Chapter 94: The Solution
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Jiang Zhaohe’s eyes never left Doctor Ruixin even though the question was directed at Wenzhi.
Wenzhi had returned to Yanjing City and the office felt crowded as everyone in the room carried history. And most of that history involved the CEA doing something terrible to them.
Ruixin stood near the doorway with her hands clasped behind her back. She was trying very hard not to look nervous and she was failing.
Wenzhi sat comfortably in his chair with a lollipop balanced between his teeth. "Do you have a better idea?"
Zhaohe immediately frowned. Which was answer enough.
Kaiwen stepped forward first. Clearly deciding diplomacy wasn’t necessary. "She’s a CEA researcher. I don’t care how useful she is."
He pointed directly at Ruixin. "Do you know how many times I saw her while they were experimenting on me?"
The room went quiet.
Kaiwen let out a humourless laugh. "I had a fractured skull."
His eyes narrowed. "And somehow the experiments hurt more."
Ruixin winced. "Kaiwen—"
"No." He cut her off instantly. "No."
He took another step forward. "You don’t get to say anything."
Ruixin straightened and sighed. "You were regenerating too slowly. I had to—"
Kaiwen’s expression darkened. "You had to what?"
His voice sharpened. "You had to turn me into a guinea pig?"
Ruixin closed her mouth immediately. Because for all her intelligence, even she knew there was no winning this conversation.
Zhaohe crossed her arms. "Yes, this is a bad idea."
She looked at Wenzhi. "She already helped you. Great. She can keep helping from somewhere else."
Wenzhi sighed like he was exhausted. Not by the argument but by the fact they were having it now. "We have less than six hours."
The reminder landed heavily as they knew they had less than six hours before Xinyuan woke up.
Wenzhi stood. "We don’t have time for this. We need a head scientist. One who already understands what we’re dealing with."
His gaze shifted toward Ruixin. "She became the youngest lead researcher in the CEA for a reason."
Ruixin blinked, clearly not expecting that description.
Nobody argued. Because unfortunately, that part was true.
Then Wenzhi casually added, "If she screws up, you can kill her."
Ruixin stared at him looking horrified. "What?"
The room immediately felt lighter.
Even Zhaohe chuckled. Because Wenzhi had somehow turned a hiring discussion into an execution clause.
Ruixin pointed at herself. "You just offered my life as reassurance."
"Yes." Wenzhi looked completely unbothered.
Ruixin looked deeply offended.
Eventually Kaiwen groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Can she help Xinyuan?"
Everything returned to that.
Ruixin straightened immediately. "Yes."
Now she sounded confident. "I can create suppressants."
Everyone looked at her.
"They won’t fix him." The confidence vanished slightly. "But I can stabilize him enough for Wenzhi to guide him safely."
Then her expression darkened. "Without them..."
She looked directly at Wenzhi. "He might drain all of your guiding energy in one session."
Wenzhi looked at Zhaohe... Waiting.
The room waited too.
Finally, she let out a long, heavy, defeated sigh. "Fine."
Ruixin visibly relaxed.
Zhaohe pointed toward the hallway. "I’ll take you to him."
Her eyes narrowed. "You do whatever you need to stabilize him."
Ruixin smiled immediately. "I will. Thank you."
Zhaohe ignored the gratitude entirely. She turned and walked out first.
The meeting was over.
Ruixin quickly followed, not wanting anyone to change their minds.
Wenzhi followed behind her with the lollipop still resting between his lips.
They traveled through the underground elevator in silence, arriving at the underground chambers of the mansion.
This was one of the reasons Wenzhi had insisted on purchasing the estate. Because of the hidden infrastructure, the security. Mostly the isolation.
Eventually the elevator doors opened. A long corridor stretched ahead.
Nobody spoke as they approached the door which slid open revealing a room where Xinyuan lay motionless on the bed.
At first glance he looked peaceful but the glowing chains ruined the illusion.
The crimson markings crawled across every visible part of his skin. His hands. His neck. The side of his face. Even beneath the collar of his shirt.
Wenzhi stopped at the doorway. His hands clenched instinctively.
Because unlike everyone else who could feel the hostility, the corruption, the instability, he could feel the pain.
Even unconscious. Xinyuan’s wavelength felt violent. It scraped against Wenzhi’s senses like shattered glass. And underneath all of it, there was suffering. So much suffering.
Wenzhi tried to ignore it. But failed miserably.
Inside the room, Ruixin approached the bed with a protective mask covering her face.
She had several syringes already prepared and moved quickly. Pushing two doses straight into Xinyuan’s arm.
Everyone waited.
One second. Five seconds. Thirty seconds.
Nothing.
There was not even the slightest change.
The room somehow became quieter. Because the lack of reaction said more than any diagnosis ever could.
The suppressants weren’t helping. Which meant Xinyuan was already far beyond the point where suppressants mattered.
Ruixin lowered her hand slowly.
Zhaohe looked away.
Neither woman looked happy.
Minutes passed.
Still nothing.
Finally, Wenzhi sighed. "I’ll handle it."
Both women turned immediately, looking at him.
Neither argued. Because there was no argument left. Nor was there an alternative.
Wenzhi was the solution. He always had been.
Still, the concern remained visible on both their faces.
Which was annoying. Because for a brief moment Wenzhi almost felt compelled to reassure them. To say something heroic. Something inspiring.
Fortunately, he knew Xinyuan wouldn’t hurt him.
The certainty came easily.... Naturally.
After all, back inside the rift, Xinyuan had chosen unconsciousness over asking for guiding.
That alone told Wenzhi everything he needed to know.
"I’ll be fine." He adjusted his sleeves casually. "Just evacuate the building. Just in case."
Ruixin nodded first and quietly left the room.
Zhaohe remained for a moment. Then she stepped forward and placed a hand on Wenzhi’s shoulder. A ridiculous smile forming on her lips.
Wenzhi immediately slapped her hand away. "Stop that."
Zhaohe laughed softly. But the smile vanished quickly. Because the worry returned.
For a second they simply looked at each other.
Until Zhaohe nodded and left.
The door closed behind her. A heavy metallic lock slid into place.
The sound echoed through the room.
Then silence..... Complete silence with just Wenzhi and Xinyuan.
Slowly, Wenzhi approached the bed.
The hostility in the room pressed against him but none of it stopped him.
He sat down on the edge of the mattress. Close enough to hear Xinyuan breathing and the blood. A thin trail running from his nose.
Wenzhi frowned.
Without thinking, he lifted his hand. His thumb brushed the blood away. Then he pushed several loose strands of hair away from Xinyuan’s face.
His gaze lingered on the glowing chains. The pale skin beneath them. The exhaustion unconsciousness couldn’t hide.
Then he leaned forward and whispered. "Let’s see what’s going on in your head, Sleeping beauty."
