RotA – Chapter 10

On the third day of living together, the two of them—one in the bed, the other on the floor—woke up with slight headaches.

At noon, Chai Yuening cooked a tomato and egg soup, divided it into two large bowls, and soaked some cheap, filling, and easy-to-store dry biscuits in it. They ate with immense satisfaction.

In the afternoon, Chai Yuening estimated her remaining funds, then projected how much her cut would be from the goods You Lan was helping to sell. Finally, with a sigh of relief, she took Chu Ci to the medical clinic in the Fourth District.

The medical clinics in the outer districts were generally not very good. It could even be said that some of the medical staff had not necessarily studied medicine. This was especially true for trauma care; many older mercenaries who no longer wanted to risk venturing to the surface could get involved as long as they knew some basic wound treatment methods.

Ultimately, the biggest reason was a lack of talent. The medical clinics had no choice, so they operated on the principle that it was better to have someone mediocre than no one at all.

After all, everyone knew the main city was better. Whether it was food, clothing, housing, or the quality of accommodations, education, and medical care, it was far superior to the outer districts. Countless people risked their lives trying to obtain a main district housing card for a better life. How many truly educated people were willing to remain in the outer districts?

Regarding Chu Ci’s amnesia, Chai Yuening had asked around and heard that a Dr. Zhang at the Fourth District clinic had some expertise in brain injuries and might be able to help.

Whether he could actually cure her or not, Chai Yuening held onto the belief that trying was better than doing nothing, and she made a note of Dr. Zhang’s name.

The trip from the Sixth District to the Fourth District didn’t take too long.

Having rarely visited the Fourth District, Chai Yuening led Chu Ci, asking for directions along the way. After searching for a good while, they finally found the district’s medical clinic amidst the winding, crowded urban area.

Dr. Zhang was in his eighties, with graying hair. At his age, he was older than the Base itself, but he was still in decent spirits.

After Chu Ci’s turn came, the old man examined her thoroughly back and forth, then waved his hand and said slowly, “Young lady, you’re perfectly healthy. Go on home.”

“But she can’t remember anything,” Chai Yuening stood up and added. “She lost her memory half a month ago. It’s not just a loss of memory about people and events; her recognition of some common knowledge and objects is also gone.”

Dr. Zhang thoughtfully met the gaze of Chu Ci, who was sitting before him, for a few seconds. He pointed to his reading glasses and asked, “Do you recognize this object?”

Chu Ci frowned and opened her mouth, as if an answer was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t get it out.

Dr. Zhang asked again, “Do you know what it’s used for?”

Chu Ci: “It helps you see more clearly.”

Dr. Zhang nodded. “This is cognitive amnesia. It’s not uncommon. She knows what things are for but doesn’t recognize the things themselves. It won’t have much impact on her life.”

Chai Yuening glanced at Chu Ci and quickly asked, “Can it be cured?”

“You said she was injured and lost her memory half a month ago, but there are no recent signs of injury on her forehead or the back of her skull. If she really suffered a brain injury, it was most likely caused by some kind of soundwave interference.”

“Then…”

“There are ways to treat it. I’ll give you three approaches,” Dr. Zhang said unhurriedly. “First, find the source of the soundwave, analyze its frequency, record its amplitude, and use stimulation therapy by controlling the variables. But she was injured in the Fog Zone, so the source will be hard to find. Even if you found it, I don’t have the right equipment for that kind of treatment here.”

Chai Yuening: “What are the other methods?”

Dr. Zhang: “Second, use things she cares about, or familiar people and events, to gradually reawaken her past memories. This is a gentle therapy.”

Chai Yuening: “But she’s from the Floating City. She doesn’t know anyone in the Base, and besides an identity card, she had no other personal belongings.”

Dr. Zhang: “The third, and simplest, method…”

Chai Yuening’s ears perked up instantly.

Dr. Zhang: “The little girl hasn’t gone mad or become a fool. She seems so bright, so rebuilding her cognition certainly won’t be difficult. What more could you ask for? Since there’s nothing wrong that affects her life, just let nature take its course with the memories. Maybe she’ll wake up one day and suddenly remember everything.”

Chai Yuening: “…”

Sitting in front of Dr. Zhang, Chu Ci lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and silently tugged on the corner of Chai Yuening’s clothes.

Chai Yuening bit her lip and thanked Dr. Zhang.

The moment she stepped out of the Fourth District medical clinic, Chai Yuening couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

She felt as if she had just encountered a charlatan fortune teller who, after a long and serious-looking divination, could only tell her: “Fate is determined by heaven; there’s no need to force it.”

“How can someone who studied medicine talk about metaphysics these days?” Chai Yuening couldn’t help but mutter under her breath.

Chu Ci’s lips curved into a silent smile, her eyes showing no trace of disappointment.

Seeing this, Chai Yuening couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you the least bit curious about your past?”

Chu Ci thought for a moment, then gave a soft “Mm.”

“Why not?”

“You’re very good to me, and everyone on the team has been very welcoming. There’s nothing bad about how things are now.”

Chai Yuening smiled. “You’re certainly taking it well.”

Chu Ci nodded. “Even though I can’t remember anything, I have a feeling that the past me… probably didn’t have it as good as I do now.”

Hearing this, Chai Yuening fell into a brief, pensive silence.

After a moment, Chai Yuening asked, “If one day you remember, and you find out that your past life was actually pretty decent, would you go back, or would you stay here?”

Chu Ci considered this seriously for a while but didn’t answer Chai Yuening’s question. Instead, she asked one of her own: “Will you make me leave?”

“Of course not,” Chai Yuening said without hesitation. “I only have that one small room. If you don’t mind, you can stay as long as you like.”

As she spoke, she quickened her pace and walked ahead.

Chai Yuening was quite happy that Chu Ci wanted to stay here.

She thought that since it was still early, she should take Chu Ci to buy some new clothes.

That evening, the two of them found a random noodle shop to fill their stomachs before heading home together.

When they returned, they were each carrying two bags. Besides new clothes, there were also some personal daily necessities that weren’t convenient to share.

They sorted and put away the clothes and various items together, making the already tiny room feel even more crowded.

However, Chai Yuening didn’t mind this kind of crowdedness.

This crowdedness had ended her solitary life, bringing a long-lost warmth to her small room.

Suddenly, they had to take turns washing up in the morning, cook for two when they ate, and occasionally wait in line to use the water.

When she had a thought, she could just look up and see someone she could talk to.

To help Chu Ci rebuild her normal cognition as quickly as possible, Chai Yuening borrowed a few picture books from Ren Dong and spent some time looking at them with Chu Ci every day when she was free.

Half a month ago, she would never have imagined, not in a million years, that she would one day be sitting on a sofa, helping someone learn to identify objects from pictures.

Time flew by, and another week passed in the blink of an eye.

As expected, the plan to retake the signal tower was once again announced as postponed over the Base broadcast.

The goods the mercenary team had left with You Lan were sold out. Chai Yuening received her share of the money, and her leisurely days at home became secure once more.

Just three days ago, the main city district’s Simulated Ecological Zone opened for a paid visit to the residents of the outer districts.

But because too few tickets were released, many outer district residents couldn’t get one even if they had the money. So, the Simulated Ecological Zone announced a second paid opening.

On the afternoon of the ticket release, Chai Yuening was leaning back in the rocking chair by the coffee table, resting with her eyes closed.

The call signal on the communicator by the coffee table suddenly rang.

“Captain! Do you want to go see the Simulated Ecological Zone? Lu Qi said he has a friend who can get us tickets!”

Ren Dong’s voice came through the communicator. Unlike her usual slightly steady, soft-spoken tone, today Ren Dong was clearly very excited.

Ren Dong had always been interested in these things. The picture books Chai Yuening had borrowed from her were filled with the flowers, plants, and trees of the old world, as well as all sorts of birds and beasts that had been extinct for who knows how many years.

But Chai Yuening had never been interested in those things.

So she yawned. “Is someone going with you? If so, I’ll pass.”

“Captain, that’s the Simulated Ecological Zone! They’ve cultivated lots of old-world creatures inside. You really don’t want to see it?”

“I…”

“What about Chu Ci? Doesn’t she want to see it either?”

Chai Yuening froze for a moment, her gaze subconsciously shifting to Chu Ci, who was reading a book nearby.

Chu Ci looked up, her eyes meeting Chai Yuening’s with a hint of curiosity and anticipation.

One look at that expression and Chai Yuening knew Chu Ci wanted to go.

She thought for a moment and asked, “How much is a ticket?”

Ren Dong: “Probably five or six hundred?”

Chai Yuening sucked in a sharp breath.

Although it was a bit cheaper than she had imagined, after lazing around for a while and with many recent expenses, she really couldn’t afford the price of two tickets anymore.

Just as Chai Yuening was considering whether to buy one ticket and let Chu Ci go with Ren Dong and the others, Chu Ci stood up, walked over, and said into the communicator, “I won’t be going.”

Ren Dong: “Are you sure?”

Chu Ci: “Yes.”

The communication ended.

Chai Yuening tilted her head and looked up at Chu Ci.

Chu Ci: “It’s too expensive. I’ve already caused you a lot of trouble.”

Chai Yuening: “I can still afford one. I’m not interested anyway. You can go with Ren Dong and the others.”

Chu Ci: “If you’re not going, I don’t want to go.”

Chai Yuening pondered for a moment, then said, “There will be other chances. Once we’re back to work and have money, I’ll definitely go with you.”

“Okay,” Chu Ci agreed, a smile surfacing in her eyes.

She sat back down on her little sofa, picked up the book that was lying face down on the coffee table, and began to read it intently.

The gentle female voice on the Base broadcast happened to be covering content related to the Simulated Ecological Zone.

She said that it had man-made sunlight and moonlight, gentle breezes and light rain. It simulated the beautiful ecology of the old world, with old-world plants and animals that could no longer be seen on the surface today.

She said that it was a “nature” created by humanity itself, a “light” belonging to the Underground City Base.

She said that the Simulated Ecological Zone was humanity’s pursuit of light, but the pursuit would not stop there.

“Humanity will ultimately find its way back to light and freedom, return to the surface, and embrace a love like a rose.”

As she spoke, a beautiful piece of music began to play on the broadcast.

Chu Ci asked softly, “What is a rose?”

Chai Yuening thought for a moment and replied, “A plant from the old world. They say it’s a symbol of love. Anyway, it’s just a historical term now. There are no more roses in this world.”

“Not even in the Simulated Ecological Zone?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I learned when I was little that Base biologists announced over thirty years ago that the cultivation of the last rose seed in human hands, including those in the Floating City, had failed.”

“Maybe there are still some,” Chu Ci said.

Chai Yuening looked at Chu Ci, a little surprised.

Chu Ci looked back at her.

“The world is so big,” Chu Ci said softly. “You never know, maybe some really do still exist.”

Her voice was so soft, without much force, yet it made one want to believe her.

The world is so big. Any kind of miracle could exist.