The Green Tea is Always Targeting The Wrong Person (GREENTEA)
Yue Chu took out his Identity Card and swiped it on the device.
With two crisp beeps, the document was unlocked.
Lan Yi, with a smile in his eyes and still wearing black leather gloves, tapped the screen and opened this secret experimental record.
Yue Chu's expression remained calm as he quickly scanned through the document.
Suddenly, his gaze paused and stopped at the bright red name on the report page—Jiang Quan.
As expected…
His suspicions were confirmed, but instead of relief, this brought Yue Chu a more urgent sense of danger.
He finally understood why Lan Yao had been so eager to oust Jiang Quan after the first riot among the Experimental Subjects.
It wasn’t just to accelerate the research on the Luster Virus, but also because he was worried that Jiang Quan, who had already been injected with the virus, might enter a Berserk State like the subjects.
Yue Chu’s usual relaxed demeanor faded and was replaced by a grave expression.
The pale blue fluorescence from the device illuminated his face, making his beautiful features appear almost angelic and evoking a sense of reverence.
Seeing the report, Lan Yi was also momentarily stunned, but his surprise quickly turned to anger, and even tinged with disgust.
Jiang Quan had truly gone mad as he voluntarily injected himself with the virus for Lan Yao!
Lan Yi had never liked Jiang Quan.
That boy, as pretty as a porcelain doll, had no soul—he was just a puppet Lan Yao had picked up and manipulated.
Now, he had even risked turning into one of those grotesque monsters by injecting himself with the virus, all for a few insincere words of praise from Lan Yao.
What a fool!
Lan Yi’s lips twitched, and his hand unconsciously rested on the gun at his waist with his eyes flashing with a storm that could tear through the night.
He looked at Yue Chu, his voice sharp: “So, Jiang Quan is actually the one who released the Experimental Subjects. As someone infected with the virus, his stance has already shifted. The Jiang Quan of now can no longer be called human—he’s a monster cloaked in the virus.”
Yue Chu pondered.
This was indeed a possibility, but there were still some missing pieces.
If Jiang Quan truly wanted to release the virus, he could have simply freed all the Experimental Subjects and taken Little Ball away. He had the access and permissions to do so, yet he hadn’t.
Lan Yi snorted coldly as his sharp brows and star-like eyes filled with a chilling light.
“He didn’t.”
Yue Chu paused before turning to look at him.
What did he mean?
Lan Yi calmly opened the report before reviewing the records of Jiang Quan’s time as an Experimental Subject.
“He didn’t have the permission because my uncle never trusted him.”
Yue Chu was at a loss for words.
Whether Jiang Quan was too foolish or Lan Yao too despicable, it was their own affair—a case of one willingly enduring the other’s abuse.
But still...
Lan Yi declared firmly: “It must be him! Jiang Quan has always been treacherous, and his position is delicate. He’s long harbored ulterior motives. What he’s doing now is just an attempt to destroy the lab and get revenge on my uncle.”
“I’ll report this immediately. Jiang Quan is no longer human—he cannot be allowed to live.”
“Wait.”
Yue Chu stopped him.
While Jiang Quan was indeed the prime suspect at this stage, it wasn’t yet time to draw conclusions.
Everything they were speculating was based on assumptions, with no concrete evidence.
His gaze swept over Lan Yi's expression, and his voice softened considerably while carrying the gentle breeze and drizzle of spring, making one involuntarily let down their guard.
"Director Lan must already be well aware of Jiang Quan's situation. The fact that the entire laboratory has now been handed over to me is proof that Jiang Quan has been brought under control."
"But I don't believe Director Lan truly has no affection for Jiang Quan at all. After so many years of companionship, even if he didn't care much, that person would have naturally settled into his life like a habit."
"That's why he didn't deal Jiang Quan a fatal blow."
"Adding fuel to the fire now would be utterly meaningless. Instead, it would expose Director Lan's hidden thoughts and leave him with nowhere to save face."
"Moreover..."
Yue Chu turned to face Lan Yi with his eyes calm and serene, like a clear stream flowing under the shade of trees and soothing the restlessness in one's heart.
He patted Lan Yi's shoulder as his voice tinged with a faint concern, like cherry blossoms blooming and falling like snow: "I know you're feeling upset. After so many years as companions, it's only natural that you're angry to see him in such a state."
"But whether it was really Jiang Quan who did it, we still need to verify further."
Listening to the concern in Yue Chu's words, the hostility in Lan Yi's chest dissipated like a punctured balloon, leaving only a tender, watery softness rippling gently under the shimmering moonlight.
He gently placed his hand on the back of Yue Chu's hand before pressing down on those slightly cool fingers. His amorous peach-blossom eyes were hazy like autumn mist and carrying an intoxicating, soul-stirring smile.
"You're right. I'll listen to you."
Yue Chu's lips curved slightly as he slowly withdrew his hand.
He glanced at the confidential files on the screen then pulled out his identity card to restore everything to its original state.
He placed a finger to his lips in a "shh" gesture and whispered, "Don't forget, this is our little secret."
Lan Yi's throat moved slightly as his deep gaze fixed on Yue Chu's rosy lips. After a moment, he nodded slowly.
Yue Chu smiled leisurely, but his expression quickly darkened after the two parted ways.
Jiang Quan was in danger.
However, he had no idea where Jiang Quan was being held by Lan Yao.
The research institute was so vast that searching room by room was impossible. More importantly, he was worried there wouldn't be enough time.
Besides Lan Yi and Lan Yao, who else would know Jiang Quan's location...
Yue Chu pondered for a while, then suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him, and the smile on his lips became slow and lingering.
He turned gracefully and walked into the storage room.
Yuan stood quietly inside as the red gauze floated slowly and rhythmically. Apart from the slightly dimmed color, there was nothing unusual.
Yue Chu walked up to him and tapped lightly on the wall of the vessel.
The little ball inside suddenly rotated, and the red gauze inside brightened as if it had come to life.
This pattern was something he had observed for a long time before discovering.
The little ball seemed to have a routine, just like a person and sometimes falling into a deep sleep.
【Hmph, so he finally came.】
【Heartless.】
【Not like I ever expected him to come anyway. Whether he comes or not, I don't care.】
【Having so much fun outside that he forgot all about me.】
【Don't be fooled by that charming smile—he's the most heartless of all.】
【Now he shows up thinking I'll pay him any attention? How naive!】
Yue Chu pressed his fingers against his temples while feeling a headache coming on.
He hadn't expected Little Ball to complain like a resentful housewife for a full ten minutes.
Despite being an alien, Little Ball had somehow picked up a vast array of human expressions and used them with remarkable precision.
The complaints kept pouring out, leaving Yue Chu no opportunity to interrupt. He could only listen idly as Little Ball rambled on.
It seemed that being a solitary ball had indeed made Little Ball lonely, hence the endless chatter.
Only after Little Ball finished did Yue Chu lower his eyes and let out a soft sigh with his brow faintly shadowed with a trace of sorrow.
[Don't... don't think that putting on this act will make me care. I couldn't care less!]
[I don't care!]
[I didn't see it...]
[I won't pay attention...]
[...]
[What a bother.]
[It's not like I want to meddle in your mess, but since you've come to me, I might as well listen.]
Yue Chu moved his fingers slightly before leaning gently against the transparent container.
His gaze was calm yet profound, like the fine drizzle of early spring and drifting into Little Ball's heart with an irresistible softness.
His fingers glided lightly across the surface of the container, and his voice tinged with a fragile vulnerability: "A lot has happened recently with all tangled up like a mess of threads. I don't even know where to start."
"You know, I was always just a fraud. Now that Jiang Quan has been locked up, the entire lab has fallen into my hands, and I have no idea how to handle it."
"I'm afraid it won't be long before I'm exposed, and when that happens, Lan Yao will make sure there's nothing left of me."
Yue Chu bit his lip lightly. The once clear and gentle look in his eyes now dimmed, like petals withering away and waiting hopelessly for their inevitable end.
"I'm so scared..."
Inside Little Ball, the red gauze fluttered up and down while churning restlessly that reflected his unsettled emotions.
[Don't be afraid, I'm here.]
[But Jiang Quan is indeed a problem. Lan Yao doesn't trust him at all and has already locked him up in Detention Room Number Seven. Although he's being treated well, there's absolutely no intention of letting him return to the lab.]
[But you can rest assured, Mu You is still here to hold things together. Although he doesn't seem as capable as Jiang Quan on the surface, his actual skills aren't far behind. As long as you keep him in charge, no one will notice anything amiss.]
Yue Chu's eyes flickered slightly.
He had known that Little Ball was well-informed about the research institute, and asking him had been the right move.
His gaze sparkled as he stared at Little Ball with his mind racing.
The lab was currently a hotbed of hidden turmoil, but he still hadn't been able to uncover the true mastermind behind it all.
If he continued to be led by the nose like this, the situation could easily spiral out of control, just like in the original world, with the risk of the virus spreading becoming unavoidable.
But now, every key figure was shrouded in suspicion, with their motives complex and ever-shifting.
He couldn't trust any of them, nor could he afford to let any of them fall into danger.
Every step he took now felt like walking on thin ice.
One misstep could shatter the delicate balance he had been carefully maintaining.
Yue Chu didn't want to remain passive. He knew he had to find a way to break through the fog, to shatter the current stalemate and uncover the secrets hidden behind the research institute.
He said softly, "I know that complaining to you like this won't solve anything, but every time, I can't help but want to talk to you about it."
At this point, he seemed a bit embarrassed as he covered half of his face with his hand and only revealed his glistening, watery eyes.
"In this laboratory, you're probably the only one I can trust. Sometimes I feel like you're not a virus, but more like a bewitching parasite that inexplicably clouds my mind."
[...Nonsense, clearly you're the one...]
[I won't help you.]
[Although I still haven't figured out what you're trying to do, I'll ensure your safety, nothing more.]
[Don't overthink it.]
[You can't influence me, and neither can those fools.]
Yue Chu's gaze shifted slightly before quietly staring at Little Ball, as if he had grasped a hint of inspiration.
His fingertips gently caressed the smooth top of Little Ball through the isolation device, still feeling the cold, hard texture.
This alien, who had traveled billions of light-years and unexpectedly landed on Blue Star, wasn't a virus in the traditional sense, but he shared similar characteristics with viruses, both aiming to find suitable hosts for parasitism and infection.
Infection...
Yue Chu's pupils contracted; perhaps he had underestimated Little Ball.
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