The Third Rebirth (REBIRTH)
The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn.
Jiang Cancan and Jian Lan pushed the door open and entered before tiptoeing to the empty seats next to Jiang Mu as if they were late for class.
After sitting down, Jiang Cancan quickly scanned the people present and found that almost all the big shots from the temporary base had arrived.
From the Academy of Engineering, besides Bai Hengyun and two elderly professors over fifty, Ling Dingnan, who was in a wheelchair, was also there. Then there were Jian Zhongshan and Jian Yun, as well as the captains of Soaring Dragon and Cheetah.
They were all familiar faces, but Jiang Cancan instinctively straightened his back—since Ling Chen couldn't be here, he couldn't afford to lose face for him.
However, it seemed like Chen Ge had never sat properly during meetings?
While his thoughts were still wandering, Bai Hengyun began to speak, "Everyone, today is August 7th. It has been over half a month since the establishment of this temporary base. After discussing with General Jian, we thought it was time to hold a meeting and summarize our progress."
Jiang Cancan very simply took out a pen and started taking notes. Jian Lan also pulled out some paper and passed him a note, "Are you in elementary school? Taking notes word for word?"
Jiang Cancan wrote back, "I'll show it to Chen Ge when he wakes up." Then he added another line, "You're doing the same thing, Can Ye sees right through you!"
Jian Lan rubbed his nose.
Bai Hengyun continued, "The current situation is that the middle and upper levels of Zones One, Four, and Five, as well as the Command Center, have been thoroughly infiltrated by Holy Judgement. Meanwhile, the scope of D Zone is still expanding. Regarding the Regional Core, we will accelerate our research and come up with a feasible plan as soon as possible."
After speaking, she looked at Jian Zhongshan beside her.
Jian Zhongshan, now over seventy, had graying hair.
The years of enduring the harshness of the battlefield were etched into the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and mouth. His eyes remained sharp, without a hint of cloudiness, making it difficult for anyone to meet his gaze directly.
He spoke slowly but with a strong voice, "What I want to say is the following. First, the Regional Core is now in our hands, and the enemy factions in the military district, along with Holy Judgement, will surely come to seize it. Second, whether it's the expansion speed of D Zone or the strong threats from the enemy, both indicate that we don't have much time to build fortifications behind closed doors. To win, we must race against time."
He looked at Qin Ling, the captain of Cheetah, "On the way back, Captain Qin asked me, 'Old General, who exactly is our enemy?' I told him at the time that it was the enemy factions colluding with Holy Judgement in the military district, as well as the increasingly powerful organization of Holy Judgement itself. But now I want to add something."
He coughed heavily a few times with his eyes still as sharp as an eagle's, "Since ancient times, humans have feared the brevity of life and the weakness of their own strength. Therefore, 'immortality' and 'absolute power' have become irresistible temptations.
Those foolish power-hungry individuals believe that Gene Fusion is the most effective way to significantly enhance human strength, and that controlling the Noah System can achieve eternal life. But they forget that one day we will have to leave this system world. No matter how real it feels here, it is not our world.
That's why we are tirelessly researching how to improve the disaster resistance of plants, crops that can produce food in harsh environments, strategies to cope with natural disasters, and even how to build living spaces underwater.”
The reason humans have been able to survive on this planet for millions of years is because we have never lacked the courage to fight, never sought to settle in a corner and live a life of mere existence.
"From this moment on, what you carry on your shoulders is the future of our race," he said while looking around at everyone. "Although it may sound too heavy, I still have to say it. I hope that on this day next year, all of you will still be here."
………..
In the hospital room.
Ye Xiao's fingers loosely hooked around Ling Chen's while asking Noah in his heart, "Will he wake up?"
"Yes," Noah's mechanical electronic voice sounded. "Ye Xiao, this is the 135th time you've asked this question."
"Has it been that many times? But he still hasn't woken up." While conversing with Noah in his heart, Ye Xiao soaked a cotton ball in water and carefully wiped Ling Chen's dry lips.
Noah: "According to my database, in such cases, speaking more by the patient's ear increases the chances of awakening."
Ye Xiao put down the cotton ball, "Really? Then I'll try." He emphasized, "You're not allowed to listen."
Noah: "Alright, is this human behavior called shyness? I understand, I will block you in three seconds."
The hospital room was a single room, very quiet, filled with a strong smell of medicine and a faint scent of blood.
Ye Xiao's fingers drew circles in Ling Chen's palm, and after a long while, he finally spoke, "I don't know what I should say."
He felt there wasn't much to say about his past, and after much thought, "I don't remember much about the orphanage, except that not crying or making a fuss could get me candy. I also remember once keeping a fish, a small red one with a long and beautiful tail. But it didn't live long, and I hid under the covers, quietly sad for a night."
He paused for two seconds, "I don't seem to have many happy memories and meeting you, finding you, was the happiest."
Ye Xiao found that Noah's method didn't work on him at all. He gently turned Ling Chen's palm upward and buried his eyes in it.
After a long time, a low sob suddenly emerged in the hospital room, like that of a wounded little beast.
"Captain... why haven't you woken up yet, I'm so scared..." He hunched his back, so thin that the curve of his spine under his clothes was visible.
"...I've been eating well, sleeping well, very obedient," he sniffed with his throat choked with discomfort and emitting two disjointed sounds, unable to speak.
Tears flowed out, wetting Ling Chen's palm.
"Ye—"
A weak breath, but it exploded like thunder in Ye Xiao's ears.
His fingers gripped the edge of the bed, hurting from the force and wanted to look up to confirm if Ling Chen had woken up, but did not dare to—
He had been disappointed so many times these days as he always heard Ling Chen call him. Call him Ye Xiao, or call him Little Fuzzball. But every time he responded, he would find it was just an illusion, as Ling Chen's eyes were still tightly closed.
At this moment, he had no courage at all.
"You're crying so much... it hurts my heart."
This isn't an illusion?
Ye Xiao froze, and after a few seconds, he cautiously looked up and met Ling Chen's dark eyes before opening his mouth, "You... you're awake?"
Ling Chen also looked at Ye Xiao.
His Little Fuzzball was crying quite pitifully, with wet lashes, red-rimmed eyes, and a red nose tip. The pitiful little look was utterly heart-wrenching.
Before he could say anything else, he noticed Ye Xiao reaching out to touch his eyelids as gently as if they were fragile cicada wings before smiling through tears, "You're awake."
When Ling Chen regained consciousness, he felt excruciating pain all over his body, probably resembling a tattered rag doll. But now, the pain in his body was completely overshadowed by the ache in his heart.
He didn't even notice how gentle his tone was, "Were you scared? Hmm?"
Ye Xiao wiped his tears with the back of his hand, "Yes."
It felt like a huge hole had been torn open in his heart, and fear, helplessness, and panic all poured out from that dark abyss. Especially at night, he was always afraid to sleep, as he would constantly dream of Ling Chen dying.
He was terrified that when he woke up and opened his eyes, there would be the dawn of a new day, but Ling Chen would be gone.
Ling Chen's vision blurred intermittently, and his body protested, urging him to fall unconscious again. He knew that if he allowed himself to pass out once more, his Little Fuzzball would be terrified.
Without hesitation, Ling Chen moved his hand under the blanket and pressed hard on the wound on his thigh—it hurt like hell!
The sharp pain jolted him awake.
Maintaining his expression, he looked into Ye Xiao's eyes, "Have you been eating and sleeping well?"
Ye Xiao nodded, "Yes, I finished a whole plate of fried rice at noon."
"Good boy." Ling Chen secretly winced from the pain before adjusted his breathing, and smiled, "Did our Little Fuzzball secretly install two faucets in his eyes? Why are the tears coming out again?"
Ye Xiao denied it, "There are no faucets."
"Really?" Ling Chen teased him, "Tsk, your nose is red, and your eyes are red too, like a little girl."
Ye Xiao leaned closer to Ling Chen to let him see his eyes, "I'm not a little girl. Look, I'm not crying anymore, really."
Ling Chen raised an eyebrow, "Really not a little girl? Should the Captain check?"
He had only meant to tease Ye Xiao and distract him, but Ye Xiao, with reddened ears and eyes as clear as spring water, looked at him and said, "Okay."
Realizing the depth of his own folly, Ling Chen was truly at a loss. He closed his eyes for a moment and quickly changed the subject, "Little Fuzzball."
"Hmm?" Ye Xiao propped his chin on his hand and watched Ling Chen intently.
"Did you hear what I said when the explosion happened?"
Ye Xiao answered softly, "I heard it."
Seeing the bright look in his eyes, Ling Chen's heart softened like a cloud.
At that moment, without any rehearsal or the need for a lengthy essay, he heard himself say to Ye Xiao, "Then, from now on, Ye Xiao, let's officially start dating, okay?"
At the moment of the explosion, he had realized how fragile life was. If he hadn't made his feelings clear to Ye Xiao, even in death, he would have to haunt Ye Xiao in a dream to explain.
Seeing Ye Xiao's lips move but no words coming out, Ling Chen's heart began to feel a chill—had his Little Fuzzball discovered his flaws during his coma and decided not to stay with him?
Ling Chen reflected on himself—his temper wasn’t great, his job wasn’t stable, his salary was low, and there was no security. His life was always on the edge, full of risks, and now he was even on the defector list. He wasn’t particularly handsome either. It seemed his only redeeming quality was his strength, which allowed him to carry Little Fuzzball on his shoulders. But even after doing it twice, Little Fuzzball didn’t seem to like it much…
Ye Xiao leaned in and kissed him.
Their soft lips met and breaths mingling, but before he could even savor the moment, they parted.
All the anxiety and uncertainty in Ling Chen’s heart dissipated in an instant. He licked his lips and understood, “Is this a yes?”
Ye Xiao lowered his head and nodded with the tips of his hair swaying slightly.
A smile tugged at the corners of Ling Chen’s mouth as he gazed at the pale nape of Ye Xiao’s neck that were exposed when he looked down. “Baby, look up.”
Ye Xiao raised his head.
Ling Chen’s eyes burned with intensity. “Call me ‘husband’—no, that’s too cheesy. How about ‘brother’? Can you do that?”
Ye Xiao met his gaze with his own heart feeling as if it had been scorched and a tingling sensation spreading through him. He stammered, “Bro… brother.”
Ling Chen let out a long sigh and a satisfied smile on his face. “Hearing you call me ‘brother’ like that, half of my wounds are healed already.”
Ye Xiao stared at Ling Chen and suddenly asked, “Then if I call you… that, will your wounds heal completely?”
Ling Chen’s mind froze for a rare moment.
Ye Xiao had already spoken earnestly, calling him, “Husband.”
Ling Chen closed his eyes and said, word by word, “Damn, I’d give you my life.”
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