Chapter 29: Heâs still late
By carefully recalling the scene of his second escape from the dark room, he felt his emotions fluctuate as he witnessed the devilâs cruel treatment of his Xiao Shu under that bright screen. For a long time after that, he felt lost and confused.
When he finally regained some clarity, he successfully escaped for the second time.
Later, he saw his Xiao Shu in the hospital.
Bian Yi didnât know what the true purpose of that system was, but it seemed to know exactly how to deal with him in order to achieve the best results.
Initially, it had succeeded.
He wanted nothing more than to chop up that despicable person into mincemeat, and to kill Kou Li, who had failed to protect his Xiao Shu.
He also thought about how he could end his useless and ridiculous life.
Bian Yi sighed heavily and closed his eyes, leaning back in his seat.
Fortunately, it wasnât real.
It was just his own nightmare.
Bian Yi couldnât help but wonder if his first escape was also a nightmare.
That place was impregnable, with no visible weaknesses. Without the system, the possibility of him escaping on his own was close to zero.
Why did they send him out for a minute or two back then?
To break his spirit? To make him more resentful?
The amusement park⦠Look at them, theyâre a real family of three.
What are you? Nothing but a nameless cannon fodder destined to be replaced.
At the time, he didnât know the truth about the novel, so he kept asking âwhyâ over and over again.
Now, Bian Yi didnât feel that getting what Kou Li needed today was unreal at all. He just wanted to go back quickly, wait for Kou Li to complete his research, and extract and destroy that system from Jiang Shiâs mind.
He even wanted Kou Li to add a feature to his research that would allow the system to feel pain, so that it could experience the excruciating pain that it had caused them.
âOh, by the way,â Bian Yi suddenly remembered Kou Liâs last words and said with disgust, âWhat kind of friends do you have? Giving wheelchairs so easily?â
Kou Li chuckled, âThatâs just how he is. He and Xiao Shu had a good relationship, and they even collaborated and won an award together. Thereâs a room in the house dedicated to Xiao Shuâs trophies. Before I⦠the room was almost full, and the trophies are all very beautiful.â
Bian Yi snorted. He could tell that Jian Yi had often visited Kou Liâs home during the time he was away.
Although Jian Yiâs character wasnât very good, his professional expertise was undeniable, and he must have given Xiao Shu a lot of help.
Just as he had hoped, Xiao Shu later became a great scientist.
But what was Kou Li about to say before? What was the word he didnât say?
Bian Yi looked at Kou Li, who was still speaking, âI havenât taken you to that room since you came back. When we go back, Iâll take you to see it.â
Bian Yi lowered his brows and nodded in agreement. âOkay.â
Since he wasnât saying anything else, he didnât ask much more, lest he asks something that Kou Li couldnât bear.
The journey was long and tiring, and after chatting for a while, the two of them rested.
What Kou Li didnât finish saying was, âBefore he died.â
Before Kou Li died, he filled the room where Xiao Shu stored his trophies with various colorful trophies, each one shining brightly. But Xiao Shu, who stood among countless trophies, was not happy.
His eyes, which were very similar to Bian Yiâs, were always filled with sadness. He always looked at Kou Li and said, crying but not daring to cry, âDad, take a break. Iâll work hard. Dad will definitely come back.â
âDad, you should eat something.â
âUncle Jian has made a new medicine. Do you want to try it and take a nap?â
Kou Li slept uneasily because, after talking to Bian Yi about Xiao Shu growing up, he dreamed of the shadows of the previous Xiao Shu. But in each shadow, Xiao Shu was crying.
When he was very young, he cried from eating an unripe fruit.
As he grew older, he was rejected by his classmates, who called him a âmonster,â and he cried to Kou Li, feeling wronged. âThe question was so simple. Why did they insult me when they couldnât do it themselves?!â
Later, when he grew a bit taller, he held Kou Liâs hand and cried without making a sound, tears streaming down his face, beside his hospital bed.
After that, he grew up quickly and rarely cried, but he still did sometimes. He happily hugged Kou Li, tears in his eyes, and said with a smile, âDad! We did it! We really did it, look!â
But his smile didnât last long, instead, tears welled up in his eyes more and more.
âItâs too late.â In his dream, Kou Li heard his own voice, feeling exhausted. âItâs too late, Iâm too late. Heâs dead. Heâs dead.â
âXiao Shu, Xiao Shu â heâs dead, Ah Yi is dead, he didnât wait for me.â
âWeâve succeeded, why? Why didnât he wait for me, just one more minute, one more minute and I could have saved him.â
âWhy didnât you wait for me, why did you give up? Whyâ¦â
âDad!â Kou Li heard Xiao Shuâs shocked voice in his ear.
âDonât, donât,â Xiao Shu wiped the blood from Kou Liâs mouth, his tone panicked as he never had been before, it was the most violent Kou Li had ever seen him cry, âDad, donât, donât⦠Youâre mistaken! The research hasnât succeeded, itâs this machine thatâs malfunctioning, weâll do it again, Dad -â
âPlease, donât. Look at me, look at me! I havenât grown up yet. Are you really not going to accompany me to grow up? I havenât fallen in love, I havenât gotten married. Donât leave me, donât abandon me!â
âDad, Daddyâ¦â
Kou Li woke up suddenly.
Everything in the dream slowly faded away as he woke up, leaving no trace after a few more seconds.
Kou Li rubbed his temples, looked down at his watch, and saw that there was still an hour left.
Through the window, he could see the sunlight in the clouds, which was beautiful and the typical morning view.
Eighteen years old, shining brightly like the morning sun (1).
Their Xiao Shu was really amazing. He was only eighteen years old at that time, and he was already so outstanding.
If Ah Yi knew, he would be very proud, wouldnât he?
Kou Li smiled, got up and freshened up, had a cup of coffee brought by his secretary, and then began to immerse himself in his work.
Their efforts, Kou Liâs and Xiao Shuâs, would soon be over in just another month or two.
When the dark clouds disappeared, their family would still live under this beautiful sunshine.
(1) âåå «å²ï¼å¦æé³çåå «å²â literally translates to â18 years old, like the rising sun at 18â. This sentence uses a metaphor comparing a personâs age to the rising sun. In Chinese culture, the rising sun is often associated with the beginning of a new day and represents hope, vitality, and energy. The phrase âå¦æé³â (like the rising sun) is often used to describe a young person who is full of vitality and energy, just like the sun rising at the start of a new day. So in this context, the sentence means that the person being referred to is 18 years old and full of youthful energy and potential, just like the rising sun at the start of a new day. I didnât think it made much sense to say it in the literal sense so I altered it slightly.