MASG chapter 159

 

The sound of his own breathing mixed into the singing made Xia Yu feel unfamiliar.

He had forgotten how to breathe through his nose, so he didn’t understand why he was coughing. However, the revival of his bodily functions allowed him to regain the breathing method that humans rely on to survive. The seawater in his mouth and nose had already been expelled. He was slowly making his way back to land from the world beneath the sea.

It hurt inside his chest. He was not used to it yet.

Light entered Xia Yu’s eyes, and the new world gradually awakened him.

The people outside the medical pods were not nearly as calm. Mo An wished Mi Dou would give him another sedative shot. When Xia Yu opened his eyes, he could not contain his overwhelming joy. The person who had haunted his dreams was standing right in front of him, looking exactly the same. Even the color of his eyes had not changed!

He turned to look at Xia Xiaoxiao. She had also opened her eyes, and her pupils were just slightly darker than her brother’s.

Mo An ran back and forth between the two medical pods like a spinning top that never stopped—like an electrified mermaid. But then he began to worry again. The genetic test report showed that they were indeed them, but would they… still remember him?

Would Xia Yu still remember that… younger brother he had raised since childhood, who had angered him before, but had also kissed him?

Would Xia Xiaoxiao still remember the beautiful memories they had made in Penghu City? The days when the three of them walked to and from school together and sat on the rooftop at night, blowing in the sea breeze?

“Pay attention to the blood pressure and oxygen levels,” Wang Qin quietly instructed Mi Dou.

Mi Dou responded and opened the screen twice. His fingers trembled uncontrollably. The first time he had seen Xia Yu, things had not been like this. Xia Yu had also been a child back then, but he had looked much older.

This was what Xia Yu had looked like as a child—so amusing, chubby, and round. Mi Dou did not know whether to laugh or cry. He wanted to hurry and get his good brother out of the medical pod, but he also wanted to take this opportunity to poke his plump belly.

There was no more food shortage or artificial experiments this time. Jellyfish-gene modified humans were raised in seawater from the embryonic stage and then entered the ecological womb without pause. So, both siblings were chubby. A group of people gathered outside the medical pods, watching and waiting for Nuwa’s final instruction.

Nuwa: [Inspection complete. Open the hatch?]

Jingwei: [Open it, open it.]

Nuwa: [Hey, I am asking for the humans’ opinion.]

Jingwei: [They also want it opened…]

All eyes turned to Wang Qin. She was the only one with the highest authority here. In the end, she nodded calmly, just as she had many years ago, ready to welcome their rebirth.

“Open the pod.”

Nuwa: [Command received. Hatch opening device activated. Please wait.” Countdown begins. 5, 4, 3…]

Mo An’s breathing quickened. The countdown’s fuse seemed to run straight through his heart, tugging at it again and again.

Xia Yu was still a little dizzy. Although there was light around him, it was just the right brightness, and his eyes felt no discomfort. A hissing sound of air release rang in his ears. He was very familiar with this sound. A long time ago, he had heard it before…

His body seemed to change from lying flat to being half upright.

The medical pod automatically adjusted its angle, allowing blood to circulate faster. Blood flowed from the upper body to the lower body. Xia Yu gradually regained sensation in his legs, though he could not yet move them.

“You are…” Xia Yu’s gaze shifted from side to side. A strong beam of light shone into his eyes, making him want to cry.

“There’s nothing wrong with the pupils. Normal light response.” Mi Dou still did not feel reassured. After examining Xia Yu, he checked Xiaoxiao. “This side is fine, too. Xiaoxiao? How do you feel?”

“Wait, I’m a little dizzy.” Xia Xiaoxiao frowned. Although she looked like a little girl, she sounded very mature.

Silver Fang pushed Mi Dou aside and covered Xia Xiaoxiao’s wet body with his large coat. Xia Xiaoxiao was still adjusting to breathing through her mouth and nose and was unable to speak at that moment. At that moment, Xia Yu moved, and when he spoke, his voice was extremely childish.

Only Wang Qin and Nuwa had heard this child’s voice before.

“You are… who are you? Who are you?” Xia Yu looked at someone as he asked. He had remembered many things, but not this person’s relationship to him.

There was an explosion in Mo An’s head, like an undersea volcano erupting. Had Xia Yu lost his memory? Did he not remember them?

“I’m Xiang Xing! Do you still remember me?” The person Xia Yu was looking at happened to be Xiang Xing. Xiang Xing stretched out his left hand, and milky-white mycelium wrapped around Xia Yu’s neck like small scarves.

Xia Yu followed the mycelium and looked down at his own body. My heavens, what kind of body is this? Why are his arms round and chubby? Why are his legs so short? Why are his feet so small?

“Are you really Xiang Xing?” he asked, raising his head, unaware of how adorable his little round face looked to others.

Xiang Xing smiled and changed his appearance back to how it had been when he met Xia Yu. “Yes, I’m Xiang Xing. This was the old me.” After speaking, his features shifted again, this time to his current appearance. “This is the current me. In that battle, my face was burned. I repaired it according to current aesthetics, so you don’t recognize me.”

“It really is Xiang Xing… cough, cough…” Xia Yu spat out another mouthful of water.

Mo An could not hold back and pushed Xiang Xing aside. He had thought that when he saw Xia Yu again, he would have countless words to pour out. Now, however, he could not squeeze out even one.

Xia Yu’s eyes finally focused on him. “Mo An?”

Mo An’s eyes reddened again instantly. “Mm.”

“You’re still such a crybaby? You’re already this old.” Although Xia Yu’s voice was childish, his manner of lecturing his younger brother was still imposing. Mo An turned his neck and stretched his arms toward Professor Wang Qin, who was like a mother he had not seen for a long time.

Professor Wang Qin wiped the corners of her eyes and reached out to carry him out of the medical pod. However, what she lifted out was a very small child.

Next, the laboratory became a complete mess of activity. It had not been this lively in a long time. Professor Wang Qin busied herself with examining the two children. Mi Lian helped her hold Xia Xiaoxiao. They ran from one piece of equipment to another. Data flew back and forth across the screens. Mi Dou and Xiang Xing carefully recorded everything, afraid of missing a detail.

The rest waited outside the examination room like elders of a large family, able to see inside only through the glass.

Yan Xia quietly hid his secondhand smoke. “My God, they’re really so small. Does this mean I can’t smoke in front of them anymore? I’d set a bad example for the kids.”

“You should have quit cigarettes a long time ago. I really don’t know what’s so good about it.” Silver Fang took the opportunity to confiscate Yan Xia’s e-cigarette. He had wanted to do this for a long time. “Look, Xiaoxiao’s physical condition is obviously much better this time. There’s no malnutrition or delayed development. This time, her dream will definitely come true. She can become an outstanding aircraft pilot.”

“She’s still so young. Why are you worrying about that?” Yan Xia said. “Mo An, Mo An?”

Mo An had been staring blankly until Yan Xia pushed him and he turned around. “What?”

“Fascinated, are you? Wake up.” Yan Xia reminded him.

“I am awake. I’m just…too happy.” Mo An turned back around and stared eagerly. “I’ve never seen Xia Yu like this. He also had a time when he was this small…”

Yan Xia, Lao Gui, and Silver Fang all found it amusing. Yan Xia said, “You’re really stupid. Who doesn’t have a childhood?”

However, Mo An explained seriously, “Xia Yu is different. He started taking care of me when he was very young. In my heart, he never experienced being a child. The moment I was born, he was there to take care of me. But when he was born, he didn’t have me. This time, though, it’s fine. I’ll raise him well.”

“It sounds like you two are a generation apart. Do you want to be his dad?” Lao Gui couldn’t resist teasing.

“Of course not! We’re the same age!” Mo An clenched his fists.

Another half hour passed before Professor Wang Qin agreed to let everyone go in together to see the babies. Mo An walked at the very front; his limbs wouldn’t listen to him. Was it always this hard for a mermaid to walk on land? After turning a corner, he saw the door. When he went in, he saw Xia Yu and Xiaoxiao wearing examination clothes.

They were so small, sitting on the examination bed like two little toys!

They were both adapting to their new bodies and comparing the size of their palms. Xia Xiaoxiao was very satisfied. “See? I told you I’m your older sister. If I hadn’t been malnourished, my hand would be bigger than yours.”

“It really is a bit bigger. Why?” Xia Yu asked, confused.

“Probably because, in nature, females are usually one size bigger. Maybe when I grow up, I’ll be taller than you.” Xia Xiaoxiao moved her legs. Xia Yu swung his short legs and looked at them—short, fleshy, and chubby with little folds one after another.

Mi Dou and Professor Wang were so worried about their nutrition that they didn’t restrict their appetites at all. They had actually fed them until they became two little chubby kids!

Footsteps approached. Subconsciously, Xia Yu lifted his chubby little face and suddenly met Mo An’s gaze. Previously, he had only thought that Mo An was tall. Now, he felt that he was terrifyingly tall.

“How is it? What did Professor Wang say?” Mo An bent down to look Xia Yu in the eye.

“She said everything is normal. Our growth and development are faster than those of ordinary people. Once we grow back to our previous age, things will return to normal.” Xia Yu suddenly looked at Mo An’s hand. “Stretch out your hand.”

Heavens, this voice… it was completely that of a child! Just like before! Too cute! Mo An immediately stretched out his hand. “Are you hungry? Shall I take you out to find something to eat? Would you like fish?”

“Professor Wang said that we’ll temporarily use nutrient injections. We’ll start with liquid food and slowly transition back to a normal diet.” Xia Yu stretched out his small hand and carefully pressed it into Mo An’s palm.

Mo An’s palm was twice as big as his! Xia Yu blinked in shock. “I’m so small. Why am I this small?”

“You look like you’re five years old.” Mo An’s heart softened. “Should I carry you out for some fresh air?”

“Better not. It’s too embarrassing.” Xia Yu was worried about his personal image.

“It’s fine. I’ll carry you outside for a walk. From now on, I can carry you every day.” Eagerly, Mo An picked Xia Yu up and lifted him straight over his head. Xia Yu shrank his neck in fright. Just as Mo An was about to put him down, he felt a slight pain in his thigh.

It was Xia Xiaoxiao kicking him. “What are you doing to my little brother?”

“I just want him to experience my height,” Mo An replied immediately. “Don’t worry. I definitely won’t drop him.”

“Put me down quickly. This is embarrassing…” Xia Yu started kicking Mo An’s arm with his chubby little feet. He used to be the older brother. Now, not only were their roles reversed, but he had also become his younger brother’s toy.

“I won’t. I’m going to carry you every day.” Mo An held Xia Yu tightly with just one arm, refusing to let go. Now, he was going to do what he had wanted to do…

Xia Yu looked at the hand reaching toward him and had an unpleasant premonition.

Finally, Mo An poked Xia Yu’s belly and laughed out loud. “Haha, so soft.”