"Jiang… you miss your home?" I ask, my voice softer this time.
He nods, gently. "I do. But… it's fun with you. Pretending girlfriend-boyfriend."
I smile a little. "You miss anyone there?"
He thinks for a second, eyes flicking upward like he's searching through memories. Then he shakes his head. "No… I don't miss anyone. But I miss my planet."
That somehow hits harder than I expect.
I stare at him. "You… don't miss a single person?"
"No. But I miss the skies. The color of water. The way the ground hums when you walk. The air smells different there."
His antenna flickers as he talks, voice calm but distant, like he's watching his memories play out in his head.
"…You really came alone, didn't you?"
He nods again. "It's okay though. You're here."
Goddamn it. Who gave this alien the right to be so sweet?
"Say, Jiang…" I lean my head on the back of the chair, eyes half-closed. "Would you go away once your people come to get you?"
He doesn't even hesitate. "Yes. I'll go."
My chest tightens a little. I force out a smile. "Will you miss me?"
He tilts his head like he's calculating the question. "I don't know. Our species… we stopped forming emotional attachments and missing others thousands of years ago. Revolutionaries removed that part from our genes. It's… not natural for us anymore."
Ouch.
I laugh lightly, but it's dry. "Right. Totally forgot you're a logic-driven alien man."
Then he adds, in a calm voice, "But I do miss my home."
"See?" I point at him like I've caught him in a lie. "You can miss things!"
He blinks. "That's different. It's… programmed. We're grown in artificial wombs, and the memory of our homeworld is implanted from early stages. It's important for us to always return. We never forget the way back."
I stare at him for a long second. "…So your planet is home because it was implanted into you. But people—feelings—you weren't allowed to keep any of that?"
He nods. "Correct."
I sigh and look away, mumbling, "Guess I'll just go delete my feelings too then. Brb, rewiring my brain."
"Your species do that? Your brain have wire? You are robot?" Jiang blinks, eyes wide with genuine concern.
I groan. "Ych—idiot, it was sarcasm…"
"Oh! Sarcasm come again!" he lights up like he's spotted a rare bird. "I didn't see it coming. I need to learn fast."
I chuckle, rubbing my eyes. "Haha… Say, Jiang… will you like to form a pact with Earth? Or… with me? Will you take me with you if your people come to get you?"
He opens his mouth to answer—but my body gives up. My eyelids drop, heavy like bricks, and the last thing I see is the soft blue glow of his antenna blinking gently.
I mumble, barely above a whisper, "Ahh… I'm really tired…"
And then I'm out. Zzz.
.
.
.
.
I open my eyes slowly, blinking at the ceiling. Soft bedsheets… wait. Why bed? I passed out at the chair, didn't I?
I jolt up, eyes wide. Jiang is laying right beside me, arms by his side, eyes locked onto me like he's been waiting for a thousand years. His antenna glows a calm blue, gently pulsing.
"Morning, my love," he says in his most dramatic, silky voice.
"Huh—what?" My hair's probably a bird nest right now.
"That's what TV boyfriend says in morning," he replies, proud as ever.
I rub my eyes and groan. "Ugh… why am I in bed? Did you carry me here?"
"Yes, yes I did!" he beams. "Just like TV boyfriend. But I didn't make you naked like him. I stayed in the boundary you mentioned! Am I becoming a good boyfriend?"
I snort, half-laughing, half-mortified. "Yes, yes. Very good boyfriend. Gold star."
"Yes! I'm learning fast!!" Jiang pumps his fist like he just won a gold medal in boyfriending.
I chuckle to myself, running a hand through my messy hair. How can someone be this innocent? It's almost terrifying sometimes.
Then I glance at the wall clock.
My smile dies.
"Fuck!! 8:40???"
I shoot up, heart launching into panic mode. No no no no no—blood sample in the lab freezer—shit shit shit!!
I rush into the bathroom, splashing water on my face like it's a fire, brush my teeth in record speed, and zoom back out.
"Jiang, listen—I'm going to work! You stay home like yesterday, okay?"
"Understood! I'll be good boyfriend today too!" he says, saluting like he's in some alien military.
"Yes, yes, good—" I slam the bedroom door in his face, yank on a pair of clean jeans and a wrinkled shirt, and hop out like a tornado back into the living room.
I toss a pack of snacks at him. "Here! Sit! Couch! No kitchen experiments!"
He catches the snacks mid-air and gives a proud nod. "I will be still like couch!"
I jam my shoes on, grab my bag, and bolt for the door.
"And don't you dare watch any naked bed scenes on TV!" I shout, slamming the door shut behind me like it's my last line in a soap opera.
I sprint towards the station, my thoughts racing faster than my feet.
No way I slept like that! Why didn't I get up earlier? There's freaking Jiang's blood in the freezer! What if someone sees it? What if someone messes with it?
I pull out my phone, dialing Yuyu again.
Ring, ring...
No answer.
I try again.
Ring, ring...
Nothing.
Frustration bubbles in my chest. My finger hovers over the screen as I dial other numbers, desperation creeping into my voice. Come on, pick up, pick up...
Ring, ring, ring...
Still nothing.
"Ugh, seriously?" I mutter, running even faster. My brain is a mess, and all I can think about is getting back to the lab before someone notices that damn sample.
Why is no one picking up calls?!
What's the point of having phones if no one ever freaking answers!
.
.
.
.
.
After running like I'm in an action movie, after nearly tripping while boarding the train and elbowing some poor uncle in the ribs (sorry, sir)—I finally reach the lab building. I scan my ID card at the gate with trembling hands, nearly jamming it into the slot backwards.
Beep!
The door opens. I dash inside like a criminal returning to the scene.
I rush down the hallway, hair messy, breath wheezing, and shoes slapping hard against the floor.
I reach the lab door, punch in the passcode with all the grace of a panicked chicken, and shove the door open.
Please please please no one be in—
"Oh, Yunhua!" Yuyu calls out, waving as I burst into the lab like a tornado in sneakers.
"Why—why didn't you pick up my damn calls?!" I pant, half-dying against the doorframe.
She blinks innocently. "Sorry babe, we were all, like, totally zoned in. We have a new senior now—he's gonna handle stuff till the main researchers get back."
"What? New senior? Since when?!"
"Today," she shrugs. "Post-wise he's senior, but he's young. Maybe around thirty? Cute, if you're into that serious scientist vibe."
I open my mouth to say something sarcastic, but slam it shut—focus, Yunhua. This is not the time to flirt with science boys.
"Okay, uh, cool cool—wait, no, not cool—uhm… listen, I gotta ask you something," I lower my voice, glancing around.
"Like… has anyone done any tests lately on bacteria, viruses, or... I don't know, anything under extreme conditions? Like cold? Or heat? Or like—I mean, um, stuff in the freezer?"
Yuyu lifts her shoulders casually. "Not yet, but the new senior scheduled two tests today."
My heart does an Olympic-level backflip. "Oh no, shit," I whisper, eyes darting toward the lab freezer. I grip the edge of the table.
I can't let anyone see what's inside there. But I can't just rip it out and toss it in my bag either—if I do that, then what was even the point of keeping it here all night?
I run my hands through my hair, pacing a quick step back and forth. Think, Yunhua, think!
"Ah—where is this new senior guy?" I ask, forcing my tone steady as I turn back to Yuyu.
She points toward the cabin. "He's in Mr. Xian's cabin. He'll be using it until Mr. Xian comes back."
"Great," I mutter. My palms are sweaty—I wipe them against my pants and roll my shoulders back like I'm heading into battle.
"I'll just… greet him, then."
I walk up to the cabin door, I push the door open, trying for polite and composed.
"Um, may I come in, si—" My voice dies halfway through the word.
My eyes go wide.
"Huh? You?? What are you doing here?!"