From the moment Gu Hesheng, with a few people in tow, entered and, without a word, attempted to inject You Rong with anesthetic, You Rong's intuition screamed danger. He repeatedly told himself he couldn't lose consciousness! He absolutely couldn't!
As his consciousness blurred, the image of Lin Qinghe flashed through You Rong's mind.
Then, in a daze, he overheard the conversation between Lin Qinghe and Gu Hesheng's group. He couldn't make out the specifics, but You Rong understood they intended to transform his body into something akin to a zombie through an experimental drug!
He heard Lin Qinghe's voice, tinged with laughter, as she chatted with Gu Hesheng, remarking that their success would surely earn them top honors.
You Rong seethed with rage, yet also found himself utterly ridiculous.
He had almost believed the words spoken by the hypocritical and selfish Lin Qinghe!
You Rong urged himself again and again not to lose consciousness, to stay awake! He had to stay awake!
Perhaps due to his recent gradual recovery, no longer as frail as before, his efforts over a long period actually allowed him to temporarily resist the anesthetic's effects. He opened his eyes and regained consciousness!
With sheer willpower, You Rong forced himself to stay awake. He turned his head, contorting his body, and lowered it to bite at the leather restraints binding his hands.
Fortunately, Lin Qinghe had tied the leather straps loosely that morning. With a little effort, he quickly chewed through one, then freed his other hand. He sat up and untied the straps binding his legs.
You Rong climbed off the examination bed, his body nearly devoid of strength, and trudged towards the laboratory door.
Reaching the door, he pushed it, but it wouldn't budge. Without an access card, the door was not easily opened.
You Rong's expression became vacant. He slowly turned his eyes, searching for something to smash the door down. His gaze fell upon a chair in the laboratory.
He slowly lifted his foot and walked towards it, step by painstaking step, almost dragging his feet.
After finally reaching the chair, You Rong attempted to lift it to smash the door, but his body was limp and he had no strength. He collapsed onto the floor, unable to hold himself up.
You Rong desperately tried to stand again, but the anesthetic's effects made it impossible. After a few moments of struggle, he deflated like a balloon and slumped to the ground.
You Rong blinked. The lights above began to double, his vision blurring little by little, threatening to extinguish his consciousness.
Was this truly it?
Would he be at the mercy of these hypocritical scumbags, transformed into something neither human nor ghost by their drugs?
No!
He would never let them have their way!
You Rong gritted his teeth, his heart filled with immense hatred and a thirst for revenge. He couldn't save himself, but even in death, he would never let them succeed!
You Rong mustered his last ounce of strength to get up. He swept his hand across the table, sending vials scattering to the floor. Unsure of what they were, he grabbed them and plunged them into his own thigh, injecting the liquid into his body.
After one vial was emptied, he injected another, and then another. He administered over a dozen unknown injections into himself before his strength completely gave out, and he collapsed to the ground once more.
As he fell, You Rong pulled at the corners of his mouth, trying to laugh maniacally, but he lacked the strength.
Good!
Even in death, he would not let these people have their way!
You Rong had no idea that among the vials he injected, three had been brought by Gu Hesheng from Laboratory Number Five at headquarters.
You Rong closed his eyes. Shortly thereafter, his body began to convulse with intense pain, as if every cell was being torn apart. He writhed in agony, his face pale and sallow, nearly succumbing to unconsciousness from the pain.
You Rong's face, contorted in agony, twisted into a smile more ghastly than tears.
He slowly closed his eyes, utterly without strength.
It was finally over...
-------------------------------------
Outside the laboratory.
Lin Qinghe, citing a forgotten item in the lab, separated from Gu Hesheng and his group and turned back towards the laboratory.
Upon her return, she encountered Jiang Li.
Lin Qinghe reached into her pocket and clutched the anesthetic she had hidden in her lab coat, a precaution against You Rong.
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered, and she said calmly, "Jiang Li, come with me to You Rong's place. Director Gu has temporarily instructed you to go in and retrieve some data with me."
Jiang Li, unsuspecting, replied, "Okay," and followed Lin Qinghe.
Jiang Li felt a surge of triumph.
Now that Director Gu had returned, Lin Qinghe could no longer sideline him. He would be involved in this You Rong experiment after all!
Lin Qinghe and Jiang Li swiped their access cards to open the door. As it swung open, both were struck by the sight of You Rong lying on the floor, his face contorted in a grimace, emitting pained groans. Vials were scattered around him, creating a scene of chaos.
Jiang Li's face changed drastically, and he instinctively turned to call for help.
Lin Qinghe, jolted, reacted swiftly. She turned and jabbed the anesthetic forcefully into Jiang Li's back, then shoved him against the door, holding him firmly in place.
Jiang Li struggled, roaring, "Lin Qinghe! What... what are you doing! Let me go, or I'll tell Director Gu..."
Lin Qinghe paid no mind to Jiang Li's shouts. The sound wouldn't travel beyond the laboratory's confines; she just needed to prevent him from escaping.
Jiang Li struggled for a short while before the anesthetic took effect. His body gradually weakened until he lost consciousness.
Lin Qinghe ignored Jiang Li and rushed to You Rong's side, her heart pounding with anxiety. She crouched down and urgently patted his cheeks, "You Rong, wake up... You Rong, what happened? You Rong..."
Veins bulged on You Rong's forehead and neck. His lips were bitten raw and bloody. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he were teetering on the edge of losing his sanity.
"You Rong, you..." Lin Qinghe gasped, alarmed. "How could you be like this?!"
Logically, Gu Hesheng hadn't administered the new drug he brought back yet, so he shouldn't be like this!
Lin Qinghe's mind raced, and a sudden jolt of realization struck her. She saw several syringes on the floor, three of which were the ones Gu Hesheng had brought back!
Lin Qinghe understood instantly, her anger blazing.
Why would You Rong inject himself with drugs!
And the dosage, meant to be administered in three separate installments, he had injected it all at once, mixed with other random substances!
He was throwing his life away!
At that very moment, You Rong's bloodshot eyes fixed on Lin Qinghe, as if he wanted to leap forward and tear at her carotid artery. He forced out a single, hoarse word: "...Scram!"
Lin Qinghe, caught off guard, was shoved hard by You Rong, falling directly onto her backside. Seeing You Rong's hateful glare, Lin Qinghe's anger boiled over. "You Rong!"