Zeyuan looked smug. "That's right, only you can see me. Other humans can't perceive my existence."
Xu An found it magical. When she held Zeyuan in her arms, she could clearly feel his body. This meant Zeyuan wasn't an illusion but possessed a physical form. Yet, no one else could see him.
This was for the best, though. If this little creature constantly floated around, it would be hard for her to explain.
"What you need to do now is contact the rats first, then investigate the researchers who studied this batch of original antibodies. Start with them."
"What about Yueyue? How do we rescue Yueyue now?"
"Idiot!" Zeyuan slapped Xu An's forehead with his tiny palm.
"We can't rescue Yueyue immediately. Only as long as Yueyue remains in the laboratory will those people relax their guard. I assume we're not the only group looking for those researchers."
"Do you really think the people on the lighthouse are fools? They're unwilling to search because the cost of finding them is much greater than simply capturing this eight-year-old child."
Xu An was taken aback and pondered. If she could guess this, then Dr. Ling and the others must know that Yueyue wasn't the only one with the original antibody.
At this thought, Xu An's anger surged. Even though she knew Qin Chuan was plotting against her, she hadn't expected it to be a calculation based on weighing pros and cons rather than a desperate measure.
"So, Qin Chuan knew about the existence of the original antibody but still took Yueyue away?" Xu An's tone was calm, but the gloom in her eyes was undeniable.
Zeyuan's voice, however, was filled with an odd curiosity. "Don't tell me you've actually fallen for Qin Chuan, Xu An. You have to know, you're not on the same path."
Xu An found it amusing. "No, since when did you become so gossipy? Meiying, fine, but why are you asking this too? You know my situation better than anyone. I'm a reborn person, and my mind is only focused on surviving day by day. I don't have the time for such thoughts."
"You'd better be!" Zeyuan huffed, hugging his chubby arms and turning away.
"And after contacting the person?"
"Once we contact them, first try to exchange the antibody for benefits. If that doesn't work, and diplomacy fails, we'll resort to force."
Seeing Zeyuan's sly gaze, Xu An already began to pity the unknown person.
With that, Xu An walked out, ready to have dinner.
Xu Yan saw Xu An's calm demeanor, and the questions she had prepared couldn't be voiced. No one knew better than she did how her daughter had gotten to this point. But now, for a completely unrelated little girl, her daughter was in a difficult position. Xu Yan didn't know if her choice was the right one.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Xu An noticed her mother's hesitant expression. "Are you thinking about Yueyue?"
Xu Yan lowered her head, looking troubled. "If you find it difficult, it's okay. But can we go see Yueyue, if it's convenient?"
Because Zeyuan had specifically instructed her, Xu An couldn't tell her mother everything. However, she could reassure Xu Yan. "Mom, don't worry. I'm already figuring things out. Once I finish what I'm doing, I'll definitely let you see Yueyue."
Xu Yan seemed a little happier but still felt sorry for her daughter. "It's alright. If it's inconvenient for you now, it's fine. I think Yueyue is such a small child, the people there won't do anything to her."
Looking at her mother's expression, Xu An ultimately decided not to tell her that Yueyue was the antibody. If Xu Yan knew that Yueyue was living in darkness after being taken away, having her blood drawn and being imprisoned daily, she would likely blame herself even more. All Xu An could do now was to quickly find the person carrying the original antibody, not wallow in self-pity here.
Xu Yan was also in a low mood because of Yueyue. After seeing Xu An finish her meal, she quietly returned to her room. Perhaps it was due to guilt towards her friend, but Xu Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.
"Xu An, I want that custard bun. Hurry and give me a custard bun!" As soon as Xu Yan left, Xu An heard Zeyuan's noisy voice in her ear.
"You can still eat?" Xu An asked curiously, but still handed Zeyuan a custard bun.
"Actually, I don't have to eat, but I want to. I'm greedy. I used to watch you eat all sorts of food, but I could never taste it."
Hearing Zeyuan say this, Xu An suddenly remembered that a few days ago, when she went into the spatial area to check supplies, she discovered that many snacks looked as if they had been gnawed by mice, with tiny tooth marks all over them.
"Were those the snacks in the spatial area that you ate?" Xu An asked casually.
"Yes, it was me. But some of them were raw. Your human food is so troublesome, with all sorts of ways to eat it."
Xu An grabbed Zeyuan's small hand, which was reaching for a second custard bun, and brought him close. Like "torture," she gently tapped his little bottom with a chopstick.
"If you dare to steal food again, I'll spank you, you little brat. I was wondering who was doing it. I thought a rat had gotten into the spatial area, and I searched for a long time, only to find out it was you."
"Aaaahhhhhh..."
"Xu An, you crazy woman, you dare to spank my butt!"
Xu An ignored Zeyuan's shouts. She put him down and then offered him another custard bun and a crystal shrimp dumpling as an "apology."
Only then did a look of satisfaction appear on Zeyuan's wrinkled little face. He ate the shrimp dumpling nonstop, shaking his head. "I didn't expect your human food to be so delicious... If I had known..."
The rest of his words were swallowed by his constant chewing. Xu An didn't think much of it and watched Zeyuan gobble down the food with a smile. Only much, much later did Xu An understand the weight of the words Zeyuan swallowed with the shrimp dumpling.
"Model, you're still so small now. If you were an adult, you'd go out and earn money to eat by yourself."
Xu An looked at the scattered wrappers and the food Zeyuan had eaten. She casually counted them, and her vision darkened. The little person, no bigger than her palm, ate as much as both Xu An and Xu Yan combined in one meal.