On the last day of his vacation, Zhao Yexi was at home, applying medicine to the back of his neck. It was a skin anti-itching medication he'd bought at the pharmacy; it felt cool and smooth. He applied it for two days, and it seemed to have a slight effect, and he felt he could be saved again.
Halfway through applying the medicine, his phone rang. Seeing the word "Master" on the screen, Zhao Yesi frantically wiped his hands on his clothes, then changed into the sitting posture of an elementary school student and solemnly answered the phone: "Professor, Happy New Year."
Guan Chengji got straight to the point: "Have you considered the ABO Research Institute matter?"
"I've thought it over," Zhao Yesi said nervously, "I'm willing to continue following Master."
Guan Chengji was silent for a moment, then said, "Meet at the ABO Research Institute at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll talk to you about the institute's personnel. If there's no problem, we can finalize it."
"Yes Professor, no problem Professor."
"Well," Guan Chengji's voice was a little hoarse, "I'll hang up first."
"Wait a minute," Zhao Yexi asked, "Professor, will you go tomorrow?"
The next day, Zhao Yesi arrived at the ABO Research Institute half an hour early, wearing a loose denim jacket with two heat pads stuck on it.
Although winter had barely arrived in Suicheng, it was only enough to wear a thin coat. Zhao Yexi used the heat pack purely to retain a little warmth from the mortal world in front of Guan Chengji.
The ABO Research Institute is located in the Smart City near the city of Guangzhou. Perhaps to allow staff to focus on their research, there are few entertainment facilities nearby; the nearest movie theater is a 20-minute drive away.
Zhao Yexi, who had been watching stupid videos all the way, stood at the gate of the research institute, spread his arms, closed his eyes and felt the taste of science, when he received another call from Guan Chengji.
Guan Chengji's voice sounded even deeper than yesterday, and he coughed occasionally. He told Zhao Yesi that he had something to do today and would not be coming to the institute, so he let Zhao Yesi handle it himself.
Zhao Yesi breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Professor, are you feeling unwell?"
"It's not a big deal," Guan Chengji said. "Just take care of yourself."
Zhao Yesi tore off the heat pack with swift movements, "Yes, Professor."
Zhao Yesi registered with the security guard, showed his ID card, went through another security check, and came to the lobby of the ABO Institute.
The institute was newly built, its main building spanning nine floors. It was well-equipped, and the floor was so shiny you could look in a mirror, making Zhao Yexi a little worried about exposure. A large sign in the lobby indicated the floor plans. Zhao Yexi glanced over it and spotted words like "Finance Department," "Social Survey Department," "Research Group Three (Pheromone Analysis)," and "Director's Office."
The differentiation phenomenon has only appeared for two months, and the research institute has become so well-organized. Awesome.
The Human Resources Department is on the sixth floor of the main building. The elevator door slowly opened, and Zhao Yesi's gaze unexpectedly met Lu Huangzhi's. He was stunned by his handsome face for a second, then a series of exclamation points and question marks appeared on his face: "Ah!"
Lu Huangzhi raised his eyebrows and said, "Good morning."
Lu Huangzhi was not alone. Standing in front of him was his mentor, Liang Qinghuan, Guan Chengji's mortal enemy.
Liang Qinghuan wore glasses, was gentle and refined, and had a scholarly demeanor. He looked to be in his thirties at most, but Zhao Yesi knew that he was at least forty years old, just like his master.
Even if Guan Chengji and Liang Qinghuan weren't on good terms, Liang Qinghuan was still Zhao Yesi's senior. Zhao Yesi gave a polite, dimpled smile, "Good morning, Professor Liang." He looked at Lu Huangzhi, pursed his lips to make his dimples less noticeable, and said, "Good morning, junior."
Liang Qinghuan looked around and asked, "Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Where's Guan Chengji?"
"Professor Guan was going to bring me here, but he seems to be sick." Zhao Yexi began to regret it after he said this, and he didn't know whether this would be considered as leaking military information.
Lu Huangzhi said nonchalantly, "I ran into Professor Guan at school yesterday, and he didn't look too good."
Liang Qinghuan sneered: "Why didn't you tell me about this happy news earlier?"
Lu Huangzhi smiled, "Next time for sure."
Zhao Yesi smiled awkwardly but politely; he heard nothing.
Liang Qinghuan has a gentle personality, is good at playing games and picking up on jokes, and everyone from students to the water delivery guy thinks he is a good person. However, when facing Guan Chengji, he turns into a hermaphrodite and says all kinds of bad things.
The nature of human beings is double standards. On this point, Master Liang and his disciple Lu are of the same lineage.
Liang Qinghuan walked into the elevator and said, "Huang Zhi, take Zhao Yesi to report to the Human Resources Department."
Zhao Yesi said: "I can do it myself..."
Before he could finish his words, the elevator door closed. Lu Huangzhi shrugged and said, "Let's go."
Zhao Yesi asked: "Why are you here?"
Lu Huangzhi said, "You don't think that you and Professor Guan are the only two people from the academy who will enter the ABO Institute."
"But you're only in your second year of graduate school."
"I have completed my studies ahead of time, so I can do an internship first."
Zhao Yesi was in a complicated mood, "Wouldn't it be nice to go back and inherit the family business?"
Lu Huangzhi pretended to think for a few seconds and said, "It looks more fun here?"
Zhao Yexi scoffed, "You're wasting taxpayers' money by joining the research institute with this mentality."
"Become a taxpayer first before you talk about this." Lu Huangzhi stopped and said, "We're here, let's go in."
The amiable lady who met Zhao Yexi discussed a series of issues related to joining the company, focusing on the confidentiality agreement of the ABO Institute and the precautions for work. Finally, the exciting moment arrived.
"As for salary, we offer a uniform salary of 30,000 yuan for graduate students, with bonuses calculated separately. Room and board are free. Five social insurances and one housing fund are paid at the highest standard, and we'll also purchase high-value commercial insurance for you. The probation period is six months, with 80% of your salary, and two salary increases per year. Does Zhao have any other questions?"
"No, thank you."
"Next, the relevant departments will conduct a background check on you. If everything is fine, you can come for the physical examination. By the way, you haven't done the ABO test yet, right? We'll do it together when the time comes. We will give priority to testing every member of the institute. If the test shows differentiation, it will be sent directly to the laboratory, saving us the expense of finding clinical volunteers."
Zhao Yesi laughed dryly twice: "You must be joking."
Auntie smiled and said, "Whether it's a joke or not, you'll know when the time comes."
When Zhao Yesi came out of the office, Lu Huangzhi hadn't left yet. He saw the expression on Zhao Yesi's face and understood: "Someone regrets it."
Zhao Yesi turned his head stiffly and asked Lu Huangzhi: "Did she tell you about the volunteers? If we split up, she'll dissect us!"
The primary school principal's train of thought really didn't disappoint. Lu Huangzhi cooperated with Zhao Yesi's performance: "Really?"
"...It's fake. But they will definitely test the drugs on us, and we will become guinea pigs." Zhao Yexi held his head in his hands. "Damn, no wonder they want to buy commercial insurance for us!"
Lu Huangzhi nodded. "That's terrible. How about going out for a meal to calm your nerves? The professor said the restaurant at the ABO Institute is pretty good."
Zhao Yexi laughed angrily, "Can you please be more aware of being a guinea pig? If you get fat, you'll be killed!"
The ABO Institute's restaurant was on the third floor. To cater to the tastes of colleagues from all over the world, they offered a wide selection of eight cuisines, as well as unlimited beer, drinks, and eight-treasure porridge. Zhao Yexi and Lu Huangzhi had registered their information and could eat there for free for a day.
Zhao Yesi walked around and picked up three meat dishes and one vegetable dish. Finally, when he reached the water bar, he hesitated for a long time and tearfully gave up the milk tea and picked up a bottle of a more masculine sports drink.
Although it was lunchtime, the restaurant was quiet and sparsely populated, mostly researchers in their thirties and forties. Lu Huangzhi and Zhao Yexi sat between them, one looking like an idol star, the other a high school student, looking oddly out of place.
Lu Huangzhi saw the food Zhao Yesi brought and asked, "Eating so much?"
Zhao Yesi was still very confident in his appetite, "Basic operation, no 6."
Lu Huangzhi casually picked up a piece of braised beef brisket for Zhao Yesi and said, "Then why haven't you grown up yet?"
Zhao Yesi was hit by an arrow in the chest and nearly choked on a mouthful of rice. He threw the beef brisket back into Lu Huangzhi's bowl and said, "I don't want anything that a bastard has touched."
The two staff members sitting next to them were chatting in voices that they thought were very quiet, but in fact Zhao Yesi could hear them clearly.
"I heard they're planning to add a new rule. Anyone who mentions the word 'estrus' again will be fined 500 yuan."
"But those symptoms of an Omega are simply estrus. 'Susceptible period' is just a nice way of saying it."
"Don't ask. The question is human rights. You can say animals are in heat, but you can never say humans are in heat."
"Stop deceiving yourself and others..."
Zhao Yesi didn't dare to say anything. After the two men finished their meal and left, he couldn't wait to ask Lu Huangzhi, "Did you hear what they just said?"
"You mean in heat?"
"Congratulations! RMB-500."
Lu Huangyi didn't mind at all, "Then I'll say it again, let's make up 1,000."
"Why are you so calm? Aren't you afraid of becoming an Omega?"
"I probably won't."
"Why?!"
"I don't have any signs of Omega differentiation," Lu Huangzhi said with a smile, "but you, is your neck still uncomfortable?"
Zhao Yesi was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly took out his mobile phone and sent a WeChat message to Tao Qiaosheng: Xiao Qiao, when are you going to the mountain to worship Buddha? Take me with you, thank you!
Zhao Yexi followed Tao Qiaosheng up the mountain and spent a huge amount of money to buy two wish-fulfilling talismans. On the day of the test, Tao Qiaosheng thoughtfully sent Zhao Yexi to the research institute.
"Don't be nervous," Tao Qiaosheng comforted Zhao Yesi, who looked pale. "If you really differentiate into an Omega, I'm willing to trade with you anytime."
"How do I change it? Change my head?" Zhao Yesi felt even more nervous than during the college entrance examination. He tightly grasped the Wish-Fulfilling Talisman in his hand and said, "I'm leaving."
There were quite a few people getting tested, and by the time Zhao Yesi arrived, they were already in line. Lu Huangzhi should have been tested today, too, but Zhao Yesi looked around but didn't see him. He hoped he'd traveled to another world.
Genetic testing requires a blood draw. The nurse who drew the blood saw Zhao Yexi's anxiety and said, "The probability of differentiation is low, don't overthink it."
Zhao Yesi whispered, "But I have a reaction on the back of my neck."
The nurse sympathetically said, "Then you are probably differentiated."
Zhao Yexi felt a little heartbroken, "Can you not be so direct?"
The nurse patted Zhao Yesi's arm and said, "Relax, I'm going to give you the injection."
Zhao Yesi's heart suddenly rose to his throat, and he subconsciously said, "Wait, I..."
Suddenly, everything in front of him became pitch black. A cool palm covered Zhao Yesi's eyes. Lu Huangzhi's voice rang out behind him. He seemed to be laughing: "So, senior is afraid of injections."
In the darkness, Zhao Yesi smelled again that faint, fresh scent that inexplicably made him feel comfortable.
"If you're afraid, don't watch it." Lu Huangzhi said.
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