CH 51.1

Chapter 51.1 – Tower 4

The next month, Shi Yuan really did not get the outstanding employee award, and also could not get the next voucher to buy a house.

Daisy became the new outstanding employee.

“It doesn’t matter,” Daisy said lazily, curling a strand of blond hair, “It must be you next month.”

Shi Yuan: “Why?”

“Your performance is the best, no one has to worry about it.” Daisy is still lazy, “Last month, I asked the supervisor for two psychological counseling sessions, but it didn’t have much effect. I don’t know how long I will be here, this job is too emotionally draining.”

She was telling the truth.

In the two months since Shi Yuan came, several people have resigned, all due to emotional problems.

Listening to the suffering of others, saying comforting words over and over again, but powerless to change anything.

There was nothing more frustrating than this.

Shi Yuan asked, “If you quit, where would you go?”

“I don’t know.” Daisy shrugged. “Maybe I’ll go to maintain the solar panels, that’s what my boyfriend is doing. He was sunburned and had his skin peeled off three times, but his salary is quite high, and he doesn’t have to deal with people. If you think about it, if you can bask in the sun and usher in the end of the world, it is not unacceptable.”

She took a sip of water and looked at Shi Yuan with her beautiful eyes: “How about you? You asked me what love is, did you quarrel with your partner? Believe me, don’t care so much, there is nothing to get through in the face of life and death.”

“We didn’t quarrel,” Shi Yuan said, “But I haven’t found the answer yet.” He thought for a while, and then said, “But I will always stay by his side.”

“That’s pretty good, too.” Daisy smiled. “Before the end of the world, at least be happy.”

Shi Yuan continued to answer the phone conscientiously.

Someone calmly told that he was the only survivor of a family, and he couldn’t figure out why he was the one who lived; some cried so hard that they choked and couldn’t say a word; others hesitated, telling a story in pieces, and asked if they could call again next time.

Shi Yuan listened carefully one by one.

Most people would be much better after venting. This call was a safe haven and brought a little comfort, and the days would still be livable. Shi Yuan also made appointments with doctors and therapists for people who were too agitated or depressed. Some people called back specifically to thank him and say they had picked themselves up, while many more were not heard from, and Shi Yuan never heard of their voices again.

He hoped they had found a way forward.

In mid-March, at the end of an evening shift, Shi Yuan heard a conversation at the end of the corridor while waiting for the elevator.

He poked his head quickly, glanced around the corner, and saw Lin Yeran and a strange man.

Lin Yeran leaned against the wall with his arms around him. He hadn’t shaved his beard for a few days, stubble appeared in green spots, and his hair was slightly messy. And the strange man was in his fifties, with a work sign hanging around his neck, printed with [Data Center, Senior Researcher Yuan Huan].

“…Xiaolin,” Yuan Huan called him like this, “When will you be back?”

Lin Yeran’s tone was hard: “I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Yuan Huan said, “It’s been 8 years. No matter what, you should think about how you want to go in the future, right?” He quickly glanced at the office and many old phones, “Do you really want to take care of this for the rest of your life?”

Lin Yeran: “This is also a very meaningful job. I like it here.”

“I know, I know.” Yuan Huan sighed. “But what did we call you before? You are “Top Student Lin’, but here, you’re simply wasting your talent here.” Before Lin Yeran could answer, Yuan Huan grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it. “There are still too many unfinished projects. We still have to analyze the analysis of aircraft parameters, optimize point defense, count the pollution values of the abyss, and analyze combat data… What’s more, ‘Echo’ and ‘Overlook’ have no results yet.”

Lin Yeran was silent for a few seconds: “I heard that there was a breakthrough in ‘Echo’.”

“Yes, Alice is close to finding the answer,” Yuan Huan replied, “We will soon be able to contact the outside world and hear their echoes.” He looked at Lin Yeran deeply. “Come back, there are so many things to do, and time is running out. If Captain Yan Xin is still there, he will definitely…”

Lin Yeran interrupted: “Don’t mention him.”

“Fine, then don’t mention him, don’t mention him.” Yuan Huan said, “I should go now, think about it again.”

The sound of leather shoes sounded, Yuan Huan walked to the elevator room and was a little surprised to see Shi Yuan, but he didn’t say anything.

When the elevator came, Shi Yuan didn’t go in with Yuan Huan. He turned around and went to the corridor to find Lin Yeran.

Lin Yeran sat on the bench at the end of the corridor, with his hands on his legs and his fingers crossed. He didn’t look at Shi Yuan, and whispered, “Why don’t you leave yet?”

Shi Yuan said, “I want to come and see you.”

“There’s nothing to see.” Lin Yeran said slowly, “Go back quickly, you won’t get overtime pay if you stay here.”

Shi Yuan thought for a while and asked, “Is there a chance that you will leave? To the data center?”

Lin Yeran tsked, “How should I know, I already said go back early, or I’ll have to deduct your salary.”

Lin Yeran threatened every time to deduct salary and bonuses, but he never fulfilled it once. Besides, Shi Yuan’s hourly salary was only 2 yuan, ‘the barefooted people are not afraid of those who wear shoes’. He was fearless.

So Shi Yuan continued: “If you need, you can tell me about your troubles.”

“Don’t put the psychological counseling set on me, it’s useless.” Lin Yeran stood up irritably. “What are you doing in the middle of the night, stop talking about this, okay, if you don’t leave, I’m leaving!”

Shi Yuan followed him and got on the elevator.

The old elevator display screen started from “8” and slowly descended. No one spoke, and the atmosphere in the elevator was extremely cold. Shi Yuan guessed that he should have made Lin Yeran unhappy.

If it was a human, what should they do at this time?

Shi Yuan’s human observation plan was highly effective, he speculated that they would maintain silence, or they would sincerely apologize.

But Shi Yuan didn’t want to do this.

Perhaps it was because he had received so many consultation calls and heard the tone of too many people. He always felt that Lin Yeran was very similar to those who needed to talk… and his problem was more serious.

The inside was rotten, and the outside was still struggling to hold on, and it would be revealed with a little poke. Not dead, but not completely alive either.

In the quiet elevator, Shi Yuan said, “Mr. Lin, would you like to tell me the story of Captain Yan Xin?”

This time, Lin Yeran was furious: “Are you sick?！ How many f*cking times have I said it? Don’t! Mention! Him!”

—Although everyone in Tower 4 knew about his and Yan Xin’s past, no one dared to mention it in front of him. This was tantamount to uncovering a bloody old scar.

Shi Yuan: “Well, I know we are not too familiar with each other. Then maybe, you can find other friends and family?”

“Shi Yuan, when I say I don’t mention him, I mean I don’t want to hear anyone mention him.” Lin Yeran took a deep breath, still unable to restrain his anger. “Do you know what ‘anyone’ means?! Does this have anything to do with you?!”

Shi Yuan curled up the tip of his tail: “But it’s not like he doesn’t exist if you don’t mention him.”

“Shut up,” Lin Yeran said, “Shut up.”

The elevator “dinged” to the first floor, the elevator door opened, and Lin Yeran walked out quickly, almost as if fleeing desperately.

When he reached the street and felt the cold wind, he kicked the wall twice, took a few deep breaths, and finally calmed down a little.

He looked back at Shi Yuan and said, “…that’s it for today. I don’t want to talk about him anymore. Don’t mention him in the future.”

He stared at the boundless night again, was silent for a few seconds, and suddenly smiled very lightly: “There is no point in dwelling on this issue. It’s better to look ahead. ‘Echo’ is about to succeed, and that’s the only good news. We – our two cities – are finally no longer isolated islands.”

Shi Yuan said goodbye to him.

Lin Yeran’s figure disappeared at the end of the long street.

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**TN

the barefooted people are not afraid of those who wear shoes (idiom) – the poor, who have nothing to lose, do not fear those in powe