After returning to the inn, Lu Yunfei and Li Yachen briefly discussed their plans and decided to find a place to stay temporarily. They asked the landlady if there were any available rental properties.
The landlady smiled and handed them a few flyers with rental listings, adding, "We have a phone here, you can call directly to inquire."
The two looked at the flyers and chose a small house that seemed suitable. The house was not large but had a reasonable layout, with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, two bedrooms, and a small study. Outside, there was a small yard surrounded by a fence, clean and peaceful.
Although it was a typical rural house, it was tidy and looked quite comfortable. After deducting expenses for food and other costs, the farmer's leftover money was enough for them to rent the house for three months.
Lu Yunfei and Li Yachen went to the house at the agreed time. The house was located on the edge of the town. It had a simple appearance, a single-story cottage with light yellow walls and a few carefully trimmed small trees in the yard, giving it a simple yet peaceful feel. The small path in the yard had some weeds, indicating that it hadn't been maintained for a while, but overall, it gave off a clean, rustic charm.
When they opened the door, a faint wooden fragrance greeted them. The living room was sparsely decorated, with a fabric sofa in the center and a wooden coffee table nearby, holding a few old books. Simple landscape paintings adorned the walls, and the soft light streaming through the curtains made the room feel warm and quiet.
The kitchen was small but fully equipped, with a sink, stove, refrigerator, and microwave, all neatly arranged. The two bedrooms each had a bed covered with clean linens and blankets, with a few small plants on the windowsill, adding a touch of life. The bathroom was compact but very clean, with shiny faucets and all the necessary fixtures.
"It's not bad," Lu Yunfei said, glancing around, feeling an unexpected sense of comfort. It was simple, yet comfortable enough to meet their basic needs.
They negotiated the lease with the landlord, paid the deposit, and began unpacking. The room, though basic, was arranged in an orderly manner. After finishing their packing, they decided to visit the nearby market to buy some necessities.
The market was not far from the house, and the stalls were filled with a dazzling array of fresh ingredients. Lu Yunfei picked out some fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as meat, milk, and water, filling up the shopping cart. Li Yachen chose a few fresh eggs and some potatoes for dinner.
"Should be enough, right?" Lu Yunfei asked, paying for the items and turning to walk away.
"Yeah, you cook today. I haven't made this kind of food in a while," Li Yachen replied with a smile, taking the shopping bags.
"Sure, don't worry," Lu Yunfei nodded, then softly added, "Back in the army, I used to cook for the guys all the time. Now that I think about it, I kind of miss those comrades."
Lu Yunfei nodded in understanding, feeling a subtle stirring in his heart. He had never experienced those days, but in this unfamiliar small town, the unspoken understanding and cooperation between them made him feel that this place no longer seemed so lonely. Perhaps, this was their temporary "home."
Once back at the house, Lu Yunfei and Li Yachen began settling in. The small cottage, though modest, quickly felt like a haven from the chaos they had left behind. After all the unpacking was done, they sat down for a quiet meal. The simplicity of their surroundings, coupled with the comfort of a home-cooked meal, gave them a sense of peace.
As they ate, their conversation drifted from mundane topics to more personal reflections. Li Yachen spoke about his time in the military, about the bonds he had formed with his comrades, and the way those days still lingered in his memory. Lu Yunfei, though he hadn't experienced the same, felt the weight of his words. There was a certain camaraderie between them that was difficult to explain, yet it was undeniable. They weren't just two individuals thrown together by circumstance; they were becoming something more.
Meanwhile, in another part of the world, the scene was starkly different.
In the same cold, gray laboratory, the walls radiated a harsh, sterile light that seemed to suck the life out of everything in the room. The young researcher stood in front of a console, observing the flickering data on the screen. He spoke in a hushed voice, addressing the elderly scientist beside him, "Gu Lao, everything seems stable. We initially thought the environmental conditions might cause significant fluctuations, but the results are unexpectedly good."
Gu Lao, sitting in a high-backed chair, did not shift his gaze from the ever-changing data panels. He nodded slightly, a faint, knowing smile curling at the corners of his lips. His voice, though calm, carried an air of quiet satisfaction, "Yes, the situation is better than anticipated."
He set aside the papers he was holding and continued, "But this is just the beginning. We must continue observing and test their performance in all areas, especially their cognitive abilities. We need to see if there are any signs of cognitive decline."
The young researcher nodded, quickly adjusting the controls. The screen lit up with various graphs and metrics. The behavior, reactions, and decision-making abilities of the subjects were being monitored in real-time. Every minute detail was being carefully scrutinized.
Gu Lao's eyes remained steady, his expression unreadable. It was as though he had already seen the outcome, yet he waited with patient anticipation for the next set of results. His mind was always several steps ahead, calculating, measuring, and preparing for whatever came next. The experiment was progressing according to plan, and Gu Lao knew that it was only a matter of time before the results would reveal more than they had anticipated.