An hour later.
Outside the National Security Office.
Lin Xu stood slightly dazed as he watched the endless stream of vehicles on the street, disbelief lingering in his eyes.
Xu Qianlin's words still echoed in his mind.
"...Actually, we—especially me—don't really care where the technology in your hands came from."
"Everyone has their own secrets. As long as what you do benefits the country and the people, then in many cases, we need not pry too deeply."
"Of course, that sounds a little too 'official.'"
"But that's the principle of it."
"I know you still don't trust us, but we are willing to give you time and provide a certain degree of assistance."
"I hope you won't overthink things and will continue doing what you should be doing."
"Also, don't pay too much attention to the 'surveillance' our comrades have placed on you."
"More often than not, it's merely a form of protection..."
Protection?
Perhaps.
At least, judging from the current situation, the National Security Office's surveillance had not affected his normal life.
He had not even known they existed.
Lin Xu sighed softly, then recalled what Xu Qianlin had said about the "apocalypse."
"...We have indeed observed certain abnormal celestial phenomena, and these phenomena have not occurred just once or twice."
"Given our current technological and scientific standards, such anomalies are difficult to explain."
"Inevitably, some of our comrades have developed pessimistic thoughts."
"Like what you said—could the apocalypse be coming?"
"But in my opinion, perhaps things are not that serious."
"When ancient people saw a solar eclipse, they too thought the end of the world had come."
"When Wheeler confirmed the observer effect through delayed-choice experiments, he too believed the edifice of physics was about to collapse."
"But what about now?"
"We are still alive and well,