Thrive in Catastrophe by 焦糖冬瓜

Chapter 33 Put Your Head In a Jar

"Approved. Having Xiao Yan remain inside the highly secured research labs is also a way of protecting him."

"Yes, I see. Have you reviewed Xiao Yan's research report on the level 1 variant?"

"Yeah, he presented a very bold and interesting conjecture."

"The research directors of the Central Academy of Sciences all feel that his report is too far -fetched. They are all quite skeptical about it. There is no current theory or data to support his hypothesis and no way to apply any methodology for its support."

"All knowledge begins with conjecture. Galileo's heliocentric theory was proposed hundreds of years ago, there is Newton's study of gravitational force, even the virology theories from the Shire's father of the field, Constantine. All of their discoveries started with a conjecture. At first all of these ideas were rejected and even ridiculed, now they are the foundation of their fields. Perhaps Xiao Yan will become the foundation in a new field of study. The most exciting thing in this world is when a person, whose beliefs are met with nothing but disdain, manages to turn everything on its head."

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Xiao Yan found his dinner to be quite rich and delicious. Due to the supply problems the base faced, all the food is managed in fixed portions with limited variety. Xiao Yan has not had such a large array of food for quite some time. He thought of Shen Bing, who was still at the base, and his mouth curved slightly upwards. He realized that the Commander might not have lived better than any of the other residents in the base.

"What are you thinking about? Daydreaming again?" Casey's poked at Xiao Yan's cheeks.

"Something that makes me happy." Xiao Yan winked at Casey.

" Ah well, what makes you smile so smugly?" Casey leaned his upper body toward him until his glittering green eyes were mere centimeters from Xiao Yan.

Casey always wore that mischievous smile and moved with a childish arrogance, but rippling along the lines of his uniform was the faint impression of an extremely aggressive nature bound inside.


"No... what..." Xiao Yan subconsciously leaned away and until his back hit the chair.

"Are you thinking of Lily again" Casey arched a brow at Xiao.

"Stop it. If you hadn't mentioned her, she wouldn't have even crossed my mind."

"Well if you aren't thinking about Lily then who are you thinking about...Heine Burton perhaps?"

Casey tilted his chin and gave him a pointedly steely look. Xiao couldn't help but be taken aback at the strange energy radiating from Casey. The statement was said as a joke, but Casey's hard gaze was not in line with his tone.

"...What happened to Colonel Burton?" Xiao Yan did not expect Casey would suddenly mention Hein.

"His troops are about to go on a mission. The leader of the Academy sent a high ranking researcher to provide tech support for them.

You know what his team said?" Casey paused for effect and looked Xiao Yan right in his eyes, "they said, that other than their rookie, they don't want another tech officer."

Xiao Yan scratched his head and laughed lightly, "I didn't think I was so valuable."

"You dare to laugh. I thought Heine Burton would chastise them but he didn't say a word. Do you know what that means? It means that he feels the same way. Good thing Gordon and Ervel don't support you leaving the Shire or you would have to follow that team back into the field. How many lives do you think you have left to squander?"

Xiao Yan paused with the words stuck in his mouth. He wanted to tell Casey that, as long as Heine was with him, he had the feeling he would always make it safely home-- no matter what disaster befell him. In this underground city, without Heine, Xiao felt very unsettled.