Vitality

Shen Qi and Ou Ye went to Yanjing University People's Hospital for examinations.

Yanjing University People's Hospital is a top-tier tertiary hospital, formerly an affiliated hospital of Capital Medical University.

After the former Capital Medical University merged into Yenching University, it continued to carry out various tasks in the form of Yanjing University School of Medicine.

Two chief physicians from the hospital personally received Mr. and Mrs. Shen Qi and conducted examinations for them.

There were quite a few tests. The tests Shen Qi underwent for men included liver function, complete blood count, urinary system examination, routine examination, and chromosome analysis.

Shen Qi's chief physician's surname is Yuan; he is a professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Yanjing University School of Medicine.

Professor Yuan had a private chat with Shen Qi in the chief physician's office. "Does Academician Shen usually smoke and drink?"

Shen Qi said, "I never smoke, I drink occasionally, but I've been drinking more frequently these past few months due to social engagements."

Professor Yuan then asked, "Your body fat percentage is relatively low, so you have a long-term habit of exercising?"

Shen Qi: "I like running, especially long-distance running."

Professor Yuan suddenly realized. "Right, right, in last year's half marathon relay around Weiming Lake, your center won the runner-up in the faculty and staff group. Academician Shen is a long-distance running champion."

"By the way, Professor Yuan, your School of Medicine's contestants did acupuncture on each other before last year's competition. Does this thing really help improve competition results?" Shen Qi asked curiously.

"Our School of Medicine's contestants had acupuncture, but they still didn't come as far as your center, did they?" Professor Yuan said with a smile, then asked with concern, "Academician Shen, are you under a lot of work pressure lately? I heard you're a strong contender for this year's Nobel Prize."

Professors at Yanjing University School of Medicine pay close attention to the Nobel Prize. Their most famous alumnus, Professor Tu, is the first Chinese scientist to win Nobel Prize in Science.

Shen Qi said, "There is still pressure. Whether I win the Nobel Prize or not, I'll let nature take its course. I'm more focused on the research tasks assigned to me by the country."

"We're from the same university, and I know that Academician Shen is extremely dedicated to his research, often working with the lab technicians until late at night," Professor Yuan said with admiration and kindness. Then, in a calm tone, she told Shen Qi, "Academician Shen, according to the examination, your sperm count is sufficient, but your sperm motility is slightly low."

"What?" Shen Qi was shocked. Low sperm motility? Me? Shen Qi?

Professor Yuan reassured him, "It's alright, Academician Shen. More than 40% of men have this problem nowadays; it will get better after a few months of recuperation."

Shen Qi studied the medical report Professor Yuan gave him repeatedly, "I'm only 27 years old! This doesn't make sense!"

Professor Yuan explained, "In today's Chinese society, especially in large cities like the capital, the pace of work and life is extremely fast, and people are under a lot of pressure. Mental stress, as well as factors such as environmental pollution and food safety, can all have a certain impact on male sperm motility."

Shen Qi asked, "So you're saying my wife isn't pregnant, and I also have a problem?"

Professor Yuan nodded. "From a medical perspective, yes."

This was truly astonishing news; Shen Qi couldn't believe it. "This... this is highly illogical!"

"Academician Shen, your physical functions are fine; you can say you're very healthy. I think your main problem right now is that you're carrying too much mental burden. From our conversation just now, I sensed that you're really holding your breath and really want to win the Nobel Prize. Furthermore, you take your research extremely seriously; your project's code name is FASTER, which shows that you have very high expectations of yourself." Professor Yuan's advice was to reduce stress, take care of yourself, and not be too hard on yourself.

"Academician Shen, you are still young. Sperm only needs three to four months to mature. So in the next few months, you need to adjust your mindset, release stress, stay away from tobacco and alcohol, and avoid staying up late. Your sperm motility will recover quickly. Physical exercise is necessary, but during the sperm motility recovery period, avoid engaging in long-duration, strenuous activities such as marathons and long-distance cycling."

Professor Yuan's words of advice were firmly remembered by Shen Qi.

Low sperm motility?

This struck Shen Qi as unbelievable. "I'm incredibly energetic and have superb stamina. My wife can vouch for that. How could I possibly lack vitality?"

But that's what the medical examination results say.

Shen Qi chose to accept reality.

There was also good news: Ou Ye's test results showed that while her other physical indicators were below normal, her reproductive system was fine.

Long-term medication has caused some damage to Ou Ye's cardiopulmonary system. Fortunately, Ou Ye is in her prime reproductive years and getting pregnant is not a problem.

"Reality is stranger than fiction. After all this time, it turns out it was my problem." Shen Qi felt extremely guilty. He said to Ou Ye, "Wife, I'm useless. I can't get you pregnant."

Ou Ye held Shen Qi's hand and gently encouraged him, "Qi, you can do it. We must believe in science."

Shen Qi bravely faced reality. He believed in science and hoped to use scientific methods to restore his vitality as soon as possible.

The first issue to address is the mental stress.

Shen Qi reflected that after returning to China and becoming the director of this center, he had taken on too many responsibilities.

Academics, scientific research, mathematics, physics, theory, experiments, safety, social order and stability maintenance, funding, personnel, Party Affairs, trade unions, subordinate assessments, bonus distribution, external activities, social interactions... Shen Qi discovered that he inquired about almost everything and cared about everything.

Change begins now.

Shen Qi summoned Tang Yuan and Yang Ding Tian to his office and gave them instructions. "Starting today, I appoint Tang Yuan as the Deputy Leader of the FASTER Project Team, and Yang Ding Tian as the Chief Experimentalist. When I am not here, the Deputy Leader will fulfill all the duties and rights of the leader. The Chief Experimentalist will mainly be responsible for the experiments and will not need to concern himself with other matters."

Tang Yuan and Yang Ding Tian clearly sensed that Shen Qi was about to relinquish power.

The two accepted the order and went to work with even greater enthusiasm.

Shen Qi summoned Researcher Sha Dongdong from the Center Physics Department to the Director's Office and gave him instructions. "Dr. Sha, your expertise lies in theoretical aspects, specifically Quantum Physics and Quantum Field Theory, so you haven't been assigned to the highly applied FASTER Project Team this time. Yang Ding Tian has been primarily focused on projects lately; he spends almost every day in the physics lab and rarely returns to the center. I'm appointing you as the deputy director of the Center Physics Department, while I will concurrently serve as the director. In your daily work, report directly to me on important matters; otherwise, you're on your own."

There are actually only two employees in the Center Physics Department: Sha Dongdong and Yang Ding Tian.

The 10 researchers seconded from the Institute of Physics are still employed by the Institute. They are only responsible for the FASTER project under Shen Qi and do not participate in other business of the center.

"Okay, thank you for your trust, Academician Shen. I will definitely keep the Physics Room in good order." Sha Dongdong readily accepted the task. Dr. Sha, who didn't have any specific experimental projects to do, just needed to take care of himself.

There were only two people in the Physics Room. Yang Ding Tian was engrossed in experiments and had no ambition for promotion or advancement.

Sha Dongdong is also a laid-back PhD student. He doesn't complain much even if he's not assigned to a project team to earn money, since his major isn't relevant to the job.

The Physics Room has a relatively simple staff, making it easy for Shen Qi to adjust personnel responsibilities.

The Mathematics Room has eight researchers, all of whom are PhD graduates from prestigious universities. They are quite ambitious and have strong self-esteem.

Shen Qi knew that these eight Mathematical Research were outwardly amicable but secretly competing with each other.

Each of the eight Mathematical Research has a different area of expertise. Zhou Yu'an studies Differential Geometry and Partial Differential Equations, Xiao Junlong focuses on Mathematical Physics, Ma Chaofan conducts programmatic research in Algebraic Geometry, and Li Zhenqiang also studies Algebraic Geometry, but he is more inclined towards algebraic manifolds and linear systems.

It's very difficult to produce patent results worth 20 million in mathematics. Shen Qi has won the Fields Medal, but he has never made a single patent in mathematics.

Therefore, it is very difficult for Mathematical Research like Zhou Yu'an to make a lot of money outside through patent commercialization.

The lack of profitable projects outside means that competition within the Center Mathematics Department is becoming increasingly fierce.

Shen Qi's original plan was to put Zhou Yu'an in charge of the Mathematics Room and then promote Zhou Yu'an to head of the Mathematics Room.

However, the problem is that Zhou Yu'an's performance after returning to China has not been convincing. He has not published a single paper, and his academic output is zero.

Xiao Junlong performed the best, with the highest achievements, but Xiao Junlong personality was not suited to be a leader, especially in charge of such an important department as the Mathematics Room.

After much thought, Shen Qi felt that he still needed to help Zhou Yu'an grow up as quickly as possible and share the pressure of the center's mathematics field.