Wang Yafei was a name Shang Jianyao had just heard this morning.
When he attended the gathering of the "Life Ritual" cult, a member mentioned this person, saying that he supported the establishment of a "Fertility Center" so that children would all come from artificial wombs.
That member also said that because she always argued with Wang Yafei about this matter, she was deliberately suppressed by him, who was her supervisor, and found an excuse to transfer her to the most arduous cleaning post.
At that time, the "Guide" Ren Jie's response was:
"God will punish sinners."
After that sentence, in less than four hours, Wang Yafei suddenly died of cardiac arrest in his workplace.
If Shang Jianyao hadn't heard the related words beforehand, he certainly wouldn't have thought there was anything wrong with such news—within "Pangu Biology," people die of sudden illnesses every year, which is a normal phenomenon.
If Wang Yafei's death occurred two or three years later, Shang Jianyao would also not have considered it too abnormal, and would definitely have classified it as a coincidence.
But now, on the same day that Ren Jie said, "God will punish sinners," the "sinner" Wang Yafei died of illness.
Shang Jianyao suddenly stood up, took down the coat he had hung up earlier, and draped it over his body.
He strode out the door and went straight to Area C.
As he walked, his speed gradually slowed down, and soon it was the same as usual.
Approaching the "Activity Center," Shang Jianyao glanced around and saw Shen Du standing in the shadows on the side wall, immersed in the dim colors.
He stood there blankly, his eyes looking forward, but completely unfocused, so that he didn't even notice Shang Jianyao approaching.
"Uncle Shen," Shang Jianyao called out.
Shen Du suddenly shuddered, tilted his head slightly, and looked at the source of the sound.
"Little Shang..." He squeezed out a smile with difficulty.
Shang Jianyao said in a very calm tone:
"Wang Yafei is dead."
Shen Du's face was slightly pale, and the muscles on both sides of his mouth moved:
"I know."
His voice was very low, as if he was afraid of disturbing something unseen.
Shang Jianyao looked at him and asked directly:
"Is this divine punishment?"
Shen Du trembled again, and his expression instantly became blank.
"I don't know..." His gaze passed over Shang Jianyao, and his eyes seemed to lose focus again.
Just as Shang Jianyao was about to ask again, a five- or six-year-old boy ran over, grabbed Shen Du's drooping hand, and shook it, saying:
"Daddy, Daddy, it's time to go home!"
"Yeah, yeah." Shen Du replied twice, turned his head to Shang Jianyao, and said, "I'm going back now."
"Goodbye," Shang Jianyao waved politely.
Shen Du looked back at his child, and a gentle smile gradually appeared on his face.
He took his child's hand, met up with his wife who came out of the "Activity Center," and walked back to Area B step by step.
Shang Jianyao stared at his back for a long time without turning his head.
During the several "Life Ritual" gatherings, he used his "Talent" to establish good relationships with many members and listened to them share the reasons why they joined the cult.
Among them, Shen Du was because he once had a child who died young and had always found it difficult to let go. When they had their current child, they became even more worried about the corresponding issues, fearing that they would not be able to raise him to adulthood either.
Ren Jie noticed his situation, deliberately befriended him, and taught him a lot of parenting knowledge.
Later, Shen Du's child slowly grew up and became healthy, and he increasingly believed in the deity Ren Jie spoke of, and eventually joined the "Life Ritual" cult.
After another while, Shang Jianyao withdrew his gaze and walked towards the gate of the "Activity Center."
At this time, because the broadcast program had already started, there were almost no pedestrians outside, only the sounds of people playing cards and chatting came from inside.
Of course, if you looked carefully around, you could still find some couples in various dark corners.
Just as Shang Jianyao was about to pass through the gate, he suddenly saw two familiar figures coming out.
The twenty-seven- or eight-year-old woman on the right was Jian Xin, the cult member who complained about Wang Yafei at the "Life Ritual" gathering this morning.
She had delicate features and was quite pretty overall, a rather good-looking beauty.
--This was thanks to the popularity of gene modification drugs.
The other person was her husband, Zhuo Zhengyuan, who was also a member of the "Life Ritual" cult.
At this time, Jian Xin's face was pale, as if she had been seriously ill.
She looked quite nervous, as if she would be startled by the slightest disturbance.
Her husband, Zhuo Zhengyuan, had a gloomy face, giving people a feeling of "do not approach."
Shang Jianyao took two steps and stood in front of them.
Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan stopped at the same time, their bodies trembling slightly.
Shang Jianyao lowered his voice and said:
"Wang Yafei is dead."
Jian Xin, who had ear-length short hair, said reflexively:
"Coincidence, it must be a coincidence..."
Her voice gradually became lower, with only faint echoes remaining, carrying inexplicable fear and confusion.
Zhuo Zhengyuan swallowed and said in a deep voice:
"The preliminary autopsy results have already come out, and it was indeed caused by cardiac arrest. There were no external causes."
Shang Jianyao nodded:
"What a coincidence."
He then stepped aside, allowing Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan to pass.
After the couple had distanced themselves, Shang Jianyao turned around and looked over.
Under the illumination of the ceiling fluorescent lights, Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan's figures swayed slightly, revealing a hint of weakness.
Shang Jianyao remembered that the reason they joined the "Life Ritual" cult was that Jian Xin had miscarried twice, and it was only with great difficulty that she became pregnant with her third child.
Now, their child has been born, not only without any problems, but also directly inherited most of the advantages of the previous generation's gene modification.
This will allow him to obtain better talents in subsequent drug adjustments.
And aside from the fact that she liked to argue with people about fertility issues, Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan were both very good people. They were loving, liked children, and always took the initiative to comfort other members at gatherings, and wouldn't pretend not to see people who needed help.
Once, because Shang Jianyao's words about "too little sharing" made Ren Jie a little embarrassed, Zhuo Zhengyuan even took the initiative to share the Holy Communion he hadn't finished eating with him.
Shang Jianyao slowly withdrew his gaze and walked into the "Activity Center."
He looked around and didn't see Li Zhen or other cult members. Only the "Guide" Ren Jie was still in her old position, chatting with that group of women around forty years old.
Ren Jie, with her hair up in a bun, seemed to have noticed his gaze, turned her head, and looked over.
Seeing that it was an acquaintance, she showed a slight smile and nodded kindly.
Shang Jianyao returned the greeting with the same gesture.
He didn't approach, casually found a seat, and watched the people playing cards, listening to the broadcast that was always affected by the various sounds here.
Time passed by, and it wasn't far from the street lights going out and the night arriving.
Ren Jie glanced at her old-fashioned electronic watch, stood up, and said with a smile to the surrounding women:
"Going back, going back, someone is waiting for you!"
A group of people laughed and joked for a few sentences, and Ren Jie left the "Activity Center" and walked towards the direction of her home.
Shang Jianyao stood up, pretending to be normal, and followed behind her.
After turning into another street, Ren Jie saw that there was no one on the road, so she slowed down her pace, allowing Shang Jianyao to close the distance and walk side by side with her.
"Little Shang, what's the matter?" Ren Jie asked in a low voice and a casual tone.
Shang Jianyao's eyes gradually darkened:
"Aunt Ren, you see:
"We live on the same floor;
"And we are both members of the cult;
"So..."
Ren Jie was a little confused at first, but gradually realized:
"So, we should establish a closer relationship, like..."
As she spoke, her eyes gradually became strange, and her face was faintly red, not knowing which direction she was thinking in.
Shang Jianyao's eyebrows twitched, and he decisively shouted:
"Mom!"
Ren Jie was stunned for a moment, and her expression returned to normal.
She said with a chuckle:
"Then I'll recognize you as my godson.
"If your dad and mom were still alive, they would be about the same age as me."
After recognizing him as her godson, her attitude was obviously much more enthusiastic.
Shang Jianyao restrained his expression and repeated his previous words:
"Wang Yafei is dead."
Ren Jie tilted her head slightly, glanced at him, and after a few seconds of silence, asked back:
"Do you feel frightened and uneasy?"
"And surprised," Shang Jianyao helped to add.
Ren Jie smiled slightly:
"Do you suspect that this is the punishment that the deity gives to sinners?"
"Or a reward?" Shang Jianyao's thoughts jumped uncontrollably.
Ren Jie almost didn't get back to the rhythm of the previous conversation, and after a pause, she smiled:
"I can't answer that question for the deity.
"I can only say that the God of Destiny is always watching us, rewarding good and punishing evil.
"As for whether this time is, I don't know, but if it's not the deity's punishment, I don't think it would be such a coincidence."
Shang Jianyao pressed on:
"Then who knows if it is?"
Ren Jie's expression suddenly became serious:
"The Holy Teacher."
ps: Today's first update is asking for monthly tickets~