CHAPTER 34

He Ran obediently assisted Head Chef Yan, facing the grill, with lowered brows.

The head chef wasn't in a hurry to bring the ingredients directly to the grill. Instead, he calmly retrieved the sauce from the bottom of the food cart and distributed it to the various small grills with the help of the uniformed staff.

He Ran kept an eye on the movements of the young lady. She was sitting next to the fourth table on the right. She took the fresh flowers out of the bottle, petal by petal, seeming extremely bored. After a while, she glanced at the camera, tossed it back onto the table, and let out a big yawn.

At that moment, someone approached and whispered something to the head chef, who nodded and signaled for He Ran to bring the cart over.

Finally, the head chef picked up the ingredients from the top and delicately pinched some air from the plate before placing it on the grill.

He Ran finally saw it. It was a piece of steak gradually cooking, with a golden-brown edge, tender meat, overflowing juices, and a strong and enticing aroma.

The head chef sprinkled a handful of spices and used tongs to manipulate the charcoal beneath the grill.

Suddenly, the guests on the lawn stood up, their gaze fixed on the staircase. He Ran did the same, but the head chef remained focused on cooking.

Ding.

The fork for picking up the meat tapped against the plate as the head chef poured sauce over the steak.

A person walked up to the grill, hands behind his back, smiling as he watched the head chef place the dish in front of him.

The head chef nudged He Ran, and she handed over the clean, towel-wrapped golden cutlery from the prepared cart. The person glanced at He Ran, accepted the knife and fork, cut into the steak, and chewed a piece.

The music also stopped, and everyone stared intently at this person.

He closed his eyes and savored the meat. Then he nodded, turned around, and addressed the guests, saying, "Friends, how can a camping trip be without a barbecue? There's plenty of meat, so please enjoy!"

The guests immediately crowded around, with some more patient ones waiting by the tables, while others quickly occupied a grill. They eagerly threw the nearby air onto the grill. During the process of grilling the meat, He Ran could see the pieces of meat, coated in sauce, being transferred from the grill onto plates, then onto the tables, and finally into people's mouths.

Pollution level: 70.

Pollution level: 80.

He Ran paused in her work, forcing herself to calm down.

Once she calmed down, she noticed the excess flesh squeezed out in rolls by the chef's uniform, the sleeves of his clothes rolled up and stained with bl*od. Despite the roasting charcoal, this fat and muscular man hadn't broken a sweat.

Although there was beef and fish in the plates, neither of them had been placed on the grill. Only the transparent "ingredients" kept turning opaque, appearing as pieces of meat with an indiscernible texture in her eyes.

Everyone stared at the grill, fixated on the meat, their gaze unwavering, emanating signals of hunger.

The person who had tasted the grilled meat first sat beside the "young lady" with hands behind his back. The meat kept flowing onto their table, and he ate with refined manners and great speed. Occasionally, he exchanged a few words with the "young lady."

He was the Governor. He Ran tried to describe his appearance but found it impossible. It wasn't like Type 0922 where she couldn't remember the face when she closed her eyes. It was more like someone had erased the Governor's face from her mind.

She watched more intently, her actions not ceasing. The pollution level began to rise again, reaching 85.

The young lady seemed to be just playing with the meat, occasionally putting a piece in her mouth, some she would chew and swallow, others she would pick out and spit. Her father noticed but only smiled, remaining focused on his own plate.

He Ran was urged by the head chef, and the guests couldn't wait any longer. They stood up and approached the grills, reaching out to grab the meat before the chef could place it on their plates.

They didn't care getting burned as they grabbed the scalding pieces of meat, splattering hot oil. In that instant, their eyes shimmered with a dazzling light, their nostrils flared, cheeks puffed up high, desperately reaching out for the next piece.

Pollution level: 86, 87.

Suddenly, with a bang, all the guests turned their heads as they saw the young lady knock over her chair. The Governor had a "at a loss" on his face and waved his hand at everyone.

The young lady threw a tantrum and took off her shoes, walking barefoot on the grass.

He Ran almost rushed out, but she held herself back, watching as the young lady casually tossed her shoes into the water basin and walked away. The magistrate turned around to explain to everyone, "She's still the same, she likes her meat raw... it's my fault for not teaching her properly, she has a bad temper."

The guests all laughed understandingly and dispersing like fleeting smoke, quickly diluted.

The pollution level returned, back to 85.

The meat eaters gathered around the grill, and He Ran looked up at the sky. If one wasn't careful, it was almost impossible to see the protective shield. The blue sky, white clouds, and bright light reminded her of the days when she lay on the car cover with Li Haohao.

After a moment of calm, following the head chef's movements, she continued to supply the meat on the tables.

Head Chef Yan didn't sweat a drop despite the scorching heat. The guests, on the other hand, ate with sweat pouring down their backs. They didn't even notice when their burned mouths shed a layer of skin or when their fingers got scalded.

"When will the barbecue banquet end?" He Ran approached Head Chef Yan.

"Not anytime soon. We have to wait until the guests have all had their fill." replied Head Chef Yan.

The guests didn't look satisfied. They sat in chairs, lay on the grass, and leaned over the grill. Carts continued to shuttle back and forth while transparent pieces of meat turned into solid substances. They were chewed, crushed, swallowed, and became debris in the teeth and murky breath. The fish in the central water basin had already eaten their fill of meat scraps, flipping over with round bellies, floating quietly.

Things quickly took a turn for the worse.

They started eating raw things. It all started when a cart was accidentally knocked over, scattering unseen pieces of meat on the grass. A dignified man in a suit knelt down, raised his buttocks, revealing the edge of his gray underwear and socks. He treated himself as a ferocious beast, using his mouth to grab the meat and grass from the ground, his eyes gleaming with madness.

Everyone fell silent for a moment. Except for the head chef, who continued to sprinkle spices on the meat with care, everyone else joined in after witnessing this bizarre scene. There were still leftovers of meat scattered on the ground. Several people fought over the same piece of meat with their mouths. More and more uncooked and cooked meat was overturned, mixing together.

In He Ran's eyes, the raw meat was clearly transparent, but when it appeared in people's mouths, it had color.

They chewed on fingers, they chewed on entrails, they chewed on human ribs.

They were openly eating humans, He Ran realized. She should have known this. She served humans on the dining table.

The Governor remained seated, leisurely enjoying the cooked food, but his manner of eating was far from attractive. Unlike the guests who were huddled together, the Governor's eyes showed greed for food, but he didn't lose his dignity like the others.

Chaos intensified around them, with flying meat scraps, overturned grills, and grease splattering on precious fabrics. The eyes of those people were filled with the word "meat."

The head chef maintained his clarity and composure, but his composure seemed even more abnormal.

He threw all the meat from the cart in his hands onto the grill, his hands soaring, and the aroma of spices diffused like mist.

He Ran reached to the supply officer behind her, turned her back, and held a fruit knife in her hand, looking at the Governor.

She couldn't consider this scene normal. What is normal? She questioned once again. When you're hungry, you eat. But to be hungry to this extent... She remembered Li Haohao, who ate earthworm meat so voraciously that her mouth split open, and her arm drooped weakly.

This is normal. She told herself.

Ignoring the warning in her earpiece, her mental value dropped again.

Mental value: 45.

Amidst this chaos, the Governor wiped his mouth with a napkin, hands behind his back, elegantly walking towards the head chef.

The head chef finished grilling the last of the meat and threw it directly onto the lawn with a dining fork, as if feeding pigs or chickens, watching the esteemed guests scramble for it.

Turning around, he bowed, "Your Excellency."

He Ran followed suit, looking at this man.

The Governor nodded, "Chef Yan's skills are as excellent as ever."

"I am honored... Your Excellency, as I mentioned before, the young person I found has already arrived," said the head chef.

The Governor looked towards He Ran, who awkwardly greeted him.

The head chef continued the introduction, "He is the kitchen storage supervisor 0922. The recycling program was his idea. He has been busy in the kitchen and recycling station, reducing our food waste by 30% and giving the ingredients a higher quality taste... He will be the new head chef."

The Governor observed He Ran closely during the head chef's introduction, and He Ran remained silent.

"Very well, 0922, what is your real name?" The magistrate's expression was pleasant, and he maintained a good physique. He had many similarities with Li Haohao and was polite, unlike the guests behind him who resembled pigs and dogs.

She didn't know 0922's real name. Suppressing the thought of taking the Governor hostage, she whispered, "He Ran."

"He Ran... is that so?" The Governor seemed contemplative and nodded. "Then we look forward to Chef He's future!"

After the Governor finished speaking, the head chef bowed and escorted He Ran away from the rooftop.

"Shall we return to the kitchen to prepare the main course?" She pushed the cart, gradually slowing down, and the head chef agreed.

Inside the elevator, the button for the "Breeding center" was lit among the kitchen and the rooftop options. It was here that she saw the young "Miss" who resembled Li Haohao.

She turned her back, pretending to stumble, and apologized to the supply officer while lightly pressing the button with the pitiful supply officer's back.

All three buttons lit up, and she immediately lowered her head and apologized, "I'm sorry, Head Chef, I feel a bit dizzy."

The head chef glared at her ferociously, and He Ran silently tightened her grip on the cart.

This button couldn't be canceled, which was good. The elevator stopped, and as soon as the doors opened, He Ran forcefully pushed the cart, placed one leg on it, and rode the momentum of the wheels to slide more than ten meters out.

The head chef was shocked and tried to step out of the elevator, but He Ran turned back, aimed at the head chef's forehead, and fired a shot.

A gunshot rang out.

But she saw the bullet drop from the head chef's forehead. The head chef was only momentarily stopped, reaching for his forehead, and the elevator doors closed.

She stomped on the ground, the cart carrying He Ran slid out for over ten meters. The sign for the breeding center, splendid and shining, hung overhead. Upon entering the door, there was a folding screen. Behind the screen, two paths diverged. In the instant she slid in, she tapped the ground with her toe, changed the direction of the cart, and jumped off.

The cart continued down the corridor to the left, its wheels rolling, and He Ran carried the cart by momentum. The first person to turn the corner in the corridor was startled by the cart, quickly sidestepping it while holding a basin filled with dirty clothes.

He Ran put down the gun.

"Li Haohao."

A head of fluffy natural curls, a thin and timid figure, adorned with gold bead strings on hands and feet.

The person stared at her for a moment.

"I'm He Ran..."

The person tilted their head in confusion, but upon noticing that He Ran held a knife in her left hand and a gun in her right, they slowly placed the basin down, raised their arms above their head, and crouched against the wall.

He Ran was taken aback. She walked towards Li Haohao and suddenly noticed a sign hanging on the wall in front of Li Haohao: "Behavioral Guidelines for the Breeding Center."

1. Prohibited from leaving the Breeding center.

2. Prohibited from causing harm to oneself and companions in any form.

3. Prohibited from engaging in activities solely for entertainment purposes.

4. Prohibited from conversing with the staff.

5. Prohibited from conversing with any visitors.

She slowed down, holstered the gun, and crouched down to approach Li Haohao, who was huddled with her head down, reaching out her hand towards the basin of dirty clothes.

The clothes varied from luxurious to shabby. He Ran picked up a piece and examined it, but Li Haohao suddenly snatched the clothes back from her hand and nervously stuffed it back into the basin.

He Ran closely followed behind, and Li Haohao kept glancing back, her face turning pale with fear. Finally, after chasing for about seven or eight meters, Li Haohao collapsed to the ground, gritting her teeth, "Don't—"

Before she could finish the sentence, Li Haohao seemed to be struck multiple times by something, her limbs twitching v!olently, her gaze becoming unfocused, and a mouthful of bl*od foam spewed out.

Suddenly, a person emerged from the empty corridor, their head replaced by a camera, with a golden ring floating above the camera. They resembled a portrait of some pre-war deity, dressed in pristine uniform, standing in front of He Ran and the unconscious Li Haohao.

They clasped their hands together, and the camera emitted a faint light.

Thunk—

A fruit knife sliced the camera in half.

"Get out of the way!"

There was a person on her back. She held onto Li Haohao's leg to lift her up, but stumbled backwards, almost losing her balance.

She expected Li Haohao to be heavy, as she had been difficult to carry before.

But now, she was so light, thin as a feather, peacefully closing her eyes in her arms. It was evident that she had suffered from long-term malnutrition, with the shape of her ribs clearly visible.

He Ran grabbed the cart that had collided with the wall, collected the beef and fish from the tray on top, and placed Li Haohao onto the cart.

Beep—

Pollution level 90.

91... 93...

Turning the corner, there was a staircase leading downwards, surrounded by walls on all sides.

Behind her, numerous camera-headed people appeared from somewhere, all staring at her in every direction.

Li Haohao suddenly woke up and struggled to flip off the cart before He Ran could grab her. She ran back to the pile of dirty clothes, panicking, and picked up a basin. Three camera-headed people focused their lenses on her, while the rest remained fixed on He Ran.

"Causing harm to staff without reason, violating employee regulations. Who is your superior? The person in the kitchen? Please present your identification card."

A camera-headed person emerged, and it was unclear where his voice came from. The red light on his camera flickered, and he was different from the other camera-headed people. In his hand, he held a chain with a reversed hook, stained with bl*od and rust.

Keeping calm, He Ran closed her eyes and looked directly at the camera. "You can't punish me beyond my superiors, can you?"

Li Haohao held the basin and hurriedly ran to the staircase, intending to run downstairs.

Click—

The chain from the camera-headed person accurately hooked onto her ankle, causing Li Haohao to fall to the ground.

Someone else picked up the clothes from the ground one by one, all of them dresses and skirts belonging to girls.

Li Haohao kept her head down, curled up, allowing the camera to scan her.

One of the camera-headed people reported, "There is no evidence to prove that the owners of these clothes used coercion, bullying, or any form of v!olence to force her. It is once again determined that she voluntarily washes clothes for others."

"Is this her form of entertainment?" asked the person holding the chain.

Li Haohao's face turned pale, and she hesitated for a moment before realizing she should deny it.

She vigorously shook her head, but it was too late. The camera-headed person judged her to be in violation.

Click, click—the sound of a new chain clasping onto the gold accessories on her hands and feet, dragging her forward.

He Ran immediately took out her identification card, and the camera-headed person glanced at it. "It's the one from the established recycling station, number 0922..."

The camera-headed person fell silent and waved his hand. "There's no signature from the head chef. You violated the rules."

The chain also clasped onto her hands and feet, but it seemed that no one noticed her weapons or the person she carried on her back.

So, before being dragged forward, she quickly grabbed a handful of raw fish and meat and stuffed it into her pocket.

She was an outsider, not confined with Li Haohao.

But they could see each other.

There was a birdcage hanging in the air, filled the entire ceiling. All the birdcages were hung on a cable car, row after row, densely packed, with chains connecting the locks and the mechanisms on the top of the birdcages.

Li Haohao was positioned in the second row of birdcages on her right, two cages staggered behind.

Sitting in the center, seemingly accustomed to being locked in a cage, she lay with her legs curled up, motionless, mouth open and closed, displaying a strange calmness.

He Ran inserted her hand into the gap between the bars of the birdcage and realized there was no mechanism.

She took out a piece of meat from her pocket, rolled it up, and threw it towards Li Haohao's cage.

The first throw missed, but the second throw found its mark, dropping into Li Haohao's feet through the gap.

Li Haohao lifted her eyelids, looked at the piece of meat, then glanced at He Ran. After hesitating for a while, she rolled her body, nonchalantly covering the piece of meat with her calf as if nothing had happened.

Then, like a thief, she wriggled and moved the meat in front of her.

But she sniffed it, looked at it, and closed her eyes with a sense of sorrow.

Could it be spoiled? He Ran sniffed the remaining piece of meat and threw another one inside.

She looked at Li Haohao with anticipation, hoping to see her eyes light up and hear her shout something like "He Ran is great" or some other nonsense, expecting Li Haohao to greedily open her mouth and devour the meat without appreciating it.

Three pieces, four pieces, five pieces... until she threw the piece of meat she had saved for herself, but Li Haohao didn't raise her arm to eat. She just stared at the meat, cleverly wriggling and gathering them together.

"Li Haohao," He Ran called softly.

The girl in the cage just lay there, revealing a pale smile, tears slowly streaming down, flowing into her hair.

"Why aren't you eating?" He Ran anxiously grasped the edge of the cage.

Under her urging, Li Haohao resolutely sat up, turned her back to her, cried softly, and hastily picked up all the meat, stuffing it into her mouth like a wolf.

Then, she saw Li Haohao lie down again, hands clasped in front of her chest as if she was about to die, closing her eyes, but tears continued to flow uncontrollably.

After a while, Li Haohao stopped crying, sat up in confusion, looked at her hands and feet, touched her face, thought in fear for a moment, glanced at He Ran with suspicion, and then hesitantly examined herself as if she couldn't believe what she saw.

He Ran smiled and pulled out a knife to cut her own arm, but Li Haohao exclaimed and lifted her head.

He Ran gestured towards herself with tolerance, saying, "If you're hungry, eat. It's okay."

Li Haohao shook her head in terror, pointing to her own arm and waving her hands desperately.

A thin line of blood slowly trickled down her arm, but it didn't hurt at all, not even a bit.

He Ran gazed at Li Haohao, showing the most kind-hearted smile she could muster. Maybe the current Li Haohao didn't recognize her, perhaps this was a representation of the past. Or was it her "normality" that made her seem like the person from 0922?

She gently set down the supply officer; the girl's heart was still beating, which filled her with even more joy.

Right in front of Li Haohao, she took off the ill-fitting uniform and threw it aside, then pointed to herself, straightened her posture, and assumed her usual cold and aloof demeanor, hands in her pockets.

Li Haohao blinked and let out an exclamation/let out a cry.

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