Astoria, one of the four major countries in the world, has a well-developed electronics industry, and its electronic products are well-known all over the world. This honor is supported by the urban agglomeration to the north, centered on Mondogama. Known as the "Electronics Heaven", it is home to three major science and technology parks and Leohane University, an institution with outstanding achievements in the fields of microelectronics and machinery and energy.

However, even in such a high-level research environment, there is still a research institute that stands out from the crowd. It is one of the six major scientific research bases of the world government, the Lopley Institute, which is customarily called the "Fourth Research Institute". In terms of scale, the Fourth Research Institute is not the first-class among the six research bases, but it is a holy place for many scientists. There is only one reason: it is an EXP research institute designated by the world government.

Under the control of the EXP ban, the scientific research activities related to the EXP in various countries must be carried out under the supervision of the world government. The controls are as strict as the constraints on nuclear weapons. However, anyone who has worked with EXP research can more or less understand that this energy, which is still full of many mysteries, will be overshadowed by nuclear power once it is fully controlled by humans.

In the 115th year of the new era, the World Government Assembly passed a resolution: to establish the Fourth Research Institute as the only EXP research base of the world government, which is to allow countries to better exchange results and make progress together, after all, EXP research is related to the future energy use of mankind.

Of course, the real purpose behind this, which everyone knows very well, is nothing more than to better grasp the progress of research in various countries, and to exercise the necessary control.

The members of the Fourth Research Institute come from five ^ lakes ^ four ^ seas, a total of more than 60 countries, and more than 700 researchers work here. They are divided into small groups to conduct independent research activities and hold a two-week workshop on the results in May each year. The groups share the results, discuss the issues, and decide which ones to publish and which to conduct in-depth studies, or to distribute them to designated countries for experimentation. This seminar is a festival for industry insiders and all interested parties are welcome.

At 9 o'clock on May 16, 140 of the new era, the last lecture of the morning was being held at the venue of the research institute. Usually the finale is an old pedant, but now they are all sitting below, listening to the person on the stage, Tarini, the chief EXP engineer of the Fourth Research Institute, give a report to everyone.

"That's what our group came to – Kagan detached. As I said earlier, this is still a pilot phase. If successful, the efficiency of separating EXP from solid substances can be increased by at least 10%. We hope you will support this project, thank you! ”

After an hour of continuous speech, Tarini ended with the above words, drawing applause from the audience. Everyone did not lose interest because of the long time of the report, and everyone was always attracted and encouraged by Tarine's words. If it weren't for the order of the venue, some people would even want to raise their arms and shout.

At the end of her speech, Tarini packed up the papers on the lectern, jumped off the podium quickly, and ran outside. On the way, she hurriedly said goodbye to the people around her, and was the first to rush out of the venue, and when she saw the car parked outside, she waved vigorously to the people next to the car.

"Kane ——!!"

Kane looked up with his head down, and when he saw Tarina, he waved his hand as well.

"Finished?" He looked at his watch, "It's so early." ”

"I don't want to be there for too long, and it's an important day!"

"I know, get in the car."

Kane sat in the driver's seat, and Tarini opened the passenger door and slipped inside. The car started and went straight to the business district of Mondogama.

"What else is missing?" Kane asked.

"You're all set, right? Oh, and don't forget your gifts! Tarina made a point of emphasizing the gift.

"I can't forget it."

With a sense of harmony, the car drove happily towards the center of Mondogama. And somewhere more than 20 kilometers away from the two, the atmosphere was the opposite.

This is the residence of Terr, the deputy director of the Fourth Research Institute and the director of the EXP Technology R&D Department, and it is also his lecture hall. Outside, Schubelez was confronting two doormen. In front of him was a large compound with an iron fence door in between, and he stared at the three-story house behind it, as if to see through the walls and find someone hiding inside.

"Really no, Mr. Kalchi, the director is not feeling well today, and it is really inconvenient to meet." A doorman said.

Schubertz didn't hear the doorman's words at all. He came with a rage today, and he couldn't wait to rush in immediately.

"Hiding at home and not coming out, I don't even answer the phone, I have to ask one, two, three."

"Mr. Kalchi, please go back, don't embarrass us too much, we are also on orders." Another doorman also persuaded.

"Then tell me, why didn't Ter show up at the morning report meeting? Knowing that I was going to look for him, did you deliberately hide it? ”

"I told you, the director is on sick leave."

"! Even if he wears a hanging bottle, he won't miss any activities, let alone the seminar now! Suddenly not today? Are you going to hang up? ”

"This, even if it's the director, there are times when you can't bear it......

"Less nonsense," Schuberuz quickly interrupted the doorman, "I saw him near the institute last week, but as soon as I caught up with him, someone came out and haunted me. Obviously, I have eyeliner around me...... No, I should say that she has eyeliner next to her, isn't it? ”

Schubelez's voice grew louder, and the two doormen were silenced by his words, speechless.

"In a month's time, I received three orders to reduce the number of Tarini's bodyguards, and last week even I was removed, leaving only one person to protect Tarini, but secretly sent someone to monitor, what the hell is Ter......"

"Mr. Kalchi!" One of the guards had the courage to interrupt Schubelez's questioning, and together with his companions, he pulled the gun behind his back in front of him, "Now please leave at once!" After all, this is a private house, and if you cause any more trouble, we will have to take action! ”

But as soon as Schubeluz glared, the two of them took a step back in fright. But when it comes to this, it's not easy for them to break through themselves.

"Tell Tel that I'll come back."

Shubelez, who had left these words, left Tel's residence in a mess. He wanted to hear some answers from Terr, but he kept it closed. When he got into the driver's seat of the car, he shook his head violently to dispel the annoyance.

Today is an important day, and you can't let these things affect your mood.

*****

Tarini's home is in the northern country house area of Mondogama City, and most of the big names in the institute live in this area, and each family is a separate house. These houses look exactly the same, and outsiders can't tell the difference if they want to find Tarina's home, just by looking at the house, this is an arrangement between the Institute and the Independent Action Corps.

Ready, Shubelez arrived at Tarina's house, and it was just getting dark. Outside the hospital, Kane had been waiting for a long time.

"It's 7 o'clock, captain, does it take so long to buy gifts?"

"It's a little bit of something else, and I'm not very good at choosing gifts." Schubertz replied with a smile as he walked into the courtyard with a small gift box in his hand.

"Ah, Schuberards, you're here."

The door to the villa opened, and Tarina's father, Duvine, opened his arms and hugged Schubertz warmly. I got the same enthusiastic answer from the other party.

"Don't come to harm, Brother Duwen, it's Tarinny's birthday today, I still want to have a few more drinks with you, big brother."

"Haha, that's a must. Come, house please. ”

In the living room, the family of three plus Schubeluz and Kane, a total of five people. As a birthday party, the scale is a little smaller, but there are all the necessary things. Cakes were ready on the table, and Talene's mother, Lena, was busy serving plates of sumptuous dishes.

Today, May 16, is Tarini's 17th birthday. With the laws of Astoria, she is already an adult. Such a birthday means a lot to a person, and Tarini had planned a birthday party a week ago. Many colleagues and friends of the institute expressed their willingness to hold a decent birthday party for Tarini, but Tarini declined one by one.

She hopes that this important day can be spent with important people.

"Father, Mother, Kane, and Mr. Schubelez, come on."

Duvine and Lena sat next to Tarini on the left and right, like two flower messengers. Kane and Schubelez sat across from her. At Tarini's suggestion, everyone awkwardly sang the birthday song in unison. After that, the girl closed her eyes and silently made a wish to blow out the 17 candles on the cake in one go. The knives and forks in everyone's hands were raised one after another, dividing the cake.

Kane cut off a piece with a knife, stuck the knife in it, and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, he tilted his neck, and Tarini's cake-grabbing hand passed over his cheek. When Kane shoved the cake into his mouth and chewed it, a second attack came. Kane tilted his head again, and the attack failed.

"Ahh Kane, you can't hide! Tarini stomped her foot and said angrily.

Kane, on the other hand, munched on the cake with a blank face. "You've been in your hands for several years, and this year I have a long memory."

"This memory doesn't have to last long! Come here, let me take a picture, just take a shot! ”

"If you can catch me, let you shoot as you like."

"You said it!"

Tarini couldn't help it, clutching a handful of cake in both hands, bent on smearing it on Kane's face. Kane dodged left and right while eating his cake unaffected. When he had finished eating, he took out his hand, pinched a little cake, and reached out to Tarina's face, just gluing the cake to her face.

"The counterattack was successful."

"Oops! Dislike! ”

Instinctively, Tarini wiped her face with her hands, but the cake in her hand was also glued, making a mess.

Looking at Tarina's unlucky appearance, Kane showed a rare smile, a little satisfaction after victory. Caught off guard, he was held down by two hands on his shoulders.

"Tallini, take revenge now." Schubelez said.

Tarini immediately ripped a bunch of cakes off her face, ran over and slapped Kane in the face, and wiped it several times until she smeared Kane with a flower face and let out a victor's laugh.

"Hahaha, I've got you, Kane!"

The people around also laughed together, and this link has become a necessary part of Tarine's birthday since Kane came. Duvine and Lena happily watch as Tarini and Kane mess around, and the boy changes Tarini and becomes much more cheerful than before.

*****

After eating enough and talking enough, the time came to 9 o'clock in the evening. Schubertz and Kane got up to say goodbye, and the three of Tarini's family sent them out the door.

Schubelez simply said "goodbye" and got in the car and walked first. Kane didn't need to, his house was next to Tarini's house, which was used by the 2nd Independent Operations Detachment to protect Tarini. What used to be a shift move-in is now Kane's home.

"Dad, Mom, you guys go in first."

Duvine and Lena understood what their daughter meant, said goodbye to Kane and returned to the house. Tarini and Kane looked at each other, she wasn't as nervous as she had been when they first met.

"Thank you for being here today, Kane."

"Isn't that the case every year?"

"Do you want to say it's because of work?"

"yes."

Since Kane was pulled into the second team by Schubelez, he has become Schuberez's right-hand man. Until last year, he was also appointed as a vice-captain, specializing in Tarini's personal bodyguard. Every day his job was to accompany Tarina, keep her safe, and at the same time accommodate her requests as much as possible – the second was added by Schubelez.

When he first arrived, Kane was very unaccustomed to it, after all, he had no experience with girls his age. At first, there was no normal conversation between the two, it was all in the form of questions and answers, and Kane's answers were generally no more than five words. Fortunately, time solved the problem, and with Talini in daily contact, Kane felt that he was much softer in his dealings with people.

The first time he attended Tarina's birthday party, he chose a random hairpin and gave it away, and later after being reminded by Schubelez, he noticed that Tarina never used a hairpin, but a headband or bow. So the second time he sent a bow, but found that Tarini was not lacking in it.

Today, he gave away contact lenses, which Taleni had "deliberately" told him two days before.

"Why don't you try your glasses on?"

"No, Kane chose it, it must be suitable."

"That doesn't make sense, does it?"

Tarini shook her head vigorously and shook her fingers. "Yes."

Kane didn't know how to answer this, and the two stood and looked at each other speechless.

"Kane, will you always protect me?" Tarini asked suddenly.

"Yes."

"Whatever danger I encounter, it will protect me, right?"

"Of course, it's my job."

Disappointment appeared on Tarini's face, even though she still smiled.

"...... said Yes, but, for me, it's more than that. ”

Tarini looked up at the sky, and in the clear sky, she could see a few bright stars.

"You're my missing partner, understand?"

Kane didn't understand and didn't answer, and his wooden reaction embarrassed Tarini. Obviously he thought he had said something very in-depth, but the other party was expressionless.

"Ah, really, if you don't understand, forget it!" Tarinee pursed her lips and said, "Anyway, one day you'll understand." Good night, Kane. ”

"Good night."

Walking out of the courtyard, Kane also looked up at the stars in the sky, trying to understand what Tarini meant with this action. Vaguely, he felt that Tarini was right, though he didn't know why.

"Just like me......"

Probably, it's because of that sentence.

When Kane disappeared from sight, Tarini returned to her room, carefully locked the doors and windows, and closed the curtains, and the room suddenly became stuffy.

Tarini took off her skirt and opened the door to the closet, where a half-meter-high instrument was placed. She fiddled around with it, the machine making a faint noise, and the three displays on it lit up, revealing lines of text and numbers, and several lights flashing alternately.

Sure that the machine was working properly, Tarini pulled a ring along the several wires that had reached out of the machine. She put the ring over her head, lay flat on the bed, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

"I'm not going to give up, Kane. With you, I will never give up. ”