Why is Xiao Bai here?
Tang Xiao’s mind buzzed, and he didn’t know how to react for a moment.
No, why does a character from the game appear in real life??
Tang Xiao was confused but deeply shocked.
Ba Jie: “What’s wrong? Do you want to go over and check it out?”
“Nothing…” Tang Xiao tried to calm down...but how was he supposed to calm down?!
“Sorry, my stomach suddenly hurts. I’ll head back. You can go to the cafeteria by yourself.”
“Ah?” Ba Jie was stunned, but before he could say anything, Tang Xiao was already sprinting back to the dorm without looking back.
He could only retract his hand. Alright, this really seemed urgent.
Tang Xiao rushed into the dorm and immediately pulled out his laptop from his bag, searching for ‘Xiao Bai’ online.
...There really is this person, and quite a famous one.
Xiao Bai, a half-Chinese, half-Russian born in China, followed his mother to the U.S. after his parents divorced. He studied at Harvard, earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry, and later obtained a PhD in mycology and biotechnology from Yale. He then returned to teach at Harvard and conducted research at the Kelvin Biomedical Research Institute. Three years ago, Thomson recognized him as one of the ‘19 Most Influential Scientists Worldwide.’
He was recently promoted to a tenured professor at Harvard.
Alongside this, Tang Xiao found information on his school’s joint lab project with Harvard, which appeared to be researching the genetic chains of an ancient mushroom. Apparently, Xiao Bai was the visiting scientist Buddhist Monk mentioned in the dorm group chat, as well as the director of this joint lab.
Tang Xiao was stunned. Now that he thought about it, his professor might have mentioned this name in class once…although he hadn’t been paying attention.
So…what was going on with Xiao Bai from the game?
Tang Xiao struggled to think. His first thought was that maybe Xiao Bai was also a player.
Tang Xiao: ...Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be a single-player game?
He had always assumed it was like a galgame or AAA game. Could it actually be a MMORPG? Then what about his save and load files? MMORPGs wouldn’t allow save and load functions. That would mess up the timeline.
In any case, he had to find a way to test Xiao Bai. If Xiao Bai was a player, he would recognize him!
With this thought, Tang Xiao messaged Buddhist Monk, asking about the joint lab.
Buddhist Monk was a bit confused: Aren’t you not interested?
Tang Xiao: Something came up. Do you know where the joint lab is located?
Buddhist Monk: I know, but it’s still under construction. Why are you asking?
Tang Xiao: Nothing. Just curious.
Although a bit confused, Buddhist Monk shared the address. It was on the same campus but far from their classes and dorms. It was in a new lab building.
Tang Xiao went to check it out. As Buddhist Monk had said, it was still under construction. Many instruments had yet to arrive, leaving empty rooms with only a sign reading ‘Joint Lab.’ He didn’t see anyone inside, but Tang Xiao didn’t mind. He was here to observe Xiao Bai.
After a few days of waiting, he finally spotted Xiao Bai, and there was no one else around.
Seizing the chance, Tang Xiao mustered up the courage to stop him. “Hello, Dr. Xiao.”
Xiao Bai stopped, looking at him coldly.
This real-world Xiao Bai didn’t look too different from the game version, except he now wore silver-framed glasses instead of a monocle. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao didn’t wear glasses here.
Still, his gaze was intense, and Tang Xiao braced himself, but Xiao Bai looked at him without recognition, as if waiting for him to speak.
Tang Xiao’s heart sank, but he had come this far. He wouldn’t be satisfied without getting an answer. He straightforwardly asked, “Do you know me?”
The man paused for a few seconds, then sneered, “A very clumsy way to start a conversation. If you want to get into the lab, go through official channels.”
Tang Xiao:?
After that, Xiao Bai walked into the lab building without waiting for Tang Xiao to respond.
Tang Xiao didn’t follow, but watched Xiao Bai’s retreating figure thoughtfully.
From this reaction, it seemed Xiao Bai didn’t recognize him.
And… He even suspected Tang Xiao was trying to get in through the backdoor.
Tang Xiao shook his head, amused. So, the theory that Xiao Bai was a player didn’t hold. But if he wasn’t a player, what was going on?
Did Xiao Bai grant his image rights for the game? Or did Xiao Bai give his favorability rights for the game, so they used his image for an NPC?
Tang Xiao’s mind whirled with guesses, but he couldn’t confirm any of them.
More investigation was needed.
Returning to the dorm, Tang Xiao opened his laptop. The page was still on his previous search for <Mushroom Era>, but he couldn’t find anything about it.
His brother’s phone was also out of reach…but this situation often happened since he joined the army. With no way to reach him, Tang Xiao could only text him to call back when he could.
The university had few classes today, so Tang Xiao returned to his rental apartment after the last morning class and put on his gaming helmet.
Logging in.
“Huh? Tang? Didn’t you say you were taking a break today?”
Lodge was recording experimental data, but looked up to see Tang Xiao hurrying into the lab.
“Uh, something came up…” Tang Xiao hesitated. “Are you busy?”
“Not at all. Wait a sec.” Noticing something in Tang Xiao’s expression, Lodge grabbed a research assistant, “Sorry, could you take over for me?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Let’s go. What’s up?”
“Actually…” Tang Xiao and Lodge found a quiet corner. Tang Xiao whispered, “Do you know Xiao Bai? I want to ask about his past.”
Seeing Lodge’s confused face, Tang Xiao added, “It’s for information that’s not available in Third Eye’s internal network; my access is too limited.”
“Oh, his past?” Lodge said, “I know a bit… Actually, it’s not a secret on the Alliance’s side. The newspapers there also reported Xiao Bai’s departure. Xiao Bai was once a tenured professor at an Alliance university before joining us, and he was already making a name for himself.”
“Why did he come to Third Eye?”
“...Possibly because of that incident.” Lodge hesitated, looking around to ensure no one was listening, then whispered, “Back then, he led a research project. I can’t remember all the details, but I think it was also related to the containment gene of King of Mushroom spores. He discovered a molecular tool that could ‘select’ DNA segments it needed and ‘remove’ unnecessary ones. If successful, it might help address some genetic diseases.”
Tang Xiao: “So what happened? It couldn’t have just failed, right?”
“The project faced setbacks, but there were more complex issues…” Lodge scratched his head. “If this technology succeeded, it could threaten the status of superpowers, as research has shown their abilities stem from the expression of a certain gene segment, c24. Plus, there were ethical concerns. This sparked widespread protests and political clashes in the Alliance, eventually causing the project to be shelved.”
“Dr. Xiao’s initial motivation for this project was to cure his mother’s genetic disorder, but with the project frozen, his mother passed away soon after.”
Lodge added, “Realistically, it may have been too late, anyway. They hadn’t proven it worked in eukaryotic cells, and practical applications were still far off. But Dr. Xiao was raised by his single mother, so he couldn’t accept it.”
Tang Xiao stayed silent for a while, then asked, “Is there any documentation on this research?”
“Well, part of it remains with the Alliance, and Dr. Xiao brought here the rest and sealed. Why? Are you interested in it?”
“A bit, maybe…” Tang Xiao replied, suddenly realizing something. “Wait a moment—if Xiao Bai’s mother had a genetic illness, then doesn’t that mean…?”
“Um, now that you mention it…” Lodge paused. “Not all diseases are necessarily passed down to children, right? But I’m not too sure what illness Xiao Bai’s mother had.”
“Can you get me the newspapers in the Alliance that reported on it back then?”
“Sure, I’ll send them to you after work today.”
With nothing else to do, Tang Xiao decided to join Lodge in the lab and help with some experiments. They managed to finish everything before the end of the day, and Lodge kept his word, sending Tang Xiao the news articles as soon as he got back to the dorm.
Tang Xiao reviewed them on his dorm bed. The coverage was similar to what Lodge had described: Xiao Bai’s departure had stirred up an uproar within the Alliance. But rather than regret, the media’s tone leaned more toward ‘the mad scientist has finally gone where he belongs.; The accompanying photo showed a cold profile shot of Xiao Bai, adding to the mad scientist image.
To Tang Xiao, this was incomprehensible. Gene-editing technology is highly popular even in reality, so why is it so criticized here?
He chuckled to himself—considering how the Third Eye and the Alliance often conducted human experiments, even creating a slew of half-human, half-beast embryos, and various failed superpowers. And they were caught in the act, too. No wonder… Thinking about parallels in the real world, he suddenly understood.
Some papers did report that Xiao Bai had entered the field of genetics for his mother’s sake, even including interviews and photos of her, but this barely caused a ripple.
At least, that was the case back then. Whether things changed after Xiao Bai received the Nobel Prize, he couldn’t be sure.
A faint sense of strangeness flitted through Tang Xiao’s mind. The reports were so one-sided, almost as if someone was determined to silence him.
Moreover… if Xiao Bai really is the developer of this game, what kind of person would set their own mother’s death in the game’s backstory? What, does he not have a mother?
It was starting to feel like his theory about Xiao Bai being a developer didn’t quite hold up.
Just then, Tang Xiao received another message from Lodge.
Lodge: Mentor selection is starting soon. Are you researching Xiao Bai because you want to apply to him?
Tang Xiao:? No, that’s not what I meant.
Lodge: Oh, okay. Just a heads-up, Xiao Bai hasn’t taken on any students since joining the Third Eye.
Lodge tactfully suggested, “Although he’s a high-level scientist, you should also check out other senior researchers. If you need advice about anyone within the Third Eye, feel free to ask me. I know quite a bit about our internal scientists.”
Tang Xiao: I’ve been meaning to ask for a while now.
Lodge:? Huh?
Tang Xiao: Are you, like, second-generation here?
Lodge: Uh, something like that. I grew up in one of the settlement towns outside. Lots of people in the organization have family living there.
Tang Xiao had long suspected Lodge’s background was not simple, and Lodge’s candid admission confirmed it.
A settlement town… Sounds interesting. If there’s time, maybe he could open up a map of the area.
Tang Xiao’s player instincts kicked in, and he wanted to sweep through the place. But he quickly regained focus—this was no time for playing around.
He had to get to the bottom of what was going on.
He quickly zeroed in on a starting point: Xiao Bai’s mother, who passed away a few years ago, and the sealed project.
Tang Xiao had a hunch, but he needed more information to confirm it.
Tang Xiao: If I wanted to apply for access to the sealed documents, how would I do that?
Lodge: Uh, those documents are with Dr. Xiao. You could try asking him. But as for the Alliance’s part, that’ll be tough. The most straightforward way would be to request that the topic be reopened. If it’s you, maybe the organization would step in and get the files back… Though it’s still a stretch. When Dr. Xiao was researching that project, he was already a tenured professor certified by the Alliance, but even then, progress was slow.
Tang Xiao: Got it.
Tang Xiao read through the research details published in the reports, frowning. Some newspapers had overly simplified things to make the research understandable to the public, but it still contained aspects of genomics that Tang Xiao hadn’t studied before.
Fully grasping it would require several days of reading related papers.
But Tang Xiao didn’t have the patience for that right now.
He opened his in-game personal page.
His last temporary mission had awarded him 10 attribute points, 5000 subject experience points, and one lottery draw, which he could use right now.
The lottery wheel reappeared, filled with an array of rewards. Normally, Tang Xiao would pause and agonize over what he might get, but now he clicked on it without hesitation. The needle stopped on the blue area.
Blue again? Does he really have that bad of luck?
[Item Acquired: SOS Call Device (One-time Use)
Description: Use in dangerous situations to call for assistance with a 100% success rate.]
This item… might be somewhat useful, or maybe not very.
Tang Xiao put the device in his backpack for now and turned to the other rewards.
He allocated all 10 attribute points to Intelligence and added the 5000 experience points, as well as the 230 favorability points he’d previously earned, to Biology.
Intelligence: 86 (Genius Beyond Ordinary)
Biology lv3 (0/100000)
The moment his Biology level reached lv3, Tang Xiao clutched his head in pain.
A massive flow of information flooded his mind all at once—Zoology, Anatomy, Embryology, Neurobiology, Developmental Biology, Entomology, Ethology, Histology, Botany, Plant Pathology, Algology, Plant Physiology, Microbiology, Immunology, Virology, Paleontology, Evolution…
The subject of Biology covered so many fields. At levels 1 and 2, it wasn’t overwhelming, but the higher he went, the more extensive and complex the knowledge became, filling his mind in a way he couldn’t ignore or forget. He could hardly process it all.
That’s when his 86 Intelligence kicked in, and Tang Xiao quickly thought of a solution. The chaotic information began organizing itself into volumes, with his thoughts arranging themselves into a vast library…
When Tang Xiao opened his eyes again, he found himself in a huge library with a night-sky ceiling. He knew this wasn’t reality; it was just a virtual space he’d imagined.
“The Mind Palace… so it really is possible,” he muttered. He walked over to the bookshelves, which had automatically categorized themselves. The Biology section occupied the most space by far, with other subjects scattered sparsely by comparison.
There were also memories neatly arranged here, and he could instantly retrieve anything he needed.
Sensing someone calling from the outside, Tang Xiao withdrew from the Mind Palace and opened his eyes to find Jun Tesi standing beside his bed, looking worried. “I heard you scream… what happened?”
428…
Tang Xiao didn’t know how to respond. If this game really wasn’t just a game…
“Xiaoxiao?” Jun Tesi was truly worried, leaning down to rest his forehead against Tang Xiao’s.
He was using his own method to sense Tang Xiao’s vital signs—temperature, eye movement, even air molecules that humans couldn’t detect. He integrated and analyzed all the data, then said, puzzled, “You don’t seem to be sick.”
Something clicked in Tang Xiao’s mind, and he quickly pushed Jun Tesi away, scooting back a bit.
Jun Tesi followed the movement, blinking in confusion. “Xiaoxiao?”
“I’m fine. I was just… thinking about some things.” Tang Xiao turned his head away, avoiding Jun Tesi’s gaze. “You can go. I’m tired and need to rest.”
“…Alright. If you need help, just call me.” Jun Tesi paused, understanding.
“Oh.”
Before leaving, he glanced back at Tang Xiao. But even as he turned into transparent mycelium and disappeared, Tang Xiao didn’t look back at him once.
For some reason, Jun Tesi felt a vague sense of unease.
As though some unforeseen change was quietly unfolding.
After Jun Tesi left, Tang Xiao didn’t stay in the game long before logging out.
In his rented apartment, he lay on the bed with his eyes closed, entering his Mind Palace once more. The Biology knowledge was neatly arranged.
So he could bring it out with him.
He sat up with a headache and grabbed his phone to send a message to a friend who was skilled with computers.
Tang Xiao: Are you free lately? Can you help me look into Xiao Bai's family background? Ideally, with a photo of his mother.
Friend:? I have to say, I'm just good with computers. I’m not a hacker or an informant!
Tang Xiao: (crying-laughing emoji) I know, just let me know if you can help.
Friend: Digging into someone’s information is a bit sensitive… Besides, if the Xiao Bai you’re talking about is that research guy, his information is protected.
Tang Xiao: Alright, then forget it.
Friend: Though I do actually know a bit about where his mother was hospitalized.
Tang Xiao:? How would you know that?
Friend: Her condition is rare, and it just so happens that the medical field here has some good expertise in this area. Plus, the only specialist with treatment experience in the world is here in our country. Why else do you think he came here as a visiting scientist?
Tang Xiao: How do you know which hospital specifically? Oh, I forgot your family owns a private hospital. She’s not staying there, is she?
Friend: Yep, my family’s hospital has good facilities, and access to experts, and it’s secluded.
Tang Xiao: Address? (reaching hand)
Friend: What are you up to? Explain yourself first (vigilant emoji)
Tang Xiao: Nothing shady! I’m just a bit curious. I’ll check it out and then come visit you for fun. Really.
Tang Xiao was being honest. He just wanted to confirm if Xiao Bai's mother looked the same in real life as in the game. Nothing beats seeing it with his own eyes.
Friend: Okay, but why are you curious about Xiao Bai, and even more so about his mother? It’s kinda weird!
Tang Xiao: I promise I won’t do anything. This is really important to me! (puppy eyes)
Friend: … Fine. I’ll keep an eye on you the whole time.
Tang Xiao: Alright.
Before long, his friend sent the address, and Tang Xiao called a driver to take him there.
His friend was right—the private hospital was indeed in a secluded spot, far from the city, almost like a resort villa, with top-notch security and facilities.
His friend waited at the entrance. When Tang Xiao got out of the car, he waved at him, saying, “Ba Rong! Over here!”
The young man named Ba Rong, wearing a baseball cap and a black hoodie, walked over with a somewhat annoyed look. “You’re really weird, you know? Digging into Xiao Bai’s family, wanting to see what his mother looks like…” Suddenly, his expression brightened as he connected the dots, his mind diving into soap opera territory. “Wait, does your family have some history with his?”
Ba Rong loved reading gossip about wealthy families, illegitimate heirs, and mistaken identities. Now, staring at Tang Xiao, he was already imagining various drama plot twists.
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Tang Xiao replied, exasperated, though he thought it wasn’t a bad cover story. Quickly, he made something up. “I just heard from my mom that our family did have a relative with the last name Xiao, though we lost touch years ago… but it’s not necessarily Xiao Bai. I just want to take a look. Don’t mention it to anyone, okay? Just say I came to hang out with you.”
He figured he could just deny it outright after he’d seen her.
Ba Rong nodded enthusiastically. Though it wasn’t the scandalous plot he’d hoped for, the chance to witness some gossip up close was enough. Smirking, he said, “You’re that excited? I thought you’d found something solid. Alright, but we can only look from a distance. She takes a walk in the courtyard every afternoon. We’ll take a look and then leave.”
Tang Xiao had no objections. He only needed to confirm Xiao Bai’s mother’s appearance in real life.
If she really looked the same…
He didn’t dwell on the thought, trying to consider other possibilities, like maybe the image was used without permission or some other kind of backstory…
But the fact that he’d brought his Mind Palace into real life—
He took a deep breath, suppressing the scattered thoughts as he followed Ba Rong into the private hospital.
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