Bai Lixin: [Which lab were you assigned to?]
Xia Chi: [If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Lab 20 on the second floor.]
Bai Lixin: [Is there anything special about this lab?]
Xia Chi: [It doesn’t seem like it. I haven’t gone in to check yet.]
Bai Lixin: [Then go inside and let me know. I’m staying on the third floor now.]
Xia Chi: [Brother, you’re amazing! You actually moved from the basement to the third floor through your efforts. You’re my god! How did you manage to move up?]
Bai Lixin: “…”
It’s better not to let kids know about transactions of that nature. He doesn’t want to corrupt the future flowers of the country.
After returning to his room, Bai Lixin opened the taskbar.
Today was the third day of the task. Including today, there are five days left until the task ends.
But according to the information from Xia Chi and others, today could be considered the official start of the task.
The previous three days were just elimination trials. If you didn’t pass the assessment, you might not even have the qualification to complete the task.
Suddenly curious, Bai Lixin wondered what conditions he would have needed to stay here if he hadn’t actively formed a relationship with merman No. 1.
This thought flashed in his mind, and Bai Lixin suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly.
Bullshit conditions, he overestimates himself. As the lowest-level non-staff member for cleaning, he would probably only come into contact with the tanks where the merfolk were kept. What tasks could there be here?
Xia Chi and the others are research interns; after passing the assessment, they even have the chance to work in the lab. He doesn’t have that. If he continued to be a janitor, he wouldn’t be able to come into contact with any confidential files.
What’s the difference between that and waiting for death?
Thank heavens and thank the earth for letting him encounter his merman lover.
Thanks to his merman lover being favored, his value suddenly became apparent.
Shortly after lunch, Bai Lixin heard a series of knocking on his door.
On opening the door, he saw several people in gray clothes standing tall outside his door.
Looking down at Bai Lixin, the man at the forefront started speaking as soon as the door opened.
“Being favored by Dr. Olay isn’t an excuse for your laziness. Your assigned tasks have been incomplete for two days. If you continue like this, I’ll complain to Dr. Olay!”
“Do you know that someone else did your work for you these past two days? You’re going too far.”
After he finished speaking, the people behind him nodded aggrievedly.
Bai Lixin was hesitating about what to say when the escape system’s voice sounded in his mind, [Master Bai Lixin, this is your assigned task, which involves cleaning. Helping Dr. Olay is just a task you took upon yourself.]
The group in gray clothes looked at the room in front of them with envy and disdain. One of them said, “Hmph, don’t think we don’t know how you gained Dr. Olay’s favor. Your deeds have been spread. A cheap commodity who sells himself, hmph, so filthy. A perfectly good person wouldn’t insist on going after a fish.”
“You’re really embarrassing our kind.”
“You’ve thrown away your face for money. Shameless.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Why does it feel like he’s committed a crime by being in a relationship with his old gong?
Dr. Olay despises him for contaminating the merman.
These people feel that the merman is not worthy of humans.
This… is truly a hard situation to navigate.
But, what’s it got to do with him?
“Did you finish today’s work?” Bai Lixin interrupted their grumbling.
Gray Clothes: “We’ve been cleaning for you for two days, and you want us to do it again today?”
“All the merfolk rooms on the second floor are your responsibility. Hurry up and get to cleaning!”
“Well,” Bai Lixin paused, “didn’t I clean Lab 1 before?”
Gray Clothes: “That was a task assigned to you by Dr. Olay; it has nothing to do with us. But your job is to clean the merfolk rooms on the second floor.”
Bai Lixin gave an “Oh” and complied, “Alright, I’ll go now.”
The group were surprised by his cooperation. They exchanged glances, each with a hint of lingering reluctance.
Clearly, they had prepared a bunch of words to scold him before they came, with the goal of using every means to protect their rights and prevent themselves from doing extra work.
Turns out, he’s just that kind-hearted person. If it’s his job, he won’t shirk. He truly is a good person.
Escape System: [If you don’t do it, there’s a high probability you’ll be kicked out of the laboratory, just so you know.]
[…] Bai Lixin closed the door behind him.
‘Forced to play the good guy it is, that’s fine.’
After wearing the specialized gray uniform for cleaning, Bai Lixin arrived on the second floor.
This lab has three floors in total, with the first floor being the largest, containing twenty labs.
The labs on the second and third floors were fewer, each with fifteen labs, adding up to fifty labs, which conveniently housed fifty merfolk.
After the cleaning experience on the first day, Bai Lixin was no longer so unfamiliar with the process.
He quickly put on protective gear, wrapping himself up securely before entering the lab.
In Lab 21 was a mermaid with a red tail.
When he entered, the mermaid was singing by the pool, and the melody echoed throughout the room.
The song was beautiful, but Bai Lixin felt a buzzing in his head.
The Escape System’s voice rang out in Bai Lixin’s mind: [Master Bai Lixin, some merfolk’s songs have a hallucinogenic effect and can affect human nerves.]
Bai Lixin: [So, while this mermaid seems to be singing carefree, it’s actually attacking me?]
Escape System: [Not exactly. It’s probably conveying some message through the song to other merfolk in different labs.]
Bai Lixin: [Conveying information? Oh, I see.]
It seems these merfolk were not as innocent as they looked, which made things easier.
While cleaning, Bai Lixin noticed that the mermaid was secretly observing him.
Even with his back turned, he could feel the scrutinizing gaze.
This mermaid was much quieter than his old gong, and the room didn’t require much cleaning. Bai Lixin quickly finished and left.
The next few rooms were all quite easy.
But all the merfolk displayed the same consistent behavior, continually scrutinizing him.
Is there something on him?
Or do merfolk stare like this no matter who they see?
However, what the merfolk don’t know is that while they are observing Bai Lixin, he is also observing them.
These merfolk were all very beautiful, much like the ones described in fairy tales.
They were entirely different species from the lamprey merfolk he once knew. Although all are merfolk, the gap between these two species was too vast.
Indeed, these merfolk and the lamprey merfolk should have no connection.
While organisms can evolve, such a huge difference in evolution is unlikely.
Moreover, the aesthetic standards of the lamprey merfolk are entirely different from those of humans. Back when he looked like that, they called him ugly every chance they got, practically throughout his time in the copy.
Don’t say he holds grudges; from birth until now, the number of people who called him ugly can be counted on ten fingers. Those merfolk directly overturned the balance of the past thirty thousand years, and successfully increased the count to five digits.
Don’t ask; the answer is to respect culture and aesthetic differences.
By the time he finished the last room, the sky outside had already darkened.
As soon as Bai Lixin left the lab, he was informed that there was no food left.
He didn’t react much, just glanced at the night sky outside, then turned back to his dorm.
There was no hot water in the room. After taking a cold shower, Bai Lixin sat by the window.
He took out a bag of compressed biscuits from his backpack and, while eating, looked at the sea in the distance, which appeared especially dark in the night, along with the myriad stars above it.
A clear boundary line separated the distant ocean from the sky, dividing the upper and lower areas, appearing strange and eerie.
He stared outside absentmindedly, his thoughts not on the outside but on figuring out how to get the merfolk out.
Even if it’s confirmed that the sewer can connect to the sea, how can the merfolk get into the sewer?
He had examined it, the sewer openings were so small that merfolk couldn’t fit.
Unless there is a super-large opening somewhere that allows the merfolk to pass through.
While pondering this, an ethereal and melodious voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
The voice was similar to what he heard from the red-tailed mermaid in the afternoon while cleaning, but with a difference.
This voice was somewhat urgent and anxious, as if seeking help.
Bai Lixin snapped out of his thoughts, and after listening for a while, he realized the sound wasn’t coming from the distant ocean but from the lab.
From right above him.
This was the sound released by the lab, luring the merfolk in the ocean.
It was the sound of merfolk seeking help.
This sudden realization left Bai Lixin with no mood for contemplation. He took out binoculars from his backpack and aimed them at the sea.
He stared at the sea for a long time, but besides the shimmering waves, there was nothing.
Bai Lixin sighed lightly, unsure whether to be happy or helpless.
No merfolk came, why?
Because merfolk are smart enough? Well, that would be great.
But what if it’s because there are no merfolk left in the sea?
Then there’s really nothing to be happy about.
Just as he was about to put down the binoculars, a spray of water suddenly rose from the distant ocean.
Then another unfamiliar call pierced the air and reached Bai Lixin’s ears.
It was a merfolk!
He shivered instantly.
A merfolk emerged from the water surface, responding to the call.
The merfolk called several times toward the lab before finally sinking into the water and disappearing.
Shortly after, the lab closed the call for help.
As soon as the merfolk in the ocean disappeared, they silenced the sound. If they claimed there was no connection, no one would believe them.
They had discovered the presence of a merfolk in the ocean.
But now that the merfolk was gone, what were they going to do?
After closing the curtains, Bai Lixin lay on the bed and opened the surveillance device, only to find that the locator was still in Lab 1.
Haven’t they changed the water yet?
Why is Dr. Olay’s efficiency so low?
He allowed himself to be taken into the pool during the day to make Dr. Olay feel he needed to change the water urgently.
If they don’t change it today, will they do it tomorrow?
——————————
On the fourth day, early in the morning, Dr. Olay called Bai Lixin to the door of Lab 1.
Today, Dr. Olay held a strange bottle in his hand, one end of the bottle was very long, and inside was a chubby container.
It looked a bit like a long-necked red wine bottle.
As he approached, Dr. Olay thrust the bottle into his hand, “For you.”
Bai Lixin examined the red wine bottle curiously, “What is this? A wine bottle? Are you suggesting we have a candlelit dinner to increase our bond?”
Dr. Olay: “It’s actually a sperm retrieval device!”
“Insert it from here,” Dr. Olay pointed at the long neck, “and help it come out.”
Bai Lixin’s hand holding the container suddenly paused, and he stuttered, “T-this… this long?”
Isn’t this a bit exaggerated?!
When he was a merfolk, he was obviously cute, with a perfectly normal length!
This must be as long as a forearm, okay?!
No, no, no, he’ll die.
Dr. Olay snorted, “Merman No.1 is very shy, and his size hasn’t been actually measured. I used data from other mermen as a reference to make this bottle.”
Bai Lixin widened his eyes, “Are other mermen this long?”
It’s over. His old gong is generally several sizes bigger than the average.
‘Ah, this… I, wuuu.
I quit, I quit. How about changing the plan to only saving merfolk?’
As the saying goes, if love lasts a long time, then it’s not needed in every moment, there’s really no need for them to be affectionate in every copy.
He even felt his throat rasping.
Dr. Olay glanced at Bai Lixin, whose expression was out of control, “What’s wrong, scared? Wasn’t it you who confidently said that you could use your mouth as a container?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Sorry, I was a bit ignorant yesterday.’
———————————-
In the live broadcast room.
[Wow, so thrilling!]
[I never thought I could vividly understand the life story of the big boss through a bottle.]
[ “Life story,” life’s length, you mean?]
[Brother, you get me, hehehe.]
[Hehehe, I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. I am known as the “Instant Understanding Encyclopedia.”]
[Hahaha, God Xin’s face is turning green. If ordinary mermen are like this, what about the big boss?]
[The system is really too clueless. This copy only lasts for 7 days?! How about extending it to 70 days for me? Seven days are not enough. It’s been three days already, and there’s not much time left for God Xin and the big boss. What if God Xin suddenly leaves while doing it? How will the big boss get through the rest of his life?]
Bai Lixin: [Which lab were you assigned to?]
Xia Chi: [If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Lab 20 on the second floor.]
Bai Lixin: [Is there anything special about this lab?]
Xia Chi: [It doesn’t seem like it. I haven’t gone in to check yet.]
Bai Lixin: [Then go inside and let me know. I’m staying on the third floor now.]
Xia Chi: [Brother, you’re amazing! You actually moved from the basement to the third floor through your efforts. You’re my god! How did you manage to move up?]
Bai Lixin: “…”
It’s better not to let kids know about transactions of that nature. He doesn’t want to corrupt the future flowers of the country.
After returning to his room, Bai Lixin opened the taskbar.
Today was the third day of the task. Including today, there are five days left until the task ends.
But according to the information from Xia Chi and others, today could be considered the official start of the task.
The previous three days were just elimination trials. If you didn’t pass the assessment, you might not even have the qualification to complete the task.
Suddenly curious, Bai Lixin wondered what conditions he would have needed to stay here if he hadn’t actively formed a relationship with merman No. 1.
This thought flashed in his mind, and Bai Lixin suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly.
Bullshit conditions, he overestimates himself. As the lowest-level non-staff member for cleaning, he would probably only come into contact with the tanks where the merfolk were kept. What tasks could there be here?
Xia Chi and the others are research interns; after passing the assessment, they even have the chance to work in the lab. He doesn’t have that. If he continued to be a janitor, he wouldn’t be able to come into contact with any confidential files.
What’s the difference between that and waiting for death?
Thank heavens and thank the earth for letting him encounter his merman lover.
Thanks to his merman lover being favored, his value suddenly became apparent.
Shortly after lunch, Bai Lixin heard a series of knocking on his door.
On opening the door, he saw several people in gray clothes standing tall outside his door.
Looking down at Bai Lixin, the man at the forefront started speaking as soon as the door opened.
“Being favored by Dr. Olay isn’t an excuse for your laziness. Your assigned tasks have been incomplete for two days. If you continue like this, I’ll complain to Dr. Olay!”
“Do you know that someone else did your work for you these past two days? You’re going too far.”
After he finished speaking, the people behind him nodded aggrievedly.
Bai Lixin was hesitating about what to say when the escape system’s voice sounded in his mind, [Master Bai Lixin, this is your assigned task, which involves cleaning. Helping Dr. Olay is just a task you took upon yourself.]
The group in gray clothes looked at the room in front of them with envy and disdain. One of them said, “Hmph, don’t think we don’t know how you gained Dr. Olay’s favor. Your deeds have been spread. A cheap commodity who sells himself, hmph, so filthy. A perfectly good person wouldn’t insist on going after a fish.”
“You’re really embarrassing our kind.”
“You’ve thrown away your face for money. Shameless.”
Bai Lixin: “…”
Why does it feel like he’s committed a crime by being in a relationship with his old gong?
Dr. Olay despises him for contaminating the merman.
These people feel that the merman is not worthy of humans.
This… is truly a hard situation to navigate.
But, what’s it got to do with him?
“Did you finish today’s work?” Bai Lixin interrupted their grumbling.
Gray Clothes: “We’ve been cleaning for you for two days, and you want us to do it again today?”
“All the merfolk rooms on the second floor are your responsibility. Hurry up and get to cleaning!”
“Well,” Bai Lixin paused, “didn’t I clean Lab 1 before?”
Gray Clothes: “That was a task assigned to you by Dr. Olay; it has nothing to do with us. But your job is to clean the merfolk rooms on the second floor.”
Bai Lixin gave an “Oh” and complied, “Alright, I’ll go now.”
The group were surprised by his cooperation. They exchanged glances, each with a hint of lingering reluctance.
Clearly, they had prepared a bunch of words to scold him before they came, with the goal of using every means to protect their rights and prevent themselves from doing extra work.
Turns out, he’s just that kind-hearted person. If it’s his job, he won’t shirk. He truly is a good person.
Escape System: [If you don’t do it, there’s a high probability you’ll be kicked out of the laboratory, just so you know.]
[…] Bai Lixin closed the door behind him.
‘Forced to play the good guy it is, that’s fine.’
After wearing the specialized gray uniform for cleaning, Bai Lixin arrived on the second floor.
This lab has three floors in total, with the first floor being the largest, containing twenty labs.
The labs on the second and third floors were fewer, each with fifteen labs, adding up to fifty labs, which conveniently housed fifty merfolk.
After the cleaning experience on the first day, Bai Lixin was no longer so unfamiliar with the process.
He quickly put on protective gear, wrapping himself up securely before entering the lab.
In Lab 21 was a mermaid with a red tail.
When he entered, the mermaid was singing by the pool, and the melody echoed throughout the room.
The song was beautiful, but Bai Lixin felt a buzzing in his head.
The Escape System’s voice rang out in Bai Lixin’s mind: [Master Bai Lixin, some merfolk’s songs have a hallucinogenic effect and can affect human nerves.]
Bai Lixin: [So, while this mermaid seems to be singing carefree, it’s actually attacking me?]
Escape System: [Not exactly. It’s probably conveying some message through the song to other merfolk in different labs.]
Bai Lixin: [Conveying information? Oh, I see.]
It seems these merfolk were not as innocent as they looked, which made things easier.
While cleaning, Bai Lixin noticed that the mermaid was secretly observing him.
Even with his back turned, he could feel the scrutinizing gaze.
This mermaid was much quieter than his old gong, and the room didn’t require much cleaning. Bai Lixin quickly finished and left.
The next few rooms were all quite easy.
But all the merfolk displayed the same consistent behavior, continually scrutinizing him.
Is there something on him?
Or do merfolk stare like this no matter who they see?
However, what the merfolk don’t know is that while they are observing Bai Lixin, he is also observing them.
These merfolk were all very beautiful, much like the ones described in fairy tales.
They were entirely different species from the lamprey merfolk he once knew. Although all are merfolk, the gap between these two species was too vast.
Indeed, these merfolk and the lamprey merfolk should have no connection.
While organisms can evolve, such a huge difference in evolution is unlikely.
Moreover, the aesthetic standards of the lamprey merfolk are entirely different from those of humans. Back when he looked like that, they called him ugly every chance they got, practically throughout his time in the copy.
Don’t say he holds grudges; from birth until now, the number of people who called him ugly can be counted on ten fingers. Those merfolk directly overturned the balance of the past thirty thousand years, and successfully increased the count to five digits.
Don’t ask; the answer is to respect culture and aesthetic differences.
By the time he finished the last room, the sky outside had already darkened.
As soon as Bai Lixin left the lab, he was informed that there was no food left.
He didn’t react much, just glanced at the night sky outside, then turned back to his dorm.
There was no hot water in the room. After taking a cold shower, Bai Lixin sat by the window.
He took out a bag of compressed biscuits from his backpack and, while eating, looked at the sea in the distance, which appeared especially dark in the night, along with the myriad stars above it.
A clear boundary line separated the distant ocean from the sky, dividing the upper and lower areas, appearing strange and eerie.
He stared outside absentmindedly, his thoughts not on the outside but on figuring out how to get the merfolk out.
Even if it’s confirmed that the sewer can connect to the sea, how can the merfolk get into the sewer?
He had examined it, the sewer openings were so small that merfolk couldn’t fit.
Unless there is a super-large opening somewhere that allows the merfolk to pass through.
While pondering this, an ethereal and melodious voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
The voice was similar to what he heard from the red-tailed mermaid in the afternoon while cleaning, but with a difference.
This voice was somewhat urgent and anxious, as if seeking help.
Bai Lixin snapped out of his thoughts, and after listening for a while, he realized the sound wasn’t coming from the distant ocean but from the lab.
From right above him.
This was the sound released by the lab, luring the merfolk in the ocean.
It was the sound of merfolk seeking help.
This sudden realization left Bai Lixin with no mood for contemplation. He took out binoculars from his backpack and aimed them at the sea.
He stared at the sea for a long time, but besides the shimmering waves, there was nothing.
Bai Lixin sighed lightly, unsure whether to be happy or helpless.
No merfolk came, why?
Because merfolk are smart enough? Well, that would be great.
But what if it’s because there are no merfolk left in the sea?
Then there’s really nothing to be happy about.
Just as he was about to put down the binoculars, a spray of water suddenly rose from the distant ocean.
Then another unfamiliar call pierced the air and reached Bai Lixin’s ears.
It was a merfolk!
He shivered instantly.
A merfolk emerged from the water surface, responding to the call.
The merfolk called several times toward the lab before finally sinking into the water and disappearing.
Shortly after, the lab closed the call for help.
As soon as the merfolk in the ocean disappeared, they silenced the sound. If they claimed there was no connection, no one would believe them.
They had discovered the presence of a merfolk in the ocean.
But now that the merfolk was gone, what were they going to do?
After closing the curtains, Bai Lixin lay on the bed and opened the surveillance device, only to find that the locator was still in Lab 1.
Haven’t they changed the water yet?
Why is Dr. Olay’s efficiency so low?
He allowed himself to be taken into the pool during the day to make Dr. Olay feel he needed to change the water urgently.
If they don’t change it today, will they do it tomorrow?
——————————
On the fourth day, early in the morning, Dr. Olay called Bai Lixin to the door of Lab 1.
Today, Dr. Olay held a strange bottle in his hand, one end of the bottle was very long, and inside was a chubby container.
It looked a bit like a long-necked red wine bottle.
As he approached, Dr. Olay thrust the bottle into his hand, “For you.”
Bai Lixin examined the red wine bottle curiously, “What is this? A wine bottle? Are you suggesting we have a candlelit dinner to increase our bond?”
Dr. Olay: “It’s actually a sperm retrieval device!”
“Insert it from here,” Dr. Olay pointed at the long neck, “and help it come out.”
Bai Lixin’s hand holding the container suddenly paused, and he stuttered, “T-this… this long?”
Isn’t this a bit exaggerated?!
When he was a merfolk, he was obviously cute, with a perfectly normal length!
This must be as long as a forearm, okay?!
No, no, no, he’ll die.
Dr. Olay snorted, “Merman No.1 is very shy, and his size hasn’t been actually measured. I used data from other mermen as a reference to make this bottle.”
Bai Lixin widened his eyes, “Are other mermen this long?”
It’s over. His old gong is generally several sizes bigger than the average.
‘Ah, this… I, wuuu.
I quit, I quit. How about changing the plan to only saving merfolk?’
As the saying goes, if love lasts a long time, then it’s not needed in every moment, there’s really no need for them to be affectionate in every copy.
He even felt his throat rasping.
Dr. Olay glanced at Bai Lixin, whose expression was out of control, “What’s wrong, scared? Wasn’t it you who confidently said that you could use your mouth as a container?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Sorry, I was a bit ignorant yesterday.’
———————————-
In the live broadcast room.
[Wow, so thrilling!]
[I never thought I could vividly understand the life story of the big boss through a bottle.]
[ “Life story,” life’s length, you mean?]
[Brother, you get me, hehehe.]
[Hehehe, I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. I am known as the “Instant Understanding Encyclopedia.”]
[Hahaha, God Xin’s face is turning green. If ordinary mermen are like this, what about the big boss?]
[The system is really too clueless. This copy only lasts for 7 days?! How about extending it to 70 days for me? Seven days are not enough. It’s been three days already, and there’s not much time left for God Xin and the big boss. What if God Xin suddenly leaves while doing it? How will the big boss get through the rest of his life?]
