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墨書 Inktalez
The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains as Ye Feng opened his eyes, feeling a moment of disorientation. He reached up to touch his face, confirming that this was not someone else's visage but his own skin, contours, and texture. This had become his recent habit—each day, the first thing he did upon waking was to affirm his identity.
Three months ago, he and Chen Xi had joined forces to destroy the nefarious "Identity Trade" device. The scene from that night remained vivid in his memory: alarms blared throughout the laboratory, and Professor Wang's twisted face appeared particularly grotesque under the red warning lights. When Ye Feng and Chen Xi burst into the control room, transmitting all the collected evidence online, Professor Wang lunged at them like a cornered beast.
"You've ruined my life's work!" Professor Wang had shouted then, his voice filled with madness and despair.
Ye Feng still recalled the complex mix of fear and relief he felt at that moment. When the police took Professor Wang away, the once-respected scholar had lost all semblance of dignity, reduced to a deluded mad scientist.
Television news reported on the incident for an entire week, with headlines like "Shocking Identity Manipulation Experiment" and "Dozens of Victims' Identities Stolen," while "Professor Wang's Secret Laboratory Destroyed" made waves. Ye Feng collected all the reports and organized them into a folder, as if to put a definitive end to that chapter of his life.
After gathering his thoughts, Ye Feng got up to wash up. The reflection in the mirror showed a gaze more resolute and profound than before. This experience had been like a sharp knife, carving away his naivety and cowardice, leaving behind a more mature core.
His phone buzzed with a message from Chen Xi: "Are we going to the library today?"
Ye Feng smiled slightly and replied, "Of course, see you at two this afternoon."
Since the incident concluded, he had decided to delve deeper into psychology, particularly theories surrounding identity and personality construction. After experiencing such an identity crisis, he had gained new insights into the ultimate question of "Who am I?"
The morning class ended quickly. Ye Feng packed up his books and stepped out of the lecture hall. The sycamore trees on campus were already turning yellow; autumn winds stirred up a few fallen leaves. Everything seemed so ordinary, as if that nightmare had never happened.
Yet Ye Feng knew that some things had changed forever. He was no longer the university student who viewed the world with simple expectations. Having personally experienced the fear of identity deprivation, he cherished every possibility of himself even more and understood those who wandered lost on their life paths.
At the library entrance, Chen Xi was already waiting. She had cut her hair short, looking sharp and energetic. Upon seeing Ye Feng, she waved her hand. Since that incident, Chen Xi had shifted her focus to cybersecurity, using her talents and experiences to protect everyone's digital identities from infringement.
"How have you been?" Chen Xi asked as they walked side by side into the library.
"Much better. The nightmares have decreased, though sometimes I still suddenly recall those days," Ye Feng replied honestly. "What about you?"
"I'm interning at a cybersecurity company, developing an algorithm to detect identity disguises," Chen Xi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "If we had such technology back then, maybe we could have uncovered Professor Wang's scheme sooner."
They found a quiet corner to sit down. Sunlight poured through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows onto their table, illuminating the books spread out before them.
"I heard Professor Lin's paper was accepted by Science magazine," Chen Xi said as she opened her laptop. "She conducted a comprehensive study on Professor Wang's technology and proposed stricter ethical review standards."
Ye Feng nodded slightly. Professor Lin, a faculty member of the Psychology Department, had taken over the psychological treatment of the victims after the incident. She once told Ye Feng that everyone reacts differently to the loss of identity; some fall into deep depression, others develop severe cognitive impairments, and some even begin to question the reality of their existence.
"The victims..." Ye Feng hesitated.
"Most of them are recovering well," Chen Xi seemed to know what he was thinking. "I visited Aunt Liu last week. She has reopened her flower shop and says she wants to rebuild her life with flowers and colors."
Aunt Liu was one of the earliest victims; Professor Wang had used her to test the stability of the "Identity Trade" device. This woman in her fifties had gone through a difficult adjustment period after regaining her identity, but fortunately, with her family's support, she gradually found the courage to live again.
"This reminds me of something," Ye Feng suddenly said, pulling a photo from his bag. "Look, this is from a gathering of all the victims last week. They invited us, but we were both busy that day."
In the photo, more than a dozen people were gathered together, their faces glowing with genuine smiles. Although their experiences varied, the shared trauma had forged a special bond among them.
"That's great; they all look well," Chen Xi said with a smile but then suddenly frowned. "By the way, there's something I've been wanting to tell you, but I wasn't sure if I should."
Ye Feng set down his book and looked at her seriously. "What is it?"
"Last week, I found some strange access records in the school database. Someone was searching for Professor Wang's research materials." Chen Xi lowered her voice. "I traced the IP address and found it came from a research institute abroad."
A chill ran through Ye Feng. "Are you saying... someone wants to replicate that technology?"
"I'm not sure, but I've reported it to the cybersecurity department." Chen Xi sighed. "If this technology falls into the wrong hands, the consequences could be dire."
The two fell silent. The sun remained warm, but Ye Feng felt a shadow creeping into his heart. He knew that even if they destroyed Professor Wang's device and exposed his crimes, the seeds of technology had already been sown. In this age of information explosion, any forbidden knowledge could take root in some corner.
"We need to stay vigilant," Ye Feng finally spoke after a long pause. "There are too many dangers in this world that we don't understand."
"Yes, but at least we know how to face them now." Chen Xi's voice was firm and strong. "As Nietzsche said, when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes back into you. We have seen the abyss and have not been consumed by it."
Ye Feng looked out at the campus where students walked carefree under the sunlight. They were unaware of the thrilling stories that had unfolded beneath this calm surface or how their identities and existence had once faced such threats.
"Sometimes I wonder," Ye Feng said softly, "what I would be like if I hadn't gone through all that."
"Perhaps it's still that Ye Feng who spends all day thinking about how to avoid social interactions," Chen Xi teased.
The two exchanged a knowing smile, a shared understanding forged through weathering storms together.
As the afternoon sun began to slant towards the west, Ye Feng and Chen Xi packed up their books and prepared to leave. On the steps of the library, Ye Feng paused and glanced back at the building that held countless pieces of knowledge.
"Knowledge is a double-edged sword," he said thoughtfully. "It can illuminate the path for humanity, but it can also lead us into the abyss."
"That's why we need to protect this knowledge as fiercely as we guard our identities," Chen Xi responded, "ensuring it is used for the right purposes."
Ye Feng nodded. They walked side by side along the tree-lined path, their shadows stretching long on the ground. Although they had returned to normal life, both knew that certain things had changed forever—their perspectives, understanding, and awareness of the world.
That night, Ye Feng lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His phone lit up with a message from Chen Xi: "Are you asleep? I just received news that the police found an encrypted hard drive at Professor Wang's other residence, which may contain backup data."
Ye Feng's heart raced. He replied, "We'll talk about it tomorrow; stay vigilant."
Setting his phone down, Ye Feng closed his eyes. He understood that the story of "Identity Trade" might not truly be over. In the gray area between technology and ethics, there would always be those who attempted to break the rules and probe into forbidden knowledge.
But no matter what challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them. For he had grasped the most important truth: identity is not just a name, a face, or a memory; it is a unique existence woven from countless choices and experiences. No matter what storms they faced, as long as they held onto this understanding, they could find direction amid chaos.
The moonlight flowed like water outside, casting a serene glow on Ye Feng's calm face. In this tranquil night, the world seemed to return to its normal course. Yet in some unknown corner, a new crisis regarding identity and existence might be quietly brewing, waiting for the next brave soul to discover and challenge it.
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