Meanwhile, I was at home, flipping through my medical examination report. The more I read, the more uneasy I felt. The report stated that my blood type was RH-negative, but beyond that, there were strange genetic test results I couldn't understand.
"What is this?" I frowned and turned on my computer, starting to search for information about the genes.
After a while, I finally discovered that my genes carried a rare mutation, one connected to research on a certain virus.
"Could it be… there's something special about my blood?" Unease crept through me.
I drifted into a half-conscious sleep, plunging into a terrifying nightmare. I found myself in a massive laboratory, surrounded by people in white protective suits. Their eyes were cold, treating me like nothing more than an experimental subject. I tried to struggle, but my body wouldn't move.
A figure with a blurred face approached, holding an oversized syringe filled with a dark green liquid. My eyes widened in terror. I tried to scream, but no sound came out.
The syringe pierced my vein. Pain shot through me, and I watched my blood flow into glass containers, gradually turning black and emitting an eerie glow. The people around me eagerly recorded data, while my body grew weaker, and my consciousness began to fade.
Just as I felt I was about to die, a sharp alarm blared. The lab staff panicked. Seizing the moment, I broke free and sprinted toward the exit—only to face a horde of snarling, blood-eyed monsters, lunging at me with ferocious roars…
I woke up with a start, sweat soaking my pajamas. Moonlight spilled over my bedside. I glanced at my phone—3:00 a.m. The nightmare lingered vividly, and the fear of being treated as an experiment refused to fade. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I drank some water but couldn't fall back asleep, my mind replaying the nightmare over and over.
The next day, I dragged myself into the office, dark circles under my eyes making me look like an extra from a zombie movie. As soon as my brother saw me, he came over, wearing his usual mischievous grin.
"Yo, Fa-ge, did you stay up watching movies again last night? Those dark circles are almost panda-level!" he teased, exaggerating the gesture. "With your panda blood, even your eye bags come with special effects."
I rolled my eyes and ignored him, heading straight to my desk and slumping into my chair. The nightmare had left me sleepless, my mind haunted by the eerie lab and the green liquid. I rubbed my temples, trying to clear my head.
"Fa-ge, you can't stay like this. We've got requirements to revise today," my brother continued teasing. "Want me to make you a cup of coffee? Guaranteed to wake you up instantly—better than any pill."
"Forget it. Your coffee's more like herbal medicine. I'd be better off without it," I waved him off, about to open my computer when I heard Sherry's voice behind me.
"Fa-ge, the boss wants to see you," Sherry said softly, with a hint of nervousness.
I froze and turned to her. Sherry wore a light pink sweater today, her hair tied in a ponytail, looking especially innocent. But her expression was serious, her eyes carrying a trace of unease.
"The boss wants to see me? About what?" I asked, puzzled. Our boss rarely summoned low-level programmers unless something major had happened.
Sherry shook her head, whispering, "I don't know. He just called and said you should come to his office immediately."
A chill ran down my spine. Had I messed up the requirements yesterday? Or was my recent work unsatisfactory? I glanced at my brother, who had stopped joking and furrowed his brow.
"Don't worry, Fa-ge. Maybe it's good news," he said, patting my shoulder in reassurance.
I nodded, took a deep breath, and stood. Whatever it was, I had to face it. I straightened my clothes and headed to the boss's office.
The office was at the end of the corridor, door tightly shut. I hesitated at the door, then knocked.
"Come in," the boss's low voice called.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The boss sat behind his desk, a file in hand, brows furrowed. Looking up at me, his expression was complex.
"Sit," he gestured to the chair opposite. I sat cautiously, heart pounding. The boss rarely looked this serious; the atmosphere was oppressive.
"How's work going?" he asked, in a routine tone.
"Okay, revising requirements. Progress is steady," I replied cautiously, guessing what he really wanted to say.
He nodded, paused, then set down the file and looked directly at me. "Actually, there's something I want to discuss with you today."
My palms began to sweat. His tone suggested something serious was about to happen.
"Don't be nervous," he said, softening slightly. "It may sound strange, but it's very important for you."
I nodded, even more puzzled. He pulled a file from the drawer and handed it to me. I opened it. The first page boldly read: National Security Bureau.
My heart skipped a beat. "This is…?"
The boss didn't answer directly. Instead, he stood and called out, "Come in."
The door opened, revealing a tall man in a dark jacket, with a sharp, commanding gaze. I instinctively stood, sensing immediately that this man was not ordinary.
"This is Fang Zhiguo, a special agent of the National Security Bureau," the boss introduced.
Fang nodded and approached, extending his hand. "Hello, I'm Fang Zhiguo."
I shook his hand awkwardly, still confused. "National Security Bureau? What's going on?"
Fang gestured for me to sit. He took a chair across from me, locking eyes. "Have you noticed strange events happening around you lately?"
I froze, flashes of recent events racing through my mind: the detailed questions during the medical exam, Wang Zifang's sudden appearance, the genetic data, the nightmare… Could it all really be a coincidence?
"You mean…?" I asked hesitantly.
Fang nodded. "The woman you've interacted with, Wang Zifang—her real identity is Kawashima Sakurako, a member of the Japanese spy organization 'Kawashima Group.' We've been monitoring them for years, but they've long used medical testing facilities as cover. Recently, they've become active again. Our intercepted communications repeatedly mention the term 'live subject.'"
Shock coursed through me. Wang Zifang—or rather, Sakurako—was a spy?
"Their target is you," Fang continued. "Specifically, your living blood. Your gene carries a rare mutation that grants natural immunity to a virus called EASV, which the Japanese spies are developing as a biological weapon aimed at East Asians. They hope to study your blood to exploit weaknesses and develop targeted bioweapons."
I was stunned. It sounded like a science fiction plot, but Fang's tone left no doubt—it was real.
"You may not know," Fang's voice turned grave, "this spy organization has a dark history. Their research didn't start recently—it traces back to World War II."
My chest tightened, sensing more shocking revelations to come.
"During WWII, the Japanese Unit 731 conducted inhumane human experiments in China," Fang said steadily. "Countless civilians, POWs, even children were subjected to vivisection, bacterial infection, frostbite experiments, and other atrocities. These acts were not only inhumane, but a grave violation of human civilization."
I shivered. I'd learned of Unit 731 in history class, but hearing such detail directly from him ignited anger and discomfort.
"After the war, the unit's commander, Ishii Shiro, handed over all research to the U.S. to avoid prosecution," Fang continued. "To obtain the data, the U.S. secretly protected them and even set up a research department under its supervision to continue these illicit experiments."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "The U.S…?"
Fang nodded, coldly. "Yes. These experiments never truly stopped. Japan and the U.S. have quietly continued bioweapon development, and the Kawashima Group is a part of this network."
A mix of anger and helplessness surged through me. These crimes never ended—they just continued in another form.
"So… what do you want me to do?" I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
Fang gave me a measured look, a hint of approval in his eyes. "We need you to cooperate with us, using a ruse to expose them."
"A ruse?" I frowned. "You mean… pretend I don't know their plan and continue interacting with them?"
"Exactly," Fang nodded. "Sakurako has begun to trust you. She may try to contact you again and bring you to Japan. We need you to play along, and at the critical moment, we will act to dismantle the spy network completely."
I hesitated. The plan sounded thrilling, but the risks were huge. After all, they were professional spies, and I was just an ordinary programmer. Could I really handle this?
"Don't worry," Fang reassured me. "We'll protect you the entire time. Your friend Liu Yu will also be involved."
"My brother?" I blinked. "He knows too?"
Fang nodded. "Yes, we've spoken with him. He's willing to cooperate."
I felt a small relief. With my brother by my side, I wouldn't be entirely alone. He often seemed unreliable, but in critical moments, he always had clever solutions.
"Alright," I took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll cooperate."
Fang smiled faintly. "Good. We'll draft a detailed plan. In the meantime, maintain a normal routine—don't let them notice anything."
I nodded, still uneasy. As I left the boss's office, my brother was waiting. Seeing me, his usual mischievous grin returned.
"So, Fa-ge, what did the boss want?" he asked casually, though his eyes betrayed nervousness.
I glanced around, lowering my voice. "I'll tell you later."
He nodded without pressing further. We walked back to our desks in silence. Once seated, I briefly explained what had happened.
My brother's expression turned serious, rare for him. "Wow, Fa-ge, we're in a spy movie!"
I forced a smile. "Yeah… never thought being a programmer would get us this kind of 'opportunity.'"
He patted my shoulder, voice serious. "Don't worry, Fa-ge. With me, nothing will happen to you. Brothers together—we'll take down whatever spy organization comes our way."
I felt a warm surge. Despite our constant teasing, he was always dependable when it mattered.