Xingtetsu: You are not included in Elio's script!

In the seventh laboratory, light shines through the huge observation window, casting geometric spots on the cold metal floor.

Lin Yu stood in front of the main console, his eyes fixed on the constantly refreshing data stream, but he was a little absent-minded.

His fingertips tapped unconsciously on the control panel, his thoughts already drifting away.

What kept flashing through his mind was the figure of Ah Ha standing completely still after being pierced by the scarlet dagger in the chaotic space last night.

And the shudder you feel when the cold, indifferent gaze of the "watcher" sweeps past you.

This sense of crisis originating from a higher dimension hung over him like a dark cloud, making it difficult for him to concentrate on the experiment in front of him.

Ruan Mei was standing beside him, calibrating a set of sophisticated energy conduit interfaces.

Her movements were still precise and efficient, and she was as calm as ever.

But if you look closely, you can find that when she occasionally glances at Lin Yu, there is a hint of extremely subtle solemnity.

From Lin Yu's unusual awakening last night to the fatigue and distraction that could hardly be concealed between his brows this morning, she saw it all.

The icy aura lingering in that energy field was definitely not something that could be left behind in an ordinary dream.

He was obviously hiding something extremely important and dangerous.

Heita temporarily left the laboratory and went to the core database to retrieve some deep files.

Yu Qingtu has not arrived yet.

In the huge experimental core area, there were only two of them left for a while.

When Lin Yu was half a beat slow to respond to Ruan Mei's third inquiry about the energy flow stability coefficient, Ruan Mei finally stopped what he was doing.

She turned around and faced Lin Yu.

The cold light of the laboratory cast a faint shadow on her cold face.

She didn't say anything, just looked at him quietly, her eyes calm but extremely penetrating, as if she could see through all the emotions he tried to hide.

Lin Yu felt a little uncomfortable when she looked at him, and forced a smile, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

Ruan Mei didn't respond to his joke. She took a step forward, her steps light but with an undeniable momentum.

Lin Yu stepped back subconsciously, his back leaning lightly against the cold alloy wall.

Ruan Mei raised her arm, and with a light "snap" sound, she supported her palm on the wall beside Lin Yu's ear, trapping him between herself and the wall.

When she did this action, it was less ambiguous and more assertive, with a sense of scrutiny and belonging to a researcher.

She tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes locked directly into his, her voice low and clear, carrying a question that left no room for evasion.

"Lin Yu, what are you hiding?"

Lin Yu's breath was choked. He had never seen Ruan Mei so direct, even with a bit of questioning attitude.

He tried to avoid her gaze, but she raised her hand and gently pinched his chin. The force was not strong, but it made it difficult for him to turn his head.

"Since last night, your energy field has been filled with abnormal cold fluctuations."

"This is definitely not a normal response from a simulated universe experiment." Ruan Mei stared at him closely. "Your consciousness is clearly in a state of high alert and anxiety."

"Tell me, what happened? What dangerous thing did you come into contact with?"

Lin Yu opened his mouth and wanted to say something to evade the question, but under the gaze of her eyes that seemed to see through everything, all the excuses he had prepared seemed pale and powerless.

He sighed, knowing he couldn't completely hide it any longer.

He took Ruan Mei's hand that was pinching his chin, gently pulled it down, and held it in his palm.

"Ruan Mei...I'm not trying to hide it from you."

"It's just that...this matter may be much more dangerous than we thought, and I don't want to involve you."

Lin Yu carefully considered his words, trying to avoid specific names that might attract attention.

"I... through some means, sensed that someone... who had a previous encounter with us was in great danger."

"A kind of... um... backlash stemming from the very nature of its existence, or perhaps some kind of punishment from a higher level."

"His condition is very bad, almost frozen in time, and I... may have indirectly caused this crisis."

He did not mention Aha by name, nor did he describe the details of the Paradox Blade and the Watcher.

But Ruan Mei was so smart that from the key words "backlash of the essence of existence", "punishment at a higher level" and "stagnation", she instantly thought of many terrible possibilities about star gods, backlash of fate and the underlying rules of the universe.

Her pupils contracted slightly.

"So, your abnormal behavior last night was due to your perception of the threat posed by this person?"

Ruan Mei's voice remained steady, but Lin Yu could sense that she had tightened her grip on him.

"And you're worried that investigating this matter will attract...their attention?"

Lin Yu nodded, "I don't want to implicate you, this level of danger..."

Just then, the automatic door of the laboratory slid open silently.

Heita walked in holding a data tablet, muttering, "The energy resonance coefficient needs to be recalibrated, otherwise..." Her words stopped abruptly.

Her eyes fell on the two people who seemed to be cuddling together "intimately" in the corner.

One of Ruan Mei's hands was still held by Lin Yu, and the other arm was resting on the wall, holding Lin Yu in front of her. The two were very close, and seemed to be whispering about some private topic.

Lin Yu leaned against the wall, with a complex expression mixed with fatigue on his face.

But to Heita it seemed like an expression of "tenderness".

Heita's footsteps paused, and a rare faint blush appeared on his face, which was always expressionless.

She was a little embarrassed and coughed dryly, her tone obviously unnatural and a little... annoyed?

"Hey! I said...this is my lab, not your private lounge!"

She deliberately raised her voice, trying to hide her momentary panic. "If you want to communicate or discuss personal matters, please return to your room! Don't disturb the seriousness of the experimental environment!"

Hearing the sound, Ruan Mei immediately withdrew her arm that was leaning against the wall, and gently pulled back the hand that Lin Yu was holding.

Her expression regained its calmness and she turned to face the Black Tower. "We are discussing an unusual issue that may affect the safety of the experiment. It's not what you think."

Lin Yu also quickly stood up straight, touching his nose awkwardly, "Heita, we are just... talking about some serious business."

Heita looked at Ruan Mei suspiciously, then at Lin Yu, obviously not completely convinced.

She hummed softly, walked over to the main console, and set the data slate down, making some deliberate noise. "That's best! The deep interface maintenance program for the simulated universe will need at least two hours to complete its self-test."

"Until then, you guys... keep your distance and focus on your work!"

The atmosphere in the laboratory suddenly became a little subtle.

The tense and private conversation just now was interrupted, replaced by a silence mixed with awkwardness and unfinished topics.

Ruan Mei looked at Lin Yu deeply.

The look in his eyes was complex, containing understanding, worry, and a hint of warning that "this matter has been put on hold for now, but it is not over."

She turned and walked to another terminal and began to check the data silently, as if nothing had happened.

...