My abstract plant was exposed by my sister.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wei's face turned pale instantly. He thought to himself that something was wrong; his worst fears had come true.

He asked nervously, "Try what?"

"Go to Mu Kui Research Institute and get some thorns from the bitter orange tree." Li Meng's voice was sickeningly sweet, her eyes fixed on him.

"I'm not going." Zhang Wei threw his phone aside, picked up a cushion from the sofa, and decisively refused.

Why?

"There's something wrong with that thorn! Didn't you watch the video? Little Sweetheart was crying like that, and Ah Hao went straight to jail!"

After getting their injections, they either cry or turn themselves in. What if I go and they're incoherent and talk nonsense?

Li Meng smiled and gently patted his head: "You mean, you're keeping something to yourself that you're afraid to say?"

Zhang Wei's face instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and he repeatedly assured her, "I'm innocent, Bao! I have no secrets except for dinner. I'm a completely genuine person, there's absolutely nothing fishy about it!"

But... there's no need to go for the thorn prick, is there? What if you get pricked and become mentally impaired?

"My sweetheart isn't stupid, she just cried for a while. Ah-hao isn't stupid either, he just told the truth."

Li Meng's tone changed, from gentle to threatening. She narrowed her eyes and stared intently at him: "Are you hiding something from me?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Zhang Wei raised his hands in surrender, but Li Meng no longer believed him.

"Then why don't you dare go?"

"I...I'm afraid of pain!"

"It's just a light prick on the fingertip, like drawing blood."

Zhang Wei's mind raced as he tried to find a plausible excuse: "I...I have a project launching tomorrow, so I have to work overtime."

What line will be available on Saturday?

"It's an urgent need from the client!"

Li Meng took out her phone, opened WeChat, scrolled to Zhang Wei's company work group, carefully read through the group's content and announcements, and then turned her phone screen so that Zhang Wei could see the chat history clearly.

The last message in the group chat was sent by a colleague before leaving get off work on Friday afternoon: "Have a great weekend, see you on Monday."

Zhang Wei opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Li Meng put down her phone, crossed her arms, and slightly raised her chin, as if making a final statement before a judge pronounces the verdict:

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

Zhang Wei lowered his head, like a prisoner reflecting on his crimes. After ten seconds of silence, he raised his head, attempting a final struggle:

"That place is far away; it would cost over a hundred yuan to take a taxi there, which is too expensive."

"I'll pay." Li Meng opened Alipay and showed her balance.

Zhang Wei knew he couldn't escape, so he slumped onto the sofa and said, "Let's make this clear first: after I'm done, no matter what I say, you're not allowed to get angry."

Seeing that he agreed, Li Meng immediately beamed and hugged him tightly: "Of course I'm not angry. Do you think I'm that kind of petty person?"

Zhang Wei glanced at her, as if to say, "Don't you have any self-awareness?" But he didn't dare to say it aloud.

"When are you going?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Zhang Wei fell silent again, pondering in his mind: Could he go without getting vaccinated? No, Li Meng would definitely be watching.

What did he say after being stabbed? He didn't know.

If Li Meng says something she shouldn't, she'll say "I'm not angry." But a woman's "I'm not angry" is just like a man's "It's okay"—believing that makes you a fool.

He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

At 6:30 a.m., the courtyard of Mu Kui Research Institute was already bustling with activity.

Screaming Sister was the first to wake up, her leaves opening and closing like she was yawning.

The orange cat crawled out of its bed, stretched lazily, and slowly walked up to Screaming Sister, sniffing her with its yellow nose.

Startled, Screaming Sister slammed her leaves shut and let out a scream.

"what……"

Xiao Kui didn't go back to school last night. Half-asleep, she rolled off her cot, her hair a mess, and yelled at the screaming girl, "Shut up!"

The screaming girl screamed again, this time even louder.

The orange cat squatted next to the screaming sister, tilted its head and looked at it. After a few seconds, the screaming sister opened its leaves again.

The big orange cat immediately leaned closer, sniffed it again, and kept poking at it with its paws. This startled the screaming girl, who then closed its leaves again.

The orange cat repeated the action four times, like a bored child pressing a switch.

Xiao Kui walked over and picked up the big orange cat, saying, "Stop playing with it, it's dizzy."

Screaming Sister's leaves trembled and let out a faint "ah," as if thanking her.

The middle finger guy was giving the middle finger to the big orange cat on the windowsill; it was the first thing it did every morning.

The orange cat glanced at it but ignored it completely. It knew it couldn't do anything about it.

Liu Xudong came out of the dormitory, wearing a vest and shorts, his hair still wet. He walked into the courtyard and greeted Xiao Kui, who was live-streaming, "Good morning~"

The last character curves upwards again.

"I...no, I..." He covered his mouth, took a deep breath, "Good morning."

Wu Tao walked past him, expressionless, and said, "I heard you, five kilometers."

Liu Xudong wailed, "Captain, that's the 'good' in 'good morning'!"

The character "好" (good) doesn't curve upwards.

Liu Xudong tried to protest: "My throat hurts!"

"It'll be fine once you finish the run." Wu Tao remained unmoved.

Liu Xudong resignedly went to change his shoes.

The live chat was filled with comments like, "Haha, Liu Cixin got punished again."

"What a pitiful guy."

"He can't quit his 'other people' habit."

Wu Tao: I said you'd kick, so you kicked.

Xiao Zhao brought a pot of porridge from the kitchen and placed it on the table in the yard. The porridge was steaming hot, and the aroma of rice filled the air.

Liu Xudong had just changed his shoes and came out. He smelled them and exclaimed, "They smell so good!" He got excited again.

Wu Tao said from behind, "Add another kilometer."

Liu Xudong ran away without looking back. Wu Tao sat down, ladled out a bowl of porridge, and took a sip.

Lin Muyang walked out of the lab, holding the middle finger in his arms, placed it on the table, and went to get some porridge.

So it started giving the middle finger to everyone, one after another, first to Liu Xudong, then to Xiao Zhao, then to Wu Tao, then to the remaining people, and finally to the porridge pot.

Liu Xudong ran five kilometers back, sat down panting, ladled out a bowl of porridge, and drank it down in big gulps.

After breakfast, the sun gradually peeked out from the horizon, dispelling the fog that was shining on the fields.

Wu Tao stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "Let's go. Let's get to work. We must finish transplanting all the tomato seedlings today."

Several people picked up their tools and marched in unison towards the field. As Liu Xudong left, he waved to the big orange tree, saying, "Goodbye, big orange!"

Wu Tao didn't even turn his head: "Add one kilometer."

Liu Xudong covered his mouth and ran after him.

Bullet comments:

"Liu Xudong has accumulated seven kilometers today."

"Will he be able to quit using 'la' in his lifetime?"

"Are these bean sprouts really that potent? I'd love to try them."