Floating life reflects two lotuses

The morning sunlight streamed into the laboratory through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cold yet dazzling glow, as if draping this technological sanctuary in a veil of mystery.

Following Li Chenyao's instructions, Chu Wanlian pressed the timed password on the silver-white touchscreen device. Accompanied by a deep mechanical hum, the heavy glass door slowly slid open. In an instant, her gaze was captivated by the scene before her.

This laboratory seemed to come from another world—silver-gray technological instruments were arranged in precise rings, emanating a faint blue glow. Countless strange symbols were engraved on the surrounding walls, glowing faintly as if they possessed life; each line was exceptionally clear under the sunlight, mysterious and captivating. Even more breathtaking were the several holographic projections floating in the center of the laboratory, their intricate geometric patterns intertwining in the air, emitting a soft halo, like a meeting point between the future and the unknown.

Chu Wanlian stood at the doorway, her breath catching slightly. As a soul from ancient times, she had just adapted to the pace of modern life, but this space before her, both futuristic and inexplicably mysterious, seemed to instantly pull her into another dimension. Her gaze fell upon the ground, where a huge circular pattern was inscribed, runes and geometric lines intertwined, resembling an ancient and unknown ritual formation. Every step felt like treading on some unknown secret.

A gust of cool air swept in from the depths of the laboratory, mixed with the low hum of the machinery, making Chu Wanlian shiver. At that moment, a strong intuition rose within her: she was now standing closest to the truth.

Li Chenyao stood in the center of the laboratory, his back to the floating holographic screen, his fingertips tracing a series of complex data. He heard the sound of the glass door opening, turned his head slightly, and revealed a meaningful smile: "Welcome to the company's core research lab."

Chu Wanlian stepped inside, her gaze still darting around. The flickering projections and floating technological devices throughout the room made her feel as if she were in another world. She feigned composure, but couldn't hide the surprise in her eyes: "This place... is so different from the outside world."

“Of course.” Li Chenyao’s tone carried a hint of pride as he looked at her face. “The research here is far beyond that of ordinary laboratories. You could say that this is the company’s hidden core – we are exploring the unknown.”

He raised his hand and pressed a button on the holographic screen, and a complex symbolic pattern was immediately projected between the two of them. The symbols, with their interplay of light and shadow, floated in the air, seemingly carrying some kind of invisible attraction, directly drawing Chu Wanlian's gaze.

Chu Wanlian froze, her pupils contracting slightly. These symbols were both ancient and unfamiliar, yet so familiar that she almost held her breath—they were almost identical to the runes on her bracelet.

“These symbols,” Li Chenyao broke the silence, his tone calm yet probing, “come from several ancient artifacts. What’s even more interesting is that some of the runes are almost identical to the patterns on the bracelet.”

Chu Wanlian suppressed the turmoil in her heart and tried her best to make her voice sound calm and even: "How did you find these antiques?"

“This has been a long and arduous process.” Li Chenyao approached slowly, his gaze deep, as if trying to see through her every expression. “We collect rare artifacts from all over the world. They come from completely different civilizations, but all the symbols have an astonishing commonality. What’s even more amazing is that these symbols seem to be hinting at some kind of answer.”

A thin layer of sweat seeped from Chu Wanlian's back, her hands clenching her sleeves. Despite the turmoil in her heart, she maintained a calm tone: "Perhaps it's just a coincidence. I only learned about these symbols by chance, and it may just happen to coincide with your research direction."

Li Chenyao looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. He didn't press further, but slowly turned around, took an item from the locker, and walked over.

“Perhaps you’ll be more interested in this.” His voice was deep and magnetic, like a string that plucks at the heartstrings.

He handed her a dark black stone slab, its surface covered with intricate runes. These symbols were identical to the patterns on the bracelet. Chu Wanlian's hand trembled slightly, but she still accepted the slab. As her fingertips touched the cold surface, a strange feeling welled up inside her, as if there was some secret connection between her and this object.

"What do these symbols represent?" she asked in a low voice, her voice a little hoarse.

Li Chenyao's gaze lingered on her face, deep and unfathomable. He said softly, "We still can't fully decipher their meaning, but I have a feeling... there's a special connection between you and these symbols. And you might be the one who can unlock them."

Chu Wanlian slowly lowered the stone slab in her hand and carefully placed it back on the holographic platform. At the very last moment her fingertips touched the slab, she still felt a slight, cold vibration, as if the light from the bracelet had pierced through her palm. In her mind, Xiao Jinlian's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a sense of alertness: "The runes on this stone slab are exactly the same as those on the bracelet… Chu Wanlian, this is no coincidence."

“I know,” Chu Wanlian replied in her heart, her gaze instantly focusing. “But I need more clues to figure out what they are researching.”

Standing to the side, Li Chenyao seemed to notice her distraction. His tone became gentler, as if to soothe her: "Perhaps you want to learn more about the secrets here. I can take you to visit other areas of the laboratory. Maybe... you can find some answers that belong to you."

Chu Wanlian hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble Director Li."

Led by Li Chenyao, she ventured deeper into the laboratory. The interior structure was even more complex than she had anticipated, each room seemingly holding countless mysteries. In the rune analysis room, the walls were covered with intricate, dynamic symbols, like some ancient language whispering in her ear. The energy experiment area resembled a futuristic science fiction scene, with a massive device prominently displayed in the center.

The device resembled a giant celestial globe, with several pale blue stones suspended in its orbit. Their light traced a faint energy vein in the air, as if it were some kind of awakening power.

"What are these stones?" Chu Wanlian's gaze was completely drawn to them, her tone filled with unconscious curiosity.

“These are the cores we use to simulate the runic energy field.” Li Chenyao walked to her side, his hands in his pockets, his voice calm yet full of meaning. “These stones are extremely sensitive. They can resonate with the runes and even trigger some special energy phenomena under certain conditions.”

Chu Wanlian stared at the floating stones, a familiar feeling stirring within her. She was almost certain that the light emanating from these stones was identical to that of the bracelet. Resisting the urge to reach out and touch them, she asked softly, "How did you find them?"

“Some were discovered through archaeological excavations, while others were obtained through special channels.” Li Chenyao’s tone was calm, but his gaze never left her face. “Why do you ask that?”

Chu Wanlian was slightly taken aback, then forced a smile: "I just feel that they are very special, like... they have some kind of life force."

Li Chenyao raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. He walked to the device, gently running his hand across a stone, causing the light to tremble slightly, as if in response to his gesture.

“They are indeed special. But what’s even more special is,” his gaze fell on Chu Wanlian again, his tone low and meaningful, “that I’ve always felt there seems to be some special connection between you and them.”

Chu Wanlian's heart sank suddenly, her back straightened, but she tried her best to keep her expression calm: "Director Li, I am just an ordinary person, and my curiosity about these things can only be considered as that of an outsider."

Li Chenyao tilted his head slightly, a glint of unreadable light flashing in his eyes. He chuckled softly, his voice low and gentle yet carrying an undeniable power: "Perhaps, but sometimes, the most ordinary people often hide the most extraordinary secrets."

Chu Wanlian lowered her eyelids to hide the turmoil in her heart, her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves, slightly sweaty. She forced a faint smile, "Perhaps."

Li Chenyao didn't press further, simply watching her silently, as if waiting for her next move. An invisible tension seemed to permeate the air, flowing between Chu Wanlian and the floating stones, subtle yet impossible to ignore.

Chu Wanlian secretly made up her mind that no matter how much Li Chenyao knew, she had to figure out the true relationship between these runes and the bracelet as soon as possible. Deep in her mind, Xiao Jinlian's voice rang out again, calm and firm: "Great, it seems we're one step closer to the truth."