Chapter 471 Psychological Crisis

"Director He, Wang Hao still refuses to come out."

Sun Liping's voice came through the communication channel. She coughed first, as if something was stuck in her throat, before continuing, "This is the third time. The hatch is locked from the inside. Tan Wei knocked several times, but he didn't answer."

He Yuzhu stood in front of the command console, microphone still clutched in his hand. On the large screen, the footage of the Kunlun's interior switched to the sleep pod area. The pod door was closed, and the indicator light showed "occupied." The cameras next to it couldn't capture the interior. Tan Wei floated at the doorway, one hand on the bulkhead, the other holding a water bag, unsure where to put it.

Has he eaten anything?

"He hasn't eaten or drunk anything since last night." Sun Liping paused for a moment. "Director He, he's wearing a spacesuit, but his mask isn't fastened. His oxygen levels are normal, and his vital signs... his heart rate is a little fast, but everything else is fine."

The control center fell silent. Lin Jianguo sat in the back, twirling the pen between his fingers before dropping it. He didn't pick it up. Qian Zhiyuan kept his head down, pretending to look at the data screen, but the curves on the screen hadn't moved for a long time.

He Yuzhu placed the microphone on the table without turning off the call. He stood up, walked to the large screen, and looked at the tightly closed hatch.

Is Tan Wei here?

"Here." Tan Wei's voice came through the communication channel, deeper than usual.

Did you speak to him?

"I told him. I told him several times, but he didn't reply. Later, I didn't dare to say it anymore, afraid of bothering him."

He Yuzhu turned around and looked at Lao Sun. "Did you get through to the psychologist?"

Old Sun, wearing headphones, twirled his finger across the dial pad. "It's connected. Professor Liu from Wang Hao's research institute is online. Director He, do you want to speak to him directly?"

"No need. Just let him listen."

He Yuzhu walked back to the command post, picked up the microphone, but didn't call out any names. He paused for a moment, as if thinking of what to say.

"Wang Hao. I am He Yuzhu."

There was no response on the channel. On the big screen, the hatch remained closed.

"It's okay if you don't say anything. Just listen."

He paused. No one spoke in the control center; the hum of the server fans was quite loud.

Before you boarded the ship, I asked you if you were afraid. You said you weren't. Now I'm not asking you if you're afraid. I'm asking you if you're tired.

A very soft sound came through the channel. It sounded like the visor of a spacesuit being lifted slightly. But no one spoke.

"Rest if you're tired. The hatch is locked from the inside, no one will go in. Dr. Sun left a water bag and compressed biscuits by the door, just open the door and get them whenever you're hungry."

He Yuzhu placed the microphone on the table without hanging up. He sat back in his chair, opened the task log on the table, picked up a pen, and wrote the date on the first line. The pen tip pressed against the paper, remaining still.

No one in the control center dared to move. Lin Jianguo bent down, picked up the pen, and held it tightly in his hand without turning it.

On the large screen, the indicator light on the sleep pod flashed. The door opened from the inside. Wang Hao floated out, his hair disheveled, the zipper of his spacesuit pulled up to his chest, revealing a blue undershirt. He didn't look at the camera, but floated directly to the storage compartment next to the sleep pod door, picked up a water bag, unzipped it, and took two gulps. Then he picked up a compressed biscuit, took a bite, chewed a few times, and swallowed.

Tan Wei stood aside without saying a word, and pushed the water bag forward again.

Wang Hao glanced at him.

"It's nothing," Wang Hao said, his voice hoarse but steady.

He Yuzhu picked up the microphone. "Wang Hao."

"Director He." Wang Hao looked up at the camera's location. "Just now..."

"No need to explain," He Yuzhu interrupted him. "Dr. Sun will conduct an evaluation for you. Cooperate with her. Can you handle it?"

"able."

He Yuzhu put down the microphone. He stood up, faced the big screen, and watched for a while.

Lin Jianguo walked from the back row to his side and lowered his voice. "Dean He, the curvature coil has a crack. It's scheduled to return to the factory in sixty days. Given Wang Hao's condition, should we bring it forward?"

He Yuzhu didn't look at him. "He just opened the door and came out. He got his own water and his own biscuit. What do you think?"

Lin Jianguo opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

He Yuzhu turned around, walked back to the command post, and paused next to Lao Sun. "Don't disconnect the psychologist's phone; it's available 24/7. Sun Liping should report on Wang Hao's diet and sleep every hour."

Old Sun nodded.

He Yuzhu glanced at the task timer on the big screen. Forty-six days, thirty-eight days, twelve hours.

"Proceed as planned. Return in sixty days."

Lin Jianguo wrote it down in his notebook.

Sun Liping's voice came through the communication channel again. This time it was more relaxed. "Director He, Wang Hao has arrived at the experimental chamber. Zhao Mingyuan is teaching him how to do cell culture, and he's getting the hang of it."

He Yuzhu did not reply.

He walked out of the control center. The lights in the corridor came on. He walked to the window at the end of the corridor, pushed it open, and a cold wind rushed in. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it. The cigarette paper crackled in the wind.

He took the cigarette out of his mouth, broke it in two, and threw it into the trash can.

Back in the control center, Wang Hao was operating the microscope at the lab bench. Zhao Mingyuan stood beside him, pointing at the screen and muttering something. Wang Hao nodded, adjusted the focus, and then wrote a few lines in his notebook.

He Yuzhu sat down at the command post, opened the mission log, and added a line below the date he had just written: "Day 46. Wang Hao recovered."

He closed the journal, picked up the red phone on the table, and dialed Haili's number.

"The Kunlun is operating normally. It will return to port in sixty days as planned."

The person on the other end of the phone said one word: "Okay."

He Yuzhu hung up the phone. Lin Jianguo stood up from the control console, walked over, and placed a blank mission report on his desk.

"Dean He, today's task log needs to be filled out. How should I write about Wang Hao's matter?"

He Yuzhu picked up a pen and wrote two words in the "Remarks" column: Normal.

Lin Jianguo glanced at it, said nothing, picked up the report, and left.

On the big screen, Wang Hao was still conducting his experiment. Tan Wei floated over and handed him a water bag. Wang Hao took it, took a sip, and then gave it back to Tan Wei. The two didn't speak, but anyone could see that there was no hesitation in that handing and receiving.

He Yuzhu leaned back in his chair, looking at the screen.

He picked up the microphone and switched to the full cabin channel.

"Kunlun, this is He Yuzhu. Get some sleep tonight. We have work to do tomorrow."

Tan Wei's voice came through. "Understood."

Zhao Mingyuan's voice. "Understood."

Sun Liping's voice. "Understood."

Wang Hao's voice came out last, softest, but clearest.

"clear."