My abstract plant was exposed by my sister.

Wu Tao found the electric drill in the warehouse, which was covered in dust when he took it out.

Lin Muyang found a clean beaker in the laboratory, and also found a pack of medical cotton swabs and a roll of breathable tape.

He placed everything on a tray and wore a mask when he brought it out.

Xiao Kui is live streaming, and the camera is pointed at him.

"That guy with the facial paralysis is really cautious."

"That's called a persona."

"No, it's surgery on the bamboo."

Seeing Lin Muyang's appearance, the others curiously gathered around.

Little Sweetheart hadn't left yet; her eyes were red and swollen, and she came over too, but no one dared to approach the bamboo grove.

As the sun sets, the bamboo forest is bathed in a warm golden hue. Patches of sunlight sway in the wind, falling on Lin Muyang's white lab coat like flowing gold dust.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of bamboo leaves, mixed with the coolness of the evening, bringing a sense of inexplicable peace.

Lin Muyang picked up the electric drill, gently tapped the bamboo, and listened to the sound. It was dull, unlike the crisp sound of a hollow bamboo.

He made sure he hadn't misheard, then carefully aimed the drill bit about two fingers below the bamboo joint and pressed the switch.

The drill bit gently penetrated the bamboo wall, which felt harder than ordinary bamboo.

A few seconds later, a clear liquid slowly flowed out of the borehole.

Its color is like water, but slightly thicker, and it has a faint amber luster in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Lin Muyang immediately caught it with a cup he had prepared in advance.

The chat exploded:

"The bamboo is flowing with water!"

"Is this bamboo sap?"

"No, bamboo sap is pale yellow, and it only becomes sap when it's roasted over a fire."

"Has the expressionless guy discovered something again?"

Once the liquid stopped flowing out, Lin Muyang used a medical cotton swab to plug the drill hole and then wrapped it with several layers of breathable tape.

When he came out carrying a beaker, everyone gathered around him.

As soon as you get close, you can smell a special, refreshing fragrance, like the sweet scent of bamboo leaves after rain mixed with honey, with a hint of coolness that permeates everyone's nostrils.

Xiao Kui sniffed: "It smells so good."

Dazhuang also leaned over and smelled it: "It's like bamboo leaf tea with honey."

Liu Xudong looked at Dazhuang curiously: "Bamboo leaf tea? What kind of tea is that? Is it good?"

Dazhuang nodded: "It tastes very good."

Xiao Kui looked at Lin Muyang: "Brother, what is this?"

Lin Muyang, holding a beaker, said expressionlessly, "We don't know yet; we need to go to the lab for testing."

He turned and went into the laboratory, leaving a few people outside to speculate.

Liu Xudong stroked his chin thoughtfully: "Could it be wine brewed from bamboo?"

Dazhuang retorted, "There's no smell of alcohol at all; it must be bamboo juice."

Liu Xudong asked, puzzled, "What is bamboo juice? I've never heard of it."

Dazhuang explained matter-of-factly, "Bamboo juice is, of course, the sap from bamboo."

Liu Xudong was speechless: "...You really are a genius."

Little Sweetheart guessed from the side, "It might be the bamboo's tears."

Xiao Kui glanced at her: "Bamboo doesn't have tears."

Sweetheart: "Then why does it make other people cry?"

Xiao Kui: "Isn't it because you cry so easily?"

The little sweetheart glared at her: "You cried too."

The live chat displayed the following comment: "Sweetheart: Come on, let's hurt each other!"

Xiao Kui: Oh no, I forgot about that.

So the two of them quietly skipped over the topic.

Lin Muyang spent almost an hour in the lab conducting various tests and component analyses, and finally wrote down the conclusion in his notebook: non-toxic.

It has a neutral pH and contains trace amounts of amino acids and minerals; it looks like an ordinary plant juice.

However, based on previous experience, this juice should have other uses.

He came out carrying a beaker and went straight into the reception room.

The little sweetheart was sitting on a plastic chair, lost in thought, her fingers unconsciously stroking the armrest.

The light outside the window had dimmed, and a warm yellow lamp shone in the living room, casting her shadow on the wall, making her look somewhat lonely.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the beaker in Lin Muyang's hand. Ever since she smelled that aroma, a voice in her heart seemed to be telling her: You must drink it.

At this moment, the voice became clearer and clearer, and the thoughts in his mind became stronger and stronger.

Everyone else gathered around, wanting to see Lin Muyang's test results.

Lin Muyang placed the beaker on the table: "According to the test results, it is non-toxic and safe to drink, but the effects are unknown."

There was a moment of silence in the reception room, and then everyone turned their attention to Liu Xudong.

Liu Xudong: Thank you so much for remembering me.

Just as he was about to step forward, his sweetheart raised her hand.

"Teacher Lin, I want to give it a try."

Everyone turned to look at her, their eyes filled with surprise.

Xiao Kui grabbed her: "You just cried yourself unconscious, and you still dare to try?"

The little sweetheart sniffed, smiled, and her eyes curved into crescent moons:

"I've already cried myself unconscious before, what's there to be afraid of? Besides... I have a feeling this thing can help me."

Xiao Kui looked into her eyes and let go of her hand.

Wu Tao was still a little worried: "Why don't we let Liu Xudong try first? He's in good health and can handle it. Besides, it's a bit far from the hospital here."

Comment: "Haha, you're in good health."

Liu Cixin: I don't need this praise.

"The most important criterion for a top tester at the research institute is good health."

Liu Xudong asked quietly from the side, "Teacher Lin, could you pour me a glass too?"

Lin Muyang glanced at him: "Wait a minute."

Liu Xudong still wouldn't give up: "Why? I think there's quite a lot."

Lin Muyang remained expressionless: "If there are too many people, the ambulance won't be able to fit them all."

Liu Xudong: ...

The chat was filled with laughter:

"Ambulance: Thank you."

"This guy with the poker face is indeed meticulous; he even considered this."

"After hearing this, my sweetheart still dared to drink. She's a real tough girl."

Lin Muyang asked Xiao Kui to find a small paper cup, poured a little less than half a cup, and then handed it to Xiao Tianxin.

The little sweetheart took it, held it in both hands, and smelled it first.

A rich, fresh bamboo scent wafted over, even stronger than the one I had smelled before.

Like taking a deep breath in a bamboo forest after the rain, the cool sensation spreads from your nasal cavity to your chest, and even your heartbeat slows down.

She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Everyone in the living room held their breath; even Big Orange forgot to leave and squatted by the wall watching Little Sweetheart.

Xiao Kui gripped her phone and unconsciously opened the dial pad.

After finishing her drink, Little Sweetheart slowly closed her eyes.

In a daze, my memory returned to that summer.

The setting sun bathed the village path in golden light, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of distant houses, filling the air with the aroma of firewood-cooked meals.

The sound of cicadas came from the poplar trees by the roadside, one chirp after another, prolonging the sweltering heat of the entire summer.

Grandma still stood kindly under the old locust tree, wearing her faded blue cotton jacket, holding a palm-leaf fan in her hand, slowly waving it.

Unlike last time, Grandma didn't disappear.

She walked towards Little Sweetheart with a smile, the wrinkles on her face like the marks left by time. She reached out her rough hand and touched Little Sweetheart's head.

The palms were rough, the knuckles were thick, and they carried the familiar scent of soapberry and the warmth of the sun.

"Girl, you've come."

The little girl's tears welled up instantly: "Grandma... I miss you so much."

Grandma wiped away her tears: "Grandma misses you too, but Grandma can't stay with you forever."

She took her sweetheart's hand and sat down on a roadside stone, just like when they were little, fanning themselves with a palm leaf fan and talking.