Editor and Proofreader: Rinrin

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After the meeting, they muddled through two days. Aside from being unable to leave the school and occasionally hearing about which department had reported a mutant, as well as the increasing strictness of attendance checks during class, everything else felt normal.

—

Lin Wu initially couldn’t understand why, with such a big incident happening, the school still insisted on continuing classes. Gradually, he realized that this time was different from the earlier fog situation. Back then, they had been locked down and classes were suspended due to bad weather, and everyone understood it was just a matter of waiting for the fog to pass. But now, if their daily routines were disrupted, no one knew what might come next.

Sometimes, the order of daily life is the most solid psychological support; it helps people face storms without collapsing, even when they feel anxious or afraid.

However, when passing by other students on campus, one could distinctly feel the vigilance and tension between strangers, as if everyone was afraid that a moment of carelessness would lead them to encounter a “mutant.”

By the third day, Ren Feiyu couldn’t hold it in any longer and wanted to go to the department office to “turn himself in.” Although he hadn’t shown any abnormalities since that night, the incident weighed heavily on his heart, leaving him unable to sleep or eat well for days, and even causing him to lose the youthful collagen in his face.

“Then let’s go” Lin Wu and the others always supported Ren Feiyu unconditionally. If Feiyu wanted to climb to the roof, they would set up a ladder; if Feiyu wanted soup, they would cook chicken.

Ren Feiyu looked gloomy: “But if I go, I’ll definitely have to be hospitalized…”

Lin Wu said, “At worst, we’ll stay with you.”

Ren Feiyu immediately shook his head: “That’s not okay; you guys haven’t mutated.”

Li Junchi held his left arm: “If you’re hospitalized, will we stay far away?”

Xia Yang grabbed his right arm: “Let’s go, my brother.”

The four of them resolutely went to the department office and recounted the situation to their counselor, including how Ren Feiyu had stumbled that night, providing such detailed information that it was almost like acting it out.

The counselor recorded everything meticulously in a small notebook and occasionally interrupted with questions like, “Was that the only abnormal reaction?” and “Do you have any other physical discomforts?”

Ren Feiyu answered all of them honestly, and whenever he didn’t provide a complete answer, the three friends nearby filled in the gaps.

Once everything was reported, the four stood there holding their breath, waiting for the verdict.

The counselor put down his pen and closed the notebook: “Alright, you can go back now.”

…It seemed a bit different from what they expected?

“Don’t we need to go to the hospital?” This was what Ren Feiyu feared most before coming here; it was basically a fear of confronting the illness. But now that the counselor didn’t mention it, he felt even less certain.

“No need. We just received a notice. From now on, if the level of bodily abnormalities doesn’t affect normal life, the department will just record the information and report it.” The counselor had also been feeling overwhelmed these past few days; he could only convey whatever instructions came down from above. “Keep monitoring your physical condition, and let me know if there are any new developments.”

The four exchanged glances.

Lin Wu asked, “Teacher Gao, what level of abnormality counts as affecting normal life?”

“Wait a minute” the counselor pulled out the notification document hidden under his notebook, flipped to the relevant page, and began to read, “Any behavior that poses a threat to oneself, others, or public safety, including but not limited to loss of emotional control, manic violence, assault, destruction of property, or lack of coordination…”

Don’t “wait”—just hearing those words was enough to terrify anyone. If it weren’t for Xia Yang and Li Junchi supporting Ren Feiyu, he probably would have been overwhelmed by the bleak future and collapsed onto the floor.

Lin Wu’s voice grew increasingly serious: “Teacher, can bodily abnormalities really lead to these? How long does it usually take to…”

The counselor replied, “There hasn’t been any discovery of that yet. These are just preliminary estimates for the worst-case scenario.”

Lin Wu, Xia Yang, Li Junchi, and Ren Feiyu: “…”

‘Isn’t this document’s sense of crisis a bit too strong?!’

Going to the department office felt like riding a rollercoaster for their hearts, but at least the final outcome, while not entirely reassuring, was somewhat comforting.

They breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave.

Just as they were about to step out of the office, they suddenly heard the counselor’s stern voice: “You all stop right there!”

The four stiffened and turned back in fear. They didn’t forget some severe measure, did they?

“You guys almost slipped past me just now” the counselor slammed the desk and stood up. “How many times have I said to pay attention to safety while on the upper bunk? You still managed to fall down?!”

Lin Wu: “…”

Li Junchi: “…”

Xia Yang: “…”

Ren Feiyu: “No, I just wanted to grab a soda…”

Teacher Gao: “You can fall down just trying to grab a soda? How reckless are you guys in the dorm? I really…”

“I’m not saying you’re not grown-ups, but can’t you make it easier for me to worry less?”

“You’re all nineteen or twenty; the teacher can’t follow you around every day like in middle school or high school. That’s not possible. I know you need freedom, need space, need the craziness and fervor of youth…”

For the next half hour, the four stood in the department office, listening to the counselor’s heartfelt admonitions.

The first fifteen minutes were from Teacher Gao, and when the teacher in charge of the department left for a meeting returned, the baton was passed, and the lecture continued.

The department staff, who could only recite documents when discussing mutation-related issues, became eloquent and articulate once they entered familiar territory, as if the literary muse had possessed them.

By the time they finally left, the four had an impulse to dismantle their dorm beds and just sleep on the floor.

Back in their dorm, they finally regained their composure.

Li Junchi: “It’s so strange; weren’t there other students from different departments sent to the hospital yesterday? Why isn’t that the case today?”

Xia Yang: “Didn’t they say it was a new notice?”

Li Junchi: “But it’s only been three days since the whole-school meeting. Isn’t that a bit too fast?”

“This kind of unknown mutation could bring new developments every day” Lin Wu pondered. “I suspect there must have been further discoveries, which is why they adjusted the measures.”

Sure enough, that evening, the news broadcast the second situation briefing—

—

“There have been no cases of deteriorating health or loss of control among the individuals with bodily abnormalities currently discovered in various provinces and cities. The ‘loss of control’ felt by these individuals in the early stages mostly comes from emotional fluctuations caused by panic. After counseling, they can all control their behavior normally, which does not affect their daily lives…”

“However, the symptoms of bodily abnormalities have not disappeared…”

“During the examination of those with bodily abnormalities, we found that all of them exhibited varying degrees of ‘gene activation,’ which is the direct cause of these bodily abnormalities…”

“But the cause of ‘gene activation’ is still unclear at this time…”

After the announcement, experts answered reporters’ questions—

Reporter: “Can you explain the ‘gene activation’ you just mentioned in more detail?”

Expert: “Our bodies contain many gene fragments that, although present, should normally be turned off. This means the information carried by these gene fragments does not manifest in our bodies. ‘Gene activation’ refers to the reopening of these originally closed gene fragments for some reason, resulting in abnormal changes.”

Reporter: “But why do the abnormal symptoms vary not only in degree but also in type? Some have respiratory issues, while others have motor neuron problems…”

Expert: “This is still under research at this stage, but actually, each individual with abnormalities does not experience a single bodily change; rather, one particular aspect may be especially pronounced, overshadowing others.”

Reporter: “Can such bodily abnormalities be contagious?”

Expert: “Currently, no clear transmission chain has been found among those with abnormalities.”

Reporter: “But there must be a reason for such a large-scale outbreak.”

Expert: “As I just mentioned, the causes that trigger ‘gene activation’ need further investigation.”

Reporter: “How long will these abnormalities last?”

Expert: “Once the genes are activated, the changes they bring will be reflected in the individual indefinitely.”

Reporter: “So this condition won’t ‘heal’ on its own?”

Expert: “At present, the likelihood is extremely low.”

Reporter: “What about targeted treatments?”

Expert: “We’ve tried some ‘inhibition plans,’ but none have been effective. Gene issues are a very complex, intricate, and expansive field, and we still need time.”

Reporter: “You mentioned in the announcement that all individuals with abnormalities can control their behavior after counseling, without affecting their daily lives?”

Expert: “Some individuals with abnormalities can continue to live normally without any counseling…”

Before the live broadcast ended, Ren Feiyu stood up excitedly: “Did you hear that? I won’t be foolish, won’t go crazy, won’t be contagious; it’s just something activated, and I can still live normally…”

The fear that had been suppressed for several days finally dissipated in that moment. With the sudden release of tension, Ren Feiyu couldn’t control himself anymore; the joy of surviving made him feel almost crazy, and his words came out with a sobbing tone.

“I heard you, I heard you.” The three approached him, surrounding Ren Feiyu and holding the overwhelmed guy tightly.

Ren Feiyu was afraid, but they were no less so.

They were still under twenty and far from as strong as they thought.

Lin Wu slightly tilted his head back to take a deep breath, then said: “Not only can you live normally now, but you can also study, attend classes, and take exams normally.”

“That’s great” Ren Feiyu sniffled, speaking from the heart, “I just realized how much I really love studying…”

Lin Wu hugged him tightly: “Cherish this moment.”

Li Junchi and Xia Yang chimed in: “Because passion can always be fleeting.”

In the following two weeks, as more research findings and news reports emerged, the phenomenon of “mass bodily abnormalities” became increasingly clear—

“A global mutation storm is sweeping across…”

“Scientists from multiple countries have discovered that the genes causing bodily abnormalities are the oldest and most primitive fragments of genes within the human body. These gene fragments were widely present in various animals even before humans emerged…”

“The bodily and behavioral changes exhibited by those with abnormalities show characteristics of certain types or even specific animals, which experts suggest may be related to the differences in the activated gene fragments…”