Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 41: The Distorted Sun

"I really didn't mean to mess with you..."  

"I was in too much of a hurry when leaving, just grabbed whatever was nearby."  

"At worst, I'll buy you a bottle of Oriental Leaves to refill it later."  

Walking up the stone steps of Purple Mountain Observatory, Lin Xu spoke somewhat awkwardly.  

"No need!"  

Jiang Xingye rolled her eyes at him.  

"It's not like I have to drink it... Just remember next time, if you bring a cup, you have to bring water too, got it?"  

"Noted, noted."  

Lin Xu nodded repeatedly as the two continued their ascent, soon reaching the summit of Sanbao Peak.  

Exhausted from the climb, Lin Xu panted while gulping down the ice-cold water bought at the scenic spot, whereas Jiang Xingye appeared completely unfazed beside him.  

"I told you you're out of shape. Look at that frail physique of yours, tsk tsk..."  

"Can't even handle this, weakling?"  

"...I just have a fast metabolism, which means I'm healthy."  

Lin Xu straightened up stubbornly, though internally he was contemplating.  

He really needed to start exercising.  

Ever since starting university, his physical fitness seemed to have plummeted rapidly?  

Add in years of overtime at the company, and his stamina had deteriorated significantly.  

This couldn't go on.  

With 20 years left until the apocalypse, it'd be a real joke if he kicked the bucket before doomsday even arrived...  

Noticing his expression, Jiang Xingye couldn't help but chuckle.  

She turned to gaze at the mountain scenery below before speaking:  

"Honestly, the view here isn't bad."  

"It's practically the second highest peak around here—great panoramic views."  

"Too bad North High Peak will be off-limits soon."  

"Hey, do you know what they're building there?"  

"Deep Space Observation Station."  

Lin Xu answered offhandedly.  

"Not bad, quite knowledgeable huh?"  

"Or did you do your homework knowing you'd be coming here with me today?"  

"...You could say I did some preliminary research."  

Lin Xu wiped his mouth and tossed the empty water bottle into a nearby trash bin.  

Obviously—if I didn't even know this much, why would I be here?  

You think this is an actual date or something?  

He walked over to Jiang Xingye's side and looked toward distant North High Peak.  

There, numerous construction machines had already been deployed. Tower cranes stood on the mountainside like swords piercing the heavens, while beneath these "sword sheaths" lay massive, gleaming reflector mirrors.  

Judging by the scale, this Deep Space Observation Station would occupy the entire upper half of North High Peak.  

By any standard, this qualified as a mega-project.  

——Yet something felt off.  

Purple Mountain Observatory had actually been "abandoned" for quite some time.  

Most of its facilities were either deployed in Xuyi or the remote northwest regions.  

So why would authorities suddenly decide to construct a massive new Deep Space Observation Station here?  

The geographical conditions weren't optimal, and the observation environment offered no advantages.  

Add in urban electromagnetic interference affecting cosmic signal reception...  

Building a Deep Space Observation Station here... just felt somewhat redundant.  

With these thoughts, Lin Xu asked Jiang Xingye:  

"Speaking of which, have you seen any reports about this observation station?"  

"Why would they choose this location? Doesn't seem very logical, does it?"  

"...This is what you talk about when asking a girl out?"  

Jiang Xingye's eyes sparkled with amusement as Lin Xu shrugged:  

"Just chatting about whatever comes to mind."  

"...Fine, and luckily I happen to be interested."  

Jiang Xingye paused briefly before responding:  

"I actually have seen news about this observation station. Heard there was quite some opposition during the approval phase."  

"But in the end, they still chose this location."  

"Apparently it was due to requirements from the Zhurong Project?"  

"Weren't there rumors back then that they fast-tracked this observation station because Zhurong rover discovered something on Mars?"  

"It was huge news—every tabloid jumped on it, speculating about extraterrestrial civilizations and second homelands..."  

"Then gradually, all news disappeared, yet the construction continued."  

"I still occasionally see short videos about locals protesting radiation concerns."  

"Which is honestly hilarious—who even lives around Zhong Mountain? If they're not protesting, why would anyone else?"  

"...True enough."  

Lin Xu nodded with amusement.  

He'd only brought it up casually, never expecting Jiang Xingye to know more gossip than him.  

Building a Deep Space Observation Station at Purple Mountain because Zhurong rover made discoveries on Mars?  

It sounded like fantasy, yet considering what he'd witnessed in Bracelet World...  

Strangely enough, it might actually make sense.  

Though to uncover the real "driving force" behind this, he'd probably need access inside the observation station itself.  

No chance of that now.  

Only accessible through the bracelet.  

While carefully studying the observation station's layout in the distance, Lin Xu continued chatting idly with Jiang Xingye.  

Neither was particularly active by nature, so even just enjoying the mountain breeze felt pleasantly relaxing.  

Lin Xu memorized the station's access routes while checking its facilities and equipment specs on his phone.  

Turns out this observation station was truly high-end.  

Not only did it feature high-power radio telescopes, but also an array of powerful microwave and laser transmission equipment.  

If construction followed the current design, it would become southern China's largest—and undisputedly most advanced—Deep Space Observation Station.  

Breaking in wouldn't be easy.  

Such facilities undoubtedly came with top-tier security measures.  

Could Skull Head's mercenary squad breach it?  

Might take numerous trial runs...  

As Lin Xu's thoughts wandered, Jiang Xingye suddenly exclaimed beside him:  

"Lin Xu! Look at the sky!"  

Instinctively raising his head, Lin Xu saw—  

An enormous solar halo!  

Its scope nearly blanketed the entire sky above Purple Mountain Observatory, stretching all the way to the distant city skyline!  

"Such a massive solar halo..."  

Lin Xu marveled.  

"We've got great luck today."  

"Yeah!"  

Jiang Xingye said excitedly:  

"Today's weather forecast didn't mention this at all! How could such a huge halo appear?"  

"Atmospheric phenomena forecasts are never accurate anyway..."  

Lin Xu took photos with his phone—compared to human eyes, camera sensors captured much clearer images.  

Within the largest halo ring, Lin Xu even spotted a small luminous circle.  

Glowing faintly, almost like... an angel's halo.  

Undeniably beautiful.  

"Perfect perfect perfect!"  

Jiang Xingye cheered beside him:  

"Amazing! Knew hanging out with you'd bring good fortune!"  

"Look at the sun's center! It's heart-shaped!"  

"Enough with the romantic delusions!"  

Lin Xu checked his phone screen—  

Then froze in astonishment.  

The sun was indeed heart-shaped.  

——No, more accurately, the sun's shape kept morphing fluidly.  

Sometimes heart-shaped, sometimes star-shaped, eventually even transforming into a perfect square.  

The surrounding radiance formed bright boundaries as if constrained, turning the billions-year-old sun into a gigantic alien lightbulb.  

"Tsk... This halo's definitely trending tonight."  

"My feed'll be flooded with videos later!"  

"So glad I came with you today—would've missed such a clear view otherwise!"  

"Quick, take my picture!"  

"Coming, coming."  

Lin Xu crouched down with Jiang Xingye's phone.  

But just as he aimed at her sunlit silhouette again, an unusual premonition flashed through his mind—  

Gone before he could grasp it.  

Like just another ordinary case of déjà vu.  

Shaking his head slightly, Lin Xu focused on the phone screen.  

The shutter clicked.  

The flash fired.  

Capturing a crisp photo of Jiang Xingye with the colossal solar halo......  

......  

Meanwhile, at FAST Observatory in Guizhou.  

A gray-haired scholar stared intently at newly transmitted images while his bespectacled colleague reported in a low voice:  

"Confirmed not atmospheric optical distortion—should be classified as abnormal astronomical phenomena."  

"This marks the fourth anomalous celestial event we've observed in four years... yet we still lack any concrete leads on causation."  

"Mmm."  

The scholar nodded slowly.  

"No matter, we'll take it slow."  

"Any feedback from Zhurong rover?"  

"Beijing completed camera adjustments, but results will take 46 minutes to transmit back."  

"Three minutes since celestial phenomenon onset."  

"Adjustment commands were issued one minute ago."  

"Given current Earth-Mars communication delays, commands require approximately 13 minutes to arrive."  

"Meaning if the anomaly persists over 12 more minutes... we could obtain dual-point observational data."  

"Twelve minutes."  

The scholar lowered his head silently.  

"Let's hope we make it in time......."