Chapter Forty: Erasing Memories

Doctor Bai said, “How exciting—I’ve never performed surgery on a human before. I’m absolutely thrilled. But don’t be nervous; if I succeed, you succeed. First, I’ll make an incision in your scalp, separate the bone fragments, and cut open your skull. Then I’ll snip the cerebral membrane, locate your thalamus and medial temporal lobe, and finally remove part of your hippocampus. There’s no need to be so tense. You’ll get used to it in no time.”

The doctor stammered, “May I ask, what kind of surgery is this? What is it exactly?”

Gu Weimin replied, “Cranial cleansing. After this procedure, anything you once remembered, no matter how firmly, will be erased completely.”

At that moment, Doctor Bai set down two knives and picked up an enormous electric saw. The doctor was now utterly terrified.

Doctor Bai said, “Don’t be afraid. It’s just a bit loud, that’s all. But this makes opening the skull much quicker.”

Now the doctor could no longer hold back and shouted, “Director Gu!”

Gu Weimin answered, “Hmm? What’s wrong?”

The doctor asked desperately, “Is this—this is the other option you mentioned before? The other option?”

Gu Weimin replied, “Correct answer. Doctor Bai, let’s begin.”

The sound of the electric saw buzzed in the doctor’s ears, like a death knell.

“Please don’t, don’t! Wait a moment!” the doctor pleaded.

---

The battered sign outside the hospital was still in pieces, and inside, the doctor was hastily throwing things into a suitcase amid utter chaos. Something seemed to be ringing. The doctor searched for a while before retrieving a wristband from a backpack. Staring at it, he was suddenly assaulted by yesterday’s unbearable memories.

Twenty-four hours earlier.

“Please don’t! Director!” the doctor had cried.

At that moment, Doctor Bai set aside the electric saw and Gu Weimin leaned in with a sly grin. “Hmm?”

The doctor stammered, “I have a—well, an immature suggestion.”

Twelve hours ago.

Standing before the crowd, the doctor had declared, “I’m so handsome, and I aspire to join the Investigation Center, following in the glorious tradition of my predecessors. I vow to safeguard the rights of non-humans in all aspects of life, work, labor, marriage, and burial, and to crack down on any illegal acts by non-humans, protecting their secret identities. I dedicate all my efforts and strength to the peace and stability of City M.”

After his oath, many below celebrated, congratulating the new colleague.

Gu Weimin came up to shake his hand. “From now on, you’re an intern at the Investigation Center. But for now, let’s have Comrade Wang Zixuan from Supermarket No. 444 supervise you.”

Wang Zixuan knew that nothing good ever came of being summoned to the Investigation Center. If there was good news, would they ever think of her?

Wang Zixuan muttered, “What’s going on?”

From the Investigation Center: “Zixuan, come here, come here.”

---

Hao Yingjun watched as Wang Zixuan approached, nodding and smiling the whole time.

Wang Zixuan grumbled, “Gu, your guy has nowhere to go, so you’re just sending him to me? What am I supposed to do with him?”

Gu Weimin didn’t dare to utter a word.

Hao Yingjun said, “Leader, I’m counting on you from now on.”

“Get lost, immediately,” Wang Zixuan snapped. “Don’t let me see you again.”

After dwelling on these memories for a while, his trembling hand pressed something by accident.

Suddenly, Wang Zixuan’s voice sounded from the wristband: “Hey, newbie, where are you?”

Frightened, he tossed the wristband into the trash.

Then he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Little Four, where have you gone?”

Turning around, he saw the dog, happily munching on its food.