Pay the Price

"Cloning?"

Ye Shuang was taken aback for a moment, not quite understanding why the old man would suddenly bring this up.

So-called cloning is the use of biotechnology to asexually reproduce offspring with an identical genetic makeup to the original individual.

In simple terms, it's replication.

The next second, Ye Shuang seemed to realize something, looking at the old man before him with disbelief. "Wait, don't tell me those two An Shiyus aren't twins?!"

"It is as you think. I hope you can keep this matter confidential, not telling anyone... Of course, I also trust your character." Anshi Yilang slowly let out a breath, as if finally revealing a secret he had suppressed for years.

"That child with hyperthymesia is the most successful one among our many finished products..."

"You said 'many finished products'." Ye Shuang keenly picked up on something, frowning.

Anshi Yilang pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Experiments naturally require repeated attempts, inevitably resulting in various failures..."

Ye Shuang's throat tightened, and he couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine.

Each failure meant the death of a test subject?

"Xiao Yu's body has an extreme rejection reaction, making an ordinary heart transplant impossible... The only solution we could think of was to clone a Xiao Yu for the heart transplant, so my granddaughter could survive."

"Isn't your approach a bit too extreme?!" Ye Shuang said.

"I know, of course I know..." Anshi Yilang murmured, explaining that back then, he was almost driven mad in his desperation to save his granddaughter, all for a heart that wouldn't be rejected.

"So, that Xiao Yu was born." With that single word 'so,' Anshi Yilang seemed to have left much unsaid, yet it made Ye Shuang feel the terror of this old man.

"She grew up very quickly, was in excellent health, and was a perfect match."

"But later I discovered that this child had developed a rare case of hyperthymesia, and... her physical development rate far exceeded that of an ordinary person." Anshi Yilang said, "After all, she was born in a foreign laboratory ten years ago."

"Ten years..."

Wait, so her current age must be...

Ye Shuang found it unbelievable.

"This is the consequence of trespassing into humanity's forbidden zone... The short lifespan of cloned life has always been a major problem." By saying this, Anshi Yilang made everything quite clear.

Physical deterioration was inevitable, and it was even more unsolvable than An Shiyu's heart condition.

This was brought by genetics, not something treatable with medicine or surgery.

"As for the outcome, it was that Xiao Yu was unwilling to accept the death of someone identical to herself... One night, she stole the test subject away."

"Stole her away?"

"Yes, stole her away." Anshi Yilang himself didn't understand how An Shiyu managed it. "They hid outside and never returned home, only occasionally sending back some short messages."

"And then, it should be what you already know. The two Xiao Yus share one identity, temporarily living their lives at Yinshan Academy."

Although Anshi Yilang omitted many details, it still left Ye Shuang utterly shocked.

"You can cure Xiao Yu's heart condition. I beg of you, could you..."

"Also try your best to save that child?"

"Because she is also a granddaughter I hold dear in my heart."

This always-proud old man lowered his head to Ye Shuang.

Ye Shuang was lost in thought for a long time.

Even after leaving the office, his mind remained in a daze.

"How to save her..." Ye Shuang truly couldn't think of a way. If An Shiyu's heart condition was something with a possible lead, then Hyperthymestic Yu's physical deterioration problem was almost science-fiction, completely uncharted territory.

Extending lifespan? Anti-aging?

Is it possible?

No one can live forever.

"Old man, you think too highly of me." Ye Shuang couldn't help but utter a bitter laugh. He wasn't a deity, after all.

No wonder when he suggested Hyperthymestic Yu go to the hospital for a check-up, she acted so indifferent and unconcerned. It seems it wasn't that she didn't care, but that there really was no solution.

"System, do you have a way?" Ye Shuang placed his last shred of hope on the system, this unreliable system.

But this time, the system unusually gave a response.

[Are you willing to pay the price?]

Price...

"What is the price?"

The system fell silent, just as it had appeared, quietly and without a sound. Even when Ye Shuang repeatedly asked, even saying he was willing, there was no further reaction.

"As unreliable as ever." Ye Shuang pinched the bridge of his nose, deciding to first set aside his chaotic thoughts and take a breather.

Let's take a walk.

Ye Shuang chose to go to the sports field for some fresh air, as his mood had been too heavy just moments before.

And looking on the bright side, although that child's body would deteriorate, there shouldn't be any immediate major problems.

"Perhaps her frantically experiencing all sorts of things is because she realizes her time is limited?" As if thinking of something, Ye Shuang's mood suddenly grew heavy again.

Walking on the track, there weren't many students around at the moment, though some senior students, seemingly without classes, were also strolling on the track like Ye Shuang.

"It's gotten so cold, yet some people are still wearing short skirts..." Ye Shuang noticed a few girls in short skirts with only thin tights, appearing completely unfazed by the cold.

Truly a case of 'beauty knows no cold.'

Only when you're young can you afford to be so reckless.

Thinking of Bai Yuyou, whom he dressed up like the Michelin Man every day, Ye Shuang's mood improved a little.

In such cold weather, looking warm is the most comfortable.

For some reason, that child Yuyou always had a way of comforting him.

"Let me go find Yuyou." Ye Shuang checked the time and saw it was almost the end of class.

Not knowing which classroom the girl was in, Ye Shuang decided to ask Bai Yuyou in advance.

Ye Shuang: I'm at the academy. Which classroom are you having class in?

Bai Yuyou: (。•ω•。)♡ P.E. class.

As she said this, Bai Yuyou also sent a selfie. The girl had her hair in a ponytail and was wearing a tracksuit. Next to her was Tang Keke stretching and yawning, her mouth wide open.

Also nearby were An Shiyu and Taozi, though the two of them were chatting about something.

Bai Yuyou: Where are you?

P.E. class?

This location, could it be the gymnasium?

Ye Shuang looked around from the track. Yinshan Academy had two or three gymnasiums, and he wasn't sure if the nearest one was the right one.

"Aren't you cold?" Ye Shuang asked with concern.

Bai Yuyou: Very warm, we all have jackets.

Indeed, just as in the photo, everyone was wearing dark green jackets, but for some reason, only the jacket on An Shiyu had the large characters 【China】 written on it.

It seemed to be free activity time now. After asking again and learning the child was in the gymnasium not far away, Ye Shuang headed in that direction.