My girlfriend died in the past

Chapter 339 Make Your Choice
In fact, Zhuang Xiao already knew from the beginning that its target was not him, but Zero.

The reason is very simple: with its speed and power, it could have killed itself the moment it appeared beside it, but it didn't. Instead, it was "watching" itself.

Or rather, it was scanning Zhuang Xiao, and after discovering that Zhuang Xiao was human, and then discovering that he was Zhuang Xiao, it abandoned the "expulsion" of him, and instead "eliminated" Zero as a danger.

If Zhuang Xiao was only guessing at first, then after the battle with Zero began, Zhuang Xiao was certain that his guess was correct.

He could even reach the alloy gate through a 1,000-square-meter indoor space, thanks not only to Zero's efforts to control it but also to its ability to move away from the area where Zhuang Xiao was located.

Arriving at the control panel, Zhuang Xiao took a deep breath, spread his five fingers, and then placed his hand on the handprint.

Om-!
A sudden tingling sensation ran through his palm, accompanied by a strange electrical sound. Countless streams of light suddenly lit up the main server room, which had been filled with a silent and dilapidated atmosphere!

At this moment, Zhuang Xiao, who already thought it was very sci-fi, gained a deeper understanding.

Or rather, this is more in line with his impression of "science fiction".

The countless streams of light seemed to be data. They flew rapidly and converged inside the control panel. After an unknown amount of time, the streams of light disappeared, and a USB flash drive popped out from inside the control panel.
That's right, it's a USB flash drive.

Are people still using USB flash drives more than a hundred years from now?

No, the last time this system was operational was in 2077.

But that's more than 50 years later. Does that mean we'll still be using USB drives more than 50 years from now?
Or perhaps Shu Die was afraid she wouldn't recognize the new storage device, so she specially prepared a USB flash drive?
It could also just be a USB flash drive-style storage device.

Then the problem is coming.

How do I use this thing?

"Please insert the prosthetic body. I'm sorry, I forgot you haven't undergone any body modifications."

Zero's usual emotionless, cool, and sweet voice rang out.

Zhuang Xiao turned her head and saw Ling struggling to stand up.

He rushed over to support Ling, "How are you? Are you alright?"

Zero shook his head. "The damage is only 17.48%, which won't affect your mobility. You can go into the repair bay for treatment afterward. 'Red Dust' withdrew its power at the end, but I didn't."

Her face remained expressionless, but Zhuang Xiao could see sadness in her face, where half of her bionic skin had peeled off.

"Are you really okay?"

"fine."

Zero seemed to want to change the subject, so he raised his right arm, and then opened the back of his hand like a warehouse opening, revealing a USB flash drive interface.

Please use me.

Zhuang Xiao thought about it and didn't refuse.

So he inserted the USB drive into Zero's arm.

The next moment, Zero suddenly stopped, and the faint expression on his face disappeared.

Her wide eyes turned emerald green, as if countless data were flowing within them.

About five minutes later, her eyes returned to their deep blue color.

"The data transfer is complete. Feel free to ask me anything you'd like to know."

Zhuang Xiao snapped her fingers. "That's the problem. I don't know what I should ask. I don't know anything. Zero, what do you think I should know?"

Zero hesitated slightly, "I don't know what you should know."

Zhuang Xiao's expression shifted slightly, but she didn't react much.

He felt that Zero's emotions seemed to have become much richer.

Is this change also caused by the data on the USB drive?
"Hmm, let me think about it."

Zhuang Xiao pondered for a moment before asking, "First question, am I the only human still alive in this world?"

This question is important.

Another green data stream flashed by in Ling's eyes, clearly indicating that data was being retrieved.

Then it responded, "That's not the case; there are many other people alive in this world."

Zhuang Xiao's heart raced, and she grabbed Ling's hand, asking, "Where are they?!"

“Inside the hibernation pod,” Zero replied, without pulling his hand away.

Zhuang Xiao immediately pressed on, "What about the people I know? My parents, Shu Die and the others?"

"Your parents have been gone for many years and are currently buried in the long-abandoned Panlong Cemetery."

Zero went straight to Zhuang Xiao's question, "The president and others uploaded their consciousness into the main server in 2030, and officially started the operation of 'Zhuang Xiao World' in 2077, and uploaded the stored consciousness into 'Zhuang Xiao World'."

"Their bodies are currently still frozen in their hibernation pods."

Zhuang Xiao gripped its hand tightly in excitement, "So they're all still alive?!"

"Alive, but barely surviving." Zero still didn't break free, and even grabbed Zhuang Xiao's hand and gently patted the back of his hand to soothe his agitated emotions.

Zhuang Xiao took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, then quickly grasped the key point, "Did something happen on September 5, 2024?"

This was something he had summarized based on Shu Die's words and other clues in "Zhuang Xiao's World".

Now, Zero says that Shu Die and the others in the real world uploaded their consciousness to the server in 2030.

Logically speaking, the technology to upload a person's consciousness at that point in time should have been impossible.

At the very least, even if there are signs, it's just in the testing phase.

But they did it anyway.

The fact that "Zhuang Xiao World" only started operating in 2077 proves this point.

Why did they upload their consciousness forty-seven years in advance?

This indicates that it was a forced choice.

In other words, something must have happened in the real world.

So Shu Die invested money, and then Gu Shiyue and An Lan spearheaded the development of consciousness uploading technology.

And by 2030, things were beyond repair, so they chose to take a desperate gamble!
Zero explained, "That day you were in a car accident and became a vegetable. So the president invested in Professor Gu and Professor An's laboratory to develop the technology for uploading consciousness."

Just because of this?

This was not unexpected for Zhuang Xiao.

"What else? Did anything else happen after that?"

Ling Wei nodded slightly. "As you said, a few years later, a new type of bacteria appeared in the world. That bacteria infected almost all known organisms, and the mortality rate exceeded 99%, so the whole world began to conduct corresponding experiments. This is also the reason why human medical technology has made great strides in the decades that followed."

"This bacterium does not initially harm the human body; it is no different from the bacteria present in the human body and is even difficult to detect. However, after the incubation period, the bacterium will mutate rapidly and quickly destroy the host's DNA and consume the host's nutrients, causing the host to die from organ failure in a short period of time."

Zhuang Xiao frowned. "Isn't there a solution? I don't really believe it."

"It's untreatable because this type of bacteria assimilates into any bacteria or fungus in the host's body during its incubation period. Later, it can even evolve into any cell, and the bacteria in each human body will evolve differently, making it impossible to target. Furthermore, the incubation period for this bacteria can be as long as ten years." "So..." Zhuang Xiao paused for a moment before looking up and asking, "Is that the reason?"

“Yes,” Zero said calmly. “In 2028, the president and others discovered that they had been infected with the bacteria. They immediately chose to make it public. Subsequent global testing revealed that by 2028, the infection rate of the bacteria among all living organisms worldwide had reached 99.99%.”
"The whole world is working hard to develop a solution, but no matter what they do, they can only suppress the bacteria for a certain period of time, which means delaying the outbreak. This includes the artificial mechanical prosthetic body modification project."

"So after learning about the situation, the president chose to upload his consciousness to the main server and temporarily use the first-generation android for daily life and scientific research."

"In 2034, the first wave of death outbreaks arrived, and the president immediately launched the 'Zhuang Xiao World' research and development project. By 2077, 'Zhuang Xiao World' was officially operational, and the president and others then selected to upload their consciousness into 'Zhuang Xiao World'."

"Because in 2077, the last human living outside the cryogenic chamber will also have died."

Zhuang Xiao lowered her head and remained silent.

There was so much information that he couldn't process it all at once.

But he soon began to think.

His personality is such that when he encounters a problem, he tries to think of a solution and then puts it into action.

So he began to analyze the information provided by Zero.

There must be something he overlooked.

what is it then?

Countless pieces of information flashed through Zhuang Xiao's mind.

What he had to do was to grasp that consistent thread from all this information!

He finally figured it out!

He then looked up and stared at Zero's face. "That bacterium... is it related to me?"

According to the clues he summarized, "Zhuang Xiao's World" was established for him, and he is undoubtedly the "protagonist".

According to Zero, the purpose of "Zhuang Xiao World" is to provide humanity with a virtual space to escape to.

Which statement is correct?
Zhuang Xiao thought it was the former.

Because the information about "Zhuang Xiao World" started on September 5, 2024.

However, the real-world "Zhuang Xiao World" only began operating in 2077.

Why is the world set in 2024, fifty-three years ago?
And it just so happens to be September 5th, the day he had the accident?
If the setting is to be before the appearance of bacteria, it should be even earlier.

Ling said that Shu Die and her team only discovered the existence of bacteria in 2028.

Given her status and position, she would definitely undergo at least three comprehensive physical examinations every year.

Moreover, with the most advanced medical technology, even if the bacteria could hide, it would still be discovered, and in fact, it was indeed discovered.

In other words, the time when she contracted the bacteria cannot be traced back more than a few years.

Then there's no need to set the initial time of "Zhuang Xiao World" to September 5, 2024!
There's another clue that Zero didn't hide well.

That is, it says the incubation period for bacteria is about ten years.

However, the first wave of deaths will occur in 2034.

Ten years ago, which year was it?
In other words, the "Zhuang Xiao World" did not begin development in 2034, but rather started after its own accident in 2024!

Zero remained silent and did not speak.

But its silence is as good as its words.

Zhuang Xiao frowned. "Didn't you say I have the highest authority now? Then answer me."

The somewhat troubled, human-like expression on Zero's face vanished instantly, countless streams of emerald green information flashed in its azure eyes, and then its tone returned to its calm and collected state, "You are the prototype of that bacterium, that is, the world's first carrier of this type of bacterium."

Zhuang Xiao was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I roughly know what happened next. Did someone want to create antibodies from me, but Xiao Die refused?"

“Yes, someone suggested it, but the price would be your death,” Zero replied calmly. “The president refused and hid you in this company headquarters building, leaving me to take care of you alone. She also sent people to assassinate all those who knew about it outside the company, and only a few of your former acquaintances within the company knew about it.”

Ling tilted her head slightly. "Don't you think the president shouldn't have done that?"

"I can't say. I can't answer for others, nor can I refute it, since I myself am a beneficiary," Zhuang Xiao could only say.

Then, after composing himself, he asked, "So here's the question: why did you hide it from me?"

Zero explained, "This was set up by the CEO. She said she could only tell you after you realized it yourself, and she would give you a choice."

Zhuang Xiao chuckled and teased, "It's not like we're choosing between the red pill and the blue pill, is it?"

Ling shook her head slightly, "Do you choose to sacrifice yourself to create antibodies to save the world, or live a good life with me by your side?"

Zhuang Xiao countered, "Which one would Xiao Die want me to choose?"

"The president wants you to choose the latter." Zero answered almost instantly.

"That really has her style."

Zhuang Xiao sighed deeply, "The ending choice in 'The Last of Us'."

If it were someone else.

For example, if the parents or relatives, or Shu Die and others, are the prototypes, and the choice is given to Zhuang Xiao, then Zhuang Xiao will refuse without hesitation.

But what if the prototype is himself, and the choice is also in his hands?
It’s hard to say.

Zhuang Xiao looked up. "How much time do I have?"

"It will take twelve hours for antibodies to be generated after you are thawed. Once more than twelve hours have passed, current technology will be unable to produce antibodies, and I will automatically enter the second stage, which is to take care of your life thereafter," Zero immediately explained.

Zhuang Xiao asked in confusion, "If I'm patient zero, does that mean I won't die?"

"Perhaps you have immature natural antibodies in your body, which is why you need to sacrifice your life to produce them," Zero replied.

Zhuang Xiao understood; the bacteria were ineffective against him anyway.

"No wonder you kept scanning me and guiding me here so quickly. It turns out there wasn't enough time. I guess I can't go back once I leave the nutrient cryopreservation chamber for a certain period of time," Zhuang Xiao asked with a smile.

"Yes, it cannot be frozen again after twenty minutes." Zero response.

"Ten hours left, this is a tough decision."

Zhuang Xiao clicked her tongue and then asked, "Could you take me to see them? And then take me to my parents' graves?"

He glanced at the battered Zero and asked, "Can you still hold on? Or do you need some repairs first?"

“I can still manage, you don’t need to worry,” Zero replied.

"By the way, where are all the people I met in 'Zhuang Xiao's World'? They said they also went in from the outside, including Dong Weirui and An Lan. Didn't they come out?"

"They are in the outer world of 'Zhuang Xiao World,' where there is another world. They mistakenly believe that is the outside world. In reality, it is a virtual world provided by the company for other humans. In the core of 'Zhuang Xiao World,' only you and those selected by the president are present."

Zhuang Xiao shook his head, then released Ling's hand and said, "Alright, lead the way, let's go see them first."

(End of this chapter)