Chapter 1 He Thought for a Long Time

Lin Xian thought for a long time.

His head even started to hurt.

But he still couldn't remember where he had seen the name Du Yao.

"Sigh. I definitely saw it somewhere," Lin Xian was sure.

He had a distinct impression.

He must have seen the name somewhere, probably not very clearly, just a fleeting glance, which is why it was so hard to recall.

People are exposed to a vast amount of textual and visual information every day.

Webpages, books, papers, advertisements, short videos, phone images, movies…

For names that don't leave a strong impression.

It's really hard to dig them out of memory.

"If only I had a 'brain-zapping helmet.'"

Lin Xian muttered:

"If I had that helmet, and I zapped my head with it, I could definitely remember where I saw the name."

"Wait," he suddenly thought.

If he couldn't find Ms. Du Yao, then this helmet couldn't be built at all. Not just now, but even centuries later, there wouldn't be a key breakthrough in the field of neuroscience. The progress of this helmet was stuck on Ms. Du Yao.

The good news was that he wasn't completely without clues about Du Yao; at least he knew he had seen the name somewhere.

The bad news was that Gao Wen's autograph letter stated that she would die in Africa in the mid-21st century.

"Forget it, forget it, I won't think about it for now."

Lin Xian shook his head.

There was no use in forcing it. There were too many things weighing on his mind right now. Based on priority, he should first deal with the Genius Club's third question, the mystery of his death on July 7th, and Jask being replaced like a *li mao huan tai zi* (lit. "a civet cat swapping for a prince"--a scheme to replace a person secretly).

"Tomorrow, I'll go back into the dream and take a look," he yawned.

This time he explored the Seventh Dream Realm late. When he entered, the sun had already set, he explored a small area, and didn't get much information.

Especially the blue-eyed woman who had become the village chief. He should spend more time with her. Maybe he could get more clues.

After all.

As CC had said before.

Emotions can transcend memory and exist independently.

Since the blue-eyed woman's memory had completely disappeared, what about her emotions? Could he find some flaws or clues from her emotions?

Once in the Fifth Dream Realm, Lin Xian drew a sketch of a Rhine cat for Zheng Xiangyue to see. Zheng Xiangyue, who had been hibernating for hundreds of years and was actually over 116 years old, instantly burst into tears.

In that instant, Lin Xian was certain that she was Zheng Xiangyue.

That was human "emotion."

Something that was even more elusive to scientists than memory.

Lin Xian walked into the living room, took out some instant food from the refrigerator, cooked a simple midnight snack in the kitchen, and filled his stomach.

Have to say.

Compared to that fragrant lamb kebab, it tasted like wax. Even the braised bear head in Big Face Cat's hands now seemed somewhat attractive.

"Tomorrow I have to try Li Cheng's flowing feast."

Lin Xian wiped his mouth:

"And go to the bonfire square early. If I don't go to see Gao Wen, maybe I can see Li Ningning, the Li family's little heiress."

Lin Xian had a good impression of Li Ningning.

Brave.

Unyielding.

Like a butterfly that doesn't believe in fate, dancing in the wind.

The previous two times he met her were in the wasteland apocalypse. Lin Xian repeatedly regretted.

She should have been a princess spoiled by thousands of people, but instead, she had to rummage through the stinking garbage dump.

This time Li Ningning finally got her wish and became the daughter of the Donghai City Lord, a true princess.

Lin Xian really wanted to see her.

Even if

Li Ningning didn't recognize him at all, didn't know who he was, and didn't know that they had hooked their little fingers twice, letting Lin Xian accept her peace pouch.

But that didn't matter.

Lin Xian, who had experienced thousands of cycles of reincarnation and oblivion, didn't care.

As long as he could watch Li Ningning, the little girl with the unfair fate, live a happy life as she wished, he would be very satisfied.

He got up.

Washed the dishes and chopsticks in the kitchen, and Lin Xian returned to bed to continue sleeping.

The next day, Lin Xian woke up early.

Because he had a very good sleep this time.

He had some things to do this morning, which was to visit the Rhine Second Laboratory with Vice President Wang of Rhine Company.

The Rhine Second Laboratory was different from Liu Feng's First Laboratory. It was completely a commercial, profitable, and public laboratory.

Its purpose was to make money and provide Rhine Company with sufficient cash flow.

Currently.

Rhine Company's main cash was still the 2 billion yuan that Zhao Yingjun and Chu Shanhe had sponsored, and now it was almost spent. Vice President Wang always said that he had a headache, saying that he didn't feel safe without money in the account:

"We have to develop some money-making businesses, Lin Xian. The Rhine cat is just a toy. No matter how popular it is, no matter how well it sells, it can't support your extravagance."

"You see, one moment you're establishing a laboratory with Donghai University, buying this and that;

The next moment you're cooperating with the Long Science Academy to establish a laboratory, buying this and that; and those doctoral students, researchers, and academician consultants you've hired at high salaries, we have to pay them salaries and subsidies."

"And you usually spend money lavishly, buying and buying at the drop of a hat. That 4 billion is almost gone. What will the company do in the future? We can't just sit and eat our fortune!"

"If Rhine Company is poorly managed and goes bankrupt, don't forget that Tim Bank will also be affected! Didn't you say before that even if Rhine Company goes bankrupt, Tim Bank can't go bankrupt? Now, even for the sake of Tim Bank, you should open up a new path." Vice President Wang was very anxious.

Seeing Lin Xian idle, he was even more anxious.

Therefore.

Lin Xian planned to take Vice President Wang to meet Nangong Mengjie, which could also connect the company's business with the laboratory's research. He wanted to let Vice President Wang have a bottom line in his heart about the early layout and publicity.

Driver Xiao Li picked up Lin Xian and Vice President Wang in an Alpha business car and drove all the way to the Rhine Second Laboratory in the suburbs.

After entering, they found that there were many researchers inside, both old and young, and they were all busy, with excitement and joy on their faces.

"Why are they so happy?" Vice President Wang felt a little incredible.

Even though Rhine Company had such good internal treatment, most people's expressions at work were still like attending a funeral.

Chapter 63 Obsession

But in this laboratory.

Everyone was so excited and happy. It didn't look like they were working, it looked like they were dancing.

"Because they are doing something great, something that will change the future of mankind."

Lin Xian smiled and explained to Vice President Wang:

"Once the micro-nuclear battery is successfully invented, it will inevitably change the entire world pattern. This pattern is a comprehensive energy pattern, economic pattern, electronic product pattern, and even the living pattern of people around the world."

"Before, many people said that the next human industrial revolution would be a revolution in the battery field. I deeply believe this statement. Think about it carefully, a battery that can be used for decades, hundreds of years, or even hundreds of years without damage, how many revolutionary technological innovations can it bring?"

"For example, the currently popular hibernation pod is most afraid of prolonged power outages. Once the external energy connection fails, the people in the hibernation pod face death.

But with a micro-nuclear battery, it's different. The hibernation pod doesn't need any external functions and can operate independently for hundreds of years."

"So now you understand why everyone is so motivated, right? They are creating history, pushing human civilization to new heights, so of course they have a sense of accomplishment. You have to know that the vast majority of scientific researchers in the world are unknown, and very few can truly go down in history. And the people in this laboratory are that small group."

Vice President Wang listened.

Suddenly realized:

"Indeed, you're right. Sigh, I'm so envious. They can all go down in history. Who will remember mediocre people like me in a few hundred years?"

"Hehe, don't say that, Vice President Wang."

Lin Xian patted Vice President Wang on the shoulder:

"When it comes to the contribution to human civilization, all of them combined can't compare to your Tim Bank."

"Haha, what are you joking about?"

Of course, Vice President Wang didn't believe it, he just thought Lin Xian was teasing him and laughed:

"Let's go, take me to see that Dean Nangong."

Soon, the two met Nangong Mengjie in the laboratory.

She was still dressed like a student, like a college student who had just graduated, looking young but giving people a sense of wisdom.

The baby face paired with black-rimmed glasses made it difficult to associate such a girl with the dean of a laboratory.

"Dean Nangong, hello."

Vice President Wang shook hands with Nangong Mengjie and introduced himself.

Lin Xian connected the two:

"This is the vice president of Rhine Company. In fact, Vice President Wang is responsible for all the affairs of Rhine Company. If the laboratory needs money, equipment, or communication with some government agencies, it's more appropriate and efficient to find Vice President Wang than to find me."

"I've discovered that."

Nangong Mengjie nodded and rolled her eyes at Lin Xian:

"You're just a pure night owl. I can't find you during the day every time, and then you reply to messages in the middle of the night. I feel like I'm chatting with a Batman, and I can only communicate two sentences back and forth in a day. It's really too inefficient."

Lin Xian chuckled twice:

"So, for the sake of our research progress, I introduced Vice President Wang to you."

After that.

Nangong Mengjie took the two to visit the research institute and also reported on the current progress of the micro-nuclear battery:

"It is expected that the first laboratory product can be produced by the end of the year. Then mass production will not be a problem in the middle of next year. Although the nuclear battery that can drive cars and high-power appliances still needs further research, the micro-nuclear battery for mobile phones, computers, small-power electronic products and appliances will definitely be launched on the market next year."

We researchers don't understand business matters. As for the future sales model of the battery, please make up your mind. We just need to do research."

Lin Xian nodded, satisfied with the progress:

"Not bad, really good, much earlier than I expected. It seems that the world is really going to usher in a big change. 2024 is really a year worth recording in history."

Vice President Wang also completely understood the micro-nuclear battery on this trip.

He kept thinking about the future business map in his mind, and he became more and more confident.

"Amazing!"

Vice President Wang imagined a mobile phone that would never run out of power in a lifetime, a car that would never need to be charged or refueled, and an air conditioner, refrigerator, and TV at home that would no longer need to be plugged in and could operate independently for a lifetime wherever they were placed.

Cool.

Too cool!

A new era of home appliances!

"I have already seen the money-making prospects of Rhine Company!"

Vice President Wang's eyes were full of gold, and he patted Lin Xian on the shoulder:

"Great, Lin Xian. When the micro-nuclear battery is launched on the market, no matter how much you spend, Rhine Company can handle it!"

"As long as Rhine Company can handle it, Tim Bank can handle it!"

Hearing this sentence, Lin Xian thought of the future world, and he hadn't seen Tim Bank in two dreams.

Could it be.

Vice President Wang's words really came true.

Did Rhine Company's subsequent development route interfere with or delay Tim Bank's operation, which led to Tim Bank's disappearance from history again?

Thinking carefully.

Tim Bank was originally a single-business bank that operated independently. It might not be a good decision to be too involved with Rhine Company.

After all.

He had given Rhine Company more and more heavy burdens in the future. The first, second, and third laboratories also had to develop time-space shuttles, micro-nuclear batteries, and brain-zapping helmets respectively.

Was he moving too fast, which ultimately dragged down Tim Bank under its umbrella?

"Hmm."

Lin Xian rubbed his chin.

Possible, very possible.

He should find time to separate Tim Bank from Rhine Company and make it independent. Separate the family clearly and cleanly, without any relationship.

This way.

Even if Rhine Company really goes bankrupt at some point in the future, it won't affect Tim Bank's operation.

For Lin Xian, Rhine Company was important, but on the scale of 600 years later, he still valued Tim Bank more.

This trip in the morning.

He had settled the affairs of Nangong Mengjie and Vice President Wang. In the future, the two of them could contact each other directly, and he would no longer have to be a hands-off shopkeeper acting as a middleman.

Back home, he had a simple lunch.

It still tasted like wax.

"It seems that yesterday's Li Cheng's flowing feast made my appetite picky."

Half a day passed.

Lin Xian thought of the lamb kebab that he almost took a bite of, and still felt regret:

"I'll go into the dream earlier today, and go to Face Village earlier during the day. I should be able to trigger different plots."

Brushing his teeth and rinsing his mouth.

Changing into pajamas.

Closing the curtains.

Lin Xian turned over and went to bed, entering a dream.

Whoosh.

A familiar summer breeze blew, and the sun shone down.

Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the red sun shining through his eyelids, a blood red.

The sound of cicadas chirping loudly, and the chirping of sparrows.

Accompanied by the smell of soil and rice in his nose.

Lin Xian was clear.

He had come to that rice field again. Smith's rice field.

Opening his eyes.

Sure enough.

Smith was wearing a big straw hat, looking at Lin Xian with a surprised face:

"Whatcha lookin' at?"

"Lookin' at you, so what?" Lin Xian responded.

"You son of a bitch. I'm hard to deal with." Smith raised his sickle: "Don't step on my rice!"

Lin Xian looked down.

He found that it was indeed his fault that he had stepped on Smith's rice:

"Ah, sorry."

He quickly jumped out, stepped on the hard ground, and stomped the dirt off his feet:

"Look at you, Smith, talk nicely. You're spouting dialects from all over the country, can't you learn something good? Why are you learning unfriendly words? Why don't you learn Mandarin?"

"I'm speaking authentic Mandarin!"

"Got it, you're really a master."

Lin Xian waved his hand, giving up on communication:

"I'm leaving, Smith, harvest your wheat!"

Smith didn't know what he muttered, snorted:

"Go quickly, bye bye."

The weather was really hot.

He was sweating all over after walking for a while.

Lin Xian finally came to Face Village according to the original route, considering how to join Face Village in the most efficient and direct way.

Anyway, don't look for Erzhuzi.

He was incompatible with him. Except for the time in the Fifth Dream Realm when CC pretended to be his wife, Erzhuzi never liked him.

He should just look for Face Bro.

Soon, he found Face Bro in the warehouse.

It seemed that this village prince had a high status and a lot of power in Face Village. He should be the warehouse manager, a lucrative position.

Lin Xian conquered Face Bro with just one sentence:

"Cats are ideology, faces are metaphysics."

"Damn!"

Big Face Cat quickly held Lin Xian's hands:

"Soulmate, bro! You're simply the worm in my large intestine!"

"Um... you don't have to be so specific about an organ."

Lin Xian looked around:

"Why don't I see your brothers?"

"They're all working in the village. A Zhuang went to repair wooden doors for the people on the east side, Erzhuzi is repairing light bulbs at Smith's house, and San Pang is cleaning the pool."

"Oh."

Lin Xian understood:

"In short, the Face Gang is still set as a property company, ah, wait a minute!"

Lin Xian squinted at Big Face Cat:

"What did you say Erzhuzi is doing?"

"Repairing light bulbs at Smith's house!" Big Face Cat looked at Lin Xian with a "are you deaf?" look:

"What's wrong?"

"No. Nothing." Lin Xian shook his head.

It's hard for an upright official to judge family affairs, forget it:

"Then Face Bro, aren't you taking me to see the village chief?"

"Village chief."

Big Face Cat turned his head and turned towards the south:

"The village chief is about to go up the mountain to hunt. She should be preparing to leave now. If you want to see her, hurry up, let's go to the north village entrance quickly."

Big Face Cat twisted his body and led Lin Xian north:

"Tonight, Donghai City Lord Li Cheng."

"I know." Lin Xian interrupted.

"The village chief wants to send a congratulatory."

"I know this too." Lin Xian interrupted.

"I have to drive tonight to."

"Skip it."

"Mainly my daughter, she."

"Her schooling is no problem." Lin Xian interjected.

Big Face Cat stopped and looked at Lin Xian impatiently:

"Bro, are you rushing to be reincarnated! Or are you going to die in a while?"

"Why are you in such a hurry! Let me finish! You make me look stupid!

"If you know everything, give me the menu for Li City Lord's flowing feast tonight!"

Lin Xian told them one by one, like a treasure.

"Oh oh."

Big Face Cat listened very carefully:

"Hiss, so rich." He sucked in a mouthful of saliva:

"Okay, okay, then I won't eat at home tonight. I have to have an empty stomach. That's right, I have to snatch the bear head. Don't worry, bro, if I can snatch the bear head, I'll give you half of the tongue and eyeballs."

Lin Xian stretched out his Five Finger Mountain:

"No need."

Soon, the two trotted all the way and finally intercepted the blue-eyed village chief at the village entrance.

She seemed to be unaware of the heat.

She was wearing a tight hunting suit, with various long knives and short swords inserted in her waist, wearing bear skin gloves, and carrying a bow and arrow and rope on her back.

This posture was not easy to mess with at first glance.

No wonder Li Cheng praised the blue-eyed village chief of Face Village. This was definitely a real-life hero, one person can guard the northern border.

He had heard Smith say that in the early days of Face Village, because it was close to the mountains and forests, it was often attacked by fierce animals in the mountains. Every time, livestock were lost or people were killed or injured, which was very tragic. The villagers were very afraid and did not dare to go out at night.

But since the blue-eyed woman named Yan Qiaoqiao became the village chief, everyone looked forward to animals going down the mountain and entering the village.

That meant they could have a feast of mountain delicacies.

For example, the last time a pack of wolves invaded, when the village chief chased them out with a machete, the sensible villagers immediately started to make a fire and cook.

It was a pity that the blue-eyed village chief's reputation had probably spread in the animal circle in recent years.

So for many years, no animals had come down the mountain. This also led to the fact that Face Village now wanted to catch some wild animals to make a congratulatory gift for Li Cheng, and the village chief had to go up the mountain to catch bears. These bears were too ignorant of current affairs.

When the blue-eyed village chief saw Lin Xian, she was still shocked as before. She took out the photo from her arms and asked Lin Xian who he was.

This time, Lin Xian did not directly tell her, but only said that he did know the little girl in the photo, but it was only a few times, and he knew very little.

Because.

He wanted to have a good chat with this girl who was once fourteen years old, then seventeen or eighteen years old, and now thirty years old.

Previously in the Sixth Dream Realm, the various task processes were too rushed, so there was no time to communicate with the blue-eyed girl.

Sometimes Lin Xian hoped she was Yan Qiaoqiao, and sometimes he didn't hope she was Yan Qiaoqiao. This mentality was very contradictory.

Although there was countless evidence to prove that the blue-eyed girl in 2624 did have many things in common with Yan Qiaoqiao.

But could this really prove that the two were the same person?

Lin Xian was not sure.

After all, the difference in appearance between the two was too great, unless a DNA parentage test was performed, it was impossible to draw a conclusion.

Of course.

There was also a stupid method.

That was the confirmation of "emotion."

Just like Yan Qiaoqiao, even if she lost her memory, she still retained her thoughts and obsession with her parents. This was the emotion that she could not lose even if her memory was completely lost.

Then.

What about the current blue-eyed village chief?

Did she still have this obsession? Did she still miss her parents?

Or.

What emotions did she have now?

Because the blue-eyed village chief was likely to be Yan Qiaoqiao, and could also be his biological daughter.

Lin Xian, as a father, was still very concerned and curious about the blue-eyed village chief's life, and wanted to learn more about it.

"Can I go up the mountain to hunt with you?"

Lin Xian asked:

"I'm pretty good at it. Although I can't guarantee that I can help you catch a bear, at least I won't hold you back. I can help you with chores."

"Of course."

The blue-eyed village chief drew a short knife from her waist and threw it to Lin Xian:

"Take it, use it to split branches. If you really encounter wild animals, you don't have to take action. I'll handle it."

After that.

She stretched out a rubber band with her tiger's mouth and tied the black hair behind her head into a high ponytail.

She shook it.

She led Lin Xian up the mountain.

She cleared the way in front all the way up the mountain.

Lin Xian followed behind.

This scene.

Made Lin Xian feel a little familiar.

It was like holding Yan Qiaoqiao's hand and playing in Disneyland.

Just.

The order was reversed.

"I heard that you have been awake from the hibernation pod for more than ten years." Lin Xian asked.

"Um."

The blue-eyed village chief nodded while clearing the way:

"To be precise, it's been almost 13 years."

"Have you been happy these years? Do you have any worries?"

"No."

The blue-eyed village chief shook her head:

"I think I'm very happy. Although I don't know what kind of time I lived before I hibernated, these 13 years of life, from a little girl to a village chief, I think are the happiest and most fulfilling 13 years of my life."

"So I often wonder if I am the little girl in the princess dress in the photo. First of all, we don't look alike at all; secondly, the little girl in the photo looks like a spoiled child who has been pampered. She must have lived a very noble life."

"If I am really her, can I really experience happiness in such a village? Chief Chen Heping taught us before, saying that it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. I have always believed that the reason why I am so satisfied with my current life is because my life before hibernation was very bad, very bad, so the current life seems so beautiful in comparison."

Lin Xian looked at her strong back and did not say a word.

He cut off the branches on the road.

He cut off several.

Then he asked softly:

"Why do you think your life before hibernation was so bad?"

"Because there was nothing left in my hibernation pod locker."

The blue-eyed village chief turned her head, looked at Lin Xian with her crystal blue eyes, turned her head and continued to move forward:

"Chief Chen Heping told me that there were more or less some identity certificates, letters, memory notebooks, memory hard drives, and other things in each hibernation pod locker."

"But there was nothing in my locker, only this photo. Then, if my life before hibernation was very happy, very happy, and very joyful, why didn't I leave myself something worth recalling and commemorating?"

"At least I should let me know who I am, right? To be honest, I often stare at that photo, but every time I look at the little girl on it, I feel very strange, including the man and woman behind, the feeling of family, I feel very strange."

Lin Xian stopped:

"Then do you usually think about your parents? Do you want to have a mom and dad like everyone else?"

"No."

The blue-eyed village chief replied decisively:

"Never."

"All along, I have never cared who the man and woman behind this photo are. Whether they are my parents or not, I don't care very much. Anyway, they are gone, and I have no impression."

"The only thing I care about, the only thing I have been caring about, is this little girl in the photo. I really want to know if I am her, if she is me, if I am. Is Yan Qiaoqiao."

Lin Xian followed her pace, a little unable to figure out what she was thinking:

"If you don't care much about the past, why bother纠结 who you are?"

"I can't explain it clearly."

The blue-eyed village chief shook her head and walked towards another mountain:

"But in fact, I have always had an obsession in my heart."

Obsession?

Lin Xian heard this keyword and became serious:

"What obsession?"

"It's what I just said. I don't care who the little girl is, I don't care who the parents in the photo are, and I don't even care who I am."

"I just want to know if my name is Yan Qiaoqiao, that's all. I just want to know my name, or rather, I just want to have a name."

Lin Xian smiled slightly:

"What a strange idea. Everyone in this world has their own name. Why do you care about these?"

"That's why I don't understand."

The blue-eyed village chief waved her hand:

"But isn't that what obsession is? If my name is really Yan Qiaoqiao, then I will definitely be very happy."

"Why?" Lin Xian asked.

"For no reason."

The blue-eyed village chief smiled, and her voice became gentle:

"I just think the name Yan Qiaoqiao is really nice."