At first, N Country had in fact staunchly opposed the Utopia Project. Later they had gradually changed to tacitly acknowledging it. 

The opposition was actually easy to understand. Utopia was like a precious treasure that N Country had invested a great deal of time into carefully cultivating. When at last it was about to ripen, before they could take a bite, the treasure had spread its wings and run off on its own. 

Their attitude changing later was very delicate. Utopia must have had something on them to force N Country’s government to come to terms. 

The next day, Su Qing came back very early. Presumably Hu Bugui’s wild reaction to his late return the night before had scared him. But while he came back, his expression wasn’t very pleased. He stopped the car at the orphanage’s back gate and was just about to go in. But as soon as he raised his head, he found that there was already someone waiting for him at the door. 

There was always a smiling look on Kou Tong’s face, as though nothing worried him. Su Qing always thought that this itinerant doctor with his mysterious comings and goings had some means of his own, some perhaps limitless means, for getting close to others. He could never resist judging others according to his own level. He thought, what was Kou Tong scheming? 

In this era, after constant reforms, the medical treatment and sanitation systems were maturing day by day. Whether public or private, everything had been brought under the scope of medical insurance. Even village medicine, like country clinics, had its position. The term “itinerant doctor” practically belonged to lexicons in history textbooks. 

Never mind that this Dr. Kou was a psychologist. 

If someone else had claimed this identity of his, they most likely would have been taken for a swindler. But in fact his prestige in his profession was very high. He had actually become the specially invited expert of a secret organization like the ST Training Course. An expert like this had given up on readily obtained fame and fortune and was living as rough as a barefoot doctor. Why? 

As his thoughts roamed, his face displayed a smile that showed no impression of them. “Dr. Kou, why are you standing here?” 

“Waiting for you,” Kou Tong said. 

Su Qing automatically looked somewhere else. Then Kou Tong unhurriedly said, “Don’t search. Captain Hu isn’t here.” 

Su Qing rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking at him in some exasperation. He lowered his voice. “Why do you keep antagonizing him? Nothing better to do?” 

Kou Tong smiled, showing a mouthful of small white teeth. “I want to pursue you. It’s normal to have a rival in love.” 

Bullshit, Su Qing thought, but he very politely said, “How kind of you.” 

Kou Tong said, “No need to be modest.” 

“My stomach is used to eating noodles and can’t digest shark’s fin,” Su Qing continued politely. 

“You flatter me.” It was as though Kou Tong couldn’t tell what he meant. 

Su Qing paused. He found that there was nothing he could do with this guy who kept pushing his luck. So he bluntly said, “All right, Dr. Kou. From substance to exterior, you don’t especially suit my tastes. You would give me the runs.” 

This time Dr. Kou was grieved. “Others turn people down nicely, but you’re turning me down with the runs!” 

Su Qing: “…” 

This was clearly because the enemy’s defensive index was too high and turning him down nicely hadn’t had enough destructive power. It had all bounced back! 

Kou Tong restrained the slightly improper smile on his face. “Fine, no more nonsense. With you investigating Xue Xiaolu’s background, aren’t you a little uneasy and planning to make everyone change to another base of operations?” 

Su Qing stared. After a moment, he smiled wryly. “…In all honesty.” 

Kou Tong looked at him and slowly nodded. “They can plant people in the RZ Unit, so you suspect that the connections General Xiong left you will also have problems. That’s normal—Utopia… If one day you find that the people you buy breakfast with, clock in and go to work with, are likely the chief culprits in secretly draining your energy, making you turn bit by bit into a lunatic, are the source of infection for a most horrifying plague, that’s the most horrifying thing. The most basic sense of trust between people, based on the foundation of ‘similarity,’ will collapse. Without trust, what will this world turn into?” 

Su Qing looked at him, head covered in sweat. “…Brother, could we leave the hipster literature and art discussion for a better occasion?” 

Kou Tong’s words paused. His eyes swept over his face. He shook his head with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Actually, for both gay and straight people, you really are a very fascinating person. I truly mean that.” 

Su Qing felt sweat dripping down. “Could we not move on to seduction after the literature and art?” 

Kou Tong obligingly changed the subject. “Where are you planning to move? Do you have any ideas?” 

Su Qing shook his head. 

Kou Tong suggested, “What do you think of…the ST Training Base?” 

Su Qing stared. 

Kou Tong laughed. “Hiding in plain sight. The most dangerous place is the safest. Anyway, Zhong Shiliang is a good comrade.” 

Su Qing frowned. 

Kou Tong continued: “It’s only a suggestion. You still need to get Captain Hu’s view on this. I think that the ST base has weapons and equipment. It’s rather suitable for rebellion… Oh, no, I mean, for defending world peace. You can mention it to him. I figure that he won’t take the time to listen to me now.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Actually, you don’t need to be too worried,” Kou Tong said suddenly. 

Su Qing looked at him a little uncomprehendingly. 

“I have a premonition.” One of Kou Tong’s long, slim fingers tapped against his own temple. “The noon sun must sink, and the full moon must wane. Utopia has reached its summit. It’s time for its decline. Its establishment is improper, full of all kinds of selfish desires. Its fall will also be quick.” 

Su Qing thought that he was truly too optimistic. 

Kou Tong laughed softly and patted the back of his hand. “Really. The reason this world exists is that the sun will always rise. So I believe that night isn’t eternal. Of course, if it is eternal, then there’s still nothing to fear. Your family, friends, and loved ones are all here. Later, everyone will fade away together. It’s not like you’ll leave this world all on your own. It’s not mournful.” 

For some reason, Su Qing thought that out of everything he had said, these words were somewhat reliable. So he nodded and laughed. “OK, I’ll rely on your good wishes.” 

Then he made to go inside, but Kou Tong was still leaning by the door. He drew back his arms and crossed them over his chest. When he looked sidelong at Su Qing, the corner of his eye looked a little long, revealing a slightly less steady appearance than usual. He suddenly said, “You know, if you want to maintain a relationship between two people, one of them inevitably has to take some initiative.” 

Su Qing stared. 

Kou Tong continued: “Actually, you and Captain Hu complement each other very well when it comes to work, but your dispositions aren’t very complementary.” 

Su Qing laughed, his expression relaxing slightly. “I feel like I already take enough initiative.” 

Kou Tong waved a hand. “Then you’re wrong. I’ve seen it. I think that when it comes to maintaining a relationship, Captain Hu is the one who takes the initiative, right? But he’s too clumsy. Either he has the intention but not the ability, or he overdoes it. He wants to do his utmost to express his feelings, but he doesn’t know how to express them. He doesn’t understand spicing things up, and he can’t use sweet talk. He doesn’t know how to entertain someone. You don’t need any of the ordinary mutual care and protection between lovers. Even your work surpasses the scope of his jurisdiction. He’s searched all over, and all he can find is making you stop smoking. Over time, it’s nearly become a conditioned reflex for him, as though not letting you smoke is the same as saying ‘I love you.’” 

Finding joy in sorrow, Su Qing thought that it turned out that Captain Hu said “I love you” to him so many times every day. 

Kou Tong said, “Between longterm partners, there has to be accommodation, there has to be conflict. Each person has a shell over them that separates them from others, only some people’s are rather stiff, and it’s hard to get close to them, while other people’s are rather soft, so it’s easier to compromise. The process of breaking through that shell and composing a new one will certainly be somewhat painful, but if you don’t go through that step, then you aren’t really together. At most you’re only very close.

“You’re always feeling that he’s too good to you. You feel apologetic, so in small matters you always give way to anything he says. But do you listen to him when it comes to major matters?” Kou Tong reached out a hand and poked Su Qing in the chest. “Your shell is made of rubber. If others use too much force, it bounces off you. Your Captain Hu has already tried and failed. Now he’s in a terrible fix. He doesn’t know what to do.” 

Su Qing’s heart moved. 

Kou Tong grinned cheekily and added just as cheekily, “So, since he’s so clumsy, why not choose me?” 

Su Qing conveyed his general gist with a roll of his eyes. 

Kou Tong shook his head. “Ah, you really do care for him. If you really care for him, then you can’t count on Lao Hu’s IQ. You should take the initiative a bit.” 

Su Qing raised his eyes and looked at him. But before he could say anything, Kou Tong forestalled him: “You don’t know how to take the initiative? Refer to how I’ve been pursuing you.” 

That holy smile once again appeared on Dr. Kou’s face. For a moment, Su Qing wanted to ask, so you’ve been deliberately stirring up trouble for the last few days for the sake of saying this? 

But before he could feel moved, Kou Tong took his hand, stroked it suggestively, and added, “Of course, if you find that you can’t manage it, either, you’d be better off turning yourself towards my embrace. I’m actually much better than him.” 

“I’ve been wanting to say for a while—you think too well of yourself, doctor.” Su Qing knocked away Kou Tong’s groping paw. Then his steps paused again, and he quietly said, “Thank you.” 

Su Qing and Kou Tong walked in one after the other, and Kou Tong had a very thought-provoking, meaningful smile on his face. The anger Captain Hu had been keeping down all day immediately flared up. He jumped out of his chair with a clatter, grabbed Su Qing by the wrist, and pulled him out of the room. 

Dr. Kou unhurriedly sat down in the chair Hu Bugui had just been sitting in. Qin Luo thought about how she still needed to practice her ability to communicate with outsiders, so she thought for a long time and finally worked up her nerve, deciding to make Dr. Kou her first practical test subject. Quietly, she said, “So…your secret is out?” 

Kou Tong raised his eyes and looked at her. His pupils were considerably larger than other peoples’. When he wasn’t smiling, they looked unusually profound, giving people a feeling that his emotions were particularly deep. Qin Luo immediately found that she had chosen the wrong practice subject. His class was too high. She quickly averted her gaze, avoiding instant death. 

Dr. Kou sighed gloomily. “A person like me, who spends all his time matchmaking for others, is truly too noble.” 

He paused for a moment, then very shamelessly added, “Really. I feel like I’m about to be moved to tears.” 

Then he looked at Qin Luo again with his profound eyes. Miss Qin bolted. 

Hu Bugui pulled Su Qing all the way to their room and slammed the door shut. His expression was very displeased, but he pursed his lips and didn’t say anything. He seemed to be suppressing his anger with all his might. He attempted to find some dignified reason to start flaring up, but sadly he failed. In his whole life, he had very rarely fought for anything for himself. He had too little experience. So the flames of his fury were stifled inside. They wouldn’t come out no matter what, nearly blocking his chest. 

At last, before Captain Hu, who was truly too inarticulate, could think of what to say, anger burned away the very last thread of his reason, and he inarticulately chose the most heart-baring words: “If…if you carry on with Kou Tong again, I’ll shoot him.” 

Su Qing was a clever hand at dealing with this sort of situation to start with, but when Hu Bugui suddenly came up with this sentence, he at last had nothing to say in the face of this comrade who wouldn’t rest until he had said something shocking. 

The two of them stared at each other helplessly for a moment. Then Hu Bugui suddenly pressed him against the wall. His breathing was a little urgent. His eyes, whether from anger or from sleeping badly, were a little bloodshot. He seemed rather frightening. He tightly caught Su Qing under the ribs and viciously covered Su Qing’s lips. 

This was rather rash. The taste of blood quickly spread. 

Su Qing sighed inwardly, thinking, Some initiative it is, then. So he hooked his arms around Hu Bugui’s neck and raised a knee to rub his leg a little fawningly. Hu Bugui firmly bit his neck. 

Su Qing hissed and covered the place where the skin had broken where he had bit it. Not quite smiling, he asked, “Chief, are you jealous?” 

Hu Bugui’s answer was to pull open his pants. 

Su Qing moved very cooperatively, making it more convenient for him to pull. “Actually, I’m pretty pleased. Really. This is the first time in my life anyone’s been jealous over me.” 

Hu Bugui froze. He raised his head just in time to meet Su Qing’s eyes. There seemed to be unspeakable tenderness in Su Qing’s eyes. He reached out and lightly grabbed Hu Bugui’s hair. His fine breath sprayed on the side of Hu Bugui’s face and neck, so he could clearly feel the sigh Su Qing breathed out. “Actually…” 

Actually what, Su Qing didn’t have time to say, because just then, someone outside banged on the door. Chang Dou shouted by the door as if galvanized: “Captain Hu! Captain Hu! I’ve cracked the cypher on the microchips! Ahahaha, you’ll never guess what they are, even Dr. Lu is astonished! It’s a genetic database! There’s a genetic database on the microchips!” 

Chang—Dou! 

Hu Bugui thought he really did want to fucking shoot this little whelp.