Identity Verification

"Tell the people at the back to stop sending them up. There are no more beds. I'll go down and treat you all," Xiao Jiu said in despair.

The young boy passed the message to the people behind him.

Those people passed it further back.

Word spread from one person to the next until it reached the bottom of the stairs, where the crowd began hobbling back the way they came.

As gruesome as the scene was, the group that Tu Ran had beaten up actually felt a sense of relief.

...

Tu Ran trudged five grueling kilometers before finally reaching the maglev station. She boarded the train and rode all the way to the Medical Department stop.

Entering the Medical Department, Tu Ran made her way to the workstation for nutrient pods with practiced ease.

Three young nurses stood at the counter.

Seeing Tu Ran wrapped up from head to toe, they all wore puzzled expressions.

"May I help you?"

"I need to use a nutrient pod," Tu Ran said.

One nurse asked, "Have you paid? Let us check your records."

"Earlier, the Medical Department was breached by an alien creature, and I nearly got eaten. To make up for it, your department promised me a year of free medical treatment here," Tu Ran said with difficulty.

Her face hurt, making it hard to open her mouth, and her speech came out slurred.

She desperately needed to soak in the nutrient solution now—if she waited any longer, she might not hold on.

The three nurses exchanged glances. They had never heard of anything like this.

"You must be mistaken. No alien creature has ever gotten into the Medical Department."

Tu Ran's body ached so much she could barely stand. She slumped over the counter, her voice trembling. "Go find Xu Bingli. He knows what happened."

Xu Bingli was the doctor who had made that promise. She had made a point of remembering his name.

"Contact Dr. Xu right away."

One of the nurses could tell she was in bad shape, quickly steadying her and guiding her to a resting chair nearby, while instructing another nurse to fetch help.

"Are you alright, miss?" The nurse held her hand and asked softly.

Not really.

Xie Xu had been too ruthless.

"Why don't you take off your sunglasses and mask so I can see how you're doing?"

"No need. I'll take them off myself once I'm in the pod."

She was sporting a face swollen like a pig's head, and she was afraid she'd scare people.

Her refusal left the nurse at a loss.

Luckily, Xu Bingli arrived quickly. Because Tu Ran was so thoroughly covered, he didn't recognize her at first.

"Miss Tu?" He stared at her uncertainly.

"Yes," Tu Ran managed to say.

"Then please remove the coverings on your face. We need to verify your identity," Xu Bingli said.

She could see it now—there was no getting out of showing her face today.

Tu Ran took off her sunglasses.

Her swollen eyelids shocked the nearby nurses.

Tu Ran heard the sharp intake of breath.

So awkward.

She wished she could crawl into a hole.

But she still had to take off the mask.

Her hand had just reached behind her ear when Zero's voice suddenly rang out from the surveillance camera overhead.

"Pupil recognition complete. She is Pioneer Tu Ran."

For the first time, she found that emotionless mechanical voice absolutely wonderful.

"How did Miss Tu end up like this?" Xu Bingli exclaimed, truly unable to recognize her.

Tu Ran let out a dry laugh.

She probably wouldn't recognize herself either.

"Take Miss Tu to the changing room to get changed. I'll prepare the nutrient solution," Xu Bingli instructed.

With the nurse's help, Tu Ran entered the changing room, changed her clothes, but kept her mask on.

Only when she was inside the nutrient pod did she finally take it off.

Submerged in the pink liquid, Tu Ran let out a few contented bubbles.