"That's your choice too," Anna lowered her eyes slightly, still with a slight smile on her face, "I gave you a chance."
"Whether you are giving a chance or playing with people's hearts, only you know--"
"I know very well, Si Lei." Anna looked at Si Lei again, "I don't deny that it is indeed very happy to watch the prey walk into the trap on its own, but watching an honest heart being tortured will still bring me a lot of pain. Some guilt..."
"Then stop!" Si Lei said in a loud voice, "Jian has already told me that the passengers on this ship are not as innocent as they seem. Your abuse of lynching on the ship will not allow justice to be served. You should let them go ashore. Be investigated, and—"
"You really look like some of my friends." Anna held her left cheek and looked at Si Lei sideways, "This tone, this concept, this... expression."
Si Lei frowned - Anna in front of him was obviously not listening to her.
"You are the kind of people: most people believe in you and respect you. Even those who don't like or recognize you will first affirm your character and then elaborate on your shortcomings... But like you People usually don’t live long, because you either die young or you are too young when your enthusiasm is exhausted..."
"what are you saying--"
"The same is true for my friends, friends from childhood," Anna lowered her gaze again, her voice drifting away, "Each of them is so dazzling."
Si Lei looked at Anna who was lost in memories in front of him, took a deep breath, raised his hand to untie a wooden chair beside him, and sat down opposite Anna.
"Whatever you want to say, be direct."
"You asked me whether I was giving you a chance or playing with people's hearts when I gave you the pair of scissors. It was neither. I have told you a long time ago. I just hope that you don't hate me so much when everything is over." At this point, Anna shrugged lightly, "...it seems like I didn't achieve my goal at all, but it doesn't matter, I'm used to it."
Every one of Anna's words sounded out of place, but she spoke so sincerely... It was as if the person who always spoke sarcastically in the past had receded like a wave, revealing the tidal flats and rocks under the sea.
Si Lei frowned even more tightly, she didn't understand what Anna was doing.
"It doesn't matter what I think of you," Si Lei whispered. "What matters is what happened on this ship -"
"It doesn't matter what happened on this ship," Anna showed her smile again, "because nothing that happened in the past half month is new, everything is boring... isn't it?"
Si Lei thought about how to answer.
After a moment of silence, she looked at Anna, "Were you a witness at the 'Supreme Praise' back then?"
Anna didn't answer, but her eyes were affirmative.
"I think some very tragic things must have happened on the ship back then -"
"Don't try to empathize with me, I don't need such a thing." Anna looked at Si Lei, "Answer me a question, officer, has your life become happier after joining AHgAs?"
"What's the meaning……"
"That's the literal meaning," Anna looked at her, "compared to the life in District 14, which period do you prefer after leaving District 14?"
Anna's question was like an anchor thrown to the bottom of the sea. It stirred up some sand in the depths of memory, and Si Lei's eyes flashed with a brief haze.
"Every stage of life has its value, and there are some detours that cannot be skipped. It is meaningless to force this kind of comparison..."
"What if I have to choose one?"
"...After joining AHgAs, what happened?"
Anna smiled and said, "That's good."
Si Lei showed a puzzled expression.
"You know, when it comes to measuring the merits of a society, a culture, or certain groups, I have a simple and crude personal standard." Anna looked at her. "I will observe how a person like you behaves in this world." What position is it in the system, what kind of living condition is maintained...
"An ideal world would cherish those brave men who sacrificed themselves to defend her. An ideal world would not let you suffer."
"Who are you talking to!?" Si Lei stared into Anna's eyes, "If you want to say that people like me should live happily in the ideal world you expect, then why do you keep ignoring my suggestions? request? How many times have I told you that these passengers on the ship—"
"The Shengming is not an ideal world to begin with," Anna replied nonchalantly, "Everyone here should be in pain."
"..."
Si Lei gritted her teeth, and she finally understood that the person in front of her had no intention of chatting with her at all - I'm afraid that Anna's so-called chat was just listening to her chatter one-sidedly.
Si Lei looked away, "...I finally understand why Jane hates you so much. You are really the more annoying the more we come into contact with you."
Anna took out a cigarette and lit it in the dark, "But I also like AHgAs. Do you know what I like best about it?"
Si Lei said nothing, but this did not affect Anna's answer.
“Female members account for 93% of the general staff recruited by AHgAs in the 14 regions, while twenty years ago, this figure was 19%.
"This is an amazing miracle, because in the past, the influx of women into an industry was usually one of the signs that the industry was entering a period of dryness... Those industries that were glamorous, comfortable, and well-paid only began to decline when they began to decline. This kind of thing is allowed to happen. But AHgAs's treatment has never been reduced over the years, you should be very clear about this.
"So today, if a young girl like you is facing a competitive interview, she may be nervous about many things - her past work experience, her improvisation during the interview, and even herself. Appearance and conversation are the first impression left on the interviewer... But she will no longer feel uneasy about being the only female among the 27 preliminary candidates.
"Don't you want to live in such a world forever, Ms. Si Lei?"
Their eyes met, but Si Lei still didn't give any response. She carefully digested Anna's every word, trying to understand the implication that she didn't say.
"...AHgAs will not massacre civilians," Si Lei whispered, "AHgAs will never give the power of deciding life and death to an individual."
"So after so many years, the size of AHgAs has never expanded significantly." Anna snuffed out the cigarette butt in her hand in the ashtray nearby. "In order to achieve a better world, the number of men must be even smaller than it is now. Some."
(End of chapter)
