Bian Ziyuan had just finished a project meeting. He severely reprimanded the head of the development team, saying that the progress was too slow, there were too many bugs, and a lot of resources were being wasted without achieving satisfactory results.
What he found most intolerable was that the project manager, acting like a senior member of Mei Laboratory and relying on his past friendship with Professor Mei, openly contradicted him in meetings, saying he was "young, impetuous, and lacked respect for science."
Bian Ziyuan, now a completely different Bian Ziyuan, slammed his fist on the table. When it came to his reverence for science, he believed that no one in the world could surpass him. After all, who would risk losing their life and mental control to implant a chip in their neck?
Of course, he wouldn't gossip about his sacrifices for science like a busybody. What's there to say? Geniuses never flaunt their genius, and great men never boast about their greatness.
He could indeed describe himself as great now, even though his mind had become like a landlady's room, almost overflowing. But whenever he thought about the "great" cause he was engaged in and the changes it would bring to the world, he felt elated. And the most elated moment was undoubtedly when Mei Ziqing leaned against him.
Sometimes, he wondered if he had become someone else, like those who had been successfully parasitized by alien creatures. At those times, he felt fear and loneliness.
When he felt fear and loneliness, he would drink. The only person who could drink with him was Old Yu from the gatehouse.
Old Yu is probably the only person left in Mei Laboratory who has nothing to do with scientific research.
Since Bian Ziyuan started working in the lab, the lab has undergone several rounds of automation upgrades in recent years, with artificial intelligence replacing most of the low-skilled labor, including security and cleaning.
Old Yu was originally on the layoff list; he should have been let go during the last round of automation upgrades. But Mei Yiqiu insisted on keeping him, arguing that it was to "preserve the mark of an era and leave a touch of humanity in the lab."
Most people didn't object, and the AIs didn't offer any "opinions," since Old Yu couldn't take their jobs anyway.
Bian Ziyuan was happy for Old Yu to stay; at least, he wouldn't be so lonely when he drank.
He stormed out of the conference room, leaving behind the slamming of the door.
He decided to go for a drink, and as he left the lab, he thought of Old Yu.
He glanced at the special guard room where Old Yu was. It was special because it was the only room in the entire building that hadn't been modified with artificial intelligence. The room still used circuits from several years ago, the computer hadn't been replaced, and there was even an old-fashioned television. Now, no one watched the television anymore.
Old Yu wasn't in the room. Bian Ziyuan a little disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his mindset. After all, he was now a very important figure in the laboratory. After Mei Yiqiu seriously ill and hospitalized, Mei Ziqing became the de facto head of the laboratory, and he was undoubtedly the second-in-command. He couldn't let anyone see his inner vulnerability, and he couldn't let anyone see him always going to the old man in the gatehouse to drink with him.
Old Yu was sweeping the ground at the corner of the courtyard wall outside the gate. The ground wasn't dirty, with a few scattered fallen leaves. It was the dead of winter, and the trees were all bare.
Bian Ziyuan passed by Old Yu, he glanced at the ubiquitous surveillance cameras, straightened up, adjusted his sharp suit, coughed lightly, and said like a leader, "Sweeping is something that can be done by automatic cleaning robots."
Old Yu raised his head, but couldn't lift his hunched back. He stood there, leaning on a broom, a head shorter than Bian Ziyuan.
He said, "It's okay, I'm just destined to be a busybody. I can't stand being idle. If I'm idle, I feel old and useless."
Bian Ziyuan said, "Hmm, well said. If everyone in the company who works on projects had this kind of awareness, that would be great. They're all so slow and unambitious. Old Yu, I think we should organize an all-staff meeting tomorrow and you can give a talk to everyone."
Old Yu quickly waved his hand. "Oh dear, I can't. What can I say? I don't know anything."
Bian Ziyuan said, "Just look at your restless mentality. What's lacking in this day and age is the drive and spirit of your older generation."
Old Yu said, "President Bian, you must be joking. These days, I'm barely qualified to sweep the floor, let alone speak to you great scientists!"
Bian Ziyuan didn't insist anymore. He patted Old Yu on the shoulder and said, "It's okay, just do your job well. The lab needs you." Then he walked away with his hands behind his back, without mentioning the drinking.
Old Yu called out to him from behind, "Boss Bian, it's cold outside, why don't you put on a coat?"
Bian Ziyuan then felt the cold wind stinging his face like icy blades. The experimental building was temperature-controlled, always maintaining a spring-like warmth, a completely different world from the outside. When he came out, he was still affected by the meeting, his anger lingering, his blood boiling, and he forgot about the cold.
He wanted to go back to his office to get his trench coat, but in the end he didn't turn back. He endured the uncontrollable shivering and tried his best to keep his body straight in the cold wind, his not-so-obvious beer belly slightly protruding, as if this could withstand the icy army marching south from Siberia.
A driverless car pulled up and stopped in front of Bian Ziyuan. He got in, and just as the door closed, he said, "It's so cold, let's go get a drink."
Old Yu, holding the broom, watched the car drive away like Ghost, the steering wheel moving automatically without anyone noticing, and chuckled sheepishly.
"Drinking, good, drinking is good..." He swept the last few leaves into a corner and said to the automatic cleaning robot that looked like a leather bucket, "You're all done here, I'm going to drink."
Old Yu put down his broom, turned around, and walked away with his back hunched. He didn't notice that a gust of wind blew, scattering the gathered leaves again.
The robot, resembling a leather bucket, nimbly circled the ground, collecting all the leaves into its belly. It returned to its original position, swaying twice as if mocking Old Yu's clumsiness. Then, a whooshing sound like a hairdryer emanated from its belly, followed by a burp as if it had eaten its fill, before settling into stillness.
When Old Yu arrived at the small restaurant, Bian Ziyuan was already sitting in the corner. There were four small dishes and a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) on the table. This was their drinking habit, jokingly referred to as the "Four Olds"—the old place, the old four dishes, the old bottle, and Old Yu.
Bian Ziyuan said, "I'm the only one who's superfluous."
Old Yu said, "That's because you're young, you're not old."
Bian Ziyuan said, "Yes, when I get old, I'll become the Five Old Men—Old Place, Old Four Things, Old One Bottle, Old Yu, and Old Bian."
Old Yu said, "No, it's still the same four dishes. Because by the time you're old, I won't be around anymore."
Bian Ziyuan felt inexplicably sad.
Only when he was drinking did he feel like the real Bian Ziyuan. Not a genius, not a scientist, not a leader, and certainly not Parasites. He was simply Bian Ziyuan —the Bian Ziyuan who once harbored dreams and loved playing video games.
He said, " Uncle Yu, you've lived a worthwhile life."
Old Yu said, "What's so great about me? I haven't accomplished anything in my life, unlike you guys who have all done great things."
Bian Ziyuan said, "Regardless of big or small things, at least you've lived a fulfilling life. Who knows, the world might end tomorrow, and when everyone opens their eyes, they'll realize it was all just a dream."
"How could that be!" Old Yu sipped his wine, his eyes narrowed. "Even if it's a dream, wouldn't I wake up?"
"Then at least you had a complete dream!" Bian Ziyuan said.
Old Yu said, "If it's a dream, it's better to wake up early than late."
Bian Ziyuan said, "It would be good if we really woke up; I'm just afraid of falling from one dream into another."
Old Yu said, "Forget about a few dreams, let's drink!"
Bian Ziyuan raised his glass. "Yes, let's drink."
After finishing a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), Bian Ziyuan got up to leave.
Old Yu asked, "Would you like some more drinks?"
Bian Ziyuan put on his coat, dusted off the bits of dust on his shoulders, and transformed back into a leader, puffing out his chest and saying, "People must follow the rules."
Old Yu didn't think the "Four Elders" rule was proper, and was about to say something when Bian Ziyuan suddenly asked him, "Are you also playing the Dream Guide game?"
Old Yu nodded and said, "Yeah, last year the professor gave me his old Space Box, saying that everyone in the lab has one, and I shouldn't be left out. Hehe... Actually, I'm not very good at using it either."
Bian Ziyuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's best if you don't know how to use it; don't use it in the future."