Meanwhile, in the bustling heart of Beijing, the nation’s capital, a woman in her early fifties sat in the opulent confines of her grand mansion. Her gaze was fixed upon a photograph of a young man, a daily ritual that she had perfected over time. Each day, she replaced the picture with a different one, and it was a habit she clung to as though it were her lifeline. She was a master of disguise, and her ability to switch from determination to despair was nothing short of an Oscar-worthy performance.

The subtle sound of heels echoed on the marble floor as the door creaked open, signaling a newcomer’s entrance. Swiftly, the woman concealed the photograph, transforming her demeanor from determination to depression in the blink of an eye. The woman who had just entered seemed accustomed to this behavior, for she smiled and inquired, "How are you doing today?"

The woman merely nodded, her response indicating her reluctance to engage in conversation. Her visitor, undeterred by the lack of words, continued, "I think it’s time for me to make my appearance."

An inscrutable gaze met the visitor’s eyes, silently urging her to continue. The visitor obliged, stating, "Sister-in-law, I have no choice. He just killed someone, and you know what this means - he has been activated."

Finally, the woman sitting broke her silence, saying, "I will go."

The visitor, however, seemed to have reservations, cautioning, "You are not fit yet. I will take him in and begin his training. I will teach him how to control his power."

The woman responded with a pensive, "Hmm, I see." She then rose from her seat, retrieved a file from her desk, and handed it to the visitor, explaining, "These will be the changes he will experience soon. The shock of taking a life will activate the substances in his DNA."

The visitor acknowledged the information with a nod but expressed her own concerns, saying, "I don’t want to see him turn into a killing machine. I need to have him by my side so I can observe him closely."

The woman remained seated as she deliberated on the request, eventually agreeing with a simple, "Okay."

The visitor took the file and left the room, leaving the woman behind, frozen in her thoughts. As soon as the door clicked shut, she sprang into action, reaching for her phone to make an important call.

A man’s voice answered on the other end, "Yes, madame?"

The woman, with cold and cunning eyes, wasted no time, asking, "How is he?"

The man replied, "He is good for now."

With an air of determination, the woman declared, "Please make preparations. Things are about to change."

The man seemed puzzled and inquired, "What do you mean?"

The woman revealed her intentions, stating, "I am going to Shanghai. It’s time to meet him."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then the man replied, "I will make the necessary arrangements, madame."

The woman continued, "Buy a villa, make it large. It’s time for me to be close to my son. It’s been 24 years already."

The man acknowledged, saying, "I understand, madame. I will contact you once the house is ready."

Expressing her gratitude, the woman remarked, "Thank you. You have been by my side for years."

The man, with a touch of fondness in his voice, responded, "That is what friends are for."

The woman couldn’t help but smile and added, "Yet you still call me ’madame.’"

The man chuckled and explained, "It’s an old habit."

Li Chen had fallen into a deep slumber after an exhausting day, the image of Cao Heping’s tragic end still haunting his thoughts. In the realm of dreams, a mysterious scene unfolded before him.

A woman and a man stood with their backs turned, their heads lowered as if deeply engrossed in a private conversation. As Li Chen approached, he sensed an inexplicable familiarity with these figures, even though he couldn’t see their faces. In front of them, a child was cradled in their care, an innocent bystander in the enigmatic exchange.

"They injected him; he will change soon."

"He’s only a day old. How could they use him as a test subject?"

"We need to protect him, darling."

"If we run, you know they will find us."

"Then we will continue running, even if it means we reach the end of the world."

"How about your sister?"

"My sister might be able to protect him, but we have to try on our own first."

"They will search for him."

"I know. All we can do for now is run."

The man tenderly held the child closer to his chest, his voice filled with regret, as he said, "I am sorry, my boy, but we will protect you." The woman, moved by the weight of their situation, drew near and placed a gentle kiss on the child’s forehead.

Li Chen watched this mysterious scene unfold, unable to comprehend its significance or the context that connected him to these strangers. The dream left him with a lingering sense of intrigue and a multitude of unanswered questions.

In the dream, the scene shifted once more, and Li Chen continued to watch the same couple talking to the other woman:

"You can’t run forever; we have to face this."

"I know you mean well, sister, but if anything happens to us, no one will suspect you since no one is aware of my identity. Please protect our boy."

The woman, who appeared to be the child’s mother, took out a packet of medicine and said:

"When he turns six, inject him with this. He will lose some memories, but it will surpass the threat within his system."

The other woman, still concerned, asked:

"What will you do?"

The couple exchanged a meaningful look and responded:

"If they believe he died, they will stop searching. But please, protect him; they might have a way of finding him. Make sure he lives a very simple life."

The other woman took the child into her arms and made a solemn promise:

"I will do my best, brother. Please stay safe and come back home to your son."

This part of the dream further deepened the mystery surrounding the child and the determination of the couple to protect him at all costs. The conversation hinted at a hidden threat and the lengths to which they were willing to go to ensure the safety and anonymity of their son, leaving Li Chen with more questions than answers.

Li Chen’s eyes shot open, and he found himself drenched in sweat, his heart pounding in his chest. The dream had left an indelible mark on his mind, and he couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity with the people in the dream, even though their faces remained hidden in the depths of his subconscious.

He rubbed the space between his brows in frustration, trying to make sense of the dream’s vivid images. It was a dream unlike any he had experienced before, and the unanswered questions gnawed at him, leaving him in a state of bewilderment.

As he sat on the edge of his bed, his thoughts swirled like a turbulent tempest. Why had this dream chosen to invade his peaceful slumber tonight, and what did it all mean? He felt a deep, inexplicable connection to the people in the dream, and the enigmatic nature of it all left him with a sense of both longing and frustration.

Realizing that he wouldn’t find the answers he sought in his tangled thoughts, Li Chen decided to get up. He glanced at the clock; it was already 3 am. He knew that falling back asleep would be a fruitless endeavor.

The dream had left him feeling restless, and the cold sweat clinging to his body only served to intensify his discomfort. Li Chen decided that a soothing shower might help wash away the lingering unease that clung to him.

In the bathroom, the warm water cascaded over him, and he couldn’t help but let his mind wander back to the dream. The sensation of familiarity with the people in the dream continued to haunt him, as though he had lost a part of himself he couldn’t quite remember.

The minutes ticked away as Li Chen tried to make sense of it all, but the dream remained an enigmatic puzzle that defied easy interpretation.

After his shower, he dressed and returned to his bedroom. The night was still young, and the darkness outside seemed to hold secrets of its own. Li Chen knew that sleep might not come easily, so he decided to take a seat by the window, gazing out at the quiet, slumbering city.

The dream lingered in his mind, and he couldn’t escape the feeling that it held a significant message or memory he needed to uncover. Despite the late hour, he began to wonder if there might be someone out there who could help him decipher the enigma that had intruded into his restless night.

As the stars above glimmered in the night sky, Li Chen knew that his journey to unravel the mysteries of his dream had only just begun.