Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

In the days that followed, Ruan Mei continued to search for a balance point that could initially suppress the virus in Qi Zhimu's body and slow down its rate of division and reproduction.

Through extensive research and firsthand experience of the interplay between the drug's effects and the virus, she gradually found the right direction.

With a clear direction, I thought the progress would speed up.

Unexpectedly, it took two whole years for Qi Zhimu to be able to temporarily leave the sanatorium for a certain period of time.

During this time, every time Qi Zhimu woke up, the image reflected in his pupils was always Ruan Mei's busy figure.

When the ward opened for the first time, Ruan Mei reached out her arms and hugged Qi Zhimu, who had long lost the warmth he once felt.

Physical, mental... in every sense of the word.

Unfortunately, Qi Zhimu had no strength at all and couldn't even hold Ruan Mei's snow-white neck.

He wanted to speak, but could only manage to squeeze out meaningless syllables like "heh" or "uh".

"No need to rush. Your vocal cords are severely damaged. I will repair them for you after you get used to the external environment."

Carrying Qi Zhimu out of the laboratory and back to her room, Ruan Mei opened a package, took out a clean white disposable garment, and put it on Qi Zhimu.

The speed was slow, and the movements were not particularly skillful, but the actions were very gentle, as if afraid of hurting him.

Turning her head to meet the little guy's eyes, Ruan Mei saw pure and innocent gratitude in them.

For some reason, she felt somewhat uncomfortable with that kind of gaze.

It wasn't disgust, nor was it embarrassment; I couldn't find the right words to describe it.

"There's no need to be grateful to me. I didn't just want to save you; it's more because you're of some value to me."

"Remember as much as you can of what I'm about to say; whether you understand it or not is not important for now."

"My name is Nguyen Mai, which is a combination of my parents' surnames, so please pause briefly when you address me."

"You have sixteen viruses in your body, which are intertwined and mutually restrictive. I'm not sure when I can completely cure you."

"During this period, you will need to become my test subject. You will do whatever I tell you to do, and you will obey whatever I do to you."

"I can't guarantee that I can cure you, but during the treatment, I won't risk your body if I'm not confident."

"You may not understand the meaning of this part, but that's okay. I'll repeat it every time I take you out of the treatment pod over the next few days."

"Tell me if you're willing after you understand the full meaning. If you refuse, I won't force you."

In her view, the will to survive would prompt the child to agree.

As Ruan Mei thought this, she brushed away the hair that was covering half of Qi Zhimu's eye.

Unexpectedly, two withered and thin little hands landed on her arms.

Her gaze returned to Qi Zhimu's sunken face, and she froze.

The little guy didn't say anything, but the light that shone in his brown eyes was something she had never seen before, yet it felt strangely familiar...

Seeing that she didn't react, Qi Zhimu moved his chin with difficulty.

Ruan Mei finally understood after noticing Qi Zhimu's barely perceptible movements.

It's about trust.

But that trust was so pure, without a trace of any other emotion.

There was no hesitation, confusion, fear, or anything like that.

Why have I never seen such pure eyes before?

The small hands resting on either side of her arms felt light and cool, but a strange feeling welled up in Ruan Mei's heart again.

Filled with doubt, she clung to Qi Zhimu's legs and walked out of the house to the backyard.

In the backyard in the early morning, the air was still filled with the damp, earthy scent of rain.

The vegetation on both sides of the path stretched out freely, and the flowers whose names I didn't know looked even more delicate and beautiful under the nourishment of the rain, with round dewdrops occasionally sliding off the petals or leaves.

The morning sun slanted into the courtyard, and the dewdrops on the tips of the flowers and leaves refracted crystal-like light, swaying gently in the breeze.

Ruan Mei, carrying Qi Zhimu, walked towards the center of the backyard amidst the tranquil atmosphere.

At this time of year, the sunlight has softened its sweltering heat, gently enveloping the two people leaning against each other, creating a dreamy filter on their silhouettes.

A gentle breeze caressed my cheek, bringing just the right amount of comfort.

The little guy spent most of his time looking at her profile, but Ruan Mei didn't think much of it.

Winter is just around the corner, and the boy in my arms is probably not yet able to adapt to the cold weather.

Ruan Mei tightened her arms, adjusted her posture, sat down on the wooden chair in the courtyard, and closed her eyes to bask in the morning sun.

Seeing this, Black Tower's expression turned strange.

"I've seen a ghost..."

"What?" Yu Qingtu asked.

"I actually saw maternal radiance in Ruan Mei. Isn't that harder than seeing a ghost? Or am I just blind and unable to discern what motherhood is?"

"...It's unbelievable. This is the first time I've ever seen her like this," Yu Qingtu said honestly.

The Black Tower is not blind; it simulates the current situation in the universe, much like a young mother taking her child out to bask in the sun.

"Black Swan, what do you think?" The Black Tower communicates with the Black Swan within the simulated universe system.

"Although the atmosphere helped to create this scene, it is undeniable that this situation overlaps with the image of me lying in my mother's arms in my memory," Black Swan said.

She possessed all of Qi Zhimu's memories from that life, and therefore knew how special Ruan Mei was to him.

It makes it even clearer how much psychological impact Ruan Mei's transgression under the influence of alcohol had on Qi Zhimu, who had already acquired enough knowledge and formed a normal set of values.

The phrase "If the teacher says it's okay, then it's okay" is just as damaging as "Your parents are doing this for your own good. You're too young to understand, so just be a good boy and listen to them."

But don't misunderstand, it's about truly doing what's best for your child, making them obedient, rather than viewing things from your own perspective and using your status to pressure them.

Although... Nguyen Mai was not comparable at the time.

Regardless of whether such intimate behavior between teachers and students is right or wrong, at the very least, she genuinely used her position as a teacher to pressure people.

The literal meaning, and... the physical meaning.

How could Qi Zhimu not be shocked by that scene?

The boy respected Ruan Mei as his second mother, but what this second mother did crossed the boundaries of his understanding and forcibly distorted it into normalcy.

If the teacher says it's okay, then it's correct, and he's wrong; he's absorbed incorrect knowledge.

This shift in thinking...sigh...

……

Please use your love to fuel this effort! May everyone have amazing gacha pulls, getting gold cards and double gold cards early without any bad pulls. Let Hagiwara take the blame for all the bad pulls. (I only got 1+0 after saving up 300 tickets, I'm so angry I could faint.jpg)