The Second Option

In the end, they had to postpone whatever Feng Liwei had planned for the afternoon. He got a call to attend a meeting that must have been mighty important since he returned late and left early, leaving Fuyuki to face his first work day in his new workplace alone. He wasn’t usually nervous, but the thought of walking into that building again where he dared to intrude into the world leader’s office made him nauseous. He wasn’t sure why, perhaps he was more aware of what was at stake and also had someone he didn’t want to lose.

The only reassuring thing was probably Mengxi’s presence. Even though she didn’t speak unless she was spoken to or if she detected that someone needed assistance it was still reassuring to have a familiar face by his side.

“What do you think is the probability of the Major finishing work earlier?”

“Based on this year’s data or all since he started working?” she replied seriously.

“Never mind. Even if he would, he would still contact me to let me know.”

“You are right, Sir. Based on your interactions, you would definitely be the one Master would contact first.”

She probably didn’t mean to comfort him but it somehow did just that. Not that he had anything to worry about. His first day turned out better than expected. But still, when he received his message telling him to meet up, he realized that he waited for this exact moment the whole day.

“Take me to this place,” he told Mengxi showing her where Liwei was at the moment according to his wristband’s location.

He figured it was better to leave it to her, who knew this city better than him that’s for sure. She swiftly guided him through not only the city but after their arrival, she even led the way through a building of an institute that seemed like a clinic. Of course, Fuyuki knew that this was her job but he still couldn’t help but admire how this made his journey so much smoother than if he had to go alone.

No one stopped them after entering the building. Its corridors were strangely desolate and there was silence everywhere. When they finally stopped in front of a door, it immediately opened as if Feng Liwei had been following his movement on his wristband ever since he departed from his workplace. And probably that’s just what he did.

“Come in, and sit down!” he said hurriedly. “We don’t have much time but there’s something I need to show you.”

“Is this what you wanted to talk about yesterday?” Fuyuki asked calmly.

“It is. It’s not related to the blueprint. It’s something else. I know that the genetic reversal before birth wasn’t approved during the summit, and I don’t think it will be in the near future either since it might lead to many societal problems,” Feng Liwei’s voice turned extremely serious as if he was still in the middle of a meeting trying to negotiate and persuade someone about his ideas. “But there’s something no one knows. Well, except a few people involved.”

“Okay. And what I’m looking at?” Fuyuki asked looking at the holographic screen on the desk before him.

There were rows of unopened files, all of them having clusters of numbers as names that seemed like a date or a serial number. The file names sometimes even had names in them besides the numbers which made it even more strange.

“What do you think happens before an invention is approved and made available for public use? How it’s determined that it’s safe to use and proved that it has advantages for everyone?”

“Through experiments...” Fuyuki said in a low voice staring shocked at Liwei after realization dawned on him.

“That’s right. Now, considering sex changes before birth is nothing new. Its procedure is similar to any of the other changes parents can pay for as of today. And you were right. Through experiments, we know that this actually does work. It’s harmless and has no effect whatsoever. The children born won’t ever know that their original gender was different unless their parents or other relatives knowing about this tell them.”

“So that’s why certain people are so bent on making this a legal option. But they have to be an idiot not to realize what consequences of approving such a law might have.”

“Exactly. And this is where the second option comes into play.”

“Second option?” Fuyuki asked not understanding Liwei’s line of thought for the first time since knowing him.

“Even if we forget about all the societal problems such a decision might cause worldwide there’s still a worse scenario. What if some people realize later that they want to change back? Or worse... Their gender wasn’t changed at birth because their parents didn’t want that but their children decide after growing up that they had enough and want their gender reversed?”

“Ugh, but that’s impossible. I mean, wouldn’t that hurt? Isn’t it like operating on someone without...”

“Something like that. Unfortunately, we also have data proving that changing someone’s gender after being born is virtually impossible. I’m not saying that it won’t ever be possible but according to our current knowledge it is. And this is exactly the strongest reason why gender reversal should never become a legally approved procedure.”

“Are these those data you mentioned?” Fuyuki asked pointing at the files before him.

Feng Liwei nodded and tapped on one of the files which opened to reveal its content.

It mostly contained the personal data of different patients and a step-by-step record of the gender reversal procedure they went through. And at the end, each contained a before and after picture just like in those makeovers stylists did for people hundreds of years ago.

Fuyuki looked at the pictures that made his stomach churn just by looking at them. Instead of the beautiful outcome expected after a makeover, these patients had all sorts of deficiencies that were either physically visible or they seemed mentally unstable even at first glance.

“As you see, none of them worked out in the end. They either couldn’t stand the pain and went mad or their body or some body parts became deformed because they couldn’t adapt to such a drastic change.”

Fuyuki listened attentively to what he told him but every word he uttered made him even more nauseous. When he looked back at the pictures of those disfigured people, he couldn’t help it anymore and started to retch. It all happened so quickly that Liwei didn’t even have the time to ask if he is all right when he suddenly bent down, scanned his wristband on the waste bin and barely waiting for its lid to open, threw up in it the moment it opened.

“I’m sorry,” Liwei bent down next to him and stroked his back to comfort him. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I know,” Fuyuki replied while coughing.

“We’re in this together, so what I know, you should know, too.”

Fuyuki felt so weak after emptying his stomach that he only had the strength left to nod. It seemed that it was enough for Liwei, who put his arm around his shoulder and hugged him.

“How about we go home and eat something? You need to replenish all the food you got rid of just now.”

“Help me get up,” Fuyuki said after a while and he managed to stand up at last with his help.

Fuyuki sat down to wait for Liwei to close all the files and the interface and turn back everything to their original form. Only then did they leave the room and eventually the building with Mengxi supporting Fuyuki on his other side, who was waiting patiently outside the room all throughout their discussion.

“I suggest drinking water first to avoid dehydration, Sir,” Mengxi said just as they stepped in the car to leave.

Fuyuki felt a bit embarrassed knowing that she probably heard him throwing up through the door but it was actually good to know that she could even give medical advice as well. At least when it comes to minor issues not requiring immediate professional medical assistance.

In the end, Mengxi went to buy mineral water for him to drink on their way back home. She had a kind smile on her face while giving it to him which was a great contrast to the pale and concerned expression Liwei had on his face.

“Don’t worry, I’m better now,” was all that he said throughout the ride and snuggled up to Feng Liwei sitting next to him.

“Judging by his facial expression, Master seems a bit worried but he also seems happy. So there is nothing for you to worry about,” Mengxi told him after looking at Liwei.

“That’s... Good to know,” Fuyuki replied. “Thank you Mengxi,” he said as he felt Liwei’s hand on his waist tighten.

The way home wasn’t that long but even if it was it didn’t matter.

As long as it was a happy ride leading to a happy life.