Chapter 61

Zhen Ai sat in front of the dressing table, meticulously braiding her hair. She had listened to Eva's advice and searched online for a beautiful hairstyle. Although she usually didn't dress up, she was a quick learner and could grasp things at a glance. After more than ten minutes of slow and careful work, she was done.

She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, her dark and smooth long hair cascading like a waterfall adorned with little flowers—elegant and gentle.

Once her hair was done, she turned to the mirror to apply her makeup.

She remembered the steps from online tutorials, following them like painting a picture. Twenty minutes later, the girl in the mirror looked even more beautiful. Her eyebrows were delicately arched, her eyes were dark, and her makeup was light, resembling a pure lotus.

Zhen Ai gazed at the color on her lips, suppressing the urge to lick them.

Yan Su was coming to pick her up soon.

Actually, the day she accompanied him to the hospital to remove his bandages, she had glanced at the Swensens nearby several times, captivated by the colorful fruits and vibrant ice creams.

Seeing her interest, he took her inside.

He didn't like sweets, so he quietly watched her from the large glass window. Under the summer sun, her face was so pale it was almost translucent, radiating joy.

At that time, the store was playing an early Lincoln Park song, "Somewhere I Belong." Zhen Ai was stunned; the singing felt like a roar from the depths of her heart, and she remembered her brother loved it.

She actually liked it too.

The lyrics sang, "The past was all false, it's time to let go of the pain. Now I'm closer to real life, finally finding the person I long for."

She pondered with the spoon in her hand when Yan Su reached over, brushing away the crumbs from the corner of her mouth: "Lincoln Park has a concert in New York next week. Do you want to go?"

...

Now, when Zhen Ai thought back, it seemed like his cool fingertip had left a lingering warmth on her lips, making her smile unconsciously as she changed her shoes and headed downstairs to wait for him.

Summer had arrived, and sunlight spilled through the lush leaves above her. She looked up at the dappled sky, a mix of green and blue, and felt in high spirits.

Sitting on a white bench by the road, she soon spotted Yan Su's car and couldn't help but smile.

The white car pulled up beside her, and he turned his head, seeing her sitting still, happily smiling at him. The summer breeze lightly brushed against her, causing her skirt to flutter, making her look beautiful enough to be forever etched in his memory.

Yan Su got out of the car and pulled out a chubby teddy bear as tall as Zhen Ai from the backseat, wrapping his arm around its round belly and walking a few steps onto the sidewalk, standing before her.

She glanced at the chestnut-colored, furry bear, a flicker of joy crossing her face. That day he had told her, "Every time we meet, I'll give you a gift; every time we meet, you have to kiss me once, okay?" Since then, there had always been surprises—music boxes, glass balls...

She looked up at him, the sunlight sparkling in his dark eyes.

He bent down at a 70-degree angle, leaning in close to her, greeting her with a clear voice: "Hi!"

Her heart raced, and she smiled, "Hi!"

He was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and light-colored pants, looking clean and fresh like a college student. Suddenly, he produced a colorful flower hairpin and gently pinned it into her hair.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she lowered her eyes.

"Waiting for someone?"

She shook her head, "I'm not waiting for anyone."

"Then... let's go." He blinked at her, like he was coaxing a child.

She nodded, "Okay!"

He suddenly broke into a smile, his gaze dropping to her rosy lips, asking, "Hmm, what does your lip gloss taste like?"

She shook her head, "I don't know... sweet?"

"Liar!" He leaned in, planting a quick kiss on her lips, his tongue lightly brushing over them, "I told you, it has no flavor."

She turned her head away: "Then why did you kiss me?"

In turning away, she bumped into the teddy bear's adorable head, which tilted to the side, its dark eyes curiously watching her.

Every gift he gave her, she loved. Some weren't suitable for her age but fit her perfectly. It was as if he was gradually filling the void of her childhood and youthful fantasies.

Joyfully, she hugged the bear, which was taller than her and a few sizes rounder, but her arms couldn't wrap around it completely. It was soft and cuddly, filling her with warmth.

She loved it so much that she couldn't help but rub her cheek against its head, as if she had found a partner in the little bear.

Yan Su watched her with a smile, then reminded her with a serious face: "Hey, it's time for your kiss."

"Moi!" She leaned in, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. Her nose brushed against his cheek, and he smiled again. For some reason, day by day, he found himself more infatuated with their intimacy.

Zhen Ai named the bear Yan Xiaosu, and when Yan Su heard the name, he didn't object; instead, he smiled and said, "If I'm not around and you want to hug me, just hug him."

Zhen Ai couldn't get enough of it, and she squeezed into the front passenger seat with the bear, insisting on taking it into the concert with her. She was smaller than the bear, making her look like a little teddy bear herself from a distance.

It was Zhen Ai's first time at a concert, and the atmosphere was vibrant and exuberant. Fans shouted and jumped, cheering for the rock singers on stage. She was purely drawn to the music, feeling as if she could find resonance in every song they played.

The songs always contained hints of confusion and sorrow, but they also held a power and hope that could pierce the sky.

The band was singing "Iridescent": "Do you feel cold and helpless, full of hope yet ultimately despairing? Please remember this moment of sorrow and frustration; one day, it will drift away with time."

The crowd sang along: "Let it go! Let it go! Release it, let it pass!"

The past sorrows and frustrations would truly pass, right? She trembled at the music that penetrated her soul.

She tightly hugged the teddy bear while Yan Su held her close.

Resting against his chest, she softly said, "I have someone very important to me; he really likes their songs."

He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his gaze darkening slightly, and leaned down to kiss her temple softly: "So do I."

She trembled gently in his embrace, not from fear but from an endless rush of warmth and strength filling her body. In the midst of the crowd celebrating, his embrace felt familiar and safe.

She turned to look at him and found his gaze lingering on her, his eyes bright like they were filled with countless stars, gentle and affectionate. Being looked at so seriously by him made it feel as if everyone around them had vanished, leaving only the two of them.

A surge of electricity coursed through her, and with one hand on the bear and the other on his neck, she pulled him down, standing on tiptoe to nibble at his lips.

Since their passionate kiss during Easter, most of their kisses had been gentle. But this time, perhaps ignited by the fervent atmosphere, both of them suddenly felt a strong desire to meld into each other.

He held her tightly, their lips and tongues indulging in a wild dance, and she was no longer shy or reserved; instead, she passionately sucked on him, their lips and tongues entwined deeply, even daring to nibble on his lips. Though inexperienced, it made his body heat up significantly. Their breaths quickened, growing hotter and entangled together.

Eventually, her little face flushed, and she gasped, leaning into his embrace, burying her head against his chest and unable to suppress her laughter. He held her and the teddy bear, lowering his head to rest against her face, whispering softly.

The big teddy bear's head leaned to the side, quietly watching the performance on stage.

After the show, Zhen Ai went to the restroom, stuffing the teddy bear into his arms before entering, purposely instructing, "Be good and wait for me!"

Yan Su nodded.

As she turned the corner and glanced back, he looked so calm and composed, one hand carrying the huge teddy bear, and he appeared quite adorable.

Yan Su didn't pay any attention to the gazes around him; he turned to the big bear and asked, "Tell me, is your name Yan Xiaosu?"

The big bear tilted its head and ignored him.

Yan Su continued, "You're even dumber than Isaac!"

"S.A.!" someone called him. That voice…

Yan Su suddenly froze and turned around.

The girl opposite him wore a duck-bill cap, a loose T-shirt, and camouflage pants, giving her a boyish look. Her face was not very good, and her eyes were moist, as if she had just cried from feeling wronged.

She glanced in the direction where Zhen Ai had disappeared moments ago, then looked back at him. Yan Su calmly said, "Girlfriend."

She was taken aback for a moment and then smiled faintly, "I figured it out!"

There were obvious bite marks on his lips.

Yan Su was silent for a few seconds before asking, "L.J., when did you come back?"

Her eyes were still red, but she forced a smile: "Today. You know, they have a concert; I'll definitely come." She paused. "And I need to talk to you."

"What's up?"

"You're busy today; let's talk another day! I know your phone number and address." Before her voice faded, she vanished into the crowd.

Yan Su gently withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes.

L.J. walked a few steps and turned back to look.

A girl, resembling a snow-white doll, ran over and jumped into Yan Su's arms, squashing the big bear. He exaggeratedly staggered back a few steps while holding the big bear and the girl.

The girl was dressed in a white dress, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, resembling a goddess from Greek mythology.

The night grew deep. Yan Su accompanied Zhen Ai to her apartment and lingered at the door, reluctant to part ways.

He watched her open the door and go in but didn't leave. Instead, he quietly leaned against the corridor wall, gradually retracting the gentle smile he had while looking at her.

As they walked up, there were neat footprints on the apartment carpet and traces of pressing and searching in the greenery… Someone was in her room.

Zhen Ai hugged a big bear and turned on the lights, the smile in her eyes completely vanished. A row of tall, muscular men in black clothes stood in the living room, led by a beautiful woman in her twenties.

She cast an indifferent glance at Zhen Ai, clearly surprised by her outfit: "Did you go on a date?"

Zhen Ai didn't respond, her expression cold. "Is there something you need, Miss Adams?" After a moment, she corrected herself, "Oh no, I should address you as Mrs. Vanderbilt now."

"Both are fine," Annie smiled slightly.

The black-clad agents were silent; they had already searched and inspected the entire room. Every so often, they would come to check for listening devices and tracking equipment.

Zhen Ai was knowledgeable and vigilant in this regard, and she didn't need their help at all. In her eyes, they were merely supervising her in disguise.

Annie's gaze fell on the big bear in Zhen Ai's arms.

In her work, she never mentioned personal matters. At her wedding, Zhen Ai was a close friend of Yan Su, cold and often in a daze; here, Zhen Ai was her subordinate, a meticulous, efficient, and composed researcher.

To be honest, when she saw Zhen Ai just now, she was taken aback. From the time she met the 17-year-old Zhen Ai five years ago until now, she had always been simple, low-key, and without desires.

Annie looked at the bear: "Do you like this kind of thing?" She found it hard to imagine that the usually composed Zhen Ai would have such childlike sentiments.

Zhen Ai still didn't answer.

Annie had replaced the former CEO last year and became responsible for Zhen Ai's research progress. She usually only appeared when there were significant matters to discuss.

She pointed to the windowsill where a row of colorful eggs and glass music boxes and small crafts were placed: "We've checked those for you; there are no issues. But suddenly buying these things, have you considered the safety risks?"

Zhen Ai frowned slightly. "What exactly do you want?"

Annie stood up, and Zhen Ai set down the big bear and walked with her to the bedroom.

Annie closed the door and said, "The Anti-HNT-DL antiviral serum has been successfully developed; you've worked hard during this time."

Zhen Ai remained calm, showing no joy or displeasure.

After a brief silence, Annie's smile faded: "However, a month ago, in the explosion case at Maple Street Bank, the police discovered a horribly mutilated male corpse. We've kept the news under wraps, but the CIA still needs to investigate thoroughly. Zhen Ai, did you take the virus out of the lab without permission?"

Zhen Ai quietly raised her gaze to meet hers, her expression calm, without any hint of fear or panic: "I suspect the organization's people have found me, and I need to protect myself."

Suspect? Ha!

Annie knew that although Zhen Ai was young, she had a resilient heart; she was impervious to both softness and hardness, so blaming her would be useless. She decided to shift the topic to more important matters: "The higher-ups are curious about how you managed to take the virus out of the lab, especially since the corridor walls are lined with automatic detectors."

Zhen Ai remained silent.

Annie pondered, recalling Ryan saying that during one experiment, Zhen Ai accidentally cut her hand while injecting the virus into a lab rat, yet she emerged unscathed. Did her body have some strange mechanism?

She raised the recording pen in her hand: "By the way, the higher-ups need to know your next work plan for record-keeping, as usual."

Zhen Ai routinely replied, "Research on Anti-HNT-LS."

Brief and to the point.

Annie pressed further: "What happens after this one?"

Zhen Ai hesitated, unsure. She had initially thought that researching these two viruses would be a long process, but after thousands of efficient tests, they had suddenly achieved half of the success. At this rate, the research endpoint was just around the corner.

So… 

Zhen Ai's heart suddenly raced. Did this mean that soon, she could return to an ordinary life?

But her hope was soon shattered by Annie: "Zhen Ai, we know that besides inventing these two evil viruses, your mother also developed two top-secret technologies: one is cloning, and the other is halting the human death mechanism."

Zhen Ai's heart trembled slightly, but she remained calm on the surface: "As far as cloning or halting death goes, many scientists are attempting it, but none can break through the bottleneck."

Annie seemed half-convinced: "But we all know your mother was an extraordinary genius, and you are too. Didn't you… learn anything from her about this?"

Zhen Ai abruptly looked up, coldly interrupting her: "Miss Adams, in these two areas, I am as helpless as other scientists."

"Let's not discuss that. Let's talk about business." Annie shrugged, as if everything earlier had been a test.

"We know that there are many strange drugs in the S.P.A. organization. Some can irreversibly erase all memories from the cerebral cortex, while others can permanently impair cognitive intelligence."

She glanced at Zhen Ai, who remained composed, showing no signs of change in expression.

"There are also drugs that can endow humans with animal-like powers, such as the muscle and speed of a cheetah, the strength of an ape, the bite force of a polar bear, the echolocation of bats and dolphins, and the night vision and hearing of other animals…"

Zhen Ai noticed the probing look in her eyes and smiled faintly: "Miss, my night vision and hearing are adaptations I developed from being locked in a dark room since childhood, not from taking any drugs."

Annie didn't delve deeper and instead said, "Several undercover agents were discovered internally and were fed animal-based drugs, all of whom developed animal traits and can no longer live normal lives. Zhen Ai, do you have any solutions?"

"I don't," Zhen Ai replied coldly, her expression frigid. "Moreover, these drugs are rare; you don't need to worry about the organization letting them flow into the market."

Annie countered, "Can you guarantee that? Are you certain the organization won't mass-produce them and sell them to terrorist organizations once the drug's effects are stabilized?"

Zhen Ai was momentarily speechless, biting her lip without responding. She certainly couldn't guarantee anything; she only hoped it wouldn't happen. Right now, she felt like an ostrich, burying her head in the sand to avoid facing reality.

Viruses, experiments, drugs, embryos, cloning, cells—these cold, lifeless things that had accompanied her from a young age—when would they come to an end?

She truly didn't want to deal with all of this! Why did such a heavy burden have to rest on her shoulders?

But she had reasons that she couldn't ignore, and the group represented by Annie understood this all too well: "Zhen Ai, the one who invented this series of inhumane drugs is the most evil scientist of this century—your mother."

Zhen Ai remained silent, though her face turned pale.

Annie got straight to the point: "We require you to develop an antidote for these drugs."

Zhen Ai raised her eyes, "Then you must first create the drugs. How are you any different from the S.P.A. organization?"

Annie caught the sarcasm in her voice and explained, "Of course we are different. We won't use them on humans, but the scientists at S.P.A. are also researching and experimenting on people. Zhen Ai, you must find the antidote."

"This is to atone for your parents' actions!"

Those words left Zhen Ai completely still.

She had to atone for her parents… for a lifetime.

She looked at her silently, her dark eyes resembling empty black holes without a glimmer of light, suddenly flashing with an inexplicable fierceness.

Annie, an experienced and adaptable administrator, felt an unaccountable chill down her spine under Zhen Ai's silent gaze.

Second by second, she finally averted her eyes and left without a word.

As Zhen Ai stepped out of the room, she was stunned by the sight before her.

The large, chubby teddy bear lay on the ground, its brown body almost flattened into a layer of skin. The bear's plump belly had been cut open, and white cotton spilled everywhere. Yan Xiao Su tilted its head, its dark eyes nearly falling out, yet still looking at Zhen Ai with a bewildered innocence.

She suddenly clenched her fists, filled with anger and resentment, remembering how Yan Su had walked toward her, hugging it, how he had held them both while listening to the concert, and how he said he would hug Yan Xiao Su when he wasn't around. Her heart ached as if it was her being cut open.

Her eyes turned red as she glared at them, word by word: "Who allowed you to take apart my bear?"

No one responded; the men in black only reported to Annie behind her, "Checked it; the toy is fine."

Zhen Ai gritted her teeth, saying nothing, and knelt down to stuff the soft cotton back into the teddy bear's belly. The bear was too plump; it had been round and full. Now that a large incision was made in its belly, no matter how hard she tried to stuff it, cotton kept oozing out.

After much effort, she managed to stuff it well, then struggled to cradle the giant bear in her arms and turned to leave.

As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Yan Su standing at the opposite end of the hallway, looking down. Hearing the noise, he lifted his head and saw her holding the crooked bear with its belly wide open, cotton spilling out. A look of surprise crossed his face.

"I'm sorry!" she choked, tears welling up in her eyes.