【Left Travel】LA MORT HEUREUSE

Dr. Kyoko Taki arrived at the private residence of Dr. Kokami at 05:30 in the afternoon.The sea surrounding her was dyed golden by the setting sun.Walking on the gentle slope, facing the sun setting in the west, she felt dazzled for a while, and raised her hand to block the sun.She is as familiar with this circular private research institute built on the top of the cliff as she is with her own home.

She deftly passed the door and walked straight into the room.The institute was quiet, only the familiar hum of the instruments running silently.She put the ingredients she brought in the kitchen and came to the empty hall.The lobby and terrace, which occupies about half of the ground floor area, is facing the sea. From the tall and wide floor-to-ceiling windows, you can have a panoramic view of the sea.

She found the man she was looking for sleeping and walked over without waking him.The man was sitting on the only space capsule computer chair in front of the window, with his head resting on the neck pillow, his chest and abdomen rising and falling smoothly and regularly.The slightly curly light-colored bangs are scattered between the brows, making his face appear gentle.But the brow buried under the bangs was slightly frowned, showing a kind of seriousness and stubbornness.

The man calmly opened his eyes and said, "I don't like people watching me sleep."

His voice is deep and gentle, although it is completely without emotion, stating a fact like a formula, but it is obvious that he has drawn a boundary invisible.And no one is allowed to cross this line.

But Dr. Taki knew that if he didn't want her to see him sleeping, he would never fall asleep in front of her.So she smiled and didn't protest.

"You look tired," she said.

Hong Shangjian sat up straight, used his fingers to straighten his sleepy hair, took the data chip from Dr. Taki, and imported the data into the computer.

"So, this is it?"

"Yes."

While he was reading, she didn't make a sound and turned her eyes out of the window.She remembered the days when he was a child and she used her fingers to smooth his sleepy hair was gone forever.Although she watched him grow up, she had never confided in him.When she was a graduate student, she worked as an assistant to Dr. Hongshangsheng. She often went in and out of this research institute, and often took care of Dr. Hongshang's son like a sister, and developed a kind of affection for that child.But as time went on, she gradually developed a solemn respect for him.This kind of respect was something she had never had for Hongshang Shengsuo as her mentor.

Not long after, he seemed to have processed those data.

"Leave the rest to me." Hong Shang said.

As for why he suddenly asked her for an improved version of the Another virus, Dr. Taki did not hesitate at all. He must have his own purpose in everything he does.Others just need to cooperate with him.

Dr. Taki caught a glimpse of the half-eaten dark chocolate he put aside, frowned slightly, and asked, "Do you just eat this?"

"If you don't pay attention to your diet all the time, you won't be able to keep the appearance and figure that fascinate girls." She said in a relaxed and joking tone.There was nothing in the other person that showed what she was worried about.

"I need energy." Hong Shang said earnestly, with his fingers resting on his chin, as if he was thinking about something.

"No matter what, handsome people don't have the right to be ugly." Dr. Taki said with a smile, pretending to be as serious as the other person, "As the leader of Hanoi, I think you have an obligation to maintain Hanoi's style."

"If you insist on thinking that way..." Hong Shangjian still didn't look up, and there seemed to be an imperceptible smile on his lips.

Dr. Taki turned and walked into the kitchen, put on his apron, and began to process the ingredients he brought.She is not very good at cooking, and they rarely have time for themselves in this group.Still, she wanted to do it.Probably because she is the only woman in their team, so only she can express such concern.

The marble operating platform in the kitchen is spotless, the spacious space looks luxurious and empty, and the sound of rushing water seems to echo.She remembers the first time she used the kitchen, where researchers were working late and decided to cook their own supper.She is the youngest and is a woman, so naturally she does the cooking.Others probably don't know that she has never set foot in any cooking field except home economics class in middle school.At that time, the Institute was a small salon where a group of high-end scientific and technological researchers gathered, and the topics they chatted ranged from technology to philosophy to scandals about senior academicians.

Xiangzi served red bean and rice cake soup to the people sitting in the restaurant. She burned it, but she felt that the people sitting here should not be picky.Her culinary skills drew boos from the audience, "Ms. Taki, this is terrible." A researcher took a sip and complained, frowning.In order to show his chivalry, Aso said: "I think it's good." To reward his kindness, Xiangzi added several bowls to him until Aso said with a sad face that enough was enough.

"Why does the considerate Mr. Aso have no girlfriend?" Everyone laughed.

Aso said solemnly that it was because love had not yet come. Once love came, men would stop wandering and start a family.

Xiangzi laughed out loud when she heard this. The young and frivolous she laughed at Aso's conservative old man's thinking.

"Mr. Aso, the classical literature you have read has made you divorced from reality," Xiangzi said. "When young people nowadays fall in love, the first thing they think of is making love, not writing poetry."

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Aso's face, he straightened his neckline with dignity, and retorted: "Taki, you value pleasure more than responsibility."

Xiangzi shrugged, disapproving, she is young, beautiful, intelligent, and has a bright future, she has a lot of capital to obtain the joy of life.

Aso is still the same, Dr. Taki thought, serious.Even his screen name FAUST is nerdy.Not at all a man who is attractive to women.In the past, she was very worried that they would be mistaken for lovers when they often went out together, so from time to time, she deliberately confronted him in order to let others see that she and him had no ambiguous relationship.

However, this is all a thing of the past.Today, the researchers at that time have long been scattered, some disappeared, some went abroad, and some died.Of those who participated in the secret experiment at that time, only she and Aso remained with Dr. Hongshang.

If her parents knew what she had done, what would they think of the talented daughter they had always been proud of?Thinking of the joy and pride in her parents' eyes when they attended her doctoral graduation ceremony, Dr. Taki couldn't help but feel sour.But they won't know.She altered their memories herself, sent them abroad, and they no longer remembered her as a daughter.She personally severed the bond between herself and the past, because she didn't intend to go back.As an isolated individual who became a core member of the Knights of Hanoi, she had long since made up her mind to entrust her life to that young man for his use.All her capital will become a bargaining chip in his career.

At 06:30, the two sat opposite each other on the long dining table and began to eat.

"I don't think you hate creamed beets?" Dr. Taki asked. She didn't have many special dishes to show. She made pan-fried sweet shrimp with pineapple sauce, spinach and lentil bibimbap, okra and egg stew, and stewed creamed beets.

"No. Your cooking skills are still as good, Dr. Taki."

"Please stop making fun of me, Lord Revolver."

"I remember I said that you don't need to call me that in private."

"Yes."

Dr. Taki smiled slightly, and raised the champagne glass to toast. Through the glass reflecting the light, she gazed at the other party's face for a few seconds without showing any trace.She took a sip of champagne and put down her glass.

It has been a long time since she used the title "Liao Jianjun".When he was a child, she called him "Liao Jianjun", and the other party called her "Sister Xiangzi".However, she knew that the child who called her "Sister Xiangzi" had been left behind by him like the past she had cut off by herself.He can no longer be a child, but must transform into a responsible person who can bear the burden left by his father.

She looked at him quietly just now, trying to find the figure of the child in the past from him.Is there no trace of that child on him anymore?Whether his character or thoughts, they are completely different from the past.She remembered that Dr. Hongshang once asked the child, "See, what do you think the meaning of life is?" The child with a gentle expression quickly answered, as if he had thought about it in detail.

"The first is to take responsibility, the second is to use one's talents," and then he said firmly, "the third is not to hurt others."

The sincere and firm gaze was vivid in his mind, and Dr. Taki pulled back his thoughts.Even if she still calls him "Liao Jianjun" as she did 10 years ago, it doesn't mean that the distance between her and him now has been shortened.Since she couldn't get any closer to him, and he wasn't more open to her, what difference did it make if she called him "Master Revolver" or "Liao Jianjun"?

In private, she could ask him about his personal affairs, but she was limited to asking him about innocuous topics such as whether he likes beets.His deeper world, she can't touch.

She hesitated, wondering if she could take such a risk.

"At that time, why were you angry?" She asked, "After watching the video of the duel between Playmaker and GhostGirl." She felt that he was a little angry at that time with a feminine sensitivity, although he hid it well , she couldn't help but care a little bit.

Hong Shangjian was silent, and gave her a meaningful look.

Dr. Taki himself translated the answer contained in this silence, it was not her place to ask, he was under no obligation to answer.Dr. Taki smiled, and sure enough, he hit a wall, what a stubborn person.

He has always been like this, when faced with a question he does not want to answer, he does not say anything, expresses neither affirmation nor negation.Neither cover up, nor make up an answer perfunctory.

"People who love you will definitely suffer a lot." Dr. Taki politely took over the stopped topic.At this time, the advantages of women are well brought out, she thought.At any time, a compliment from a woman can ease the tension and jerkiness of a conversation.

However, this sentence didn't seem to have the relief effect she expected. She found that the other party seemed to be unconcealably agitated, his brows were tightly furrowed, his fingers were tightly clenched on the dinner fork, and he even trembled uncontrollably.He seemed to be restraining some strong emotion in his heart.

"No matter who's love can control my will." The excitement lasted only a few seconds, and soon he regained his composure and calmness.

Dr. Taki was a little surprised. Her words seemed to hit a secret point in his heart. She thought that he might be thinking of his father.However, she felt that it would be impossible for her superior wisdom to misunderstand the meaning of her words. Of course, she meant the lover's love.She thought it was a compliment that most men would be proud of, because it meant he was mysterious, charming, and dangerous.

So, is there really a specific who?She seemed to see the person in front of her inadvertently opening her heart, just for a moment.

Hong Shangjian seemed to see through her mind, and gave her a stern look, with a hint of warning.

Her curiosity drove her to move forward, but in the end she was held back.She knew his temper well enough to know when to stop.She didn't want to lose his friendship.

"It's getting late, I should go back." After dinner, Dr. Taki said to Hong Shang, "Go to bed early, see you."

She politely declined his polite escort, saying she wanted to walk along the beach alone.She takes the path that leads to the beach at the bottom of the cliff.This was a steep slope made of stone steps, and she carefully walked down the winding steps.Stilettos cannot be stepped on the beach, so she took off the high heels and held them in her hand.Stepping on the beach with bare feet, the fine and soft sand caresses the skin on the feet.She walked along the sea, the lighthouse flickering in the distance.

The pair of shoes in her hand are her favorite shoes, with the imprint of the big toe clearly printed on the sole.This was a gift she gave herself when she first stepped into society. One summer 10 years ago, she lay on the beach for a morning rest, and she covered her face with a sun hat.In the dimness, she felt someone gently put something in her hand.She opened her eyes slightly, and found a bracelet made of shells in her hand.The anonymous giver laughed and ran away without giving her a chance to thank her.There was a proud and mysterious light in Cheng Che's eyes. He ran to a distance, lay down on the reef, and took out his binoculars to pretend to observe seagulls.

She continued to pretend to be asleep, knowing tacitly that this was an anonymous gift, an unexpected surprise when she "woke up".Today is her birthday.She remembered that she hadn't told the child, and it was surprising that he knew and remembered it.Back then, as a child, he displayed a quiet, thoughtful quality.She knew the child had deeper emotions than he was actually showing.

However, she had a hard time imagining that he could feel intimacy with someone else.He has a kind of arrogance and loneliness unique to geniuses.She herself is also at the top of the pyramid, so she can empathize with the anguish of not having a comparable conversation partner.In the end, you can only talk to yourself, to the spark of wisdom, to the truth of the world.

If he combines with something, it will probably combine all his enthusiasm, talent and destiny to form a magnificent poem.But personally, she felt it was not a fair fate for him.He should have his own destiny, not inherit it from his father.In that case, he will shine brightly for all to see, instead of operating in the dark and disappearing in obscurity.

The sea breeze at night was a bit cold, she tightened her windbreaker tightly, looked back at the warm lights from the research institute on the top of the mountain in the distance, with a gentle and decisive smile on her face.Then, her figure was hidden in the darkness.

The news reported that VIRA (formerly known as Taki Kyoko), one of the core members of the Hanno Knights, had been arrested.At present, the person involved is still in a coma. This person has been confirmed to be one of the planners of the ANOTHER network virus incident. Further information is yet to be investigated.

In the middle of the night, there was a burst of unhurried footsteps echoing in the corridor, as if it was a night visitor.A young man with white hair opened the door of an apartment.A middle-aged office worker who worked overtime until midnight happened to see him at the door of his house and looked at him curiously.In this apartment, a woman was carried out by the hospital emergency staff a few days ago. He remembered that she was a single beautiful woman who lived alone. Later, the police came to search, and he didn't know what happened.Isn't there a thief who took advantage of the empty apartment now?Otherwise who would visit an empty apartment at two o'clock in the middle of the night.The current smart house management and access control are full of loopholes, and anyone can get in.This high-end apartment is so expensive, and the personal and property safety of the tenants has not been guaranteed worth the money.Mr. Maeda couldn't help but feel annoyed for a while, but he is too busy these days, so wait until the rest day to complain to the real estate agent.

"Hello." Maeda said.The man looked at him, his eyes were very cold.

"This is not your home." Maeda said, feeling a chill of fear.

"I'm the younger brother of the head of the household." The strange young man said politely, "My sister entrusted me to take care of the house during her absence." His tone was cold and distant.

Maeda scratched his head suspiciously, "Oh, please."

The man didn't look at him, walked into the apartment as if he was his own, and closed the door.

I don't know why, even though he is a young man, he has a shocking aura. Although there is no convincing evidence, Maeda dare not ask more.This young man has the face of a magazine model, the kind of male idol his high school daughter likes.Subconsciously, he felt that the handsome man was definitely not a bad person, but he still felt that the young man had a chilling aura about him.He remembered that when he was young, he was pursuing such handsomeness, but the sky failed.Really, Maeda muttered, opening the door of his apartment.

The corridor returned to the tranquility of the night again, and the sensor lights went out.

TBC