Chapter 49
Does he have the same burning love for me or even a thousandth of it?
Blood.
There was blood everywhere.
On the walls and on the ground, large chunks of torn flesh were flying, and grotesque carnage was overflowing. The little boy huddled in the corner, his beautiful eyes wide open to the extreme, his pupil reflecting the approaching face of his mother and her blood-dripping fingertips.
Don’t kill me, Mom; please don’t kill me!
Fear engulfed everything; his throat seemed blocked as if he couldn’t make a sound, watching in horror as the gleam of a blade rose high above his head—
Just then, a figure rushed up behind the mother, and a gunshot pierced through her chest!
The little boy’s pupils instantly shrank like needles.
His mother’s blood splattered down, almost drenching him completely, but he had lost all hearing and sensation; a split second stretched infinitely until—thud!
His mother’s body slumped down, her cold, blood-soaked hair brushing against the boy’s cheek.
Her eyes stared straight at her son, her upper body collapsing forward, brushing past him with the last ounce of strength to whisper something in his ear.
It was like a prophecy.
But the child could no longer hear.
Sound, scent, color, touch—everything had turned into distorted shapes like a montage. He subconsciously wanted to see who had shot and killed his mother, but his consciousness had already spun far away, as if falling backward into the depths of darkness.
The surface of the water submerged his nose and mouth, like knives piercing through his throat into his lungs, the deadly suffocation enveloping everything.
“!”
Shen Zhuo suddenly opened his eyes, gasping heavily.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Sheng also sat up, still half asleep, instinctively pulling Shen Zhuo into his arms, using his lips to gently brush against Shen Zhuo’s forehead, now soaked with cold sweat.
Shen Zhuo’s heart was pounding heavily, the lingering fear from the dream still haunting his subconscious. As he tried to recall the dream in detail, he found nothing; his horrified mind was blank.
“…just had a dream,” he murmured hoarsely, “can’t remember what it was about.”
“It’s okay; don’t be afraid.” Surprisingly, Bai Sheng didn’t ask too many questions. Instead, he rubbed Shen Zhuo’s forehead with the pad of his thumb, leaning down to plant a kiss, his lips touching Shen Zhuo’s skin just above his eyebrows as he whispered softly: “It was just a nightmare.”
Shen Zhuo vaguely felt that the dream might have been a fragment from his childhood, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall the scenes from the dream. He closed his eyes and instinctively buried his head in Bai Sheng’s neck, breathing in the clean, comforting scent of his skin, like the warmth of the ocean enveloping him.
“I’m here, everything’s okay.”
Bai Sheng’s hair was tousled, his upper body bare, the play of light outlining his attractive muscle contours. With one hand, he lifted Shen Zhuo onto his lap, sitting astride his thighs, while the other hand slipped under the loose t-shirt to vigorously massage his thin and narrow back. It was a deeply soothing motion, gradually relaxing Shen Zhuo’s tense back.
Their hips pressed together, the sheets in disarray, and Shen Zhuo’s arm hooked around the back of Bai Sheng’s neck, their noses rubbing affectionately.
Bai Sheng’s breathing grew heavy as he reached his hand into the hair at the back of Shen Zhuo’s head, guiding him to lean down. “Give me a kiss.”
“You’ve had enough… mm…”
The probing of lips and tongues became easy and familiar, starting gently and intoxicatingly, but as body temperature rose, breath became erratic, entangled, and even aggressive, gradually beginning to mimic a certain frequency.
“…!” Shen Zhuo suddenly snapped awake, pushing forcefully, “Enough; I won’t fall for it again!”
Bai Sheng’s hand gripped his waist, refusing to let go, and he innocently widened his eyes. “Aren’t we fair to each other?”
“Five hours isn’t fair; let go!”
“It’s not my fault it took so long. Besides, in terms of the number of times, it’s fair, isn’t it?”
“In terms of the number of times, it’s you…” Shen Zhuo thought to himself, the number of times was only fair because you forced it to be. An ordinary person like me, shouldn’t have talked about fairness with you, an S-rank bastard, from the beginning!
However, it was too late to learn the lesson now. Shen Zhuo felt exhausted and drained, his hands sore and weak. He gritted his teeth and pushed Bai Sheng away forcefully, only to find that his fingers and his whole body were covered with dry marks.
“Hurry up and let me go to work.” Shen Zhuo couldn’t help but feel weary, “Do you really think being a supervisor pays so well?”
Bai Sheng chuckled, carrying Shen Zhuo into the bathroom. He hugged him from behind while Shen Zhuo brushed his teeth, wanting to join him in the shower, but the Chief Supervisor coldly drove him away, leaving him no choice.
Fortunately, Bai Sheng had brought a box of clean clothes from the supervision office. Shen Zhuo finished showering and changed into his uniform directly. He buttoned up his shirt meticulously to the throat, tucked the black tie into his suit, and even covered the remaining finger marks on his wrists with black leather gloves. His pale, aloof face showed no traces of emotion.
“What’s the rush? Come and have breakfast.” Bai Sheng always exuded a relaxed sense of ease, effortlessly picking up a cod dumpling with his chopsticks: “Ah—”
While checking work emails, Shen Zhuo opened his mouth, unexpectedly finding the taste quite pleasant: “Where did this come from?”
“Based on my understanding of the hotel’s raw material quality control, it should be from Antarctica.” Bai Sheng couldn’t help but smirk, picking up a shrimp dumpling. “Ah—”
Shen Zhuo lowered his head to focus on the email, then opened his mouth again, which pleased Bai Sheng greatly. He glanced at Shen Zhuo’s fair chin, relieved to see that the fingerprints had been completely erased by his ability. Even if Shen Zhuo scrutinized them carefully under the light, he wouldn’t notice anything amiss.
Bai Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it would have been great if you had been so docile in your delirium last night and had opened your mouth.
***
The proximity of this address to the supervision office was indeed a particularly significant advantage. There was no need to send a special car for pickup. Bai Sheng drove and swiftly delivered Shen Zhuo. He even brought along two large boxes of milk tea and snacks to distribute upstairs on the way. All the inspectors wished they could immediately grant him a permanent position.
Bai Sheng modestly expressed that he still needed to work harder to earn the comprehensive trust and assignments of the supervisor. Then, with a spring in his step, he left the supervision office, returned home alone, and sat behind his desk, turning on his computer.
Searching for the keywords: “Genetic Darwinism: The Hidden Evolutionary Code”.
Author: Shen Ruzhen
Lines of English reflected in his deep eyes. Bai Sheng squinted, and echoes of Shen Zhuo’s hoarse murmurs from last night seemed to reverberate in his ears.
—Don’t kill me.
—Mom, don’t kill me.
What kind of desperate circumstances would lead a mother to want to kill her child?
Was the HRG of the first generation really so safe and harmless, just for extending the human lifespan?
Bai Sheng came across an academic award photo from many years ago. He clicked on it and saw a name, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.
Shen Ruzhen.
A lifelong professor at Ivy League universities, a top scholar, a giant in the industry, with a glorious list of titles and accolades and a page full of academic achievements.
Bai Sheng could almost immediately confirm her relationship with Shen Zhuo, and the reason was simple—they looked too alike.
The same eyebrows, eyes, thin lips, and jawline—even the hidden indifference and impatience when looking at people—were strikingly similar. Bai Sheng could even imagine that if Shen Ruzhen had to smile politely at the camera, the curvature of her lips would be as insincere as Shen Zhuo’s.
It was relatively easy to follow the trail after finding a name. What surprised Bai Sheng was that Shen Zhuo wasn’t the only child of his mother, as Shen Ruzhen had been married twice.
Her first marriage was very early, with a sponsor of the laboratory—or rather, someone who relentlessly sponsored her, probably using sponsorship as a means to pursue her. Judging from the husband’s surname, Van der Kassow, it seemed to be a noble socialite with a background.
This marriage bore a son and lasted for ten years. The reason for divorce was that the relationship, purely based on money, couldn’t hold a top intellect beauty like Shen Ruzhen. She increasingly found her husband boring, or perhaps she found mortals boring; when she realized that the mortal she married couldn’t even discuss Banach space algebraic theory with her, she resolutely dumped him.
The poor ex-husband, after being hurt, probably dedicated himself to studying mathematics for a few years after the divorce. But while the man’s heart was still lingering, Shen Ruzhen’s heart was as cold as iron. At the age of thirty-eight, she resigned and returned to her country with her eldest son, eventually remarrying and giving birth to a second son.
There was no information available about her second husband or her two children, but judging by their ages, the younger son should undoubtedly be Shen Zhuo.
The first generation HRG was already a classified project, so Shen Ruzhen’s research experience, personal life, and even related academic achievements were completely hidden after her return to the country.
But it didn’t matter because after searching, Bai Sheng could almost confirm one thing—given Shen Ruzhen’s academic status, she couldn’t have been just an ordinary researcher back then.
Her son led the second generation of HRG, and she herself should be the founder of the first generation of HRG.
Bai Sheng pinched his chin with two fingers, and the mouse wheel scrolled back and forth on the paper. Every character looked familiar, but when combined, they looked like hieroglyphics.
What exactly was Shen Ruzhen researching back then?
The most direct way would definitely be to take the paper and ask Shen Zhuo about it. However, Bai Sheng leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen thoughtfully. He knew the strict supervisor wouldn’t reveal too many clues to him.
He raised his hand and looked at his palm. The chaotic warmth and tears from last night still lingered on his fingertips, but they vanished with the dawn.
When heated, everything is intense, but when cooled, it quickly dissipates. In a few days, everything would likely return to normal, as if nothing had happened.
What relationship do we have? This thought involuntarily crossed his mind.
Bai Sheng naturally possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to human relationships and worldly matters, understanding that pushing boundaries in interpersonal relationships was the last thing one should do. Besides, nothing truly significant happened between him and Shen Zhuo. It was merely a matter of mutual assistance, with the utmost ambiguity between adults.
This kind of push and pull didn’t require solemn vows, nor did it need any commitments, not even the acknowledgment of that thin layer of paper. All it needed was a glance, an unspoken understanding, secrecy, and mutual consent.
But when emotions ran high and passion intertwined, Bai Sheng couldn’t help but wonder—at what stage are we now?
The person who was willing to risk his life to rescue me from daydreams, who can see through my intense love that’s hard to conceal, indulges in brief moments of intimacy with me. But what does this person truly regard me as in their heart?
Does he harbor the same feelings for me, even if it’s just a fraction, or perhaps a mere one-thousandth?
“…” Bai Sheng sighed silently and deeply.
Not yet, he reasoned with himself. I’m not yet the person Shen Zhuo willingly entrusts with all the truth and the past.
For him, I’m definitely special, but not that special yet.
Bai Sheng forcibly detached himself from that feeling of loss, took a deep breath, and regained his usual calm and composed demeanor.
Directly asking Shen Zhuo would never yield an answer; it would only add to the awkwardness without any useful outcome. Fortunately, there was still someone else to turn to. Bai Sheng propped his legs up on the table, picked up his phone, and dialed a number. Soon, the call was answered:
“Hello? Daughter, what are you up to? Have you eaten?”
Chu Yan and Yang Xiaodao have been staying at the Baifu Jinjiang Hotel for the past few days, where they have been well taken care of with food and drink. The little girl even sent some cakes and bread from the hotel to the orphanage as a welfare gesture. She just returned from volunteering, and her mood was noticeably stable.
“I’ve eaten; thank you, Mr. Bai. Is there anything I can help with?”
“Could you help me with an article? Try to explain it in simple terms that Muggles can understand, within 200 words.” Bai Sheng sent her the article and instructed, “Good kid, don’t tell Supervisor Shen about this for now. I want to work silently behind the scenes and then surprise his whole family.”
Chu Yan was puzzled, and she downloaded the article after opening her email. “Sure, no problem. But can you wait a bit? I need to finish today’s labor reform task first.”
Bai Sheng: “? What labor reform?”
Chu Yan explained, “It’s nothing much. Supervisor Shen said that Yang Xiaodao started school a bit late and has some weak basics, so he asked me to help him with homework every day.”
“!!”
Bai Sheng’s tone immediately changed, “Uh… Have you started tutoring already?”
“Oh, not yet.” Chu Yan sounded a bit puzzled. “Supervisor Shen said I shouldn’t rush. I should eat well, rest for a while, and then use Mr. Bai’s card to buy something I like and then start when I feel happier. But I don’t really want to buy anything, and this task seems easy. Shouldn’t I go find Yang Xiaodao now?”
“No—” Bai Sheng almost choked.
Chu Yan: “?”
Bai Sheng immediately caught on and quickly resumed a normal tone before the girl became suspicious. He said casually, “No, no, daughter, listen to me. Help Dad read that article first, then use the card to buy some bags, dresses, or something. Being happy leads to longevity. You can find Yang Xiaodao later tonight.”
“…” Chu Yan was utterly confused but tentatively asked, “But I don’t really want to buy anything. Can I donate some money to the orphanage instead?”
“Of course, of course, your happiness matters most,” Bai Sheng replied affectionately. “Just make sure to read the article first. I’ll wait for you. Bye bye!”
Chu Yan was confused and hung up obediently.
Bai Sheng’s approach was correct. People tend to read papers faster when not under stress. It might be difficult once she finishes checking Yang Xiaodao’s homework; she might even suffer a stroke and not care about the paper anymore.
Shortly after, Chu Yan called back, sounding puzzled. “Where did you see this paper?”
“I took a peek at it on Supervisor Shen’s desk,” Bai Sheng replied casually. “Why?”
“Oh, I figured as much, because it’s related to the HRG project… But the paper itself is quite difficult. I couldn’t quite understand it; I could only guess at the general content.” Chu Yan paused, then continued, “It’s about how some people’s genes have potential ‘buttons,’ and activating these ‘buttons’ with external force could lead to exceptional abilities. But not everyone has these potential genes, and they can be inherited.”
Bai Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t show it on his face. “So, it’s basically about evolution, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s about evolution. Some people’s genes are activated by meteorites to evolve, while others cannot evolve. However, this paper is quite radical, proposing the concept of genetic Darwinism.” Chu Yan asked curiously, “Are you really starting with this paper? Isn’t it too advanced? Hmm… How about borrowing my senior year biology notebook for a look first?”
Bai Sheng already had an idea and quickly declined, insisting that there was no need. He earnestly advised her to maintain a cheerful mood before helping Yang Xiaodao with her homework, emphasizing the importance of staying positive and not being too fixated on life’s minor setbacks. Then, he promptly ended the call.
He wasn’t mistaken. The First-Generation HRG was never about prolonging human life; Shen Ruzhen had realized that thirty years ago.
There must be some hidden connection between the first-generation HRG and the second-generation HRG. That’s why Cameron had told Shen Zhuo, “The HRG is not just your research achievement alone.”
How deep did the waters behind this project run?
Bai Sheng crossed his legs on the desk and leaned back, with half of the chair hanging in the air. His slender fingers were interlocked in front of him, and he gazed absently at the study ceiling.
Just then, his phone rang. He instinctively thought it might be Yang Xiaodao calling to say that Chu Yan had suffered a stroke, feeling a bit uneasy. But when he checked, it was a call from Shen Zhuo.
“?”
Bai Sheng pressed the answer button. Despite the heavy doubts lingering in his mind just a moment ago, the instant he received Shen Zhuo’s call, a subtle but electrifying joy erupted from the depths of his heart. Even he didn’t realize it, but a smile had already appeared on his face:
“Hello, Inspector Shen?”
Shen Zhuo’s voice remained calm and composed: “Would you like to join us on a business trip as an unpaid volunteer, without any formal employment benefits?” Are you in?”
“Ah?”
“The Nobel Evolutionist Peace Prize. Neilsen has been invited to be the presenter, and they’ve invited all the major supervisors and social celebrities from around the world to celebrate at a banquet on Purori Island.” Shen Zhuo sat behind his desk, casually flipping through the thick invitation that had just arrived. “I just checked the hotel rooms and found out that I’ve been arranged to stay on the same floor as Neilsen.”
Bai Sheng: “!”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to go; it’s just for a few nights anyway…”
“Wait a minute, I’m going,” Bai Sheng firmly interrupted him, his voice resolute. “I’m someone who loves peace the most. How could I be left out of such a big celebration of peace?”
What Wolf of Odin? His fur was stripped off and his skin was peeled off, yet he still dared to covet the little swan in someone else’s mouth. Let him know who the true wolf king is! Bai Sheng casually asked, “Who is the prize awarded to this year?”
“I don’t know him.” Shen Zhuo glanced absentmindedly at the list. “Someone named Briston, a bishop of the non-governmental protection organization ‘Round Table.'”
Bai Sheng: “…”
Chapter 49
Does he have the same burning love for me or even a thousandth of it?
Blood.
There was blood everywhere.
On the walls and on the ground, large chunks of torn flesh were flying, and grotesque carnage was overflowing. The little boy huddled in the corner, his beautiful eyes wide open to the extreme, his pupil reflecting the approaching face of his mother and her blood-dripping fingertips.
Don’t kill me, Mom; please don’t kill me!
Fear engulfed everything; his throat seemed blocked as if he couldn’t make a sound, watching in horror as the gleam of a blade rose high above his head—
Just then, a figure rushed up behind the mother, and a gunshot pierced through her chest!
The little boy’s pupils instantly shrank like needles.
His mother’s blood splattered down, almost drenching him completely, but he had lost all hearing and sensation; a split second stretched infinitely until—thud!
His mother’s body slumped down, her cold, blood-soaked hair brushing against the boy’s cheek.
Her eyes stared straight at her son, her upper body collapsing forward, brushing past him with the last ounce of strength to whisper something in his ear.
It was like a prophecy.
But the child could no longer hear.
Sound, scent, color, touch—everything had turned into distorted shapes like a montage. He subconsciously wanted to see who had shot and killed his mother, but his consciousness had already spun far away, as if falling backward into the depths of darkness.
The surface of the water submerged his nose and mouth, like knives piercing through his throat into his lungs, the deadly suffocation enveloping everything.
“!”
Shen Zhuo suddenly opened his eyes, gasping heavily.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Sheng also sat up, still half asleep, instinctively pulling Shen Zhuo into his arms, using his lips to gently brush against Shen Zhuo’s forehead, now soaked with cold sweat.
Shen Zhuo’s heart was pounding heavily, the lingering fear from the dream still haunting his subconscious. As he tried to recall the dream in detail, he found nothing; his horrified mind was blank.
“…just had a dream,” he murmured hoarsely, “can’t remember what it was about.”
“It’s okay; don’t be afraid.” Surprisingly, Bai Sheng didn’t ask too many questions. Instead, he rubbed Shen Zhuo’s forehead with the pad of his thumb, leaning down to plant a kiss, his lips touching Shen Zhuo’s skin just above his eyebrows as he whispered softly: “It was just a nightmare.”
Shen Zhuo vaguely felt that the dream might have been a fragment from his childhood, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall the scenes from the dream. He closed his eyes and instinctively buried his head in Bai Sheng’s neck, breathing in the clean, comforting scent of his skin, like the warmth of the ocean enveloping him.
“I’m here, everything’s okay.”
Bai Sheng’s hair was tousled, his upper body bare, the play of light outlining his attractive muscle contours. With one hand, he lifted Shen Zhuo onto his lap, sitting astride his thighs, while the other hand slipped under the loose t-shirt to vigorously massage his thin and narrow back. It was a deeply soothing motion, gradually relaxing Shen Zhuo’s tense back.
Their hips pressed together, the sheets in disarray, and Shen Zhuo’s arm hooked around the back of Bai Sheng’s neck, their noses rubbing affectionately.
Bai Sheng’s breathing grew heavy as he reached his hand into the hair at the back of Shen Zhuo’s head, guiding him to lean down. “Give me a kiss.”
“You’ve had enough… mm…”
The probing of lips and tongues became easy and familiar, starting gently and intoxicatingly, but as body temperature rose, breath became erratic, entangled, and even aggressive, gradually beginning to mimic a certain frequency.
“…!” Shen Zhuo suddenly snapped awake, pushing forcefully, “Enough; I won’t fall for it again!”
Bai Sheng’s hand gripped his waist, refusing to let go, and he innocently widened his eyes. “Aren’t we fair to each other?”
“Five hours isn’t fair; let go!”
“It’s not my fault it took so long. Besides, in terms of the number of times, it’s fair, isn’t it?”
“In terms of the number of times, it’s you…” Shen Zhuo thought to himself, the number of times was only fair because you forced it to be. An ordinary person like me, shouldn’t have talked about fairness with you, an S-rank bastard, from the beginning!
However, it was too late to learn the lesson now. Shen Zhuo felt exhausted and drained, his hands sore and weak. He gritted his teeth and pushed Bai Sheng away forcefully, only to find that his fingers and his whole body were covered with dry marks.
“Hurry up and let me go to work.” Shen Zhuo couldn’t help but feel weary, “Do you really think being a supervisor pays so well?”
Bai Sheng chuckled, carrying Shen Zhuo into the bathroom. He hugged him from behind while Shen Zhuo brushed his teeth, wanting to join him in the shower, but the Chief Supervisor coldly drove him away, leaving him no choice.
Fortunately, Bai Sheng had brought a box of clean clothes from the supervision office. Shen Zhuo finished showering and changed into his uniform directly. He buttoned up his shirt meticulously to the throat, tucked the black tie into his suit, and even covered the remaining finger marks on his wrists with black leather gloves. His pale, aloof face showed no traces of emotion.
“What’s the rush? Come and have breakfast.” Bai Sheng always exuded a relaxed sense of ease, effortlessly picking up a cod dumpling with his chopsticks: “Ah—”
While checking work emails, Shen Zhuo opened his mouth, unexpectedly finding the taste quite pleasant: “Where did this come from?”
“Based on my understanding of the hotel’s raw material quality control, it should be from Antarctica.” Bai Sheng couldn’t help but smirk, picking up a shrimp dumpling. “Ah—”
Shen Zhuo lowered his head to focus on the email, then opened his mouth again, which pleased Bai Sheng greatly. He glanced at Shen Zhuo’s fair chin, relieved to see that the fingerprints had been completely erased by his ability. Even if Shen Zhuo scrutinized them carefully under the light, he wouldn’t notice anything amiss.
Bai Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it would have been great if you had been so docile in your delirium last night and had opened your mouth.
***
The proximity of this address to the supervision office was indeed a particularly significant advantage. There was no need to send a special car for pickup. Bai Sheng drove and swiftly delivered Shen Zhuo. He even brought along two large boxes of milk tea and snacks to distribute upstairs on the way. All the inspectors wished they could immediately grant him a permanent position.
Bai Sheng modestly expressed that he still needed to work harder to earn the comprehensive trust and assignments of the supervisor. Then, with a spring in his step, he left the supervision office, returned home alone, and sat behind his desk, turning on his computer.
Searching for the keywords: “Genetic Darwinism: The Hidden Evolutionary Code”.
Author: Shen Ruzhen
Lines of English reflected in his deep eyes. Bai Sheng squinted, and echoes of Shen Zhuo’s hoarse murmurs from last night seemed to reverberate in his ears.
—Don’t kill me.
—Mom, don’t kill me.
What kind of desperate circumstances would lead a mother to want to kill her child?
Was the HRG of the first generation really so safe and harmless, just for extending the human lifespan?
Bai Sheng came across an academic award photo from many years ago. He clicked on it and saw a name, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.
Shen Ruzhen.
A lifelong professor at Ivy League universities, a top scholar, a giant in the industry, with a glorious list of titles and accolades and a page full of academic achievements.
Bai Sheng could almost immediately confirm her relationship with Shen Zhuo, and the reason was simple—they looked too alike.
The same eyebrows, eyes, thin lips, and jawline—even the hidden indifference and impatience when looking at people—were strikingly similar. Bai Sheng could even imagine that if Shen Ruzhen had to smile politely at the camera, the curvature of her lips would be as insincere as Shen Zhuo’s.
It was relatively easy to follow the trail after finding a name. What surprised Bai Sheng was that Shen Zhuo wasn’t the only child of his mother, as Shen Ruzhen had been married twice.
Her first marriage was very early, with a sponsor of the laboratory—or rather, someone who relentlessly sponsored her, probably using sponsorship as a means to pursue her. Judging from the husband’s surname, Van der Kassow, it seemed to be a noble socialite with a background.
This marriage bore a son and lasted for ten years. The reason for divorce was that the relationship, purely based on money, couldn’t hold a top intellect beauty like Shen Ruzhen. She increasingly found her husband boring, or perhaps she found mortals boring; when she realized that the mortal she married couldn’t even discuss Banach space algebraic theory with her, she resolutely dumped him.
The poor ex-husband, after being hurt, probably dedicated himself to studying mathematics for a few years after the divorce. But while the man’s heart was still lingering, Shen Ruzhen’s heart was as cold as iron. At the age of thirty-eight, she resigned and returned to her country with her eldest son, eventually remarrying and giving birth to a second son.
There was no information available about her second husband or her two children, but judging by their ages, the younger son should undoubtedly be Shen Zhuo.
The first generation HRG was already a classified project, so Shen Ruzhen’s research experience, personal life, and even related academic achievements were completely hidden after her return to the country.
But it didn’t matter because after searching, Bai Sheng could almost confirm one thing—given Shen Ruzhen’s academic status, she couldn’t have been just an ordinary researcher back then.
Her son led the second generation of HRG, and she herself should be the founder of the first generation of HRG.
Bai Sheng pinched his chin with two fingers, and the mouse wheel scrolled back and forth on the paper. Every character looked familiar, but when combined, they looked like hieroglyphics.
What exactly was Shen Ruzhen researching back then?
The most direct way would definitely be to take the paper and ask Shen Zhuo about it. However, Bai Sheng leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen thoughtfully. He knew the strict supervisor wouldn’t reveal too many clues to him.
He raised his hand and looked at his palm. The chaotic warmth and tears from last night still lingered on his fingertips, but they vanished with the dawn.
When heated, everything is intense, but when cooled, it quickly dissipates. In a few days, everything would likely return to normal, as if nothing had happened.
What relationship do we have? This thought involuntarily crossed his mind.
Bai Sheng naturally possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to human relationships and worldly matters, understanding that pushing boundaries in interpersonal relationships was the last thing one should do. Besides, nothing truly significant happened between him and Shen Zhuo. It was merely a matter of mutual assistance, with the utmost ambiguity between adults.
This kind of push and pull didn’t require solemn vows, nor did it need any commitments, not even the acknowledgment of that thin layer of paper. All it needed was a glance, an unspoken understanding, secrecy, and mutual consent.
But when emotions ran high and passion intertwined, Bai Sheng couldn’t help but wonder—at what stage are we now?
The person who was willing to risk his life to rescue me from daydreams, who can see through my intense love that’s hard to conceal, indulges in brief moments of intimacy with me. But what does this person truly regard me as in their heart?
Does he harbor the same feelings for me, even if it’s just a fraction, or perhaps a mere one-thousandth?
“…” Bai Sheng sighed silently and deeply.
Not yet, he reasoned with himself. I’m not yet the person Shen Zhuo willingly entrusts with all the truth and the past.
For him, I’m definitely special, but not that special yet.
Bai Sheng forcibly detached himself from that feeling of loss, took a deep breath, and regained his usual calm and composed demeanor.
Directly asking Shen Zhuo would never yield an answer; it would only add to the awkwardness without any useful outcome. Fortunately, there was still someone else to turn to. Bai Sheng propped his legs up on the table, picked up his phone, and dialed a number. Soon, the call was answered:
“Hello? Daughter, what are you up to? Have you eaten?”
Chu Yan and Yang Xiaodao have been staying at the Baifu Jinjiang Hotel for the past few days, where they have been well taken care of with food and drink. The little girl even sent some cakes and bread from the hotel to the orphanage as a welfare gesture. She just returned from volunteering, and her mood was noticeably stable.
“I’ve eaten; thank you, Mr. Bai. Is there anything I can help with?”
“Could you help me with an article? Try to explain it in simple terms that Muggles can understand, within 200 words.” Bai Sheng sent her the article and instructed, “Good kid, don’t tell Supervisor Shen about this for now. I want to work silently behind the scenes and then surprise his whole family.”
Chu Yan was puzzled, and she downloaded the article after opening her email. “Sure, no problem. But can you wait a bit? I need to finish today’s labor reform task first.”
Bai Sheng: “? What labor reform?”
Chu Yan explained, “It’s nothing much. Supervisor Shen said that Yang Xiaodao started school a bit late and has some weak basics, so he asked me to help him with homework every day.”
“!!”
Bai Sheng’s tone immediately changed, “Uh… Have you started tutoring already?”
“Oh, not yet.” Chu Yan sounded a bit puzzled. “Supervisor Shen said I shouldn’t rush. I should eat well, rest for a while, and then use Mr. Bai’s card to buy something I like and then start when I feel happier. But I don’t really want to buy anything, and this task seems easy. Shouldn’t I go find Yang Xiaodao now?”
“No—” Bai Sheng almost choked.
Chu Yan: “?”
Bai Sheng immediately caught on and quickly resumed a normal tone before the girl became suspicious. He said casually, “No, no, daughter, listen to me. Help Dad read that article first, then use the card to buy some bags, dresses, or something. Being happy leads to longevity. You can find Yang Xiaodao later tonight.”
“…” Chu Yan was utterly confused but tentatively asked, “But I don’t really want to buy anything. Can I donate some money to the orphanage instead?”
“Of course, of course, your happiness matters most,” Bai Sheng replied affectionately. “Just make sure to read the article first. I’ll wait for you. Bye bye!”
Chu Yan was confused and hung up obediently.
Bai Sheng’s approach was correct. People tend to read papers faster when not under stress. It might be difficult once she finishes checking Yang Xiaodao’s homework; she might even suffer a stroke and not care about the paper anymore.
Shortly after, Chu Yan called back, sounding puzzled. “Where did you see this paper?”
“I took a peek at it on Supervisor Shen’s desk,” Bai Sheng replied casually. “Why?”
“Oh, I figured as much, because it’s related to the HRG project… But the paper itself is quite difficult. I couldn’t quite understand it; I could only guess at the general content.” Chu Yan paused, then continued, “It’s about how some people’s genes have potential ‘buttons,’ and activating these ‘buttons’ with external force could lead to exceptional abilities. But not everyone has these potential genes, and they can be inherited.”
Bai Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t show it on his face. “So, it’s basically about evolution, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s about evolution. Some people’s genes are activated by meteorites to evolve, while others cannot evolve. However, this paper is quite radical, proposing the concept of genetic Darwinism.” Chu Yan asked curiously, “Are you really starting with this paper? Isn’t it too advanced? Hmm… How about borrowing my senior year biology notebook for a look first?”
Bai Sheng already had an idea and quickly declined, insisting that there was no need. He earnestly advised her to maintain a cheerful mood before helping Yang Xiaodao with her homework, emphasizing the importance of staying positive and not being too fixated on life’s minor setbacks. Then, he promptly ended the call.
He wasn’t mistaken. The First-Generation HRG was never about prolonging human life; Shen Ruzhen had realized that thirty years ago.
There must be some hidden connection between the first-generation HRG and the second-generation HRG. That’s why Cameron had told Shen Zhuo, “The HRG is not just your research achievement alone.”
How deep did the waters behind this project run?
Bai Sheng crossed his legs on the desk and leaned back, with half of the chair hanging in the air. His slender fingers were interlocked in front of him, and he gazed absently at the study ceiling.
Just then, his phone rang. He instinctively thought it might be Yang Xiaodao calling to say that Chu Yan had suffered a stroke, feeling a bit uneasy. But when he checked, it was a call from Shen Zhuo.
“?”
Bai Sheng pressed the answer button. Despite the heavy doubts lingering in his mind just a moment ago, the instant he received Shen Zhuo’s call, a subtle but electrifying joy erupted from the depths of his heart. Even he didn’t realize it, but a smile had already appeared on his face:
“Hello, Inspector Shen?”
Shen Zhuo’s voice remained calm and composed: “Would you like to join us on a business trip as an unpaid volunteer, without any formal employment benefits?” Are you in?”
“Ah?”
“The Nobel Evolutionist Peace Prize. Neilsen has been invited to be the presenter, and they’ve invited all the major supervisors and social celebrities from around the world to celebrate at a banquet on Purori Island.” Shen Zhuo sat behind his desk, casually flipping through the thick invitation that had just arrived. “I just checked the hotel rooms and found out that I’ve been arranged to stay on the same floor as Neilsen.”
Bai Sheng: “!”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to go; it’s just for a few nights anyway…”
“Wait a minute, I’m going,” Bai Sheng firmly interrupted him, his voice resolute. “I’m someone who loves peace the most. How could I be left out of such a big celebration of peace?”
What Wolf of Odin? His fur was stripped off and his skin was peeled off, yet he still dared to covet the little swan in someone else’s mouth. Let him know who the true wolf king is! Bai Sheng casually asked, “Who is the prize awarded to this year?”
“I don’t know him.” Shen Zhuo glanced absentmindedly at the list. “Someone named Briston, a bishop of the non-governmental protection organization ‘Round Table.'”
Bai Sheng: “…”
