136: A "failed" protection and an emotional breakthrough

Inside "Homeland," a subtle sense of gravity permeated the air due to the emergence of the "echo" incident. Although daily scientific research and life continued in an orderly fashion, an invisible pressure was quietly accumulating among the high-level and core members. Security meetings became more frequent, intelligence analysis briefings grew thicker, and the alarm thresholds for network monitoring were adjusted to more sensitive levels. Everyone understood that a cognitive secret war concerning "truth and falsehood" had begun in the virtual information space. The opponent was cunning and patient, with unknown objectives but potentially immense harm.

As the people closest to Excellence and those who understood the inside story best, Su Mu and Evelyn were naturally drawn into the front lines of this silent battle. Su Mu needed to cooperate with the security department to reorganize and strengthen the confidentiality details of Excellence's daily life trajectory, ensuring that no habits or details could be imitated or exploited by the outside world. Evelyn devoted a great deal of energy to deeply studying every post released by "echo," analyzing its thinking patterns, knowledge loopholes, and possible hidden intentions, while also participating in the formulation of counter-strategies and internal early warning mechanisms.

This inevitably reduced the time they spent accompanying Excellence. The previously unshakable tradition of the three of them having dinner together now frequently turned into Excellence eating alone in the cafeteria because of emergency meetings; weekend activities like tending to plants in the greenhouse or taking walks were often interrupted by sudden work calls. At the door of Excellence's studio, where a cute wooden sign hung saying "Excellence Science Lab—No Admittance (Except for Class Monitor and Sister Evelyn)," there were times when the figures of the two sisters wouldn't appear together for an entire day.

Although Excellence knew nothing about the "echo" plan, he keenly felt this change. He noticed that an imperceptible trace of fatigue would occasionally flash in Sister Su Mu's smile, and when Sister Evelyn discussed problems with him, she would sometimes stare out the window and daze off for a few seconds. The footsteps of the adults in the hallway seemed more hurried than usual, and their voices were kept lower. An inexplicable, faint sense of alienation enveloped him.

He did not make a fuss or complain. His long-term collective living and sensitivity to others' emotions made him better at observing people's expressions and understanding them than others his age. He vaguely guessed that the adults must be dealing with some "important and tricky" matters. He told himself, "I can't cause trouble for Class Monitor and Sister Evelyn; they are already very tired."

Thus, he became even more "well-behaved." He conscientiously completed his daily study tasks, ate and slept on time, and spent most of his time shut away in his studio, buried in his new inventions, trying to use immersive creation to dispel that trace of phantom loneliness. He had recently become obsessed with introductory knowledge of neural engineering and human-computer interaction, and was ambitiously trying to create an unprecedented "Emotion Lamp."

His concept was full of childlike wonder and whimsical ideas: this lamp could capture his emotional state through a crude, self-made single-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) headband (the principle being to use weak electrical signal changes in the frontal lobe to roughly estimate levels of relaxation or focus), and then automatically adjust the light's color (for example, turning warm orange when relaxed and calm blue when focused) and brightness. He believed this would be the perfect gift for Su Mu and Evelyn—"When they are tired from work, looking at the lamp will let them know they need to relax!"

Excellence's studio was currently like a miniature center of a creative storm, but also a scene of orderly Chaos. The workbench was covered with various tools: a soldering iron, a multimeter, colorful wires, sensors and circuit boards salvaged from discarded equipment, and a dog-eared copy of "Introduction to Electronic Projects." The prototype of the "Emotion Lamp" had already begun to take shape: a basic lampshade roughly formed by a 3D printer, stuffed with LED beads and connected to a control board full of components. That crucial data cable connecting the headband to the control board had its core exposed, waiting for final soldering and insulation.

That evening, the afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the window, dyeing the studio in a warm golden hue. Su Mu and Evelyn were attending a lengthy security meeting regarding the latest dynamic analysis and response plans for "echo." Excellence decided to use this time to complete the most critical wiring step of the lamp. He put on the somewhat comical "brainwave headband" made of an old headband and several electrode pads, carefully picked up the soldering iron, took a deep breath, and prepared to solder the core of the data cable onto an extremely tiny soldering point on the control board.

However, the fatigue from working alone for several consecutive days, combined with a trace of imperceptible anxiety deep in his heart from being "neglected," made his hand less steady than usual. Just as he was fully focused on the soldering, his wrist gave a slight jerk, and the scorching tip of the iron accidentally touched two different potential soldering points that were spaced very closely together!

Sizzle—!

A blinding blue electric arc instantly burst forth! Accompanied by a pungent burnt smell and a slight popping sound! Sparks flew in all directions!

Excellence was startled by this sudden turn of events and let out a cry of alarm, shrinking back violently. The soldering iron fell onto the table with a "clatter." The flying sparks landed squarely on a pile of waste paper nearby, which was covered in his circuit sketches and calculations. When the dry paper met the open flame, a flare-up instantly rose!

Panic and Spreading: A Small Flame Becomes Big Trouble

At first, it was just a small flame. If handled calmly by covering it with a damp cloth or the nearby fire blanket, it could have been easily extinguished. But Excellence was still a child, after all. Faced with a sudden fire, he instantly lost his cool, and his mind went blank. Fear overwhelmed everything!

"It's on fire! What do I do, what do I do!" he screamed instinctively, frantically taking off his jacket and flapping it wildly at the flames! His intention was to put out the fire, but because he was panic-stricken, his movements were completely disorganized. Not only did he fail to suppress the flames, but the airflow caused by waving his jacket provided more oxygen, and the flames shot up with a "whoosh!" It quickly ignited more scattered papers and some plastic parts on the desk.

Thick smoke began to rise, and a pungent odor spread. Although the fire was not yet large, the speed at which it spread exceeded Excellence's imagination. He coughed repeatedly from the smoke, his eyes tearing up, and his heart was filled with endless panic and despair. Just then, the ionization smoke alarm installed on the studio ceiling detected the sharp change in particulate concentration in the air and emitted a piercing, ear-splitting alarm that echoed throughout the entire floor!

Meanwhile, in a conference room a few hallways away, the security meeting had reached a critical point. Evelyn was explaining her analysis of the psychological motivations that might be hidden behind "echo's" behavior patterns. Suddenly, the shrill fire alarm blared without warning! The alarm indicator lights on the conference room wall flashed frantically!

Everyone froze for a moment, and then the meeting moderator quickly checked the alarm source information display. When the line "Alarm Source: Zone A, Studio 7 (Excellence's Private Studio)" appeared clearly on the screen—

Su Mu and Evelyn's faces instantly turned deathly pale! Their hearts felt as if they were being gripped hard by an icy hand! Immense fear flooded them like a tsunami! Only one thought remained in their minds: Excellence is inside!

"Excellence!!!" Su Mu let out a nearly hoarse cry and almost bolted from her chair, rushing toward the door regardless of everything! Evelyn's reaction was equally swift; she didn't even have time to push back her chair, directly vaulting over the table with one hand, her figure darting out like a cheetah! The two women—one usually gentle as water, the other calm as ice—now erupted with startling speed and strength, leaving everyone else in the conference room far behind as they sprinted down the hallway toward Excellence's studio! The sound of high heels striking the floor and rapid breathing intertwined, every step treading on the heartstrings of fear. Other security personnel and nearby staff also reacted quickly, grabbing fire extinguishers and following close behind.

When Su Mu and Evelyn rushed to the studio door out of breath, wisps of black smoke were already seeping through the crack in the door! Su Mu pushed open the unlatched door, and the sight before her made her heart leap into her throat: Excellence's small face was blackened by smoke, and his eyes were full of terror and helplessness. He was futilely trying to swat at the flames on the desk with a thick book, but the fire had already spread to the edge of the desk, threatening the nearby bookshelf! The thick smoke made him cough incessantly.

"Excellence! Get back!" Evelyn's voice was exceptionally calm and decisive, carrying an unquestionable authority. Her gaze quickly swept over the scene, instantly identifying the source of the fire and the best path to extinguish it. She lunged toward the red portable dry powder fire extinguisher hanging on the front-right wall, her movements as fluid as if she had been trained a thousand times: she gripped the nozzle with her right hand, pulled the safety pin with her left, pressed down on the handle with her right, aimed at the base of the flames, and swept accurately from side to side! The white dry powder mist instantly covered the fire source, effectively cutting off the air. Her actions were without the slightest hesitation, steady and efficient.

Almost at the same time Evelyn acted, Su Mu had already rushed to Excellence's side regardless of everything. She wasn't deterred by the fire; instead, she immediately used her body to shield Excellence tightly behind her, turning her back to the flames and smoke, wrapping her arms around him in a protective posture. She anxiously looked Excellence up and down, her voice trembling slightly from tension and smoke inhalation: "Excellence! How are you? Are you hurt? Did you get burned anywhere? Quick, let Class Monitor see!" Her hands shook as she checked his arms and cheeks, and only after confirming there were no obvious burn marks did she breathe a slight sigh of relief, though she still held him tightly as if he might disappear if she let go.

Security personnel who arrived later quickly took over the scene, ensuring the fire was completely extinguished and opening windows for ventilation. The small fire was fully controlled within minutes. Aside from a pile of burnt drawings, some miscellaneous items, and a partially blackened desktop, no major damage was caused. Fortunately, besides being extremely frightened, coughing from the thick smoke, and having a pale face, Excellence's body was largely unharmed.

However, while the physical fire was extinguished, the "fire" in Excellence's heart had just begun to burn. As the initial terror gradually subsided, looking at the messy studio, smelling the pungent acrid scent in the air, and especially seeing the lingering fear and dread on Su Mu and Evelyn's faces, a strong, heavy sense of self-reproach hit him like a massive boulder.

He didn't cry or complain; instead, he became unusually silent. His small head drooped, his eyes stared fixedly at the tips of his dirty shoes, and his hands tightly gripped the hem of his clothes, his knuckles turning white from the force. Tears swirled desperately in his eyes, but he forced them back, refusing to let them fall.

"I'm... I'm sorry..." His voice choked, faint and almost inaudible, with a thick nasal tone. "Class Monitor... Sister Evelyn... I... I messed up again... I'm always like this... so clumsy... I can't do anything right..."

He became more agitated as he spoke, his suppressed emotions finally breaking through. Tears rolled down like broken beads, mixing with the soot on his face to leave two clear tracks. "I clearly wanted to make something useful... I wanted to give you a surprise... but... but I caused such a big disaster again... making you worry... and almost burning down the studio... I... I'm such a burden... always needing your protection... but unable to help at all... only causing trouble..." His shoulders heaved as he sobbed, filled with anger at his own incompetence and deep guilt.

Seeing Excellence looking so utterly dejected and guilt-ridden, Su Mu and Evelyn's hearts ached as if pierced by needles. All the tension and lingering fear instantly transformed into overwhelming heartache and affection.

Su Mu could no longer contain herself and pulled Excellence into a tight, tight embrace, as if trying to merge him into her own flesh and blood. Her voice carried a sob but was filled with endless tenderness and determination: "Silly boy! You little silly! Don't say such foolish things! Anything burnt can be remade! If the studio is damaged, it can be repaired! As long as you are okay! As long as you are safe! That's more important than anything! You are our most, most precious treasure! Do you know that Class Monitor was almost scared to death just now!" She gently patted his back, like soothing a frightened infant, repeating "It's okay, it's okay, Class Monitor is here" over and over.

Evelyn also knelt down, bringing her line of sight level with Excellence's. Her usually cold face was now filled with a rare, extremely soft, and even somewhat fragile expression. She reached out, gently wiping away the tears and soot from Excellence's face, looking directly into his moist eyes. Her tone was unprecedentedly gentle and solemn: "Excellence, listen. Protecting you is our voluntary choice and our most important responsibility. You are not a burden; you never have been. You are... the most precious existence we want to protect with all our might. Seeing you safe and sound is our greatest comfort and happiness. Your safety outweighs all inventions and achievements."

This heartfelt, unreserved love and acceptance acted like a warm torrent, instantly washing away the high wall built of self-reproach and guilt in Excellence's heart. What he felt was not just forgiveness, but that unconditional, profound love. He could no longer suppress his emotions, and tears poured out, but this time, it was no longer out of fear and self-reproach, but because of immense gratitude and a sense of relief from being completely accepted.

He reached out his arms and hugged Su Mu back tightly, then buried his head on her shoulder, crying like a child who had been wronged for a long time and finally found someone to lean on. After crying for a while, he lifted his tear-blurred face, reached out his other hand, and took Evelyn's hand, pulling her into the embrace as well.

In the slightly messy studio still lingering with the smell of burning, the three figures were huddled tightly, tightly together. Su Mu's warmth, Evelyn's firmness, and Excellence's dependence intertwined and merged, as if forming a warm and solid little world capable of resisting all external storms. At this moment, all estrangement, worry, and the undercurrents of the outside world seemed to be shut out by this embrace.

After a long while, Excellence's crying gradually subsided into small sobs. He lifted his head from Su Mu's arms and wiped his eyes hard with his sleeve. Although his nose was still red, a determined light reappeared in his eyes. He looked at Su Mu and Evelyn, and in a voice thick with nasal congestion but exceptionally serious, he made a vow:

"Class Monitor, Sister Evelyn... I... I will definitely be twice as careful in the future! I will study even harder! I want to become very, very strong! Strong enough... strong enough so that I don't always need you to protect me, and strong enough that one day, I can protect you! I want to become someone you can rely on!"

This naive yet incredibly sincere vow made Su Mu's and Evelyn's eyes instantly fill with tears. They looked at each other and smiled—a smile of relief, of being moved, and of endless affection. Evelyn gently squeezed Excellence's hand and responded softly, "Okay, we believe in you. We'll wait for you."

This accidental fire caused no serious material loss, but like a tempering flame, it unexpectedly became a breakthrough sublimation and reinforcement of the emotional bond between the three. It allowed Excellence to truly experience the weight of responsibility and the meaning of protection, prompting him to grow from a purely protected "child" toward a "partner" who desired to take charge. It also made Su Mu and Evelyn more deeply realize their shared purpose and inseparability on the path of protecting Excellence. This emotion, tempered in crisis, was firmer than any agreement or duty and would become their most solid foundation when facing any future challenges.