In reality, The Joint Research Laboratory.
Tang Xiao’s sudden disappearance threw everyone into a state of panic. None of those present were fools—on the contrary, those selected for this project were outstanding young talents from various scientific fields or even leading experts in their domains. The collective intelligence here was so high that if you threw a brick, it would probably hit a few former academic prodigies and even a few top scorers.
First, it was Xiao Bai. Then, it was Feng Shuyun. And now, Tang Xiao. Three successive leaders had vanished, making it impossible to conceal the truth about the isotopes any longer. Now, every researcher was gripped with fear, each afraid that they might be next.
Even though the higher-ups tried their best to reassure everyone, the efficiency of the experiments was still declining by the day.
It wasn’t just within the lab. In the outside world, someone had leaked information. Terms like ‘counterparts’, ‘superposition state,’ and ‘one person disappearing’ had briefly trended on social media in the early morning hours. Although the post was deleted within minutes, some people had already taken screenshots.
The cybersecurity team worked tirelessly for an entire day, yet they couldn’t keep up with deleting all the related posts. The situation had already sparked widespread public debate.
Just as Li Xiaoyi and the others had predicted, when faced with an unstoppable catastrophe, most people’s first instinct was self-preservation—to kill their own counterparts.
Protests erupted worldwide. People began to slander the other world, spewing hostility and rejection. Governments had struggled to maintain a fragile peace, but now that stability had been shattered, demonstrations had resumed.
Within the Joint Research Institute, many scientists, seeing the way things were unfolding, silently abandoned their research and joined the protests.
Scientists were among the groups with the highest number of counterparts, and in many cases, their counterparts were also scientists. Before, they were unaware of the situation, but now that they knew, it became impossible to ignore. There had already been an incident where someone assassinated their counterpart in the middle of a meeting. As a result, the research institute, which used to stay brightly lit at all hours, had, for the first time in recent days, turned off its lights at night.
Everyone here understood—the Joint Research Institute would likely be reduced to nothing more than a name starting tomorrow.
This sudden crisis turned everyone into hunters navigating the darkness of a black forest. No one knew if the person across from them would try to kill them just to survive, nor could they be sure if they themselves might make such a choice for the sake of their loved ones. A crisis of trust now loomed between both sides.
In the pitch-dark research institute, Flower moved through the corridors, his flashlight cutting through the shadows.
Ever since Tang Xiao disappeared, the researchers had brought Flower back to temporarily serve as acting director. But he knew his position would soon become meaningless.
He pushed open the door to an office. The moment he did, the strong smell of alcohol made him frown. The lights were off, and only the faint glow of a computer screen flickered in the darkness. Sweeping his flashlight across the room, he quickly spotted Leon, sprawled on the carpet, completely drunk.
“Leon, are you okay?” Flower crouched down, trying to help him up, but Leon shoved his arm away.
“......” Flower, though nearly fifty, was still broad-shouldered and stocky. Yet even he was no match for a younger man’s strength. He stood over Leon for a moment before shining the flashlight directly at him.
“Ugh!” Leon shielded his eyes with his arm and cursed. “Who the hell—?!”
“It’s me,” Flower said calmly. “I heard your office’s air conditioning was still running, but no one could find you. So, this is where you’ve been, drinking alone.”
“Leave me alone,” Leon muttered.
Flower, unbothered, took a seat on the couch beside him. “Still the same old habit—hiding in the dark when you’re upset. Who pissed you off this time?”
Leon didn’t answer, and Flower didn’t press him. “You’re the head of Third Eye now, the one calling all the shots. What could possibly bring you down like this? Tell me, maybe I can help.”
“…I’m not a kid anymore.”
Flower chuckled. “Oh? So you just swapped out fruit juice for alcohol as your coping mechanism?”
Leon let out a long sigh. “You’re probably the only person in Third Eye who still treats me like a junior.”
Then, in a low voice, he murmured, “Flower, we’re about to go to war again.”
Flower’s expression turned serious. “Is it confirmed? Are they that resolute?”
“No… It’s just what I foresee,” Leon replied with a weary sigh. “This was always bound to happen. Anyone can see it—we’re out of time. Our technology isn’t advancing fast enough to keep up. I understand human nature. When people are pushed into a corner, they will always choose the option that best serves their own interests. That’s just how humans are.”
He let out a bitter chuckle. “All that previous unity? It was only because humanity had an external threat powerful enough to keep them together. But now, the only threat left… is from within.”
“So tell me—what do you think they’ll do?”
Flower fell silent. He wasn’t well-versed in politics. Leon was the one who usually dealt with government officials, the one with access to firsthand intelligence. His predictions weren’t baseless—they were likely the future they were about to face.
So Flower simply sat down, grabbed a beer, took a sip, and let out a wry laugh. “Who would’ve thought? We’re already raising our blades against our own people. What can I even say? Here we go again?”
“This is humanity.” Leon raised his beer and downed it in one go.
Just then, the computer emitted a notification sound. Flower glanced at the screen, then at Leon, but the man remained completely still, sitting on the floor in a drunken stupor. After a brief hesitation, Flower stood up and moved toward the computer. “Mind if I take a look?”
“Do whatever you want.” Leon looked completely intoxicated, oblivious to the world around him.
Flower clicked on the email. Unexpectedly, the attachment was enormous. It took a long time to download, and when it finally opened, he immediately noticed it contained research data—though he had no idea why it was sent to Leon’s inbox.
At first, Flower only skimmed through it, planning to close it since it wasn’t meant for him. But as he read, his brows furrowed. Pulling a chair closer, he sat down to go through it more carefully.
Leon continued drinking, seemingly indifferent. But as time passed and Flower remained seated, Leon finally grew impatient. “Uncle Flower, if you’re going to read papers, take them back to your own office.”
“Little Leon, come take a look at these papers too,” Flower said without turning his head. “Hurry! Look at them!”
Leon narrowed his eyes. Although he didn’t understand Flower’s reaction, a strange feeling compelled him to move closer.
The same scene was happening among scientists in both worlds. As soon as Tang Xiao and the others returned, they uploaded the contents of the USB drive to both research institutes’ internal databases and sent copies via email to all the scientists.
Though the Joint Research Institute had temporarily shut down, the research institutes in both worlds were still operational. At that moment, researchers gathered in groups, staring intently at the futuristic technology displayed on their screens.
“My god, who came up with this insane concept?”
“This is madness—utter madness.”
“But the theory is fascinating, especially the quantum physics hypothesis. Someone, start the supercomputer and verify these formulas!”
“It's already done! Mathematically speaking, they're correct.”
“Hiss... A lot of these formulas are still just hypotheses at our current stage, right? Are they really all accurate?”
“How should I know? Go ask the mathematicians!”
“It’s not just physics—there are breakthroughs in chemistry, biology…”
“This is like a paper from the future.” A scientist couldn't help but speak up. “And this machine... According to the blueprints, it was designed to separate the two worlds. Could this really be true?”
“Right! Check the author’s section! Who sent this?”
The same action was taking place across research institutes—at the Third Eye Research Institute, the government research facility, and the Human Alliance Research Center. Everyone was desperate to see who had authored such revolutionary work.
For some reason, Lodge’s heart pounded unusually fast. A solution appearing so suddenly to their current crisis—it felt eerily familiar.
Could it be him? But wasn’t he missing?
In different locations, across different worlds, scientists and officials all performed the same motion—scrolling their mice to check the author’s section.
Yet, instead of a name, they found only one line of text:
[From Universe 001, All of Humanity]
Tang Xiao had asked Jun Tesi to scramble the IP address and erase all traces of their identities. Then, sitting by the dormitory window, he gazed at the night sky filled with stars.
Images of his future self slowly turning transparent flashed through his mind.
Had that timeline… truly vanished?
“Xiaoxiao.” Jun Tesi’s voice called from behind. Tang Xiao turned around and saw his serious expression. “The mission is complete… but you don’t seem happy?”
“No,” Tang Xiao smiled faintly but then noticed Jun Tesi stepping closer, his expression more solemn. “Don’t worry. This will prevent war. I’ll do everything I can to buy more time for both worlds. Once the machine is invented, we’ll succeed.”
“I know. That’s not what I’m worried about.”
“Then… is it about Xiao Bai and Dr. Feng? Once the worlds separate, they’ll reappear.”
“I know that too. It’s not that either…” Tang Xiao lowered his eyes. “Tell me—what kind of situation would cause me to lose you?”
Jun Tesi: QAQ
“No situation! No matter what!”
“I was just speaking hypothetically…”
“Not even hypothetically!” Jun Tesi clenched his fists behind his back, then made a firm decision.
Back then, while Tang Xiao conversed with his future self, Jun Tesi had his own exchange—with the previous Mobius Ring Consciousness. But unlike Tang Xiao, who only received data and information, Jun Tesi asked just one question:
“I’ve fallen in love with a human. Will you bless us?”
The previous Mobius Ring Consciousness didn’t seem surprised. It merely trembled slightly, then offered Jun Tesi a small object.
Under the starlit sky, Jun Tesi knelt on one knee. Extending his hand from behind, he slowly unfurled his fingers—revealing a pair of silver rings adorned with golden-green patterns.
Tang Xiao immediately understood what he intended to do, his mouth slightly agape in shock.
“According to human customs, there should be this step,” Jun Tesi murmured nervously. Then, his expression turned solemn, his golden eyes locking onto Tang Xiao's as he spoke in a language beyond human comprehension—a language that danced on his tongue, profound and ancient, yet its meaning surfaced clearly in Tang Xiao’s mind:
“I share my life with you, my universe with you.”
“We will last, until the end of the cosmos, until dimensions collapse. Will you walk this near-eternal journey with me?”
You gave me the world, and in return, I offer you the universe and eternity.
In an instant, all of Tang Xiao’s lingering doubts and negative emotions melted away, replaced by something warm, soft, and sweet swelling in his chest—so intense it made him dizzy.
He took a deep breath and placed his hand in Jun Tesi’s palm.
The moment the ring slipped onto his finger, a golden-green glow flickered across its surface, forming the shape of a Mobius ring before vanishing into the metal. Simultaneously, an inexplicable connection emerged between them.
“Now, our fate and causality are intertwined,” Jun Tesi grinned, pressing their foreheads together. “Time, space—nothing will ever separate us again.”
Tang Xiao closed his eyes and chuckled helplessly. “Alright.”
Seasons passed, and half a year flew by.
The once-sensational counterpart disappearance event had, at some point, faded from public view. Governments worldwide had mysteriously united, pushing technological advancements at an unprecedented pace. The status of scientists in society had reached an all-time high, and under the influence of some unseen force, the media and social platforms were overwhelmingly promoting the idea that ‘technology is the primary productive force.’
With the black technologies provided by the Joint Research Institute, the world fusion process had been paused but not entirely resolved. A complete separation would likely take a few more years. For now, the passage between worlds had stabilized, allowing both sides to engage in a series of resource and knowledge exchanges and establish formal diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, as in previous years, on December 10, the highly anticipated awards ceremony that drew global attention was held in Stockholm.
“There are so many people outside.” Li Mu lifted a corner of the hotel curtain, staring in a daze at the crowd of journalists and media swarming outside.
“No kidding,” Ba Rong sprawled on the sofa playing a game, though upon closer inspection, he had been stuck on the same level for a while, his fingers trembling slightly. “This is the Nobel Prize ceremony. Although our country has had winners before, this time it’s the youngest Nobel laureate in history.”
Tang Xiao was 24 years old. The previous record-holder was William Lawrence Bragg, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915.
Moreover, Tang Xiao's fame far exceeded that of any previous Nobel laureate. He had already received the award once in the other world, and that event had been truly sensational—over a million people had flooded the central district of the Human Alliance, causing a complete traffic standstill and nearly forcing the awards banquet to end prematurely.
Although Universe 019 wasn't as dramatic as Universe 023, Tang Xiao had still amassed a considerable fanbase over the past year. The sheer number of media outlets and reporters outside made that clear.
Learning from the experience of Universe 023, security for this year’s Nobel Prize banquet had been reinforced to an unprecedented level. Patrols were stationed throughout Stockholm, maintaining order among the crowds waiting outside.
“It’s time.” A knock came at the door. Ba Rong and Li Mu immediately jumped up, opening the door to find Tang Xiao’s parents. Both were dressed in formal attire, looking far calmer than the two younger men—though that calmness was slightly undercut by the way Tang Xiao’s mother was clutching his father’s arm.
They joined the group, with Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi leading the way. Seeing the surging crowd outside, Tang Xiao couldn’t help but reach up to adjust his tie.
“Jun Tesi, is my tie crooked?”
Jun Tesi turned his head seriously, studying him. “Xiaoxiao, as perfect as ever.”
Tang Xiao chuckled, took a deep breath, and stepped forward with Jun Tesi.
The moment they emerged, the cameras outside went wild. By now, everyone knew that the name ‘Tang Xiao’ was a surefire magnet for attention. His influence extended far beyond academia—while the two worlds had yet to fully separate and were still in the process of establishing diplomatic relations, his passionate fanbase spanned both worlds, occasionally even intersecting. Cross-world tourism had become the latest trend.
A flurry of languages erupted from the gathered reporters.
“Look here, Tang!”
“Dr. Tang, can you share your thoughts at this moment?”
“Dr. Tang Xiao, this way!”
Tang Xiao ignored most of the voices—they needed to get to the banquet hall—but when he heard a familiar language, he turned slightly, smiling apologetically before continuing toward the waiting vehicle alongside Xiao Bai.
Yes, in this world, the achievement that won Tang Xiao the award was genetic editing technology. This meant he was sharing this year's Nobel Prize with Xiao Bai, who had reappeared half a month ago. However, according to Xiao Bai himself, he had no memory of the time he was missing.
“Nervous?” Xiao Bai asked in the car.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.” Tang Xiao shook his head. “But it’s not too bad. After all, this is my second time.”
Xiao Bai chuckled. “Yeah, technically, I should be more nervous than you.”
Their vehicle arrived at the event venue—the Stockholm Concert Hall. As the elegant music played, the Nobel Prize ceremony officially commenced.
Tang Xiao and Xiao Bai went backstage to prepare for their moment on stage, while their family members were seated in designated areas.
Jun Tesi lingered behind the group, but instead of sitting immediately, he carefully recorded the grand scene of the concert hall on his phone.
[This is history in the making—watching the Nobel Prize ceremony live for the first time.]
[Haha, when I saw the title, I thought it was clickbait. Then I saw the streamer’s name and clicked in instantly.]
[Mom, I made it—I’m watching an UP Master livestream himself receiving a Nobel Prize.]
[The gaming community’s highest moment of prestige!]
[The knowledge community is fuming!]
[Wait, the Nobel committee actually allowed personal livestreaming? This is surreal.]
[Haha, I mean, there’s always been an official broadcast, but this is the first personal stream. Dr. Tang’s influence is insane!]
[So many big shots. Good lord, they’re everywhere. Over there is a former Nobel laureate, and over here are political and business elites.]
[Dr. Tang might not be the best gamer in the gaming community, but he’s definitely the most accomplished academic, and the most academically accomplished gamer!]
[Absolutely.]
Jun Tesi finally took his seat as the opening speech by the chairman of the Nobel Prize Foundation began.
Standing at the recipient’s waiting area, Tang Xiao took slow, deep breaths as the chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee for Chemistry took the stage.
“A genetic selection mechanism discovered in ancient mushroom entered our field of vision, allowing humanity to edit and utilize the genetic code. There was once a time when people feared it might become Pandora’s Box. But he—no, they—have proven that in times of crisis, the only thing humanity can rely on is its own wisdom. He, they, have placed the scissors of genetics into the hands of humankind.”
“This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Dr. Xiao Bai and Dr. Tang Xiao!”
The moment his voice fell, thunderous applause erupted in the resplendent Stockholm Concert Hall, lingering for a long, long time…
Tang Xiao and Xiao Bai walked side by side onto the award stage. Under countless gazes, Xiao Bai slowed his steps for a moment, allowing Tang Xiao to be the first to receive the award certificate and medal from the king.
“Congratulations, the youngest and most extraordinary laureate,” the king said with a smile, his gaze warm. “Thank you for your contribution to humanity.”
Tang Xiao was slightly taken aback, then smiled sincerely. “Thank you. It was my duty.”
After the award ceremony, following a simple banquet, all the guests moved to the ballroom in the adjacent hall.
Taking a deep breath, Tang Xiao ignored the invitations from the young men and women around him and strode toward Jun Tesi.
“May I have this dance?”
Jun Tesi did not hesitate. “It would be my honor.”
He handed his phone to Mother Tang, who held it up to capture the moment.
A silver-haired man and Dr. Tang Xiao slowly stepped into the dance floor. Their pairing as two men drew many curious gazes. Not everyone was aware of Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi’s relationship, and in such a grand setting, even though societal views on gender had become far more open, some people still covered their mouths in shock.
But Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi paid no attention to the eyes around them. They paused at the center of the dance floor and stepped in time with the graceful melody.
With surprise, Jun Tesi noticed that Tang Xiao's dancing had improved significantly from before.
“I’ve been practicing,” Tang Xiao said smugly. “At least I won’t step on your feet this time.”
“It wouldn't matter if you did, Xiaoxiao,” Jun Tesi smiled. “Even a clumsy Xiaoxiao is adorable”
“Enough of that. If I tripped because I stepped on your foot, historians would have plenty to write about,” Tang Xiao grumbled. “Though, I suppose they already have plenty of material.”
The melody gradually swelled from slow and graceful to soaring and passionate, reaching its climax. Tang Xiao and Jun Tesi moved faster in sync, standing out even among the many dancing pairs. The contrast between the silver-haired, dark-skinned ‘monster’ and the black-haired, fair-skinned scientist made them the most striking pair in the golden hall.
This was a world of peace—a peace they had fought to secure.
But as the music came to an end, just as Jun Tesi was about to reluctantly let go of Tang Xiao, he was suddenly pulled back. Tang Xiao stepped forward, lifted himself onto his toes, and pressed a kiss to Jun Tesi’s lips.
A soft gasp. Mother Tang unconsciously lowered her phone. The surrounding scientists turned to look at the pair. After a brief moment of shock, someone took the lead in applauding.
It was a fleeting kiss, but Jun Tesi’s heartbeat pounded wildly, echoing the applause that resounded around them, refusing to settle.
“Looks like our names are destined to be recorded in history books now,” Tang Xiao said to Jun Tesi with a smile.
“You see, doesn’t this count as a form of eternity?”
[If only this moment could last forever.]
Jun Tesi’s pupils shrank, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a long pause, he leaned forward and wrapped Tang Xiao in his embrace.
“...Yeah.”
End
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