Eating Melons Until I Saw News of My Own Death — Chapter 120

The phone line fell into a brief silence. Tong Yang's breath hitched.

"What do you mean?" Tong Yang asked.

Wu Pingxue let out an almost inaudible sigh and said, "The bionic technology of the First World is highly advanced. Some people, having experienced its convenience, apply it to themselves. But bionic technology isn't a simple replacement; it must integrate and become one with the body's entire meridian system. Tong Yang, do you understand?"

Wu Pingxue always spoke this way, never giving Tong Yang the answer directly but guiding her to think.

Almost every time, Tong Yang could find the correct answer through his "riddles."

Hearing Wu Pingxue's words, Tong Yang's expression turned to shock as she grasped some key information.

If bionic technology needs to integrate with the human meridian system to achieve seamless use and a man-machine unity, then are humans who have undergone bionic procedures still purely human?

Why couldn't Tong Yang and Wen Qin, ranked first and second in overall strength in the "Pioneer" selection, use bionic technology? Not only them, but none of the Pioneers had ever used bionic technology.

Why?

Bionic humans cannot replace top-tier humans, but bionic organs are certainly more powerful than those of ordinary humans. Why is the United Government willing to apply them to those who failed in the fourth round of selection arena battles, but unwilling to let the "Pioneers" use them?

Why?

Why was Ye Tianlin unwilling to let Maynard receive a bionic heart replacement, instead making Ye Huai take the risk to cure his own heart first, then transplant it to Maynard?

Why?

Because he understood the drawbacks of bionic technology?

Including bionic humans, can all those who have undergone bionic procedures be controlled by the first-generation bionic human?

"Can she control everyone who has undergone bionic procedures?" Tong Yang asked gravely.

Wu Pingxue gave a light laugh. "Correct."

Tong Yang's heart felt as if a heavy stone were pressing on it. She hadn't realized Yang Miao's role was so significant.

"Tong Yang, finding her means our plan is fifty percent successful. Even if the First World's Tong Yang stands in our way, as long as we seize the right moment, we can complete the plan without direct confrontation."

The implication behind the phrase "seize the right moment" was too grand.

As if finding the child of the first-generation bionic human would solve everything.

Tong Yang didn't ask what the so-called "moment" was. Wu Pingxue most likely wouldn't tell her directly.

"What do you plan to do after handing her over to Xue Wei?" Tong Yang asked.

Wu Pingxue didn't answer immediately, instead asking, "Is she by your side right now?"

Tong Yang had always appeared very rational. If she had merely discovered this person's identity, she should have agreed without hesitation to use her for the plan. Since she was asking this way, their relationship couldn't be just a passing acquaintance.

"Answer my question first," Tong Yang said.

Her tone was forceful. Knowing Tong Yang well, Wu Pingxue replied, "Hand her over to the United Government."

Tong Yang narrowed her eyes. "What did you say?"

"She survived the destruction of the first-generation bionic humans by chance, and now you want me to hand her over to the United Government?"

Wu Pingxue said helplessly, "Hear me out first. Although there are risks, the United Government probably won't kill her immediately."

"Why?" Tong Yang asked.

Wu Pingxue explained, "Bionic technology isn't used only in the First World. The energy terminal created by the United Government can only control bionic humans, not those who have undergone bionic procedures."

Tong Yang said, "The United Government should know she's alive but has never sent anyone to look for her. They want to develop magnetic field energy to free bionic humans from the first-generation bionic human's control. So, handing her over to them carries significant risk."

Wu Pingxue said, "The United Government isn't completely indifferent to the existence of the first-generation bionic human's descendant. The reason they haven't acted is that the First World doesn't know about her yet."

"The slums are too vast. Any major move on their part would be immediately detected by the First World. Developing magnetic field energy is no small project. If they can control the first-generation bionic human's descendant, they could use her to control all those in the First World who have undergone bionic procedures if conflict arises between the two worlds."

After a pause, Wu Pingxue continued, "At least until they develop magnetic field energy capable of replacing the first-generation bionic human, that child's life won't be in danger."

"If we hand her over to the United Government, how do you plan to control her?" Tong Yang asked.

Wu Pingxue said, "It's not difficult. What I did to the First World's time anchor, I can do to her as well."

Wu Pingxue wasn't just spouting nonsense about easily manipulating two naive girls. He had the ability to develop uses for parallel worlds that even Yan Qing herself didn't know about.

He could make the first-generation bionic human's child serve his purposes.

However, perhaps he wouldn't need to go that far. Yang Miao would listen to Tong Yang.

That child's personality was actually quite stubborn. Even though Tong Yang had reminded her countless times that they were merely cooperating and she would leave one day, Yang Miao still held onto hope.

Tong Yang wasn't sensitive about emotions, but Yang Miao was too dependent on her.

After a long silence, Tong Yang said, "She probably can't do what you said, control others."

"You've really met her? Why do you say that?" Wu Pingxue asked.

"I've seen her control another bionic human. Even though it was just one person, her body couldn't handle the strain. She got a nosebleed."

Wu Pingxue said gravely, "Which group of bionic humans did she control?"

"Which group?"

"One group of bionic humans is under the control of the man-made energy terminal. Another group has broken free from that control, their consciousness awakened."

Tong Yang said, "The former."

The bionic humans appearing in the civilian zones and First District were naturally under the energy terminal's control.

"That explains it," Wu Pingxue sighed. "She is ultimately different from the first-generation bionic human. She can only control bionic humans who have broken free from the energy terminal. Forcibly controlling others causes backlash on her body, which could even be fatal. However, humans who have undergone bionic procedures aren't controlled by the energy terminal. So, she can control awakened bionic humans and those with bionic modifications without it affecting her body."

Tong Yang paused, then asked, "If the energy terminal is destroyed, could she then control all bionic humans?"

"Yes, but that's basically impossible. Being able to control humans with bionic modifications is enough."

Tong Yang thought for a long time. Wu Pingxue's plan seemed feasible. Before implementing it, Yang Miao had to know. She wouldn't refuse Tong Yang—that shouldn't be a concern.

"I can hand her over to Xue Wei, on the condition that I know the complete plan."

Tong Yang hated acting on half-knowledge, like a headless fly.

The plan certainly required coordination with the time anchor. Even though he knew the first-generation bionic human's child was with Tong Yang, Wu Pingxue couldn't act alone. Given Tong Yang's personality, the plan would likely struggle to proceed smoothly otherwise.

Wu Pingxue had no choice but to inform Tong Yang of the complete plan.

The situation exceeded Tong Yang's understanding.

On the weekend, Tong Yang and Meng Xiao went together to pick Yang Miao up from school.

Meng Xiao had been eliminated in the sixth round. During the battle with the android, she had sustained serious injuries, and her body had been restored using bionic technology.

After the three of them finished dinner, they returned to the apartment where Tong Yang and Meng Xiao lived.

"Yang Miao." Tong Yang called her out from the room where she was doing her homework.

"Sister, what is it?" Yang Miao walked to the doorway, puzzled.

Meng Xiao sat opposite Tong Yang and, like Yang Miao, didn't understand why Tong Yang had gathered them there.

"Sorry about this." Tong Yang suddenly spoke, raising her hand sharply to strike Meng Xiao's temple.

Meng Xiao didn't react at all. Her vision went dark and she fainted.

Yang Miao immediately ran into the kitchen. After a rustling sound, she returned to the living room holding a pile of plastic sheets and two kitchen knives.

Tong Yang was taken aback. "What are you going to do?"

Yang Miao said with a serious face, "You can't kill people here without permission. We need to quickly figure out how to cut her up, pack the pieces separately, and throw them in the trash. It'll be terrible if someone finds out."

Tong Yang frowned. "What on earth are you talking about? I'm not killing her."

Yang Miao immediately breathed a sigh of relief, put everything back, and returned to the living room.

"Sister."

Watching her run back and forth, Tong Yang suddenly felt a doubt about whether she really knew how to raise a child. Whose child, upon seeing her "commit murder," would specifically prepare tools to help her dismember the body?

"Try to control her," Tong Yang said.

"Oh." Yang Miao didn't ask why and did as she was told.

Without knowing what Yang Miao did, Meng Xiao, who was unconscious, suddenly stood up from the chair and walked toward Yang Miao's bedroom with her eyes closed.

"What did you make her do?" Tong Yang asked.

Yang Miao said, "Help me with my homework."

"Alright, make her come back now."

"Oh."

Meng Xiao returned to her seat, lay her head on the table, and continued to sleep.

"Is she an android?" Yang Miao asked curiously.

"No." Seeing that Yang Miao's complexion was normal, Tong Yang continued, "Are you feeling any discomfort in your body?"

"Not at all." Yang Miao shook her head. After two or three seconds, she realized something and said joyfully, "Sister, my nose isn't bleeding!"

Tong Yang nodded. Wu Pingxue hadn't lied to her. As long as she controlled awakened androids or people who had undergone bionic technology procedures, it wouldn't affect Yang Miao's body.

Tong Yang thought for a moment, then told Yang Miao to go back to her room to finish her homework first. Afterwards, she carried the unconscious Meng Xiao to the sofa.

She sat in the living room, deciding to tell Yang Miao her thoughts after Meng Xiao woke up and left.

After resting for over half an hour, her phone vibrated. Tong Yang picked it up and saw a message from Tong Le, saying he was already on holiday and had returned home.

Although Tong Yang didn't often contact him, Tong Le didn't dare call her. He frequently sent messages on his own, reporting his whereabouts throughout the day to Tong Yang.

Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she had spoken to Tong Le on the phone.

Tong Yang walked to the window and dialed his number.

"Sister!"

Two voices sounded simultaneously, one from the phone and one from behind.

"Who is it?"

Hearing each other's voices, both immediately became alert.

"Sister." Yang Miao rushed to her side in a few quick steps, uneasily grabbing hold of her clothes. "Who are you talking to on the phone?"

On the phone, Tong Le fell silent.

"Sister, if you're busy, I'll call back later," Tong Le said.

Tong Yang, not thinking too much about it, replied, "It's fine, I just wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine, sister. Take good care of yourself. Sister, you must take good care of yourself," Tong Le said.

"Mm, I know."

After hanging up the brief call, Tong Yang looked down at the person beside her and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Who is he? Why does he call you sister?" Yang Miao was like a bristling kitten, her round eyes fixed on Tong Yang.

Tong Yang said, "My brother. My biological brother."

Yang Miao's eyes widened. "How long has he been your brother?"

"About eleven years. Why?"

Yang Miao: "..."

"Oh, I've only been one for a year. That's fine then, I don't mind."

Tong Yang glanced at her and said, "Would it matter if you did mind?"

"Hehe, no, it wouldn't."

Meng Xiao slept for a full day before waking up, looking at Tong Yang with utter exasperation.

After seeing Meng Xiao off, Tong Yang called Yang Miao to the living room with a serious expression.

"Yang Miao, I will keep your secret for you. In exchange, I will also tell you a secret about me," Tong Yang said.

Yang Miao looked curious and asked, "What secret?"

"I am not from the First World," Tong Yang stated.

"I know that," Yang Miao nodded.

"I come from the real world, what you call the Third World."

Yang Miao continued to nod. "I know that too."

Tong Yang narrowed her eyes. "What else do you know?"

"You are Tong Yang, the anchor point of the Third World," Yang Miao said innocently.

Tong Yang had guessed she might have noticed clues, after all, only Yang Miao knew she had appeared almost out of nowhere.

"What's your brother's name?" Yang Miao asked.

Tong Yang said, "Tong Le."

"Then I want to change my name! Tong Miao? Tong Miaomiao? How about that?"

Tong Yang chuckled. "There's no need..."

"Why not?" Yang Miao said discontentedly.

"I've already decided. In the future, I'm going back to the Third World with you!"