Reality Programming Association

Chapter 100: Chapter 41: ”Soul Container

When needed, as long as there’s a suitable ”decompression tool”—or rather, a space provided for it to ”unfold”—

this paper can be smoothed out again.

This folded ”soul” can be ”released” in an instant.

All the folded-up memories, emotions, and personality traits will reappear.

Intact and as vivid as ever.

”Storage...”

Yu Xian muttered to himself, his scalp tingling.

’This theory is too bold, too insane.’

If this were true, it would mean that what his parents were researching back then wasn’t large-model vectorization at all.

They were researching a method for creating a...

”Soul Container.”

’What kind of scientific paper is this? It’s more like an instruction manual for how to stuff a living person into a jar.’

”Yu Xian? Are you okay?”

Yang Yiyi peeked out from behind her computer screen, looking at him with concern.

”Are you not feeling well? Do you want to take a break?”

”I’m... I’m fine,” Yu Xian mumbled.

’This is insane.’

’It’s just too far beyond normal comprehension.’

Besides, if this theory was true, then his parents’ car accident was likely not as simple as just stepping on the wrong person’s toes.

They might have touched upon some kind of... ”forbidden zone.”

Yu Xian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the tempest raging in his heart.

Yang Yiyi still seemed worried. She stood up from her chair, picked up the electric kettle, and walked over to Yu Xian to add some hot water to his cup.

Steam gently curled upwards.

”Don’t work yourself too hard,” Yang Yiyi said softly, her gaze unintentionally falling upon the table.

Yu Xian was just about to tidy up the research papers when he followed her line of sight and realized she wasn’t looking at them.

She was looking at the old, red velvet-covered photo album behind the scattered drafts and papers.

Stamped on it in slightly faded gold characters were the words ”Gilded Years - Photo Album.”

”What’s this?” ℴ

Yang Yiyi looked curious. The album seemed quite old and looked out of place among all the academic documents.

”Oh, that... It’s just some photos from when I was a kid.”

A little embarrassed, Yu Xian nudged the album aside.

”I brought it from my old home. It’s just old stuff, nothing much to see.”

”Childhood photos?” Yang Yiyi’s eyes lit up.

”Can I see?”

Yu Xian grew even more awkward.

”Huh? That’s... probably not a good idea.”

’Those childhood photos... there were ones of me in split-crotch pants, ones with blush on my cheeks for a school performance, and those dorky ones where I’m making a peace sign at the camera. It’s a greatest hits of my most embarrassing moments.’

Yang Yiyi sat down on the nearby sofa, looking very interested.

Yu Xian gave a helpless smile. Faced with his senior sister, who had suffered danger and hardship because of him, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

”Alright.”

He pushed the heavy album over to her.

Yang Yiyi carefully opened it to the first page.

The first thing she saw was a little boy in an ill-fitting school uniform and a red scarf, grinning foolishly at the school gate.

”Is this you?” Yang Yiyi pointed at the beaming little boy in the photo and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

”So cute! You should smile more often now. This looks like a completely different person from the cool and aloof Yu Xian of today.”

”I was a little goofy back then.” Yu Xian touched his nose in embarrassment.

Yang Yiyi continued flipping through the pages. In the photos, Yu Xian got younger and younger.

On the back of every photo, the date and weather were written neatly with a fountain pen.

Yang Yiyi’s slender fingers gently traced the elegant handwriting.

”Did your mom write this? The handwriting is so beautiful.”

”Yeah.” Yu Xian nodded.

”She was a mathematics researcher, and her handwriting was always very delicate.”

Yang Yiyi looked through them one by one, as if immersed in a warm, bygone era.

In the photos, Yu Xian’s smile was so bright and his eyes so clear—the kind of look only a child raised surrounded by love could have.

Only about half of the album’s transparent film sleeves had been used.

The other half was completely empty, a vast blank.

Yang Yiyi looked up, gazing at Yu Xian with confusion.

”How come... there are no more? What about junior high and high school?”

Yu Xian was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on the blank album pages.

”Because... after that, there was no one left to take pictures of me.”

His voice was calm, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

”When I was in the fourth grade, my parents... got into a car accident.”

Yang Yiyi’s hand, which was about to turn the page, froze.

She hurriedly closed the album, her eyes filled with apology.

”I’m so sorry... I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have asked.”

”It’s okay.” Yu Xian shook his head, his tone nonchalant.

”It’s been ten years. I’m used to it.”

So he said. But some wounds are never healed by time—they just form a scab.

Just like this photo album: the first half was a colorful fairy tale, and the second half, a pale reality.

Neither of them spoke again, just sitting there in silence.

After a long while, Yang Yiyi suddenly stood up, as if she had made a decision.

She found her phone on the other side of the coffee table.

”Senior Sister? What’s wrong?” Yu Xian watched her, puzzled.

Yang Yiyi didn’t say anything. She just did something on her phone, then raised it and aimed it at Yu Xian.

”CLICK.”

The sound of the shutter was exceptionally clear in the quiet living room.

”You...”

Yu Xian was stunned. He hadn’t expected Senior Sister Yiyi to suddenly take a picture of him. He was completely unprepared, his expression still frozen in the confusion and astonishment from a moment ago.

”Then, when we have the chance,” Yang Yiyi looked at her screen, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly in a smile that was still a bit weak.

”I can help take some pictures for you too.”

She met Yu Xian’s gaze and said softly,

”The second half of the album is still empty, right? Instead of just leaving it, why don’t we all take more pictures together and fill it up?”

Yu Xian lowered his head.

At this tumultuous moment that felt like the end of the world.

Shao Yiyi’s condemnation of him as a ”Celestial Killer Lone Star, a danger to all who draw near” still echoed in his ears.

Before him stood Senior Sister Yiyi. Even though she still had a fever, even though she too was a victim dragged into this vortex, she was trying to use this small gesture to bring a sliver of warmth to him as a friend, to comfort him for the misfortunes in his life.

Yu Xian opened his mouth, wanting to say thank you, but found that something seemed to be caught in his throat.

He didn’t meet Yang Yiyi’s eyes, just gave a slight nod.