“Mister Xia, may I ask you something?” asked Sun Wen as soon as he was done collecting his samples.

“What would you like to know?” Xia Lei looked at him.

“Fan Fan has done a series of tests on you for the Alloy X Project. Is the data from tests genuine?” Sun Wen stared at Xia Lei with a sharp gaze.

Xia Lei could feel himself panic. Back when the higher-ups decided to have him manage the Alloy X Project, Fan Fan had indeed carried out a few tests and medical experiments and reported her data to the authority. However, it was faked. Now that Sun Wen was to take charge of the current case, the man would be getting new data and relevant findings. A new report is inevitable and if the results differ too much from Fan Fan’s, she would find herself in a lot of trouble.

An array of thoughts flooded his mind but Xia Lei’s expression remains undisturbed. “Most of it is real but some isn’t that accurate.”

“Why?”

Xia Lei answered, “I have to admit that my condition back then was rather unstable. I kept having delusional episodes. Plus, my heart rate is all over the place and I experienced symptoms like abdominal pain, pneumonia and so on.”

Sun Wen looked surprised. “Huh? Why wasn’t that mentioned in the report? Why would you be experiencing such symptoms?”

Xia Lei replied, “Mister Sun, since you know about the Alloy X Project, I believe you are aware of the metal’s existence. There was a team of experts that researched the metal and they’re all dead. I came into contact with that material but my constitution was altered. The fact that I’m still alive now is a miracle. The reason why it isn’t on the report is not Fan Fan’s fault. It was all because of me. I didn’t want the leaders to be worried, so I deliberately hid the fact. I cheated during the series of tests during that period.”

There was a brief moment of silence before Sun Wen spoke, “Ah, I see. Thank you so much for trusting me enough to tell me that. The information is very important to my later work.”

Xia Lei replied, “You’re welcome. We’re both doing this for the sake of the country, we’re all here for the sake of bringing China to greater heights.”

Sun Wen nodded with a small smile. “I really respect your contributions to the country, Mister Xia. It’s true, you’re the mainstay of our country’s military industry.”

“Mister Sun, your words flatter me.”

“Alright, that’s all from me today. I’ll be paying you another visit soon for a series of medical evaluations. Will that be alright, Mister Xia?”

“What kind of medical evaluations are you going to do?”

“Comprehensive examinations like X-rays and NMR tests.”

“No problem.” Xia Lei’s answer was curt.

“Alright, I’ll see you next time then.” Sun Wen gave Xia Lei a handshake and left the room with his metal case in tow.

Truthfully, Xia Lei was not worried about Sun Wen finding anything worthwhile. The man understood his body well and he knew that its constitution was no different from a regular person. The main evolved portions were his left eye and brain. The former couldn’t be detected at all while the latter stored mysterious energy along with a glistening mineral powder-like material that was similar to that in Zhu Xuanyue’s brain. None of this could be found with regular science.

Hence, it wasn’t difficult to foresee the probable outcome of this ‘gentle operation’.

His body may be healthier than regular which might show impressive statistics on a variety of data, but none of it could be concluded as ‘superhuman’. The lack of remarkable findings would leave the authority with two choices. The first choice would be to intensify the ‘gentle operation’ into something more aggressive. However, this would indicate that the country had bitten America’s lure and sabotaged its own development. The second choice was to do nothing until a more suitable timing comes.

The study was quiet.

Xia Lei sat on the couch quietly as his mind replayed Folsom’s words to Hattori Mei. ‘He’s a man who is about to change the course of human evolution. No matter where he goes or which country he serves, the only place he’ll end up at is in the laboratory. The cold metal bed would also be the last bed he sleeps on.’

Though they were enemies, Xia Lei had to admit that Folsom was right. No one could be spared from the attraction the AE capsules offered. It was advanced human evolution they were talking about!

Elephants died because of their tusk while oysters injure themselves by producing pearls.

This was his destiny.

Abruptly, Xia Lei broke into a burst of maniacal laughter. “I’m a man who’s only left with two years to live. Thunder Horse shall utilize the next two years to climb as high as it can and make as many weapons as it can possibly produce. If I die, they can just have fun with my body however they like. Any results they can conclude from the study can be considered as my last contribution to the people of China. If our civilians can become stronger, I don’t see any problem with it. Who’s going to hell if I’m not?”

With only two more years to live, judging the mess at hand from that perspective surely did comfort him that this was not something he couldn’t make through.

Suddenly, Tang Yuyan had appeared at the entrance of the study. “Your father... He’s gone.”

Xia Lei’s train of thought was interrupted. “He’s gone?”

Tang Yuyan shrugged confusedly. “Before I went to Hainan last night, there was a troop of special forces stationed here. They locked the entire area and forbade anyone from leaving. Your father was still at home last night but he’s gone now. Weirdly, no one has seen him leave this place.”

Xia Lei stared at her innocently. “I really have no idea.”

Tang Yuyan rolled her eyes. “I’m not here to interrogate you, I’m just informing you of the situation. Is your father really a special agent from the FA Organization? If he was that powerful, why would he be troubled by the FA Organization?”

Those words threw Xia Lei in a loop. This was the first time he had ever heard of such a theory. Tang Yuyan may have blurted it out without much thought but as he analyzed it closely, the situation she talked of may not be all that impossible.

“Is father hiding something from me? He was FA’s special agent and yet he was hunted down by the organization for years. The old man even formed the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team. Oh right, he hasn’t even told me who the snake is...” Questions began to bud in Xia Lei’s heart.

“Why did he escape?” questioned Tang Yuyan.

Xia Lei returned her a helpless smile. “You know what kind of a person my father is. No one can force him to do something he doesn’t like. Xia Xue and I had suffered and he still refused to show up. If he wants to leave, no one is able to stop him. He probably doesn’t want to be brought to investigation.”

“Guess my job will be difficult. Both you and your father sure do know how to give me one hell of a headache.” Tang Yuyan sighed heavily. “I must’ve been indebted to the Xia family in my last life.”

Tang Yuyan plopped herself down onto the couch, she turned her face to stare at Xia Lei.

“Alright, there’s no one around now. Let’s talk.”

“What would you like to talk about?”

“You.”

“What is there to talk about me?”

“Plenty. I’d like to know everything about you,” said Tang Yuyan.

Xia Lei chuckled. “What is there left that you didn’t know about me? Please don’t trouble me further, I have enough to stress about.”

“Alright, just a question then. I won’t bother you as long as you answer it.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Uh...” Tang Yuyan hesitated. “When you sleep with Fan Fan and Liang Siyao, are you able to satisfy them both at the same time?”

Xia Lei sat there with his mouth open wide.

He expected her to ask something about the AE capsules. This caught him by surprise.

“Come on, answer me. You promised,” urged Tang Yuyan.

Xia Lei smiled wryly and nodded stiffly after a heartbeat. Though the man was silent, he had affirmed the fact.

“Is this because of your evolved body?” Tang Yuyan shot another question.

Xia Lei scowled. “Didn’t you promise to leave me alone after one question?”

“It’s the same question.”

Xia Lei gaped at her. A stubborn woman could never be countered with reason.

“When we were at Dawang, on top of that snow mountain, you were able to continue fighting despite being almost naked in harsh temperatures. Was it because of the capsule?” Tang Yuyan had obviously ignored her prior promise with Xia Lei.

The man stood and left towards the door. “I’m going to check on Siyao. She’s pregnant, sitting for long in the car isn’t going to do her good.”

Initially, Tang Yuyan had plans to ask him more but the urge was immediately suppressed by Xia Lei’s words. Unbeknownst to him, his words were like blades that stabbed Tang Yuyan’s soul violently. The pain was agonizing.

Xia Lei took a step and sighed internally. “I’m so sorry. A lasting pain is worse than a short pain, I wouldn’t mind if you hate me.”

Before he could walk far, the man noticed two women walking towards him from the main entrance. One of them was Liang Siyao and the other was Long Bing. It wasn’t weird to find the latter in his house at such timing.

Long Bing came to stand in front of him and asked meekly, “Are you okay?”

Her words may be simple but her eyes were overflowing with concern and worry.

Xia Lei reassured her. “I’m okay. I can handle this.”

Unexpectedly, Long Bing whispered into his ear. “I didn’t dare to call you but you must be careful for the time being.”

Xia Lei nodded.

At this moment, Tang Yuyan made her exit from the study. She greeted Long Bing, “Ah Bing, how long have you been here?”

“I just got here,” answered Long Bing.

Liang Siyao offered, “Ah Bing, how about you take a seat in my room? It’s cold outside.”

“Sure, I’ll go to your room.”

Tang Yuyan halted her. “Ah Bing, come with me. There’s much to work on, let’s not disturb the love birds any longer.”

Liang Siyao glared at Tang Yuyan, but the woman was uncharacteristically collected.

At that moment, Long Bing turned to Liang Siyao. “Siyao, guess I’ll just visit you some other day.”

“No problem.” Liang Siyao nodded.

Long Bing immediately came closer to Xia Lei and wrapped her arms around him. She pecked his cheek softly. “Don’t worry, you still have me. If you need help, do not hesitate to give me a call.”

Long Bing was a woman like that, cold exterior but with a burning passion within.

“You need to be careful too, okay?” reminded Xia Lei tenderly.

“Mm.” Long Bing released him and waved to Tang Yuyan. “What are you still standing there for? Don’t we have work to do?”

That made Tang Yuyan snap back to reality. She strode past Xia Lei and spared him a brief glare.

“Your house is a mess.”

To which Xia Lei returned with a smile and no words.

As long as he was happy, what was a little mess?