You're Seriously Coming?

After settling on the direction for their future discussions, Lin Xu left the CEO's office with Jiang Xingye.

A few minutes later, Liu Tong left as well.

Only Ren Jian and Chu Xu remained in the office.

"Have some tea."

Ren Jian pushed a teacup toward Chu Xu.

Chu Xu picked up the cup, took a sip, and savored it.

"Not bad."

"This year's new tea?"

"Pre-Qingming Longjing. I bought it specially for you."

Ren Jian got up, took two boxes of tea from behind his desk, and handed them to Chu Xu before asking, "What do you think of Lin Xu?"

"He's not that simple."

Chu Xu accepted the tea and replied, "He's always so mysterious. The previous overall design proposal, these materials this time... all of it."

"If I remember correctly, last time we only asked him to go back, refine the proposal, and give us more specific information, right?"

"But what did he do? He turned around and slapped down documents for two new materials."

"You don't seriously believe what he said, that some Asperger's genius helped him develop these two things, do you?"

"...Why can't I believe it?"

Ren Jian was dumbfounded.

"I thought it sounded pretty reasonable..."

"...Reasonable my ass!"

Chu Xu leaned back against the sofa.

"My boss, those are industrial manufacturing processes, not laboratory formulas."

"Without complete equipment and instruments, who could produce something like that?"

"Didn't you see the equipment list he gave us? They're all large-scale machines, covering a wide range of highly specialized categories."

"It's not like those machines are impossible to get, but gathering enough of them for experiments isn't easy either."

"And that document is very strange. It's... fractured."

"The first half is fairly complete, even the data is precise."

"But the latter half is just an empty framework, with no flesh or bones."

"If something like that were put in front of you, what would you think?"

"...That it was copied?"

Ren Jian frowned.

"I wouldn't say copied... More likely, it was obtained through some special channel."

"But we don't know what that channel is."

"...Then that's dangerous."

Ren Jian let out a long breath.

"Then let's just terminate this project. Or at least—"

"Why terminate it?"

Chu Xu looked at Ren Jian, a barely perceptible smile in his expression.

"It's fine."

"As far as I know, there aren't any research teams in the country working on industrial production methods for these two materials."

"If it really was copied, then it was copied from overseas."

"With things already being like this, are we really afraid of that?"

"Use it."

Chu Xu sat up slightly.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine."

"These two materials are important. If we can develop industrial manufacturing methods for them, the returns we get... will far outweigh the risks."

"I'm worried about an official investigation."

Ren Jian lowered his voice.

"I'm not worried about competitors, and it'll be even easier to explain to investors."

"But if it involves the authorities..."

"We have the results. Why should they care where they came from?"

Chu Xu spread his hands, speaking with a brazenly indifferent expression.

"If you stole ASML's 3nm lithography technology and brought it back, how do you think the authorities would treat you?"

"Even if they had to make a show of locking you up today, tomorrow you'd be flying straight to Hainan Island to live in a sea-view apartment."

"The industrial manufacturing methods for these two materials aren't that outrageous, but the principle is comparable."

"So my advice is to go ahead without hesitation."

"Since he won't say it outright, we'll pretend we don't know."

"A tacit understanding is good for everyone, isn't it?"

"...That's true."

Ren Jian finally relaxed.

After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly asked, "Do you think... this Lin Xu... could be some kind of... agent?"

Chu Xu shook his head.

"Who knows?"

Meanwhile, after leaving the chairman's office, Lin Xu merely exchanged a few words with Jiang Xingye before heading straight for the finance office.

He was there to collect money.

Just as Ren Jian had said, funds were indeed essential if he wanted to deal with the mysterious "Xu Jin."

Although drawing an advance from finance meant listing it as entertainment expenses, and reimbursement would definitely require invoices and the proper process, at least he would not be spending his own money.

And while two hundred thousand did not sound like much, it was more than enough as initial operating capital.

The question was how to spend it.

After receiving the money, Lin Xu stared at the "200000.00" that had appeared in his account and fell into thought.

Should I just stuff a huge red envelope in his face and get him to play along with me?

No. That might make him suspicious of me and bring unnecessary trouble.

What if I set up a fund to sponsor his research, then gradually guide him into revealing the technology?

That would work, but it might take a long time, and the investment would be substantial.

What a pain.

Damn it.

I should've just insisted that I developed the stuff myself. Take it or leave it.

If they pushed me too far, I could start my own company, get rich off this technology, and then find a way to reconnect with Jiang Xingye. Maybe I could obtain clues about the apocalypse from another angle...

Lin Xu mulled it over as he walked, but in the end, he decided that the best course was still to remain at Skyvault Technology.

After all, in Bracelet World, he had begun right at Skyvault Technology's entrance.

This company had to be deeply connected to the apocalypse and the mysterious organization known as Planetary Reincarnation.

Starting over on his own would be taking the long way around.

Then he would proceed with the second plan for now.

No matter what, he needed to find Xu Jin first.

No more nonsense. Off to Jinling University!

Lin Xu left the company, hailed a ride, and headed straight for Jinling University.

With the advance money in hand, he had become bolder. He did not even order an express ride; he went straight for the luxury option.

After racing all the way to Jinling University's entrance, Lin Xu tried to blend in with the students coming and going. But the sharp-eyed old security guard stopped him on the spot and dragged him into the little dark room of the guardhouse.

In Bracelet World, even armed security guards and elite mercenary companies were nothing to him.

But in the real world, even an old security guard was enough to keep him in check.

With things having come to this, Lin Xu could only back down and reveal his identity.

"Sir, I'm the technical department manager at Skyvault Technology. I'm here on official business."

"If you have official business, then register! Why were you trying to sneak in with the crowd?"

The old man glared at him. Lin Xu smiled apologetically.

"I didn't know..."

"Quit grinning like an idiot. Register!"

"Name, phone number, ID number, why you're here, and whether someone's meeting you."

Lin Xu took the pen and obediently filled in his basic information before answering, "We learned through other channels that there's a talented person at the School of Materials. We came specifically to speak with him..."

"Then why didn't you contact the employment office?"

The old guard looked deeply suspicious.

"Uh... the person we want is a little special. He's actually already been recruited by another organization, but we still want to try for him..."

"Poaching, huh?"

The old man clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"You don't need to go in to discuss that. Just talk over the phone."

"We don't have his contact information... Sir, please let me in. I promise I won't cause trouble—if it comes down to it, just treat me as a tourist. Aren't all those tourists going in too?"

"They have reservations. Do you?"

"I'll make one right now!"

Lin Xu pulled out his phone.

"Where do I scan?"

"Scan it yourself at the gate. Today's visitor limit has already been reached. Make a reservation and come back tomorrow."

"...Could you make an exception?"

Lin Xu took a box of 95 Supreme cigarettes from his pocket. He had prepared them specifically because he was worried Xu Jin might smoke, but now they came in handy with the old guard.

The old man accepted the cigarettes without changing expression and gave a slight nod.

"Go make your reservation, then. I'll add a slot for you."

"By the way, who are you looking for? You know his name, right?"

"I do!"

Lin Xu hurriedly scanned the code and answered, "Xu Jin. Xu Jin from the School of Materials."

"Xu Jin??"

The old guard froze.

"You're looking for him??"

Oh no.

Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat.

He's a celebrity, too!

This is going to be difficult.

He was just about to say something when the old man waved a hand.

"Then go on in. I'll point you in the right direction. He's probably not in the teaching buildings or the dorms. He should be sitting around Lizhao Lake."

"Lizhao Lake? He sounds pretty laid-back."

"Laid-back, my ass."

The old man said with an amused smile, "This is the time he does his radio calisthenics. He does it every day without fail."

"You have no idea. Forget attending class—whether there's thunder, lightning, or a pouring rainstorm, he goes to do his calisthenics at this time every day. He's famous around here."

"...Isn't that a little ridiculous?"

Lin Xu asked in disbelief.

"The school doesn't do anything?"

"Eh, I heard he has some mental problems—I figure you people won't want him either. Go meet him once and give up already."

The old man's casual remark made Lin Xu's heart leap.

"What kind of mental problems?"

"Obsessive-compulsive disorder."

As the old man finished speaking, Lin Xu let out a breath of relief.

But the next second—

"I heard there's also some kind of autism. It's called As... As something..."

"Asperger's."

Lin Xu supplied in a low voice.

The old man immediately nodded.

"Right, Asperger's!"