112: Evelyn's inner conflict and Su Mu's efforts to break the ice.

With the location of the "Homeland" finally finalized at Site A in the deep mountains of the southwest, the preparatory work inside the base entered a more specific and busy phase.

The geological survey team took precision instruments deep into the misty valley once again to conduct more detailed topographic mapping and rock structure analysis; the architectural design team began drawing preliminary community planning sketches based on Excellence's needs and security requirements; the logistics department began calculating the massive material list and transportation plan.

The entire base was like a wound-up machine, running at high speed, filled with a tension aimed at clear goals.

However, amidst this busy and hopeful atmosphere, one person felt a growing, indescribable sense of unease. She was Evelyn Li.

On the surface, Evelyn remained that calm, professional, and efficient "Technical Consultant."

She actively participated in the technical planning of "Homeland," using her knowledge of The Foundation's cutting-edge technology to provide many valuable suggestions for the community's security systems and the layout of research facilities.

She continued to care about Excellence's recovery progress every day, patiently answering his wildly imaginative questions.

But beneath her calm exterior, her heart began to churn with waves.

What triggered this anxiety was the prospect of "normalization" and "openness" represented by the "Homeland" project itself.

In the current "Zhulong" base, the environment is highly closed and the nature is special; everyone's identity and relationships are defined around the core mission of "protecting Excellence" and "dealing with threats."

In this background similar to a wartime state or a high-level laboratory, her identity as a "former Foundation member," "defector," and "technical expert" is clear and accepted, and even valued for its unique worth.

Her relationship with Su Mu and Excellence is also more based on duty and interdependence within a specific environment.

But "Homeland" is different.

According to the blueprint, it will be a community that simulates a normal social ecology.

There will be more relaxed living spaces, more natural interpersonal interactions, and a longer-term prospect of living together.

This means that relationships between people will no longer be maintained solely by "tasks" and "duties," but will incorporate more complex factors that are daily, emotional, and even have social attributes.

The closer she got to leaving this relatively simple "Fortress" and entering that more complex "Homeland," the more clearly Evelyn realized the awkwardness of her identity and the weight of her historical baggage.

She is the daughter of Morpheus Li and one of the former heirs of the "Prophet Foundation."

The blood of the organization that tried to control, use, and even destroy Excellence flows through her.

She once served as a contact person for "Deep Shadow," indirectly participating in early plans targeting Excellence.

Although she ultimately chose to betray her family and The Foundation, stood on the side of Excellence and "Zhulong," and proved her loyalty with actions, that past is like a brand that cannot be completely erased, deeply carved into her resume and the depths of her heart.

She couldn't help but think: When they arrive at "Homeland," when the pace of life slows down, and when everyone is no longer in a state of constant readiness for war, how will Su Mu, Wang Jianguo, and even the others in the base view her?

Will they continue to treat her as a trusted comrade-in-arms, or will they, in their leisure time, remember her disreputable background?

Especially Su Mu, the girl with the deepest and purest emotional connection to Excellence—will she truly accept from the bottom of her heart this "older sister" who has a complex background and even once had a subtle "competitive" relationship with her?

What worried her even more was Excellence.

Currently, Excellence has a simple mind and relies on and trusts her.

But as he continues to recover and grow, one day, he will understand this world more deeply and understand everything that has happened around him.

At that time, how will he view her, the daughter of his "enemy"?

Will there be a rift or even resentment because of her identity?

These thoughts were like circling vultures, constantly pecking at Evelyn's heart.

She began to withdraw and distance herself unconsciously.

When getting along with Su Mu and Excellence, she became more restrained and cautious.

She no longer occasionally participated in their relaxed bantering and joking as before, but instead maintained the proper distance of a professional consultant.

The gifts she gave to Excellence also focused more on practicality and technical content, deliberately avoiding items that might seem too personal or emotional, as if carefully drawing an invisible line, fearing to take a step too far and invite unnecessary suspicion or resentment.

She even began to stay in her room or laboratory alone more frequently, using heavy work to fill the unease and emptiness in her heart.

Occasionally, when she stared blankly out the window unconsciously, a hard-to-hide loneliness and confusion would appear between her brows.

These subtle changes in Evelyn did not escape Su Mu's sharp eyes.

At first, Su Mu thought Evelyn was just under too much pressure from the preparations for "Homeland" or was feeling unwell.

But after observing the melancholic expression that inadvertently appeared when she was alone several times, Su Mu gradually understood the root of the problem—it was anxiety stemming from identity and worry about future interpersonal relationships.

To be fair, Su Mu's feelings toward Evelyn had always been complex.

She was sincerely grateful to Evelyn.

In many crises, it was Evelyn who, relying on her professional knowledge and understanding of The Foundation, provided key intelligence and analysis, helping the base turn danger into safety.

During Excellence's recovery process, Evelyn also put in tremendous effort, and her technical guidance played an important role in stabilizing Excellence's state.

Su Mu knew that without Evelyn, Excellence's situation might have been much more difficult.

She also felt deep sympathy for Evelyn's plight.

Forced to make a painful choice between family loyalty and personal conscience, carrying a heavy past, and struggling alone in an enemy camp to find a path to redemption, Evelyn's fate was full of tragedy.

However, as a young girl who also had deep feelings for Excellence, deep down, Su Mu did indeed have a trace of unease that was hard to completely eliminate and a very hidden, faint jealousy that belonged to a woman's instinct.

Evelyn's beauty, wisdom, maturity, and the special tacit understanding between her and Excellence due to their shared involvement in advanced fields of knowledge all made Su Mu occasionally feel an inexplicable, insecure pressure.

She sometimes worried: in Excellence's wider world in the future, would a woman like Evelyn occupy a more important position?

But this subtle emotion was usually short-lived and secondary in the face of Su Mu's kind and open-minded nature.

When she saw Evelyn closing herself off and becoming increasingly depressed due to identity anxiety, a more powerful empathy and sense of responsibility took the upper hand.

She clearly knew that Excellence's healthy growth required a stable, harmonious, and supportive environment.

If there was always a rift or even friction between her and Evelyn, then the one most hurt would undoubtedly be Excellence, who was caught in the middle.

Future life in "Homeland" would be long-term; mutual suspicion and precaution would do no one any good and would only make everyone live in fatigue and pain.

"She also genuinely wants what's best for Excellence," Su Mu said to herself in her heart. "And, she is actually... very lonely."

Thinking of how Evelyn had almost no friends to confide in at the base other than work relationships, Su Mu's heart softened.

She decided to take the initiative.

One afternoon, sunlight shone through the window of the observation room, casting warm spots of light on the floor.

Excellence had just taken his medicine and was fast asleep amidst soft music.

Su Mu and Evelyn rarely had free time at the same time and were drinking coffee in the small rest area next door.

The atmosphere was a bit quiet, even with a hint of subtle awkwardness.

Su Mu gently put down the ceramic cup in her hand, making a crisp sound that broke the silence.

She looked up, her gaze gentle as she looked at Evelyn, who was sitting opposite and staring out the window in a daze, and asked in a natural and concerned tone: "Evelyn, you seem to have been quite preoccupied lately. Have you encountered any difficulties with the work on 'Homeland'? Or... is there anything else you're worried about?"

Evelyn was stunned by this sudden question, her fingers gripping the cup tightening slightly.

She didn't expect Su Mu to cut to the chase so directly.

Subconsciously, she wanted to brush it off with "It's nothing, I'm just a bit tired," but meeting Su Mu's clear and sincere eyes, seeing no trace of probing or hypocrisy, only pure concern, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

After hesitating for a moment, she lowered her eyes, gently stirring the coffee in her cup, her voice somewhat low: "Well... I do have some thoughts about 'Homeland.' It's mainly... I'm a bit unsure, once we get to the new environment, I... how should I position myself?"

She didn't say it explicitly, but the anxiety and confusion in her words were fully revealed.

Hearing this, Su Mu not only didn't show any strangeness but instead revealed an understanding smile, her tone relaxed and affirmative: "What's there to worry about? When we get to 'Homeland,' you will still be you! You are the Evelyn who knows so much amazing knowledge and has helped us overcome difficulties time and time again! Excellence relies on you and trusts you, and I... have always been very grateful for everything you've done for us."

She specifically used "us," firmly incorporating Evelyn into the same camp.

Evelyn looked up, a flash of unbelievable surprise and emotion in her eyes.

Su Mu's frankness and acceptance were like a warm current, instantly breaking down a corner of her defenses.

Su Mu continued, her tone becoming even more sincere, even carrying a hint of the courage of self-analysis: "Actually, I have to confess to you, before... I might have occasionally been a little bit... um... petty toward you."

She smiled embarrassedly, "But later I understood more and more that if it weren't for you, Excellence might not have been able to make it until now. The two of us, although our methods are different, our goals are the same, which is to hope that he can grow up safely and happily, and get better and better, right?"

She leaned forward slightly, looking at Evelyn with burning eyes, as if confirming an alliance: "So, from now on in 'Homeland,' we will be the closest of comrades-in-arms! We have to face various situations together and take care of this large 'problem child' who is always having whimsical ideas and making people worry!"

Saying this, she even deliberately winked at Evelyn, her tone playful and intimate.

These heartfelt words completely struck the softest part of Evelyn's heart.

Her long-standing worries, defenses, and self-doubts seemed so pale and superfluous in the face of Su Mu's sincerity and open-mindedness.

She felt her eye sockets heating up, quickly lowered her head, took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, her face finally showed a heartfelt smile of relief and gratitude: "Thank you, Su Mu. Really... thank you."

She paused, her voice a bit choked, but she tried to remain calm: "Thank you for being willing to... trust me."

The word "comrade-in-arms" was deeply imprinted on Evelyn's heart.

It transcended ordinary friends, representing a solid relationship formed in a special environment based on common goals and absolute trust.

This identity allowed her to find a new coordinate in "Homeland."

This short but profound conversation became a decisive turning point in the relationship between Su Mu and Evelyn.

The thin ice that had lain between the two quietly melted in the sincere communication.

From then on, their interactions became noticeably more natural, relaxed, and tacit.

They would discuss Excellence's recovery training plan for the next day together, sharing the subtle emotional changes they observed in him; they would "roast" Excellence together when one of his "hand-crafted" inventions made a mess of the room again, then smile bitterly at each other and help clean up; even in their leisure time, they would share some of their favorite music, books, or chat about some little interesting things and troubles between girls.

Evelyn no longer deliberately kept her distance, and Su Mu completely let go of that lingering grudge.

They began to truly treat each other as partners who could be trusted and relied upon.

The most direct beneficiary of this harmonious atmosphere was Excellence.

Although he could not fully understand this complex emotional shift in the adult world, he could keenly feel the change in the "aura" of the surrounding environment.

He noticed that when Su Mu and Evelyn were together, there was more laughter than before, and their conversations were more casual; that invisible "tension" between them that sometimes made him feel a bit confused had disappeared.

One day, Excellence was conducting an upgraded version of his "Green Radish Quantum Entanglement Communication" experiment (this time he was trying to attach micro-electrodes to the leaves of the green radish to measure the electrical signals corresponding to its "emotional fluctuations").

Su Mu and Evelyn stood side by side behind him, watching him busy while discussing a technical detail about the lighting simulation system in the "Homeland" design in low voices.

The two were very engaged in the discussion, exchanging opinions from time to time, with focused and peaceful expressions on their faces.

Excellence happened to turn around, saw this scene, tilted his head and looked at them for a few seconds, and then suddenly blurted out a nonsensical sentence: "Squad Leader and Sister Evelyn standing together... it seems... um... the signal is full! It's much more stable than before!"

Su Mu and Evelyn were stunned at first, then reacted, and couldn't help but laugh at each other.

Although this metaphor was strange, coming from Excellence's tech-filled brain, it was exceptionally vivid and apt.

Indeed, the interference and rifts that once existed between them were like noise and breakpoints when the signal was poor, and now, communication was smooth and trust was firm, which was the best state of "full signal."

Laughter echoed in the room, and sunlight shone on the three of them, warm and bright.

The solid ice of emotion had melted, turning into a trickling stream that nourished the heart.

This hard-won understanding and tacit agreement laid a solid and warm foundation for the new life of "Homeland" about to begin.

There, they would act as true "comrades-in-arms," guarding a precious hope together and accompanying him through the long road of growth.