The success of their first resonance-assisted therapy implementation brought a new kind of validation—not just for their methods, but for the philosophy behind them. For the first time, Leo felt the two halves of his life—the hidden world of Carriers and the ordinary world of university—truly beginning to harmonize.
The system, now fully adapted to this "humanized" existence, responded accordingly.
[Nexus·人間收集協議 激活狀態]
[當前共鳴點:2,150]
[當前羈絆深度:Sophia(68%), Mei (52%), Luna (47%), Grace (39%), Anastasia (35%)]
[心象空間新增:Therapy Success Constellation(紀念星群)]
The "Heartscape"—Leo's inner visualization of the system—now showed a small but growing galaxy of colored orbs representing the women in his life. Sophia's silver-blue orb pulsed steadily like a calm star. Mei's prismatic sphere shifted colors gently. Luna's glowed with archival amber light. Grace's was a warm, nurturing gold. Anastasia's burned with a protective crimson.
And at the center, his own silver-white resonance formed what the system called the "Nexus Anchor"—the point from which all connections radiated.
But today wasn't about the hidden world. Today was about being a university student. And specifically, about preparing for midterms.
Leo sat in the campus library with his study group—a mix of engineering and computer science majors he'd connected with over the past semester. Among them was a girl named Emily Chen, a sophomore like him who the system had quietly flagged weeks ago.
[心動掃描:Emily Chen]
[當前情緒:專注(85%), 輕微焦慮 (15%)]
[好感區間:友善(40/100) → 潛在興趣 (55/100)]
[隱藏屬性:競爭型人格,慕強傾向, 隱藏的藝術天賦]
[當前劇情節點:"Midterm Stress"- 可提供幫助降低焦慮, 提升好感]
Emily was what campus culture would call a "study goddess"—top grades, perfectly organized notes, and a quiet intensity that both intimidated and attracted her peers. She wore glasses that she pushed up when thinking deeply, and her dark hair was always in a practical ponytail.
"Leo, you're zoning out," she said without looking up from her differential equations textbook. "Problem three is killing everyone. Any insights?"
He focused. The problem was complex, involving multi-variable calculus applications to circuit design. For a normal student, it would be challenging. For a Carrier whose resonance allowed for enhanced pattern recognition and spatial reasoning...
"It's about perspective," he said, reaching for a blank sheet. "Look at it not as a circuit problem, but as a flow optimization problem."
He sketched quickly, his movements precise. The system provided subtle guidance—not giving him the answer, but highlighting the most efficient thought pathways. As he explained, Emily's posture shifted from defensive to engaged.
"Oh," she breathed when he reached the key insight. "You're treating the resistance as a constraint function rather than a fixed value."
"Exactly." Their eyes met over the textbook. Her brown eyes were sharp, intelligent. The system registered a small spike.
[共鳴點 +5]
[Emily Chen 好感度:55→ 58]
[情緒變化:焦慮(15%) → 興奮 (25%), 專注 (60%)]
"Where did you learn to think like that?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice. "That's not in any of the textbooks Professor Lee assigned."
"My... mentor taught me some unconventional approaches," Leo said, thinking of Elder Arion's lessons about seeing resonance flows as multidimensional systems. The principles translated surprisingly well to engineering problems.
"Must be some mentor." Emily studied him with new interest. "You know, when you transferred in last year, I pegged you as... I don't know. Quiet. Maybe struggling to catch up."
"And now?"
"Now I think you might be the smartest person in this study group." She said it matter-of-factly, not flattering, just an observation. "Which is annoying, because I like being the smartest."
Leo laughed. "There's room for more than one smart person."
"Debatable." But she was smiling—a rare, genuine expression that transformed her serious face. The system captured the moment: Emily's normally tense shoulders relaxing, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
[隱藏屬性解鎖:Emily's Smile]
[描述:極罕見,通常只在真正放松或感到智力挑戰被滿足時出現]
[收集獎勵:共鳴點+20]
The study session continued for another two hours. As they packed up, Emily said casually: "There's a professor in the physics department giving a talk tomorrow about quantum computing applications. I'm going. If your mysterious mentor taught you that kind of lateral thinking... you might find it interesting."
It was clearly an invitation, though wrapped in academic justification.
"I'll check my schedule," Leo said noncommittally.
"Do that." She shouldered her backpack, the moment of openness gone, replaced by her usual efficient demeanor. But as she walked away, she glanced back once. The system registered it.
[劇情節點推進:"Midterm Stress" → "Academic Connection"]
[下次互動建議:物理系講座,可展示跨學科知識,進一步觸發慕強傾向]
Walking back to his dorm, Leo felt the strange duality of his life intensifying. In one reality, he was a Carrier navigating ancient rivalries and resonance warfare. In another, he was a university student navigating midterms and potential romantic interests.
The system seemed designed to bridge these worlds—to make the extraordinary skills he'd developed as a Carrier translate into success in ordinary life. And vice versa: the social and emotional intelligence he was developing through the system's "collection" mechanics made him better at navigating Carrier politics.
His phone buzzed. Sophia.
"Emergency meeting. Lin family situation has escalated."
The ordinary world receded. The hidden world called.
---
The safe house felt different tonight—tenser. Li Na was there in person, which was unusual. Her prismatic resonance was tightly controlled, but Leo could feel the storm beneath the surface.
"Chen has formally defected," she announced without preamble. "He sent a message through Auntie Ming. He's joining the Thornes' research division. And he's taking family secrets with him."
Mei stood beside her mother, her own resonance showing anger and betrayal. "What secrets?" Leo asked.
"Historical resonance mapping techniques. Family lineages and their associated ability patterns. And..." Li Na hesitated. "Preliminary data from our therapy sessions."
That was the worst part. Not just historical knowledge, but current, vulnerable information.
"Marcus will use it," Anastasia said grimly. "He'll look for weaknesses. Ways to disrupt what we're doing. Or worse—ways to replicate it without the ethics."
Luna was already at her console, pulling up threat models. "If they have the resonance patterns of our participants... they could theoretically develop counter-resonances. Ways to retraumatize rather than heal."
The room went cold at the implication.
"We have to warn the participants," Grace said immediately.
"Already done," Li Na said. "Enhanced personal security for each. But that's defensive. We need to be proactive."
Sophia's analytical resonance was cycling through possibilities. "We know Marcus's pattern. He doesn't just collect information—he uses it to manipulate. To create situations where people have no choice but to comply with his demands."
"So what's his play here?" Leo asked.
Mei answered, her voice tight: "He'll use Chen to discredit my mother within the family. Claim she's endangering traditional knowledge. That working with outsiders"—she glanced at Leo and the others—"is leading to the loss of family secrets."
"And then?" Leo prompted.
"Then he'll offer the traditionalist faction an alternative," Li Na said, her weariness showing. "Protection. Resources. A return to 'proper' ways. With himself as their new patron."
It was a classic takeover strategy—exploit internal divisions, position yourself as the solution, then absorb the weakened entity.
"We need to get ahead of this," Leo said. "If Marcus is going to use Chen to spread disinformation..."
"Then we spread truth first," Sophia finished. "But carefully. Without appearing to attack family members."
They devised a plan: Li Na would call a full family gathering—not just the immediate working group, but extended members, elders, even those who had drifted away from active participation. She would present what they had accomplished with the therapy sessions, but frame it as "honoring our ancestors' true purpose" rather than radical innovation.
"And we," Leo said, "need to show that we're not just 'outsiders taking.' We're giving back."
"How?" Mei asked.
Leo looked at Luna. "The archival project. We've been digitizing and cross-referencing resonance techniques from multiple traditions, right?"
Luna nodded. "Creating an open-access knowledge base for ethical Carrier practices."
"We offer the Lin family exclusive early access. As partners. Not just beneficiaries, but co-curators."
It was a significant gesture—sharing something their network had built, demonstrating that collaboration went both ways.
Li Na considered, her resonance cycling through calculation, then approval. "It could work. The traditionalists value knowledge preservation above almost everything. If you're offering to help preserve and organize our historical techniques..."
"Then we're not the enemy of tradition," Leo said. "We're its ally."
The meeting broke up with assignments. As others dispersed to prepare, Mei lingered with Leo.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For understanding. Family isn't just... people. It's history. It's obligation. It's complicated."
"I'm starting to get that," Leo said. His own family experience was different—just him and his mother, isolated for protection—but he was learning.
Mei's prismatic resonance softened, reaching toward his silver-white energy. "You know, in all the family drama, I almost forgot to tell you. The university is having its spring festival next week. There's going to be a technology exhibition. Our engineering department is showcasing some projects."
She was changing the subject deliberately, seeking normalcy amid the crisis.
"Are you exhibiting?" Leo asked.
"I am, actually. A resonance-inspired—I mean, a bio-inspired signal processing algorithm." She caught herself, remembering they were talking about university life, not Carrier abilities. "It's based on... natural pattern recognition."
The system registered the moment—Mei sharing something personal, seeking connection outside their Carrier responsibilities.
[羈絆事件:"校園生活分享"]
[Mei Lin 好感度+3]
[共鳴點+15]
"I'll be there," Leo promised.
Mei smiled, her prismatic resonance shimmering with pleased colors. "Good. Maybe... we could get coffee after? Not as collaborators. As... students."
The invitation was clear. And for the first time, Leo realized the system's "collection" mechanics weren't just abstract—they reflected real, growing connections between people.
"I'd like that," he said.
---
The next two days were a whirlwind of dual responsibilities. By day, Leo attended classes, studied with his group (noticing Emily's increased attention), and prepared for midterms. By night, he worked with the network on the Lin family strategy.
The system helped him balance it all, providing subtle notifications:
[提醒:物理系講座 30分鐘後開始]
[建議:展示對量子隧穿效應的理解,觸發 Emily 的慕強傾向]
The lecture was in a modern auditorium in the physics building. Emily had saved him a seat—a small but meaningful gesture. The professor was discussing quantum computing's potential to solve optimization problems that were currently intractable.
During the Q&A, Emily asked a sharp question about error correction thresholds. The professor gave a standard answer. Leo, drawing on resonance principles about maintaining coherence in complex systems, offered a supplementary perspective that made several graduate students in the audience nod thoughtfully.
Afterward, as they walked out, Emily said: "You're full of surprises. Where did you learn quantum information theory?"
"Self-study," Leo said truthfully—his "self-study" just happened to include ancient Carrier texts on multidimensional resonance theory.
"Impressive." She adjusted her glasses, a habit he was starting to recognize as her thinking gesture. "You know, there's a research assistant position opening in Professor Martinez's lab next semester. Quantum applications to communications systems. I'm applying."
"Are you suggesting I apply too?"
"I'm suggesting we'd make a good team." She said it bluntly, all business. But the system registered the subtext.
[Emily Chen 好感度:58 → 62]
[情緒:競爭性興趣(70%), 潛在浪漫興趣 (30%)]
[隱藏屬性進展:慕強傾向 滿足度+15%]
"I'll think about it," Leo said.
"Do." She gave him a final assessing look before heading toward the computer science building. "Oh, and Leo? Don't zone out during the midterm. I still plan to beat you."
He laughed. "Looking forward to the challenge."
---
The Lin family gathering was set for Sunday evening at a private estate outside the city—a traditional compound that had been in the family for generations. Leo, Sophia, and Luna were invited as representatives of their network.
Driving there with Mei and Li Na, Leo felt the weight of history. The compound was surrounded by walls, with gardens designed according to principles of harmony and energy flow that felt familiar—they were based on resonance principles, though most visitors would just see beautiful landscaping.
Elders sat on one side of the main hall, arranged by age and status. Younger members on the other. The air was thick with unspoken tensions.
Li Na began by honoring tradition—lighting incense at the family altar, speaking in formal tones about ancestors and responsibility. Then she pivoted to the present.
"For generations, our family has preserved knowledge. Protected our ways. But preservation is not stagnation. Our ancestors developed their techniques to serve the needs of their time. We must do the same."
She presented the therapy project, focusing on its successes. Showed testimonials (anonymized) from participants. Demonstrated how traditional resonance harmonization techniques, combined with modern psychology, were helping people.
Then came the expected opposition.
Auntie Ming stood, her brittle-crystal resonance radiating disapproval. "And at what cost? Our secrets shared with outsiders? Our own family member driven away?"
The room murmured. Chen's defection was clearly known.
Li Na remained calm. "Chen made his choice. But let us examine what he chose: the Thornes, who collect knowledge to control and dominate. Who see Carriers as specimens, not people."
She gestured to Leo and the others. "Our collaborators offer something different: partnership. Mutual respect. And today, they offer a gift."
Leo stepped forward, feeling every eye on him. He activated a portable display Luna had prepared, showing the archival database interface.
"This is a knowledge preservation system we've been developing. It includes resonance techniques, historical records, ethical guidelines from multiple traditions. We're offering the Lin family exclusive co-curatorship. Your knowledge integrated and preserved alongside others. Not diluted. Honored."
The display showed examples: a Lin family breathing technique digitized with annotations from elders, cross-referenced with similar practices from other traditions, all with strict access controls.
An elder—Granduncle Wen's son, representing the frail patriarch—spoke slowly: "You would give us control over how our knowledge is shared?"
"Co-control," Leo clarified. "With respect for your traditions. The goal isn't to make everything public. It's to preserve it properly. To make sure it isn't lost if..." He hesitated, then decided to be direct. "If more family members defect with physical records."
The point landed. Murmurs spread through the room—not angry now, but thoughtful.
Mei spoke next, her voice clear and firm: "I've worked with these people. They've treated our knowledge with more respect than Chen did when he sold it. They've treated me with more respect than some in this family have."
It was a bold statement, challenging the elders indirectly. But it came from a place of genuine conviction.
The debate lasted hours. But gradually, Li Na's position solidified. The traditionalists weren't fully won over, but they were neutralized. The offer of the archival project had given them something tangible—a way to preserve tradition while still engaging with the modern world.
As the gathering broke up, Auntie Ming approached Leo. Her brittle-crystal resonance was still cold, but less hostile. "You understand the weight of what you're offering? Knowledge is responsibility."
"I do," Leo said. "That's why we're offering partnership, not takeover."
She studied him for a long moment, then nodded once—the barest acknowledgment, but from her, it meant something. "We will watch. And judge."
After most had left, Li Na pulled Leo aside. "It worked. Better than I expected. You've given me breathing room. Time to consolidate."
"But Marcus won't stop," Leo said.
"No. But now the family is united against external threats, not divided by them." She placed a hand on his shoulder—an unusually personal gesture. "Thank you. For understanding what family means."
[羈絆事件:"家族認可"]
[與 Lin 家族整體關系:中立(50/100) → 尊重 (70/100)]
[Li Na Lin 個人好感度:專業尊重(65/100) → 近似家人 (75/100)]
[共鳴點+100]
Driving back to the city late that night, Mei sat close to Leo in the back seat. Her prismatic resonance was tired but content. "That was... intense."
"Worth it?" he asked.
She leaned her head against his shoulder—a simple, trusting gesture. "Worth it."
The system registered the contact, the shared fatigue, the growing closeness.
[Mei Lin 好感度:52 → 57]
[羈絆深度:共享危機後的放松,肢體接觸舒適度提高]
[共鳴點+30]
---
The spring festival arrived amid a brief respite from crises. Campus was transformed with banners, exhibition tents, and the buzz of hundreds of projects on display.
Mei's project was in the engineering pavilion—a sophisticated signal processing algorithm that indeed drew inspiration from resonance patterns, though she presented it as "biomimicry of neural processing."
Leo found her at her station, explaining her work to a group of professors. She looked different in this context—not a Carrier heir, not a collaborator in hidden wars, but a brilliant student passionate about her work.
When the professors moved on, she spotted Leo and her face lit up. "You came!"
"Promised, didn't I?" He examined her display. "This is impressive. You've taken the multiphasic filtering concept we discussed and..."
He stopped, realizing he was about to reference Carrier-specific concepts.
"And applied it to noise reduction in crowded signal environments," Mei finished smoothly, covering for him. She lowered her voice. "It works, by the way. The resonance principles translate beautifully."
They spent an hour at her exhibit, then wandered through others. For a few precious hours, they were just two students among thousands, enjoying the festival.
As promised, they got coffee afterward at a campus café. The conversation flowed easily—classes, professors, campus gossip. Ordinary things.
"You know," Mei said, stirring her latte, "sometimes I forget how young we are. We're dealing with centuries-old family rivalries, ethical dilemmas about ability use, security threats... and we're also worrying about midterms and whether the dining hall pizza is edible."
Leo smiled. "It's a strange life."
"Worth it?" she echoed his question from earlier.
He looked at her—really looked. At the intelligence in her eyes, the strength in her posture, the vulnerability she showed only in moments like this. At the prismatic resonance that made her unique in all the world.
"Worth it," he said firmly.
Their resonances harmonized there in the ordinary café—silver-white and prismatic colors weaving together, unnoticed by the students around them studying or chatting or flirting.
The system captured the moment:
[心象空間更新]
[新增場景:"校園咖啡館的寧靜時刻"]
[可隨時回訪此記憶,恢複 10-30 點共鳴點（取決於心境）]
[Mei Lin 羈絆樹解鎖新分支:"日常生活共享"]
[共鳴點+50]
As they walked back toward the dorms as evening fell, Leo's phone buzzed with an alert from the network's security monitoring. He checked it discreetly.
Marcus Thorne had made a move—not against the Lins, but against one of their therapy participants. An attempt to intercept and "interview" them about their experience.
The ordinary moment shattered. The hidden world called again.
But as he excused himself from Mei, promising to text her later, Leo carried the memory of the afternoon with him—the coffee, the laughter, the normalcy. It was a reminder of what they were fighting for: not just survival, but the right to have ordinary moments. To have lives beyond the conflict.
The system seemed to understand this duality. As he hurried toward the safe house, it presented a new notification:
[人生階段平衡檢測]
[隱藏世界參與度:65%]
[日常生活參與度:35%]
[建議:適度增加日常活動,維持人格完整性與隱蔽性]
[長期失衡可能導致:身份認知混亂,社交圈異常狹窄,系統功能部分鎖定]
It was a warning and a promise: to truly master this "humanized Nexus" system, he needed to live a human life. With all its complexities, its joys, its ordinary wonders.
Even as shadows gathered, Leo made a decision: he would protect both worlds. The hidden one of resonances and ancient rivalries. And the ordinary one of midterms, campus festivals, and coffee with someone who was becoming important.
Both were real. Both were his.
And with the system as his bridge, he might just learn to walk in both worlds without losing himself in either.