Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train-Chapter 847 - 357: After the Crisis (2)

Ding Junyi rarely put down what she was doing and stood among a group of kids, gazing at the neon-colored mechanical city ahead. Her hands were in her pockets, and she had a calm expression as the light trails of drones continuously skimmed across her glasses.

"Director Ding, it’s rare to see you get off the vehicle to relax."

Da Lou, arranged by Chen Sixuan to act as a temporary guard for the group of kids, was sitting on a stool at the edge of the deck. Seeing Ding Junyi staring intently at Silent City, he couldn’t help but ask.

Ding Junyi nodded slightly: "Lin Xian asked me to take a break..."

After speaking, she looked into the distance and sighed deeply: "Humans... are so small yet so resilient."

In carriage number 4, Xiao Yuan was wiping up the water spills in the plant carriage. Most of the young people, including Lv Chang and Luo Luomin, had gone to the Silent City for some free time. Meanwhile, as she followed Ding Junyi and was responsible for logistics, she stayed behind. Once everything was sorted out, she glanced over to see Ding Junyi and the kids, and a smile appeared on her flushed face.

Xiao Yuan stood on tiptoe, gently brushing her fingertips against the transparent exterior of the hydroponic chamber. Inside, the lettuce seedlings stretched out their tender green leaves, with roots slightly floating in the light blue nutrient solution. She carefully checked each data screen, recording humidity, light, and growth conditions.

[Lettuce in area B-7, on the third day of the growth cycle, showing 22% wilting due to unstable phenomena within Star Abyss. It is recommended to harvest early for consumption.] Grace’s voice sounded, so calm it was as if she were stating a predetermined fact.

"Got it." Xiao Yuan quickly checked the details on her tablet and then leaned down to examine the tomato seedlings next to her.

[The tomato plants have not been affected, but the flowering period has been delayed by 1.3 days.] Grace continued: "It is speculated that during the magnetic levitation crossing, physical damage affected pollination efficiency."

Xiao Yuan sighed in relief, inadvertently smiling: "That’s good, these are Captain Lin’s treasures..."

Grace turned to look at Xiao Yuan, her voice suddenly containing a subtle fluctuation: "Based on your heart rate, pupil changes, and micro-expressions when mentioning Lin Xian, you have an 87.6% probability of experiencing ’liking’ emotions towards him."

Xiao Yuan’s hand trembled, almost spilling the nutrient solution.

"That’s normal, right?" she tried to compose herself, her ears turning red: "Humans naturally develop feelings for their companions..."

[From a biological perspective, ’liking’ is a result of hormones and neurotransmitters working together.] Grace’s voice was calm as if dissecting a machine [Dopamine stimulates pleasure, oxytocin strengthens attachment—essentially, this is a physiological mechanism evolved to promote mating and reproduction.] 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Xiao Yuan clutched the log pad tightly, her eyes flitting nervously around the carriages. After making sure no one was there, she looked at Grace with a touch of irritation and said: "It’s not just some cold, mechanical thing!"

[In our conversations, you have mentioned Captain Lin/Lin Xian’s name 37 times, which exceeds the number of times you’ve talked about yourself.] Grace continued: [I can understand this as him occupying more than 50% of your emotional consciousness, even surpassing your own self-references.]

"That’s because he’s Captain Lin, our leader, who’s saved our lives countless times!" Xiao Yuan suddenly turned around, pale yet defensive.

[This aligns with the biological instinct for attachment to ’strong individuals providing survival assurance.’ Grace looked at her: [As a survival leader, providing him with emotional value would help increase his attention towards you, thereby potentially improving your survival chances, so I wouldn’t suggest you abandon this thought; perhaps you could be more proactive.]

Xiao Yuan took a deep breath, remained silent for a moment, then continued organizing the hydroponic plant boxes as she spoke: "Grace, you might not understand, I’m not thinking that much. Just hearing him say ’today’s lettuce is really fresh’ can make my day." She gently nudged the hydroponic chamber: "This isn’t about ’mating needs,’ it’s about ’wanting to make him happy,’ or ’being able to help him, help everyone, becoming a part of this collective survival group’ that makes me happy."

[A very interesting expression of emotion] Grace replied [Can I interpret this as a manifestation of emotional loyalty?]

Xiao Yuan gave a shy smile, said nothing, and continued recording data.

At that moment, the train door opened, and Lin Xian and KIKI walked briskly through the car.

"Grace, help me deploy the communication network with the Silent City’s Cloud District, ensuring everyone’s communication is unimpeded."

[Grace understood]

"Lin... Captain Lin." Xiao Yuan said timidly as Lin Xian approached: "Some plants can only be harvested early. Director Ding said we need diverse seeds."

"Well, that’s perfect, we’ll have vegetable soup." Lin Xian chuckled, grabbing a tomato from the fruit basket in front of Xiao Yuan, wiping it on his clothes before taking a bite.

It was somewhat raw, but sweet and sour.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan nodded and smiled: "Okay."

Afterward, Lin Xian went to the rear 13th weapon carriage to prepare for drone manufacturing, while KIKI gave Lin Xian a significant glance and teased him:

"Hey, Xiao Yuan seems to like you, you’re not pretending not to notice, are you?"

Lin Xian responded seriously: "It seems you want me to give a response."

KIKI’s eyes shifted mischievously, and she said contrary to her true feelings: "I just think you shouldn’t ignore a girl’s genuine feelings — during the Xilan City incident, she risked her life to draw away that big bug for you."