Chapter 26: The Hesitating Heart

Mr. Jin took a sip from his water glass and was about to continue speaking when the slightly ajar door was gently knocked.

"Please come in," Jun Ya responded, her voice filled with grace.

"Mr. Jin, your letter." A young man entered, handing the letter in his hand to Mr. Jin. His gaze lingered on Jun Ya for a few seconds.

"Thank you, that will be all."

Once the messenger had left, Mr. Jin opened the letter, and Jun Ya leaned in to take a look as well.

"Is it alright?" Even in front of her father, Jun Ya maintained a sense of privacy.

"It's fine." Mr. Jin briefly skimmed the contents and signaled his daughter that she could read it.

"Hey, what's this..." In the next moment, the letter was snatched away by Jun Ya, who had received permission. Mr. Jin was left speechless.

"Having manners doesn't mean you can't act a bit spoiled," Mr. Jin concluded in his mind.

"Xiao Guang has decided to explore the tidal flats?" Jun Ya exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes," Mr. Jin nodded, "so we should arrange some equipment for him. We don't know if it'll come in handy!"

Jun Ya remained silent, her gaze returning to the last line of the letter.

"... Passing by the former jungle recently, trees in full bloom, birds dancing atop, plucked a petal as a gift, inquiring about the well-being of my mentor!"

"This petal is unlike anything I've seen before. It must be from some new plant." Mr. Jin studied the large petal intently, pondering, "I wonder which botanical family it belongs to?"

More specimen collecting and map drawing, how boring! "Dad, I'm going out to find Liu Xing and ask him for some equipment."

Mr. Jin looked at his daughter, thought for a moment, then nodded.

Just as his daughter was about to leave, Mr. Jin suddenly spoke, "Oh, there's another letter here, and it's actually for you."

Jun Ya, by the door, was startled, and she turned around slowly.

"Mine..."

"Yes, yours." Mr. Jin looked at his daughter with a grin, "This young lad is sending you a letter for the first time all by himself. Look, it's underneath these."

"If you don't hurry, I might just open it. I'm curious too, he didn't seal it with a stamp or encrypt it." Mr. Jin shook the letter in his hand. The green leaf-patterned paper was neatly folded into the shape of a heart, with the words "To Jun Ya, with affection."

"No way!" Jun Ya took a couple of quick steps and snatched the letter.

The heart-shaped letter made Jun Ya's heart skip a beat. What girl could resist heartfelt words and admiration?

With the excitement of a girl experiencing her first crush, Jun Ya eagerly tore open the letter.

"Jun Ya, the time we've spent together has been short, so short that every night before sleep, I replay those moments in my mind. Thinking of you brings me sweetness, and I always smile as I recall every tiny detail. But in the end, it all brings tears.

Meeting you has been my greatest fortune, perhaps my luck has run its course. I feel I might not return this time, so I apologize for the disturbance. I wish you all the happiness."

Jun Ya bit her lip, reading the letter over and over again. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Mr. Jin stood up, looking at his daughter with confusion.

In the administrative center's ground-floor lobby, the Comprehensive Assembly Hall was located. For convenience, the main heads of all departments gathered on this floor, saving time and trouble of going up and down, thus enhancing efficiency.

In the lobby of the ground floor...

"Alright, for now, let's conclude the meeting here. Everyone, go back and prepare for your tasks." Liu Xing was presiding over the meeting, and it was nearing its end.

With tear streaks not yet dried, Jun Ya walked to the doorway at this moment. As people started leaving the meeting room in groups of two or three, many raised their eyes to look at Jun Ya, smiling and nodding in acknowledgment.

The respectful nods directed at Jun Ya were not solely due to her connection with Mr. Jin and Liu Xing; they were also a result of her own capabilities that allowed her to hold her ground in the base's administrative center.

Jun Ya was not just a decorative beauty; she had the backing of her father and her fiancé, Liu Xing. However, she herself possessed the skills that enabled her to be an integral part of the base's construction.

With a Master's degree in Physics, Jun Ya had a keen understanding of architectural mechanics, and she played a crucial role in the base's development. Most of the constructions had her involvement and planning.

If not for the fact that the base's foundational construction was already on track, and if Jun Ya hadn't been feeling a bit unwell due to her special circumstances these past few days, she would have been at the construction site, guiding the work in progress. The beautiful Jun Ya was not only knowledgeable in her field but also skilled in communication. Her sweet smile while addressing questions always encouraged the workers and motivated them to continue working hard, even on dull tasks.

In situations of dispute, Jun Ya often stepped in to mediate and ease tensions, bringing both sides to sit down and discuss peacefully. Thus, Jun Ya had become a special presence at the construction site.

The people in groups at the entrance wore simple attire, but their clothes were also rich in colors. Extracting dyes from plants was one of the simplest techniques for the scientists. Delicate hairpins for girls had already made their appearance. Among this group, there were plenty of skilled craftsmen. However, the focus was currently on construction, so non-essential items were not being mass-produced. Nevertheless, during their rest hours at night, those with various crafting skills would create items like beautiful ornaments and artistic toys for their beloved girls and cherished children.

Liu Xing quickly noticed Jun Ya at the entrance. She stood there radiantly, exuding an aura of elegance.

At this moment, Jun Ya had regained her composure.

Liu Xing walked over, his face full of smiles. To him, this girl was a perfect embodiment of a wife in terms of looks, capabilities, background, and character.

"Why did you take the initiative to find me today?"

"Stop being cheeky. My father received a letter from Xiao Guang."

Liu Xing's smile paused for a moment and then became even more radiant. "Let's go to my office to talk."

"Sure." Liu Xing extended his hand and wrapped his arm around Jun Ya's waist.

Hearing Liu Xing's words, "Let's go to my office to talk," Jun Ya naturally felt some resistance. Her smile had vanished. As they walked toward his office, she began to ponder Liu Xing's intentions.

The two arrived at the doorway of Liu Xing's office. He closed the door behind them, then turned to look at Jun Ya, who was seated on the couch, her eyes fixed on him as if asking, "What do you want to say?"

"The matter with Xiao Guang, it's about equipment again, isn't it?" Liu Xing sat down beside Jun Ya and was about to start speaking.

"This problem isn't easy to solve!" Jun Ya interrupted Liu Xing. She found official language like this quite distasteful.

"Ignore that for now," Jun Ya interrupted Liu Xing, irritated by his official-sounding words.

"I came here to hear your proposed solution, not to listen to diplomatic jargon."

"From the moment you said, 'Let's go to my office to talk,' I was already annoyed. Everyone knows about Xiao Guang's situation. Why are we discussing this separately now?"

"Whether there's equipment or not, if it can be done, do it. Give me the exact numbers for how much support you can provide. Do you really have to beat around the bush with me? Is there something you can't tell me straightforwardly?"

"No, wait a moment," Jun Ya interrupted Liu Xing. She was extremely averse to this bureaucratic language.

"I came here to hear your solution, not to listen to diplomatic jargon."

"From the moment you said, 'Let's go to my office to talk,' I was already annoyed. Everyone knows about Xiao Guang's situation. Why are we discussing this separately now?"

"If there's equipment, great; if there's none, that's fine too. Do what you can, and provide the necessary support. Why do you have to be so evasive with me? Is there something you can't straightforwardly tell me?"

"No, you listen to me. Jun Ya, I understand your unique relationship with Xiao Guang, but I have my considerations too." Liu Xing began to defend himself.

"What did you say? My relationship with Xiao Guang is unique? Are you out of your mind? What are you thinking?" Jun Ya was incredibly sensitive, and she immediately interrupted Liu Xing to prevent him from continuing.

Seeing that he had upset Jun Ya, Liu Xing watched her anxiously. Her agitation actually raised his adrenaline levels.

"They said that your relationship with Xiao Guang is unusual, but I didn't believe it." Liu Xing argued.

"What 'they said'? What you believe? My relationship with Xiao Guang is pure and innocent. He saved me and my father. We owe our journey back to him. It's that simple. All this talk about something more is just nonsense."

"I know, I know. I wasn't saying much. It's indeed difficult though. We're short on supplies. Do I need to open a separate factory just for his needs?" Liu Xing shrugged helplessly.

"What's Xiao Guang doing? Don't you know? He's out there searching and rescuing people, saving the ones we need most, our essential helpers right now. Young man, with every batch of people he brings back, he's providing us with significant assistance. These young men with professional knowledge and abilities, each additional one is a massive boost. They are the hope and future of the base!" Jun Ya said, a bit annoyed. "Not to mention how many people in the base are waiting for their loved ones to return."

"Look at the ratio of young men to young women in the base, it's almost 1:2 now. How many girls are waiting for their lovers and family members? Haven't you noticed? This is as important as base construction itself," Jun Ya continued.

"The hope is slim!" Liu Xing adopted a tone of concern for the country and its people. "I need to allocate our limited resources towards visible investments..."

Before he could finish his sentence, there was a loud bang as Jun Ya, who was getting increasingly angry, slammed the table and stood up.

"Liu Xing, greetings! You're really disappointing me with your hypocritical attitude. Do you really think of me the same way as those idle gossips? Do you think there's something going on between him and me?"

"Jun Ya! You've got it wrong!" Liu Xing appeared genuinely pained. "I don't care about others' misunderstanding or misconceptions. But how can you fail to understand me? Do you know the amount of pressure I'm under? Everyone wishes to save people and reunite, but look at the situation in the base. We don't have enough manpower to spare. Our immediate priority is survival, ensuring that the survivors can keep living."

"And as for that Xiao Guang, he clearly has obtained special abilities. What should he be doing at this time? What should he not be doing? He should be giving that power to the base, to the organization, so scholars can research it thoroughly. This ability to control organisms should be accessible to everyone."

"Look at our construction, look at our work sites. Insects' assistance would make things so much easier. Look at our military; if we had the power of flight, how many lives could we save?"

"You don't want to listen! Fine, I won't say more. In any case, the right thing for him to do is to share his abilities with the people, not selfishly keep them and engage in futile, hopeless endeavors. I might have kept quiet, but the fact is, he stumbled upon these superpowers accidentally, and he only cares about personal heroics. He's an undisciplined, disorganized troublemaker who doesn't deserve any attention."

After Liu Xing finished speaking, Jun Ya glared at him furiously. She held back her emotions for a while, then seemed ready to explode as she faced Liu Xing's "innocent" gaze.

"You, you're quite a pretender. Today, I finally see through you. You can label anyone as you like, you really..." Jun Ya was so angry she couldn't find the right words. She clenched her teeth and pointed at Liu Xing.

"Don't let him deceive you, including your father." Liu Xing continued, "All those so-called insights he wrote to you, about controlling insects – it's all a charade to fool you. He'd never tell you the real secret. Otherwise, why haven't any of us succeeded in doing what he's claimed?"

"Hmph, it won't be long. He can't hide forever. Once we figure out the true method, let's see if he has the nerve to come back," Liu Xing said with resentment.

Jun Ya stared at Liu Xing, no longer speaking. She pointed at him, stomped her foot, and turned to leave.

"Jun Ya, Jun Ya..." Liu Xing called out a few times, then followed her outside.

"Don't follow me, or I might just hit you!"

Jun Ya left those words behind, not looking back. Her hair billowed in the wind, her anger palpable.

Observing the onlookers in the corridor, Liu Xing shook his head, a look of helplessness on his face.

At the entrance of the administrative center, a middle-aged man with the air of a secretary watched Jun Ya's graceful figure for a moment, only turning to approach Liu Xing after she had walked away.

"Director Liu, do you want to follow her? Should I arrange some time off for the upcoming meeting?"

"Forget it. We have a meeting on-site. Nothing's wrong." Liu Xing's face remained solemn.

Closing the door to his office, Liu Xing walked to the window and gazed at the people moving around in the distance.

With not many young men around, most were working on-site during working hours. Looking at the scene, one could see that apart from a few elderly individuals, the majority were young girls and women.

"Hmph, just as I suspected. Prolonged companionship can't withstand sudden bursts of passion. Jun Ya, you're unfaithful, don't blame me for being unrighteous. Some insignificant thing that can't even make it to the forefront, technology is the true path. He thinks he's some sort of celestial being just because he can ride a flying bug?" Liu Xing thought with resentment.

Immediately, his gaze swept over the crowd, scanning back and forth among the girls and young women with well-proportioned figures and attractive features.

"Dad." Jun Ya hurriedly entered the room.

"Liu Xing actually spoke to me with an official tone, trying to placate me."

"What did you do to him?" Mr. Jin seemed to anticipate his daughter hitting a wall.

"The equipment from last time was already discounted, and this time it's discounted again," Jun Ya's tone was a bit urgent. "This time is different from before, it's not in the familiar forest. Ah Dai is going to such a distant place, and the mudflat is a blank canvas for us. Even if he can fly, what's the use? We don't know if there's anything strange there, the ecology, the natural enemies of any beetles. There's no landing point there. How can he stop in mid-air? How can he refuel? Are there predatory birds in the sky? What if..."

Mr. Jin raised his hand to stop his daughter's words.

"I believe in Xiao Guang. He's been able to overcome dangers multiple times before, he must have some special ability. Our entire town can shrink and appear in this magical world. Having some form of sensing and precognition abilities for Xiao Guang is not impossible."

"Just that, Xiao Guang, who never complains, suddenly acts like this. Maybe he really has foresight. However, no matter what, it's too late for you to go ask for equipment or assistance now."

"Also, try to understand Liu Xing a bit. He's got a heavy burden on his shoulders too. At the same time, your relationship with him, I think it's time to make a decision. Otherwise, it might bring great trouble," looking at his daughter's surprised and lovely face, "Though I don't particularly like some of Liu Xing's methods, he indeed accelerated the base's development significantly."

"The techniques he's using, some of them, the ones that release human nature, the theories that propagate, they are a collective potential time bomb. Once morals and ethics are broken, what's needed cannot be repaired in one or two generations."

"Can we think that far ahead?" Mr. Jin's gaze towards his daughter sparkled.

"Dad, are you supporting him?"

"No, I'm not supporting, nor am I indulging. It's just that I'm powerless." Mr. Jin sighed. "Haven't you noticed? The change in some people's hearts is latent, it's a natural occurrence. When survival becomes an issue, everything becomes reasonable. Standing from a historical perspective, we can see the dangers brought about by moral decline and the advantages brought by the system. But what use is that for the current situation? We don't even have time to consider how to return to the original world. We can only find ways to minimize sacrifices."

"We know that some actions are wrong. Morality is a sign of civilization, but we have to admit, if we stay in this world, at least a part of the original civilization won't be inherited, a big part won't be."

"Liu Xing is just going with the flow to guide people's hearts. Everyone alive is faced with choices, choices for the future of survival."

"All systems, all structures will be shattered, everything will be reconstructed."

Mr. Jin looked at his daughter. "It's time to make a choice. We can pretty much determine that the chance of going back is slim."

"Perhaps we've become small, perhaps it's because the world has become vast, but it doesn't matter. This is an unknown world, not the familiar Earth. No airplanes fly in the sky, no ships on the sea. The moon in the sky is much like ours, the galaxies are familiar too, but just not the same."

"The few who held the core died in the accident, and even now, we can't piece together the reason. Should we wait for rescue? It was merely a coincidental event. When they figure out a stable method and it's time to come, maybe... sigh, we might really not be able to go back."

"You told me that a perfect life should be filled with stories, that the most beautiful faces are weathered by time and filled with wisdom. You said I should have a smile on my face and live the way I want. But now I suddenly feel unhappy. I'm worried about him, afraid of losing him, Father, what should I do?"

"Sigh!"