Mei Yiqiu leaned back in his office chair, a pipe dangling from his mouth. The tobacco in the pipe had burned out, but he was still puffing away, unable to exhale a single puff of smoke.
Mei Ziqing knocked and came in. He was startled, and his pipe fell onto his chest, bobbing on his clothes with each violent cough.
"Professor, I've told you not to smoke anymore, why won't you listen!"
Mei Ziqing put down the lunchbox she was carrying, picked up his pipe, and placed it on the table. She glanced at the computer on the table; a video window was open on the screen, playing a documentary about global environmental change.
"Cough cough cough... It's an old problem... cough cough... Don't... cough cough... bother with me! If you won't let me smoke... cough cough... I'd rather die!"
The professor became excited.
Mei Ziqing shook her head helplessly, opened the lunchbox on the table and said, "It's time to eat. Today we have your favorite dried anchovies."
The professor coughed incessantly, as if unable to speak, but his hand reached for the table, touching his pipe. Mei Ziqing didn't stop him anymore, helping him pick up the pipe, skillfully changing the tobacco, and saying, "You're only allowed two puffs, and you have to eat right away after you finish."
The professor was still coughing. He took the pipe but neither lit it nor spoke. Mei Ziqing stood there quietly, waiting, just as respectfully as when she first arrived at the Mei Laboratory.
After a while, Mei Yiqiu's cough subsided a bit, but she was still somewhat agitated. Her chest heaved, and she shouted breathlessly, "Alright, you're not my assistant anymore. Send me to the orphanage! Let me face the final judgment with those childless old folks!"
"Professor..." Mei Ziqing called out sadly, her face full of grievance.
Mei Yiqiu gradually calmed down, looked at the pitiful Mei Ziqing, and sighed, saying, "Your achievements over the past few years are obvious to all. You are now a qualified scientist, and I can retire in peace. You are not my servant, and you don't need to take care of my every need anymore. Focus on your work. If you're worried about me, you can find me a caregiver. Oh, preferably not the nagging type; I don't like nagging!"
Mei Ziqing said, "Professor, everything I have today is a gift from you. Besides, no one else understands you. How can I entrust you to them?"
Mei Yiqiu stopped talking, put down his pipe, picked up his chopsticks, and opened his lunchbox. Seeing this, Mei Ziqing smiled and said, "Please enjoy your meal," before turning and leaving.
Mei Yiqiu simply waved his hand, but his eyes remained glued to the screen. What Mei Ziqing didn't notice was that the video suddenly changed. The beautiful scenery in the documentary was gone, replaced by a simple live-streaming room, where a kind-faced and elegant old lady sat.
" Selina..." Mei Yiqiu called softly.
Dickinson sat on the sofa in the living room, staring nervously at the television. Because of the lump on the back of his neck, he couldn't lean back in the chair and had to sit upright.
Once today's events are over, he'll have surgery to remove that damn chip. He thought to himself. How the world will develop from here on out is unpredictable; his old bones probably won't be of much help anymore. It's fine to just enjoy his retirement like this. Then he can truly enjoy fishing in Stanley Park.
As for Selina, he had no idea what she would face. From the moment she made that choice, it was destined that she would never find peace in the rest of her life.
Completely accepting a real consciousness is not as simple as implanting a chip. The chip can be easily removed, but the consciousness within Selina cannot be driven away, because she and Selina have long since merged into one, or rather, from the moment she accepted that Parasitic Consciousness, she was no longer the original Selina.
Selina is dead; what lives on is another intruder. The Parasites has long since taken over the nest and become the new master. It was precisely because she knew this that she decisively broke up with Mei Yiqiu.
The thought of Mei Yiqiu made Dickinson even more uneasy.
That proud and stubborn China Mei Lanfang once made a name for himself at Princeton, winning the heart of the equally proud Selina. But now, he is old and frail, having given everything for his career.
Dickinson knew perfectly well that Mei Yiqiu carried the heaviest burden of all. Even he himself had not yet fully ascertained Mei Yiqiu's true identity. But this did not prevent them from becoming best friends and most trustworthy comrades-in-arms, fighting side by side for a common ideal and for the future of all mankind.
The three of them chose different camps, but for the same purpose, and have tacitly helped each other for decades. In comparison, Dickinson felt that he was much more relaxed than the other two, and naturally regretted that his value was somewhat less.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly. He seemed to see the majestic redwoods of Stanley Park and the white clouds drifting on the sea. He began to yearn for a leisurely life. Perhaps one day, his three old friends could reunite, sit by the sea, enjoy the afterglow of the sunset, and reminisce about the past.
The TV is showing a sitcom called " There's a You in My Brain." The show is based on Parasitic Consciousness and tells the story of a rugby player whose brain is invaded by a female consciousness, turning him from a muscular player into a woman.
This is the most popular sitcom since "The Big Bang Theory". Astute United States television producers began developing the series the year Lester's will was revealed, and the first season aired the following year. It is now in its sixth season. Of course, the plot has also shifted from the humorous scenes on the field and the heartwarming moments at home in the first season to the confrontation between humans and aliens, and the Parasites's conflicting choices between its own race and humans.
Of course, given the typical United States approach, it would most likely be a film about an alien invasion, Earth facing destruction, and the protagonist persuading both races to negotiate peace. However, the aliens and warmongers among humanity make war inevitable. Ultimately, the protagonist transforms into a superhero, eliminating these warmongering evil forces and saving humanity.
Although such stories are clichéd, they inadvertently resonate with the current reality.
Dickinson watched and couldn't help but laugh. The protagonist was none other than Selina! Only, she wasn't a beloved United States football player, but just an elderly woman from Florida who loved keeping pets. This was somewhat different from mainstream United States values.
Just then, the television screen suddenly switched to a simple live broadcast studio. Selina sat in the studio, smiling gently as she looked at the camera.
Dickinson sensed that Selina's gaze could penetrate the screen, and a barely perceptible wisp of Mental Power emanated from her, diffusing in the air. This energy was extremely weak, but enough to affect ordinary people, causing them to focus their attention on this extraordinary moment.
To verify whether the Internet had delivered on its promise, Dickinson picked up the remote and started changing channels. No matter which channel she switched to, the TV screen remained frozen on the same image. Still unconvinced, Dickinson opened her phone, randomly selected a video app, and found that the same video image immediately appeared on the homepage.
He was relieved and touched the lump on the back of his neck with satisfaction.
At this moment, almost everyone watching TV or using the Internet has noticed this strange video footage, as well as the seemingly ordinary yet extraordinary old woman in the video.
After about a minute of silence, Selina spoke:
"Comrades, human friends, greetings! It's a pleasure to speak with you here. I am the second leader of the ' Children of Gaia,' yes, the ' Parasites ' you speak of! My name is Selina..."