In the realms of a dream, Junya was unaware of how long she had slumbered. Within this lengthy dream, she existed as a child, perpetually immersed in happiness. Her days were a medley of bounding leaps and joyous laughter, as she gallivanted and frolicked like a mischievous princess.
Within this dream, she encountered Liu Xing – radiant and bright as sunshine – a figure akin to a carefree young lad. Liu Xing held her, his younger self embracing her with delight. In this reverie, she found herself merrily engaged in kite-flying, and as the kite soared into the sky, Junya's elation burst forth in exultant cries.
Many wondrous objects took flight in this dream, among them a dainty stationery box, a diminutive backpack, and even her own beautiful dress. Countless toys danced in the air, including a petite electronic keyboard – her favored possession – and the electronic watch she held dear.
A gentle breeze cascaded down the slope of a verdant hill, brushing against the grass beneath Junya's feet. An array of toys caught her gaze, each vying for her attention, while her little kite accompanied them, leisurely drifting across the sky. Their motion was languid, as if in deliberate unhurriedness, almost within arm's reach.
With determination, Junya leaped upwards, attempting to seize one of these ethereal treasures. Yet, regardless of her efforts, the lad, Liu Xing, stood by, his demeanor one of gleeful amusement.
In this moment, a small blue dolphin gracefully glided through the sky, descending to relay a message to Junya. The dolphin shared that a young bear wept through the night, and it implored Junya to come, for the bear yearned for her presence.
With all her might, Junya sprinted up the hillside, her steps small and slow. Echoing from behind, peals of laughter cascaded towards her – laughter that ridiculed her inability to reach the summit, her supposedly short legs the source of this amusement.
The laughter inched closer as Junya's weariness grew, eventually hindering her ability to run. A young lion bounded towards her, inviting, "Climb onto my back, let's ascend together!" Thus, astride the lion's back, they embarked on a joint journey, racing towards the crest of the hill. Beneath them lay sheer cliffs and a sapphire sea, a breathtaking vista.
The lion suggested, "Let's leap together. A young bear will be there to catch us."
In a state of drowsy confusion, Junya perceived someone gently wiping her face. Gradually opening her eyes, she beheld a countenance – one adorned with lengthy whiskers and hair, deep-set eye sockets radiating a limitless warmth.
"Are you awake, little one?"
With a composed spirit, Junya recognized her father, who gazed at her with an ache in his heart.
"Dad, I'm fine."
"I know, you're just a bit weary. You've pushed yourself too hard. How about taking a few days to rest?"
This time, Junya refrained from persistence, merely nodding in agreement.
"Thinking of him, aren't you?"
Upon hearing her father's direct inquiry, Junya abandoned her concealment, nodding ever so slightly in acknowledgment.
"I have good news for you – Xiao Guang is still alive."
"Ah, really?" Euphoria enveloped Junya's eyes, even as she lay down.
"Absolutely."
"Where did the news come from?" Junya immediately cut to the chase.
Surveying her surroundings, it appeared that father and daughter remained confined within these walls. After a moment's contemplation, Junya found it quite implausible. While she hadn't seen Su Pei alive, news of the imminent danger had already swept across the base. Even if they had miraculously survived, it would have been dire news for Liu Xing. How could it possibly have reached their ears?
"Indeed. I dropped by again today. I heard it from that lackey surnamed Li," Elder Jin declared with unwavering confidence.
"That Li lackey?" Junya raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Yes. Su and I have been good friends for years. A long time ago, we had this running joke between us – extraterrestrial centaur-like beings arriving on Earth in triangular spaceships."
"Pfft," Junya couldn't hold back her laughter, observing her father's deadpan delivery of nonsense. Her astute mind quickly grasped the situation. That lackey must have slipped up or been showing off.
"They came to show off today. The implication is that all the extraterrestrials have arrived, so we shouldn't stubbornly resist surrender anymore," Elder Jin spoke disdainfully of these lackeys. "Su is an extremely cunning fellow, and he possesses remarkable political acumen. He must have sensed something amiss with the base long before, so he definitely wouldn't recklessly enter. He would seek out someone like me, an honest man, for information. If he can't find me, he'll find a way to send me a message. By promoting this idea, as long as I'm alive, I'll know he's here. That old coot is rather shrewd."
"Indeed, I've heard you were quite manipulated by him in your younger days."
Elder Jin's eyes sparkled, "I was living large back then!"
"Yep, tricked into winter swimming and then gawked at by onlookers," Junya teased, exposing his past follies.
Elder Jin and Old Su were once a pair of jesting buddies who playfully ribbed each other. However, as they aged, their relationship transformed into a deep friendship. It could be said that in terms of knowledge, Elder Jin had the upper hand, but when it came to social interactions and maneuvering, Old Su far surpassed him. It's worth mentioning that Elder Jin's current political standing was largely thanks to Old Su's recommendation and assistance. Otherwise, Elder Jin would have remained a scientist without any administrative duties. In other words, if it were Old Su overseeing the base, with his methods and wisdom, Liu Xing wouldn't have been able to accomplish things so easily.
"Rest a little longer, you were quite tense in your sleep just now."
"Yeah, but I'm having a bit of trouble falling back asleep."
"In that case, I'll get you something to eat. Rest after you've eaten."
"Okay."
As she watched her father rise, Junya also got up, sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Once upon a time, love hesitated and wavered, and hope dimmed within the heart. Chasing through memories, a forest farce, a poetic dash. The wind stirred the trembling moonlight, carefree and fanciful, unconstrained, a wandering love.
Through the depths of these dark pupils, the ache of a heart that lost its beloved. Gazing at the sky, do you know how much I long for you?
Watching her daughter eat, her pensive expression revealed the workings of a young girl's mind. Elder Jin comprehended everything within his heart. That reckless Liu Xing had not disappointed him, venturing farther down the path of power and desire. On the surface, Elder Jin never interfered in his daughter's affairs of the heart, but he had his own bottom line, his own standard of character. Liu Xing's later revealed character displeased Elder Jin more and more. His intelligence was no longer employed in the service of righteousness; he was fixated on deception and manipulation. He had deviated from normal development and the realm of politics, becoming an unmitigated schemer.
Not to mention those unclearly entangled women in his private life. Even if there was no concrete evidence, the way their eyes met, even the judgment of the people around him—like seeks like, birds of a feather flock together. No matter how crafty someone is, they can't deceive everyone all the time.
The lines between friend and foe had already been drawn, and even the situation regarding reinforcements from their side had been made clear. How could they break this deadlock?
Elder Jin paced back and forth in the room, contemplating his next move.
Elder Jin was certain that he was among the first to be confined. Just before his confinement, he was still discussing exploratory matters concerning the cliff with some technical personnel. The sudden news transformed them into discussions of how to properly organize the rescue, how many people to dispatch, and what provisions to prepare for the journey. Then someone informed him that his daughter had fallen ill. In his anxious haste to return, he encountered the confinement, which had lasted until now.
Elder Jin was certain that at the time, they must have used some sort of deception to stabilize the crowd, and subsequently employed even greater lies and means to subdue or imprison many people. Otherwise, this matter couldn't have been suppressed.
Junya watched her father pace back and forth, lost in thought, and refrained from interrupting. It wasn't until her father looked up at her.
"I've figured it out. Liu Xing used the oldest trick in the book, isolating many of those who opposed him."
"What trick?"
"Fabricating a plague."