Chapter 95 - Individual Reactions
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nShang Jianyao had just heard the name Wang Yafei this morning. When he participated in Life Ritual’s gathering, a member had mentioned this person and said that he supported the establishment of a fertility center to allow children to be born via man-made wombs.
nThe member also said that Wang Yafei abused his power against her as a supervisor because she often argued with Wang Yafei about this matter. He had even found an excuse to transfer her to the most arduous cleaning post.
nBack then, Ren Jie’s response was: “The Goddess will punish sinners.”
nLess than four hours after she said that, Wang Yafei suddenly passed away at work due to a cardiac arrest.
nIf he hadn’t heard the relevant conversation in advance, Shang Jianyao definitely wouldn’t have thought that anything was wrong with this piece of news. Within Pangu Biology, it was normal for people to suddenly die from diseases every year.
nIf Wang Yafei had died two to three years later, Shang Jianyao wouldn’t have thought that anything was abnormal about it. He definitely would’ve treated it as a coincidence.
nBut on the day Ren Jie said, ‘the Goddess will punish sinners,’ Sinner Wang Yafei died from a heart attack.
nShang Jianyao suddenly stood up, took down the hanging coat, and draped it over his body. He quickly walked out the door and went straight to Zone C.
nHe gradually slowed down as he walked, and his speed soon became his usual pace.
nAs he approached the Rec Center, Shang Jianyao swept his gaze around and saw Shen Du standing in the shadows of the wall beside him, immersed in darkness.
nShen Du stood there in a daze. Although his eyes were looking ahead, they were completely unfocused. He didn’t even notice Shang Jianyao’s approach.
n“Uncle Shen,” Shang Jianyao called out.
nShen Du suddenly jolted to attention as he turned his head slightly to look at the source of the sound.
n“Ah, Jianyao…” He forced a smile.
nShang Jianyao said in a very calm tone, “Wang Yafei is dead.”
nShen Du’s face was slightly pale, and the muscles on both sides of his mouth twitched. “I know.”
nHis voice was very low as if he was afraid of disturbing something that others couldn’t see.
nShang Jianyao looked at him and directly asked, “Is this divine punishment?”
nShen Du trembled again, and his expression instantly became confused. “I don’t know…” His gaze went past Shang Jianyao, and his eyes seemed to lose focus again.
nShang Jianyao was just about to ask again when a five-year-old boy ran over, grabbed Shen Du’s hanging hand, and shook it. “Daddy, Daddy, it’s time to go home!”
n“Yes, yes,” replied Shen Du before turning his head toward Shang Jianyao. “I’ll be heading back first.”
n“Goodbye.” Shang Jianyao waved his hand politely.
nShen Du looked at his child again, and a gentle smile gradually appeared on his face. He held the child’s hand and met up with his wife, who had come out of the Rec Center. They walked back to Zone B.
nShang Jianyao stared at Shen Du’s back and didn’t turn his head for a long time.
nDuring Life Ritual’s few gatherings, Shang Jianyao had used his ‘talent’ to build a good relationship with many members and listened to them as they shared their reason for joining the parish.
nAmong them, Shen Du had always been unable to get over his child, who died young. When they had their present child, he became even more worried about history repeating itself, afraid that he would also be unable to raise him.
nRen Jie noticed his situation and deliberately befriended him, imparting him with a lot of parenting knowledge.
nLater, Shen Du’s child slowly grew up and became healthy. He increasingly believed in the deity Ren Jie spoke of and eventually joined the Life Ritual parish.
nAfter a while, Shang Jianyao retracted his gaze and walked towards the Rec Center’s entrance.
nSince the radio program had begun, there were almost no pedestrians outside at this moment. Only the sounds of people playing cards and chatting could be heard coming from inside.
nOf course, if one looked around carefully, they could still find some pairs of figures in the darkness.
nShang Jianyao was just about to pass through the door when he suddenly saw two familiar figures come out.
nThe 27-year-old woman on the right was Jian Xin, the parishioner who had complained about Wang Yafei at the Life Ritual gathering this morning.
nShe had beautiful facial features and looked elegant. She could pass off as a beauty. This was thanks to the popularization of genetic enhancement drugs.
nThe other person was her husband, Zhuo Zhengyuan. He was also a Life Ritual parishioner.
nAt this moment, Jian Xin’s face was pale as if she had contracted a serious illness. She looked rather nervous as if she would be startled by any slight commotion.
nHer husband, Zhuo Zhengyuan, had a gloomy expression that kept people at bay.
nShang Jianyao took two steps and stood in front of them.
nJian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan stopped at the same time, their bodies trembling slightly.
nShang Jianyao suppressed his voice and said, “Wang Yafei is dead.”
nThe short-haired Jian Xin reflexively said, “Coincidence, it must be a coincidence…”
nHer voice gradually softened, leaving only a weak echo that carried an indescribable sense of horror and confusion.
nZhuo Zhengyuan gulped and said in a deep voice, “The preliminary autopsy results are out. It’s indeed a death caused by cardiac arrest. There’s no other cause.”
nShang Jianyao nodded. “What a coincidence.”
nHe then stepped aside and allowed Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan to pass. Shang Jianyao only looked back after the couple had distanced themselves from him.
nJian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan’s figures swayed slightly under the ceiling light, appearing a little feeble.
nShang Jianyao remembered that they had joined Life Ritual because Jian Xin had two miscarriages and finally managed to get pregnant with a third child through great difficulty.
nNow that their son was born, not only was there nothing wrong with him, but he had also inherited most of the advantages of genetic enhancement from the previous generation. This allowed him to obtain better talent in subsequent drug adjustments.
nPutting aside the fact that they liked to argue about the issue regarding childbirth, Jian Xin and Zhuo Zhengyuan were very good people. They were compassionate and liked children. During gatherings, they would always take the initiative to comfort other members. When they encountered people that needed help, they wouldn’t feign ignorance.
nOnce, Ren Jie was a little embarrassed by Shang Jianyao’s ‘too little’ comment. Zhuo Zhengyuan even took the initiative to share the Holy Communion that he had yet to finish.
nShang Jianyao slowly retracted his gaze and walked into the Rec Center. He looked over and didn’t see Li Zhen and the parish’s other members. Only Ren Jie—the Guide—remained in her usual spot and chatted with the women in their forties.
nRen Jie—who had her hair coiled up—seemed to sense his gaze. She turned her head and looked over. Upon seeing an acquaintance, she smiled and nodded affectionately.
nShang Jianyao bowed in response. He didn’t approach and casually found a spot to watch the people playing cards and listen to the radio that was always drowned out by the various sounds.
nTime passed minute by minute. It wasn’t long before the street lamps went out and night arrived.
nRen Jie flipped her wrist and looked at her old electronic watch. She stood up and smiled at the women around her. “Let’s go back, let’s go back. There’s someone waiting for you!”
nThe group of people giggled and joked for a while before Ren Jie left the Rec Center and walked in the direction of her home.
nShang Jianyao stood up and followed behind her as if everything was normal.
nAfter turning into another street, Ren Jie slowed down when she saw that there was nobody else. She allowed Shang Jianyao to close the distance and walk beside her.
n“Jianyao, what’s the matter?” asked Ren Jie in a low voice that exhibited a casual tone.
nShang Jianyao’s eyes gradually turned dark. “Auntie Ren, look. We live on the same floor. We are all members of the parish, so…”
nRen Jie felt a little confused when she heard that, but she gradually came to a realization. “So, we have to build a closer relationship. For example…”
nAs she spoke, her eyes gradually turned strange. Her face turned a little red, and it was unknown what connections she was making.
nShang Jianyao’s eyebrows twitched, and he immediately shouted, “Mom!”
nRen Jie was stunned for a moment before her expression returned to normal.
nShe chuckled and said, “Then, I’ll acknowledge you as my godson. If your parents were still alive, they would be about my age.”
nAfter acknowledging her godson, her attitude clearly became much warmer.
nShang Jianyao restrained his expression and repeated his previous words. “Wang Yafei is dead.”
nRen Jie tilted her head and glanced at him. After a few seconds of silence, she asked, “Do you feel terrified and uneasy?”
n“There’s also surprise,” Shang Jianyao added.
nRen Jie smiled and questioned, “Do you suspect that this is the punishment a deity gives sinners?”
n“Or a reward?” Shang Jianyao’s thoughts jumped uncontrollably.
nRen Jie almost didn’t manage to resume the conversation’s tempo. She paused and smiled. “I can’t answer your question on behalf of the Goddess. I can only say that the Arbiter of Fate has always been watching us, respectively rewarding and punishing the good and evil.
n“As for whether it’s true or not, I’m not sure. However, I don’t think it would be such a coincidence if it weren’t for the Goddess’s punishment.”
nShang Jianyao asked, “Who would know?”
nRen Jie’s expression immediately turned serious. “The Doctor of the Church.”
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