Chapter 520: Chapter 340: Shattered Hope
Edge Mansion Laboratory.
Future’s fingers danced swiftly over the keyboard as she watched the ever-rolling characters and data on the big screen, her expression shifting from initial confusion, to surprise, and finally to somber.
Future: "Qi Ling, I remotely called the Earth Navigation Spaceship’s detector for data collection, and the feedback results are in."
She frowned deeply, sighed, and said, "One bad news, one good news, you choose to hear... ah never mind, let’s not waste time, I’ll just get to the point."
"The bad news is that a signal wave we’ve never seen before has appeared inside the Black Spire; it can penetrate all forms of shielding, rendering our overclocked electronic warfare units ineffective."
"This signal acts directly on the brain region, severely affecting the electric currents of brain neurons. In other words, he’s likely under its influence and trapped in a hallucination now."
"The good news is that through supercomputer deduction and simulation, I found an emergency method to interfere with the signal using the communication platform on the Earth Navigation Spaceship, which can affect his brain region to some extent."
Qi Ling quickly caught on: "You mean, Su Mo is now trapped in some sort of hallucination, and you can influence its content to awaken him?"
Future sighed, speaking gravely: "That’s the theory, but the process is extremely complex, and I’m unsure to what extent I can accomplish it."
Qi Ling: "Let’s give it a try; it’s better than doing nothing at all!"
...
Su Mo leaned against the hospital bed, staring blankly out at the gloomy sky.
He had lost count of how many times he drifted off under the influence of sedatives and woken up like he was now.
Dr. Chen told him that after the hospital’s experts evaluated him, they designed a new treatment plan that fits him perfectly.
Indeed, the new medication was very effective.
Because every time he woke up, he would forget some things about that other world.
It’s a subtle sensation, one that frequent dreamers surely have experienced.
In a dream, you go through many memorable events, but upon awakening, you know you dreamed, yet can’t recall the specifics.
It’s as if a giant eraser wipes away those dream events from your mind.
That’s exactly how Su Mo felt now. Under the medication’s influence, he vaguely remembered dreaming about crossing worlds, but everything and everyone there was completely forgotten.
As Su Mo was in a daze, Dr. Chen walked in, smiling and asking, "Xiaosu, how have you been feeling lately? This imported medicine just got covered by insurance this year, previously unaffordable for many, but thanks to the government, now everyone can afford it."
Su Mo smiled at him: "Pretty good. Those... hallucinations... it’s been a long time since they appeared. I can’t even remember the specifics anymore."
Dr. Chen gripped Su Mo’s shoulder confidently, smiling with relief: "Good! Very good! It shows this treatment plan suits you. You might be discharged soon!"
As Su Mo and Dr. Chen shook hands, he noticed something and looked toward the corridor window.
A fellow patient stood there in a hospital gown, gaunt and anxious, holding a small sketchpad and scribbling frantically.
After the final stroke, the person flipped the pad over, pressing it against the window, staring wide-eyed at Su Mo, and pointing at it repeatedly.
Su Mo squinted to see, and on the board was written...
[Wake up!]
Staring at the window in bewilderment, Dr. Chen inadvertently blocked his view, asking with concern, "Xiaosu, what is it, daydreaming again?"
Su Mo blinked in confusion, craned his head around Dr. Chen, and peered back at the window.
The strange person had vanished without a trace.
Su Mo muttered, "Just now... was there someone there?"
"Hmm?" Dr. Chen stepped into the hallway, looking around suspiciously, "No, who?"
Su Mo held his head and murmured, "Am I... again..."
Dr. Chen sat by the bed, gently reassuring, "It’s okay, sometimes relapses happen, but as long as each one is weaker, it’s fine."
"Xiaosu, remember, curing this kind of illness isn’t just about medication; it requires your inner strength. Whatever happens, you mustn’t let your heart waver. Fight the hallucination! Defeat it in the end!"
Su Mo replied softly, "I understand."
Just then, the ward door opened, and Li Huishu and Su Xun entered.
Seeing Su Mo in good spirits, both had relieved smiles on their faces.
Li Huishu placed a stainless steel food container on the table and said gently, "Son, I made your favorite braised chicken. You’ve lost so much weight lately; you need nourishment."
Su Mo nodded, "Thank you, Mom."
His parents chuckled, with Li Huishu teasing, "Oh, dear, you’re thanking Mom?"
Su Xun also laughed, "The doctor said you’ve been doing well lately. I took the liberty—well, see who’s here."
With that, several figures walked in from outside, some men, some women, all greeting Su Mo warmly: "Hello, Ink."
Su Mo looked at them, stunned for a moment, then delightedly exclaimed, "Hey! Squid, Fatty, Coco... why are you here?"
These were his closest friends from university, with whom he kept in touch even after graduation.
"Ink" was Su Mo’s nickname because it sounded like "Mo", and during university, he loved swimming in groups, so the nickname stuck.
