Chapter 191: The First Day of Simulated Life
Chapter 191: The First Day of Simulated Life
Chapter 191: The First Day of Role Reversal
The flashing lights from cameras on both sides made Meng Siyou instinctively squinted in bewilderment as he heard the surrounding crowd address him: "Mr. Edmund."
Strangely, though these people spoke an unfamiliar language, the information flowed seamlessly into his mind, allowing him to grasp it effortlessly.
Meng Siyou quickly lowered his head and caught sight of his own loud, patterned shirt and custom-tailored suit, instantly realizing—
He had become the media-obsessed billionaire heir from the advertisement, temporarily stepping into the other's identity, body, and... fate.
"Mr. Edmund, are you feeling unwell?"
The nervous question from the reporter beside him jolted Meng Siyou back to the present.
Unlike Edmund himself, Meng Siyou was unused to the limelight and had no interest in living under public scrutiny or fielding relentless media questions.
With a polite smile, Meng Siyou dodged the reporter's concern and quickly excused himself from the interview.
Entering the restroom, he glanced around to confirm he was alone before locking the door. He splashed water on his face, trying to rinse away the mental clutter and steady himself.
"Seems like you're not quite suited to this life?"
In the mirror above the sink, Edmund's blond-haired, blue-eyed reflection gradually faded, replaced by the reappearing figure of the Prophet, who studied Meng Siyou's predicament with amusement.
"This is too sudden, Mr. Wu Suer."
Meng Siyou managed a wry smile, recalling with lingering unease: "The moment I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by a crowd of strangers, cameras jammed in my face, the flashes dizzying... I can't fathom how Edmund could get used to—let alone enjoy—this kind of life."
Pausing, he then pressed, "So where is the real Edmund? He didn’t take over my identity, did he?"
Edmund Howard was a notorious billionaire heir who thrived on public attention, his outlandish antics making constant headlines. Even though Meng Siyou rarely followed celebrity news, he had heard of the man's outrageous behavior.
He shuddered to imagine what Edmund might do in his body...
Moreover, Meng Siyou's identity was essentially a gateway to the mystical world. Through his eyes, Edmund might uncover far too many secrets beneath the world's surface.
Fortunately, Wu Suer replied, "He remains in his own body, temporarily sharing his fate with you—only his consciousness is inactive for now."
"During this time, any actions you take in his body will leave faint impressions on him... like a hazy dream where he has no control."
Meng Siyou let out a relieved sigh. "What about my body?"
"Your existence has been temporarily erased," Wu Suer explained kindly. "You could say that, for now, 'Meng Siyou' doesn’t exist in this world. Your friends and colleagues will forget you—until you return."
Meng Siyou pondered, "Is there a time limit to this state between Edmund and me?"
"Just two days."
Wu Suer said airily, "Like in human fairy tales... Cinderella, was it? Think of it as a magical glass slipper. Once the time is up, you’ll snap back to your own life."
"Until then, enjoy the billionaire experience!"
The Prophet’s figure faded, but his teasing laughter lingered in the restroom, lingering tauntingly.
Meng Siyou heaved a resigned sigh.
Though logic told him the Prophet had given him Edmund’s identity to help investigate Wan Neng Chao Xi Pharmaceuticals and find a way to stop the Universal Capsules at their source—
He couldn’t shake the feeling that this mischievous being was also openly reveling in the chaos!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have plopped him into Edmund’s body right in the middle of a media interview!
How petty...
Sighing again, Meng Siyou opened Edmund’s phone and read the new email:
*Dear Mr. Edmund,*
*We hope you’re doing well.*
*At 9 AM tomorrow, we warmly invite you to our headquarters at [Address: XX Street, Tech Plaza, Building 3]. A dedicated representative will greet you and guide you through our facilities, revealing the secrets of cutting-edge pharmaceutical technology.*
*We look forward to our collaboration.*
*—Your friends at Wan Neng Chao Xi Pharmaceuticals*
...
At 9 AM the next day, Meng Siyou arrived at the designated location.
True to his cautious nature, he had skipped Edmund’s latest flashy sports car in favor of a more low-key black sedan driven by a private chauffeur.
Though "low-key" was relative—it would still take him a lifetime of savings to afford such a vehicle.
Sitting in the plush backseat, Meng Siyou felt his class resentment reach an all-time high.
As he stepped out, an obnoxiously bright neon-green sports car pulled up, its headlights flashing twice in his direction.
Meng Siyou looked over to see the driver waving at him, sunglasses obscuring his eyes that flicked between him and his sedan before letting out a whistle.
The driver laughed and teased, "Edmund! This ‘good boy’ act isn’t like you—almost didn’t recognize your ride!"
Meng Siyou’s mind flashed to the social connections he’d crammed the night before, recognizing this friend as another notorious playboy who, like Edmund, loved collecting exotic cars.
Mimicking Edmund’s mannerisms, he shot back with a playful quip. Once the friend parked, the two headed toward the meeting point together.
The waiting receptionist greeted them warmly, offering a rehearsed smile:
"Gentlemen, welcome to Wan Neng Chao Xi Pharmaceuticals! I’ll show you around our headquarters..."
Under the receptionist’s lead, Meng Siyou and his companion were led through the company’s various departments.
On the surface, everything appeared meticulously organized—each division functioned smoothly, employees seemed normal, and nothing seemed amiss.
Which only heightened Meng Siyou’s suspicion.
The lack of anomalies was the real red flag.
Especially... why couldn’t he smell that familiar fishy stench?
Even in the so-called "drug development labs," there was no trace of the fishy stench.
—The only explanation was that these labs were just for show.
The company had hidden the true core ingredient of the Universal Capsules somewhere off-limits... Given the fish eggs’ divine origins, this made sense.
So Meng Siyou offhandedly asked, "The Universal Capsules are nothing short of miraculous—I’ve never seen such advanced medicine. I wonder if they contain any... otherworldly components?"
"You’re hardly the first to wonder."
The reception staff smiled and said, "Indeed, the Universal Capsule contains some entirely new ingredients."
"It was first discovered by our group's Founder, Mr. Wen De, leading the research team, marking a groundbreaking advancement in medicine."
"Mr. Wen De?" Under his friend's bewildered gaze, Meng Siyou appropriately chimed in, "I heard he's a medical Ph.D. from a top university. To achieve such success at just thirty-six is truly remarkable... Would you mind telling us about Mr. Wen De's entrepreneurial journey?"
Wen De clearly held significant status and prestige within the pharmaceutical group. Hearing praise for the Founder, the receptionist couldn't help but show a smile of shared pride.
Meng Siyou noticed the receptionist's body language becoming more relaxed as she launched into an enthusiastic spiel:
"That's right, Mr. Wen De is indeed a rare genius. But precisely because of this, he endured a long period of being misunderstood and an obscure and unknown period."
"Can you believe it? Despite his brilliance, during his doctoral studies a few years ago, he was destitute and even disapproved by his advisor, wavering on the verge of abandoning his ideals. Under immense pressure, he developed depression and anxiety, relying on sleeping pills to rest, and ultimately had to take a leave of absence, returning to his hometown—a beautiful, quaint seaside town with unsophisticated local customs."
"As it turned out, Fortune always smiles on genius. It's said that on a completely ordinary night, unable to sleep, Mr. Wen De went for a walk on the beach, where he noticed a type of marine vegetation washed ashore by the waves."
"After asking the local elders, Mr. Wen De learned that even they couldn't explain the origin or name of this vegetation, only knowing it was a gift from the sea... The locals used it as medicine, claiming it could cure any illness almost immediately."
"Out of curiosity, Mr. Wen De attempted to analyze the vegetation's components and discovered a special substance from the deep sea—the main ingredient of the Universal Capsule."
By the end, Meng Siyou was almost certain the Founder was deeply suspicious!
No one knew better than him that the core ingredient of the Universal Capsule was fish eggs, not some "deep-sea plant"...
If someone claimed they came from outer space, it would sound more believable... Most likely, the fish eggs weren't native to this world.
Over half an hour later, the tour concluded. Meng Siyou then expressed his wish to meet the legendary Founder before deciding on investment.
This suggestion earned him a strange look from his friend, who muttered under his breath, "Edmund, what's gotten into you today? Just throw in some pocket money like always—why are you being so particular? Meeting that egghead? You won't understand a word of his boring, esoteric topics."
Ignoring him, his friend shrugged, twirled his car keys, and stood up. "Whatever, I've got a date. I'm out of here."
After his friend left, Meng Siyou remained alone on the sofa in the reception room.
He had assumed the Founder wouldn't easily agree to a meeting and might even exhibit the furtiveness characteristic of cult members, requiring some careful negotiation.
But unexpectedly, the receptionist returned after a phone call and promptly replied, "Mr. Wen De would be delighted to meet you."
"Please, this way."
Meng Siyou was led to a private elevator, arriving at the Founder's office on the top floor. His pulse began racing—half from the thrill of nearing his goal, half from unease about the unknown.
Amid the rapid pounding of his heart, the office door cracked open slightly, and the familiar putrid fish odor seeped through the pitch-black crack...