Jian Lexian sat in a soft chair, a basket of supplies confiscated from the superhumans beside him. He looked coldly at the group of people. Once, he had been one of them, beaten up by others just to protect a few biscuits. After being reborn, Jian Lexian realized that he could not place his hopes in others; to survive, he had to climb higher and higher to gain more resources.
In the queue for inspection, a noisy voice came, “I beg you, I really only have this much. Please let me in; I will work hard to gather more supplies!” The speaker was a young man who appeared to be just over twenty. He begged while trying to push his way in, but the guarded superhuman shoved him to the ground.
Jian Lexian stood up and walked over. “What’s happening?”
The guard quickly replied respectfully, “Mr. Jian, don’t worry. We strictly adhere to your requirements. Without adequate supplies, not a single person will be let in.”
The young man on the ground lifted his head, hope flickering in his eyes as he looked at Jian Lexian, whose neat appearance sparked a glimmer of hope within him. “I really only have this much. I promise I will make up the rest later!”
Jian Lexian picked up a bag of supplies from the table, weighed it in his hands, and sneered coldly. He glanced indifferently at the young man on the ground and threw the bag at him. “If that’s only half, then we can only let in half a person. Do you want to enter from the left side or the right side?”
The young man displayed an expression of disbelief, seemingly unable to fathom that such a cruel statement came from Jian Lexian’s mouth. Jian Lexian said casually to the nearby superhuman, “Just follow the standards I set. No favoritism; otherwise, you can forget about staying in the base.”
The superhumans promptly responded, “Yes!”
Jian Lexian looked at the endlessly long line of people with indifference. He had no pity for the weak. In his past life, when he was destitute and helpless, no one extended their hand to him; why should he empathize with others? This was what they deserved. In the apocalypse, only strength mattered.
Due to the sudden increase in the standards, many who had traveled long distances were caught off guard and completely unprepared. Out of the many waiting in line, only a few would successfully enter the base.
Several men in lab coats stepped forward. The inspector looked up and glanced at them. “The base does not accept ordinary people without superpowers.”
“We previously worked in the Institute of Bioengineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences,” one man produced his credentials and certificates. “Although we don’t have superpowers, we can conduct research.”
Yet the inspector did not even raise his head. “Anyone who does not meet the requirements cannot enter, even if you come from outer space.”
“Wait,” Jian Lexian suddenly interjected, “you say you are from the Institute of Bioengineering?”
The two men nodded vigorously.
Jian Lexian remembered that Tong Sui had mentioned he came from that place as well, but compared to these two, Tong Sui was unusually young. Jian Lexian asked, “Do you know someone named Tong Sui?”
“Tong Sui…” One man frowned, pondering for a few seconds before suddenly recalling, “He’s Professor Tong’s son; mostly, he manages laboratory equipment and assists with tasks.”
Jian Lexian raised an eyebrow. “So you mean he does not participate in research at all?”
Though unsure why Jian Lexian was asking these questions, the man nodded truthfully, “Yes, because his academic level isn’t good enough.”
Jian Lexian sneered inwardly; so, all that effort he put forth in the car before was entirely pretentious.
“Alright, you two come with me.”
The two men were instantly overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.
“This…” The inspector at the entrance appeared conflicted. “Mr. Jian, isn’t this too against the rules?”
Jian Lexian replied, “I need your consent to bring in two people?”
The inspector said, “No, no, that’s not what I mean. It’s just… regulations…”
“Regulations?” Jian Lexian said, “Don’t forget who you rely on to eat well right now.”
Everyone fell silent.
Jian Lexian strode in with the two men.
“Damn, treating a feather as a command,” the superhuman at the entrance spat harshly, “really thinks they are something.”
Jian Lexian brought them to the research facility. He barged in without a word, “Where is Tong Sui?”
The receptionist at the front desk looked confused and couldn’t stop Jian Lexian from pushing further inside. “Sir, you can’t just enter the research facility!”
Ignoring her, Jian Lexian declared, “Have Tong Sui come out to see me.”
Hearing the commotion, Xie Guohong rushed out. His face transformed from anger to a flattering smile upon seeing Jian Lexian. “Mr. Jian, you’re so busy with work; how do you have time to personally visit our little lab?”
“I brought two old acquaintances to see Tong Sui.”
Xie Guohong would have dismissed this in the past, but he dared not offend Jian Lexian now and forced a smile. “Tong Sui is conducting an experiment; how about waiting until next time?”
“If you don’t call him, I’ll find him myself.”
Jian Lexian pushed open laboratory doors one by one without caring if experiments were still ongoing, causing chaos in the entire research facility.
Finally, he stopped in front of a laboratory in the corner. Jian Lexian felt as if his soul had been captured, momentarily forgetting what he intended to do.
When he turned to leave, he saw the people he had brought with him, which snapped him back from his rigid thoughts. He reached out and forcefully opened the laboratory door.
Tong Sui paused with the pen in his hand.
Jian Lexian sneered, “Come and see the old friends I brought for you.”
The two men behind Jian Lexian awkwardly spoke, “Xiao Sui, it’s been a long time.”