Chapter 229: Mutation (27)
With the experience of clashing with Xiao Ji last time, Zhao Yi was more tactful this time. He only expressed his concern and condolences, and after confirming that Bai Yinnian had fully recovered, he left.
But the next day, he called Bai Yinnian for another talk.
“You and Xiao Ji have a good relationship.”
Zhao Yi poured a cup of tea for Bai Yinnian and opened the topic.
Bai Yinnian neither denied nor admitted it, only saying: “It’s alright. After all, we are family now.”
Zhao Yi’s topic revolved around Xiao Ji, asking about Xiao Ji’s situation.
Bai Yinnian only answered some superficial questions. When it came to crucial points, he played dumb, saying they hadn’t been together for long and didn’t understand each other that thoroughly.
But Zhao Yi could hear the protectiveness Bai Yinnian had for Xiao Ji.
He was silent for a long time before saying to Bai Yinnian:
“Do you still remember your own identity?”
Bai Yinnian didn’t hesitate: “I remember.”
Zhao Yi nodded: “Never disregard the bigger picture for personal feelings. Regarding Xiao Ji, you should have some reservations.”
Bai Yinnian frowned: “What do you mean?”
Zhao Yi said: “Xiao Ji’s abilities are stronger than we imagined, but he’s not like you. He’s uncontrollable. Captain Bai, I hope you understand what you should do.”
Bai Yinnian ground his molars: “Forgive my bluntness, but I don’t quite understand what you’re trying to say.”
Zhao Yi spoke plainly: “The base needs a blood sample from Xiao Ji to conduct new experiments.”
“Xiao Ji is not from ‘Shenyi’.” Bai Yinnian tried to remind Zhao Yi: “Whether he’s willing or not should be up to him.”
However, Zhao Yi raised a hand to interrupt Bai Yinnian: “No, as long as the base needs it, he should contribute. We are making a contribution for the surviving humans.”
Bai Yinnian’s brows twisted together.
The scientific data a blood sample could provide was limited. If they really wanted to do research, they would definitely have to operate on Xiao Ji himself.
Bai Yinnian was well aware of this.
And Zhao Yi’s attitude also caused a stormy sea to rise in Bai Yinnian’s heart.
A simple logic: if Zhao Yi could say such things when facing Bai Yinnian’s family, under the guise of negotiation but actually more of a notification.
Then what about other ordinary people?
At this moment, Bai Yinnian suddenly remembered the words he and Xiao Ji had spoken when Xiao Ji first arrived.
He had confidently told Xiao Ji that some of the test subjects in those cages were captured from outside, and some were people from the base who voluntarily participated in the experiments.
At that time, Xiao Ji had raised doubts.
But Bai Yinnian hadn’t taken it to heart.
Looking at it now, it seemed he had truly been blinded by his own involvement, trusting the base and Zhao Yi too much.
The seed of doubt had already been planted. Bai Yinnian didn’t openly turn hostile against Zhao Yi. He just gave a few perfunctory replies and left.
Xiao Ji had anticipated this. Seeing Bai Yinnian return with a dark face, he knew Zhao Yi seeking him out meant nothing good.
He didn’t ask anything, pretending as if nothing had happened, and told him to wash his hands and eat.
That night, just after Xiao Ji came out from showering, he saw Lin Xu had arrived.
He was sitting in the living room talking with Bai Yinnian.
Seeing Xiao Ji come out, he even called out:
“Sister-in-law.”
Xiao Ji looked at Bai Yinnian: “Do you have something to discuss?”
Bai Yinnian gave a hum: “If you’re sleepy, go to sleep first. No need to wait for me.”
This politely meant he didn’t want Xiao Ji to hear.
Not wanting Xiao Ji to hear, yet calling someone to the house—there was only one possibility: Bai Yinnian found it inconvenient to leave.
He was guarding Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji glanced at Bai Yinnian, pretended not to know, and asked out of courtesy:
“Would you like something to eat?”
Hearing this, Bai Yinnian was stunned for a moment, then said to Lin Xu:
“Wait for me a moment.”
He then pulled Xiao Ji back to the room, pressed him against the wall, kissed him forcefully for a while, and then said helplessly:
“I’m discussing some serious business, and you’re already this impatient?”
“Be good, go to sleep obediently. I won’t be too late, I’ll come keep you company in a bit.”
After saying that, he personally carried Xiao Ji to the bed, watched him lie down, and tucked him in.
Just as he was about to leave, as if suddenly remembering something, he bent down to kiss Xiao Ji’s forehead, then turned off the light and went to the living room.
Since Bai Yinnian didn’t want Xiao Ji to hear, Xiao Ji naturally chose to respect that.
But from that day on, Bai Yinnian seemed exceptionally busy.
This busyness manifested in a different way.
During the day, he hardly stepped out of the house, staying home to guard Xiao Ji, but his phone messages never stopped.
When Xiao Ji spoke to him, he would occasionally space out.
If the expression while replying to messages wasn’t serious but smiling, this behavior would be exactly like a cheating man flirting with a young mistress behind his main partner’s back.
At night, he no longer clung to Xiao Ji like before, but instead waited somewhat absentmindedly for Xiao Ji to fall asleep.
Then, he would secretly slip out.
And during the time Bai Yinnian was out, Lin Xu would definitely be near the Bai residence.
But probably afraid of disturbing Xiao Ji’s rest, Lin Xu wouldn’t enter either; he would either guard the main gate or squat in the yard.
Every time Bai Yinnian returned, he would go to Xiao Cui’s bedroom upstairs, take a shower, change his clothes, and wait until the dampness dissipated before quietly slipping back into Xiao Ji’s bed, wrapping his arms around Xiao Ji’s waist from behind.
This kind of life continued for a full month.
Until Bai Yinnian returned late again, hugged Xiao Ji, and softly asked:
“Do you want to leave? I’m guessing you haven’t seen much beautiful scenery before. I want to send you out for a vacation, to find a good place.”
Xiao Ji opened his eyes, grasped Bai Yinnian’s hand, and intertwined their fingers:
“Have you finished your investigation?”
Bai Yinnian kissed the back of Xiao Ji’s neck: “You already knew what I’ve been doing lately.”
Xiao Ji gave a hum: “I warned you before.”
It wasn’t that Bai Yinnian didn’t believe Xiao Ji.
But after so many years in the military, to put it bluntly, before meeting Xiao Ji, this was his faith, his conviction.
For something that caused his faith to collapse, he always had to see it with his own eyes and confirm it to be willing to accept it.
He hugged Xiao Ji tighter, speaking with some sadness:
“There is no serum to eliminate ‘Tianfa’ (Heavenly Punishment). The research institute has always, even up until now, been researching how to make ordinary people ‘evolve’.”
“Here, no one cares whether ordinary people live or die. From beginning to end, they never thought of turning back.”
“The situation outside is constantly deteriorating. Pollutants are increasing exponentially, and there are very few survivors left.”
Hearing this, Xiao Ji couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
There was no serum to eliminate ‘Tianfa’.
And ‘Tianfa’ wasn’t like a typical zombie virus that only spread through biting.
It permeated the air, omnipresent.
And the more pollutants there were, the higher the concentration of the virus would become.
If there was no serum that could resist ‘Tianfa’, it meant that this world would eventually march towards its demise.
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