Gu Ya stared at Ling Ling, stood up, and said, "Impossible. Clones are plagued by various genetic diseases and usually don't live past fifteen."
Ling Ling smiled and said, "Clone technology is very advanced now."
"Not just you, You You is a clone of your original body's sister."
Ling Ling handed a file to Gu Ya and continued, "Think about it carefully, do you have any memories from five years ago?"
Gu Ya opened the file, growing more shocked as he read, and then laughed incredulously, saying with a tremble, "But I remember very clearly, I had parents!"
Ling Ling made a sound of affirmation and nodded, saying, "That's right, we have memory implantation technology."
Gu Ya quickly flipped through the file. When he reached the last page, a line of large red characters was written there:
[Destroy immediately upon discovery]
This sentence made Gu Ya instantly tense. He immediately and secretly summoned his Void Pack. If Ling Ling was truly on an assassination mission, he would not sit idly by. 138 Reading Network
Ling Ling smiled easily and said, "Don't worry, the information is sealed by me. If other high-ranking members of the Hecheng Society knew, they definitely wouldn't let you go."
"If I were just an ordinary clone, why would you come looking for me? There must be a bigger secret about me," Gu Ya said, his face darkening, and asked in return.
Ling Ling smiled. She had expected Gu Ya to fall into an ethical dilemma upon learning he was a clone, but she didn't expect him to directly analyze the logic behind it.
"At my level, I can't know the inside story, but I know the whole world wants him."
"The whole world?" Gu Ya said incredulously.
"Yes, including our enemies."
Ling Ling turned and mounted her motorcycle, saying, "If you have time, go look for your original body. If you get any leads, call that number. I won't treat you poorly."
"Your Hecheng Society has eyes and ears everywhere, why do you need help from a poor student like me?" Gu Ya was confused.
Ling Ling smiled and said, "One more informant, one more clue. Also..."
Ling Ling's smile suddenly became affectionate, like an older sister looking lovingly at her younger brother, she said, "You are really very much like him."
With that, she put on her helmet, started the motorcycle, and sped away, her scarlet taillights disappearing at the end of the alley.
...
On the 31st floor of the Hecheng Society building, Ling Ling pushed open the door and walked into her office.
The office was clean and bright. A dark desk was placed in the center. The massive floor-to-ceiling window behind it offered a panoramic view of the entire lower city, yet it still felt so far from the upper city.
Ling Ling walked wearily to the desk and sat down. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. Before long, a holographic projection of a family photo lit up on the desk.
In the photo, a man was smiling brightly, his wife beside him, holding a baby girl.
In front of the couple stood a young boy and a young girl.
The girl's gaze was sharp, her expressionless.
The young boy, just like his father, was smiling very happily and radiantly.
Ling Ling stared at the photo, lost in thought, and murmured, "I wish so much that you were him, Gu Ya..."
...
The next morning, Gu Ya woke up feeling exhausted. After a full day of exertion, even a night's sleep couldn't fully restore him.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Gu Ya rushed to school. As soon as he entered the classroom, his classmates shouted in unison, startling him.
"What's going on?" Gu Ya stood at the classroom door, confused.
"The school just announced it! Gu Ya, your personal combat score is first!"
"Gu Ya, you're an elite level cadet now!"
"This is the first time an elite cadet has appeared in Class E since the school's founding."
"Gu Ya! Gu Ya! Gu Ya!..."
The classmates shouted in unison again, their voices echoing through the classroom, audible to floors above and below.
Gu Ya smiled sheepishly and returned to his seat.
The entire day, students were still immersed in discussions about yesterday's battles. Many admiring students gathered outside the classroom, wanting to catch another glimpse of the academy's new war god.
Some students even made lists of those who would successfully pass the official mecha pilot assessment next year.
Of course, these were just the students' wishful thinking.
Gu Ya's popularity gradually faded over the course of a week.
In the evening, as night fell,
the sky above the alley in front of Gu Ya's house was once again shrouded in darkness.
Only the dim lights from the windows of the houses illuminated the alley.
Gu Ya rode an old motorcycle he had repaired himself, with You You accompanying him, returning from the junkyard.
Every week, Gu Ya would take his sister to the junkyard to chat with Old Man Gan, listen to Wu Xuan talk about recent events, especially the development of the Proletariat Alliance.
The area surrounding the junkyard had already developed into a nascent community. Although it was still a slum, the houses were new, and the roads were new.
All of this was the result of the hard work of the alliance members.
Sister Ge had already moved into the new community around the junkyard, but she still returned occasionally to check on You You and clean her house.
She said that once she no longer felt fear towards that house, she would move back.
Seeing that it was still early and going home would be a waste of time, Gu Ya said to You You, "You You, big brother will take you for a ride?"
"No! Everyone else rides hoverbikes! You're still riding a two-wheeled broken motorcycle, it's embarrassing to be seen with you!" You You said unceremoniously.
Gu Ya quickly said, "Sister Ling Ling rides a two-wheeled motorcycle too."
You You said, "Sister Ling Ling's motorcycle clearly isn't cheap, it must be worth hundreds of thousands of White Star Coins. Yours?"
The little girl was still complaining about their poverty.
"One day, I'll get you a big motorcycle just like Sister Ling Ling's!" Gu Ya declared with great ambition.
"Really? Don't lie to me!"
"When has big brother ever lied to you? Come on, go with me tonight, I'll take you to a good place."
You You happily climbed onto the back seat. Gu Ya straddled the motorcycle and sped off, heading out of the city.
The houses on the dilapidated streets whizzed by. All they had for company were the streetlights, and few pedestrians were visible.
As Gu Ya was about to leave the city, You You asked nervously, "Brother, you're not going to sell me, are you?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could big brother bear to sell you? We're going to a good place."
The road ahead became increasingly ruined, with huge cracks in some places. You You's small hands held Gu Ya's waist tighter and tighter, afraid he would abandon her.
Gu Ya drove out of the city and headed towards the mountains behind it.
"Brother, I'm scared, let's go home," You You said softly.
"We're almost there!" Gu Ya said with a proud smile, trying to reassure her.
Navigating the night road, they bypassed the mountains. Behind the mountain was a winding dirt path, only two lanes wide, and the road condition was quite smooth, indicating that people came here often.
Following the dirt path up the mountain, the trees on both sides grew denser. The leaves rustled in the wind, sounding as if someone were in the trees.
You You's heart beat even faster.
After riding for about half an hour more, a bare patch of land with no grass suddenly appeared before them.
And in front of the clearing was a sheer cliff!
"We're here!" Gu Ya shouted excitedly, swerving the motorcycle. He pulled You You off and, grabbing her small hand, ran towards the cliff!
"Brother! What are you doing!" You You screamed in terror, desperately pulling her hand, trying to break free from Gu Ya.
As they neared the edge of the cliff, You You's eyes widened in fear.
But the next second, she was so stunned by the scenery before her that she couldn't speak.
The brightly lit lower city was spread out before them.
The lights of the hovercars converged into countless rainbows, spanning across the districts and extending towards their destinations, illuminating the entire lower city.
Countless brightly lit skyscrapers pierced the clouds, like pillars supporting the sky.
This was the first time You You had ever seen such a magnificent and beautiful scene, leaving her speechless with awe.
Gu Ya spread his arms wide and shouted out loud.
"It's so beautiful!"
"You You, look at the sky quickly!" Gu Ya shouted excitedly.
You You looked up, gazing into the deep sky.
Beneath the brilliant starry sky, the upper city, illuminated by blue and purple neon lights, seemed within reach.
It was like a giant glowing cake, or a fairytale amusement park floating in the air.
It filled one with infinite imagination.
"Is it beautiful?" Gu Ya asked excitedly.
"Mm!"
"I've often heard classmates talk about this place, I've wanted to see it for a long time!" Gu Ya said with a smile.
"You must come at night! It's truly too beautiful!"
"Mm!" You You replied excitedly.
"You You, big brother swears, I will definitely take you to the upper city someday!"
"Brother! I believe you."