly insincere."
Zhou Ziqi said softly. After confirming that Shiyi was alright, he came to Ruan Qing'an's side, his slender fingers hooking the hem of her clothes.
"Actually, when I was preparing the Thunder at the base entrance, I vaguely sensed a similar sense of threat. I thought it was his backup plan, but I didn't expect it to come from myself."
How is Eleven doing now?
Zhou Ziqi paused: "...I won't let him die on my dissection table. Although I'm a bit crazy, I'm not stupid."
Recalling what happened at the base entrance, Ruan Qing'an hesitated to answer Zhou Ziqi's question. Seeing the petite girl beside her fall silent, Zhou Ziqi narrowed his phoenix eyes and said, "Don't worry about him. He's just in a temporary dormant state."
“I won’t kill him until I find a way to break this symbiotic relationship—provided, of course, that you’re not together.”
The man spoke softly, his words like the whispers of lovers. His long arms were on either side of Ruan Qing'an, pressing down on the lab table, trapping the petite girl in his embrace.
He spoke gently, his fingertips tracing strands of Ruan Qing'an's hair, affectionately tucking them behind her ear: "Little Ruan, remember to be good."
"If you choose him, I'll kill you all."
The petite girl subconsciously pursed her lips and turned her head somewhat uneasily: "Mr. Zhou, we terminated our employment relationship a long time ago. Please don't say things that could cause misunderstandings."
"Xiao Ruan..."
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Zhou, what happened at the base?"
Ruan Qing'an, her face sullen, hurriedly interrupted Zhou Ziqi, and with excessive cleverness, bent down and slipped out from under the man's arm.
Her attempt to change the subject was terribly clumsy.
Zhou Ziqi paused, simply to cooperate with her change of topic, and withdrew his hand to lean to the side: "Back then, it was because of Jia Lan that my Xiao Ruan ran away from the base and brought this thing back with her."
"Look at those two leaders, being completely manipulated by a woman. I got bored with this show, so I kicked them out. As for the other ability users, I just used some control methods."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and used his slender fingertips to construct a crystal-like pyramid shape in space: "This is all thanks to Xiao Ruan. The mental power you talked about with me in S City gave me the idea to control superhumans with a higher level of power."
"While both superhumans and zombies originate from the zombie virus, under its influence, they have gradually diverged into two different branches. Compared to plants and animals, humans have a higher compatibility with their own genetic sequences and a lower rejection rate—"
"Wait, Mr. Zhou!"
Ruan Qing'an suddenly spoke up, pressing her throbbing temples: "Teacher Zhou... no, Mr. Zhou, just tell me the result."
Looking at Ruan Qing'an's puffed-up face, looking like a pitiful underachiever who couldn't understand math class, Zhou Ziqi couldn't help but chuckle: "Little guy who only wants the answers when copying homework."
"Simply put, this is a form of mind control. All the superhumans in the Third Human Base are part of the controlled population, and I am the central system of mind control. For Eleven, this should also be the method he uses to control mutated plants; it's all the same principle."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing'an nodded as if he understood but not quite.
She suddenly wrinkled her nose and asked, "Mr. Zhou, did some medicine get spilled in the lab? It smells a bit unpleasant."
"Potion?"
Zhou Ziqi was slightly taken aback. In the research institute, he was almost as rational as a machine. Except for the day Ruan Qing'an left, he would not have made such a mistake.
Just then, Shi Yi opened his eyes on the dissection table and sat up. His dissected arm was restored to its original state, with no extra marks or wounds visible on the simulated skin.
Seeing that Shiyi was awake, Ruan Qingan ignored the strange smell and asked, "Shiyi, are you feeling alright?"
"Fortunately, I heard everything you said just now."
As Shiyi spoke, she glanced at Zhou Ziqi before saying, "Don't worry, Qing'an, I know what you're worried about. I'm not as immature as him. With our symbiotic relationship, I won't make a move."
Ruan Qingan breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
What she feared most was that before she could finish her mission, these two bastards would fight each other and kill each other.
But before she could even breathe a sigh of relief, Shiyi suddenly said—
"I'll take action once I find a way to break the symbiotic relationship."
Standing to the side, Zhou Ziqi sneered, his eyebrows curving upwards, and said, "I'll be waiting. I'll be spending this time at the research institute. Once I figure out a way to get rid of it, I'll personally send you to the dissection table."
037: [Damn it! I've never seen anyone so determined to kill themselves. What's wrong with them? Is this how love works?!]
Ruan Qing'an sighed softly and pinched the bridge of her nose: "Alright, let's leave it at that for now. Shiyi, let me take you to find a place to stay."
"Can't I be with Qing'an?"
"……cannot."
Ruan Qing glanced at Zhou Ziqi, then hastily looked away. He simply leaned back leisurely and casually said, "Little Ruan, I've prepared a place for you to stay. Remember to come back if you can't stay here anymore."
"The decor, the furnishings, the room... everything is to your liking."
"I understand, but it's not necessary, Mr. Zhou."
Ruan Qing'an nodded slightly, turned and walked out of the research institute. Shi Yi followed her, while Zhou Ziqi simply crossed his arms and watched from afar.
Should we follow them and pester them relentlessly?
No, the renowned Madman Zhou wouldn't do something so inefficient and immature. He would personally force his little Ruan to obediently return to his side when she couldn't bear living in that filthy environment.
How could I... bear to let go?
He raised his hand to cover half of his face, his laughter low and silent.
Just then, a muffled thud came from outside the research lab, followed by Shi Yi's tense and anxious voice—"Qing An!"
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