Chapter 480: A Critical Discussion

Since returning to Happy Town, Doll has changed significantly.

The most worrisome issue was resolved in a surprisingly calm, even mundane manner, catching everyone off guard.

However, Professor Bai showed no particular reaction; after Lu Xin asked his question, he replied naturally:

“Firstly, her control over Mental Power has improved considerably. Secondly, she has begun showing a desire to interact with outsiders. We have already discussed this with her. Regarding the protection of Qinggang, Doll’s stance is one of acknowledgement and understanding…”

“Of course, we must also face a certain issue.”

Professor Bai’s tone grew weightier and more serious: “We’re not sure she truly grasps the gravity of the situation through such communication, nor the responsibility she is about to shoulder. You are the only one who can speak with her in depth, so we will only ask you to come over formally before the plan is finalized and the first phase of experiments begins.”

“Mr. Lone Soldier…”

He said this while taking off his glasses and gently wiping them with a silk scarf.

“Do you agree to have Doll join this plan?”

“…”

For some reason, as soon as the question was raised, many people suddenly felt the pressure mounting.

“I have no objection.”

Lu Xin answered lightly with a smile directed at Professor Bai, saying:

“Everyone has their own responsibilities; she’s no exception.”

While musing over this, he slowly asked another question, “But now, I want to know: Is this plan safe?”

Meeting Lu Xin’s gaze, Professor Bai nodded slightly after a pause and said, “There will certainly be some risks.”

“In theory, we’re quite confident, but our practical experience is minimal and we have no precedents to refer to, so we cannot rule out danger. Moreover, the implementation of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan will have an enormous impact on both Qinggang and the entire Alliance. Under pressure, we had to initiate the plan, but none of us know the consequences.”

“That is why we must have a strong and stable force to ensure our experiments proceed.”

“…”

“Hahahaha…”

From the back seat, Father suddenly let out a hollow, cold laugh.

Sister, managing to stay focused, frowned slightly as she listened to the words “strong and stable.”

Mom shifted her seating position with a cheerful expression, as if eagerly awaiting a grand theatrical performance.

Lu Xin sat quietly, nodding slightly.

Professor Bai’s candidness made him feel very satisfied.

If he had assured everyone that there was no danger at that moment, it would have left him feeling uneasy.

After some thought, his face grew serious as he said, “I cannot make the decision for her.”

“But I will ask her for her opinion and try to ensure she understands before giving an answer.”

“…”

The atmosphere in the meeting room noticeably relaxed.

Suddenly, Lu Xin recalled something and laughed, “Of course, I must say,”

“although I can’t decide for Doll, I’m pleased you thought to consult me in advance.”

“I quite like that you all value my opinion…”

“…”

The meeting room fell into an abrupt silence.

Everyone present was a major figure in Qinggang, yet at this moment, no one could bring themselves to speak.

……

……

“Right now, we are only commencing the experimental phase of the plan, not its full execution.”

After leaving the meeting room, Chen Jing accompanied Lu Xin out and softly said, “If any issues arise during the experiment, the plan will be temporarily suspended or even canceled. I hope you understand that while Qinggang certainly has its own interests regarding Doll, under no circumstances do we wish—or will we allow—her to be endangered…”

Lu Xin understood why she was telling him this and nodded with a smile, replying softly, “I understand!”

Mom’s words had already revealed the true nature of the plan.

For many obsessed individuals, this is nothing short of a ‘deification’ plan.

It would essentially hand over the fate of all of Qinggang to one person.

Only a girl with a pure heart like Doll could be trusted with such a burden.

Lu Xin himself found it amusing.

If he had just declared his wish to become the core of the plan, how would Qinggang have reacted?

He suddenly felt a tinge of regret—he should have teased them a bit more…

……

……

After leaving the meeting room, he departed directly from the Special Cleaning Department accompanied by Chen Jing and Han Bing.

At the gate, he boarded a car that had long been waiting, and drove along the familiar small road toward the back Villa.

Although Doll had noticeably changed, she still lived in this quiet, secluded place.

As usual, he arrived at the Villa, got out of the car, and greeted the Service Team personnel. For Lu Xin, the process of meeting Doll had been simplified to the extreme. However, he sensed that, unlike the last time, the dedicated Service Team members now gave him complex and strange looks.

Someone even snorted quietly behind him.

This suddenly irked Lu Xin.

What did I do to make you so angry?

Entering a pristine, almost austere building, Lu Xin climbed the steps and suddenly froze.

An unusual change—one that would never normally occur—had taken place in this building.

Just as he reached the third floor of the Villa where Doll was, he began to hear faint singing:

“Ah, ah, ah…”

“Let’s wander the mortal world together, living freely.”

“Galloping on horseback, sharing life’s splendor…”

“…”

Lu Xin was completely stunned. He quietly pushed open the third-floor door to find Doll sitting silently in front of the Television, still clad in her black Thermal Underwear. Instead of commercials, a period costume drama from the Civilization Era was playing. Doll sat cross-legged with a pile of various discs beside her, her head tilted as she remained unresponsive.

…She’s actually asleep!

Lu Xin instinctively slowed his pace and approached Doll quietly.

He noticed that among the heaps of discs by her side, most featured male and female covers, tearful expressions, or passionate kissing scenes; some were foreign films with titles like ‘Love and Death’, ‘XX Romance’, or ‘Ghosts and Love’.

“What on earth is all this…?”

Lu Xin was genuinely surprised. It seemed like a simple idle channel change could have been enough.

Aren’t these things likely to lead her astray?

As he pondered this, he suddenly felt a small hand wrap around his waist. Glancing down, he saw Doll had awakened.

Looking up at him with a quiet smile and slightly squinted eyes, she seemed almost expectant.

Seeing her expression, Lu Xin’s face turned oddly serious as he asked, “Are you imitating Zi Wei?”

Doll reacted, glanced at the Television, then turned back to Lu Xin and lifted her chin.

Lu Xin was taken aback. “You really have been led astray…”

In his urgency, he turned to look for the Service Team personnel to report them to the Superiors.

But as soon as he did, he noticed that several Service Team members were peeking through a slightly ajar door.

Facing their gazes, Lu Xin felt a pang of guilt…

……

……

Remembering his task, Lu Xin sat down next to Doll, contemplating how to start the conversation with her.

Doll couldn’t tell what Lu Xin wanted to say, but noticing his earnestness, she widened her eyes nervously.

After a long moment, Lu Xin sighed softly and said, “Get me a glass of water.”

Doll hesitated briefly, then stood and wandered around the Room. After a moment, she arrived by the Water Dispenser, clumsily pressed the button beside it, and, under the astonished gaze of the Service Team personnel outside, returned with a half-filled glass of water.

Lu Xin looked at Doll with satisfaction, thinking, “So she really is different now…”

After drinking the water to soothe his throat, Lu Xin carefully asked, “If you had your choice, what kind of life would you like to live in the future?”

Doll listened intently, a serene smile spreading across her face as if she understood.

She raised her hand slightly and motioned toward Lu Xin.

“Me?”

Lu Xin couldn’t help but laugh as he replied, “I can’t promise to ride off into the sunset with you and share all life’s grandeur…”

“Because I can’t ride a horse…”

“…”

Awkward silence.

After telling the joke, Lu Xin suddenly realized that the effect was not as he had imagined.

He found his attempt at humor went awry; the Room’s door trembled suddenly, as if the Service Team outside were boiling with anger, ready to barge in and give him a thrashing.

Doll, on the opposite side, looked scared at first, but after a moment, she tilted her head, as if understanding something.

Then she offered Lu Xin a gentle smile.

Yet Lu Xin wasn’t sure if it was just a polite gesture or if she had truly gotten his joke.

This ambiguity made him uneasy.

Lu Xin had always understood Doll’s attachment to him, and now it was even more apparent.

Getting her to agree seemed easy enough.

He was sure that if he directly voiced his thoughts, Doll wouldn’t refuse.

But making her understand and agree seemed a far more complex matter.

After sitting for a while, he glanced at the pile of discs by Doll’s side and realized that her willingness to step out indicated she was ready to learn.

Perhaps the Service Team had gathered those discs as the first lesson for her formal education?

Weighing many factors, he gradually formed a plan.

“Wait for me a moment,” he said to Doll, then left the Room, went downstairs, and called Chen Jing, saying, “I want to take Doll to do something I’ve been thinking about.”

Chen Jing responded in surprise, “What?”

Lu Xin replied, “Something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time.”