283: But you still have me.

Dr. Chen Ruian watched Cynthia's violently shaken expression, a smile of near-cruel satisfaction on his face. He repeated clearly and slowly:

"I'm not talking nonsense, Cynthia. Because you were created by me. If you must find a 'parent' for yourself... I can certainly be considered one.

Your memories, your emotions, your entire understanding of your background... they are all 'stories' meticulously written and implanted. You are, in yourself, one of my most outstanding works."

"Wha... what?" Cynthia felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She subconsciously took half a step back, the light of her Mechanical Gauntletss flickering unsteadily. The doctor's words were like the sharpest ice picks, hacking away at the Foundation of her cognition.

"Actually, you've suspected it for a long time, haven't you, Cynthia?" The doctor's voice was like a demon's whisper, penetrating her chaotic thoughts. "You've long suspected your memories were fake, haven't you?"

Cynthia fell silent. A terrifying chill crept up her spine and spread across her body. Because... he was right.

The details she had deliberately ignored or forced herself to explain away as 'long ago' or 'post-traumatic stress' now flooded back with incredible clarity:

In her memory, there was a time during her childhood when she was riding a bicycle with her 'parents.' She had accidentally fallen and injured her leg, her knee bleeding profusely. By all common logic, that should have been a memory of pain and crying.

But when she thought back on it repeatedly, the deepest emotional imprint attached to that memory wasn't pain or sadness, but a... vague, strange sense of 'satisfaction' or even 'happiness'? This was absolutely abnormal!

There were also many details about her 'parents' faces that were always shrouded in a persistent mist; the more she tried to see them clearly, the blurrier they became. She had always thought it was because she missed them too much or that memories naturally faded, but now... "So... I am..." Her voice was dry, the words almost impossible to form.

"An Android? A Clone? Something like that." Dr. Chen Ruian confirmed her suspicion nonchalantly, his eyes burning bright.

"You were created to 'reproduce' a certain extremely powerful and special existence. You are the 'vessel' carrying that power and talent, the bridge leading to that being's strength."

He changed his tone, his voice suddenly taking on a strange, almost 'affectionate' coaxing:

"However, although you have no biological parents, I can completely take on the role of your 'father'.

Your life originated from my design and creation, your 'memories' were bestowed by me, and your growth trajectory has been watched over by me... You see, am I not more like your 'father' than those two illusory shadows in your memory?"

The doctor spread his hands in an accepting gesture, his voice full of Gu-like allure:

"You still have me. I can become your true guide. After all, I am your creator. You could certainly... call me 'father', couldn't you?"

"...If I was cloned," Cynthia's voice was strained, as if every word exhausted her strength, "then... who is the original?"

Dr. Chen Ruian seemed very satisfied that she asked this question. His tone carried a complex emotion, like showing off a precious collection: "A... nameless person. An existence so powerful it makes one tremble. A 'miracle' that is now sealed in an absolute zero cryo-chamber, having entered an eternal sleep." He paused slightly, as if reminiscing. "To be honest, I was also surprised when they were actually able to bring that person's DNA sample to me. That was... the most precious 'Original Material'."

"So... am I the same as him?" Cynthia pressed, a flicker of hope and fear she didn't fully understand flashing in her eyes.

"Of course not." The doctor shook his head immediately, his tone resolute and even tinged with regret. "His strength... I simply cannot replicate. The sample was too scarce, too precious; I was cautious with every attempt, fearing I would waste even a fraction. So, in the end, I chose to make a... well, something like a 'diluted descendant' or a 'directional Clone'. That is the reason for your birth. Your evo factor concentration is indeed far beyond ordinary people, but compared to him..." A near-fanatical digital light flashed in the doctor's eyes. "8.431%. That is the detected stable concentration of his evo factor. An incredible number."

8.431%.

This cold number was like the final straw that broke something teetering inside Cynthia's heart. She stopped asking questions and just stood there in a daze, her eyes blankly staring ahead as if her Soul had been extracted. Past and present, reality and illusion, the obsession to protect and the Foundation of her existence—everything crumbled into meaningless fragments under this number and the doctor's words.

Watching her look so lost and dejected, the doctor knew this was the perfect opportunity. He put on that coaxing 'affection' once more and began to slowly approach Cynthia, step by step.

"Oh, don't be so depressed. Cheer up a bit." His voice was soft and full of allure. "It's not too late to join me now. Let those fake pasts go. The future is what matters most, isn't it? You see, I only implanted those memories because I had no choice. If it wasn't to plant you inside GUPA, how could I have bear to let you leave my side? You are my most perfect creation, you should..."

"Stop talking." Cynthia lowered her head, her voice very quiet but carrying a tremor that was on the verge of snapping.

The doctor, as if he hadn't heard, continued to approach and reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to touch her shoulder: "We should be together. I can give you a real goal and a sense of belonging. We can create the future together. You don't need to work for those non-existent phantoms anymore..."

"I TOLD YOU TO STOP TALKING!!!"

Emotions that had accumulated to their peak suddenly exploded! Cynthia snapped her head up, the last trace of confusion in her eyes completely swallowed by a burst of rage and a deeper despair. She let out a near-howling scream as the Mechanical Gauntlets on her right hand erupted with an unprecedented, blinding blue light. Carrying the strength of her entire body, she threw a punch directly at the doctor who was close at hand—uncoordinated but incredibly vicious!

This strike was completely beyond the doctor's expectations! He had expected Cynthia to be angry and to resist, but he hadn't expected this counterattack from the edge of collapse to be so intense and direct. The fake affection on his face was instantly replaced by terror. In his haste, he only managed to throw himself clumsily to the right, narrowly avoiding the fist that was powerful enough to shatter alloy. The violent wind from the punch grazed his cheek, leaving a burning sting.

Cynthia's punch missed, the heavy force hitting empty air and kicking up a ripple of shockwaves. She slowly turned her body to look at the doctor, who had rolled onto the ground looking somewhat disheveled, her chest heaving violently.

The doctor hurriedly scrambled up, still trying to say something: "Cynthia, let me explain, I..."

But Cynthia no longer responded. She just stared at him silently with eyes that seemed completely frozen by ice, yet also seemed to have a dark flame burning deep within.

That gaze was cold, hollow, yet condensed with a heart-palpitating resolve.

When the doctor met those eyes, all his prepared rhetoric suddenly got stuck in his throat, and an inexplicable chill quietly crept up his spine.