Multiple Personalities

"You heard it!"

A hint of delight flashed in Wang Zhichen's eyes.

It was a joy and emotion of being understood.

Shen Jingqi slowly nodded.

Accompanied by this sound, Shen Jingqi saw a scene he was familiar with.

A gigantic ginkgo tree.

Clusters of leaves falling, one after another, countless leaves.

Landed on Shen Jingqi's shoulder.

His feet moved unconsciously.

Ginkgo leaves burst beneath his feet.

The air was filled with countless molecules of ginkgo leaves.

Amidst the strong scent of ginkgo leaves, Shen Jingqi stepped in front of the ginkgo tree.

A large character was carved on the trunk.

[Li].

In an instant, the barrier collapsed.

Nothing could make it strong anymore.

Shen Jingqi and Wang Zhichen crossed over the barrier.

A huge glass surface appeared before them.

Ordinarily, at every staircase landing, there would be such a large glass window.

But no one would pay attention to these.

People would only look at the steps below, ascending along the staircase; who would be bored enough to stare at such a glass?

Even if it's just a pane of glass, it's merely a decoration of the building, or occasionally reflects sunlight and rain.

While as part of the architectural body, the glass is a complex and unique structure.

At this moment, it was facing a big ginkgo tree in the campus.

In the cold of winter, the ginkgo tree still clung to its branches and leaves.

Golden leaves draped all over the branches, some still embraced by white snow.

Like tiny folding fans connected by vermilion branches, vibrant and dripping in the cold wind.

Shen Jingqi was in a daze.

In dreams, unaware of being a guest.

Uncertain if it was Zhuang Zhou dreaming as a butterfly or the butterfly becoming Zhuang Zhou.

The experience in "Sensory Paradise" presented such a dramatic coincidence before Shen Jingqi.

Projection becomes reality.

Is the world a giant projection?

Shen Jingqi inadvertently looked downstairs.

An entire spiral structure, he seemed as if inside the inner wall of the spiral structure.

Xia Kang had already caught up.

He shook his head, sighed:

"It's destined, can't escape. Things have come to this, I've done my best."

Shen Jingqi stared at the stairs:

"Teacher Xia, this staircase structure seems different from other buildings; is the biology building the only one like this?"

"This is our biology building's unique staircase design, commemorating the double helix structure of molecules."

Xia Kang struggled to move his legs.

This afternoon's running around significantly drained his stamina; now he most longed for a warm bed.

Wang Zhichen had already moved inside.

Shen Jingqi pulled Xia Kang along, catching up with Wang Zhichen's pace.

In front of a tightly closed room, Wang Zhichen stopped.

"The door is locked."

Xia Kang's voice rang out.

"The key is with me."

Xia Kang shook his hand.

He stopped walking, standing two to three meters away from the room, as if trying to avoid something.

"Thank you, Teacher Xia."

Wang Zhichen walked over.

"You must think it over. Entering this room again, I'm not sure what will happen."

Xia Kang looked at Wang Zhichen.

"There's nothing to think about. All my previous pain was because I was always avoiding. As long as I take a step forward, I will see the outcome. Nothing is more useless than futile worries. No matter what, I have to try it, and see it for myself."

Wang Zhichen's voice was slightly trembling, but his hand firmly gripped the key.

Clink.

The key entered Wang Zhichen's hand.

The lock on the door was configured twenty years ago.

Such old-fashioned locks are rarely found nowadays.

Yet, in Shen University's campus, buildings matched with such locks can still be often seen.

Perhaps only those who cherish nostalgia continue to keep old things.

Shen Jingqi looked at the key in Wang Zhichen's hand, heavy with marks of time.

Uncertain how Xia Kang preserved it, yet it remained until now.

As Wang Zhichen reached the door, Shen Jingqi's chest suddenly tightened as well.

An invisible pressure was crawling in his chest cavity.

Shen Jingqi did not focus too much on it but followed closely.

A large bronze lock stood alone, locking the room.

The key turned a few times and was inserted.

Click~

Part of the lock popped out.

A curved arc revealing a metallic head.

Wang Zhichen glanced at Shen Jingqi, pried open the bronze lock's head, and removed a huge paperclip-shaped frame running horizontally.

The old-fashioned lock finally opened.

Wang Zhichen pushed open the door.

A feeling of agedness rushed in, accompanied by dust of twenty years.

Shen Jingqi stepped forward, crossing the threshold, entering the room.

As if in another world.

Shen Jingqi moved slowly.

A feeling was so familiar.

As if calling him from the inception of life.

He had felt similar before.

In the single-player mode of the "Sensory Paradise" application, Shen Jingqi couldn't see anything, yet he seemed to be in a space. When he woke up in that space, it was this feeling.

A feeling of a life form first encountering the world, filled with curiosity and exploration, wanting to touch the world.

And here, there was another strong feeling.

Insecurity.

Everything unknown, subversive, transcending cognitive boundaries.

Surrounded by transparent hexagonal mesh structures rising and falling.

After these images flashed in an instant, Shen Jingqi returned to the present.

He saw Wang Zhichen leaning against the bookshelf, gazing at rows of journals and books.

Wang Zhichen's head leaned forward, as if absorbing something.

After a while, Wang Zhichen extended his hand, trying to grasp something from his mind.

His body twisted, head continuously turning.

Accompanied by Wang Zhichen's contorted face, his hand raised high, placed at the back of his head.

Gradually, Wang Zhichen quieted down.

When he turned again, Shen Jingqi saw an information strip flashing on his head:

[Biology senior male, eager to stand out].

From the doorway, Xia Kang's voice rang out.

"Wang Zhichen, go back to your dorm, have a good rest. I'll contact Dr. Shen regarding the future. I'll have your class president take you."

Xia Kang took out his phone.

"Teacher Xia, you've worked hard. Your body isn't feeling well, let me check it for you; it might be a problem with your pathway."

Wang Zhichen looked at Xia Kang's leg.

"How do you know?"

Xia Kang was somewhat surprised.

"I just rely on my own feelings; whether it's true needs checking."

"Thank you, what you said is indeed somewhat reasonable. But now your studies are most important; after you've settled your thesis, you have time, then I'll let you check."

"I've already clarified my topic."

Wang Zhichen's eyes were filled with confidence.

"What is it?"

"About mirror neurons."