The End of the World for One Person

The End of the World for One Person

Vacation balance: 1 day.

Zhang Yuan finally understood the restlessness Ye Kaifu had felt before leaving.

He felt empty inside. Nothing went right. He didn't want to study, think, or play games.

He even tossed and turned in bed, staying awake all night.

It felt as if the world were about to end.

If tomorrow were the end of the world, what would be the most meaningful thing to do today?

This topic had been popular online for ages. If the apocalypse came and the world fell into chaos, some people would choose to indulge themselves and sink into depravity; others would go home to spend time with their parents; still others would confess their feelings or do things they normally wouldn't, making up for the regrets of a lifetime...

People were emotional creatures, after all. The longer they lived somewhere, the harder it was to leave, no matter how many things they disliked about that place or how much they complained about it. It was simply too familiar, too much a part of their routine.

That place was their home planet—Earth.

He looked again at the people coming and going on the street. Everything was orderly and peaceful. This was just the end of the world for him.

Zhang Yuan sighed deeply, put aside his wild thoughts, and quickened his pace.

He went to Professor Wang Zhong's office, intending to donate his shares in Genesis Technology Co., Ltd., even though the company was still being registered.

"Zhang Yuan, it's good that you have the intention. I think you should hold on to your shares for now instead of donating them to the foundation," Professor Wang Zhong said kindly, taking a sip of water.

"Why?" Zhang Yuan asked involuntarily. "Isn't the foundation short of money?"

Professor Wang waved a hand and said ruefully, "Even if it is, it doesn't need your few million."

"After a hundred years of development, the Deep Space Foundation has become a true behemoth. It owns more and more businesses. Some grew in unexpected ways after surviving disasters, like the space elevator and shares in certain space cities. Others came from investments."

Professor Wang gestured. "The farther its reach extends, the greater its influence on the world."

"I'm not sure I understand..." Zhang Yuan said.

Professor Wang sighed. "The Deep Space Foundation's purpose is to help develop the aerospace industry, not to make huge profits. It isn't a capitalist enterprise that needs to turn a profit indefinitely."

"By now, the foundation has grown somewhat bloated. Power inevitably breeds corruption. No matter how well an organization is regulated, once it gets big enough and lasts long enough, disorder takes hold. All kinds of dark sides emerge."

"So keep your shares for yourself. Many companies managed by the foundation actually end up being run poorly."

Zhang Yuan pondered his words.

Professor Wang smiled. "Nothing stays prosperous forever, and no one stays fortunate forever. The foundation can't keep growing forever. Especially after our generation dies, the next generation may not have the same drive. It, too, will gradually decline."

"If you want to help, come back and offer support when the foundation is in need, three hundred years from now—if it still exists."

Zhang Yuan was taken aback. "Professor Wang, my company might have gone under by then. I'm only a small shareholder, and I'm not involved in running it. I won't be looking after it either..."

Wang Zhong said calmly, "Who can predict how things will turn out? I still suggest you hold on to your shares and donate the dividends to the foundation. The foundation isn't short of assets right now. What it lacks is insurance for the future."

"That's what I tell the other people who donate assets, too."

The two of them talked for a long time.

Failing to plan ahead leads to trouble down the road.

Professor Wang had a point. His generation had risen from ruins and poverty, so their sense of crisis was different from that of the generations that came after them. The days without enough energy had let everyone experience hardship and poverty, and even the ruling class had been deeply affected by it.

"Development must go on, without end!" Professor Wang pointed to his head. "That's the idea this entire era has engraved in my mind."

"But many children who grew up in the new era no longer think that way. Life is so comfortable—why bother developing?"

It was easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to go the other way. That was why Professor Qi Yuanshan believed humanity had only one or two hundred years to leave the solar system.

"He made this prediction long ago: in a few hundred years, humanity would most likely return to the old ways of the previous era, with all kinds of conflicts emerging... The comfort brought by nuclear fusion is simply too wonderful, far better than oil. And the solar system is already vast enough to support a population in the trillions. What motivation would people then have to develop a second civilization?"

"This isn't a question of technology, but of willpower!"

When Zhang Yuan left the office, he couldn't stop thinking. He could understand these predictions about society, yet found them hard to truly grasp. Perhaps.

Zhang Yuan found a quiet corner on campus and sat down. He gazed at the blue sky, then aimlessly scrolled through his social media feed.

"Here in Xisha, just got off the high-speed train. I'm boarding the spaceship tomorrow. Any girls want to spend my last day with me?"

[Selfie]

[Selfie]

[Selfie]

It was his friend Li Zhendong showing off on social media. There were plenty of replies below, with all kinds of well-wishes and likes.

People were very friendly toward astronauts who were about to leave.

Zhang Yuan replied, "I'm at Xisha University. Come over."

Li Zhendong replied, "Get lost. You're not a girl!"

"I've got lots and lots of girls here!"

Li Zhendong replied at once, "I'm coming, I'm coming. Hang on, I'll report to the Aviation Planning Bureau first."

About half an hour later, Li Zhendong appeared at the school gate, looking around furtively. Since he didn't look like a student, the guard stopped him and checked his ID.

As soon as they met, he asked, "Where are the girls? I knew you were messing with me, you idiot!"

"What's the rush? They'll be here in a minute."

"Yeah, right."

Li Zhendong wrinkled his nose, looking unconvinced. "How about playing games instead? It's my last day, so why don't we play all night? LoL 8 is out, and I happen to have two beta accounts..."

Zhang Yuan shook his head. "That's all the taste you've got, huh? We're not going to an internet café. Just wait five minutes!"

A few minutes later, Han Ziyue showed up, calling from a distance, "Zhang Yuan, want to go have some fun?"

Li Zhendong's eyes nearly popped out of his head. His mouth hung open wide enough to fit a pear!

He turned to Zhang Yuan and cursed inwardly: This guy really is picking up girls—and one this beautiful, too!

I'm such an idiot!

I spent an entire month at home studying like a chump!

When the girl came closer, Li Zhendong stammered, "Hello, beautiful. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Li Zhendong. I'm friendly and honest. I'm good at mechanics and information science. I love surfing the internet and playing online games. I also like basketball, and I once dreamed of becoming an athlete. I love watching seagulls soar freely by the sea, so I often go there in summer. White is my favorite color because I think it symbolizes purity..."

It was as if he were reciting a textbook passage.