Main Story Chapter 13-01: Witness of the Past (过去的证人） | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Before reading this chapter, please check out the LIGHT END and NIGHT END of Chapter 12!

Witness of the Past (过去的证人）

"Cross over, and spring will not be far away. I shall never lose the mood to sprout." 

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Evan: Mr. Zhou, you don't seem to understand this yet. If you were going through all the trouble to look for me just to tell me how brutal the Strains are, the you're looking for the wrong person.

Evan sat on the opposite side of the round table, holding the cup of coffee that is no longer steaming, and took a light sip.

It has been over ten days since the last time he offered his "proof of allegiance". Until this day, Zhou WeiCheng could still recall the murderous intents coming from Evan when he stabbed him with a blade on purpose.

Throughout this period, he has been staying in the room arranged by him, but Evan has never paid a visit, seemingly having himself forgotten about this.

This is a situation Zhou WeiCheng has predicted.

Many years ago, when he was still an assistant to the professor-- Or should he say, this person's father, he has heard from the professor that this son of his is a cold-blooded, unreasonable utilitarian.

In order to topple everything through him, he has to first offer him the bargaining chip that would be sufficient to move him.

Zhou WeiCheng: Master Evan, perhaps we might have different motives, but I suppose you would be interested in what I have in hand. 16 years ago, I was once your father's assistant. Our research-- separating the soul from the body, was done in order for the Strains to attain eternal life. But you knew what happens afterwards too. 

Zhou WeiCheng: A year later, the professor went missing, and Lu Ting took over this research. He actually forcefully remove souls from humans, and transform their bodies into vessels for the Strains, then renamed it as Project Eclipse, and it has lasted until this date. 

Zhou WeiCheng: The more ridiculous matter is, there are so many big shots cooperating and helping him throughout this period. There was even a point of time an organization was formed to provide experimental subjects. There are times I really have no idea about where the lower limit of humanity is...

Zhou WeiCheng gritted in anger, but his voice is getting gradually quieter and quieter, and at last, he spaced out as he stares at Evan's face. It seems like he saw a certain someone, or a certain moment from the past.

He only returned to his senses after a while, and noticed his misbehavior.

Zhou WeiCheng: I'm sorry.

Evan only nodded, and signaled him to continue.

Zhou WeiCheng: I knew you've been searching for the truth of your mother's death in the accident back then. And coincidentally, I have connections with some people that were in touch with your mother before she passed away.

He purposely placed an emphasis on "connections", anticipating for a surprised expression coming from Evan. However, there weren't any. Evan only looked at him calmly, completely unfazed. 

Zhou WeiCheng can't help but to frown.

Zhou WeiCheng: You might not know, before your mother passed away-- She has helped quite a few people to escape Project Eclipse, and had letter exchanges with them. These are the information of those people, find them, and perhaps you can learn about the situation before your mother passed away.

He speaks as he carefully takes a document out from his back. But not only did Evan not immediately receive it, he didn't even spare it a single glance.

Evan: Are there anything more?

Zhou WeiCheng's heart began to feel nervous. He suddenly finds himself still incapable of understanding the thoughts of this man before him, and this is the best bargaining chip he could ever offer.

Zhou WeiCheng: Also...

Zhou WeiCheng looked towards the face similar to the professor, and suddenly recalled something.

Opening the document, he took out a sketch at the size of a palm.

Well it isn't really something he'd call a drawing, there are only a few sunflowers on the paper, though a little messy, but the strokes are very tender.

Because it's sealed by plastic, it looks very new, it's just that the signature on the side came from 16 years ago.

Zhou WeiCheng: This is something your mother drew. That is when she asked me for pen and paper to kill time while she was looking for the professor and waiting for him.

The sketch was pushed to the opposite side of the table. Evan remained silent for a moment, then placed the sketch into the left pocket in front of his chest. 

Evan: Understood. Thank you.

Zhou WeiCheng lets out a sigh in relief.

Evan: So you wish to make a trade with me with these, and ask for me to help you to announce Project Eclipse to the public, is that right? Mr. Zhou, you seemed to have forgotten, that I'm also a Strain, and I'm part of the Lu family. Do you think I will go against my kind for these?

This time, Zhou WeiCheng only startled for a second, and very quickly, he nodded affirmatively.

Zhou WeiCheng: Yes. I believe you will agree to it.

Evan: Reason.

Zhou WeiCheng: Lu Ting's fall is advantageous to you. Even if he isn't brought down and was only left heavily wounded, it's also a good thing. Moreover, perhaps it's my misperception, but I feel that you also hated the disgusting things the Strains have been doing.

Evan, who was preparing to leave suddenly stopped his footsteps, turned around to look towards Zhou WeiCheng. That, was a slightly surprised expression.

Zhou WeiCheng: I don't know why either, perhaps it's the gaze you had when you took the sketch just now, that have made me feel that way.

Evan smiled quietly, then turned around.

Evan: You've seen wrongly, but you've made the right bet. Prepare your evidence.

Zhou WeiCheng: There are a group of people by my side, they are all vessels from failed transformations.

Evan: Normal humans would never be able to see if they were transformed, and they won't panic because of this. What you need is more evidences. Documents, data, videos, or the soul... the thing that can directly prove the experimental result.

Zhou WeiCheng: How could it possible for me to have--

Zhou WeiCheng wanted to say that Lu Ting has destroyed the evidences long ago, so how could there be any left? But Evan is already far away. He couldn't continue asking, only left with a gleam in his gaze towards the faint blue moon outside the window.

The surroundings are quiet and peaceful. He wondered, which family's cries are now buried again?

Right in this instant, he recalled someone from very, very long ago.

In the "college" that felt like hell, the youth resolutely knelt on the floor.

He pleaded him to take out the part of kind soul from him. It's because those useless things have always been tormenting him, and stopping him from making the right decisions, even bringing him disasters, so he no longer needs it.

Zhou WeiCheng could only agree to him. That was also his first time seeing a soul like that.

Unlike a normal human, nor it was like the Strains or the Erdas. It's like a flame, burning scorchingly, and it feels like it has endless vitality.

He has been wanting to ask what exactly is the kind of person the youth is, but ever since that day, they only met briefly, and lost contact very quickly.

Zhou WeiCheng's heart began to beat a little quickly. He thought of a possibility.

Zhou WeiCheng: As long as the other half of the soul still exists, does it mean it can become the most powerful evidence?

But, he has once promised that youth to destroy this part of his soul. If he were to find out that he retained it because of how soft-hearted he was, the youth will definitely hate him for it.

Zhou WeiCheng sighed a little, but also to find his life ridiculous. Back then, he couldn't understand why the youth insisted to do that, but he suddenly understood him right at this moment.

Only the strong have the rights to have kindness and sympathy. If you're in a middle ground, not only you can't bring yourself to be cruel, nor you can't be forgiving enough towards everything, you get to called a hypocritical coward. Weakness is actually a sin.

He made a decision.

Question is, so many years have passed, would the other half of the soul still there?

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