Embers Ad Infinitum

In the almost solid darkness, Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian sat opposite each other, no one spoke.

Unknowingly, there seems to be an atmosphere here where whoever speaks first loses.

Finally, Jiang Baimian broke the silence and laughed at himself:

"Why should I compete with you?"

While speaking, she stood up, covered her mouth, and yawned:

"I'm going to lie down on the sofa and take a nap.

"You, you can count your heartbeats and carefully feel the operation of every part of your body. You can also go through all the oral histories you have read in your mind and briefly organize and review them to see if you can catch something. Inspiration, or you can sort out Wang Yafei’s story from beginning to end to see if there are any missing points. In addition, you can also get up and take a walk. As long as you can see, it’s okay to dance.”

After finishing the instructions, Jiang Baimian stepped forward, dexterously bypassing different obstacles in the dark and lightless darkness, and successfully arrived at the sofa area.

Shang Jianyao said regretfully:

"You didn't trip."

Jiang Baimian immediately laughed and said:

"You're very cooperative and know how to mention this matter.

"When I turned on the flashlight just now, I observed the surrounding environment and memorized the exact location of most items. At the same time, I could also sense the electrical signals of my own movement, so I could adjust my direction and not deviate from my intended destination. point.

"Remember, no matter where you are, you must quickly grasp the nearby layout and terrain. This can save lives at critical moments."

Obviously, she was very proud of this.

After educating the team members, Jiang Baimian sat down and curled up his legs:

"I slept."

As soon as she finished speaking, she laughed again:

"If you're scared, you can wake me up.

"Not in a singing way!"

The words that came to Shang Jianyao's mouth were blocked immediately.

Jiang Baimian deliberately pretended to be asleep. After waiting for a while, he gradually relaxed when he saw that Shang Jianyao did not show the same state as before.

After pretending, she really fell asleep.

Jiang Baimian was awakened by the sudden light.

She stood up suddenly, opened the thick cotton coat covering herself, and glanced around in confusion:

"what time is it."

"It's 6:30." Shang Jianyao's voice came from near his original position.

Jiang Baimian looked subconsciously and found that this guy was doing a handstand with his back against the wall.

"What are you doing?" Although Jiang Baimian has always been able to figure out what Shang Jianyao is going to say in response recently and block out what he wants to say in advance, this time, she really can't understand what the other party means by standing on his head like this. .

Shang Jianyao kept his posture unchanged and replied calmly:

“Change the way you think.

"Look at the problem from another angle."

"...This angle is indeed extraordinary." Jiang Baimian praised against his will, "Then what did you gain?"

"No." Shang Jianyao exerted force on his waist and abdomen, stretched out his arms, and stood up.

Jiang Baimian decided not to continue this topic, breathed twice silently, and asked instead:

"Are you okay after last night?"

"I just can't go to the toilet." Shang Jianyao replied calmly.

Jiang Baimian felt relieved and said with a smile:

"You can go.

"The public toilets here also have sensor lights at night."

"The main reason is that it's easy to bump into things before going out." Shang Jianyao explained seriously.

Jiang Baimian was about to reply, "I'll just hit you, I won't kill you." Suddenly, his thoughts changed and he said with a smile:

"Are you worried about making noise and waking me up?"

"That's not polite." Shang Jianyao didn't show any sign of his thoughts being read.

Jiang Baimian immediately praised:

"That's not bad."

She moved her waist, hands and feet, and said with a smile:

"You have adapted well. You will continue to read the oral history this morning, and you can go back to rest in the afternoon without participating in training.

"After that, it will be your turn to keep vigil. Don't be too anxious and move forward step by step.

"As long as you take every step steadily, believe me, your fear is not a big problem and you will definitely be able to defeat it."

Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian thought:

"I read an old world book, and there was this sentence in it:

"Whatever cannot destroy me will make me strong." (Note 1)

Shang Jianyao nodded solemnly, indicating that he remembered.

Jiang Baimian walked towards the door and said casually:

"I went to wash up.

“Well… I need to have a good rest tonight.

"No, what if Bai Chen has a similar fear? What if Long Yuehong is more afraid of the dark than you, and more afraid of the soundless and closed darkness?

"Hey, I have to watch these two nights to make sure nothing goes wrong...

"Being a team leader is so tiring!"

After Shang Jianyao quietly listened to Jiang Baimian's complaints, he took the initiative to ask Ying:

"I can watch them for you."

Jiang Baimian frowned and asked rather vigilantly:

"Are you trying to scare them?"

"Since the training is about courage, how can this link be omitted?" Shang Jianyao said confidently.

Jiang Baimian's eyes moved slightly and he said with a smile:

"This suggestion can be considered, but it cannot be put forward a few times. What should I do if I get scared?"

Hehe, when the time comes, it’s not certain who will scare whom.

Shang Jianyao didn't say anything more and hurried out and went to the public toilet.

…………

At 7 o'clock in the evening, after waking up, he went to the cafeteria on the 647th floor to have dinner, and then returned to the "Activity Center" on the 495th floor.

As usual, he found a deserted corner and sat there, observing everyone coming and going.

As expected, he saw Long Yuehong and his blind date.

What was different from before was that this time, Long Yuehong spent a huge sum of money to buy candies, pumpkin seeds and glass bottles of drinks from the "Material Supply Market" next door.

Having received compensation and rewards, he has been enjoying a prosperous life recently.

"Luxury..." Shang Jianyao commented softly.

As his eyes moved, he found Jian Xin, a delicate girl with short ear-length hair, watching her husband Zhuo Zhengyuan play cards.

After so many days, the lady who was anxious and tense after Wang Yafei's death seemed to have returned to normal, her face had color again, and she was chatting happily with the people around her.

Likewise, the sadness, fear, and empathy she felt due to Shen Du's death seemed to no longer exist.

After a while, Jian Xin lowered her head and said something to her husband Zhuo Zhengyuan, turned around and walked towards the door.

She looked like she was going to a public restroom.

Shang Jianyao suddenly stood up, walked over in a few steps, and "encountered" Jian Xin near the door.

There's no one here.

When Jian Xin saw it was Shang Jianyao, her expression became a little complicated, and she forced a smile and said:

"I heard that you and Long Yuehong found a lot of good things on the surface?"

While speaking, she couldn't help but glance at the mechanical watch Shang Jianyao wore on her left wrist.

"These things are full of ruins." Shang Jianyao said truthfully.

Before Jian Xin could speak again, he asked bluntly:

"That day, did you see anyone you shouldn't have seen on the 478th floor?"

He did not directly say the words "the day Wang Yafei died".

Jian Xin's face turned slightly pale, and she said as thinly as a mosquito:

“I’ve been thinking about this for the past few days.

"I was busy cleaning and didn't pay attention to what was going on around me."

She paused and spoke faster:

"Later, Wang Yafei died. I was very uneasy and scared, and I was even less in the mood for observation."

As she spoke, she glanced left and right and pursed her lips:

“The only person who makes me feel strange is Xiong Ming.

"I met him when I was eating in the cafeteria at noon. He should normally work in the 'Inner Ecological Zone'. Maybe he asked for sick leave..."

Shang Jianyao's expression did not change, and he suddenly asked:

"Why are you so impressed with him?"

Speaking of this matter, Jian Xin was not so scared, and her volume recovered a bit:

"He himself is very easy to remember. You don't know, but there is something wrong with his eyes. His eyes don't seem to move very much. He just stares at you blankly. He can't notice anything when he comes next to him..."

"That's it." Shang Jianyao nodded and suddenly said, "This matter has passed."

"I hope so." Jian Xin sighed slightly and pointed outside, "I'm out."

Shang Jianyao walked to the other side without stopping him.

The two of them met by chance on the way and chatted for a few words when there was no one around.

The next morning, Shang Jianyao entered Room 14 on the 647th floor long in advance.

He waited for a while, and Jiang Baimian finally arrived.

"I'm here first." He seemed to have won some major victory.

Jiang Baimian said "ha":

"I don't even want to irritate you. I'm making breakfast at home."

From time to time she would cook a meal for her parents.

Worried that this topic would make Shang Jianyao uncomfortable, Jiang Baimian looked at the other party and then asked:

"You are so early, are you busy?"

Shang Jianyao nodded:

"I met Jian Xin yesterday..."

He told the story of Xiong Ming eating lunch on the floor where he was supposed to be working, and he didn't forget to mention the details of the target's eyes being different from ordinary people.

Jiang Baimian looked confused when he heard this, nodded slightly and said:

"This person is indeed very suspicious, and there are signs of paying a price.

"The next step is to seek confirmation and get clues from him without leaving any trace."

Speaking of this, Jiang Baimian looked at Shang Jianyao and laughed:

"It's time to test your ability to make friends!

"Of course, it can also be a test of your ability to recognize a relative."

Note 1: Quoted from Nietzsche