APUTFFZG Chapter 22

Translator: Deyonna

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When the invitation arrived on Ye Er's terminal, he was looking into new part-time jobs.

[Dear, Classmate "wwn":

To promote communication, mutual learning, and shared progress, in accordance with the cooperation and exchange agreement, we sincerely invite you to join a short-term exchange program on the xxx project.

During the exchange, all expenses will be waived, and you will receive a subsidy.

Contact: star network account XXXXXXXXXXX

—Axon First Research Institute]

"?" What is this? Even zergs run email scams?

When Ye Er reached the end and saw the signature "Axon First Research Institute," he paused, his expression turning thoughtful.

That prestigious school that pays fifty thousand star coins for solving a problem? And it's inviting him to join a research project as an exchange student?

His gaze lingered on the word "subsidy," and he remembered his pitiful savings. He had originally meant to decline, but his hand still searched for the star network account provided.

The profile picture was a black night sky, and the homepage held only one curt, indifferent line: "If you have something to say, speak. If you don't, don't disturb me."

Ye Er hesitated for a moment, then sent a friend request.

"Chief*?"

*Chief research officer

A voice broke the silence in the room. Adelaide, who had been reading a report, looked up coldly at the stammering member.

"That... your terminal has a notification."

"Got it."

Adelaide closed the report in his hand and handed it over, then picked up the terminal, which had been flashing red all along.

"There's a parameter error in here. I've marked it for you. Take it and recalculate."

[User "wwn" has sent you a friend request. Do you accept?]

Adelaide raised an eyebrow, a flicker of a different emotion in his eyes.

[Accept.]

As the chat window opened, Adelaide spent a few seconds composing some polite pleasantries. Before he could send that stiff greeting, though, a message arrived from the other side.

[wwn: Hello, could you provide a detailed introduction to the project research content?]

Blunt enough, and arrogant enough.

A hint of interest lit his eyes, and his earlier attitude of treating a dead horse as a living one* shifted somewhat. He compressed the file and sent it over.

*Figuratively, to keep trying everything in a desperate situation.

About ten minutes later, another message arrived from the other side.

[wwn: I have a rough understanding. Which part needs algorithm discussion?]

Adelaide instantly sat up straight.

[Adelaide: We're starting now?]

[wwn: Let's start now.]

Almost all the members of the laboratory gathered in front of a huge demonstration screen, dead-eyed, as massive algorithms scrolled rapidly past.

Countless cold, magnificent data towers rose high, then instantly took shape.

The unfamiliar voice was like a god commanding it all, working seamlessly with Adelaide to build a vast new world.

"Wait... what were they just talking about?"

"No way, they were just calculating the sub-data a second ago, and now they're already building the model?!"

The panel calculated frantically, trying to keep up, but in the blink of an eye the progress was already a million miles ahead. Many of the researchers' faces were about to fall apart.

Besides Adelaide, there was another unfamiliar zerg in the shared presentation. Their profile picture was a simple, crude drawing of a small star beast, cute and innocent with its head tilted, but—

"Here, here... and here, your algorithms all have flaws. If my estimation is correct, they will eventually calculate an exaggerated value…"

The voice, so pleasant it could belong to a sleep-aid radio host, ruthlessly punched several big holes in what they had spent months of late nights working on.

The grand edifice they had painstakingly built might have to be torn down and rebuilt in a matter of seconds.

One member paled at the thought and muttered indignantly, "He's probably just talking nonsense. Who does he think he is, throwing out suggestions at random? Isn't he afraid his big mouth will get him into trouble?"

"Exactly, he's just here to stir up trouble... I don't know how the chief can trust such an amateur."

Just as these whispers were spreading, a long "beep" cut them off.

The algorithm, which had been a tangled mass on the screen, began flowing smoothly toward the next node, and a large green check mark appeared on the detector.

The algorithm that had been stagnant for a whole week actually made progress!

Although it might seem insignificant compared to the entire complex system, it's real progress, and every bit counts. Who knows, maybe in the end it really can be solved!

"The... the detection actually passed?!"

The researcher who had been frowning widened his eyes in disbelief the moment the detection passed, and couldn't help exclaiming, "Seriously?! This is so fucking amazing!"

"Who is this guy? He's amazing! Let's recruit him into our lab right away!"

Waves of hushed shock and delighted chatter broke out, bringing a breath of fresh air to the lifeless lab that had been silent for half a month.

Adelaide watched the rapidly scrolling chains of data on the screen. The coldness on his face disappeared completely, replaced by a trace of suppressed excitement gradually seeping through. His deep cerulean pupils contracted in anticipation.

"Very good, excellent…"

He murmured, staring fixedly at wwn's profile picture on the star network account.

Building algorithms with a partner so perfectly in sync was almost a deeply satisfying, exhilarating pleasure, one he had never experienced even when competing with the genius junior in the second year.

Catching a glimpse of his expression, the researchers' hearts skipped a beat, and their faces turned mournful.

"We're doomed. Chief is about to go into mad-scientist mode again…"

"Continue."

Adelaide's hand was already on the demonstration screen, and he unconsciously used a firm, commanding tone to give instructions.

Suddenly there was static on the other end, and after a burst of noise, the voice said apologetically,

"Sorry, let's end it here for today. I need to go offline a bit earlier."

With a crisp snap, the other profile vanished from the shared presentation, leaving no chance to respond.

"......???"

Let's end it here for today… end it here... here…

The zergs in the laboratory looked at the demonstration screen in disbelief, then turned as one to look at Adelaide standing in front of it.

He froze completely, his expression instantly darkening, and his breathing, already unsteady from excitement, quickened even more, like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

Oh no, it's over.

The zergs ducked their heads like quails, not daring to make a sound, afraid the slightest thing would set Adelaide off.

"Di, di."

The terminal set to one side flickered red. Adelaide, who had snapped out of his daze, glanced at it, barely suppressed his anger, and picked it up.

[wwn: May I ask how much the exchange subsidy is? I urgently need money for medical treatment. [Rose]]

Adelaide paused, and his anger faded from his face.

[Still waiting.]*

*Waiting for the subsidy amount to be decided.

That night, the star network account "wwn," having solved and taken down the platform's pinned question, once again dominated Axon's major forums.

The professors and students were abuzz, and an extremely difficult guest showed up at the dean's office.

"I have only two requests: first, admit him as a student, even if only in name; second, approve the subsidy in advance, and if the amount is on the small side, I suggest giving a little more."

Adelaide sat upright on the small guest sofa, legs crossed. His expression was as cold and indifferent as ever, immovable and extremely difficult to deal with.

"You haven't even seen his face, yet you're already rushing to send money. Aren't you afraid of being conned out of your underwear?!"

Norman sighed for the who-knew-how-many-th time, rubbing his aching forehead.

"First, we've already communicated this afternoon. His thinking is sharp and unique, and I've judged him trustworthy. The dean can use his connections to verify his identity. Second, the details have spread throughout the entire institute, and the algorithm has indeed progressed by a percentage of…"

"Is it even three, four, five, six?"

Adelaide fell silent.

Norman set down the documents in his hand and looked at Adelaide with a look of exasperated disappointment.

This child is good in every way, but he's too stubborn and lacks tact. Once he's decided on something, not even a nine-headed star beast could pull him back.

"Okay, I got it."

He waved a hand casually. "Go back and do your experiments."

Seeing Adelaide hesitate, unsatisfied without a definite answer, Norman finally dropped a hint. "The school is considering your proposal internally. An early subsidy can be negotiated... Now go."

Not long after Adelaide left, a document was delivered to Norman's desk.

Norman opened the cover page, and one glance made him frown. "This is…"

......

Because of a sudden, intense pain in Xi Ze's right eye, Ye Er had to cut the communication short to tend to the injury.

"During treatment, this kind of pain is normal. Just bear with it for now. If it gets too painful, tell me and 015 can give you a dose of painkiller."

Ye Er tossed the blood-soaked gauze into the trash can and instructed the female zerg without looking up.

"You didn't need gauze originally, but since it's bleeding, there's no other way. I'll help you take it off tonight."

"Okay, thank you, Male Lord."

Xi Ze touched the soft gauze over his eye with his fingertips and whispered his thanks. He hesitated for a moment, but spoke anyway.

"...You skipped lunch. Dinner is two hours away. Would you like something to eat first, to tide you over?"

Ye Er belatedly realized that his stomach was empty and faintly cramping; he had simply been too absorbed in other things to notice.

"015 usually takes care of the leftovers... I'll go see what there is in the kitchen."

He got up and went into the kitchen. As he opened the refrigerator door, he bumped into 015, the little robot housekeeper. It seemed to suddenly remember something, slapped its head, and took a portion of tomato pasta, still steaming, out of the warming cabinet.

"Ta-da!"

"I'll have this for lunch. How did you know to save a portion for me?"

Ye Er was a little surprised but didn't think much of it. He took it and set it casually on the coffee table.

"It was your female zerg who said to save it for you." 015 blinked its eyes earnestly.

"I see..." Ye Er turned his head toward the female zerg, thanked him, and started eating. "I should stock up on some bread or something at home. It'd be handy for emergencies."

"It's still better to eat on time."

Xi Ze did not agree. He couldn't help rubbing the gauze over his right eye with his fingertips again.

His right eye had flared with intense pain several times before, but only this time had he taken the initiative to call out to Ye Er.

On the one hand, he wanted the male zerg to eat on time; on the other, there were some subtle, indescribable feelings behind it.

Clearly, the male zerg had enthusiastically suggested watching TV together, but soon afterward he had walked off on his own and skipped lunch altogether.

"Alright, alright."

Ye Er replied perfunctorily, his mind on his earlier exchange with Hughes.

"Aitar has a field hospital that's said to be good at treating gunshot wounds and post-traumatic stress. When your body recovers…"

Recently, Xi Ze had often heard the male zerg muttering to himself about future treatment plans. Clearly, the matter already occupied a large part of his mind.

This sincerity and solemnity weighed heavily on Xi Ze. The fear and pain of being cared for in such a broken, unbearable state only deepened his sense of indebtedness and shame with every passing moment.

The cost of treatment could be repaid a thousandfold or ten-thousandfold someday, but the daily expenditure of energy and emotional investment left him feeling deeply indebted and unable to repay it.

"...Actually, there's no need to fuss over these injuries so much. Many injuries heal on their own. There's no need to go to the hospital."

Xi Ze opened his mouth and forced a dry sound from his throat.

Ye Er swallowed his food and took out a tissue to wipe his mouth. "But it'll leave aftereffects."

"Money can be earned back later, but missing the golden window for treatment isn't worth it. Life and health come first; everything else can wait."

Life comes before everything.

This was the lesson his former country had taught him.

Ye Er knew that Zerg society had always embraced the cold theory of eliminating those deemed worthless, but now that Xi Ze was in his care, so—

"Don't take such a passive attitude toward treatment."

His tone carried a warning as he corrected the female zerg from a distance.

"...Okay."

Xi Ze looked stunned as the intense, tearing pain in his right eye suddenly eased. It was as if something soft and fluffy had filled the bleeding void, overflowing and wrapping around him completely.

"If you pick up a stray puppy, you have to take full responsibility for it. Otherwise, what's the difference from leaving it to fend for itself? That would be too irresponsible."

Thinking back to before he transmigrated, Ye Er remembered a little stray dog he had once picked up and raised into a chubby, healthy puppy. He joked, "I'm a very qualified keeper."

Before Xi Ze could respond, 015, who had been washing vegetables in the kitchen, short-circuited again and called out to Ye Er, wailing for rescue.

The sofa beside him suddenly felt lighter as the male zerg's gentle breath abruptly left, and the faint warmth that had been so vivid instantly turned cold.

The familiar silence he had long been accustomed to suddenly became unbearable, and even the air around him felt thin.

Xi Ze's eyelashes trembled, and he instinctively called out softly, "Male Lord?"

"Mn?"

Ye Er's voice came from not far away, mixed with 015's chatter. "I'm here. What's wrong?"

Xi Ze stared blankly, and his tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed.

His lips curved slightly, and he smiled almost soundlessly.

"...It's nothing."

☰