Despite looking rather fresh and preserved after being thawed from cryo-freeze, the actual result was quite poor. Jiang Chen could only move his eyes. Plus, he couldn’t feel the existence of his body at all. This situation lasted for more than a week before he gradually regained control of his body.
He was the first known person to be successfully resuscitated. The research team treated him with caution on top of caution, only daring to release him from the sterile ward after observing him cautiously for two months.
During these two months, Jiang Chen spent basically in a lethargic sleep. The very few times he was awake, he saw his family— His older sister, Jiang ShiLan, also walked down the path of research. His older brother, Jiang Hui, was now the director of a triple star hospital and his father, Jiang KangLe, who was in the ripe old age of 80s, still has yet to retire.
Jiang ShiLan told him that medicine had developed furiously during these years. The invention of an age inhibitor has raised the national average life expectancy from 76 back then to 112 now. Jiang KangLe received the inhibitor late. Despite being born in the wrong era and missing the prime time of injection, he studied medicine himself, paid heavy attention to self-care, and also enjoyed exercising. Adding the fact that the reagents of the inhibitor were still being improved constantly. Without any illness or unexpected accidents, he definitely can live past 120.
Jiang Chen recalled how energetic his old man looked. His tensed heart relaxed slightly. Releasing a raspy ‘en’ from his throat, he felt the familiar feeling of drowsiness creeping upon him.
How fortunate, he thought.
His family were all still here.
The sterile ward did not allow long visits. Jiang ShiLan tucked him in under the blankets, got up, and left.
Jiang KangLe has long been transferred out of the Medical Research Institute. Right now, Jiang ShiLan works here. Four years ago, she was promoted to deputy director. Currently she’s responsible for other projects. When Jiang Chen transferred to a normal ward, she just happened to finish her busy work.
After these two months of recovery, Jiang Chen finally shook off his befuddled state of mind. His cancer was already cured as well.
Although he was still skinny, his face no longer had a sickly air of impending death. He was in much better spirits and started to feel more inquisitive about his family members.
Jiang ShiLan visited him in her spare time and gave him a simple explanation.
Father still didn’t remarry. She and Jiang Hui both got married already. She has a son. Jiang Hui, on the other hand, inherited the Jiang family genes and has a pair of mixed gender twins. The three youngsters were all in their twenties, all older than Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen asked: “What does brother-in-law do?”
Jiang ShiLan said: “Also research. He’s my upperclassman.”
Jiang Chen said: “That nephew of mine also studied medicine?”
Jiang ShiLan smiled: “No, he’s not interested.”
Jiang Chen nodded. Finally there was someone in the family who didn’t study medicine like him. He asked: “What did he study?”
Jiang ShiLan said: “Performance arts.”
Her smile softened slightly: “He just won the Best Actor Award recently.”
There was actually a Movie King in the family.
Jiang Chen was curious: “Do you have any photos?”
Jiang ShiLan tapped open her cellphone. The cellphones in this era were in the shape of watches and rings. With a light touch, a transparent screen can be brought out. She used a watch. After unlocking it, she clicked open a short video and handed it forward.
Inside the video was a young man standing on stage holding a trophy and giving an acceptance speech. His facial features were somewhat similar to Jiang ShiLan. He had very handsome looks and should have many girlfriend fans.
Jiang Chen said: “What’s his name?”
Jiang ShiLan said: “Xie ChengYan.”
When she spoke, some random noises were heard suddenly from the corridor outside, which did not subside even after a while.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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The little nurse held an apple and asked: “Peel it?”
Jiang Chen said: “Yes.”
He asked: “What’s going on outside?”
The little nurse said: “I don’t know.”
Jiang Chen asked: “Then what do you know?”
The little nurse said: “I know that you should eat fruit at this time. After eating, it’s time to rest for half an hour, 2 bottles of IV drips, and then……”
Jiang Chen said: “Enough.” He got it.
This AI was designed specifically to care for him according to its programming. It shouldn’t be possible to provide gossip.
He asked: “What will you do if I don’t cooperate? Do you have any coercive measures?”
The little nurse said: “I will ying ying ying. There are no coercive measures.”
Jiang Chen said: “Ying Ying Ying?”
“An instructive setting,” the little nurse said: “Your family says you yield to soft approaches and reject force. When you don’t listen, I can just cry.”
Jiang Chen said: “……And if crying doesn’t work either?”
The little nurse said: “I’ll shout for help.”
Jiang Chen accepted the apple and took a bite, no more questions.
The clamor outside had stopped some unknown time ago, but after Jiang ShiLan left, she didn’t come back again. Jiang Chen rested obediently for the night. It wasn’t until the next morning that he received an answer— Seeing that he had recovered pretty well, the cryonics team summed up their experience and thawed a 2nd person. However, they didn’t survive.
The team members held meetings for two consecutive days and thawed the 3rd person. They also didn’t survive.
This time, they held meetings for an entire week, repeatedly examining the video and data of Jiang Chen’s unfreezing. Cautiously, they thawed the 4th person, but still didn’t live.
Jiang Chen: “……”
Jiang ShiLan and Jiang KangLe, who learned about this matter: “……”
Jiang KangLe rushed to the research institution. Seeing his lost and recovered youngest son currently taking an afternoon nap, he touched the other’s head with post-traumatic trepidation.
Even to this day, there’s still controversy to this research study. The technology was immature and undeveloped at that time. Although it was listed as a national project, what the future will bring, whether it will be made public, were all unknown variables. Therefore, everything was to be kept low-key. That’s why Jiang Chen, who had countless fans, didn’t actually suit being a volunteer. It was Jiang KangLe who wanted to take the gamble and wrote an agreement, saying that Jiang Chen will be the first one to be unfrozen when the time comes— If he lives, then he lives; if he doesn’t survive, then he will become a reference for subsequent work.
Inside the research institution, there were plenty of youngsters that he mentored. The leader of the cryonics team was even more so, his direct student. Originally, they wanted to move Jiang Chen to the back of the list instead. However, Jiang KangLe has always been upright and honest, and insisted on letting his son be the first. No one knew that at that time, even his hands were shaking when he stood there outside.
Looking back on it now, who knows if it’s due to personal differences or some tiny deviation in the middle, but it’s fortunate that his son was placed first.
Having just fallen asleep, Jiang Chen opened his eyes drowsily: “……. dad?”
Jiang KangLe stroked his head again: “It’s nothing, I just came over to take a look at you…… I have a meeting this afternoon so I will be leaving now. You keep sleeping.”
Jiang Chen replied with an ‘En’, and fell back asleep very quickly.
This nap, he slept for one hour. After waking up, he was pushed to do a series of examinations. Resting for a moment, he brought the little nurse to the gardens to take a stroll. He saw two people following behind him again.
There were a total of 10 volunteers. After thawing four, three died. Temporarily, no one dared to touch the remaining people. The research group crowded this only survivor, practically wishing to watch him 24 hours a day, terrified that even a small bump might send him to his death.
The project was stuck without a verdict. Jiang Chen didn’t know if they still dared to open the ones in the back, but he knew that he could forget about leaving any time soon. However, fortunately they’re not going to lock him up. Besides having a rather small area to move around in, everything else was fine.
Afraid that he’d get bored, Jiang ShiLan accompanied him whenever she had time.
On this day, she just returned her little brother back to his ward and was about to head downstairs when she received a video call from her son, saying he was about to join the movie set, and is not coming home anymore. She asked: “Didn’t you say you can come back and stay a few days?”
Xie ChengYan helplessly: I met JingXing overseas and played with him for a few days, then picked up a variety show mid-travels to save the day, so now there’s no time.” Saying this, he paused: “Oh right mom, did I get an express delivery?”
Jiang ShiLan said: “Yes, it’s been delivered for a month now.”
Xie ChengYan said: “Can you help send it to the set…… no, nevermind. I probably won’t have time to play.”
Jiang ShiLan said: “What is it?”
“The equipment for Wandering Dreams VR.” Xie ChengYan said gloomily: “The beta account that I finally got my hands on thanks to connections. Originally, I thought when I got home, I could play it for a few days.”
Jiang ShiLan was surprised: “Wandering Dreams?”
Xie ChengYan said: “The game that JingXing plays, it’s completely virtual now.”
Jiang ShiLan fell silent for a few seconds: “I have ……a friend. He also likes Wandering Dreams. If you’re not playing, can I bring it to him first? I can return it to you again when you get back.”
Xie ChangYan agreed heartily.
Because this was only the beta. Usually there were a lot of bugs in the beta. He wanted the account purely due to curiosity. Once he finishes filming, Wandering Dreams should be able to open servers officially by then. He can totally play the official version.
Jiang ShiLan finished work, returned home, and opened the express delivery. The next day, she handed it to her little brother.
After Jiang Chen woke up, he looked up Wandering Dreams once. His first response was: It’s been 30 years, yet this game hasn’t fallen out of style yet.
He also knew that the VR version of Wandering Dreams was about to conduct internal testing, but invitations to the beta were only extended to highly skilled players and streamers. The spots were extremely limited. Who would have imagined his older sister could actually secure an account.
Jiang ShiLan said: “This is your nephew’s. He needs to film and has no time to play.” She paused and then reminded: “Your situation is special right now, you understand.”
Jiang Chen said: “En, I signed the confidentiality agreement.”
Jiang ShiLan was assured and stopped disturbing him.
Jiang Chen swept through the instruction manual, reading ten lines with one glance. Putting on the glasses, he laid down in bed and entered Wandering Dreams.
A familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar background music greeted him. His breathing tensed slightly as he felt the blood in his entire body starting to warm up. Immediately however, he recalled his current state— who knows if he can return to the competitive scene in the future— and felt a bit unhappy.
Therefore, the displeased Captain Jiang looked at the blank ID, wrote a string of incomprehensible Martian text, and entered the New Player Village.
The Wandering Dreams mainland was separated into three realms: humankind, demons, and the Untamed .
When Jiang Chen played back then, there were only two races: humans and demons. Now they added the Untamed, and some classes that he didn’t recognize.
He still used Wardcaster. Walking in the demon realm, he enjoyed the novelty a lot.
Playing through a screen was one thing. Immersed physically within the environment was another. He thought that even the wind blowing on his face felt very realistic.
The beta has been running for almost a month. The vanguard has already reached the main city. Apart from the NPCs, he was the only living person within the realm. It was extremely quiet and peaceful. He conversed with an NPC and did a simple task to increase two levels, then stopped advancing and instead, strolled around the vicinity.
The scenery within the demon realm had a darker color palette, mostly black, deep purple, and gloomy blue.
He wandered leisurely to the front plaza when his footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
He saw the statue of a Wardcaster standing in front of him wearing equipment and accessories that looked extremely familiar.
There were words written at the base: Chen Hui Lan Le (Jiang Chen 1999-2017) 2nd Season MVP of the Professional Wandering Dreams Tournament.
The statue had no color and stood there in pure black and white, both solemn and dignified.
Who knows how long it has been standing inside the Wandering Dreams world already, waiting until its player finally arrived see it today.
Jiang Chen felt complicated for a moment. From the corner of his eyes, he saw a few more statues in the distance and walked over to take a look. Very quickly, he discovered a pattern. These were every year’s MVPs. It couldn’t be helped otherwise. The tournament league has been running for 32 years. If the members of the championship teams were all made into statues, they would probably become the terracotta army. Not to mention, these were separated by race. The statues present were all demonkind without exceptions. From this, it can be assumed with 80% likelihood that in the human and Untamed realms, there were similar statues of award winners of the same race.
In the end, he stopped in front of a statue.
It was none other than the reason that this person had received too many MVPs, some of which were of the world-class level.
After Fang JingXing retired, he went abroad on a tour and played around before finally returning to China.
Unlike the beta testing of other games, which only needed an account, the virtual version of Wandering Dreams needed to have corresponding equipment. His equipment was shipped home. That’s why he just started playing.
Originally he thought there’d be no more living people in the New Player Village. Surprisingly, he actually managed to see one.
He walked over. Seeing this Wardcaster standing in front of his own statue motionless, he asked: “Are you a fan of Captain Fang?”
Jiang Chen shot him a glance. Recalling the confidentiality agreement, he gave an “En”.
Fang JingXing didn’t expect to run into a fan despite coming a month late, so he asked one more question than usual: “What do you like about him?”
Jiang Chen said: “He’s impressive.”
Fang JingXing smiled without commenting: “Oh, anything else?”
Jiang Chen didn’t know why he had so many questions and somewhat regretted claiming to be a fan. As such, he simply told the truth: “Healthy.”
He looked at the unfamiliar class and unfamiliar person showcased by this statue, as well as the pile of honors below and added another comment sincerely: “Tenacious.”
Fang JingXing was only asking casually. After questioning, he was already starting to leave. Upon hearing this, he backtracked and inquired humbly: “Please explain that.”
Thanks for the chapter!
The little A.I nurse is so cute, i kinda want her to ying ying ying AHAHAHHAAHAH
Haha they’ve finally met I’m looking forward to their future interactions…Thanks for the chapter!
It’s a good thing that Jiang Chen’s family is still around when he wakes up
Thanks for the chapter
💖💖💖💖
His family is alive thank god!! 😭 I was worried too much time would pass and he’d be left alone
yea I was kinda worried too, like imagine waking up after sleeping for 30 years (wAkE uP sLeEpInG BeAuTy) only to wake up and find out that your brother, sister and dad were dead 💀
Even before, just reading Jiang Chen it gave me ideas. But now Jiang Chen + The Untamed 🙂 hehe
nahhh girl you just made me cry (also The Untamed was literally the first danmei that I came into contact with, from then on I learn about the LGBTQIA+ community and became invested into danmei, it’s literally my starting point…)
hold on I just did the math real quick and so this is what I got, basically Chen’er mental state should be 18 years old but his body would be 48 years old even though it still looks like when he is still 18 and I’m pretty sure JingXing is like 27 or sum, so the age gap between them would be like 19 years and so JingXing wasn’t even born when Chen’er ‘died’ 😨😰
Oh it’s quite fast, but I like it
Thank you for your translation ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️