C39 The Conflict Between Mother and Son

After the dance music finally ended, Yang Chuxia hurriedly pushed Edi away, exclaiming, "I'm starving!"

Upon hearing this, Edi gazed at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and said, "What a coincidence! I'm hungry too. Let's head back together!" He was ready to leave the party early and didn't mind giving her a little scare.

Yang Chuxia was taken aback and instinctively stepped backward.

Edi, caught between amusement and exasperation, quickly pulled her close, cautioning, "Watch out! There's someone behind you."

With a start, Yang Chuxia turned to see a young man embracing his date, both smiling at her and Edi.

Embarrassed, Yang Chuxia apologized, "I'm sorry to both of you."

The couple nodded in acknowledgment.

The young man greeted Edi, "Hello, General Edi!"

Edi returned the greeting with a nod, "Hello, Lieutenant Li!" He then acknowledged the young woman beside him, "Excuse us, please." With that, he led Yang Chuxia out of the hall.

As Yang Chuxia and Edi stepped out of the hall, they encountered the lady who had been chatting with Edi earlier.

Mrs. Aurelian approached them, eyeing Yang Chuxia critically, and asked, "Dr. Yang, may I have a word with you in private?"

Edi's expression turned icy as he retorted, "Chuxia isn't well-acquainted with you, madam. There's nothing to discuss." He firmly guided Yang Chuxia past Mrs. Aurelian, his disdain for the woman's arrogance and selfishness evident.

Yang Chuxia paused, slightly bewildered, but continued to follow Edi's lead.

Mrs. Aurelian extended her hand to stop them, her voice stern, "Edi, is this the respect you show your own mother?"

Yang Chuxia was startled, her eyes landing on Mrs. Aurelian's face. This woman was Edi's mother? Yet why was he treating her with such coldness?

Edi replied with biting sarcasm, "What kind of respect do you expect, Mrs. Aurelian? Blind obedience, reverence, to be nothing more than your puppet?"

Mrs. Aurelian trembled with rage, her face flushing as she hissed, "Edi, you've gone too far. In your eyes, is your own mother worth less than a stranger?"

Caught in an uncomfortable position between Edi and Mrs. Aurelian, Yang Chuxia felt the tension. Edi's icy gaze was fixed on Mrs. Aurelian, and neither seemed willing to back down. Summoning her courage, Chuxia interjected, "Hey, General, Mrs. Aurelian simply wants to chat with me. There's no need for concern! I'll come find you after we talk, okay?"

Edi gave a heavy snort and replied coldly, "Three minutes. You have three minutes." He then turned and strode toward the exit, pulling out a cigarette to smoke.

"Dr. Yang, let me be frank with you! Regardless of your intentions, using the life-saving surgery you performed on Edi as leverage to secure a position as a general's wife is highly unethical," Mrs. Aurelian said to Yang Chuxia with a look of disdain. "The Cavill family will never allow someone without status or military rank, like you, to enter our household."

Yang Chuxia felt as though she had been slapped across the face, a mix of shame and anger boiling within her. She had never harbored any illusions about a future with Edi. Clenching her fists, she cleared her throat and responded, "Mrs. Aurelian, I'm not sure what you're implying. I operated on General Edi because he was in a life-threatening situation. As for who he chooses as his future wife, that should be his decision, not dictated by others."

Mrs. Aurelian's icy stare bore into Yang Chuxia as she spoke with chilling indifference, "According to my knowledge, your behavior has breached Article 41 of the military medical code. This rule exists not only to prevent life-threatening surgeries in adverse conditions but also to deter individuals from using such desperate measures to gain undeserved advantages, like you, Dr. Yang! I will reserve my right to press charges against you. If you're wise, you'll understand what you need to do."

Shaking with anger at Mrs. Aurelian's baseless accusations and veiled threats, Yang Chuxia's voice quivered as she retorted, "Do you truly believe that the enforcement of the law is more important than your own son's life?"

With a mocking laugh, Mrs. Aurelian replied, "Spare me such laughable sentiments in my presence—it only serves to highlight your naivety."

Edi's voice suddenly rang out, "So to Mrs. Aurelian, the icy letter of the law is paramount, even if breaking it means saving a life? If my life is so meaningless to you, why bother causing such a commotion over me?"

Mrs. Aurelian was taken aback and retorted with frustration, "Edi, you're being unreasonable! You know that's not what I meant."

"No, I'm not being unreasonable, because to you, madam, I am indeed nothing more than a failed creation of yours! So there's no need for explanations, madam, I understand perfectly." Edi stated this with a distant politeness before turning to Yang Chuxia and saying, "Alright, Chuxia, let's go." He then briskly walked away, pulling her along.

Mrs. Aurelian, her temples throbbing with anger, called out sternly, "Edi, how can you be so disrespectful to your own mother?"

Edi stopped briefly, replying without looking back, "Mother? Did my mother forget that in addition to the genes you and father provided, my body also contains 20% non-human genes? So, should you not consult my non-human parents before making decisions about me?"

Mrs. Aurelian was left speechless!

Yang Chuxia was astounded, her mind reeling with shock. Edi was 20% non-human?

As a doctor, she had a hunch about the implications of that 20% non-human genetic material. She wished she had never learned of such a thing!

In the 22nd century, due to a severe environmental crisis, many people saw their lifespans drastically reduced as they failed to adapt. Reproductive capabilities dwindled, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. Scientists, striving to reform the environment, also worked tirelessly to modify human genes to enhance adaptability.

The existence of Modified Men became commonplace by the mid-22nd century. Yet, not all modifications were successful; many resulted in mutations. Ultimately, these aberrant mutants had to be eradicated.

Finally, scientists extracted superior genes from the humans who had survived in the harsh conditions and successfully improved human physicality. This led to a strict prohibition on creating Modified Men that defied the natural order.

It's undeniable that a successful Modified Man is far superior to the average human in terms of strength and excellence. Their physical power and agility are on par with the instincts of a wild beast, and their intelligence is frighteningly high!