They tacitly avoided the graduate students and came to an empty office, where the two of them stood on the windowsill.

"You sue me directly, how bad the situation is." Zhou Yu said.

"Actually, from a surgical point of view, I did it perfectly and successfully. I tried to remove as much as I could, and I also preserved his brain function as much as possible......" Daniel stopped talking, after all, Zhou Qing was not only a patient to him, but also a friend.

"I know there's no one in this world who can do it better than you. What you can do is already the limit of the current level of medical care. Therefore, I can accept the result of suing me. ”

"Zhou Qing will be paralyzed in the long run, and his left arm and leg will lose function and need rehabilitation. He is also at risk of losing his ability to speak...... And that's not the worst ......"

"Please go on."

"Zhou Qing once said that the air composition of the Nibelungen suppressed the growth of tumors in his brain, and I also studied this. Because the Nibelungen has a slightly higher concentration of air quality, i.e. oxygen, than our world, it makes sense that this will also provide more nutrients for the tumor to grow, but it never grows. But now, tumors are growing three times as fast as before. Maybe only by returning to the Nibelungen can Zhou Qing get better, but ......"

"But in his current physical condition, Juli Group will not let him go back." Zhou Yu said what Daniel didn't finish.

Dr. Daniel nodded.

"You've done your best. I am grateful to you. I want to accompany Zhou Qing. ”

"Of course."

When Zhou Yu came to the door of the ward, the graduate students were still there. They were all very concerned about Zhou Qing and wanted to know what the results of his surgery were, but Zhou Yu couldn't give them an answer.

"What is this?" Zhou Yu saw that a graduate student had been holding a petri dish, and the seeds in it had pulled out two young leaves.

"It's a plant that Professor Zhou has been cultivating these days. He seemed to value it. We thought that when Professor Zhou woke up, he would really want to see it, so we brought it. ”

"Thank you." Zhou Yu took it over.

It stands to reason that no plants can be brought into Zhou Qing's hospital room, but Dr. Daniel allowed it.

Because many things may not be meaningful to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Yu carefully observed the petri dish, and the plants in it were no different from ordinary plants from that point of view.

Maybe it's the seed of new life, and that feeling of the beginning of life has a special meaning for Zhou Qing.

Zhou Yu put it in the corner of the ward, pulled out a chair and sat next to Zhou Qing's bed.

He didn't know how different it would be from the last time when Zhou woke up this time.

Zhou Qing has been in an unconscious state.

His mind sank aimlessly.

There was darkness all around.

It wasn't until someone caught him firmly that he opened his eyes suddenly.

At that moment, he found himself floating in this directionless space, and in front of him were the S-class creatures he had seen in the Nibelungen.

"It's you! How did you end up here! ”

Zhou Qing's eyes widened, wanting to see the other party clearly.

With such warm facial features and an elegant and delicate smile, he seems to be floating in the eternal river of time, looking for a place to dock.

"Isn't it good that I'll be where you are?" His arms wrapped around Zhou Qing's body.

This is the most weightless but most natural hug that Zhou Qing has ever experienced.

"But this is the world of human beings, not the Nibelungen......" Zhou Qing didn't understand at all.

"You brought me, don't you remember?" The corners of the other party's lips fell even more obviously, and when Zhou Qing's gaze touched it, it was like an inescapable reincarnation.

"Are you...... That seed of Elpis? How is this possible! Zhou Qing was stunned.

"I'm defined by you as an S-class creature. The mimicry possessed by creatures of this level...... It's not just in human form, is it? And our thinking can also be transmitted through the medium of other things. ”

That is, that seed is the medium of his thinking?

"So...... What do you want from me? Zhou Qing asked curiously.

"What can you give me?" The other party asked with a smile.

His smile contained too many things that Zhou Qing didn't understand.

"I can't give you anything." Zhou Qing said helplessly, "But I'm looking forward to seeing you all the time, I'm really greedy." ”

"It's not greed, it's just your attachment. You still have a lot of time, don't always worry that you still have a lot of work to do. Enjoy your life and trust me. After saying that, the other party gently pushed him upward.

Zhou Qing stretched out his hand, and the distance from the other party became more and more distant.

"Who the hell are you?"

The other party's lips moved, but Zhou Qing didn't hear what he said.

The dazzling light entered Zhou Qing's eyes, making Zhou Qing subconsciously turn his face away.

His fingers trembled, and his throat was hoarse: "Water...... I want to drink water......"

When he said this, Zhou Yu, who was guarding beside him, suddenly startled: "Zhou Qing, what do you want?" ”

Zhou Qing's eyes finally opened completely, and he met Zhou Yu's eyes: "Brother...... How are you here...... I want to drink water......"

"I'll pour you water right away!" Zhou Yu quickly poured water for Zhou Qing, and after watching him drink it, he immediately walked out the door to find Dr. Daniel.

"Dr. Daniel! Zhou Qing woke up! You were worried that his language skills would be affected, but he spoke to me and understood what I was asking him! ”

Dr. Daniel's eyes widened and he quickly rushed to Zhou Qing's hospital room.

At this time, the doctors and nurses were already examining Zhou Qing.

"The heartbeat, blood pressure, and pulse are all normal." The nurse sued sù Daniel.

Daniel came to Zhou Qing, pointed to himself and asked, "Professor Zhou, do you know who I am?" ”

Zhou Qing pulled the corners of his mouth and smiled: "You are Dr. Daniel...... I can't forget it...... Because if my tumor comes back, only you can save me. ”

Dr. Daniel swallowed, "You raise your left arm now." ”

Zhou Qing raised his left arm and moved his left hand. Daniel examined his mobility and found that his mobility had not been affected by the surgery.

When Zhou Qing recovered slightly, another expert came to test Zhou Qing's logical ability, and his thinking ability was the same as before.

"This ...... It's a miracle......" Dr. Daniel covered his face, completely incredulous.

And ordinary patients will inevitably lose their vitality after receiving such an operation, but Zhou Qing's recovery speed exceeded the doctors' expectations.

When he sat up and saw the petri dish in the corner of the ward, he asked Zhou Yu very nervously, "What is that?" ”

"Your graduate student brought it back from your lab, saying that it was some kind of plant that you had been raising."

"What! How did they bring it! The room temperature here is too high......" Zhou Qing was in a hurry to get out of bed, Zhou Yu was about to reach out to support him, but he walked over by himself.

The young shoots in the Petri dish have withered.

Zhou Qing stood there for a long time, his face expressionless, but the feeling in his heart was so complicated that it was indescribable.

"Zhou Qing?" Zhou Yu came to his side, and it was the first time he saw Zhou Qing with such an expression.

"How long have you been keeping it here?" Zhou Qing asked.

His expression and the fact that he cared so much about this young bud as soon as he regained his consciousness convinced Zhou Yu that it was not an ordinary plant.

"From the time you had the surgery, your students were standing outside the operating room with it. Can it come back to life? If it's because of the room temperature, I'm going to send it back to your lab right now? ”

The young shoots are dead and the roots are rotten.

Zhou Qing's heart ached, and it was irreversible.

He shook his head: "It's not just because of the room temperature, but also because there may be some harmful substances in the water...... There are too many absolutes for its cultivation. ”

"Is this some special plant?" Zhou Yu asked.

"It's ...... This is a very important person who gave it to me. It's hard to survive, and I'm surprised that it sprouts, but it still hasn't grown. Zhou Qing's expression was very melancholy, "Brother...... Why don't you take me back to the lab? ”

"Okay, I'll go talk to Dr. Daniel."

Zhou Qing took a breath, could it be that the S-class creature in his sleep pushed himself away, and it turned out to be a farewell?

Because the young plant died, he lost the medium of his thinking, so he disappeared?

If you don't go back to the Nibelungen, won't you have a chance to see him again?

Although Dr. Daniel hesitated, Zhou Qing's physical condition was so good that he couldn't understand it. Examinations showed that the wounds of his brain surgery were healing. Originally, brain scarring caused by such surgery can also cause epilepsy, but Dr. Daniel felt that Zhou Qing's brain healing ability was completely beyond ordinary people. He agreed to Zhou Yu's request, but only gave him three hours.

Zhou Yu drove Zhou Qing back to the research room. Zhou Qing took out the unused Elpis liquid and poured it into a new petri dish.

He carefully peeled off the festering part of the seed, and gently put the remaining part into the liquid with tweezers, but he didn't expect it to completely dissolve in the liquid and disappear.

Zhou Qing's hand froze there.

After Elpis died, part of his body turned into clear water. And this seed is integrated into this clear water...... So this clear water is the final state of Elpis's death.

He lost it completely.

Zhou Yu walked over: "How's it going?" Still can't be saved? ”

"yes. There are some things that we can't salvage by trying. Zhou Qing put away the petri dish, and his eyes were blurred, "Brother...... It is the seed of Elpis. ”

Zhou Yu was stunned: "What did you say?" You...... Brought the seeds of Elpis from the Nibelungen here? “

Zhou Qing pressed his eyes: "I know that this is not only not professional, but even poses a threat to our human world...... But the voice in my head convinced me that he made me feel trusted and safe, so I did what he said and brought the seed to this side of the world. ”

Zhou Yu instantly became alert, and clasped Zhou Qing's shoulder: "Who do you mean by 'he'?" ”

Zhou Qing opened his mouth, and finally decided to reveal the secret buried in his heart.

He told the story of the first time he encountered that S-class creature by the lake, and every time he was rescued by the other party after that.

"I know what you're thinking...... You're thinking he's seducing me, maybe he's trying to make me his food, or his nourishment...... But such a me, I may die at any time, and I have no value in being seduced by the other party at all. If that S-class creature were to eat me, it would be easy to ......"

Zhou Yu hugged his arms and looked at Zhou Qing.

"You're being arrogant, Zhou Qing."

Zhou Qing raised his head, he thought that Zhou Yu would tell him not to approach that creature again, and would say that all the qiē were designed by that creature, and then give an example of a female researcher who was seduced and became pregnant and died. But Zhou Yu said such a sentence.

"Brother...... I don't think he ever wanted to hurt me. ”

"I know."

"You know...... What the? Zhou Qing asked uncertainly.

"I know how it feels. Even if the whole world is telling you to be careful and stay away, your intuition tells you that there is no way to turn back. Because you need him. ”

Zhou Qing's eyes widened, looking at Zhou Yu's obsidian-like eyes, he didn't expect Zhou Yu to say such a thing.

"So...... What should I do? Zhou Qing asked.

Zhou Yu stretched out his hand and pointed his finger at the position of Zhou Qing's heart: "Always remember where your bottom line is." Always remember who you will never hurt if you sacrifice even a qiē. Until then, feel it, feel it. ”

"Are you really my big brother?"

"Do you want to be my big brother?" Zhou Yu asked funny.

Zhou Qing laughed: "Brother...... Let's go back to the hospital. ”

"Okay." Zhou Yu nodded.

Looking at Zhou Qing's back, Zhou Yu's gaze sank. Although he had also had such an experience, and even kept himself vigilant at all times, Zhou Yu understood very well the feeling of being provoked and uncontrollable.

He knew very well that although Zhou Qing looked no different from other scholars, he was desperate in his heart. But the appearance of that S-class creature gave Zhou Qing comfort. If he forcefully asked Zhou Qing to cut off the connection with that S-class creature, this time Zhou Qing fell into despair again.

Compared with despair, Zhou Yu wanted Zhou Qing to be happy.

Therefore, he needed to look at Zhou Qing more carefully than before.

Even if Zhou Qing can't see clearly, as Zhou Qing's eldest brother, he must see clearly for him, especially before Zhou Qing is dragged off the cliff by any temptation, he must hold him down.

"But what about me?" Zhou Yu smiled helplessly.

The image of the black-haired boy floating in the water came to his eyes. His hair swayed with the waves, and his gaze seemed to drag Zhou Yu into the end of the world.

Zhou Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and the more he found that the more he wanted to suppress, the deeper and deeper the young man's face sank into his brain until it was immeasurable.

In the office, Dr. Daniel held his arms and kept looking at Zhou Qing's brain scans.

When Zhou Yu went back to cook porridge for Zhou Qing, Dr. Daniel came to Zhou Qing's hospital bed and sent him his CT photos.

"May you tell me any special creatures you came into contact with in the Nibelungen?"

Zhou Qing's fingertips trembled, he knew that Dr. Daniel was too professional, and the most difficult thing for him to hide might be him.

"Elpis." Zhou Qing replied.

"What?"

"I've been working on samples from Elpis for a long time. I don't know if it's because I'm constantly exposed to samples of it, so it's affecting my body. Elpis is a very special organism with special nerves...... With its complex neural structure, superior nerve healing ability, and memory, you may have heard of it, it can also give memories to another living form before dying. ”

Zhou Qing tried to distract Dr. Daniel.

"If that's the case, there's still a chance to go to the Nibelungen, and I'm going to study this creature well." Although Daniel was skeptical of Zhou Qing's explanation, he accepted it.

A month later, Zhou Qing left the hospital. He did not continue to recuperate, but devoted himself to the study that followed.

His paper on autonomic neuroevolution published in an academic journal caused an uproar in the industry, with many scholars commenting it as a "conjecture from heaven." Zhou Qing believes that plants are likely to evolve the same nerves as animals in the distant future, and even develop a form of brain belonging to plants, which will not be limited to animal brains, and this kind of thinking nerves may spread throughout the plant, and even store complex memories.

Some scholars directly commented that Zhou Qing should be a science fiction writer.

In this piece of public opinion, several groups that originally sponsored Zhou Qing also thought that he had lost his ability to think because of brain surgery, and considered divesting or building Zhou Qing to receive psychological treatment.

This made Zhou Qing's graduate students very depressed, but Zhou Qing continued his research like no one else, and did not mean to change the direction of research at all.

The number of people who always invited Zhou Qing to participate in the seminar and said that they wanted to sponsor it has dropped sharply. Zhou Qing knew that his thoughts were because he had seen the world of the Nibelungen, he had seen the nerves of those plants, felt their thinking, and even their ability to act, which was unimaginable to ordinary humans.

But what Zhou Qing didn't expect was that a professor in the same field at H University in the United States published another paper that discussed Zhou Qing's theory in more depth. Different from Zhou Qing's conjectural argument, the opponent's argument is more logical, and a large number of examples are added, pointing out the importance of relevant research for the cure of human neurological diseases.

Zhou Qing read the paper over and over again, and he really wanted to talk to the professor face-to-face.

The professor's name is Bai Yingting, and his English name is Konstantin.

While Zhou Qing was still trying to find Professor Bai's contact information, Professor Bai's assistant contacted his research office and said that he would come to F University to visit Zhou Qing.

This made Zhou Qing overjoyed.

And that night, Zhou Qing was sitting in the research room watching Elpis's liquid go out of his mind, and his mobile phone rang, it was a transoceanic call. At that moment, Zhou Qing's heart was beating extremely fast, and he had a premonition that was almost excited.

"Hello, I'm Zhou Qing."

"I hope I didn't bother you, I'm Bai Yingting of H University, and my doctoral student has contacted you before. I'm at the airport right now, I'll be in your city tomorrow night, I wonder if I can have dinner with Professor Zhou? ”

The voice made Zhou Qing's heart almost jump out of his chest. The sound quality is pure, and the elegance faintly reveals a hint of aristocratic temperament. It was a voice that had been repeated countless times in Zhou Qing's mind.

How can it be?

How could he be in this world?

"Of course...... OK. It is my pleasure. ”

At this time, the sound of the announcement in the airport waiting hall came from the other end of the mobile phone.

"Professor Zhou, I'm going on a plane. Good night. ”

That "good night" with a faint smile soothed Zhou Qing's nerves.

"By the way, Professor Zhou......"

"What?"

"Are you still sitting in the lab?"

"Ah...... Yes......"

"It's time for you to go back and rest. Drink a glass of warm milk, take a shower, and get a good night's sleep...... Then, you'll see me. ”

It was as if he had known Zhou Qing for a long time, and he knew Zhou Qing's qiē, even if he was on the other side of the world, he could look at him.

"Thank you."

The call ended, and Zhou Qing was lost. He came to the computer and searched for Bai Yingting's information, except for his papers, Zhou Qing knew nothing about his private information.

However, his early papers were very traditional in their research directions, and their discourse and research methods were very rigorous, which is very far from the most recent paper.

His only photograph is also a photo of him receiving a doctorate, although the pixels are not clear, but in terms of facial features, he is definitely a very handsome and elegant scholar.

Zhou Qing turned off the computer, and it was the first time in so many days that he had returned to his dormitory before nine o'clock. He warmed a glass of milk, showered and went to sleep.

That night, he slept unexpectedly peacefully.

When he woke up, it was ten o'clock in the morning. Zhou Qing pressed his head, this was the best night he slept after being discharged from the hospital.

All day, he was looking forward to dinner.

When he received Bai Yingting's call again at half past five in the afternoon, his fingertips were slightly hot.

He had a strong premonition, but he didn't know what it was.

Bai Yingting's voice was still unhurried, with a hint of temperature that Zhou Qing was familiar with.