Seeing the boy's demeanor, Zhang Chenyan now had every reason to suspect that the boy might have mental issues. He made it clear that he didn't want to continue the conversation: "We don't know each other well. We're strangers. You don't need to tell me all this."
"Yeah, we don't know each other. We're strangers," the boy repeated Zhang Chenyan's words, then muttered, "But you're the first person to believe me. Maybe it's because I'm nervous, but my premonitions are usually very accurate. I feel like I'll be chosen, and this experiment is very dangerous. I'm worried that if I go in, I might not come out. Then, wouldn't there be no one who knows my story?"
Zhang Chenyan frowned. He wasn't particularly superstitious, but at this critical moment, such words were undoubtedly ominous.
"If Telus Company is conducting this experiment, it means they can ensure basic safety. Stop talking nonsense," Zhang Chenyan warned the boy with a stern look.
"What do you mean by basic safety? For example, as I said, they're only recruiting three hundred volunteers. Can you guarantee that all three hundred will come out healthy and safe, without a single mishap? Is that basic safety?" the boy retorted. "Or did you not read the consent form carefully? It should clearly state that this is a high-risk, high-reward situation."
The boy's questions left Zhang Chenyan speechless. He understood the implications but didn't see the point of the boy openly discussing them.
"Oh, I get it!" the boy said, feigning sudden realization. "You're worried you'll be chosen too, and my jinxing will affect you?"
Zhang Chenyan neither confirmed nor denied, simply turning away, ignoring the boy.
He hadn't expected that his moment of kindness would lead to such an awkward situation. How had he ended up entangled with this person?
Zhang Chenyan couldn't understand how boring and lonely the boy's life must have been for him to unload all his thoughts on a complete stranger at such a crucial moment.
Seeing Zhang Chenyan turn his back, the boy wasn't upset. Instead, he circled around to face Zhang Chenyan again, smiling mischievously. "Don't worry, there's no such thing as a balance law in this world. I was born into the wrong family, and every step I've taken since has gone in the worst possible direction. Even if my jinx works, it'll only work on me. But you, you look like you've had a good life, so you'll definitely come through this safely."
Zhang Chenyan was taken aback. He quietly replied, "You will too."
The boy smiled but said nothing more.
For the rest of the time, the boy remained silent. He didn't bother Zhang Chenyan with any more nonsensical talk nor played any free games on his device. Instead, he just lowered his head, writing something, occasionally looking up at the sky before continuing to write.
Zhang Chenyan wanted to remind him that the sky here was fake and didn't warrant such a longing gaze. But remembering their earlier interaction, he chose to remain silent this time.
Finally, they reached the front of the line. They were each led into separate rooms, where staff and professional equipment awaited them.
Being brought to this room indicated they had passed the initial screening, but they still had to answer numerous questions, undergo background checks, and psychological evaluations to verify their honesty.
Zhang Chenyan handled these with ease. He had nothing to hide and was confident in his qualifications, both physically and mentally, to be selected.
After completing these tasks, the staff arranged an in-person interview and medical examination for Zhang Chenyan, with professional medical personnel using specialized equipment. Naturally, Zhang Chenyan agreed.
Leaving the room, Zhang Chenyan saw the boy waiting in the square. Seeing him emerge, the boy hurried over, giving Zhang Chenyan no chance to refuse.
"How did it go? Did they schedule an interview with you?" The boy seemed more anxious about Zhang Chenyan's situation than his own.
Zhang Chenyan nodded reluctantly, silently wondering if this guy was planning to follow him everywhere now.
Sure enough, the boy continued, "When's your interview? Let's meet up in real life."
Zhang Chenyan wasn't a social butterfly and certainly didn't list "making new friends" among his hobbies. But faced with the boy's hopeful eyes and enthusiastic smile, he found it hard to refuse.
"Don't worry, I'm not trying to scam you or mooch off you. I just want to meet someone," the boy said, cleverly using "meet someone" to describe their relationship, knowing they were far from being friends.
As they walked out, Zhang Chenyan asked, "Don't you have anyone to talk to?"
The boy shook his head. "No. An orphanage kid, a habitual liar scamming social welfare... and now, apparently, a wretched curse on my parents."
Zhang Chenyan stopped in his tracks. He understood the first few labels but was puzzled by the last one. Was it a new ploy for sympathy?
Seeing Zhang Chenyan's confusion, the boy laughed. His eyes sparkled, and his tone was joyous. "You really don't follow the news, huh? No wonder you were willing to talk to me. Didn't you notice everyone else avoiding me?"
Zhang Chenyan now recalled that from the moment he arrived, the boy had been alone. Throughout their conversation, many people had glanced their way. He initially thought it was because of the boy's exaggerated expressions and gestures. But now he realized there was a strange hostility towards the boy.
"Are you famous?" Zhang Chenyan asked, pulling out his wrist device to search.
"Kind of," the boy nodded.
"Why not change your avatar or hide your ID?" Zhang Chenyan was curious.
"Because I can't afford a new avatar, and I haven't done anything wrong, so why hide?" the boy retorted.
As they talked, Zhang Chenyan entered the boy's ID into the search bar and found many related news stories popping up. He clicked on a video and saw a man and a woman tearfully complaining. According to them, they accidentally lost their child years ago and had been searching tirelessly, heartbroken. When they finally found him in an orphanage, expecting a happy reunion, it turned into a nightmare. The boy, influenced by his time in the orphanage, had become violent and demanding, abusing them when they didn't comply. They tolerated his behavior out of guilt for losing him but he escalated, developing a gambling habit, trying to sell their home to pay off debts, and even contemplating selling their organs. Desperate for their lives, they sought social protection.
What a performance, Zhang Chenyan thought, almost applauding.
"You're the vicious child in this story?" Zhang Chenyan asked with a smile, not believing for a second that the boy would do such things.
Although they hadn't known each other long, and Zhang Chenyan had tried to shake him off multiple times, he wasn't naive. He didn't believe a truly vicious person would be more concerned about someone believing in him than seizing the opportunity to rob them.
"Yep, impressive, huh?" the boy replied with a smile, seeing that Zhang Chenyan believed him.
"I usually avoid this type of news, so I've filtered it out," Zhang Chenyan explained. He didn't like domestic dramas and clicked "not interested" on such news. Over time, algorithms learned his preferences and stopped recommending them.
"You said they tried to kill you. How did it come to this?" Zhang Chenyan asked.
"They bungled the job, and I decided to stop pretending. I exposed everything and ran away," the boy sneered. "They feared I had evidence or would talk, so they preemptively took the moral high ground, making everyone hate me and sympathize with them."
Zhang Chenyan felt exasperated. He sincerely asked, "Are you really their biological child?"
"Of course. The orphanage did the DNA test twice," the boy laughed. "Honestly, I wish it weren't true. It wouldn't be so disappointing."
Sighing, Zhang Chenyan gave the boy the details of his interview time and location, then logged out, disappearing from the boy's view.
He didn't know the boy's name, where he lived, or how to contact him. He couldn't be sure if the boy would make it to the meeting on time, considering real-world travel took actual time.
But in Zhang Chenyan's view, this fate wasn't something he controlled.
Because of the queue, Zhang Chenyan returned home later than usual. Xie Han, seeing this, said nothing but reheated the food.
Watching Xie Han's back, Zhang Chenyan thought wryly that he now had another secret, but it was all worth it for her.
"How was it, going back to work?" Xie Han asked casually as she served the food.
Zhang Chenyan nodded, "It was fine. After all, I only took a two-day leave, not a two-year break. There's nothing to get used to."
Xie Han smiled and started sharing gossip. Unlike Zhang Chenyan, Xie Han loved such stories, watching every episode of shows about love battles, diamond mediations, and life stories, often sharing them with Zhang Chenyan, trying to get him interested.
But her attempts were futile. Zhang Chenyan, having developed a set of perfunctory responses, listened with one ear and let it out the other, playing the role of a supportive audience.
"Hey, do you remember the news I told you about yesterday?" Xie Han suddenly asked.
Zhang Chenyan paused. How was he supposed to know? He hadn't paid attention.
But adapting quickly, a crucial skill for any worker, Zhang Chenyan updated his response tactics.
"Oh, that thing from yesterday. What about it, any updates?"
Xie Han continued excitedly, "Yes, about that kid, around your age. Yesterday, I told you his parents were crying for help."
"What happened next?" Zhang Chenyan's response was smooth and natural.
"Today, someone saw him signing his parents up for some human experiment," Xie Han sighed. "People are telling his parents to run, fearing he'll sell them."
"Wow… What a mess," Zhang Chenyan started, but then stopped abruptly.
Boy? Around his age? Parents crying for help? Human experiment?
Even if he were a fool, Zhang Chenyan would understand the situation now. Realizing he had stood next to the boy, Zhang Chenyan quickly asked to see the video, relieved to see that his disguised avatar wouldn't be recognized by Xie Han.
"He signed his parents up for a human experiment?" Zhang Chenyan confirmed.
Xie Han, thinking her gossip had finally piqued his interest, eagerly showed him more news.
The news depicted many people swearing that the boy was determined to torment his parents, with some "good Samaritans" seeking help to save the "kind couple" and punish the "ungrateful" son.
"Do you believe it?" Zhang Chenyan asked Xie Han, setting down the device.