Xia Miao went to the laboratory.
Not long ago, a bloody massacre had begun here. Yet in just a short time, the infirmary had returned to its original pristine state, as if it had been scrubbed clean of all traces of violence. The bullet holes in the walls, the claw marks left by beasts, and the bloodstains that had seeped into the floor—all had vanished without a trace.
It was as if the place had been "reset," like an electronic device restored to factory settings.
Xia Miao found the experimental records left by the doctors before the incident.
Some of the technical terms were beyond her understanding, but by piecing together the context, she could vaguely grasp their meaning.
Among the records, she discovered several images—embryos of some unknown lifeform.
Her knowledge of biology was solid, and she immediately recognized that these embryos closely resembled human ones, though with subtle differences. According to the reports, the researchers weren’t experimenting on humans but rather on an unidentified substance resembling human embryos. Their goal was to reverse-engineer these entities, attempting to grant them the potential to become human.
Xia Miao knew that the embryos of many Earth-dwelling creatures bore similarities to humans during certain developmental stages. Even now, in an era of advanced technology where interstellar travel was possible, scientists had yet to discover extraterrestrial lifeforms that shared such resemblances with Earth’s biological embryos.
In other words, if the embryo she was looking at bore such striking similarities to those of Earth’s creatures, did that mean these unknown beings might also originate from Earth?
What exactly were they?
And why were they conducting such experiments?
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around Xia Miao’s waist from behind. A young man rested his chin on her shoulder and asked with a smile, "Miao Miao, why are you here instead of waiting for me at home after work?"
She hadn’t noticed when he’d entered—his approach had been completely silent. Only when his arms encircled her did she realize she’d been caught in his grasp.
Xia Miao cut straight to the point. "What are these?"
"Probably something those people in white coats were researching. I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter." He kissed her cheek, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Miao Miao, you’re the only thing that matters to me."
No. 13 had become indifferent to everything except Xia Miao. The only reason he’d come to the lab was because he’d followed her scent.
He couldn’t leave her—or, more accurately, he couldn’t live without her.
"Miao Miao, let’s go back," No. 13 said, taking her hand. Then, with exaggerated consideration, he added, "Do you need me to carry you?"
At this point, he was the picture of devotion. Anyone who saw them would have praised him as the perfect boyfriend.
But Xia Miao suddenly said, "Every time you watch me drink that nutrient solution, I force myself to vomit it back up after you leave."
No. 13’s steps faltered, though his expression remained unchanged. After silently studying her for a couple of seconds, he lowered his head and sighed with feigned concern. "Miao Miao, if you do that, your immune system will weaken. You’ll get sick easily, and I’d be so worried."
It was common knowledge that those who traveled through space for extended periods without exposure to sunlight needed nutrient solutions to replenish their bodily functions. Without them, illness was inevitable.
But what if this so-called "common knowledge" was a lie?
Xia Miao said, "When I don’t drink the nutrient solution, fragmented memories start flooding my mind."
"See? Miao Miao, you must be sick!" No. 13 stroked her hair, his voice laced with worry. "Hallucinations are one of the symptoms of nutrient deficiency. But don’t worry—once we get back and you drink another dose, you’ll feel better."
"I don’t want to drink it."
No. 13 cupped her face, his patience unshaken. "Miao Miao, don’t be stubborn. Your health is the most important thing to me."
"If I’m really that important, then why won’t you tell me the truth?"
No. 13 smiled. "What truth?"
"I know you’re hiding things. Your abnormal physiology, the tail—none of that bothers me."
The mask of his cheerful demeanor finally slipped. His artificial smile faded, replaced by stunned silence as he stared at her.
Xia Miao almost laughed. "Did you really think you were hiding it well?"
If they’d been just an ordinary couple, she might not have noticed the oddities. But they’d slept together countless times. By now, she could predict his desires from a single glance. And when he was asleep, his control over his body weakened. The occasional extra appendage had long since stopped surprising her.
So Xia Miao had never been fixated on those details. What she cared about now was something far more critical.
"Am I already dead?"
No. 13 blinked, then quickly replied, "Of course not!"
"Then you’ve imprisoned me—no, imprisoned us."
Her tone was definitive, not questioning.
No. 13 didn’t respond.
Xia Miao pressed on. "Are we lab rats for you to observe human society? Or just playthings to pass the time?"
"Miao Miao, what are you talking about?" No. 13 gripped her arms, bending slightly to meet her eyes. He forced a grin, trying to mimic his usual sunny expression. "You’ve been watching too many movies lately—"
"It’s both, isn’t it?"
He froze mid-sentence. Under her unwavering gaze, he could no longer maintain the facade.
Because she knew him too well—and that meant she could see through every lie.
Xia Miao asked one final question. "And our relationship… was that just another experiment for you? A way to experience human social bonds?"
He couldn’t outright deny it. After all, when they’d first gotten together, that had been part of his intention.
But a gnawing instinct told him that if he didn’t say something now, he’d regret it forever.
"Miao Miao, I messed up. I’m sorry. I—I know I was wrong, but my feelings for you now are real. My love for you isn’t fake. Please believe me."
No. 13 tightened his grip on her hand, as if physical restraint alone could keep her from leaving.
Xia Miao didn’t say whether she believed him. She only replied, "I want the truth."
His lips trembled. The warmth that had once filled her eyes when she looked at him was gone, replaced by something that burned him with its absence. Fear and desperation left him no choice but to relent.
"A year ago, I recovered the wreckage of a drifting space train."
