September 11, 2050 — 11:27 a.m.
Imperial First High Court
A solemn court hearing had reached its final sentencing stage.
"Please stand."
The court declared:
"The defendant, Chen Yi, developed poisonous mosquitoes resistant to extreme cold and heat, capable of rapid reproduction, under an entertainment-oriented mindset. His actions caused extraordinarily severe consequences.
This behavior constitutes crimes against humanity and endangerment of public safety, and must be punished severely."
"The facts of the charges against the defendant Chen Yi are clear. The evidence is sufficient. The charges are established."
"The defense argues that the defendant is a first-time offender, showed a sincere attitude of confession, and is a world-class biologist, requesting mitigation or reduction of punishment. This court does not accept the defense."
"In accordance with Articles 114 and 671 of the law, the judgment is as follows:"
The defendant Chen Yi, having committed crimes against humanity and endangering public safety, is sentenced to life imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for life, taking into account his professional knowledge and attitude of repentance.
Due to the massive social and economic losses caused, 476 million in personal assets, as well as all future income from copyrights and shares, shall be confiscated to compensate the victims.
Bang!
"This judgment is pronounced orally and will be delivered in writing within five days. If you are dissatisfied, you may appeal within ten days from the day after receiving the judgment. Written appeals must include one original and two copies. Defendant Chen Yi—did you hear clearly?"
"…I heard clearly."
Chen Yi stood in the defendant's dock beneath the judge's platform. He wore a bright yellow vest, heavy shackles clanking on his hands and feet. His once-clear black eyes were now shrouded in a thick gray haze.
"The court is adjourned. Escort the defendant Chen Yi out and return him to Xingkan under special police supervision."
Bang!
I'm finally free…If I ever get the chance to build a laboratory again, I must hire the most rigorous construction company.
Chen Yi took a deep breath. A faint smile appeared on his pale face as he raised his chained arms to wipe the redness from his eyes.
"Why?! I don't accept this!""Why isn't someone like this sentenced to death?!""So money means you can do whatever you want? People like us just die for nothing?!"
Amid the furious accusations, Chen Yi turned to look at the dozens of victims' family members behind him—men and women, young and old. A few burly men surged forward, desperate to beat him.
Bang!
"Silence!"
"Disturbing the court will result in compulsory detention. If you believe the judgment is unfair, file a complaint. Do not disrupt the proceedings."
The judge, already preparing to leave, hastily grabbed the loudspeaker and shouted.
"Bailiffs—take the defendant away!"
Chen Yi closed his eyes in pain and allowed himself to be dragged out by two bailiffs. He offered no resistance.
Maybe this is what I deserve.
"Behave. Don't move around. We'll take you back to Xingkan after we eat."
Two special police officers escorted him into the prison transport vehicle and even removed the shackles from his hands and feet.
Chen Yi sat quietly on the hard seat, eyes closed, breathing in the damp, stale odor inside the van. Regret flooded his memories.
Chen Yi's background was, by most standards, exceptional.
His father was a well-known industrial tycoon in China, controlling several major corporations with combined assets worth tens of billions. Chen Yi, however, was born to his father's lover.
He had seven half-siblings—and five younger ones.
Aside from money, his father never gave him any paternal affection.
His mother left him after being abandoned herself.
From elementary school through high school, Chen Yi grew up in boarding institutions. Every day was study, meals, and sleep. Nothing else.
He became withdrawn, uninterested in socializing. His only passion was research.
After the college entrance examination, Chen Yi entered Harvard University with top overall scores.
Only then did his father seek him out—taking him on trips, telling him he could ask for money anytime.
Chen Yi felt no joy.
Late concern is worse than none at all.
The day his documents were finalized, he packed and left the city.
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
During that decade, Chen Yi earned seven doctoral degrees in biotechnology-related fields and secured ten cutting-edge biopharmaceutical patents.
One morning, watching the sun rise, the twenty-seven-year-old Chen Yi realized he could no longer live like this.
Endless experiments. Exercise. Good food. Games.
Dull. Empty.
Friends urged him to marry, to start a family. He dated many beautiful women, yet none stayed longer than six months.
He despised relationships built solely on money and status. His mother's abandonment left deep scars.
Marriage and children terrified him.
Eventually, even conversation with women lost meaning—no emotion, only desire. Hollow. Tedious.
At twenty-nine, Chen Yi decided to return home.
He sold his laboratory and most of his assets, packed his clothes and a beautiful civet cat, and rushed back.
After attending the lavish welcome banquet his father held, Chen Yi moved into a villa—and met a little girl.
Soft, adorable.
His sister, Chen Yu, twenty years younger than him.
For a month, life felt peaceful. The servants were respectful. His sister was sensible and sweet.
Another month passed.
Chen Yi invested heavily to build a high-level laboratory nearby, planning to research emergency drugs for vascular rupture—critically scarce domestically.
What he never imagined was that a casual action would lead to catastrophe.
On the first day of experimentation, his sister Xiao Yu'er came to play.
"Big brother," she said innocently, "both humans and animals can evolve… what if mosquitoes and flies could evolve too?"
That childish thought sparked Chen Yi's curiosity.
He fused the genes of nine insect species, including tiger mosquitoes, aphids, golden mosquitoes, chrysalis worms, and monocular ice worms.
After eighty-nine experiments across a week, he succeeded.
A mosquito with the strongest composite genes—capable of reproducing dozens of generations per day, spreading deadly diseases, and resisting extreme cold and heat.
A natural enemy of all traditional life.
Chen Yi patiently explained it to Xiao Yu'er, testing the mosquitoes on mice.
Initially, the results were underwhelming—the mosquitoes seemed sluggish.
Disappointed, Chen Yi sealed the chamber and went home to rest, planning to reassess.
The next morning, all three mice were dead.
The mosquitoes were gone.
Chen Yi panicked, immediately contacting disease control and environmental authorities—along with his estranged father.
But no one took it seriously.
It's just a mosquito.
Chen Yi reassured himself: The lab is sealed. It must've died.
Half a month later, disaster struck.
A massive mosquito outbreak engulfed the imperial capital and surrounding areas. Thousands died within three days.
Authorities arrested Chen Yi.
He confessed immediately, developing anti-mosquito drugs and containment methods within two days.
It still took half a month to eliminate the threat.
Public backlash was immense. Chen Yi was vilified as a reckless rich heir. His father's rivals poured fuel on the fire.
After refusing to join a high-level biochemical weapons department, Chen Yi was sent to Xingkan Residence for four months under brutal conditions.
Half-cooked rice. Unsalted cabbage. Thin soup. Night duties at random hours.
Four months.
Elders mocked him, pressuring him to research chemical weapons—or face execution.
He refused.
He would not kill innocents with his work.
"Now that the sentence is fixed, reform well. You can still reduce it," a middle-aged officer said gently.
"Yes. Many get out after eighteen years. The future is still bright," another added.
"…Mm."
Chen Yi stared blankly out the window.
He did not appeal.
After transfers, he was sent to a coal mine for re-education.
Three days of training later, he was assigned to the harshest manual labor.
This primitive mining method had long been obsolete—but machines couldn't handle certain dangerous zones.
Those were left to prisoners.
After a week of mining, Chen Yi encountered his first thunderstorm.
Black clouds crushed the sky. Cold wind howled.
Thunder roared. Blue lightning split the heavens.
Chen Yi dropped his hoe and stepped into the rain.
As a child, rainy days were his favorite—because illness meant his mother's gentle care.
Tears mixed with rain.
Mother… did you really abandon me because of empty words?
"Come back! Now!" the foreman shouted.
"Heh…"
Chen Yi raised his arms, laughing as he looked skyward.
Then—
BOOM.
Golden lightning tore open the darkness like divine salvation. A surreal rift split the sky, golden flames dancing within.
If I could choose… I'd like to be a carefree cat in my next life.
Lightning struck.
Chen Yi collapsed.
No pain. No sensation.
Only darkness.