You're the Genius

All the clues pointed to Mars.

Judging from the current situation, it was practically the source of everything.

Great fire fell from heaven; Mars lay on the far shore.

Did that mean it was humanity's final refuge?

Or was there technology on Mars that could allow humanity to survive the apocalypse?

Based on the clues currently in hand, the latter seemed more likely.

And if the latter was taken as the premise, then all the information he possessed could be connected into a logically complete story.

Xu Jin's father, Xu Qianlin, had been the chief engineer of the Mars exploration program. He had led the launch of the Zhurong Mars rover.

Then, in 2025, the Zhurong Mars rover discovered remnants of room-temperature superconductors on Mars.

At the same time, the group represented by Xu Qianlin uncovered more clues on Mars, eventually driving the establishment of Planetary Reincarnation.

As a materials expert, Xu Jin had followed in his father's footsteps to Mars in pursuit of those room-temperature superconductors.

After key materials were brought back from Mars, human technology entered a period of rapid development, giving rise to equipment such as aerial maglev light rail that diverged from existing technological paths.

As they continued their exploration, the organization gradually discovered signs of the apocalypse. It began as a scientific research organization, then transformed into a secretive group suppressed for "spreading doomsday rumors."

In the end, for reasons unknown, Xu Jin launched an extreme operation and went on the run.

It seemed quite reasonable?

But there was still one crucial question that needed verification: why exactly did Xu Jin want to go to Mars?

He would have to wait until tomorrow, when he met Xu Jin, to get a clear answer.

Of course, before that, he also had to sort out the matter of the materials with him.

After saying goodbye to Jiang Xingye, Lin Xu returned home and opened his computer to check the pending tasks sent over by the company.

Just as Jiang Xingye had said, the implementation test had gone smoothly, with barely anything needing revision.

He made a few minor code adjustments based on the test feedback, then collapsed onto his bed and went straight to sleep.

The number on his wristband had already returned to zero.

This time, he did not enter another world again...

Early the next morning, Lin Xu woke naturally.

After opening his eyes, he submitted his fieldwork check-in on the computer. Jiang Xingye approved it instantly as usual.

Then, as usual, he called for a luxury car and headed straight to Jinling University.

He had arranged to meet Xu Jin at ten in the morning, at a coffee shop by the entrance to Jinling University.

After arriving, he had intended to call Xu Jin and ask whether he was there yet. But when he looked up, Xu Jin was already sitting in a corner.

"Morning."

Lin Xu walked over.

"Let's get a private room. It isn't convenient to talk here."

"No, right here."

Xu Jin shook his head.

Lin Xu paused. He glanced at the table in front of Xu Jin and noticed that its surface was a shade brighter than every other table in the shop.

Good lord, had he wiped it down himself?

So he was working as a barista at the coffee shop now, too...

"Fine, we'll talk here."

Lin Xu sat opposite Xu Jin and pulled a document he had prepared long ago from his backpack, placing it on the table.

"Like I told you before, I know you're researching M46X and PEEK."

"I happen to have a document here detailing low-cost industrial production methods for both materials."

"If you need it, I can give you the document."

"But the prerequisite is that we have to work together."

"Under the terms of the contract, we will hold the patent rights for this material in proportionate shares."

"I want an eighty percent share. You get twenty percent. Agreed?"

In truth, Lin Xu's bottom line for the patent share was sixty-seven percent. He had proposed eighty percent only to give Xu Jin room to negotiate.

Under corporate share allocation rules, only a holding of more than sixty-seven percent amounted to absolute control. Otherwise, it could be vetoed by the second-largest shareholder.

And under current patent law, proportional co-ownership had no legal support. It could only be guaranteed through supplementary contracts or a corporate share structure.

Therefore, Lin Xu had to settle the percentages in advance.

If their future collaboration had to operate through a company, conflicts over equity allocation could be avoided ahead of time.

But to his surprise, Xu Jin agreed immediately without the slightest hesitation.

"Sure. I don't even need shares. But I want to participate in the R&D."

"I want to see the document. Can I see it now?"

Xu Jin spoke somewhat hurriedly. Lin Xu calmly pulled another document from his backpack and said,

"Sign the NDA first. Then we'll talk."

Xu Jin took the agreement, grabbed a pen, and signed it in a flurry. Then, as Lin Xu requested, he pressed his fingerprint onto it.

His obsession with cleanliness had vanished at that moment. After completing the entire process, he eagerly opened the materials Lin Xu had brought.

At this rate, there would be no way to discuss business until he finished reading.

So Lin Xu simply settled into his seat and ordered two coffees.

He had assumed Xu Jin would not drink any, but when the coffee arrived, Xu Jin downed his in one gulp.

The ice cubes in the cup crackled between his teeth, and an old ad flashed through Lin Xu's mind.

Sensitive teeth? Use XXX toothpaste.

After sitting quietly for an hour, Xu Jin finally finished reading the documents.

He then neatly reorganized the scattered pages, looked up at Lin Xu, and said solemnly,

"Thank you!"

"You're a true genius!"

"Thank you for letting me join you!"

"So what do you need me to do?"

"I can do anything!"

"...You don't have to put it quite like that..."

Lin Xu forcibly swallowed the teasing remark that had reached his lips.

The person opposite him was not Jiang Xingye!

After clearing his throat, he said,

"As you can see, this material is an extremely rare achievement. But for various reasons, I can't complete all the research directly in my own name."

"So, I need to work with you."

"You have resources for process development, right?"

"What you need to do is use those resources to fully refine the process and formally move it into industrial production."

"After all that is completed, you and I will apply for the patent as co-owners, specify our patent shares through a contract, and have it notarized."

"By then, we can share the profits generated by the patent—"

"Fine, but what about Skyvault Technology? You said you'd send me to Mars. You said I could build a spaceship!"

"I want to go to Mars! I want to go to Mars!"

Xu Jin's tone became even more hurried, and his expression turned anxious.

This was a sign that his obsessive-compulsive disorder was about to flare up.

Clearly, the terms Lin Xu had described were not what he truly wanted, to the point that his mental state had been agitated.

He only wanted to go to Mars!

Lin Xu raised a hand.

"Calm down. Calm down."

"Don't worry. You will definitely go to Mars."

"But before that, you have to give me an answer."

Lin Xu paused, stared directly into Xu Jin's eyes, and asked solemnly,

"Why do you want to go to Mars?"

"What exactly did you mean by Zhurong?"