People in Yu-Gi-Oh! The hyper-converged audience is also integrated

Chapter 322 Bai Jianan

They say that shamelessness makes a person invincible.

If there's no one in this world you care about, you have no weaknesses, no Achilles' heel. Who dares to mess with you? At worst, you can flip the table and drag everyone down to hell with you.

0748 always thought he was this kind of person.

A scumbag who crawled out of the lowest garbage dump, unruly, crazy and eccentric, never caring about anyone's opinion.

I'll do whatever I want. If you push me too far, I'll explode along with this messed-up world.

He thought that this was probably how his life would be. They say shamelessness makes one invincible.

But in the year he turned thirty, she appeared out of nowhere, the person he cared about descending upon him out of thin air.

It made no sense, no logic, and came very quickly, like a tornado.

"What happened to him?"

From the main seat, Bai looked at 0748, who was frozen in place as if he had been struck on an acupoint, and turned to ask Gil Su beside him.

"Did you take the wrong medicine?"

Gilsu adjusted his glasses and, in the calm tone of someone analyzing a lab report, gave his diagnosis.

“Amygdala overload, with dopamine and norepinephrine flooding the prefrontal cortex, leads to a temporary halt in higher cognitive functions.”

"A common biological stress response in the face of extreme stimuli."

"A short circuit," the pale-faced man said expressionlessly. "Interesting."

"Teacher?" Bai Jian'an looked at the dazed man in front of her, her voice as soft as a feather, "Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Hello!" 0748 snapped back to reality as if he'd been hit by a stun gun.

He instinctively straightened his back, his voice tense, carrying a respectful tone as if he were facing an instructor.

His gaze darted around in a flustered manner, finally settling on Bai Jian'an's hand, which was suspended in mid-air.

Shake hands?!

Yes, yes, yes, this is basic social etiquette; you have to be polite.

We need to shake hands...

His mind went blank, filled with chaos.

The next second, he grabbed his robe and began frantically wiping it against his right palm.

The effort he put into it wasn't like wiping his hands; it was more like sanding them with sandpaper. He wanted to wipe away all the blood, sins, and filth that had accumulated in his life from these hands, to make them cleaner, and cleaner still.

The surrounding gazes became strange; they simply couldn't understand this citizen with the serial number 0748.

"Brother, calm down, your hands are practically raw from rubbing them!" Inside the hood, Bai Zhi was pacing anxiously.

0748 is completely inaudible.

It wasn't until he felt Bai Jian'an's hand lingering in the air for a while that he suddenly realized his rudeness.

He stopped what he was doing, took a deep breath, and, as if heading to the execution ground, slowly stretched out his hand, which had been rubbed until it was red.

But just before his fingertips were about to touch that fair palm.

He abruptly pulled his hand back.

It's an instinctive reaction ingrained in one's bones, like a mouse that has lived in darkness for years, when it suddenly sees the sun, its first reaction is not to embrace it, but to flee.

He finally found someone he cared about.

But he had already lost the ability to love.

Seeing Bai Jian'an's hand hovering in mid-air, he suddenly came to his senses.

Do you want to shake hands?!

Yes, yes, yes, this is etiquette.

I want to shake hands.
He frantically wiped his hands with his robe, as carefully as if wiping a test tube, wiping incessantly, trying to erase the blood and sins that had stained his life.

After a long while, realizing he had slighted someone, he tremblingly reached out his hand.

But just as his hand was about to touch Bai Jian's clean, white fingers, he suddenly pulled his hand back, as if by instinct, as if he had been electrocuted.

He finally found someone he cared about, but he had lost the ability to love.

A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Jian'an's clear eyes, but it quickly dissipated. Instead of withdrawing her hand, she took a half step forward, a gentle smile on her lips, and took his hand that was curled up in mid-air.

"Hello, uh, teacher." She wanted to call him by name, but didn't know, so she changed her words on the spot, "I am Bai Jian'an, and I have been invited to discuss the publicity and distribution of 'Tears of Angels'."

0748 didn't listen at all, feeling the softness and warmth from the palm of his hand, and crashed again.

But several gazes stung him, bringing him back to his senses.

That was a gaze he knew all too well.

It was sent by Professor Adler and several doctoral students, filled with disgust and disdain.

But this time, the gaze was directed not only at him, but also at Bai Jian'an, who was holding his hand.

Those who are close to freaks are naturally also considered freaks.

He corrupted her.

This realization made 0748 take a half step back.

Adler snorted coldly: "Miss Bai, there's no need to be so polite to a monster."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the conference room suddenly froze.

The person in the main seat, displeased, gave Adler a warning look.

monster?

Bai Jian'an's smile faltered slightly, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes. She followed Adler's gaze, which finally settled on 0748's neck.

There, in the shadow of the hood, a pair of curious, quirky little eyes peeked out.

“This is…” She was stunned.

"I—" 0748's voice faltered, his heart skipped a beat, and he sank into an abyss.

It’s over.

He panicked, more panicked than ever before, staggering backward, wanting nothing more than to get away from the girl in front of him who was as pure as a jasmine flower.

We can't let her be treated like a monster because of us.

He wanted to escape.

However, what happened next left everyone in the conference room, including Bai, looking astonished.

Instead of backing down, Bai Jian'an stepped forward with a curious and delighted smile.

She walked around his stiff body, leaned down slightly, and reached out her other hand to gently lift the small face of the white paper.

Her movements were as gentle as if she were touching a rare treasure.

"What a lovely child."

Her voice was filled with sincere praise.

White paper: "..."

Her beady eyes widened instantly.

cute?

Has this word ever been associated with her?
From the moment she gained consciousness, the evaluations she heard were nothing more than "weird," "evil," "forbidden creation," and "child of calamity."

Cute? Me?

"What...what's her name?" Bai Jian'an gently stroked Bai Zhi's cheek with her fingertips. The touch was peculiar, but it didn't bother her.

"so cute."

Bai Jian'an patted Bai Zhi's head, her gaze like that of a mother looking at her child.

0748 was completely petrified on the spot.

The white paper machine also completely crashed.

She could feel the warmth on her face and smell the faint, fresh fragrance emanating from the older woman in front of her, like the scent of a quilt that had been sun-dried.

Her heart... was melting.

This was the first time she had been looked at with such gentle eyes.

This is the first time I've been complimented on being...cute.

“Her name is Bai, Bai Zhi (meaning white paper),” 0748 said softly, head slightly lowered.

Bai Jian'an raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Do you share my last name?"

"No, no, no, that's not it." 0748 waved his hand to clarify, "I'm not very educated, I just had a blank sheet of paper in my hand, so I named her this."

“White Paper, what a lovely name.” Bai Jian’an brushed a strand of silver hair from White Paper’s forehead, smiled and said, “A sheet of white paper and a pen are all it takes to create so many stories.”

As expected of a writer, she speaks with true emotional intelligence.

The blank sheet of paper was completely stunned.

"Ahem!" Bai coughed lightly, interrupting the intimate interaction between the two.

"Jian An, let's start talking about publicity."

Reminded by this, the two finally remembered their business and that there were still a group of people around them. With a hint of embarrassment, they nodded and sat back down in their seats.

0748 glanced at Bai, then looked at Bai Jian'an. After regaining his senses, he keenly noticed something.

Professor Adler calls Bai Jian'an "Miss Bai," while Bai simply calls her Jian'an.

they
0748 glanced at Bai with a complicated expression, then quickly looked away.

"What are you standing there for?" Bai looked at 0748, then pointed at Bai Jian'an, "Give them a tour of Angel's Tears."

"Try to use simple language; Jian An is not a scientist."

“Okay.” 0748 replied obediently and explained the function and ingredients of Angel’s Tears to Bai Jian’an.

Strangely enough, this wasn't the first time he had explained this to someone.

When I try to explain this to the researchers at the center, he's always very impatient. If they don't understand even the slightest thing, he'll swear: "Are you brainless? Can't you even understand this? Did your biology teacher teach you PE?"

The researchers were all angry but dared not speak out, and they lowered their heads to endure the scolding.

But now——

Every three sentences he spoke, Bai Jian'an would ask questions. She didn't understand any of the technical terms, and she would directly point out anything she felt was wrong.

He's a typical example of someone who's both ignorant and loves to ask questions.

But what if you're facing someone like this?

0748, however, did not feel uncomfortable or angry at all; on the contrary, he wished that time could stop at this moment.

amazing.

Bai looked at 0748, who was explaining earnestly and politely, then looked at Gilsu and asked again, "What's wrong with him today?"

"It feels so unfamiliar."

The other PhDs and chief engineers were also dumbfounded. Was this still the arrogant 0748?
“This,” Gilsu smiled, “is probably love.”

The explanation lasted for more than half an hour. Since Bai Jian'an couldn't understand the technical terms, 0748 would use metaphors and then expand on them with some short stories. He told the story with great emotion, which made Bai Jian'an laugh out loud.

Other onlookers:
Finally, after Bai Jian'an understood what "Angel's Tears" was, the meeting got down to business.

Bai coughed lightly, drawing everyone's attention back to the present.

"Jian An, the research center has a preliminary plan regarding publicity and distribution."

He pushed a document in front of Bai Jian'an.

"We hope that you can add the 'Tears of Angels' item to the next chapter of 'Duel Fairy Tale'."

"Make it the decisive item for the protagonist to turn the tide and defeat the strong enemy at the critical moment."

"This is the compensation offered to you by the research center."

Bai Jian'an's gaze fell on the contract in front of her, but she did not reach out to take it.

She lowered her head, her long, smooth hair falling down, obscuring her expression, and her voice was filled with embarrassment.

"Should it be written into... the main text?"

"Mm." Bai nodded in confirmation.

0748's heart skipped a beat.

If this marketing plan is successfully implemented, Angel's Tears will be "empowered by a story".

The research center certainly has its own release channels, but the effect of using a bunch of technical terms for publicity is different from that of using an exciting story for publicity.

Anyone who has traded stocks knows that to attract buyers, a compelling story is more important than intrinsic value.

If Bai Jian'an were to include "Angel's Tears" in the "Duel Fairy Tale," a book revered as a bible by countless wastelands, and make it part of the rise of heroes, then this potion would no longer be just a commodity.

It will be adorned with an aura and become synonymous with miracles.

In time, its value will far exceed that of the medicine itself.

0748 felt something was wrong, as if this was defiling the sacred place in his heart, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"I'm sorry." After a long silence, Bai Jian'an raised her head and said softly.

"I can't do that."

The atmosphere in the conference room changed drastically the moment these words were spoken.

"Why?!"

Lilith, the person in charge of the Fire Spirit Star Project, was the first to lose her composure. She stood up abruptly, her bright red research coat resembling a burning flame.

"Miss Bai, is there something troubling you? Or are you dissatisfied with the payment?"

"No..." Bai Jian'an looked somewhat embarrassed. She was not good at refusing people, and her voice grew softer and softer, "I... I don't want to make up a fictional story..."

"What are you saying!" Adler roared, his hands gripping the table, his body leaning forward, a sense of oppression emanating from him.

"Stories are fiction, aren't they?! Is your 'Duel Fairy Tale' some kind of non-fiction?!"

“Exactly,” Lilith immediately chimed in. “It’s all made up anyway, so what difference does it make how it’s made up? As long as it’s inspiring, exciting, and gets people to buy it, does it really matter whether it actually happened or not?”

“Miss Bai, you should think this through.” Another researcher seized the opportunity to speak up. “This is no small sum of money. The research center has come with the utmost sincerity this time.”

The group chattered amongst themselves, one after another, like flies buzzing around Bai Jian'an.

Their voices grew louder and their posture more aggressive.

Like a group of venomous snakes surrounding a small white mouse.

Bai Jian'an's face gradually paled. She subconsciously shrank back and looked at Bai in the main seat for help.

However, Bai simply frowned and kept his head down, neither offering any support nor uttering any words to stop him.

In the past, he would have stood up for her without hesitation.

But now, as the head of the research center, he must consider the center's interests.

Emotion and reason clashed fiercely within him.

“Jian An, how about…”

Bai finally made a decision and was about to speak.

"Bang!" A loud noise!
Immediately afterwards, a roar from the depths of his soul exploded in the conference room!

"What are you doing!"

0748 slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, causing his chair to tip over and crash to the ground with a dull thud.

The entire conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned by his sudden outburst of rage and stared at him in astonishment.

0748's chest heaved violently, like a lion that had been thoroughly enraged, his cold eyes slowly sweeping over everyone present.

"You think you're so great just because you have more people, huh!"

This wasn't the first time he'd cursed these people, but this time, it was fueled by overwhelming rage.

"A bunch of grown men are making things difficult for a girl."

"Are you the authors, or are they the authors?"

"You guys are so good at talking, why don't you write a book about it!"

"They all have the title of PhD, wear respectable white coats, but they do the kind of things that only thugs and hooligans would do!"

You've completely disgraced scientists!

The group of PhDs who had been so aggressive just moments before were now ashen-faced and trembling with fear.

They had never seen 0748 so enraged.

Only a very few, trembling, said, "But money..."

"Where's the money?!" 0748 roared, shutting the man's voice back down his throat.

"A copy of 'Duel Fairy Tale' sells for fifty-six gold points."

"Global sales of 2.5 billion."

"Do they need your little bit of money?"

Everyone fell silent once again.

"They came to negotiate out of courtesy." 0748 turned to look at Bai in the main seat, clenched his fist, and lowered his voice, "But this courtesy—"

"I've been let down!"

Bai was stunned by the shout of "betrayed".

That usually cynical and foul-mouthed madman now stood like an unshakeable guardian, firmly blocking Bai Jian'an's path.

Bai Jian'an stared blankly at that broad, not particularly tall, back.

Gradually, he lost his focus.

"You—" Adler pointed at 0748, his beard trembling with rage, "You! Whose side are you on anyway?!"

0748, with an air of righteous indignation and a sense of duty, roared, "I am on the side of justice!"

A group of PhDs: "."

They were seething with anger, thinking to themselves, "What the hell is this about justice?!"

“Teacher,” Gilsu said softly, standing beside Bai, “this time, I’m on 0748’s side.”

"Miss Bai was willing to come mainly because of your sake."

"But you—"

Bai gently raised her hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

"I'm sorry." He took back the contract from the table and nodded emphatically to Bai Jian'an. "I didn't consider your feelings."

"The main text is hereby void."

After saying that, he pushed over a tablet: "This is a backup plan. Take a look and see if it's convenient for you."

"Let me see." Bai Jian'an nodded and took the tablet.

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, 0748 breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down in his seat.

"Wow—" Bai Zhi screamed in her ear, "Brother, you were so handsome just now!"

"They were silenced and didn't dare to utter a sound."

"As expected of someone standing on the side of justice, they speak with such confidence!"

"Hmph, of course." 0748 was also equipped with it.

Upon hearing this conversation, Bai Jian'an, sitting to the right, gently covered her mouth and smiled sweetly.

In the next half hour, the research center proposed three alternative publicity plans, which Bai Jian'an rejected one by one, feeling dissatisfied and that they were taking advantage of the readers' trust.

The two sides failed to reach an agreement during this meeting.

Bai sighed and forced a smile: "Let's talk about it later."

"Hmm." Bai Jian'an nodded gently, comforting her, "Don't be discouraged. Maybe in the future, a 'protagonist' will turn the tide with the tears of angels."

"Then I can write the story down."

"I hope so." Bai gave a wry smile and looked up at Gilsu: "See Jian An off."

“Okay.” Gilsu acknowledged the order, looked at Bai Jian’an, and gestured towards the door, “Miss Bai, this way please.”

Bai Jian'an nodded, put away the tablet, and got up to walk towards the iron gate.

As soon as she left, 0748 felt as if the whole world had turned gray, and his straight back, which had been standing tall just moments before, collapsed instantly.

Gilsu walked to the door, paused, turned around and gave 0748 a "heh".

"Teacher 0748, it's stuffy in the meeting room. Why don't you come over for a walk?"

Regarding wingmen.

0748's dim eyes lit up again. He suddenly stood up, stretched, and pretended to loosen his muscles.

"Hey, you know what, after sitting for so long, you should take a walk."

After saying that, he jogged to catch up with Bai Jian'an.

The three of them quickly arrived at the corridor, a completely enclosed passageway with cold alloy walls and ceilings, and overhead light strips casting a pale white light.

Gilsu wisely led the way, keeping a distance of three to five meters from the two behind him to give them enough space.

Seeing 0748 follow him out, Bai Jian'an slowed down slightly, waiting for him to catch up and walk alongside her.

0748 felt that her social skills had completely deteriorated at this moment. Her mind was a complete mess. She wanted to find a topic to talk about, but she was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Bai Jian'an broke the silence first.

"Thank you for earlier," she said softly, her voice exceptionally clear, "but—"

She turned her head to look at 0748, a hint of apology in her eyes, and then smiled.

"It seems like I've ruined your job."

The one who suffered the most from not signing the contract was 0748, since he was the one who developed the drug.

"Hey, it's no big deal, it's nothing." 0748 waved his hand and smiled brightly.

Bai Jian'an was amused by his appearance and chuckled before asking, "By the way, I still don't know your name."

“Name.” 0748 pursed his lips, his nonchalant roguishness fading slightly, replaced by an indescribable bitterness, and said, “Citizen number, 0748.”

"That's my name."

"0748," Bai Jian'an muttered to himself, "It sounds a bit strange."

"A name is just a title. It doesn't matter what you call me, as long as I can respond." 0748 shrugged, pretending to be relaxed.

"I see," Bai Jian'an nodded thoughtfully, slowing her pace.

"Then from now on, I'll call you—"

The corridor was so quiet that only the faint hum of the ventilation system could be heard.

The pale light shone down from above, casting a holy halo over her smooth, long hair.

She quickened her pace, then suddenly stopped.

0748 stopped as well, looking at her with some confusion.

"Then from now on, I'll call you—"

She slowly turned her head and gave a faint smile.

"Myna."

Boom!

These two words, like a thunderbolt from the heavens, struck 0748's mind without warning.

He gasped sharply, his eyes widening instantly, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

hum-

Deep within the brain, an old projector, dormant for who knows how many years, is forcibly activated.

Countless fragmented, chaotic images and sounds, which he had deliberately forgotten, burst forth like a flood, overwhelming all his reason.

"Stop shouting 0748, shout 'Myna'!"

"Cheers, myna!"

"Hey, why is the answer to this question C?"

"Myna, we won!"

"Myna! Get in the car!"

The final shot freezes on a deep green, poisonous fog.

"If we can both get into university, there are some things I want to tell you."

"Ah—!" A piercing, soul-deep scream burst forth from 0748's throat.

He clutched his head tightly with both hands, his body trembling violently, veins bulging on his forehead, and his face contorted in extreme pain.

"Brother! What's wrong with you! Brother!" Bai Zhi was terrified and screamed wildly inside his hood.

"Teacher 0748!"

Upon hearing the scream, Gilsu, who was walking ahead, turned around abruptly, his expression changed drastically, and he rushed back in one stride.

"What’s wrong with you?!"

The screams of the white paper, Gilsu's anxious face, Bai Jian'an's complicated expression, the pale light, the cold walls... everything began to twist and spin, finally sinking into boundless darkness.

He can't hear anything anymore.

Just as he was about to completely lose consciousness.

A voice, a voice both familiar and unfamiliar, traversed endless time and space, echoing deep within his soul.

"Wake up..."

"Myna bird, wake up..."

(End of this chapter)