"What does kissing feel like?"
"…"
Lin put down the solvent he was adjusting, momentarily stunned by Mobius's sudden question.
The atmosphere in the private lab, combined with the sudden silence, became chilling, like a morgue, intensified by the gaze coming from within Lin's helmet.
After Mobius's long, silent stare, Lin replied: "I don't know."
"As expected. I don't know either, so I'm very curious…"
"You could simulate a similar sensation or create an artificial oral cavity for the experience."
Lin returned his focus to the ongoing experiment. Mobius's whimsical ideas filled her notebook. He occasionally offered constructive suggestions to satisfy her concepts, so this matter didn't immediately draw his attention.
"Don't you know the difference between simulation and reality?" Mobius scoffed disdainfully. "Besides, kissing should be an interaction composed of feedback from both parties, so even an artificial oral cavity wouldn't fully capture the experience."
"…Then what do you propose?"
At this point, Lin understood Mobius's implication. She often used ambiguous language to circle around her true intent, so Lin could easily pick up on the part she really wanted to convey.
Mobius glanced up and down at Lin's attire, which was no different from his usual wear. She said in a tone that sounded somewhat disgusted yet resigned: "You'll have to do."
"…" Lin remained silent for a few seconds, considering whether her words held a deeper meaning, before saying with slight hesitation: "Klein, Cāng Xuán, Dān Zhū… they would be more suitable, wouldn't they?"
"Kissing generally refers to opposite genders, doesn't it?"
"The percentage of homosexual couples in global data is increasing every year…"
"I am heterosexual." Mobius cut off Lin's words without allowing him to argue. She raised an eyebrow, clearly dissatisfied with Lin's reaction: "If it were Mei, do you think she would choose the same gender for this experiment? She would definitely choose Kevin."
"…I understand." Lin was convinced by Mobius. He carefully thought about it. If it were Mei, she would indeed choose Kevin instead of the same gender for this. It seemed only he would think that the sense of rejection would be slightly less if it were the same gender. But he was a strange person himself, so his opinion wasn't worth much reference.
"I simply don't have a choice. You are the only member of the opposite sex who is close to me. So don't think… never mind. Judging by your expression, you wouldn't think anything anyway."
"…"
"First, let's outline the content of this experiment. There are many standards regarding kissing. Physiologically, it triggers a series of reactions related to parasympathetic nervous excitement, saliva exchange, and endocrine responses. Therefore, simply touching lips wouldn't fully capture the experience. We need saliva exchange to trigger nerve excitement."
Since this was an experiment mandated by Mobius, Lin seriously considered the experimental plan: "Some research suggests that the origin of kissing is a default, adaptive behavior meant to test the potential partner's health, genetic compatibility, romantic interest, and social coordination. The objective of the experiment should lean toward these aspects."
"Hmm… Tongue kissing also exists among chimpanzees and bonobos, so this theory has evidence to support it. Other theories suggest kissing can be traced back to the infant's oral compensation behavior of sucking the mother's breast. I think we should primarily consider the sucking aspect of the French kiss." Mobius tidied the lab, then leaned her tall body back onto the sofa like a lazy serpent, draping her hair over her right shoulder, writing down the key points of the experiment on paper.
"There is another point: in common perception, kissing is often the start of sexual activity. If we consider the entire sexual act as a complete process, then kissing is the starting point of that process. Therefore, simple kissing might not necessarily trigger nerve excitement."
Lin wrote down the words "nerve excitement" on the paper. Mobius, pondering, slightly furrowed her long, delicate brows and mused: "Does that mean that if the ultimate goal is nerve excitement, simple kissing might not achieve it?"
"No."
Lin paused. He felt the conversation had gone off track, but he continued without dwelling on it: "The experience of kissing might deviate from the expected feedback. We simply need to record this deviation."
Mobius spoke sternly, like a strict teacher correcting a student's mistake: "But saliva exchange to trigger nerve excitement should be the ultimate goal of the act of kissing. Therefore, we should ensure both parties experience the same level of excitement for the act to be considered complete."
"…"
Lin didn't know why he felt this sense of incongruity. He reviewed Mobius's words. It did seem… perfectly reasonable.
Mobius was inherently a scientist who considered things thoroughly for the sake of scientific rigor. Although she had a notorious reputation, in Lin's observation, she never treated any experiment or surgery with a lazy attitude.
So Lin nodded. The azure viewing window reflected Mobius's cheek: "Then… what should we do?"
"You said kissing is the beginning of sexual behavior, and besides kissing, the prelude to sexual behavior also involves physical caressing."
Mobius didn't continue speaking after that, only staring at the motionless Lin with her narrow pupils.
Lin nodded in agreement, feeling a touch of admiration for Mobius's comprehensive thinking: "I understand."
"Very well. Now, go rinse your mouth. The experiment will begin in five minutes. Remember to remove your helmet."
Mobius watched Lin walk into the washroom without blinking. After the sound of rinsing came from behind the closed door, she unhurriedly walked to the private office door and locked it.
Then she took off her slightly stale white coat, revealing the faint green sweater and delicate black stockings covering her ample figure underneath. She tied her long hair back with an elastic band to prevent it from scattering.
Finally, the mature, green-haired woman sat on the sofa, clutching a water glass, her expression blank.
Had she… gone crazy?
She seemed to have accidentally said some nonsensical things, planned a nonsensical experiment, and then inexplicably told Lin to rinse his mouth.
This was truly too bizarre. It must be that her central nervous system was affected during recent experiments, causing some disruption in her language system.
Why did that guy agree so easily? And why did she lock the door? And how much time was left?
She was absolutely, absolutely not nervous, right? She was a mature woman, older than Lin. It was just a kissing experiment. He wouldn't overthink it, and she wouldn't… overthink it either.
"Click."
Lin opened the door.
Mobius's pupils constricted. She shot up from the sofa with a sudden burst of movement.
"…What's wrong?" Lin asked Mobius, who seemed to be having an immediate stress reaction.
"Nothing. Just siblings."
"What siblings?"
"I misspoke. Not siblings. Experiment."
"…Hurry up. I have something else to do after this experiment."
When Lin reached up to lift his helmet with both hands, Mobius's heart inexplicably began to pound.
She was just experiencing Monosodium Glutamate Syndrome (a series of symptoms including headaches, flushing of the face or other parts, sweating, and feelings of pressure in the mouth and face), right?
Finally, Lin lifted his helmet halfway, revealing his nostrils and lips.
"Let's begin."
Lin remained in that position and walked toward the slightly trembling, blank-faced Mobius. He leaned closer to her lips…
"Bang!"
Just as their four lips were about to touch, Mobius violently shoved Lin. The unexpected force sent Lin tumbling to the floor.
"I just remembered I have something else to do. Experiment aborted. Postponing until next time." Mobius dropped the sentence coldly, ignoring Lin on the floor. She unlocked the door and walked out.
Lin said nothing. This occasionally happened. Mobius was often impulsive in her work. He had agreed that everything about him belonged to her, so he had no right to protest.
Mobius, clutching her steaming head, sprinted outside, running all the way to the deck, and then…
Plunged headfirst into the sea.
"Big news! Dr. Mobius is swimming in the sea!"