Chapter 351: Source of the Outbreak

Song Shijun, however, was calmer than any of the adults. "Don’t panic. My sister must be about to have her fourth superpower awakening!"

Everyone gave him a deadpan side-eye.

By the time everyone had frantically cleaned up the shattered glass and crumbled plaster in Xie Ning’s room, given her medicine, and finally moved her to another room, the sky was already starting to lighten.

Song You’ai pulled a stool over to Xie Ning’s bedside, her expression serious. "Little Spider, come out. Your name is Future, right?"

She had heard her daughter call it that.

The Little Spider furtively slipped out from under the covers. When it looked up and met pairs upon pairs of curious eyes, it immediately wanted to slip back in.

"What on earth is going on?"

"What was it that attacked Ningning?"

"It was a foreign electronic object from the X Realm." Gu Chen and Lu Wei entered, pushing the door open. Seeing Xie Ning safe and sound, they couldn’t help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"The X Realm?" Xie Ning motioned for Song Kexin to hand her a couple of pillows to prop herself up, then sat up slightly to look at them.

"Ningning, you have a fever."

"I’m fine." Xie Ning reached up to touch her forehead. "It’s just because I’ve been a bit tired lately. I’ll be fine after resting for a couple of days."

"The X Realm you just mentioned?" Xie Ning pondered for a moment. "That must be the world that created Future, right? What is it?"

Gu Chen walked over to Xie Ning’s side, and Song You’ai quickly made way for her future son-in-law.

"Scientists believe it’s a parallel world, but its technological development far surpasses our own."

"As early as three years ago, some foreign electronic objects from the X Realm infiltrated our research institutes. Some were captured, but others may still be lying dormant."

"According to your father and the others..." Gu Chen met Xie Ning’s eyes. "Dr. Xie and his team speculate that the full-scale outbreak of the zombie virus over a year ago is likely connected to the X Realm."

"But we still don’t know what their ultimate goal is."

Xie Ning pondered this, slowly nodding. With a wave of her hand, she projected a screen of light. "Their technology really is far superior to ours."

Lu Wei shot to his feet in shock, staring at the screen that had appeared out of thin air. "Ningning, you? You were implanted, too? Implanted with their smart-brain?"

"How could I be?" Xie Ning waved her hand dismissively, then pulled the hiding Little Spider from her pocket and tossed it in the air a few times. "Let me give you a formal introduction. This is my artificial intelligence navigation system, Future."

"Future, say hello to everyone."

Everyone stared blankly at the small, silver-shelled spider in her hand.

The Little Spider’s quavering electronic voice piped up, "Detecting a somewhat oppressive atmosphere around the host. Suggesting playback of an ultra-soothing instrumental piece."

The news that she hadn’t been implanted with a smart-brain, but could externally link with one—and had perfectly subjugated a super smart-brain from the X Realm—reached the research institute. That very evening, two white-haired old gentlemen came to visit Xie Ning.

"Cooperation is possible," Xie Ning said flatly. "But I need all available data on this X Realm. Also, you are not to perform any human experiments on me."

Caught by the young woman’s chilling gaze, the old gentlemen from the research institute felt immense pressure.

"Everything you want—information about the exchange mall, the Dimensional Space, and so on—I can show you all of it." As Xie Ning spoke, she demonstrated each one.

An inverted, deep-blue cubic Space brimming with an abundance of fish, shrimp, and crabs would occasionally appear in the air, only to be instantly replaced by a light screen.

The old gentlemen’s eyes gleamed with excitement. They nodded repeatedly and immediately signed an unequal treaty with Captain Xie.

"It’s too perfect! This is the first time we’ve seen someone able to link with an X Realm smart-brain so flawlessly."

"Captain Xie, with your help this time, it’s like giving a tiger wings."

"Thank you so much."

...

Xie Ning’s fever had mostly subsided by the next day. Her grandmother, her heart aching for her, stewed a young rooster and brought all her food and drink to her in bed.

Xie Ning had no choice. Pressured by so many people, she was forced to stay in bed and rest properly for two days.

Only she knew in her heart that it was because, for the longest time, she had never truly gotten over the hurdle of that icy, snow-covered world from her past life.

It was a sickness of the heart.

Fortunately, her constitution was fine, and she was back to her lively self in just two days.

What was originally supposed to be a simple meal with Gu Chen’s parents ended up becoming a banquet where his parents treated the entire Starfire Team to dinner!

The meal was a delight for both hosts and guests. Qin Qiyun was not only happy to see her long-unseen "stinky brat," but she was also secretly pleased that her blockhead son had finally seen the light and brought home a wife for the family.

When Xie Ning and her group came out of the Gu Mansion, they "coincidentally" ran into a group of Gu Chen’s friends.

Feng JiaMin had really gone all out this time. Not only had she dragged her older brother, Feng Lijian, along, but she had also gathered a group of friends from the compound, cheerfully blocking Xie Ning, Gu Chen, Wang Zongxuan, and the others at the gate of the Gu Mansion.

"Zong Xuan, Xiao Xian, that’s not cool of you! You came back and didn’t even say a word."

Qin Qiyun stepped forward. "Why have you all come? Chen and the others just got back, and it’s late. I won’t invite you in to sit. Whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow."

"Auntie, it’s fine. We were just looking for Brother Gu Chen, Xiao Xian, and the guys to have a drink. Please, just let us hang out for a bit."

Qin Qiyun was a little displeased. She felt this Feng JiaMin girl had no tact.

’Couldn’t she see that her Chen was about to take his girlfriend and her family home? What was the meaning of blocking them at the gate?’

Feng JiaMin’s gaze shifted to Xie Ning. Her eyes curved into a smile. "You must be... Miss Xie, right?"

Gu Chen rolled his eyes and said nonchalantly, "What are you doing blocking the way in the middle of the night? If you have nothing better to do, go back to the training grounds and run a few more laps."

Several of the young men behind Feng JiaMin shrank back, looking like they were ready to retreat.

But Feng JiaMin was relentless. "Chen," she cried, "you’ve been back for days, and you still have no time for us? You’re spending all your time circling around your girlfriend. Talk about choosing a girl over your friends!"

Mo Wanrong, standing behind Feng JiaMin, gave Ji Taixian and Wang Zongxuan a gentle, refined smile, looking every bit the lady.

Feng Lijian, at a loss with what to do about his sister’s ruckus, looked awkwardly at Gu Chen, Lu Wei, and the others. "Chen, how about it? Want to go to the usual spot for a couple of drinks? It’s been a long time."

Lu Wei glared at Zhai Ruobai, who was stuck in the crowd and didn’t dare to look up.

Zhai Ruobai flinched and tried to slink away with his tail between his legs.

"Miss Xie, you don’t mind lending Chen to us for a couple of hours to catch up with old friends, do you?"

Xie Ning gave a faint smile, casually hooking her arm through Gu Chen’s. She tilted her head. "To be honest, I do mind."

For a moment, everyone fell silent—both the members of the Old Song Family gathered behind Xie Ning and Feng Lijian’s group standing opposite Gu Chen.

In the silent air, only Xie Ning’s mocking voice rose faintly. "I don’t know whether to call you malicious or just plain trashy. You know my boyfriend is about to take me home, yet you still block my way and make a nuisance of yourselves."

"Did you really think I’d humor you?"

Xie Ning couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. "Who the hell do you think you are? Are you even worthy?"