Chapter 263

Zhao Jianguo's hand still rested on the laboratory door handle, the words "Your time is not enough" still echoing in his ears. He was about to turn and shout for the children to stop, when a dull thud came from the corner.

Zhao Chen slid off the chair, curling up at the desk edge, hands gripping the desk until her knuckles whitened. Her mouth opened and closed as if speaking, but no sound came out.

Zhao Jianguo hurried over, just reaching out to steady her, when a half‑transparent light screen popped up, red characters flashing three times: 【Non‑technical personnel contact will worsen brainwave disturbance】.

He immediately pulled his hand back.

At that moment Jia Dongxu pushed the door open, backpack on his back, frowning. Without greeting, he pulled a flat device from his pack and pressed it to Zhao Chen's neck. The screen instantly showed several wavering lines, one of them jumping violently like a stretched spring.

"She's syncing multiple time‑point images," Jia Dongxu said. "The information flow is too dense; her mind can't hold it."

Zhao Chen suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide open, pupils paling. She stared at a point on the ceiling, lips trembling: "Fire... the pipes... they're down there."

Zhao Chen she

Thus translation: Zhao Chen suddenly lifted her head, eyes wide open, pupil color lightened. She looked at a certain spot on the ceiling, lips trembling: "Fire... pipe... they're down there..."

We need to keep punctuation similar? Probably fine.

Make sure to keep ellipsis as "……" maybe we can keep as "..." but source uses Chinese ellipsis. We can translate as "..." or keep the ellipsis? Usually we translate to English ellipsis "...". It's fine.

Now output: 【7】 Zhao Chen suddenly lifted her head, eyes wide open, pupil color lightened. She looked at a certain spot on the ceiling, lips trembling: "Fire... pipe... they're down there..."

Eyes wide open, pupil color lightened.

Lips trembling.

After speaking, he tilted his head and leaned against the table edge, motionless.

Translation: After saying that, she tilted her head and leaned against the corner of the table, motionless.

But need to keep subject: She (Zhao Chen). So: After saying that, she tilted her head and leaned against the table corner, motionless.

She tilted her head.

After saying that, she tilted her head and leaned against the table corner, motionless.

Dong Xu stowed the equipment, pulled a silver‑white head ring from his bag. Its surface bore fine lines; when powered, it glowed faint blue. He tweaked it as he said, "This is the spacetime emotion stabilizer I just built—it filters some future memory signals. It might not work perfectly, but it should let her catch her breath."

Dong Xu's silver-white head ring (Spacetime Emotion Stabilizer) emitted a faint blue glow when powered; he adjusted it while saying.

Thus: Dong Xu put the instrument away, took out a silver-white head ring from his bag. The head ring's surface had fine patterns; when powered, it emitted a faint blue glow. He adjusted it while saying, "This is the spacetime emotion stabilizer I recently made; it can filter out part of the future memory signals. It may not be fully effective, but it can let her catch her breath."

She caught her breath.

【9】 Dong Xu put the instrument away, took out a silver-white head ring from his bag. The head ring's surface had fine patterns; when powered, it emitted a faint blue glow. He adjusted it while saying, "This is the spacetime emotion stabilizer I recently made; it can filter out part of the future memory signals. It may not be fully effective, but it can let her catch her breath."

Zhao Jianguo stood to the side, unmoving. He knew Dong Xu wasn't reckless, but nobody could predict what would happen if she put that thing on.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo stood aside, motionless. He knew Dong Xu wasn't reckless, but no one could say what would happen if she wore that thing.

Zhao Jianguo stood aside, motionless. He knew Dong Xu wasn't reckless, but no one could say what would happen if she wore that thing.

【10】 Zhao Jianguo stood aside, motionless. He knew Dong Xu wasn't reckless, but no one could say what would happen if she wore that thing.

"Turning it on might cause a backlash." Dong Xu glanced at him and said, "If she convulses or her breathing slows, I'll cut the power right away. Don't stop me."

Powering it on may cause a backlash. Dong Xu looked at him and said, "If she convulses or her breathing slows, I'll cut power immediately. Don't stop me."

We need to keep quotes. Use double quotes.

【11】 "Powering it on may cause a backlash." Dong Xu looked at him and said, "If she convulses or her breathing slows, I'll cut power immediately. Don't stop me."

Zhao Jianguo nodded.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo nodded.

【12】 Zhao Jianguo nodded.

As the head ring clicked onto Zhao Chen's head, Dong Xu hit the start button; the blue light flared, tracing the patterns in loops. Her body tensed at first, then eased, her fingers slipping off the table and falling to her sides.

Translation: When the head ring was fastened onto Zhao Chen's head, it emitted a slight click. Dong Xu pressed the activation button; the blue light brightened, flowing along the patterns in circles. Zhao Chen's body first tensed, then gradually relaxed, her fingers loosening from the tabletop and dropping down.

A click sounded.

【13】 When the head ring was fastened onto Zhao Chen's head, it emitted a slight click. Dong Xu pressed the activation button; the blue light brightened, flowing along the patterns in circles. Zhao Chen's body first tensed, then gradually relaxed, her fingers loosening from the tabletop and dropping down.

The wavy lines on the monitor steadied, the most erratic one gradually straightening.

Translation: The fluctuating lines on the monitor began to stabilize, the most chaotic line gradually straightening.

【14】 The fluctuating lines on the monitor began to stabilize, the most chaotic line gradually straightening.

"It's working." Dong Xu exhaled, "It's blocking roughly eighty percent of the input."

Translation: "It works." Dong Xu exhaled, "It's shielding about eighty percent of the information input."

【15】 "It works." Dong Xu exhaled, "It's shielding about eighty percent of the information input."

Zhao Jianguo fixed his gaze on his daughter's face. Her brow relaxed, her breathing steady, as if she were asleep. He was about to ask how long it would last when his peripheral vision caught the monitor on the wall.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo stared at his daughter's face. Her brow was no longer furrowed, her breathing even, as if she were asleep. Just as he was about to ask how long it could last, his peripheral vision caught the monitor on the wall corner.

Her daughter.

【16】 Zhao Jianguo stared at his daughter's face. Her brow was no longer furrowed, her breathing even, as if she were asleep. Just as he was about to ask how long it could last, his peripheral vision caught the monitor on the wall corner.

The edge of the image was slightly distorted, like a bad signal. He narrowed his eyes for two seconds, and it cleared up.

Translation: There was a slight distortion at the edge of the screen, as if the signal wasn't connected properly. He narrowed his eyes for two seconds, and the spot returned to normal.

【17】 There was a slight distortion at the edge of the screen, as if the signal wasn't connected properly. He narrowed his eyes for two seconds, and the spot returned to normal.

Dong Xu was noting down data, his pen scratching softly. The room was silent except for the equipment's low‑frequency drip.

Translation: Dong Xu was recording data, the pen tip making a soft scratching sound. The room was quiet, only the instrument's low-frequency drip audible.

【18】 Dong Xu was recording data, the pen tip making a soft scratching sound. The room was quiet, only the instrument's low-frequency drip audible.

A few minutes later, Zhao Chen flung her eyes open.

Translation: After a few minutes, Zhao Chen suddenly opened her eyes.

【19】 After a few minutes, Zhao Chen suddenly opened her eyes.

She sat up straight, the head ring still glowing, but her gaze was no longer unfocused as before. She turned to Dong Xu and said clearly, "They're here."

Translation: She sat upright, the head ring still glowing, but her gaze was no longer scattered as before. She turned her head to look at Dong Xu, her voice clear: "They're coming."

【20】 She sat upright, the head ring still glowing, but her gaze was no longer scattered as before. She turned her head to look at Dong Xu, her voice clear: "They're coming."

Dong Xu stopped writing and asked, "Who?"

Translation: Dong Xu stopped writing: "Who?"

【21】 Dong Xu stopped writing: "Who?"

"In the underground pipes." She said it, then her eyelids sank and she toppled backward.

Translation: "In the underground pipes." After saying that, her eyelids drooped and she fell backward.

【22】 "In the underground pipes." After saying that, her eyelids drooped and she fell backward.

Dong Xu grabbed her shoulders and eased her flat. He felt the head ring's temperature, checked the readouts, and muttered, "It shouldn't be draining power this fast…"

Translation: Dong Xu swiftly supported her shoulders and laid her flat. He touched the head ring's temperature, checked the readings, and muttered to himself, "It shouldn't drain its energy so quickly..."

【23】 Dong Xu swiftly supported her shoulders and laid her flat. He touched the head ring's temperature, checked the readings, and muttered to himself, "It shouldn't drain its energy so quickly..."

Zhao Jianguo squatted, studying Zhao Chen's face. Her color had improved, but her lips were a little blue. He knew this wasn't ordinary tiredness—it was a reaction to her body being yanked by something.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo crouched down, looking at Zhao Chen's face. Her complexion was better than before, but her lips were slightly bluish. He knew this wasn't ordinary fatigue; it was a reaction from her body being forcibly pulled by something.

【24】 Zhao Jianguo crouched down, looking at Zhao Chen's face. Her complexion was better than before, but her lips were slightly bluish. He knew this wasn't ordinary fatigue; it was a reaction from her body being forcibly pulled by something.

"What does she mean by 'they'?" he asked.

Translation: "What does she mean by 'they'?" he asked.

【25】 "What does she mean by 'they'?" he asked.

Dong Xu shook his head. "I don't know. But when she said that, her brainwave frequency was different from when she previously received prophecies—it was as if she'd actively broken through the shield."

Translation: Dong Xu shook his head: "I don't know. But when she said that, her brainwave frequency was different from when she previously received prophecies. It was as if... she had actively broken through the shielding."

【26】 Dong Xu shook his head: "I don't know. But when she said that, her brainwave frequency was different from when she previously received prophecies. It was as if... she had actively broken through the shielding."

Zhao Jianguo rose, went to the monitor console, pulled up the recent clip, and zoomed in on the corner. The brief distortion had disappeared; replaying it several times showed no anomaly.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo stood up and walked to the monitor console. He pulled up that recent clip, enlarged the corner of the image. That moment's distortion had already disappeared; replaying it several times showed no abnormality.

【27】 Zhao Jianguo stood up and walked to the monitor console. He pulled up that recent clip, enlarged the corner of the image. That moment's distortion had already disappeared; replaying it several times showed no abnormality.

But he remembered what he had seen.

Translation: But he remembered what he had seen.

【28】 But he remembered what he had seen.

"Do you feel something's off about this room?" he asked.

Translation: "Do you feel that something's off about this room?" he asked.

【29】 "Do you feel that something's off about this room?" he asked.

Dong Xu glanced around. "The lights are still dim, the wiring unchanged, and there's still a watermark from the last leak in the corner—just like always."

Translation: Dong Xu looked around and said, "The lights are still dim, the wiring hasn't been changed, there's still a watermark from the last leak in the corner... just like usual."

【30】 Dong Xu looked around and said, "The lights are still dim, the wiring hasn't been changed, there's still a watermark from the last leak in the corner... just like usual."

Zhao Jianguo stayed silent. He kept feeling that the air had shifted those few seconds, as if someone stood behind him—yet there was no shadow.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo remained silent. He kept feeling that the air had changed a moment ago, as if someone stood behind him, yet there was no shadow.

【31】 Zhao Jianguo remained silent. He kept feeling that the air had changed a moment ago, as if someone stood behind him, yet there was no shadow.

Dong Xu took off the head ring and stowed it in his bag. He wiped sweat from his brow and said, "This still needs work. Before we power it up again we need to add a buffer period, or her body won't hold up."

Translation: Dong Xu removed the head ring and put it in his bag. He wiped sweat from his forehead: "This thing still needs improvement. Before the next activation, we need to add a buffer period, or her body won't withstand it."

【32】 Dong Xu removed the head ring and put it in his bag. He wiped sweat from his forehead: "This thing still needs improvement. Before the next activation, we need to add a buffer period, or her body won't withstand it."

"Can we still use it?" Zhao Jianguo asked.

Translation: "Can it still be used?" Zhao Jianguo asked.

【33】 "Can it still be used?" Zhao Jianguo asked.

"Yes, but not back‑to‑back. We need at least six hours between uses." Dong Xu closed his bag and said, "I'm going back to write the report and request a second batch of materials. Gear like this can't be kept running for days just by us scavenging parts."

Translation: "Yes, but not continuously. At least six hours between uses." Dong Xu closed his bag, "I'm going back to write a report and apply for a second batch of materials. Equipment of this level can't last more than a few days on scavenged parts alone."

【34】 "Yes, but not continuously. At least six hours between uses." Dong Xu closed his bag, "I'm going back to write a report and apply for a second batch of materials. Equipment of this level can't last more than a few days on scavenged parts alone."

Zhao Jianguo escorted him to the door. The courtyard was bright with sunshine; Sha Zhu was scrubbing a pot at the kitchen door, humming a tune. Zhao Xing sat on a stone bench sketching drawings, while Zhao Yang leaned against him watching.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo saw him to the door. The courtyard was bathed in good sunlight; Sha Zhu was scrubbing a pot at the kitchen doorway, humming a little tune. Zhao Xing sat on a stone bench drawing, while Zhao Yang leaned beside him watching.

Sha Zhu, Zhao Yang, and Zhao Xing were in the courtyard kitchen, with the drawings spread on the stone bench.

Thus: Zhao Jianguo saw him to the door. The courtyard was bathed in good sunlight; Sha Zhu was scrubbing a pot at the kitchen doorway, humming a little tune. Zhao Xing sat on a stone bench drawing, while Zhao Yang leaned beside him watching.

【35】 Zhao Jianguo saw him to the door. The courtyard was bathed in good sunlight; Sha Zhu was scrubbing a pot at the kitchen doorway, humming a little tune. Zhao Xing sat on a stone bench drawing, while Zhao Yang leaned beside him watching.

No one knew what had just happened inside the house.

Translation: No one knew what had just happened inside the house.

【36】 No one knew what had just happened inside the house.

Dong Xu stepped out of the courtyard gate, glanced back, and said, "What your daughter said… don't just let it go in one ear and out the other."

Translation: Dong Xu walked out of the courtyard gate, turned back and glanced: "Don't dismiss what your daughter said as idle wind."

We need to use "Courtyard Gate". So: Dong Xu walked out of the courtyard gate, turned back and glanced: "Don't dismiss what your daughter said as idle wind."

【37】 Dong Xu walked out of the courtyard gate, turned back and glanced: "Don't dismiss what your daughter said as idle wind."

Zhao Jianguo nodded.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo nodded.

【38】 Zhao Jianguo nodded.

He shut the door, went back to the lab. Zhao Chen was still asleep, breathing steadily. He pulled up a chair, sat down, and fixed his gaze on her face.

Translation: He closed the door and returned to the laboratory. Zhao Chen was still asleep, breathing steadily. He pulled over a chair and sat down, staring at her face.

We need to use "Laboratory". So: He closed the door and returned to the laboratory. Zhao Chen was still asleep, breathing steadily. He pulled over a chair and sat down, staring at her face.

【39】 He closed the door and returned to the laboratory. Zhao Chen was still asleep, breathing steadily. He pulled over a chair and sat down, staring at her face.

Half an hour later, Zhao Chen moved a finger.

Translation: Half an hour later, Zhao Chen moved a finger.

【40】 Half an hour later, Zhao Chen moved a finger.

She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze locking onto Zhao Jianguo's.

Translation: She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Zhao Jianguo's.

【41】 She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Zhao Jianguo's.

"Dad." She whispered, "I didn't scare you, did I?"

Translation: "Dad." Her voice soft, "I didn't scare you, did I?"

【42】 "Dad." Her voice soft, "I didn't scare you, did I?"

"No." He said, "You were talking in your sleep."

Translation: "No." He said, "You were talking in your sleep."

【43】 "No." He said, "You were talking in your sleep."

"It wasn't a dream." She sat up slowly and said, "I saw them. They were dressed in black, walking without touching the ground, coming this way along the pipes."

Translation: "It wasn't a dream." She sat up, movements a bit slow, "I saw them. They wore black clothes, walked without touching the ground, coming this way along the pipes."

【44】 "It wasn't a dream." She sat up, movements a bit slow, "I saw them. They wore black clothes, walked without touching the ground, coming this way along the pipes."

"The pipes?" Zhao Jianguo asked. "Which one?"

Translation: "Pipes?" Zhao Jianguo asked, "Which pipes?"

【45】 "Pipes?" Zhao Jianguo asked, "Which pipes?"

"The old one, buried underground and long out of use." She rubbed her temples and said, "My head doesn't hurt anymore—it just feels a bit hollow."

Translation: "The old one, buried underground, long unused." She rubbed her temples, "My head doesn't hurt anymore, just feels a bit empty."

【46】 "The old one, buried underground, long unused." She rubbed her temples, "My head doesn't hurt anymore, just feels a bit empty."

Zhao Jianguo didn't reply. He knew she meant the abandoned heating pipe under the courtyard house, sealed off in the 1970s. But if someone actually got in that way, no one would notice.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo didn't respond. He knew she was referring to the abandoned heating pipe beneath the courtyard, sealed off in the seventies. But if someone really came in that way, indeed no one would notice.

We need to use "Siheyuan". So: Zhao Jianguo didn't respond. He knew she was referring to the abandoned heating pipe beneath the Siheyuan, sealed off in the seventies. But if someone really came in that way, indeed no one would notice.

【47】 Zhao Jianguo didn't respond. He knew she was referring to the abandoned heating pipe beneath the Siheyuan, sealed off in the seventies. But if someone really came in that way, indeed no one would notice.

Zhao Chen reached up to feel her head, found the head ring gone, and asked, "Where's that ring?"

Translation: Zhao Chen raised her hand to touch her head, found the head ring missing. She asked, "Where's that ring?"

【48】 Zhao Chen raised her hand to touch her head, found the head ring missing. She asked, "Where's that ring?"

"It's been put away." Zhao Jianguo said, "Uncle Dong said you can't wear it all the time."

Translation: "Put away." Zhao Jianguo said, "Uncle Dong said you can't wear it all the time."

【49】 "Put away." Zhao Jianguo said, "Uncle Dong said you can't wear it all the time."

"It helps." She said, "I can feel the outside noise fading. Before it sounded like a crowd talking in my head; now there's just one voice."

Translation: "It's useful." She said, "I can feel the outside noise lessening. Before, it sounded like many people talking in my head; now only one remains."

【50】 "It's useful." She said, "I can feel the outside noise lessening. Before, it sounded like many people talking in my head; now only one remains."

"Which one?"

Translation: "Which one?"

【51】 "Which one?"

"It's mine." She looked at him and said, "Before I couldn't tell which thoughts were mine and which were put in by others. Now I can tell them apart."

Translation: "It's mine." She looked at him, "Before I wasn't sure which thoughts were mine and which were implanted by others. Now I can tell them apart."

【52】 "It's mine." She looked at him, "Before I wasn't sure which thoughts were mine and which were implanted by others. Now I can tell them apart."

Zhao Jianguo felt a knot tighten in his chest.

Translation: Zhao Jianguo felt a tightness in his chest.

【53】 Zhao Jianguo felt a tightness in his chest.

He remembered how, long ago, Zhao Chen first spoke of the future at dinner—she suddenly lifted her head and said, "Tomorrow the manhole cover will ring." The next morning, sure enough, someone was arguing by the well.

Translation: He recalled long ago when Zhao Chen first spoke of the future, during dinner when she suddenly lifted her head and said, "Tomorrow the well cover will ring." The next morning, sure enough, someone was arguing by the well.

【54】 He recalled long ago when Zhao Chen first spoke of the future, during dinner when she suddenly lifted her head and said, "Tomorrow the well cover will ring." The next morning, sure enough, someone was arguing by the well.

Back then he thought it was just a child's flash of insight.

Translation: Back then he thought it was just a child's flash of inspiration.

【55】 Back then he thought it was just a child's flash of inspiration.

Now he knows it isn't that.

Translation: Now he knows it isn't.

【56】 Now he knows it isn't.

Zhao Chen leaned back in the chair, closed her eyes, and said, "I don't want to hear those voices anymore. But if they really show up and I stay silent, you won't have time to prepare."

Translation: Zhao Chen leaned back in the chair, closed her eyes: "I don't want to hear those voices anymore. But if they really come, if I don't speak up, you won't have time to prepare."

【57】 Zhao Chen leaned back in the chair, closed her eyes: "I don't want to hear those voices anymore. But if they really come, if I don't speak up, you won't have time to prepare."

"As long as you're alive." Zhao Jianguo said, "Nothing else matters."

Translation: "As long as you stay alive." Zhao Jianguo said, "Nothing else matters."

【58】 "As long as you stay alive." Zhao Jianguo said, "Nothing else matters."

She gave a small smile and said nothing more.

Translation: She smiled faintly and said nothing more.

【59】 She smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Zhao Jianguo Standing Up, went to pour water for her. The cup was half-filled. He heard an extremely faint sound.

It sounded like metal rubbing.

He turned his head toward the ventilation shaft in the corner.

The cover hadn't moved, and the dust around it hadn't lessened.

But he had indeed heard it just now.

He walked over, crouched, and pressed his ear to the metal sheet. Inside it was silent.

Zhao Chen said from behind, "Don't look now, that's how they transmit sound. One knock is a warning, two is a location, three… means they're moving in."

Zhao Jianguo turned around, "How do you know?"

"I just dreamed it." She leaned on the table, her eyelids beginning to flutter again, "They taught me, just while I was sleeping a moment ago."

Zhao Jianguo immediately opened his phone and dialed Jia Dongxu's number.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"It's me." Zhao Jianguo lowered his voice, "Don't Go Home yet."

"What's wrong?"

"Zhao Chen said someone is coming through the underground tunnel. She just woke up and said it's not equipment interference, it's new information."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.

"Do you believe it?" Jia Dongxu asked.

"I believe every word she said." Zhao Jianguo watched Zhao Chen slowly close her eyes, "Because she just told the truth—she can distinguish what's her own thought and what isn't."

Jia Dongxu inhaled on his side, "So what are you doing now?"

"Waiting." Zhao Jianguo put down the phone, walked to the door, and locked the latch, "Waiting for them to knock a third time."

He turned back and found Zhao Chen had opened her eyes again.

She stared at the vent, her lips moving slightly.

Zhao Jianguo walked over, "What are you saying?"

She gave no reply.

Her mouth moved, but the sound didn't come from her throat.

The sound came from the iron pipe overhead, traveling down the passage, ringing clearly in the silent room.

Three short knocks.

When the final knock fell, Zhao Chen suddenly raised her hand and seized his wrist.