"Mr. Xu Cheng, I hope you respect life. Playing with and manipulating life is not a commendable act, but rather a disregard and disrespect for it."
"Yes, yes, Mr. Qu Hong, I deeply respect life. I believe everyone's life is a miracle, from conception to birth. We should be grateful for our mothers' careful nurturing, and for the care and support of family and society after we are born. Everyone should feel gratitude for possessing life."
In the study of a villa, a middle-aged man in a suit and tie spoke with gratitude, looking obsequiously at the young man standing by the bookshelf, flipping through a book.
"Oh? Is that what you think?"
Qu Hong stopped flipping the book, looked up at the middle-aged man standing by the desk, gently closed the book, walked over to the desk, leaned against it, cradled the book in his arms, and chuckled, "Mr. Xu Cheng, please elaborate. You've given me a new perspective on life; this might be a brand new path for my research on the subject of life."
Xu Cheng swallowed nervously, instinctively took a step back, not daring to get too close to Qu Hong. His lowered hands trembled slightly, and he didn't even dare to wipe the sweat from his forehead and temples.
"Life is a miracle of nature. The birth of every new life is a great miracle. Some say the beauty of life is always revealed in progress; only through continuous progress can life's inherent value be realized. For instance, the beauty of a flower lies in the moment it blooms, but the nourishment the stem provides to the bud before it opens is even more praiseworthy.
Therefore, I believe that beyond these aspects, life must also remember its roots. A blooming flower should thank its roots, branches, leaves, soil, and sunlight.
And we should thank our fathers, mothers, and all those who have cared for us on our journey of growth."
Qu Hong looked at Xu Cheng with admiration and couldn't help but clap lightly, praising him:
"Mr. Xu, your views and theories have illuminated me. Many people nowadays are pursuing higher achievements, greater fame, and more wealth, and in doing so, they forget that everything they are is based on being alive.
I once had a friend who said, 'The purpose of living is to earn money, and earning money is for future medical treatment.' I don't think that's wrong; I respect his opinion, as everyone's circumstances are different."
Xu Cheng nodded and said with a fawning smile, "Your friend is very fortunate to have earned your respect. Where is he now? I would very much like to befriend him."
"He is dead."
Xu Cheng's smile froze. He looked at Qu Hong's mournful expression and immediately corrected himself, "That is truly a pity. I originally..."
"I killed him."
Qu Hong added mournfully.
"Heh... it seems... it seems... you respect your friend's viewpoint, but you don't agree with it."
Xu Cheng forcefully twisted his stiff neck, pulling at the facial muscles that had spasmed from fear, and managed to salvage the conversation.
"You are absolutely right, Mr. Xu. I respect everyone's life and opinions, but I don't necessarily agree with them. The two are not contradictory, are they?"
Qu Hong placed the book on the desk, rubbed his temples with some annoyance, and walked to the window, gazing at the lush green trees outside.
"I will not allow them to disregard their own lives. If they don't cherish their own lives, then... they might as well be mine. What do you think?"
"Yes, yes, yes,"
Xu Cheng quickly and tremblingly changed his stance, bowing slightly.
"In academic competition, everyone expresses their own opinions, but one must not deviate from the essence."
"Precisely!"
Qu Hong turned around excitedly, took two steps forward, patted Xu Cheng on the shoulder, and said, "I truly wish everyone possessed the knowledge and insight of Mr. Xu. Communication would be completely seamless. Eliminating barriers and establishing academic consensus is my lifelong pursuit!"
"Of course, I am honored by your appreciation." As Xu Cheng spoke these words, his body trembled, because Qu Hong's hands were very cold. Just resting on his shoulder, the chill from his hand penetrated Xu Cheng's suit jacket and shirt in an instant, making him shiver uncontrollably.
"Alas..."
Qu Hong sighed softly, walked behind the desk, sat down, his eyes filled with sorrow. He said, "The last person who established academic consensus with me, like Mr. Xu, was Mr. Lü Xiangnan. It's just a pity that he didn't cherish his life and passed away with regret."
"Yes, sir, that is a great pity. Perhaps he should be grateful and fortunate to have had two lives, but he did not cherish them." Xu Cheng said with fanaticism in his eyes, smiling. "But I am different. I will cherish it more and feel the weight of life with all my heart."
"Will you, Mr. Xu?" Qu Hong looked up at Xu Cheng.
Xu Cheng stepped up to the desk, placed his hands on it, and looked at Qu Hong with excitement.
Then,
He slowly knelt down,
His voice low and gentle, but more like a plea,
"Of course. This is what I have dreamed of. My body is already overburdened. I need a stronger, younger body, a heart that beats powerfully, and a mind that remains constantly clear, so that I may... be grateful for life."
Qu Hong leaned forward, placed his arms on the desk, and asked with a smile, "Mr. Xu, do you... yearn for life?"
"Yes," Xu Cheng replied firmly, then added in a low voice:
"My family is waiting for me, they are all watching me. Their care gives me endless motivation to pursue a new life.
Do you know?
Their expressions are like when I was young, about to inherit my dying father's estate – equally excited, equally thrilled. Like a flock of scavenging vultures, they surround me, their eyes, hungry for carrion, fixed on me, waiting for the moment of my death, then they will pounce, and madly devour my body.
I truly don't want to leave my beloved children.
So,
Mr. Qu Hong, can you fulfill this wish for me?"
"Heh... yes, you will." Qu Hong reached out and patted Xu Cheng's shoulder again, saying softly, "Mr. Xu, you have already received a new life. Go and enjoy your new life."
Qu Hong released his hand from Xu Cheng's shoulder, picked up the book, leaned back in his chair, opened it, and began to read.
Xu Cheng fell backward onto the ground,
And died.
A moment later,
Xu Cheng moved again, slowly stood up, his eyes shifting from gray-white to pitch black, then a ring of white appeared around the pupils, converging the blackness in the center to form the iris.
"Thank you, Mr. Qu Hong, for granting me new life."
Qu Hong did not look up, a slight smile playing on his lips. He said, "Go and spend some time with your children, Mr. Xu. Have a meal with them and tell them your insights on life. Perhaps then they will be grateful for life."
Xu Cheng licked his lips and smiled, "Very well, I will teach them properly at the dinner table."