Did the world end today?

Chapter 41 The Twisted Sun

I really didn't mean to make fun of you.

"I was in such a rush that I just grabbed something and went."

"At worst, I'll just buy you a bottle of Oriental Leaf tea and pour it into your mouth later."

Walking on the stone steps of the Purple Mountain Observatory, Lin Xu spoke with a slight embarrassment.

"no need!"

Jiang Xingye rolled his eyes at Lin Xu.

"It's not like you absolutely have to drink it. Remember next time, if you bring a cup, you have to bring water too, okay?"

"I've learned a lot."

Lin Xu nodded repeatedly, and the two walked up the mountain together, soon reaching the summit of Sanbao Peak.

Exhausted, Lin Xu was panting as he drank iced water sold at the scenic spot, while Jiang Xingye, standing to the side, appeared calm and composed.

"I told you you're out of shape. With your puny build, tsk tsk."

"Is it any good, little greyhound?"

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

Lin Xu stood up straight, stubbornly, but was secretly pondering something.

I really need to start exercising.

It seems that my physical fitness has been declining rapidly since I started college?
In addition, the constant overtime work at the company has led to a significant decline in physical strength.

This can't go on.
The world is still 20 years away from ending. What if you die before the end of the world even arrives? That would be a huge mess.
Noticing his expression, Jiang Xingye couldn't help but chuckle.

She turned to look down the mountain, then spoke:
"To be honest, the scenery here is quite nice."

"It's the second highest peak in the area, so the view is very expansive."

"Unfortunately, we won't be able to climb Beigaofeng anymore."

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

"Deep Space Observation Station".

Lin Xu answered casually.

"Sure, you have a lot of knowledge."

"Or did you know you were coming to play with me today and did your homework beforehand?"

"I guess you could say I did my homework beforehand."

Lin Xu wiped his mouth and threw the empty water bottle into the trash can next to him.

Nonsense, if I didn't even know this, why would I be here?

So you're really here on a date?

He walked to Jiang Xingye's side and looked up at the distant North Peak.

There, a large number of construction machines have arrived, and huge tower cranes stand on the hillside like swords piercing the sky, while beneath the sheaths of these swords are huge, gleaming mirrors.

In terms of scale, this deep space observatory should occupy the entire upper part of the North Peak.

From any perspective, this is a massive undertaking.
-
But it's also a bit strange.

The Purple Mountain Observatory has actually been "abandoned" for a long time.

Most of the organization's facilities are located either in Xuyi or in the Northwest.

So why did the authorities suddenly decide to rebuild a large deep space observation station here?
The geographical environment here is not the best, and the observation conditions are not advantageous either.

In addition, the reception of cosmic signals is also affected by the influence of urban electromagnetic waves.

Placing a deep space observation station here feels a bit redundant.

Thinking of this, Lin Xu asked Jiang Xingye:
"By the way, have you seen any reports about this deep space observatory?"

"Why did the government choose this location? It doesn't seem quite right."

"You ask a girl out and this is all you talk about?"

Jiang Xingye's eyes flickered, and Lin Xu shrugged and said:
"Let's talk about whatever comes to mind."

"That's great, I'm interested in that too."

Jiang Xingye paused slightly before replying:
"I have indeed seen the news about this deep space observatory. When the project was first proposed, I heard there was a lot of resistance."

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

"It seems they've taken the needs of the Zhurong Project into account?"

"Wasn't there a rumor at the time that the decision to build this deep space observation station was made because the Zhurong probe discovered something on Mars?"

"It's been hyped up so much that all sorts of marketing accounts want to get involved, talking about extraterrestrial civilizations and second homes and all that."

"As a result, gradually, all news disappeared, but the thing was still built."

“I occasionally see videos on short video platforms saying that there is radiation and that the surrounding residents are protesting.”

"It's kind of funny, really—who lives around Zhongshan? They're not protesting, so why are you protesting?"

".really."

Lin Xu nodded, amused.

He had only mentioned it casually to Jiang Xingye, but he didn't expect that she had read more rumors than he had.

Because the Zhurong lander made discoveries on Mars, a deep space observatory needs to be built on Zijin Mountain.

This sounds like a fantasy, but considering what I've seen in the world of fitness trackers...
You know what, it's actually quite possible.

However, to find out exactly what that "driving force" is, we'll probably have to go inside the observatory.

It's inaccessible right now.

You can only get in through the bracelet.

Lin Xu carefully observed the overall layout of the observation station in the distance, chatting casually with Jiang Xingye. Neither of them were particularly active, and even just enjoying the breeze on the mountaintop was quite pleasant for them.

Lin Xu memorized the path to the observation station and then took out his phone to check the station's facilities and equipment.

Judging from the results, this observation station is indeed a high-end version.

It not only has high-power radio telescopes, but also a series of high-power microwave and laser emitting devices.

If construction continues according to this design, it should become the largest and most advanced deep space observation station in the southern part of the country.

It probably won't be easy to break in.

Such facilities would naturally be equipped with a very high level of security personnel.

Can the mercenary squad under Skull's command break through?

It will probably take many trials and errors to succeed.
Lin Xu's thoughts drifted away, but at that moment, Jiang Xingye suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Lin Xu! Look at the sky!"

Lin Xu subconsciously looked up.

At this moment, above his head
It's a giant solar halo!

The solar halo covered almost the entire sky above the Purple Mountain Observatory and even stretched to the distant city skyline!
"Such a huge solar halo."

Lin Xu was amazed.

"We're really lucky."

"Yes!"

Jiang Xingye said excitedly:

"The weather forecast didn't mention this today! How could there be such a huge solar halo!"

"Weather forecasts are inaccurate for this kind of celestial phenomenon."

Lin Xu took out his phone and took a picture of the sun halo in the sky. Compared to the human eye, the image captured by the sensor is actually much clearer.

Within the largest layer of the halo, Lin Xu also saw a small ring.

It glows faintly, like the halo of some angel.

I must say, it's beautiful.

"Perfect, perfect, perfect!"

Jiang Xingye, standing to the side, said excitedly:

"That's awesome! I knew coming out with you would bring good luck!"

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

"Enough with the love-obsessed mentality!"

Lin Xu looked at his phone screen.

He was then astonished to discover that the sun really was heart-shaped.
-
No, it should be said that the shape of the sun is distorted and flowing.

It was heart-shaped one moment, star-shaped the next, and eventually became a perfectly square.

The surrounding glow seemed to be bound together, forming a bright boundary. The sun, which had quietly passed through billions of years, seemed to have become a giant, grotesque light bulb.

"Tsk, this solar halo is probably going to trend on social media."

"I'll definitely see it all on short videos when I get home tonight!"

"It's a good thing I came out with you today, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see it so clearly!"

"Come quick, take a picture of me!"

"I'm coming."

Lin Xu took the phone from Jiang Xingye and squatted down.

But just as he pointed his phone at Jiang Xingye's silhouette in the sunlight once again, an unusual premonition suddenly arose in his heart.

The premonition was fleeting; he didn't even have time to grasp it.

It was as if it were just an ordinary "déjà vu" phenomenon.

Lin Xu shook his head slightly and looked at his phone screen.

Press the button, and the screen flashes.

What remains is a clear photo of Jiang Xingye posing with this giant solar halo.
Meanwhile, in Guizhou, at the FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope) observation station.

A gray-haired scholar stared intently at the newly transmitted images, while beside him, a bespectacled man reported in a low voice:
"It has been confirmed that the optical image distortion is not caused by the atmosphere, and it should be classified as an unusual astronomical phenomenon."

"This is the fourth unusual celestial phenomenon we have observed in the past four years. But we still have no clue as to its specific cause."

"Ah."

The scholar nodded slowly.

"It's okay, take your time."

"What's the feedback from the Zhurong ship?"

"The cameras in Beijing have been adjusted, but the results will be sent back in 46 minutes."

"Three minutes have passed since the celestial phenomenon occurred."

"The adjustment instruction was issued one minute ago."

"Based on the current Earth-fire communication time, the command will arrive in about 13 minutes."

"In other words, if the unusual celestial phenomenon lasts for more than 12 minutes, we will have the opportunity to obtain two points of observation data."

"12 minutes."

The scholar bowed his head silently.

Hopefully, we'll make it in time.

(End of this chapter)