Homo Sapiens

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Memories

The night was deep and quiet.

The open country around the small mountain village was exceptionally tranquil.

There was the patter of raindrops and the occasional northern wind whistling through the mountain forest.

In the second-floor bedroom, Li Qingye lay half-reclined on his bed next to a dim, yellow desk lamp, his eyes closed in deep thought.

The past played out vividly in his mind.

Father...

Mother...

Big Brother...

Figure after figure, fragment after fragment, echo after echo filled his mind.

...

Near Jiangcheng University, Li Qingye had used the twenty-some million yuan his mother sponsored to open a cosmetics company.

In reality, the company was just a front. Li Qingye had used it as a shell company to circumvent the issues of applying for a private biochemical lab, making it easier to establish a research institute.

The cosmetics company’s lab, however, had cost around 22 million, used to purchase a significant amount of scientific equipment for biochemical research.

He had previously studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Jiangcheng University, completing his master’s degree in ’15 before pursuing a PhD under an advisor.

The lab had been a graduation gift from his mother in ’15.

After that, he continued his doctoral studies while researching things that interested him in his own lab, right up until July of ’16.

An old classmate, who had gone to the University of Copenhagen for his PhD, sent him a gene sequence analysis report. He said the sequence was detected in samples extracted from the remains of an ancient human unearthed from a glacier in the Alps.

Li Qingye was extremely interested. Based on his analysis, this ancient human was very likely a Neanderthal.

In the midst of his obsessive research, forgetting to eat or sleep, Li Qingye was suddenly struck by an impulse. He took out the genetic samples he had previously collected (gathered from surrounding towns and villages through free health check-ups) and analyzed the 300 samples he had on hand.

During the analysis, he extracted all the Neanderthal gene fragments from the samples.

After comparison and assembly, these Neanderthal gene fragments from the samples showed a high degree of overlap with the Neanderthal gene sequence his classmate had sent him.

Li Qingye was thrilled by this. ’If I can reassemble these pieced-together Neanderthal gene fragments,’ he thought, ’could it be possible to resurrect a Neanderthal?’

As he delved deeper into his research, Li Qingye used gene-editing technology (the third-generation CRISPR-Cas9) to insert these gene fragments into mouse stem cells, hoping to make the genes combine.

However, this kind of gene-editing experiment was far more difficult than he had imagined. After all, the Neanderthal gene fragments remaining in the modern Homo sapiens genome were too fragmented and rare.

Soon, the lab’s supply of mouse stem cells was completely depleted.

Seeing the experiment going nowhere, Li Qingye felt he had been overly ambitious.

With no more stem cell material, he could only choose other materials as a base, performing tedious and complex gene editing on the stem cells of a dozen different animal species.

Time passed without him noticing, and soon it was October of ’16.

As usual, the first thing he did every day was to observe the edited animal stem cells. He had expected another fruitless day, until he looked at culture medium No. 57.

Under the microscope.

The Turritopsis dohrnii stem cells in culture medium No. 57 had actually reverted to their polyp form. Even more surprisingly, the polyp showed some changes.

After further testing and analysis, a new enzyme was discovered inside the Turritopsis dohrnii.

Li Qingye began running repeat experiments while studying this new enzyme.

「One month later.」

He watched the hundreds of genetically edited Turritopsis dohrnii swimming slowly in the aquarium, then looked at the pale blue liquid in the test tube in his hand.

"This stuff can actually turn some genes into pseudogenes, but..." Li Qingye’s expression was a mixture of shock and delight as he looked toward several cages in the distance.

Inside the iron cages were several domestic pigs, all exhibiting varying degrees of aging, organ disease, and genetic disorders.

If that was all it did, Li Qingye might not have been so interested in the enzyme. More importantly, it could also activate certain dormant genes.

’If this enzyme could be made more controllable and its side effects reduced, then maybe...’ He mentally assessed the enzyme’s value.

The thought of the immense potential in that test tube made Li Qingye too excited to sleep. He threw himself back into his research, forgetting to eat or rest, studying the enzyme while also trying to adjust the gene-editing sequence to see if he could synthesize new enzymes or compounds.

In truth, Li Qingye was a man of contradictions when it came to his passion for scientific research.

He had lived under his parents’ protection his entire life, and his older brother was also exceptionally capable. His parents had originally hoped he would study law at Beiping University, then take the civil service exam to enter public office, while his brother continued to develop the family business. The two brothers would complement each other.

Unfortunately, Li Qingye was vehemently opposed to this arrangement.

The first time he defied his father’s plan, he enrolled in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program at Jiangcheng University, purely to prove himself.

After all, in the business world, he would likely never surpass his father and older brother, and the backstabbing and intrigue of officialdom repulsed him and made him uncomfortable.

After much consideration, the only option left was the field of science.

Although he had accepted his mother’s help, achievements in science also depended heavily on talent and hard work.

This accidental discovery exhilarated Li Qingye, because he could finally prove himself to everyone.

In order to improve this special enzyme, he didn’t even return to Peng City to see his parents for the New Year in ’17, instead remaining in his lab in Jiangcheng, burying himself in research day and night.

Until...

That day, a phone call brought earth-shattering news.

Overcome with grief, he couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down his face.

In that moment, his world turned gray. World-shaking scientific achievements, milestones in the history of human evolution, proving himself to the world—it all became meaningless.

If he could, he would gladly give up this discovery to have his parents back, safe and sound.

Perhaps people are just that perverse.

Only when you lose something do you learn to cherish it.

Like a walking corpse, Li Qingye returned to Peng City, only to see the cold bodies of his parents. Remorse, despair, and grief coiled in his heart, leaving him feeling like he had lost his very soul.

The night deepened.

Outside, the rain ceased, and the north wind quieted.

Plagued by nightmares, the utterly exhausted Li Qingye slept until noon the next day.

For half a month, he saw no one except for an auntie from the village who brought him food, shutting himself away in the house alone.

「Until the afternoon of April 13th.」

His advisor’s phone call rang. Unshaven and with a vacant stare, Li Qingye watched the incessant ringing before listlessly pressing the answer button.

"Hello..."

"Qingye, my condolences. I’m planning to go to America for an academic visit soon. Would you like to come along? A change of scenery might do you good."

But Li Qingye, his heart like dead ashes, had no desire to go abroad. "Professor, I’m planning to discontinue my doctoral studies..."

"What? Qingye, you have so much talent. Isn’t it a shame to give up like this? You need to think this through! Don’t do something you’ll regret," his advisor urged, concerned.

"No. Nothing has any meaning anymore."

"..." His advisor on the other end of the line was silent for a moment before continuing, "How about this? You’re still young. Take the next six months to rest and get your head straight. You can make a decision after that."

"Thanks, I’ll think about it," Li Qingye replied perfunctorily, then hung up, preparing to lie back down.

Suddenly, a headline news story popped up on his phone’s browser.

He subconsciously moved to clear it...

But the next second, Li Qingye froze, then tapped on the news story.

After reading the news, a terrible feeling washed over him, and his eyes flickered with uncertainty. ’What is going on? Could it be... No, impossible...’

In disbelief, Li Qingye searched online for related news. Soon, hundreds of relevant articles appeared on his phone’s screen.

As he scrolled through them one by one, his expression grew increasingly grim, and a terrible thought began to surface in his mind.