Chapter 319: Sugar Water Inspection

The inspection team consisted of only two people—or rather, two data‑entity projections dressed in standard uniforms, expressionless. As they crossed the threshold, the kitchen air instantly dried by three degrees, as if all moisture had been temporarily siphoned off to "prevent Emotional Data from propagating via humidity."

The inspector on the left held a continuously rotating silver polyhedron—the Aesthetic Pollution Detector. The inspector on the right carried a data tablet, his gaze sweeping over every inch of space like a scanner.

"E-07 Squad," the inspector holding the detector said, his voice synthetic, "we have received notice of an unreported high‑concentration Private Emotional Aesthetics fluctuation here. Please cooperate with the on‑site inspection."

His gaze landed on the pot of dark‑golden lily rock‑sugar water on the stove.

The detector's polyhedron began to spin faster, projecting a fine red scanning net that covered the entire kitchen. When the net touched the sugar‑water pot, the surface rippled with delicate waves.

"Source of fluctuation confirmed," the inspector with the data tablet recorded, "concentration… 847 standard units. Matches the alarm data."

Han Qing stepped forward, the Teaching Scar pre‑adjusted to "Compliance Teaching Mode": "This is a registered cross‑civilization medical aesthetic experiment. Filing number M‑77, project title: 'Post‑Traumatic Emotional Resonance Transformation in Dietary Therapy Research.'"

She gestured for Su Yu to hand over the experiment logbook.

The inspector took it and flipped through quickly. The logbook indeed contained a detailed experimental design: purpose (exploring how Resonance enhances dietary therapy), materials (lily, rock‑sugar, water), and "description of the emotional catalyst to be added (sample S‑02 fragment)."

"Sample S‑02 fragment?" the inspector holding the detector looked up.

"One of the aesthetic samples legally collected from the Holy Land," Han Qing said without changing expression, "we grind it into powder as a Resonance catalyst added to the sugar water. This is the key step of the experiment."

She was referring to the first fragment (the daughter story)—that piece does appear in the records. The actual second fragment (the betrayal repair) is now masquerading as the catalyst, dissolving in the sugar water.

A clever information substitution.

The scanning net continued its work.

Lao Zhao suddenly said, "Testing is testing; don't let the experimental material cool. The sugar water must be cooked just right—if it cools, the effect diminishes."

He picked up a long ladle and stirred the sugar water. The dark‑gold liquid swirled beneath the ladle, and the aroma—a blend of sweet fragrance and bitter‑aftertaste—became richer.

The inspector with the data tablet's nose twitched imperceptibly.

Absolute Luminance-4, using the Mirror Ruler, captured this subtle movement and immediately pinged the internal channel: "Detected Inspector‑2 has a 0.3‑second 'odor‑identification delay'—he may be analyzing scent components, but more likely… the fragrance triggered a private memory association."

Lao Zhao noticed. He scooped a small bowl of sugar water and handed it to Inspector‑2: "According to regulations, on‑site testing that requires sampling must be personally confirmed by the inspector. Would you… like to taste it?"

It's a risk—if the inspector actually tastes it, his professional gustatory analyzer might register an anomaly.

Sound Ruler records unconsciously (post‑playback).

At the moment Lao Zhao handed out the bowl, the Sound Ruler "heard" an extremely faint frequency difference between the two inspectors:

Inspector‑1 (holding the detector) had a cold, steady frequency—pure machine logic.

Inspector‑2 (holding the data tablet) showed an extremely subtle 0.7‑hertz warm fluctuation—typically present in data entities that retain a partial biological perception module, who were often once human or merged with human consciousness.

Lao Zhao concluded: Inspector‑2 is more likely affected by "sensory experience."

So he deliberately slowed the handover, letting the sugar water's steam rise to the other's face, and softly added, "Lily calms the spirit, rock‑sugar moistens the throat. It's an old Earth remedy, especially effective for a dry throat after pulling an all‑night shift."

Inspector‑2's finger paused on the data tablet for 0.5 seconds.

At that moment, the detector emitted a sharp alert tone!

The red scanning net converged above the sugar‑water pot into a pinpoint, displaying: "Detected abnormal aesthetic structure—'Crack‑Weave Pattern.' This structure usually appears in 'repaired betrayal trauma memories' and does not fall within standard dietary‑therapy experiment parameters."

The disguise is about to be uncovered!

Xiao Yu's Resilience Ruler reacted instantly—her six‑year‑old trauma memory resonated again with the betrayal memory in the fragment, unleashing a powerful sad wave that burst uncontrolled toward the detector!

The detector's alert became more rapid, beginning to analyze the new wave: "Detected high‑Resonance‑rate private trauma frequency, 73% match with sample structure…"

It's over.

But at that instant, Han Qing's Teaching Scar suddenly heated up.

She did not suppress the wave; instead she actively amplified her scar signal—not the dissipative wave of the repaired fragment, but a pure "Teaching‑Scar emotional‑investment wave during tailored instruction."

The two waves mixed within the detector, and the data began to scramble.

"This is part of the experiment!" Han Qing raised her voice, tone confident, "We are testing the 'Resonance differences between various trauma memories and dietary‑catalyst.' This team member Xiao Yu volunteered her private trauma frequency as a control sample, and I, Han Qing, provide the Teaching‑Scar emotional‑investment frequency as another control. All experimental ethics procedures have passed pre‑review by the Beauty Council Psychological Health Committee."

She projected a document—it was an emergency temporary permit just generated by the Beauty Council (Seventeen Heritage), signed at the bottom by Ruler‑01.

The document is fully compliant.

The detector's alert gradually subsided. The scanning net re‑evaluated: "The fluctuation is interpreted as 'experimental control‑group data.' Conforms to medical aesthetic experiment standards."

Inspector‑2 suddenly set the data tablet down.

He did not take Lao Zhao's bowl; instead he picked up a clean small spoon, scooped half a spoonful of sugar water from the pot, and put it into his mouth.

Everyone held their breath.

He closed his eyes for three seconds, his Adam's apple rolling. When he opened them again, a fleeting moment of bewilderment flickered in his otherwise absolutely rational gaze.

"Taste record," his voice remained steady, though his speech slowed by 0.1 seconds, "sweetness intensity 7.3, bitter‑aftertaste intensity 2.1, overall palate… possesses soothing qualities."

He looked at Lao Zhao: "How long was it boiled?"

"High heat to bring to a boil, then low heat to simmer for thirty minutes," Lao Zhao said, "adding the rock‑sugar in the final minute. Too early makes it cloying; too late it won't dissolve."

Inspector‑2 nodded, recording on the data tablet: "Experimental material preparation conforms to Earth traditional dietary‑therapy standards."

Then he did an unexpected move—pouring the remaining half‑spoon of sugar water back into the pot.

"Sample contamination risk," he explained, though a barely perceptible… restraint tinged his tone, "I personally do not recommend tasting unfinished samples during the experiment."

But everyone saw: before pouring it back, the spoon lingered at his lips for half a second.

Lao Zhao noted that second in his mind.

The inspection neared its conclusion.

The detector confirmed: "No other unreported aesthetic pollution sources in the kitchen. Experiment compliant."

Inspector‑1 holding the detector turned to Han Qing: "But you have a procedural Violation—you did not submit a 'Real‑time Fluctuation Pre‑alert Application' before the experiment began. According to the new rules, you must undergo a 'Compliance Awareness Reinforcement Training' and complete it within 24 hours."

The training means at least two hours of mandatory coursework, during which all activities will be monitored.

More troublesome, Carrier‑18 issued an urgent warning on the internal channel:

"Detected a spatial anomaly 300 meters outside the kitchen—coordinates exactly match the Healing Garden location provided by the badge!"

"The garden is auto‑activating! The fluctuation may be monitored by Committee satellites!"

They must enter the garden within 24 hours, or this life‑risked healing opportunity may be exposed or blocked.

And the training meeting took up the most crucial time.

Just as Han Qing was about to accept punishment, Lao Zhao suddenly spoke:

"We acknowledge the training. But according to Earth's rules, after guests finish inspecting work, the host must provide a meal."

He took out the leftover victory cake from this morning from the fridge, cut two small pieces, placed them on a small plate, and pushed it toward the two inspectors.

"It's not a bribe," he said solemnly, "it's courtesy. Eating this will set your mind at ease on the way back; consider it our fulfillment of host's duty."

Inspector-1 didn't even glance: "Data entities don't need to eat."

But Inspector-2 stared at the small osmanthus-decorated pastry; the cursor on the data board blinked three times—that was his hesitation.

Finally, he reached out, picked up a piece, didn't eat it, but placed it into the sample pouch on his uniform chest.

"As a 'sample of Earth's traditional food aesthetics' for recovery," he said formally, "to improve the Committee's cross-civilization aesthetics database."

Then he looked at Han Qing: "The training can be rescheduled for tomorrow morning at 9. Tonight… give you time to organize the experimental data."

This is clearly letting them off easy.

Inspector-1 wanted to say something, but Inspector-2 already turned: "Inspection over. E-07 Squad withdraw."

The two projections faded away.

The kitchen's air returned to normal humidity.

Everyone slumped down.

Lao Zhao walked to the stove, looked at the pot of dark-gold sugar water, and suddenly laughed: "He tasted it—just half a spoon."

"How do you know?" Su Yu asked.

"Before he backed off," Lao Zhao pointed at his throat, "his Adam's apple twitched—that's the swallowing reflex. For data entities to mimic humans, they must replicate even this detail."

He refilled eight bowls of sugar water: "Now it's our turn to taste this pot of 'heartbroken sugar water' and see what it actually tastes like."

Han Qing lifted the bowl; the warmth of her scar resonated with the sugar water. She took a sip—sweet and bitter intertwined on her tongue—then it turned into a warm, moist current sliding down her throat.

"Like tears," she whispered, "but after drinking it… my heart feels a bit warmer."

Xiao Yu also took a sip, closed her eyes, and felt: "My six-year-old memory… doesn't hurt as much now. It's now like the bitterness in this sugar water—part of the overall flavor, but not all of it."

Outside the window, at a spatial fold three hundred li away, a soft milky-white point of light is gradually brightening.

Healing Garden—it has awakened.

And they have less than 24 hours to find it.