Reality Programming Association

Chapter 102: Chapter 42: Siege

”What about... TDI? Have you found any leads?” Yu Xian took advantage of the opening to ask.

Yu Zhengze turned his head and gave him a look. ”How could we have the time? We’re working around the clock on flood control. There are no new victims in that case, so it’ll have to wait.”

He wondered if they hadn’t even started investigating yet. Sure enough, too many things were hidden behind this torrential rain. Objectively, this unexpected disaster provided a perfect camouflage for TDI. Everyone’s attention and energy were occupied. No one had the time to spare a glance at the ghost hiding in the dark. By the time the floodwaters receded, those audio files would probably have already taken root everywhere.

He thought of the eerie atmosphere in the entire boys’ dormitory building. In the isolated island of a campus, cut off from the internet and communication, the ”Midnight Bus” was replicating and spreading madly like a digital drug. He had to tell his cousin. But... how should he put it?

Yu Xian hesitated, weighing his options. He definitely had to mention the ”Midnight Bus” audio. According to his and Wen Xiao’s analysis, it was an evil tool with open editing permissions, possibly hiding unknown malicious commands. Once it erupted, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But as for Senior Sister Yiyi’s mentor... The image of her weak state flashed through his mind, along with that black USB drive—the evidence she had risked her life to steal. If he threw out this clue now, his cousin would definitely investigate Professor Mo Du.

If something went wrong with the investigation, even if Professor Mo was successfully arrested, the thirty days for the email login logs hadn’t passed yet. Would the forces behind him follow the trail and find Senior Sister Yiyi? And if there was no conclusive evidence and they failed to file a case, the problem would be even bigger. That mysterious industrial fund and the forces behind TDI were ruthless. If he tipped them off, would Senior Sister Yiyi become a target and be ”suicided”?

Although his cousin and the police would definitely provide residential protection for Senior Sister Yiyi, it would still plant a massive hidden danger. If he kept quiet for now and waited for the thirty days of logs to pass, no one would know where the information had leaked from. He couldn’t say it. At least regarding Mo Du and the foundation, he couldn’t say anything before the thirty-day login logs were overwritten.

”Zhengze, the school’s internet has been cut off these past few days, and the students are passing around an... audio file.”

Yu Zhengze frowned, his gaze sharp. ”Another audio file? Is it TDI again?”

”Its functions are similar to TDI, but it’s... an advanced version, like a mutation.”

Yu Zhengze sat back on the sofa. The exhaustion on his face swept away, replaced by a serious expression. ”Be specific. What’s going on?”

Yu Xian thought about how to clearly describe the severity of the matter to his cousin. ”It’s an audio file called the ’Midnight Bus’. Everyone’s been bored out of their minds these past few days, so they’ve all been copying this thing. When I went back to the dorm last time, I saw many people listening to it.”

”What happens when they listen to it?” Yu Zhengze proceeded to light his cigarette.

”They have a very realistic lucid dream, allowing them to do whatever they want in the dream without any inhibitions.”

Yu Zhengze exhaled a puff of smoke. ”Lucid dreams... is it like hypnosis? Are there any manipulations or suggestive commands in the audio?”

Yu Xian froze for a moment. Based on the experiences of Zhang Yang, Li Boxue, and even Wen Xiao, this lucid dream only provided a setting; there were no clear guides, commands, or storylines within it. As for what people did inside, that was entirely up to the dreamer. ”It seems... there aren’t any,” Yu Xian said truthfully.

”Then this is just a...” Yu Zhengze thought about what word to use to describe it. ”A sleep-aid audio? It doesn’t spread illegal information, nor does it have suggestive commands. It’s just an entertainment experience.”

”But Zhengze,” Yu Xian’s voice grew a bit urgent. He knew it was hard to explain the evil of such cutting-edge technology within the confines of the law. ”The students who listen to this audio become very lethargic! They sleep extremely heavily and are very hard to wake up.” He paused, recalling the source memory confusion issue that Senior Sister Yiyi had mentioned. ”Over time, they might become unable to distinguish between dreams and reality. The feelings in the dreams are too real. This sensation might make them find reality dull, and maybe even...”

”Even develop suicidal tendencies?” Yu Zhengze finished his sentence, frowning.

Yu Xian nodded without denying it. Although the logic wasn’t fully complete yet, he hoped this would make his cousin vigilant.

”If that’s the case, it really is a hidden danger... but right now there are no facts of a crime. We can’t even call this thing a violation. It’s indeed very tricky,” Yu Zhengze said slowly as he flicked his cigarette ash. ”Especially during a special period like now, when manpower is needed everywhere. Since it’s just an audio file and hasn’t caused any substantial harm, it’s hard to launch a large-scale investigation.”

Yu Xian opened his mouth to speak but stopped. Indeed, theoretically speaking, these audio files couldn’t even be considered contraband. Disguised as something harmless, they grew wildly in a blind spot. It was like a slow poison, boiling a frog in warm water.

Yu Zhengze fell silent for a moment. ”How about this: do you have that audio file? Send it to me. I’ll have the technical department at the city bureau analyze it and see if there are any clues.”

Yu Xian hurriedly sent the audio file over. There were many experts in the technical department; they might be able to analyze and find details that Wen Xiao hadn’t discovered. Having one more person alert to this matter meant one more sliver of hope.

”Is there anything else?” His cousin cast a glance at him. ”You braved such heavy rain to run back to school yesterday just for this?”

Yu Xian felt a bit guilty, but he absolutely couldn’t expose Senior Sister Yiyi’s situation right now. He shook his head, trying his best to make his expression look natural. ”No, I just discovered it when I went back to get some documents, and I was a bit worried about... my roommates.”

Yu Zhengze stared at him for a while. Finally, he just waved his hand wearily. ”Alright, go wash up and get some sleep. Don’t overthink it.”

Yu Xian breathed a sigh of relief. He washed up simply and turned to go back to his room. The moment he closed the door, he leaned against it, contemplating everything. In the short term, it would be difficult to get the authorities to step in and preemptively block the ”Midnight Bus” audio. Now, he could only place his hopes on Wen Xiao’s progress in cracking it, hoping a solution could be found. But there was no signal at the school now, and he couldn’t get in either. He didn’t know how many more days it would be before he could see Wen Xiao again.

His phone vibrated, and the screen lit up with a message from Senior Sister Yiyi. When he tapped it open, he noticed it was actually a voice message. Her voice came through the receiver: ”Everything is fine on my end. I took some cold medicine and feel much better. I’m about to go to sleep, so don’t worry.”

Her voice sounded muffled, as if she had sent it while entirely huddled under the covers. Listening to the voice message, Yu Xian’s tense nerves relaxed slightly. His fingers tapped on the screen as he quickly replied, ”Okay, call me anytime if you need anything.”

He turned off the silent mode and turned up the volume. Exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave; he had experienced too much over the past two days. Braving the rain to rush back and forth between the South District, the North Campus, the apartment, and his cousin’s house had overdrawn his energy. He had slept in the dorm on Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday, Wednesday, he had been at the apartment taking care of Senior Sister Yiyi. Now, lying back on the small bed in the guest room of his cousin’s house, he actually felt a long-lost sense of peace. Listening to the pattering rain outside the window, Yu Xian soon fell asleep.