To ensure the brain was not damaged during the craniotomy, Jiang Ye was required to play a game while undergoing surgery, and to speak continuously throughout the game.
On Monday morning, Jiang Ye, with dark circles under his eyes, was wheeled into the operating room.
He lay on the hospital bed, his body secured. A holographic projection screen was suspended above him, displaying the game interface. His hands were free to reach out and operate the touch screen.
Cen Yemeng stayed by his bedside, responsible for talking to her husband throughout the procedure.
She wore an orange hazmat suit, and through a thick double-layered mask, she looked like an ancient astronaut. The surgeons were also fully protected from head to toe, as if Jiang Ye were emitting some deadly gas.
The surgery began. An IV drip was connected to Jiang Ye's hand, followed by several syringes of medication rapidly injected into his veins.
"How do you feel?" the doctor asked.
"So far, so good," Jiang Ye replied. "I feel more alert, and my thoughts seem clearer. Doesn't anesthesia usually make you groggy?"
"That's ancient history. Only low-quality drugs make you groggy. We're using the best, of course," the doctor said. "Do you remember the surgical requirements?"
"I remember. I need to keep playing the game, aim for a high score if possible, and chat with my attendant, my wife, the entire time," Jiang Ye said. "If I notice any change in my thinking, I need to point it out immediately."
"Alright, let's begin," the doctor said. "You might feel a slight itch on your scalp, like a kitten scratching your head, but no sharp pain. If you feel any sharp pain, just say so, don't try to endure it."
"Okay, please begin," Jiang Ye said.
A machine slowly descended, securing Jiang Ye's head. The lower edge of the machine was positioned right above his eyebrows.
This machine served both to stabilize and monitor him. Jiang Ye tested it; his head could no longer move.
The doctors were about to open his skull and extract some fluid from his brain tissue.
The reason for this craniotomy was that no pathogens could be detected in Jiang Ye's blood, urine, sweat, or hair. Therefore, they needed to check if there were any pathogens in his brain. Some of the latest biochemical weapons, upon entering the human body, would only appear in the brain. Jiang Ye's recent illness was so peculiar that he was suspected of being infected with some kind of biochemical weapon.
"Play the game, husband," Cen Yemeng said, patting his hand.
"Okay," Jiang Ye replied. Habitually, he wouldn't have said anything more, but remembering the surgical requirement, he quickly continued, "I haven't played games in years. My skills might have severely declined, don't laugh at me."
"Laugh? Of course, I'll laugh," Cen Yemeng chuckled. "If you don't want me to laugh, then try to get a high score."
Jiang Ye reached out and tapped the screen.
The game interface popped up.
"This looks familiar," Jiang Ye said. "Isn't this the zombie game our son played when he had his rejuvenation surgery?"
"Yes, yes it is," Cen Yemeng said. "See if you can survive longer in the game than our son did."
"That's a given. I've watched our son play it once, so I know how to do it," Jiang Ye said, clicking start.
The opening screen bewildered him.
The game character appeared in a classroom, sitting at a window seat, listening to the lecture.
The classroom was full of students. Those in the front row were listening attentively, while those in the back were snacking, reading novels, or sleeping with their heads down – it looked like a normal class.
"Huh? This opening is different. Did the game update?" Jiang Ye instinctively raised his hand to scratch his head but hit the machine.
"Perhaps," Cen Yemeng also stared at the game screen. "This is a zombie game. Why would it start in a heartwarming campus scene? Husband, check if any of your classmates show signs of turning into zombies."
Jiang Ye manipulated the camera to pan around the classroom, observing all the students. He also took out a thermos from his desk drawer, which served as a makeshift weapon.
"The classmates all seem normal," Jiang Ye said. "Hey, is my deskmate the class beauty? She's so pretty?"
Cen Yemeng angrily patted Jiang Ye's arm twice. "Don't look at things you shouldn't."
"No way, wife, you're jealous of a game character?" Jiang Ye said speechlessly.
An itching sensation began on his scalp, a real, intense itch, as if something was growing, fine roots spreading through his head.
The doctors must be cutting into his head.
Jiang Ye felt a bit nervous and quickly refocused on the game.
The female teacher stood at the podium and threw a piece of chalk. "Jiang Ye! Why are you looking around instead of paying attention to the lesson?"
The game character quickly stood up, lowered his head, and obediently accepted the reprimand.
Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow. "This game's immersion is pretty good; it even calls me by name."
The female teacher continued, "Recite 'Spring River Flower Moon Night'!"
A text input box popped up in the game, prompting him to enter the recitation.
Although he had memorized it many years ago, he still remembered it clearly. Jiang Ye began typing rapidly, suddenly realizing that this game step might be testing his memory.
With each line he typed, the game character spoke the words.
The female teacher would nod.
Just as he reached "On the riverbank, who first saw the moon," a commotion erupted in the hallway, followed by terrified screams!
Everyone in the classroom looked anxiously out the window.
The teacher paused, then walked out of the classroom.
As soon as she reached the doorway, the teacher screamed and stumbled back in panic.
A zombie in a school uniform flew from the corridor, slamming the teacher against the doorframe with a bang. It opened its mouth and bit into her, and blood splattered out!
All the students screamed in terror, jumping up in a panic. Many girls started crying from fear.
"Run, quickly!" Cen Yemeng said anxiously.
"Run? Why? We should protect our classmates!" Jiang Ye controlled the character, grabbing a stool and charging out.
Amidst the screams of his classmates, Jiang Ye struck the zombie with the stool, smashing its head open with two blows, crushing its skull.
But the teacher was already dead, lying motionless on the ground.
Jiang Ye peered into the corridor. The entire hallway was filled with sprinting zombies. The adjacent classroom was in chaos, with screams erupting from all sides.
A few zombies spotted Jiang Ye and immediately charged towards him.
Jiang Ye slammed the door shut with a clang and locked it. The door vibrated from the impact as zombies howled frantically outside.
"Quick! Use desks and chairs to barricade the doors and windows!" Jiang Ye instructed his classmates.
The classmates in the room quickly began pushing desks and chairs.
But the zombie reinforcements were faster. Many zombies gathered in the hallway and began ramming the glass. With a shattering sound, the glass broke, and the zombies crawled in. Some students, filled with terror, grabbed chairs and smashed them, fighting desperately.
"It's over, we can't win," Jiang Ye said. "I guess I'll abandon my classmates and run."
"Run where?" Cen Yemeng asked.
Jiang Ye maneuvered the character to a small balcony outside the classroom.
Looking down, the street was swarming with zombies, all attacking a bus. The massive bus repeatedly rammed forward, trying to break through a bloody path, but there were too many zombies. They even lifted the bus, and the tires screeched as they spun in the air.
Moreover, the balcony was too high up, on the fifth floor. Jumping down would definitely result in zero health.
"Zombies are entering the classroom!" Cen Yemeng exclaimed. "Be careful!"