Starting as a Wallfacer, his defection to the Three-Body Problem shocked the world.

Cheng Xin practically rushed out of the office, but it was too late; Yun Tianming's brain had already been successfully removed.

She collapsed to the ground, as if all her strength had been completely drained.

She didn't understand what she had done wrong, or why Yun Tianming hated her so much.

He could have chosen to refuse to be the executor of the ladder plan!

Crisis Era 4, April.

The Ladder Project is progressing very smoothly under Wade's personal leadership.

In early October, Yun Tianming's brain was loaded into a detector and frozen.

Unlike conventional hibernation, in order to ensure that this brain can successfully traverse the entire solar system and be captured by the Trisolaran fleet, it needs to be flash-frozen for preservation.

The probe froze the entire brain to ultra-low temperatures. At this point, the brain would be dead to humans, since human technology has not yet been able to thaw it without damaging its overall structure. They pinned their hopes on the Trisolarans having this rapid thawing technology.

Finally, with the rocket's tail end, the probe was launched into space.

Immediately afterwards, a dense array of Topol intercontinental ballistic missiles were launched, and together with the probe, they entered their designated orbits.

They were positioned on either side of the detector, creating a nuclear explosion that accelerated the detector step by step to one-hundredth the speed of light.

Then, the probe carrying Yun Tianming's brain disappeared from sight and headed straight for the Trisolaran fleet.

The probe's radiation sail did not break as in the original storyline, thanks to Vadim's calculations. It was the redundancy he added to the probe that ensured its safety.

The Ladder Project was a complete success, and Cheng Xin naturally became the biggest contributor.

But she couldn't feel happy at all; instead, she often had nightmares.

She dreamt that Yun Tianming was in front of her, his face contorted with rage, and said something to her.

"You killed me! I died because of you! Vadim was killed because of your plan!"

This almost became Cheng Xin's inner demon.

Therefore, she submitted her resignation to Yu Weimin, hoping to withdraw from her work at PIA and be transferred to another department in PDC.

However, this proposal was quickly rejected unilaterally by Wade.

“The Ladder Project needs someone to follow up on it, and you are the one who proposed the project and also an acquaintance of Yun Tianming, so you are naturally the best person to follow up on it. If you choose to resign, the Ladder Project will likely fail, and all our efforts will be in vain.”

Cheng Xin ultimately failed to leave PIA. Just as Wade said, Vadim and Yun Tianming had both devoted themselves to the project and sacrificed their precious lives.

If they choose to leave, their sacrifices will be meaningless.

In the end, Cheng Xin resubmitted a leave application to Yu Weimin, and this time Yu Weimin quickly approved it.

Just as Cheng Xin was about to leave the office of the deputy director of Huaxia, Yu Weimin suddenly called her back.

“Cheng Xin, actually, at the beginning, the internal vote in PIA was to make you the executor of Project Ladder, but Director Wade rejected the proposal. He believed that sending your brain to the Trisolarans would only waste precious probes, because with your weakness, you simply could not withstand the impact brought by the Trisolaran world.”

Cheng Xin nodded slightly.

She knew Yu Weimin was trying to comfort her so she wouldn't blame herself too much, but she actually wished the brain that was being sent to the Trisolaran fleet was her own. Unfortunately, Wade was right; she simply didn't have that ability.

"Oh, right!"

Yu Weimin suddenly thought of something and said to Cheng Xin.

“Wade said he hopes you can go to the Red Coast Third Base to meet Lin Xuan, the Fifth Wallfacer. Yun Tianming left some things for you when he worked there.”

……

China, Kunlun Mountains, Red Coast Third Base.

Cheng Xin met Lin Xuan.

This wasn't the first time the two had met. When Lin Xuan had just become a Wallfacer, Cheng Xin had just gone to the PDC to submit the first version of the Ladder Plan.

The meeting was rather hasty; Lin Xuan merely left a tracking device on Cheng Xin before turning and leaving, with the two barely exchanging anything substantial.

"I deeply regret the death of Yun Tianming."

Lin Xuan let out a long breath. The plot had come to this point, which was both unexpected and yet perfectly logical to him.

"Actually, I had suggested before that he be put into a hibernation chamber to hibernate. We have been focusing on researching drugs to fight cancer recently. If he can hibernate for more than ten years, his lung cancer should still be curable."

"But he insisted on going back to participate in your ladder program."

Lin Xuan's words were like a thunderbolt to Cheng Xin!

This was the second time she had suffered from pangs of conscience since Yun Tianming's death.

"So, in fact, you deprived him of his right to live."

Lin Xuan's words struck Cheng Xin's heart like a heavy hammer.

"No, this isn't right!"

Cheng Xin was on the verge of a breakdown.

"This was his own choice; I didn't force him to do anything!"

"He participated in Project Ladder voluntarily. I just... I just relayed PIA's message. It wasn't my fault!"

Cheng Xin felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe, and the scenes from her nightmare reappeared around her.

This time, even Vadim was there, and he condemned her actions!

Lin Xuan didn't say anything, but led Cheng Xin to the front of the Super Dream database.

"Wear it; the gift Yun Tianming gave you is inside."

Lin Xuan pointed to the consciousness extraction device connected to the database and handed it to Cheng Xin.

The latter took the helmet, put it on her head, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

When Cheng Xin opened her eyes again, she found herself on a playground.

Underfoot was a flat grassy field, and in the distance, rows of school buildings stretched out one after another.

A gentle breeze caressed Cheng Xin's cheeks, and the sunlight bathed her, bringing her warmth.

The comfortable environment made Cheng Xin relax unconsciously. She was so tired. She had never been so relaxed since she accepted the Ladder Project.

It was as if the dark clouds had parted to reveal the sun, and her inner world was also touched by this warm sunshine.

"This is... Beijing Airlines?"

Cheng Xin looked around and quickly realized that the surrounding environment was very familiar.

This is the school where she spent seven years completing her undergraduate and master's degrees, and it's also where she met Yun Tianming.

"It's so beautiful!"

Cheng Xin couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. She carefully observed her surroundings, and everything here seemed so real, as if she had truly returned to her wonderful school days.

She recognized it; it was Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics ten years ago. The old building in the distance was renovated after they graduated from their undergraduate studies. At that time, Cheng Xin was a first-year graduate student, so she would occasionally come back to visit the undergraduate campus.

Soon, Cheng Xin noticed a figure sitting with his back to her on the lakeside in the distance.

It was a beautiful young woman in a white dress. Even though the other person had her back to her, Cheng Xin still felt that the figure was extremely familiar.

She then realized that all the sunlight in the world was focused on that girl alone, as if she were an angel of the world.

The soft light filled Cheng Xin with longing, and at that moment, she finally learned who the girl was.

That was Cheng Xin ten years ago.

Sure enough, the girl in white slowly stood up and turned her head. She had a face exactly like Cheng Xin's.

At that time, Cheng Xin looked quite young and naive.

The surrounding tranquil lake surface blended with her to create a stunning landscape painting.

【Cheng Xin】is like a person who has stepped out of a painting, like a fine work of art.

"It's so beautiful!"

This is Cheng Xin's evaluation of this "Cheng Xin".

She wasn't narcissistic; she genuinely felt a gentle warmth emanating from him. He was such a perfect person that even Cheng Xin herself felt inferior to him.

Lin Xuan had previously told her that the Super Dream World was the underlying structure built by Yun Tianming's consciousness, so what she saw was Yun Tianming's true thoughts.

"So I was actually so perfect in his eyes."

Cheng Xin felt increasingly guilty, and she seemed to understand why Yun Tianming was so angry.

The pain of being asked to die by someone so perfect in her heart was something Cheng Xin couldn't even imagine.

She greatly underestimated her importance in Yun Tianming's heart.

Soon, Cheng Xin walked over slowly and met Cheng Xin's gaze.

"Let's go. Tianming told me to wait for you here. She said you would definitely come."

Then, Cheng Xin pulled Cheng Xin into the teaching building.

Although it had been almost ten years since she last visited this place, Cheng Xin still remembered the way. This place was almost exactly the same as the Jinghang Hotel ten years ago in reality.

It is evident that Yun Tianming put a great deal of effort into the construction of this place.

Soon, the two entered a multimedia classroom.

Cheng Xin remembered this place; it was the classroom where she and Yun Tianming took an elective course called "Building Aerospace Engine Models" during her freshman year.

Generally, university classrooms are mobile, but some experimental courses require special laboratories to be taught.

At that time, computers were not yet widespread, so these elective experimental courses were usually completed in pairs.

First, it can speed up the teaching process; second, it can save more equipment resources.

She was assigned to the same group as Yun Tianming. In her memory, that seemed to be the only time she spent so much time with Yun Tianming. She never expected that Yun Tianming would perfectly replicate this classroom.

Cheng Xin pulled her along and sat down with her in the seat she and Yun Tianming had sat in years ago, then turned on the computer in front of them.

Soon, an image appeared on the computer screen.

It's Yun Tianming!

"Hi, Cheng Xin, this is Tianming!"

The video has been edited, and it's clear that Yun Tianming rehearsed several times before recording it.

"If you can see this video, it means I should be dead. It's such a pity. I wonder if we ever saw each other again. Lin Xuan told me that I would definitely come looking for him. I think he's a liar. Haha, you're such a busy person, how could you possibly come looking for me?"

Although Yun Tianming said that, you could see that there was some expectation in his eyes, as if he really wanted to meet Cheng Xin.

Cheng Xin involuntarily covered her mouth. She couldn't imagine what kind of mentality Yun Tianming had when he recorded this video.

"Oh right, you should have met that fake Cheng Xin, right? How was it? Doesn't the version of you I portrayed look a lot like you? Hahaha, even though I haven't seen you for so many years, I still remember what you look like."

"If you're not satisfied, you can ask Lin Xuan for access to the Dream World to modify her appearance. But I think no one in the world can portray her better than me. Let me tell you, it took me a whole day to make this character model. It almost burned my brain cells to death."

Cheng Xin turned to look at the [Cheng Xin] beside her. Indeed, as Yun Tianming said, it was quite perfect, even more perfect than her original self.

"Oh right, the most important thing is that I've prepared two gifts for you. I don't know if you'll like them."

As Yun Tianming spoke, he took out a piece of paper from behind his back; it was the purchase receipt for the DX3906 star.

Upon seeing the purchase receipt, Cheng Xin's pupils constricted!

She felt like her whole brain was being jolted.

She had wondered who would be able to buy a star for her, but she never expected it would be Yun Tianming!

"Haha, you didn't expect that, did you? That star was a gift from me. Hu Wen, that guy, still has a conscience. He made a lot of money from my formula and shared some with me. My illness is incurable, so I participated in Project Star and gave you a star."

"So, are you satisfied with this gift?"

A smug smile appeared on Yun Tianming's face. He seemed to already see Cheng Xin's joyful expression after receiving his gift.

Cheng Xin's mind went blank, and she could no longer stop crying.

“Cheng Xin, look what you’ve done. He gave you a star, and you killed him with your own hands and gave his brain to the Trisolarans.”

Cheng Xin's emotions had completely collapsed. She felt as if countless knives were stabbing into her heart, and the pain almost suffocated her.

The video was still playing, and Yun Tianming had a silly grin on his face.

"The second gift I prepared for you is here. This is all thanks to Lin Xuan. The Mewtwo Project is so realistic. My illness is very serious. I feel like I don't have much time left."

"If you miss me in the future, well... although that's unlikely, if you really do miss me, then come and see this place. Everything here was created by my own hands... no, by my own brain."

“I originally wanted to create an image of myself to accompany you, but then I thought, you probably wouldn’t like someone as withdrawn as me. It’s okay, so I created you instead. She has all my thoughts and memories. Because of my inferiority complex, I haven’t dared to tell you many things over the years. You can slowly learn about my past from her. Of course, if you’re not willing, then pretend I didn’t say anything.”

"This is the second gift I'm giving you. Thank you. You've always been the one warming my heart. Now, let me become the sun to warm you."

……

Cheng Xin didn't know how she exited the Dream World, but when she came out, her mind was completely broken.

She couldn't imagine what Yun Tianming would think after learning that she wanted him dead.

She suddenly understood why Yun Tianming hated her so much; she understood everything!

She was indeed the murderer who killed Yun Tianming. He clearly loved her so much, and she asked him to die. How could he disagree?

Lin Xuan had been waiting by her side for a long time. When she saw Cheng Xin wake up, she immediately smiled.

Cheng Xin looked at that smile and felt a strange sense of familiarity. She had seen that smile on Wade as well; it was a smile that admired the despair of others.

"Oh, by the way, let me tell you something funny."

Lin Xuan suddenly said.

Cheng Xin was completely devastated at this point. She looked at Lin Xuan, waiting for him to continue.

"The fruit knife on Yun Tianming's bedside table was a toy knife that he replaced himself."

"Do you know why?"

Cheng Xin slowly shook her head.

“Actually, before returning to the hospital, I showed him your ladder program and told him that you would approach him to become a candidate for the ladder program.”

"Yun Tianming's reaction at the time was very interesting. He said that he believed you would never let him die. You are so kind. Even if you didn't know what he had done for you, you would not let him be the one to carry out this plan."

Cheng Xin suffered a third blow to her heart. She could no longer cry; she was beyond words to describe her emotional breakdown.

She truly wished she could die immediately, and wished that Yun Tianming had stabbed her with a real fruit knife instead.

"Later, I said, let's make a bet. If you really let him be the executor of the Ladder Project, then I'll kill you with a fake fruit knife."

"why?"

Cheng Xin was asking why they didn't use a real knife.

Lin Xuan smiled and then said, word by word.

"Killing you with a real knife would be too lenient; killing you with a fake knife is the best punishment for you!"

……

Cheng Xin later developed severe depression.

According to the PDC assessment, she has suffered a complete mental breakdown and has a strong suicidal tendency, making it impossible for her to continue working at PIA.

Left with no other option, she was forced into hibernation. PDC hopes that in the future, they will find a way to treat Cheng Xin's mental illness.