An Zhe had already thought of an answer. He thought that Lu Feng wouldn’t easily make promises or have any unrealistic fantasies. Yet to his surprise, after a brief silence, Lu Feng replied, “Yes.”

There was the crackle as the firewood gradually decreased, the burning flames becoming a red light among dark charcoal. The surroundings dimmed and dust rose. The staircase on the 22nd floor of Eden was also a dark and dusty place.

“On that day,” Lu Feng heard a gentle female voice in a trance. “On the day when all of us are free, I won’t have to secretly meet my children like this.”

Ji Balan wasn’t Madam Lu’s child but he also often came to the 22nd floor. At this time, he was sitting on the handrail of the emergency stairs, swinging his legs. “Madam, you will definitely see that day.”

The lady touched his head. “Here is our great scientist.”

Ji Balan raised his head and whistled. “Lu Feng and I will see that day too.”

The lady’s eyes moved from Ji Balan to Lu Feng. “Are you going to the Lighthouse too?”

Lu Feng shook his head.

“Then you are like your father.” The lady kissed his forehead. “You need to protect the base once you grow up.”

Then the lady took one of his hands and one of Ji Balan’s hands. She held them together and placed her hand on it.

“We will all see that day. On that day—” Her face was full of gentle joy. “On that day, we will be together along with your father. You promise me.”

“I promise.”

“I promise Madam.”

“I promise you too.”

Lu Feng’s story was short but An Zhe watched him and heard it. This time, Lu Feng was the one watching the dying fire.

An Zhe reached out a hand. He straightened up and tried to hug Lu Feng like Lu Feng hugged him. The colonel seemed to understand. He adjusted his angle and leaned toward An Zhe. An Zhe hugged his shoulder. He was a bit unaccustomed to it but it was okay.

“You once told me that she became a bee due to a rose from many years ago.” Lu Feng stated. “I’ve been thinking about who gave it to her.”

An Zhe was startled. On a day when the ultrasonic disperser hadn’t yet been invented or when the disperser failed briefly, a bee strayed into the city. It was attracted by the flower and stung Madam Lu’s finger. The bee’s faint frequency lurked in her body and was awakened by the great, unknown fluctuation from the universe.

In the base, only Madam Lu had roses. It was because she loved these things and others loved her. Lu Feng’s father and later Lu Feng would send her the seeds after the Lighthouse had confirmed their safety—only these two people.