"……" Alice Cooper maintained her smile. "They are all liquid food or close to liquid food, and liquid food is the main nourishment for new life and those about to pass away."

Before Brian Carter could speak, Alice Cooper pointed at the door:

"Alright, you can go back now."

Brian Carter glanced back, but didn't move. Instead, he asked:

"Aunt Ren, how many '执岁' are there in total?"

"After learning the definition of '执岁', most people would naturally think there are twelve, but that's not the case." Alice Cooper smiled. "There are thirteen '执岁' in total. One of them represents the leap month. Hehe, in places where the leap month isn't recognized, that one symbolizes the whole year."

"And what is their honorific title?" Brian Carter pressed further.

Alice Cooper shook her head:

"I don't know either. We worship '司命', so we don't need to know about the other '执岁'."

Brian Carter didn't ask any more questions and turned to leave room 35 in Area A.

With the help of his flashlight, he retraced his steps back to room 196 in Area B. Every time he approached an intersection, he imitated James Sullivan, turning off the flashlight and sticking close to the wall as he passed.

Back home, Brian Carter walked to the sink, picked up the toothpaste that was so thin it seemed to be just a flimsy layer, and after a great effort, finally squeezed a bit onto his sparse-bristled toothbrush.

After carefully brushing his teeth and washing his face, Brian Carter saw that the ceiling light hadn't come on yet, so he sat down at the wooden table, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

He raised his hands to pinch his temples on both sides, then let them fall.

……

In the spacious hall above, densely dotted with "stars," Brian Carter's figure appeared.

He first glanced at the nearby cold, pitch-black metal walls, then lifted his head to gaze upward.

Those countless brilliant points of light were just like the stars described in textbooks, forming one galaxy after another, and those galaxies together made up several rivers of stars.

There were boundaries between these "Milky Way"-like clusters, but they weren't very distinct.

Brian Carter had already counted how many "Milky Ways" there were here. Now, he started counting silently again:

"One, two, three... eleven, twelve, thirteen.

"Thirteen..."

He fell silent, his figure gradually fading away, disappearing into the hall filled with stars.

……

After waiting a while longer, Brian Carter saw the outside suddenly brighten.

The fluorescent lights on the street ceiling all lit up at once.

This underground building welcomed the dawn.

Still wearing that dark green thick cotton coat, he picked up his plastic lunchbox, left the room, and headed to Area C.

Destination: "Material Supply Market."

On the way, Brian Carter ran into Charlotte Reed, who lived not far away. It was obvious the other had gotten up early and hadn't had to queue at the public restroom.

"The assignment results are coming out today..." Charlotte Reed deliberately waited for Brian Carter on this road, just to have someone to share his nervousness with.

"Yeah." Brian Carter looked ahead and saw a woman at a doorway gently coaxing a crying baby.

His expression changed instantly, as if he was thinking about something, yet also a bit confused.

Charlotte Reed glanced at him, walking alongside, and asked:

"What's wrong with you?

"Did you have a nightmare last night?"

Brian Carter was silent for two seconds, then said:

"Questioning my life."

Chapter 9: Positions

Charlotte Reed couldn't understand Brian Carter's answer, and didn't bother trying.

The two chatted idly as they headed together to the "Material Supply Market." When the "Employee Cafeteria" opened, each spent 8 contribution points for a boiled egg, two multigrain buns, and a plate of pickled vegetables.

After breakfast, Brian Carter and Charlotte Reed took their lunchboxes and entered the "Activity Center," sitting in a corner of the hall to wait for the assignment results.

At this time, the "Activity Center" was empty, with only the employees working there, who, under the watchful eyes of Henry Brooks and Old Man Brooks, were busy wiping, cleaning, and tidying up.

The elderly who exercised and chatted here in the early morning were gone; they were either sending the younger generation to school or heading straight to their own jobs.

— According to company policy, those who reach 60 can be transferred to easier positions or have their workload halved. Only at 75 can they truly stop working, receiving a monthly subsidy based on their employee grade.

However, there weren't many retired employees over 75 who could come to the "Activity Center" to play at any time, because the earlier generations who hadn't had gene modification, living in material scarcity and with poor nutrition, rarely lived to 75.

Charlotte Reed silently took a breath and, searching for something to say, remarked:

"I met the daughter of one of my mom's colleagues yesterday.

"She's just turned 18, works at the radio station under the 'Entertainment Department,' a bit over 1.7 meters tall, and looks great.

"Do you think she might like me? Sigh, even after gene modification I'm only 1.75 meters, and just average looking. My grades are only so-so, and no department has reserved me..."

Brian Carter raised his right eyebrow slightly and said:

"What's her name?"

"Helen Grant, hehe, she doesn't know George Allen, they're not in the same group." Charlotte Reed thought Brian Carter wanted to ask about George Allen, since many company employees were loyal listeners of this broadcaster.

Brian Carter didn't look disappointed and continued to ask: