Striving for Science C110 pt2

As soon as Shen Chang'an walked into the office, he noticed something was off. He turned his head to look at Chen Panpan, whose eyes were slightly red.

"Chang'an, you're here?" Chen Panpan forced a smile, "Director Du said, if you arrive, go directly to his office."

Shen Chang'an was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

He walked to the door of Director Du's office, knocked three times, and heard Director Du's voice telling him to come in. He pushed the door open and found that besides Director Du and Aunt Juan, there were two strangers in the office.

Seeing two strangers in the office, Shen Chang'an wasn't surprised. He sat down under Director Du's greeting, his expression calm.

"Chang'an, these two are from the capital." Du Zhonghai briefly introduced the identities of the two, "The capital is going to set up a Civil Service Department, I might be transferred there, are you willing to go with me?"

"When?" Shen Chang'an asked.

"After next year's Lantern Festival."

"Next year's Lantern Festival..." Shen Chang'an thought for a moment, there were still more than thirty days left before the Spring Festival, which meant that Director Du could only stay here for about fifty days.

"Mr. Shen, we have already had the Cyberspace Administration delete all the videos and personal information about you online." The staff member sent from the capital said, "But on the afternoon of the incident, some information about you was seen by countless netizens. So to ensure your safety, we suggest that you try to reduce going out recently."

These two staff members seemed to know a lot about Shen Chang'an's background: "Of course, with your current situation, there shouldn't be too many problems in terms of safety. But even gods have times when they can't take care of everything. If something happens, it would be a harm to you."

"I understand, I'll be taking a leave of absence at home for the next period of time." Shen Chang'an knew they were saying these things out of kindness, he nodded and said, "Please don't worry about my safety."

The two staff members breathed a sigh of relief. They were also worried that Shen Chang'an would be unhappy with their arrangements. Now seeing Shen Chang'an so easygoing, even their expressions became more natural: "Please rest assured, although you are on leave at home, your salary will be deposited into your account as usual."

"Thank you." Shen Chang'an didn't refuse, he looked at Gao Shujuan who hadn't spoken, "Aunt Juan, will you be transferred with us?"

Gao Shujuan nodded, sighing helplessly, "I've already run into the building in front of so many people, taking off my high heels. What face do I have to stay here?"

Shen Chang'an: I really didn't see it, but your idol baggage is so heavy.

Over the years, he had gotten used to keeping his distance from people, trying not to get too close to them, lest he cause them trouble. Until he came to Wuming City, he was able to live a carefree life, chatting and joking with his colleagues without any reservations, having meals and barbecue.

He was already used to parting, but when he walked out of Director Du's office, he felt a little empty.

"Chang'an..." Ding Yang, who was always cheerful and carefree, saw Shen Chang'an come out and even his eyebrows drooped.

"What, seeing that I can take paid leave, envious?" Shen Chang'an patted his shoulder, walked to his seat and sat down, "Don't worry, I promised to treat you guys to dinner, I won't break my promise. This Saturday at noon, you all clear your schedules, I'll treat you to a big meal. Those with partners bring your partners, those without just come by yourselves."

"Then it must be a big meal." Chen Panpan laughed with red eyes, "It's the busiest time of the year, you're on leave and we're working overtime. Without a big meal, how can we quell our jealous flames?"

No one mentioned parting, but they all knew that parting was imminent.

The atmosphere in the office suddenly became relaxed. This kind of feigned relaxation, no one wanted to pierce through. Shen Chang'an sat at his desk, opened his phone and browsed the internet.

There were still news reports about the criminal holding students hostage online, but the reports about him were completely deleted. He went to a few famous forums and found that some netizens were still discussing the matter in secret, but they all used code names and tried to avoid mentioning anything too sensitive. They mostly cursed the criminal for being inhuman, praised the Wuming City police for their quick response, and raised concerns about school security.

Netizen 8876: It's right to delete all the news about the hero online. We can't let the hero bleed and cry.

Netizen 9012: I'd rather not know his name, not know what he looks like, I just wish him a happy family, good health, and a long life.

Netizen 11653: Half an hour ago, a malicious marketing account used the hero's story to gain attention, I casually reported it, and just checked, the account was banned.

Netizen 11765: Everyone upstairs is right, I can't stand those scumbags who feast on human blood. By the way, I wish the hero a happy life, long life and good health.

Looking at the blessings from these netizens, Shen Chang'an's lips curled up slightly. Netizens could be infuriating sometimes, but they were also the cutest little angels.

He opened his chat app and sent Dao Nian a heart emoji.

Dao Nian quickly replied with a hug emoji.

Shen Chang'an: My dearest Dao Nian, let's have hotpot tonight.

Nian: Okay.

***

In the villa, Dao Nian put down his phone and said to Old Zhao, "Process the shrimp the aquarium delivered, we're having hotpot tonight."

"Hotpot again?" Old Zhao asked in confusion, "You said last time that eating too much hotpot is bad for your stomach, you wouldn't let Chang'an eat too much."

Dao Nian remained expressionless: "Do you have an opinion?"

Old Zhao: "No."

Dao Nian, with a blank expression, opened his chat app.

Nian: I told Old Zhao to prepare your favorite shrimp, come back early.

Chang'an: I love you, my dear (づ￣3￣)づq～

Dao Nian looked at the kissing emoji on the screen and coughed. His little boyfriend was so enthusiastic, he couldn't help but spoil him a little, what was wrong with that?

***

Time passed slowly, and as it was almost time to leave work, Shen Chang'an stood up and looked at a few colleagues who were secretly watching him, "I'm leaving work now, see you on Saturday."

"See you on Saturday."

Xu Ze stood up, "Shen Chang'an."

"What?" Shen Chang'an turned to look at him.

"Nothing, I was just wondering... did you drive here? If you didn't, I can give you a ride back." Xu Ze pushed up his glasses, still the same polite and refined person he was when they first met.

Shen Chang'an smiled, "It's okay, someone is coming to pick me up."

Xu Ze was silent for a moment, "Okay."

Shen Chang'an smiled at them, turned and walked out. He walked quickly, without looking back, stopping only when he reached the front door.

"Brother."

A little girl wearing a pink jacket stood in front of him, looking up at him, "Brother, I have a question I can't figure out. Can you help me answer it?"

"Alright." Shen Chang'an smiled and squatted down.

"The lives of millions, versus your lover, which is more important?" The little girl's pupils were black and bottomless, unlike a child's eyes.

The smile on Shen Chang'an's face disappeared. He looked at the "little girl" without speaking.

"If you had to give up your lover, and if you didn't, many people would die, would you give up your lover?" The little girl continued to ask expressionlessly.

Shen Chang'an stood up and said calmly, "Little kids shouldn't worry about adult matters. Go home and eat early."

The little girl suddenly grinned, "Big brother, you can't be so selfish."

"Has anyone told you that ugly kids who don't know how to talk properly might get beaten up?" Shen Chang'an's face was cold. "You're a monster, hiding in a child's shell. Are you trying to make kids look bad?"

The little girl smiled even more happily, her body slowly stretched out, transforming into a man wearing gray clothes.

Shen Chang'an stared at him for a while: "Dude, it's been how many days, you're still wearing the same clothes from last time. My boyfriend is very rich, why don't I take some of the allowance he gives me and buy you a new set of clothes?"

"I didn't expect that after being reborn a hundred times, you haven't grown any other abilities, but your tongue is quite sharp." The man in gray sneered.

"Thanks for the compliment."

The man in gray was choked, and after a long time, he said: "Do you really think I dare not kill you?"

"Yes, that's what I think." Shen Chang'an nodded honestly, "If you could kill me, you would have done it long ago, why go through all this trouble?"

The man in gray frowned. In every lifetime, almost every lifetime, he disliked the humans who were transformed from the Life Dao. They had exhausted everything, and when they died, they had nothing left, and they didn't even curse the humans.

He looked at Shen Chang'an, whose eyes were clear, and suddenly reached out to pat Shen Chang'an's forehead.

Yes, he really couldn't kill him with his own hands.

But making the Life Dao remember all the pain and despair of the past ninety-nine lifetimes, that's not considered harming him, right?

He looked up at the depths of the sky, as the Great Dao perished, it didn't forget to leave the Life Dao for the living beings of the world. Today, he would personally destroy this Life Dao favored by the Great Dao.

When he was knocked unconscious by the man in gray's slap, Shen Chang'an felt a little regretful. He knew the other party had such poor manners, he should have kept his mouth shut, now he's messed up.

But soon, he realized nothing had happened. He touched his smooth forehead, looking at the man in gray with suspicion: "You, wouldn't you be trying to take advantage of me, would you?"

The man in gray looked at him in disbelief, grabbing his collar: "Why aren't you reacting at all?!"

Shen Chang'an thought, if I wasn't weaker than you, do you think I'd be reacting?

The man in gray, in his excitement, moved a little too forcefully, causing the necklace around Shen Chang'an's neck to fall off.

Seeing the necklace, the man in gray suddenly laughed mockingly: "Ridiculous, ridiculous, Heavenly Dao actually protects the Life Dao." He reached out to grab the necklace.

Shen Chang'an quickly covered the necklace, and while the man in gray wasn't paying attention, he slapped him on the chest, taking a few steps back: "This is a birthday gift from my boyfriend, you want to steal even this?! You can't afford clothes, so you have to steal things? There is actually such shameless person in the world?"

"A person?" The man in gray scoffed, "I am not such a lowly creature."

"Oh." Shen Chang'an stuffed the necklace into his collar, turned around and prepared to run, but he bumped into an invisible wall after only three steps.

"Don't waste your efforts, you've already been dragged into our void barrier space, even Heavenly Dao can't find you." The man in gray sneered, "Life Dao, you've been reincarnated a hundred times, it's time you woke up."

After saying that, he waved his sleeve and attacked Shen Chang'an. Shen Chang'an saw a strong golden light emanating from his necklace, blocking the man in gray outside the golden light.

"As expected." The man in gray smiled and withdrew his hand. Shen Chang'an felt his necklace, as if it had broken. He quickly pulled the necklace into his hand, holding it tightly. This was the birthday gift Dao Nian had given him, he couldn't lose it.

The next moment, he felt a chill on his forehead, as if countless things were flooding into his brain.

***

Dao Nian, who was reading a book in the villa, suddenly stood up and transformed into a golden ray of light, flying towards the sky.

"You've come?" The man in gray looked at Dao Nian who had broken into his barrier, not surprised at all. "I knew it, this barrier couldn't hide you for long."

Dao Nian, his expression pained, pulled Shen Chang'an into his arms. He then, with a stoic face, waved his sleeve, and countless spiritual energies, roaring like a tiger, attacked the man in gray.

The man in gray clothes had almost no chance to fight back, and was instantly knocked to the ground by the spiritual energy.

Before this year, even if he couldn't fight Dao Nian to a draw, he could still escape unscathed. But after he dragged Shen Chang'an into the barrier, forcibly broke through the protective barrier Dao Nian had left on Shen Chang'an, and stuffed his memories into Shen Chang'an's brain, he had already exhausted most of his spiritual energy.

He lay on the ground, coughing up blood in great gasps, and gave Dao Nian a triumphant smile. "Oh, great Heavenly Dao, will the Life Dao, who has regained the memories of his previous ninety-nine lives, still want to be with you?"

This world is so heartless. Why should Heavenly Dao and Life Dao, this pair of dog-lovers, be allowed to live happily together?

We should all fall into the endless sea of suffering, never to be redeemed.