The Temptation of Neighbors - Chapter 22

When the four of us returned to the spaceship, Alvin studied the algae he had brought back from the Ink Lake. He said it was a mutant species whose active ingredients included not only essential substances like water, carbon, and fat, but also secondary metabolites like flavonoids, biotin, steroids, lignin, and minerals.

Lian Zhengyu and John discussed the matter and decided to conduct a comprehensive search for life on the Black Planet, hoping for further significant discoveries.

However, the results were disappointing. Aside from the tiny amount of black algae in the Black Lake, no other signs of life were found on the entire planet.

Everyone felt heavy-hearted, as the ship’s fuel and food were running low. If we couldn’t find extraterrestrial energy or assistance from intelligent extraterrestrial life, we would be in dire straits.

“Is it still far from the center of the Milky Way?” Yili asked Lian Zhengyu.

“Not far. That’s our last hope,” Lian Zhengyu said solemnly.

“Our probes can now transmit signals there, but the return signals aren’t promising,” Kefu said grimly.

“Is there really no alien life in space?” Long Yuhan also began to worry.

“Everyone’s doomed to fail this time,” John said, shaking his head.

I’d been staying out of their discussions, but seeing how dejected they all were, I felt compelled to speak up. I stood up and shouted, “Don’t give up! We’re not doomed.”

“Master, will a miracle happen?” Yili asked, a worried glint in her eyes.

“Not necessarily,” I answered truthfully.

Everyone fell silent. Lian Zhengyu sat at the bow and pushed the last bit of fuel into the power module. The spaceship surged forward at top speed.

One day later, the life sensor’s display read “0.”

Two days later, it remained unchanged. Three days later, it remained unchanged.

On the fourth day, mentally and physically, we were completely overwhelmed. Our fuel and food were gone, and we quietly awaited our death.

No one could be optimistic about death. We all hoped the agony wouldn’t last too long, that it would be fleeting, that we’d lose consciousness before the pain even reached our brains.

The spaceship began to spiral out of control, like a kite with its string cut, without direction or purpose. It drifted wildly, swaying under the weight of the nearby stars. Finally, a powerful pull pulled it in, sending it plummeting like a heavy object on Earth.

Through the bow windshield, we watched the ship plummet toward a massive fireball—a star similar to the Sun.

The blinding light shone into the ship, blinding us. Lian Zhengyu tried to close the bow hatch, but Kov stopped him. He shouted, “Let death come even harder.”

“I’m sorry,” Lian Zhengyu said, rising from his chair and bowing to apologize. “I’ve gotten you all into this.”

“We lost,” Irvin bowed his head.

John, Kov, and Jordan remained silent. They must have something to say, but it was useless now. Death was about to claim them all.

Ellie hugged her brother, Long Yuhan, and Lian Zhengyu tightly, tears welling in her eyes.

John, Kov, and the other four clung to each other, just as they had on the colorful planet, but this time, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t escape.

I clung tightly to the chair in front of me, opened my eyes wide and looked at the boat again. The light outside the glass window was bright white, and the metal on the wall began to burn red. A scorching heat attacked us from all directions, and in an instant everything melted in a white light, including our bodies and spirits…

In a daze, I felt like I was lying in a fire, the heat was unbearable, my ears were buzzing, and my eyes were dark. After a long time, the fire gradually subsided, and I heard some voices in my ears.

“…Husband, you have to hold on, Hanyu and I can’t live without you, you can’t abandon us.”

“Dad, I drew a lot of comics, wake up, I’ll show them to you…”

Who are they, what are they talking about?

Why can’t I understand, is my brain broken?

“Sister Li, did Wei Ge have a high fever again last night?” asked another woman’s voice.

“…41 degrees, almost… Luckily, he’s in good health and made it.”

“After staying up all night, you two can go home and get some sleep. I’ll take care of him. Qiao Jiayi will be here tonight to take over my shift.” “

…The doctor said to talk to him more…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll wake him up.”

“…Yaojin, I’m sorry to have gotten you into trouble.”

“Why are you saying all this, my dear sisters? Hurry up and take Hanyu away. She has school tomorrow.”

I tried to decipher what they were saying, but my brain wouldn’t listen. The slightest effort to concentrate gave me a splitting headache. I was anxious, but the more anxious I was, the worse the headache got.

“…Wei Ge, I’m alone now. Can you hear me? I’m Yuan Yaojin, your Yaoyao. I have something to tell you…”

His voice choked for a moment, then he continued, “…You’ve been lying in this hospital bed for over two months. There’s something you don’t know. Do you know? I’m pregnant. It’s all thanks to you…”

What pregnant? Who’s pregnant?

Is it me and Fan Qili? Am I married?

My head started to hurt again.

“…I promised you I’d thank you if I got pregnant. I can’t confirm it’s yours, but it’s definitely your contribution. Without you, I probably wouldn’t have gotten pregnant in my lifetime. Wake up! I’ll give you whatever you want. I want to repay you…”

This woman was so long-winded, rambling on and on. What on earth was she talking about? Why did she want to repay me?

Did I do anything for her? No, I had to wake up. I wanted to confront Qingjing face to face. I tried my best to open my eyes, to get up, but it was all in vain. I simply couldn’t.

“Ah, your hand is moving, Wei Ge, you heard me, you’re awake, so good…”

I exhausted all my strength, but couldn’t move, tears streaming down my face with anxiety.

“Wei Ge, I know you’ve been through a lot. Don’t tire yourself out. Just lie down and rest. You’ll get better. When you’re well, promise to be my child’s godfather, okay?”

What does “godfather” mean? Am I not the child’s father?

Isn’t she my wife? Do I have a wife? What does my wife look like? What’s her name? I was sweating all over, exhausted, and my consciousness began to blur again. I could no longer hear what the people around me said.

I fell into an endless sleep again…

I don’t know how long it took, I woke up again, and I couldn’t hear anything.

It was quiet for a long time, and suddenly footsteps were heard.

“Yaojin, I’m sorry, I’m late because of something. Have you eaten?” A woman’s voice.

“What time is it now?”

“8 o’clock.”

“I called Qili, she will take over your shift at 11 o’clock. You must take good care of your brother-in-law for these three hours. If there is anything, notify the nurse immediately.”

“Okay, go back and tell Sister Li that I can stay until 2 a.m. and ask her to come later so she can get more rest. She’s been exhausted these days and has lost a lot of weight…”