"T-virus?"
It was also the first time Shen Yiyue had heard this term, as Ning Yu had never mentioned it to her.
But she remembered the indented "T" on the immune capsules she had taken before.
"This is a codename I gave to the virus."
Zhuang Wugou smiled, and Ji Mengyao nodded along, indicating she had heard of it too.
Ning Yu naturally didn't believe it: What a coincidence that the system tells me it's the T-virus, and you happened to name it the T-virus too.
She looked at Zhuang Wugou, unable to detect any signs of lying on his face.
This person had excellent control over his expressions, and Ning Yu had a strange feeling about it.
But he must be lying, there was no doubt about that, because the virus's name was indeed the T-virus.
"Did you invent all these machines?"
Ning Yu asked cleverly from the side.
"That's right. Didn't Mengyao tell you? My awakened ability is related to intelligence."
He smiled and told another lie that Ning Yu already knew about.
"That's amazing!"
Ning Yu praised insincerely, then continued to probe:
"Then do you know what awakening is all about?"
Zhuang Wugou had walked to a zombie power generation device.
He began adjusting some settings on the machine, and the zombie inside became agitated upon seeing him.
"Philosophically speaking, everyone is born with a chaotic impulse called the Origin."
"When someone recognizes their Origin, their Origin ability awakens. These are usually natural awakeners, like Mengyao."
"Actually, there's another way to awaken, which is to survive infection by the T-virus without turning into a zombie. We discovered this later."
"Using this method, we can artificially create awakeners. This is why we're searching for the serum, though the method isn't very stable yet."
He adjusted the power generation device, controlling a piece of meat back and forth like operating a claw machine.
The zombie inside was desperately trying to bite the meat.
But it was futile; the zombie only worked harder without getting any meat.
Every time it was about to bite the meat, Zhuang Wugou would move it away.
"So all this knowledge comes from..."
Ning Yu pointed to her head, implying: did this knowledge come from his awakened intelligence ability?
"Yes."
Zhuang Wugou calmly admitted.
Keep pretending, Ning Yu added in her heart.
"That's amazing!"
But on the surface, Ning Yu gave another hypocritical exclamation of amazement.
"Then... does everyone have an Origin?"
Shen Yiyue asked another question about Origins. Although she had gained abilities, she still didn't understand what her Origin was.
Though Ning Yu knew.
Zhuang Wugou narrowed his eyes and slowly said:
"We are all born with some purpose or uniqueness."
"If you view a person's life as a multivariate function, the Origin is like taking its derivative, showing the direction of your life."
"But sadly, from the moment we are born, or rather from the moment the universe was born, the end of all things, including our endings, has already been written."
"But that's another topic altogether."
He started laughing as he spoke, probably realizing he had said too much.
"Old Zhuang, you always speak in riddles, ha-ah cough cough cough..."
Ji Mengyao criticized him, casually yawned, then suddenly covered her mouth.
She had accidentally breathed in a large amount of foul air and started coughing in disgust.
"Are you two satisfied?"
Zhuang Wugou looked at Shen Yiyue and Ning Yu and asked.
"Thank you for your explanation."
Both immediately responded, expressing their gratitude.
"Let's go then, there's nothing more to see here, and I have work to do."
He suggested.
"Yeah, it stinks here. I feel like I'll need to change all my clothes when we get back."
Ji Mengyao pinched her nose and agreed.
So everyone followed Zhuang Wugou and took the elevator to leave the dark underground second floor.
Before the elevator doors closed, Ning Yu was pondering a question:
Do these zombies' lives also have so-called 'direction' and 'meaning'?
......
"From now on, we'll be working together as comrades. Welcome again."
"You're too kind."
After some pleasantries, Zhuang Wugou returned to his chair and began working.
Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue were about to leave with Ji Mengyao.
"Did you bring the serum? You can give it to them for purification, it'll be done in about a day!"
Before leaving, Ji Mengyao suggested to Ning Yu.
"Yes, I did. Should I submit it here?"
Ning Yu took out two vials of serum from her bag, which Ji Mengyao had initially purified for them.
They went to a window, submitted the serum, and then left the research group.
They arrived at the buffer zone between several buildings, where the air felt much fresher.
After all, this was open-air, unlike the terribly smelly underground second floor.
"Mengyao, shall we go?"
As they were walking along the buffer zone's green belt, they suddenly heard a familiar voice.
Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue looked up to see Wu Di.
He was still wearing his suit, with that poker face of his.
"Let's go, let's go drink with us!"
Ji Mengyao saw Wu Di and realized what was happening, shaking Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue's shoulders.
Shen Yiyue mischievously nudged Ji Mengyao:
"What's going on? He's waiting for you, could this be a date?"
Ji Mengyao's face instantly turned red when she heard this:
"W-what date? Who... who would want to date this poker face?"
"We'll pass."
Ning Yu firmly declined, as she wanted to go back to her room to continue feeding the Crimson War Blade.
"Yeah, we won't disturb your love~birds~moment."
Seeing Ji Mengyao's expression, Shen Yiyue couldn't resist teasing her.
As they spoke, the two left, while Wu Di showed no expression and just waited quietly.
"Hmph, fine if you're not going."
Ji Mengyao huffed, walked up and patted Wu Di's shoulder:
"Let's go! The usual!"
Wu Di nodded expressionlessly.
......
The next day.
Morning sunlight streamed into the apartment's living room.
Ning Yu was dealing with the fried egg on her breakfast plate, and there was one on Shen Yiyue's plate too, made by Ning Yu.
After finishing the fried egg, she picked up her strawberry milk and started enjoying it.
Shen Qianqian had finished eating early and was playing with the mushroom hairpin that Ning Yu had given her yesterday in front of the mirror.
"Knock knock knock"
There was a knocking sound at the door.
Ning Yu went to open the apartment door, thinking: Could it be Ji Mengyao? Is there already a mission?
"Here's the serum you submitted yesterday, it's been purified."
A hand from outside passed over two vials of clear liquid - apparently the mutant zombie serum that Ning Yu and the others had submitted yesterday.
"Thank y..."
Ning Yu had just looked up when she showed a surprised expression.
"Lin... Lin Hao??"
"It's me."
Lin Hao showed a gentle smile outside.
Standing outside was a scholarly young man wearing research clothing, with gold-rimmed glasses, still looking as frail as ever.
"How are you here? Your wife..."
Ning Yu had just started asking when she quickly closed her mouth and stopped speaking, realizing she had asked something she shouldn't have.
But Lin Hao had already heard Ning Yu's question, and he showed a bitter smile:
"Little Green... she's dead."