You Are Deep in The Stars

There was a long silence in the room.

Wu Zigang’s eyes were red, and his breathing became violent due to the extreme fluctuations in emotion. He looked at Daisy intently, as if he was eager to get her affirmation.

“I agree with your last sentence,” Daisy said, shaking off the cigarette ashes from her fingertips. “All those who voluntarily make sacrifices for their race, dreams, and salvation are heroes. But it’s obvious that Xiaojuan is being kept in the dark. The reason she’s willing to stay with you is entirely because she wants to give birth to this child safely and healthily. Dr. Wu, is this what you call ‘voluntary’?”

“Xiaojuan doesn’t trust me much at the moment. She’s still hostile, so it’s not a good time to be honest,” Wu Zigang replied. “I need to calm her down first.”

Daisy tutted. “No wonder you’re trying so hard to find someone your daughter trusts the most. You want me to act as a lobbyist?”

Wu Zigang did not deny it. “At least you can make Xiaojuan feel more at ease and trust me more.”

“Have you ever talked about me with Xiaojuan?” Daisy asked suddenly.

Wu Zigang shook his head. “Never.”

“Then let me tell you.” Daisy looked into his eyes. “Your daughter doesn’t know who I am at all, let alone who my son is. From the beginning until now, she always thought I was just an ordinary human lawyer. Do you understand?”

Hearing this, Wu Zigang frowned in disbelief. “But—”

“But when she was most helpless, she chose to call me, an ordinary person,” Daisy interrupted his doubts. “That’s because she just wanted me to visit her adoptive parents, and it’s also because I’m the only one she considers a ‘friend.'”

Before the age of twenty-three, Zhao Xiaojuan might have had many good friends like other ordinary girls, but everything changed after the emergence of superpowers. The uncontrollable supernatural phenomena enveloped her, causing anxiety, panic, suspicion, and confusion. She wanted to isolate herself from the world.

“How important is this child to you?” Daisy asked.

“It’s very important,” Wu Zigang’s voice was hoarse, and his mood seemed lower than before. “I received information that Huang Jingyuan conducted many experiments on Xiaojuan, primarily for this child. Once the child is born, he will be our most perfect living sample to showcase the research results from the underground warehouse.”

Daisy shook her head sadly. “Your daughter is so pitiful.”

Wu Zigang’s facial muscles stiffened and pulsated. He became angry and embarrassed, seeming to want to refute.

“Besides your ambitions and schemes, think about your daughter too. She’s truly unfortunate,” Daisy said sincerely and sharply. “I don’t deny that she might be willing to give birth to a child and make great sacrifices for you and all the superpowered people on this planet. But this is too cruel, Dr. Wu. She has endured violent abuse of all kinds, and her spirit has deteriorated to the brink of collapse. Yet you continue to deceive her with lies, filling her with expectations and joy, anticipating the birth of a new life. But deep down, no one understands better than you what awaits her in ten months. Can a father really bear to treat his own daughter like this?”

Wu Zigang didn’t answer her question. He expressionlessly rolled up the documents on the table and stood up. “I hope you can seriously consider it again regarding our cooperation. This is very important to people with special abilities.”

“I also hope you can seriously consider letting Xiaojuan go, or at least tell her the truth and let her make her own choice,” Daisy said firmly. “She’s a person. Living beings are not tools, and they have no obligation to make sacrifices for the future of the race.”

Wu Zigang walked briskly toward the door.

“Reply to me within a week with your decision, or your daughter’s decision,” Daisy’s voice carried a distinct threat this time. “Otherwise, Dr. Wu, you will regret it.”

Wu Zigang hesitated briefly. Finally, gritting his teeth, he said, “If there’s no cooperation, then none of this concerns you, madam. Please refrain from meddling.”

“You’re mistaken,” Daisy retorted to his back. “She is my friend.”

Hurriedly, Wu Zigang opened the door, and a sudden blast of cold wind made his jacket billow like a misshapen monster.

.

Later, Han Zhuo recounted this to Bai Xi.

“Do you think Wu Zigang will be swayed by the threat?” Bai Xi frowned. “He seems like a complete fanatic, willing to risk everything for his so-called dream.”

“Threats from others might not faze him, but with Daisy and me involved, he should think twice,” Han Zhuo said. “Let’s see what happens in a week.”

“What about Huang Jingyuan and the Zhao family?” Bai Xi inquired further.

“Huang Jingyuan is still searching for someone. The Zhao family is safe for now; they’re not involved in Zhao Xiaojuan’s disappearance,” Han Zhuo reassured him. “Huang Jingyuan wouldn’t be foolish enough to take out his anger on them and cause trouble for himself.”

“What are these?” Bai Xi gestured toward the documents in Han Zhuo’s hand again.

“They’re about Wu Zigang and his superpower research institute,” Han Zhuo explained, handing them over. “Interested in taking a look?”

Bai Xi nodded.

Wu Zigang’s research institute didn’t have an official name; it was simply referred to as the “Third Laboratory” because of its origin in a university. According to the records in the documents, many volunteers had indeed joined. The list continued for two full pages.

“Replacing the underground warehouse, cooperating with the government, securing financial, technical, and site support, and transmitting signals into outer space… Is it really that easy?” Bai Xi closed the folder skeptically. “Humans have been exploring extraterrestrial life for so many years without any response.”

Han Zhuo smiled knowingly. “How do you know it’s true and not? It could a fabrication by the government and scientists.”

Wide-eyed, Bai Xi pondered Han Zhuo’s words.

“The future imagined by Wu Zigang may not necessarily be a fantasy, and he is indeed capable. That’s undeniable,” Han Zhuo remarked. “So maybe one day, all of this will really come true.”

Bai Xi looked surprised. “You mean, it won’t be long before superpowered individuals can really leave Earth and return to their homeland?”

Han Zhuo nodded.

After a moment’s pause, Bai Xi asked again, “Including you?”

“Do you want me to leave?” Han Zhuo replied.

“Of course not!” Bai Xi thought to himself. Such questions were simply unthinkable.

“It might be a long, long time from now,” Han Zhuo said, leaning back in his chair with a gentle smile. “But for these three years at least, I’ll always be by your side.”

Bai Xi let out a sigh. “I have no intention of continuing to work no more.”

“Did I upset you again?” Han Zhuo observed him carefully for a moment, then extended his hand in his usual playful manner. “Do you want a hug?”

“No,” Bai Xi declined.

“Then what can I do to make you feel better?” Mr. Han maintained a friendly demeanor, unashamed to ask.

Bai Xi held his head in one hand and mumbled a single word with a nasal tone.

“Dunno.”

Han Zhuo had no choice but to try on his own. He made a deliberately mournful expression, and after five minutes, he sneezed a dozen times in quick succession.

Bai Xi glanced at him incredulously.

“Sorry,” Han Zhuo said, reaching for the tissue box on the table. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Aren’t you just pretending?” Bai Xi moved closer, inspecting him closely, here was red nose and watery eyes. It seemed like he wasn’t acting.

He grew a bit concerned and anxious because Han Zhuo had previously mentioned he rarely got sick or drunk.

“I don’t have a fever,” Mr. Han assured him.

“Stop talking,” Bai Xi instructed, pressing his palm against his forehead, which didn’t feel hot.

“You can get back to work; I’ll go rest in the lounge,” Han Zhuo suggested, standing up. “I’ll be off in an hour, okay?”

Bai Xi nodded absentmindedly, and as soon as he left, he immediately called Daisy.

“Oh, sneezing? That sounds serious,” Daisy remarked, standing in front of the mirror and trying on the latest jewelry out of boredom. Her voice carried a hint of panic. “By the way, please don’t mention my meeting with you to my pale, fragile, and pitiful son.”

After hanging up the phone, Bai Xi became noticeably more nervous, his thoughts spiraling in divergent directions. Could it be that aside from the toxins in the underground warehouse, the deteriorating ecological environment of Earth and the frequent smog in the city were finally affecting the invincible physique of the aliens?

It felt like the beginning of a doomsday disaster movie.

.

Another half hour passed before Daisy managed to evade her son and sneak into the office.

“Auntie—” Bai Xi began.

“Shh, don’t say anything yet, let me guess,” Daisy interrupted, putting a finger to her lips. “Have you seen that movie where the hero is from an alien world? Doesn’t he get a fever if he kisses the girl he loves?”

Bai Xi shook his head.

“I haven’t seen it,” he admitted, then his expression suddenly turned shocked. “Wait, did he kiss someone else?”

Daisy paused, then talked to him carefully.

But Bai Xi was still lost in thought, tangled in the mess of his thoughts, desperately trying to recall when such a kiss could have happened.

In the quiet of the office, Daisy observed him for five minutes before finally admitting in frustration that her imagined scenarios didn’t seem to align with reality.

She sighed and patted Bai Xi’s hand affectionately. “It’s just a movie. The plot is purely fictional. I was just teasing you, don’t take it seriously.”

Bai Xi remained skeptical. “Really?”

“Of course,” Daisy assured him. “The weather is a bit dry lately. He might just be feeling a bit under the weather. Make sure he drinks plenty of water; he’ll be fine.”

But Bai Xi persisted with his concern. “But you seemed really worried on the phone earlier.”

Daisy fell silent for a long moment upon hearing this.

“Did I? I don’t recall,” she finally replied.

Bai Xi pressed further, “So about the kissing—”

“That really doesn’t matter,” Daisy cut in meaningfully. “If you don’t believe me, you can try it yourself.”

This time, Bai Xi fell silent.

Perhaps it was better not to try such things hastily.