Xiao Chen yawned and rubbed her blurry eyes . She then walked into the bathroom with her tussled hair . After a quick bathroom routine, she reappeared as a cute girl, looking about 17 in age . She had on a simple garter dress, showing off her youth . In reality, Xiao Chen was already 22, but the mesomeric technology had doubled mankind’s life expectancy . In other words, Xiao Chen could maintain her youthful appearance for another 10 years . This was a feature well-loved by the women of the Hope, and they hadn’t stopped using the technology ever since it was introduced . Xiao Chen pulled open the door to her fridge and extricated from within a pitcher of milk, cake, and fresh fruits, like strawberries . However, she didn’t take a bite out of any of them . She set them up nicely and walked into a room . 15 minutes later, a blushing Xiao Chen wheeled Jay out . The man had a pale complexion and looked like he was asleep . He was strapped into the chair with belts, and a drip hung at his side . "Good morning… It’s time for breakfast, Big Liar . Today’s breakfast is milk and cake . I baked it myself . See, I burned my fingers baking it; look at the ugly bandage . " Xiao Chen moved the cake closer to the sleeping man and waved her bandaged index finger in front of his face . Jay gave no visible response, not even a flutter of his lashes . Xiao Chen, though, seemed to have gotten used to this kind of one-sided interaction . She giggled to herself and started to have her breakfast . After she cleared everything away, she moved behind Jay and said, "It’s time for our daily walk . You lucky fella, you have a gorgeous girl willing to accompany you on your walks, a girl you’ve cheated at that . You should definitely feel honored . " Xiao Chen pushed Jay out of their crowded room . After passing a few blocks, they stopped at a small pavilion . Xiao Chen sat down on an empty bench . The passing crowd examined the unusual couple, many tossing them respectful and admiring looks . After the incident on the meteorite base, Jay had gone into a coma from over-exhausting his Deceiver’s power . His condition had gotten better after the past few years . Before the 4th revolution, Jay had to be plugged into the life support system to keep him alive, but with the improvement in medical technology and surgery, he only needed a daily glucose drip to prevent his body from dying . Ever since then, Xiao Chen had been taking care of Jay . Yao Yuan offered her a special job, to be responsible for constant care of mankind’s hero . He allowed her all the benefits she needed to survive without an actual job . This way she could focus on caring for Jay . Other than that, a medical crew visited Jay at Xiao Chen’s residence every week to conduct the necessary examinations . This policy had lasted until now . To his surprise, the fiery Xiao Chen agreed with all his arrangements . She cloistered herself in her own home to take full care of Jay . She would talk to him and clean his body every day . Basically, except the obvious, she did all the work like she was his wife . It had been 3 months since the war with the mother nest, and about 25,000 people had visited the new home planet . Needless to say, Xiao Chen desired to join them . She wanted to see and touch nature for herself . Her girlish nature compelled her to do so . However, she could only satisfy herself with clippings of animals and plants pictures published in the Hope Weekly . She could approach Yao Yuan for special permission to join the tour, and he would agree, but… she couldn’t leave Jay behind . Sitting at the pavilion, Xiao Chen sighed . She used her fingers to tidy up Jay’s hair that was windblown . As she fussed over him, she said, "Big Liar, could you please wake up? I want you to take my hand and we’ll race across this new planet like how we did when we were on Planet Sahara . " Her words fell on deaf ears . She leaned back in her chair and the two of them spent the rest of the morning sitting quietly by each other’s side . When Xiao Chen was ready to push Jay back home, an electromobile stopped by the pavilion and down strode a young man in army fatigue .
"Xiao Chen, I knew you would be here… Still nothing from Jay?" The young man walked towards Xiao Chen and Jay once he descended .
Xiao Chen was familiar with this young man . He was Jay’s comrade and close friend, Zhang Heng . Even though Jay had become comatose, the Hope didn’t forget about him . Not only did its citizens still remember him as a hero, members of the Black Star Unit came to visit him often . Even the busy Yao Yuan came over once a week . Zhang Heng visited them pretty much whenever he was free . He would bring over fresh fruits for Xiao Chen sometimes, causing his friends, Mao Miao and Ning Xue, to suspect he had found himself a girlfriend . Xiao Chen smiled politely, saying, "Zhang Heng, you’re here to visit Jay again? He’s still the same old, same old . The doctor told me to keep on conversing with him . One day, he’ll reply . " Zhang Heng sat down beside her and Xiao Chen could sense the atmosphere getting solemn . Finally he said, "Xiao Chen, I’m here today to take Jay away…" Xiao Chen’s expression dropped immediately . She forced a smile and said, "Zhang Heng, what happened? Did the Captain have other orders? Or what I did wasn’t good enough?" Zhang Heng waved his hands hurriedly . "No, it’s not that . Actually, I need to bring him to get the Ultimate Vaccine and Potion X injection . You should’ve seen the reports on the papers; every Homo Evolutis needs the injection . It allows them to breathe in the new planet’s air directly . "
Xiao Chen’s expression relaxed slightly, and she asked worriedly, "But he’s still in a coma . Can his body survive such an injection? Plus, he can’t join the Troopers in his condition; what would be the use of the injection? Plus, you said you have to take him away…" Zhang Heng was silent before saying, "Because some experts believe that for a half brain-dead patient like Jay, he needs a certain degree of stimulation before he can regain consciousness . Of course we won’t expose him to any danger, but honestly, we have a good source of stimulation at the ready, which is to allow him contact with nature, actual grass, flowers, sunlight, air, and maybe even seawater . I agree it might not work, but it’s still better than letting him waste away inside the Hope . Therefore, the Captain ordered to have him injected with the vaccine cocktail and then move him into a small room built down there . Ebon and myself are tasked with looking after him . " Xiao Chen got paler as their conversation continued . She lowered her head and asked softly, "Can I… get the vaccine injection too?" Zhang Heng was surprised by her request . He scratched his head and replied, "I don’t think so . Component X is something naturally produced by the Homo Evolutis . We’ve tried using it on animals before, and every single one of them has died . Therefore, Yao Yuan has a strict ban against using the potion on normal civilians . Xiao Chen… you are not a Homo Evolutis, are you?" Xiao Chen could feel tears pricking her eyes . She suppressed her mounting urge to cry . Without lifting her head, she asked, "No, I’m just a normal citizen… Then, can I go visit him?" Zhang Heng too felt pressured by the atmosphere, so he said in distress, "I don’t think that’s possible either . Normal civilians aren’t allowed to go into the new planet unless it’s in the tour craft . You can visit Jay, but your visitation will be through the glass… Are you okay with that? How about this, Xiao Chen, if you’re really not up for it, I will help you persuade the Captain to rescind the order . He’s a sentimental person, so I’m sure he wouldn’t reject your request . " Xiao Chen deliberated for a long time and finally replied with a fierce determination in her eyes . "No, Zhang Heng, take him away . It’s okay, I’m only taking care of him because he saved my life, after all… No, really, it’s fine, take him, I’m glad to be rid of such a burden . " As she said so, tears rolled down her face . Like pearls, they fell on her hand that grabbed Jay’s firmly, shattering upon contact . Zhang Heng looked at her and sighed . "How about this: I’ll ask the Captain to allocate a permanent craft seat specifically for you . Jay will be moved to the ground tomorrow . With this seat, you can see him whenever you want . Give me a heads-up beforehand and I’ll bring you to meet him . " Zhang Heng let out another deep sigh before wheeling Jay towards the electromobile . Xiao Chen wiped away the tears that kept on falling, mumbling, "Who… who wants to see him? Damn the liar… he’s already in a coma and still manages to make me cry…" Neither Zhang Heng nor Xiao Chen noticed… At that moment, Jay’s finger twitched slightly .
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