Cat and Rose - Cat & Rose - Chapter 71 - An Unspeakable Matter (2)

Chapter 71 – An Unspeakable Matter (2)

As night fell, working hours came to an end. The ship was like a perfectly functioning machine, methodically moving through its ordinary days.

Ling Yi had a regular meeting. Lin Si went to the data area alone to submit the latest project report of “limitless” phase 3, and bumped into Zheng Shu there.

Zheng Shu was retrieving the details of a programme.

“Chimera?” Lin Si took a glance.

“Yes,” Zheng Shu copied the information onto a memory chip, “I’m afraid this programme will be reinstated soon.”

Lin Si approached Zheng Shu, and Zheng Shu showed Lin Si the overview of the project: “Although it was vetoed by nearly all researchers before, the wind direction has changed recently.”

Chimera—it was the experiment that fused animal tissue with machinery to create active machinery. Halfway through, it was urgently stopped because of serious ethical issues.

“Why do you say so?” asked Lin Si.

“Remember Area 1’s antimatter weapon?”

Lin Si nodded.

This was the programme led by Mr Lambert. At the beginning, there was almost a serious scientific research accident—he and Tang Ning were even borrowed away to help without the knowledge of the top management.

The biggest obstacle to the research of antimatter weapons was the container—a metal of high strength was needed to withstand the special force field. Area 1 already developed an alloy that met the standard, but its density was too terrifying, and it was difficult to prepare, which made the weapon very bulky and unable to be used flexibly.

“Now they have a new idea, which is Chimera metal,” said Zheng Shu. “Theoretically, Chimera metal meets the requirements, since it has many incredible properties and can be produced in large quantities. So Area 1 proposed to the Marshal and Madam Chen…and because antimatter weapons had a significant purpose, the application was approved.”

“I can understand,” said Lin Si.

There are always special measures under special circumstances. Just like how the originally hopeless “limitless” phase three could finally be launched under the threat of the purple virus, in order to mature antimatter technology, it was understandable to reopen a project that was suspended due to ethical issues.63

He looked carefully at the details and results of the Chimera project, and finally said, “It’s astonishing.”

“Right,” Zheng Shu smiled. “It’s an ingenious programme. In fact, it shouldn’t be considered as stopped halfway at all—it’s already close to maturity.”

“The existing results of this programme can absolutely create biological robots…” said Lin Si. “It will certainly raise ethical issues.”

When a robot possessed biological nerves and possessed the inherent capability for evolution and development, could it gain the same authority as a human? Or perhaps someone would suggest that although it was partially a living organism, it did not possess human emotions. However, according to Vivian’s performance, the emotional systems of artificial intelligence were fully matured already.

Combining these things together—when you disassembled a biorobot and it cried out in pain, how should you treat them?

“These hypothetical scenarios in sci-fi novels will not happen. We refuse to consider ethical issues.” Zheng Shu understood what he meant. “The results of the Chimera project will only be used in antimatter containers.”

“Yeah,” Lin Si responded with a simple word, then suddenly saw another part of the project.

“Apply to Area 9 for the corpses from the freezing accident… apart from animals, they also used human tissue?” Lin Si frowned.

“Some of their actions are just as crazy as the idea for this project.” Zheng Shu shrugged. “That’s why, it wasn’t a loss to ban it.”

Lin Si chuckled and agreed with Zheng Shu’s thoughts.

“You’re about to get busy too, right?” Zheng Shu looked at the information he was going to submit.

“Yeah.” Lin Si thought about his recent schedule. “Wrap up the vaccine, then ‘limitless’…Actually, I still need to study the two unknown creatures brought back by the Expeditioner, but I still have no clue about them, so I put it on hold for the time being.”

“Make sure to rest.” After Zheng Shu finished speaking, he frowned slightly, remembering what the half-drunk Adelaide commented regarding Lin Si that night, and asked, “…You and Ling Yi?”

“We’re lovers.” Lin Si did not hide it.

“Really?” Zheng Shu was first surprised, then laughed. “I really didn’t expect it…until Adelaide mentioned it, and that’s when I thought something was up.”

“Then you’re a bit slow,” said Lin Si.

“After all, you two always stuck together even before.”

Lin Si pondered. “That’s true.”

Compared to his previous way of getting along with Ling Yi, perhaps there were more intimate gestures between lovers, and the atmosphere when they were together was slightly different, but otherwise, there were no big differences in other aspects.

“Was it because I acted too intimate with him from the start?” Lin Si and Zheng Shu walked side by side in the corridor, “I don’t actually know how to raise children… I even asked you about it before.”

“It’s not like that either,” Zheng Shu said calmly. “That day, Adelaide said that everything regarding a person was predestined. I thought about it later, and discovered that it was indeed the case.”

“Perhaps so,” said Lin Si.

“Regardless, your condition is much better now,” said Zheng Shu. “I wish you two a happy time together.”

“Thanks.”

At the end of the corridor, they went their separate ways. Zheng Shu went back to Area 5, and Lin Si went to Ling Yi’s room in Area 3.

The moment they parted, Lin Si suddenly squinted his eyes.

A ring on Zheng Shu’s hand refracted a silver glint under the light. This type of light was very bizarre—he could recognise it at a glance.

It was a special alloy that had no practical use apart from its aesthetics. It looked like ordinary sterling silver on the surface, but it actually possessed a special structure. When it rotated, it was like a silver river that flowed, refracting different kinds of glimmer depending on the light sources it was beneath.

This was something Zheng Shu had been researching after school in his student days, and in the end, he used this metal to make his engagement ring with Ling Jing.

Indeed, the beloved that everyone chose was actually predestined, as one’s personality determined what characteristics they were attracted to. Maybe only one person in this world would meet all their requirements, and when that person was lost—

Even after so many years, that ring was never taken off once from Zheng Shu’s hand.

In this world, seldom any matters could achieve completeness. Gains and losses always went hand in hand, like how shadows followed the form. Looking at Zheng Shu’s back as he walked away, a feeling of empathetic sorrow suddenly arose in Lin Si’s heart.

The Voyager seemed calm and peaceful, but in reality, a turbulent undercurrent was surging beneath it. Turmoil and crisis could descend at any unknown moment, so the only thing he could do was try his best.

When he returned to his room, Ling Yi was already there.

He was taking care of the plants.

The seeds that Lin Si applied for were all properly planted by him. Each plant was growing exuberantly and lushly—they were very delightful.

Seeing the way he watered each pot one by one, Lin Si suddenly remembered the beaker of cat grass his little Ling Yi wrecked when he was acting impulsively out of grievance, and let out a soft chuckle.

After watering, Ling Yi grabbed some small tools and fiddled with a rose seedling.

—This species of plant was not usually cultivated through seeds because its germination rate was very low, and it needed a lot of care in the later stages. It would certainly take some skill for Ling Yi to grow one.

A beautiful person with beautiful flora created a scene that was very pleasant to the eye.

As soon as Ling Yi finished taking care of the flowers and plants, he went to wash his hands, glued himself to Lin Si and refused to move again.

Lin Si closed the reading interface of the bracelet and focused on fooling with Ling Yi, who laid in his arms. Unexpectedly, he felt that idling away like this wasn’t so bad.

Ling Yi picked up Lin Si’s right hand and flipped it back and forth.

Lin Si’s hand had always looked good.

Who knew how many thousand times that hand had pierced him with a needle. As soon as Ling Yi touched it, he felt a slight numbness like an electric shock, but he still liked to hold it.

A fine, white, porcelain-like texture that was often cool. Every joint was very delicate; he touched them bit by bit, and pinched those beautiful fingertips one by one, as if he would never get enough of playing with them.

He wanted to take a bite, but was reluctant to bite down. In the end, he raised it to the lips and kissed it.

Lin Si watched his movements, laughed, and pressed his finger to his soft lips.

Ling Yi moved his hand away, grabbed his collar, rose up and kissed him heavily, pressing him to the bed.

After kissing enough, he rolled aside again, wrapped himself in the quilt and flopped around a few times, looking unhappy.

Looking at him, he seemed a little anxious, as well as a little restless.

Lin Si observed his movements, raising his eyebrows. “Are you in heat?”

“Hah?”

Lin Si sat up, looking down at him from a high angle, and suddenly said, “I remember something…”

Ling Yi: “?”

“A certain someone’s puberty came a little slow, that I couldn’t observe secondary sexual characteristics even when he became an adult and had to draw blood to check his hormone levels,” Lin Si’s voice was lower than usual at this time, with a slight hoarseness to it, “was that you, huh?”

Ling Yi felt slightly suffocated.

The next instant, he nearly jumped into the air.

“What are you doing?”

Lin Si pressed him down with his left hand, while his right hand slid down from the side of his waist. “I’m checking.”

Ling Yi: “!!”

After the slight suffocation at the beginning, he became completely unable to breathe.

Lin Si mulled over his strength, kneading lightly a few times.

“Hm,” he said, “not bad. It’s normal now.”

Ling Yi escaped from Lin Si’s clutches, wrapped himself up, and vigilantly retreated to the corner of the room.

“You seem to have some resistance to this kind of thing?” Lin Si frowned.

Ling Yi emptied his mind so he no longer thought about the feeling in his body, lowered his eyes, and did not speak.

“Hm?” said Lin Si.

“I feel really bad.” Ling Yi furrowed his pretty eyebrows. “I can’t put it into words.”

“Describe it.”

Ling Yi could not grasp that distant feeling, but it seemed to have taken root in his heart a long time ago.

“It gives me this feeling,” he finally said, “like I’m going to lose control.”

Lin Si looked at Ling Yi.

As soon as those words fell, he finally understood all the elements that made up Ling Yi’s personality.

This kind of thing is not without warning. From childhood to adulthood, Ling Yi was beloved by everyone, not only because of his beautiful appearance, but especially because of his flawless personality.

He was always a gentle person with a good temper. Sometimes, it was even too good.

Lin Si recalled the past and realised that Ling Yi had never truly lost his temper before. He never showed any aggressiveness, and even though his various physical indicators were far superior to normal people, he never used violence to solve problems. Perhaps, all of this was not caused by the complete gentleness and goodness of his personality, but a restraint derived from instinct.

“You really are Ye Selin’s child,” Lin Si let out a laugh.

He reached out and pulled away the quilt Ling Yi had wrapped around himself, as if he was digging out a small ostrich from the sand.

“Look at me.”

Ling Yi raised his head to look at him.

“Nutrient fluids can meet all the body’s nutritional requirements, but to this day, people are still unable to resist the temptation of food.”

Ling Yi nodded.

“Because chewing will bring a feeling of pleasure,” Lin Si said calmly. “When we hadn’t fully evolved into humans, only chewing flesh and blood could satisfy our appetite. This connection was forever preserved in our genetic sequence.”

Ling Yi quietly listened.

“There are also many things written into our genes. Hunting, reproduction, conquest, the desire to monopolise—they all come from instinct.” Lin Si’s voice was very soft. “There is absolutely no need to resist.”

“If I don’t resist, I’ll be no different from a beast,” Ling Yi said sullenly. “…I’m already unlike a human.”

“Beastliness has never disappeared,” Lin Si unbuttoned the first button of his dress shirt and said flatly, “Your body is the end point of human evolution, your character is praised by everyone—which part of you isn’t human?”

If Lin Si believed he was human, then he was.

After the first one, it was the second one.

Collar bone.

Porcelain-white skin.

As Ling Yi watched the scene in front of him, unexpectedly, the anxiety and unease that took over his heart these past days gradually settled down.

“Gege.” He suddenly called out this name he had not mentioned in many years—a name he only blurted out when he was at his most helpless and confused state, even though he looked calm right now.

“I’m burning.”

Lin Si looked at him; the frost in his eyes melted and dissolved.

“Let it burn.”

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