Late at night.
Most people were immersed in sweet dreams, while only a few lights remained on in the lab building.
Silently, mycelium spread underground, slipping into the dormitory through the ventilation ducts and easily locating a marked room.
The mycelium fell to the ground from the vent, and a dark-skinned man suddenly appeared in the space, stepping quietly over to the bed.
The young man lying on the bed, unaware of the danger, had his glasses off. His exposed features still carried a youthful innocence as he peacefully slept.
The man found himself almost irresistibly drawn forward, gripping the headboard tightly. The veins in his hand stood out as he mustered considerable effort to restrain himself from embracing the figure on the bed.
It had been so long since he felt Tang Xiao’s smell, Tang Xiao’s embrace and kiss.
It was like growing accustomed to a greenhouse and then suddenly being thrown into a northern wind.
He was the one who drew close, and he was also the one who distanced himself.
Gaze intense, Jun Tesi scoured Tang Xiao’s delicate brows, his gently rising chest, and the white, slender curve of his neck. The young man’s sleeping posture was tidy, with all but his neck and head hidden under the covers. Jun Tesi felt a twinge of regret.
After learning from Dawson that Tang Xiao wouldn’t accept him, Jun Tesi’s mind had once again entertained the idea of taking Tang Xiao away from the Third Eye.
Now wasn’t like before; if it were, he could have left alone, but he would be discovered if he brought an extra person with him. But now, he could leave with three or four people, undetected, if needed.
So, should he take him away?
In the wild, he’d be completely in control—no civilization, no order, only endless mushrooms and mutated beasts. No foundation for research. Tang Xiao relied on him alone and was unable to ignore him anymore.
Tang Xiao was so fragile yet clever; he would naturally choose what was in his favor, just as he had done when they first partnered.
This tempting thought nearly convinced Jun Tesi. His limbs began transforming into blood-colored mycelium, his face splitting from the eye area to reveal a larger, orange-yellow vertical pupil.
But just then, that spirited, bright smile of Tang Xiao’s flickered through his mind.
Vibrant, confident, like an ever-glowing sun over the wasteland.
If he took Tang Xiao away, would he still smile at him like that?
Jun Tesi fell silent for a long time. The cold, vertical pupil closed, and his skin slowly returned to normal.
Finally, he used the back of his hand to gently touch the young man’s cheek, transformed back into mycelium, and disappeared from the room.
After he left.
Tang Xiao opened his eyes, a complex look flashing across his gaze. The game interface on his screen had already switched to the logout option for a while now.
But he didn’t need to press it because he knew he had completely bound this dangerous creature.
Yet he found no joy in it.
Jun Tesi(428) Favorability: 80
He looked at this high number at the top of his favorability and sighed deeply.
Had he known this wasn’t just a game, perhaps he wouldn’t have provoked 428.
Playing a game’s NPC and dealing with a real, inhuman creature were two vastly different things.
Tang Xiao pulled the covers over his head, curling up in the dark warmth, but he had completely lost his sleepiness.
The next day.
In his consulting room, Dawson, with dark circles under his eyes, anxiously stared at the door.
He hadn’t slept all night.
Couldn’t sleep, really—how could he? The thought of a potential murder case in the project team, possibly because of his own words, kept him up with panic. He often sat up suddenly, whispering desperately to himself: All adults here, can’t we focus a little less on romance, and more on research? Think of the benefits. Don’t resort to violence just because you might have been deceived!
Most importantly, don’t just leave my consulting room and go straight into a murder spree!
Dawson wasn’t just sitting around worrying, though. He had tried looking up the name in the project team records, only to find nothing. Alas! Although there were people who were afraid of exposing their identities before and asked him for psychological consultation. They used a pseudonym before, but this time he really wanted them to use a real-name system.
At least, he could find the person if needed, maybe dissuade them from any impulsive acts!
Thankfully, when he arrived at the lab early the next morning, he hadn’t heard news of a death.
Typically, impulsive crimes happen swiftly, and the longer someone waits, the less likely they are to act on impulse. Hopefully, he wouldn’t attempt anything...
Just as he thought this, the doorbell chime sounded, and he looked up with immense relief.
“You finally came!”
The visitor was Si Tejun, whom he had worried about all night.
428 nodded slightly at Dawson and took his usual seat. Dawson poured him a cup of coffee, speaking gently, “You didn’t do anything extreme, did you?”
“No,” 428 replied softly. “I don’t want him to hate me.”
“Good choice!” Dawson let out a deep sigh of relief, sitting across from Si Tejun. He picked up a paper clipboard, ready to get serious. From 428's earlier expression, Dawson sensed that he might have some psychological issues; otherwise, how could an adult who made it this far develop such extreme thoughts over a few words?
This was Dawson’s area of expertise, and he was prepared to provide 428 with a proper psychological consultation in hopes of helping him. “Let's start over, Mr. Si Tejun. How does this relationship make you feel? Could you describe it in detail? Is there more pain or joy?”
428 held his coffee cup in silence for a moment, his gaze distant as if recalling something.
Dawson didn’t rush him, watching quietly as he sorted through the relationship. A look of comfort even crossed his face.
An initial shock, paralyzed by emotion, often overwhelms many people trapped in emotional pain. However, when they stepped back to re-evaluate and reflect on the experience, they often recognized many problems, and reason took control again.
“It used to be joyful, but now… this feeling—is it pain?” 428 absentmindedly placed his hand on his chest, feeling a subtle ache from the mycelium heart, even though breaking it down and reassembling it had no effect.
A flicker of surprise crossed Dawson's face, though he quickly reminded himself that many researchers, lost in academia and oblivious to worldly matters, might have spent a lifetime in their ivory towers and could very well be novices in relationships.
“Would you like to be free of this pain?” Dawson coaxed.
428 nodded. A glimmer of hope rose in him. “Could you make him change his mind?”
He even used ‘you.’
Dawson was momentarily speechless, but he quickly regained his composure. “I can’t. After all, I don’t even know who he is, nor could I interfere with his thoughts. But I do have ways to alleviate your current pain.”
Dawson pointed to the cup in 428’s hand. “Do you see what this is?”
“Coffee?”
“Yes, coffee that I brewed for you. If you enjoy this taste, wouldn’t drinking it make you feel happy?”
428 nodded.
“But what if I stopped brewing it for you?”
“Then I wouldn’t get to drink it.”
“Wouldn’t you feel a bit down, even a little unhappy?” Dawson took the coffee cup from 428's hand.
428’s gaze lingered on the bitter drink, and he nodded.
“You can’t have anything to drink here, so you’re unhappy. But what if I offered you something else instead—like candy or cookies?"”Dawson took a pack of cookies, a few pieces of candy, and some chocolates from his drawer, handing them to 428.
He accepted the treats, placing a piece of candy in his mouth, letting the unfamiliar sweetness spread across his tongue as he contentedly squinted.
Compared to the initial bitterness of coffee, the sweetness suited him better.
“See, doesn’t the displeasure ease? You tried something new and found it suited you better. Losing something isn’t that devastating.” Dawson smiled. “If you broaden your perspective, you’ll see that life has so much worth focusing on, like career, wealth, and fame. Some may find these superficial, but they’re constants of human pursuit. Love isn’t that exceptional.”
“The more you possess, the broader your world becomes, and the less the loss of one thing will hurt.”
After that, Dawson quietly observed 428, as if waiting for his reaction.
But to his mild dismay, 428’s expression remained unchanged. “He’s different from coffee.”
“Of course, I know. It’s just a metaphor. Besides, how do you know you won’t meet someone even better?”
“I won’t,” 428 replied, his tone calm and resolute.
The image of Tang Xiao bustling around at the Achievement Conference, handing out his paper, was vivid in his mind.
…He would never meet another human willing to extend a hand to a monster.
Dawson felt a headache coming on. “But you haven’t even tried… Besides, even without love, other things, like career, are worth pursuing.”
428 remained unmoved.
Dawson had no idea that his client was not human but a mushroom.
For a mushroom, things like career, wealth, and fame held no meaning.
Most of their existence was spent in damp soil, where only a little sunlight, nutrients, and water were needed to grow peacefully.
They were content with very little, and so was 428's world—narrow enough to fit only Tang Xiao.
Tang Xiao was all he desired and yearned for.
Though Dawson didn’t know this, he could tell from 428's indifferent expression that he was resistant to reason. “Are you telling me that you just sit around all day, waiting to see him? Don’t you ever feel bored?”
“No,” 428 said softly. “He comes to see me at five in the afternoon, and that alone makes me happy all day.”
How did he end up in the Third Eye? By being lovesick?
Unexpected. A pure-hearted pervert, at that.
For a moment, Dawson was speechless, his feelings complicated.
Damn it, he could actually sense a genuine heart in this person’s gaze.
A pure, undiluted, even desireless love-struck fool.
Could there really be such a person in the real world? How had he managed to grow up like this?
Dawson had seen all kinds of murky, twisted, and desire-filled people and events, so much so that he had nearly lost faith in humanity.
People assumed that researchers were pure-minded, but high-intelligence individuals often dabble in dirtier games for thrills than most.
This love-struck fool in the adult world of fame and fortune was all the rarer.
Could there also be a transaction between him and that person?
Wasn't it obvious you were tricked?! And it looked like you got both deceived and heartbroken, like being sold off and then counting money for the one who sold you.
Dawson now had a different kind of worry. “Have you really decided on this person? No one else will do?”
Without a moment's hesitation, 428 replied, “Yes.”
“...Alright,” Dawson gritted his teeth. “Then I'll help you pursue him.”
Since persuading him to move on wasn’t working, what else could he do? Better to let him go for it and experience heartbreak than to have him make extreme choices.
With Dawson keeping an eye on him, he could prevent anything serious from happening in time.
In a way, Dawson also wanted to see how this love story would end.
In the real world.
Xu Xianglei returned to his dorm in a daze after the shock he’d received. His roommate, who was gaming, sensed him come in and asked casually, “How did the interview go?”
For a long moment, there was no reply.
During a break, the roommate took off his headphones, glanced at Xu Xianglei’s blank expression, and thought he’d been rejected, quickly offering comfort. “Hey, no worries! These spots are usually reserved for juniors and seniors. We’re only sophomores, just starting out—it’s normal. You were the only one in our dorm even qualified to interview. That’s impressive!”
“It’s not…that…” Xu Xianglei had meant to say that his problem was something else entirely.
But his roommate’s words reminded him that he’d probably bombed the interview.
Seeing Tang Xiao as the interviewer had left him so stunned his mind went blank; he couldn’t even remember what he’d said in response.
Given their previous, minor conflict, he figured his chances were gone.
The thought made Xu Xianglei feel even worse, and he was about to try and move on when he heard a notification sound from his phone.
It was a WeChat message. Tang Xiao, through their class group, had messaged him directly: “Your interview went through. I’ll send you some materials to review. We’re having a lab meeting soon with everyone.”
“…I passed,” Xu Xianglei mumbled in disbelief.
“You passed?!” His roommate jumped up and clapped him on the shoulder. “Congrats, man! You’re the only sophomore in the entire grade who got into the project, right? Don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous! You owe us a treat!”
That last bit was his real goal, wasn’t it?
Xu Xianglei’s feelings were complicated. If he really was the only sophomore joining Xiao Bai’s research group, then it was something to celebrate.
“Wait, how do you know Tang Xiao didn’t apply?”
Roommate: “Huh? One of his roommates told me he wasn’t interested, and our class rep said he didn’t apply either.”
No, he was already in it! He was practically the project lead! Of course, he didn’t need to apply!
Realizing this, the thrill of passing the interview was quickly dampened. Xu Xianglei was stuck in a strange mood, feeling restless and a strong urge to vent.
Just then, his phone buzzed again. Looking down, he saw that the senior who had added him earlier had invited him to a newly created group chat.
Senior: This group includes everyone who passed the interview and joined Dr. Xiao’s project. Please introduce yourselves! Change your nickname so everyone knows who’s who.
Ji Zixing (Master’s): Done! I can’t believe I made it, qwq. The questions were so hard I was sure I’d failed.
Mu Huada (Master’s): Same here! I even went back to my advisor’s lab, thinking I’d failed. I was so shocked to get the acceptance message I cried with joy, which freaked out my advisor.
Mao Huijing (Senior): I thought I’d failed too. I couldn’t answer several questions and was so nervous. Turns out everyone felt the same way.
Bai Siqi (Master’s): Haha, not just us—even the Ph.D. students had a rough time. @Yun Lifei, care to explain?
Yun Lifei (Ph.D.): I still have my pride, thank you very much. Orz.
Yu Nan (Ph.D.): The questions were brutal. You needed quick reflexes and a solid memory to answer.
Mu Huada (Master’s): It was like a thesis defense with my advisor grilling me!
Bai Siqi (Master’s): Exactly! It’s such a sour feeling, I really can’t react on the spot. I could only survive my defense because my advisor helped. It was like torture!
Tang Yunfei (Junior): Who is he, anyway? He looked young and didn’t sound like someone who grew up overseas. Is he even from our school?
Yun Lifei (Ph.D.): Nope, not one of our bio Ph.D. students—I’d know him if he was.
Mao Huijing (Senior): So he’s from abroad? Was this a power move, making a statement?
Mu Huada (Master’s): Bold move, coming onto our territory like that!
Yun Lifei (Ph.D.): Then why don’t you go challenge him?
Mu Huada (Master’s): Uh… if I could do that, I’d be getting a Ph.D.!
Yu Nan (Ph.D.): Hey, he’s a Harvard Ph.D., and Asian to boot, so he’s got some serious credentials. I bet he’s even Xiao Bai’s student. I saw some of the international students following his lead.
Xu Xianglei couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Xianglei (Sophomore): Has it occurred to anyone that he might actually be from our school?
Yun Lifei (Ph.D.): I said he’s not a Ph.D. student here.
Xianglei (Sophomore): I didn’t say he’s a Ph.D. student. He’s an undergrad. A classmate, actually… in my class.
A stunned silence fell over the group chat.
After dropping that bombshell, Xu Xianglei felt immense satisfaction. It wasn’t fair for him to be the only one shocked!
Meanwhile, elsewhere, everyone reading the chat fell silent.
Especially Yun Lifei and Yu Nan, whose first thought was simply, ‘Impossible.’
Xu Xianglei had expected them not to believe it.
Xu Xianglei (Sophomore): Seriously, why would I lie about this? He’s in the same year as me, sitting in the same classroom! A genuine undergrad.
True enough—there was no reason to lie about this.
Then it had to be true?
The thought of a mere undergrad reducing them to sweating messes during the interview led both Yun Lifei and Yu Nan to question the worth of their Ph.D. degrees.
Were they just unqualified, or was there something off with this kid?!
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