Chapter Two: A Murder Triggered by a Pinprick

"Honestly, I really do have one. I didn't even notice when it appeared."
"Me too, me too."
Such comments filled the air—no one claimed not to have one.
Li Daoran looked at his own arm; there was a tiny pinprick on his bicep, precisely where he'd been injected in the dream.
"I see it—he has one too, in exactly the same place as mine."
"What do you mean his is the same as yours? It's ours that's the same as his."
"Master, I was feeling awful with a cold, but after you came back, I realized I was fine. What kind of injection did you give me?"
"Me too, I wasn't feeling well today, but now I'm inexplicably better."
"Here comes the Copycat Monster again—always 'me too.' Are you a broken record?"
"Shocking! So humanity's true nature is to repeat itself."
Li Daoran was both amused and exasperated. "Enough, everyone. Seriously, what's going on here? Can anyone offer any useful suggestions?"
"Turn yourself in."
"Turn yourself in."
"Seconded."
"The Copycat Monster is back."
"Boss, how about you make a small cut on yourself and see if the same happens to us? If it does, then you have nothing to fear. The fate of all humanity is in your hands—people will be rushing to protect you."
"Good point."
"Seconded."
Li Daoran thought that made sense. If what the netizens said was true, there really was nothing for him to be afraid of.
He went to the kitchen and picked up a cleaver.
"Boss, you really don't need such a big knife. Now I'm scared."
"Master, don't let your hand shake. You're scaring me."

"I get woozy at the sight of blood, let's not do this—I’m scared too."
Li Daoran's hand trembled uncontrollably as he held the knife. The fate of billions was at stake; he was truly frightened.
"No, I can't do it," he said, his voice quivering. "What if we really are synchronized? That's terrifying to even think about. No, I can't." He quickly put the cleaver down.
"Whew, that scared me to death. The way you were holding that knife, I thought you were about to lose a finger."
"It's just a small cut, Master. Your nerves aren't that strong, are they?"
Li Daoran's face darkened as he retorted, "Why don't you try it first? Make a little cut on yourself. I’m sure I could do it if it were on you."
"Master's right, don't pay attention to the keyboard warriors. Suggest the boss turn himself in."
Knock, knock, knock.
Li Daoran looked toward the door, apprehensive—it couldn’t be the authorities already, could it?
He heard his father's voice: "Daoran, turn off the livestream."
Li Daoran hurried to end the broadcast and opened the door.
His parents rushed in, quickly closing the door behind them.
His mother, Li Xiumei, looked him up and down, her eyes reddened. His father, Li Aiguo, sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette.
Li Xiumei, voice trembling, said, "I told your father it looked just like our home, but he wouldn't believe me. Now that we're at the door, a single knock confirmed it. How did this happen to our family?"
Li Daoran was at a loss, not knowing what to do.
Li Aiguo took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaled, and looked at Li Daoran sternly. "What's going on? Did you make contact with aliens?"
Li Daoran was momentarily stunned, but then Li Xiuying smacked Li Aiguo on the back. "What, you want to sell out your own child? He's our son! If we don't know him, who does? We raised him ourselves—what could he possibly have to do with aliens?"
Li Aiguo stood up. "This is all because you spoiled him. If you'd listened to me and let him join the army, none of this would have happened. I'm not saying he's an alien—just that maybe he's been secretly in contact with them. For humanity's sake, I might have to do the unthinkable."
Li Xiuying was speechless with anger, raising her hand as if to strike again. Li Daoran quickly pulled her back. "Dad, Mom, please calm down. I really don't know any aliens—I have nothing to do with them. I don't know what's happening either. What's important now is what we do next."
The couple exchanged a glance and began tidying their clothes. Li Aiguo said, "If it's not aliens, that's easier. Contact the authorities and figure out what's going on. We're just ordinary people—we should trust our country. Wait a moment, let us get changed, and then you can restart the livestream and we'll call the police."
Li Daoran nodded.
His parents disappeared into a room and soon reemerged, bundled up tightly. His father wore a Monkey King mask, his mother a Tiga mask—childhood toys of Li Daoran's.

He couldn't help but laugh. It seemed excessive.
His father nodded. "You can start the livestream now, and don't laugh. It's for our safety. Remember, the whole world can see this—there are all kinds of people out there. Protecting our privacy is crucial. This is no lottery win—this could cost you your life."
Li Daoran nodded. "Alright, I'm starting."
Once the livestream was running, Li Daoran checked his phone again.
"See, I told you—Monkey King, Tiga, clearly our hero is an alien. Just not sure if he's from the M78 Nebula or popped out of a stone."
"Ignore that idiot above. Surely no one believes those are real faces. Master, turn on the TV. Hurry!"
"Turn on the TV! The authorities are making an announcement. Hurry, you’re a living Bodhisattva—let me bow to you."
"Nonsense! How could a Bodhisattva compare to our hero?"
Li Daoran, thoroughly confused, turned on the TV as instructed.
"At 1:13:36 p.m. on February 30, 2021, a shocking scene appeared before the eyes of every person on Bluewater Star. It is believed to be a first-person perspective from someone on Bluewater Star, showing a triple-speed recording of an alien human's daily life. The footage can be closed, replayed, slowed down, paused, or zoomed, all controlled by thought alone—something current technology cannot achieve. Preliminary conclusion: this is an alien implant.
At 2:05:27 p.m., the perspective returned to Bluewater Star. At 2:05:30, a 0.7-millimeter needle mark appeared simultaneously on the left bicep of every human being on the planet—from the gravely ill to newborn babies. For those missing their left arm, the mark appeared elsewhere on their body.
Initial tests show that after the mark appeared, human immune systems improved dramatically. Flu patients recovered instantly; those with chronic illnesses like diabetes and hypertension saw significant improvement. Multiple stroke victims reported initial sensation returning. More details are under investigation. We urge all citizens not to panic. The occurrence of the 2.30 Needle Mark Incident is beneficial to humanity, and we will continue to provide updates. The individual at the center of these events is requested to contact local law enforcement. Your safety will be guaranteed."
The three of them exchanged glances before Li Daoran picked up the phone and dialed the police. Busy signal.
He checked the forums.
"Stop calling, the lines are jammed. Don't you know filing a false report is a crime? Every single one of you is asking for trouble."
"Call my number instead—I'll handle it."
"Already powered off—the phone lines are fried."
Li Daoran looked back up at the TV. The anchor, having received new information, stopped replaying the earlier footage and said, "Please state your location directly. We can hear and see you. Anyone attempting to interfere or harass will be prosecuted for espionage, endangering national security, and obstructing official duties."
Listening to the string of charges, Li Daoran shivered in fear. What kind of crime would he be facing?
Nevertheless, he reported his location and quietly awaited his judgment.