Python Skin

Xiaofang recently felt that something was a little off.

As a seasoned "coder," her daily life was almost entirely integrated with her computer. In pursuit of the ultimate "immersive experience," she had a habit of working with her laptop directly on her lap, enjoying the slightly warm "intimate contact."

Until one day, while showering, she discovered that a grid-like pattern had emerged on her thighs, varying in color from light to dark, and even feeling slightly bumpy to the touch. The pattern strongly resembled the scales of a python.

"No way..." Xiaofang's heart skipped a beat. She remembered the recent viral news story: Woman develops python skin from prolonged laptop use on her lap.

She immediately searched online, and a flood of "expert interpretations" and "folk remedies" overwhelmed her, growing more alarming with each click. Some claimed it was "electromagnetic radiation mutation," others attributed it to "poor circulation from prolonged sitting," and some even seriously suggested it was "possession by a computer spirit."

Xiaofang decided to see a doctor.

Registering, queuing, waiting – the whole process left Xiaofang exhausted. Finally, it was her turn. An old doctor with graying hair pushed up his glasses and gestured for her to sit down.

"Doctor, look at my legs..." Xiaofang carefully rolled up her pant legs.

The old doctor leaned in for a closer look, his brow furrowed, muttering to himself, "Strange, strange..."

"Doctor, do I have some kind of weird disease?" Xiaofang's heart was in her throat.

The old doctor looked up, his expression serious: "This is a classic case of 'Cyber Python Skin,' caused by prolonged contact with electronic devices."

"Ah? Cyber Python Skin? Can... can it be cured?"

"It can be cured, but it's not easy." The old doctor said slowly, "The root of this disease is not in the flesh, but in the 'heart'."

"The heart?" Xiaofang was confused.

"That's right. You need to 'disconnect,' stay away from all electronic devices, and rest your mind and body, allowing your body to return to nature."

"Disconnect? That's impossible!" Xiaofang exclaimed. Her livelihood depended on her computer. A day without the internet felt like the whole world was collapsing.

"Then there's nothing I can do." The old doctor shrugged. "However, our hospital has recently introduced a new technology that can 'physically remove' these patterns."

"Physically remove?" Xiaofang saw a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, we use the most advanced 'nano-laser' technology to peel away these 'cyber scales' one by one, restoring your smooth skin." The old doctor gave a mysterious smile.

Xiaofang gritted her teeth and decided to give it a try.

The operating room was brightly lit. Xiaofang lay on the cold bed, watching the doctor use an instrument that looked like an iron, "ironing" back and forth on her legs.

"Ouch..." A burning pain shot through her, and Xiaofang couldn't help but cry out.

"Bear with it, this is high-tech," the doctor said without looking up.

Several hours later, the surgery was finally over. Xiaofang's legs were wrapped in bandages, and she felt like a snake that had just shed its skin.

"Doctor, is that it?" Xiaofang asked weakly.

"Of course, this is 'nano-laser,' guaranteed to cure the disease," the doctor said confidently.

Xiaofang returned home and carefully unwrapped the bandages.

In the mirror, her legs were indeed smooth as before, but...

The "python skin" hadn't disappeared, it had transferred to her... laptop.

On the computer screen, a grid-like pattern clearly appeared, varying in color from light to dark, and even feeling slightly bumpy to the touch. The pattern strongly resembled the scales of a python.

Xiaofang was stunned. She suddenly realized that this wasn't "Cyber Python Skin" at all, but...

The imprint of the computer's ventilation holes.

She had habitually placed the computer on her lap, and the heat and pressure had left these marks on her skin. And the so-called "nano-laser" had simply "transferred" these marks to the computer.

Xiaofang was speechless. She looked at the "python skin" on the screen and suddenly felt that this computer was the real "Cyber Python."

And she was merely the... keeper of this "python."