Sandao Kou University, Nuclear Physics Laboratory.
Bang!
A loud crash came from the office at the far end.
Several researchers' hands trembled slightly. They stopped working and looked up toward the office at the far end.
"What's wrong with Academician Fang?"
Confusion filled one researcher's eyes as he quietly asked the person beside him.
The researcher he had asked slowly shook his head, looking just as puzzled.
"No idea. None of our recent experiments have failed... why would Academician Fang suddenly lose his temper?"
While everyone was still puzzling over it, someone yanked open the door of the office at the far end.
Fang Xu walked out, his face flushed red.
"Damn it! How could ITER do this?!"
The laboratory was silent, making Fang Xu's muttering exceptionally clear.
The researcher who had spoken earlier gathered his courage and quietly asked Fang Xu, "Academician Fang, what... happened with ITER?"
Hearing the question, Fang Xu abruptly raised his head and glanced at the researcher. Then, with an ugly expression, he said, "ITER claims... that our scientists from Xia Country copied experimental data without authorization and took it out of the laboratory!"
An uproar erupted!
The moment Fang Xu said this, the Nuclear Physics Laboratory burst into an uproar!
"Academician Fang, is... is that true?!"
At his researcher's follow-up question, Fang Xu's expression darkened further. He shook his head firmly. "Of course not!"
"Every scientist Xia Country sent is an upright, honorable person! Not only are they outstanding researchers, their integrity is beyond reproach!"
"They would never take it upon themselves to do something so... so disgraceful!"
"Then... how does ITER plan to handle this?" a researcher asked anxiously.
After all, this kind of behavior crossed a line that no research institution would tolerate!
Never mind an international organization like ITER-even at an ordinary private laboratory, anyone caught stealing data would pay an extremely heavy price!
A flicker of pain crossed Fang Xu's eyes.
Then he slowly closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Xia Country has announced... its voluntary withdrawal from the ITER Project."
As Fang Xu spoke, the discussions in the Nuclear Physics Laboratory instantly died away.
Every researcher stared at Fang Xu in disbelief.
"The news... was just announced this morning," Fang Xu said with some difficulty. "Everyone, from now on, we'll have to shoulder the responsibility for controlled nuclear fusion research ourselves."
Suddenly, Fang Xu's gaze shifted slightly.
"Everyone, suspend your current research tasks and focus all your efforts on preparing a new material!"
As he spoke, Fang Xu turned on a computer in the laboratory and downloaded the photographs of Lü Yongchang's "blackboard notes" onto it.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to Sandao Kou University.
A black Audi A6 slowly passed the security booth and drove into Sandao Kou University.
Without stopping, the Audi A6 headed straight toward the Nuclear Physics Laboratory.
Knock, knock, knock!
Lü Yongchang stood anxiously outside an office and reached out to knock on the door.
"The door's unlocked. Come in."
Professor Guan Hualiang's voice came from inside the office.
Lü Yongchang hurriedly turned the handle and pushed the door open.
"Oh, it's you..."
Professor Guan Hualiang looked momentarily startled when he saw who had come.
Then he quickly put down his pen, stood, and went to greet Lü Yongchang. "What is it, Yongchang? Is there something you need?"
Ever since attending yesterday's University-Wide Meeting, Guan Hualiang had regarded Lü Yongchang as a scholar on equal footing with him!
That equality referred to their academic standing.
In fact, Guan Hualiang believed that although Lü Yongchang was only a sophomore, his academic standing far surpassed his own!
After all, Guan Hualiang considered himself nothing more than an ordinary university professor, while Lü Yongchang could very well be a rising academic star who would achieve controlled nuclear fusion!
Lü Yongchang did not notice Guan Hualiang getting up to greet him. With a troubled expression, he said, "Professor Guan, did you see the news?"
Guan Hualiang stopped abruptly, his expression dimming slightly. "You mean... the ITER incident?"
Lü Yongchang nodded lightly.
Guan Hualiang took a deep breath and beckoned to Lü Yongchang. "Yongchang, sit down first."
Once Lü Yongchang had taken a seat, he slowly sat down as well. "Yongchang, I believe our scientists from Xia Country would never do something like that!"
"I believe there must be more to this incident than anyone knows!"
Lü Yongchang's gaze flickered.
As someone who had been reborn, he naturally knew that Guan Hualiang's conjecture was completely correct!
But... given his current position, he could not reveal the truth to the public!
Lü Yongchang could even imagine that Xia Country's senior leadership would be unable to disclose the truth either!
All that humiliation would fall on those few scientists.
In everyone's eyes, the scientists who had "copied the data" were the culprits!
The "guilt" they bore would not be completely cleared until more than a decade later!
But... by then, it would be too late!
At that thought, Lü Yongchang clenched his fists tightly.
"...Professor, how did yesterday's review go?"
After a moment of silence, Lü Yongchang deliberately changed the subject.
He was afraid he would be unable to stop himself from revealing the truth he knew!
At Lü Yongchang's question, a faint smile appeared on Guan Hualiang's face.
He really is still young... it's only been one night, and he already couldn't resist coming to ask.
He chuckled and said, "After you left yesterday, Dean Jiang and Dean Tian proposed convening a University-Wide Meeting."
Lü Yongchang's expression remained unchanged.
A University-Wide Meeting?
Just as expected!
He certainly did not think a mere handful of professors could fully grasp the entire proposal!
"You don't seem surprised at all?" A trace of astonishment flashed through Guan Hualiang's eyes.
Could this young man have anticipated that outcome all along?
Lü Yongchang nodded calmly. "Of course I'm not surprised. After all, controlled nuclear fusion isn't Dean Tian's primary field of research. It's only natural that he couldn't be certain!"
Guan Hualiang looked at Lü Yongchang with a somewhat strange expression.
Although he knew Lü Yongchang was telling the truth, the sight of a young man in his early twenties speaking so confidently about several professors' research specialties felt rather surreal!
And yet... this young man had every right to discuss them!
"Ahem! Then what if I told you that the University-Wide Meeting approved your proposal, and that it has been submitted to the Xia Kingdom Parliament? Would you be surprised?"
Lü Yongchang's pupils suddenly contracted!
So soon?!
It's already been submitted to the Xia Kingdom Parliament?!
Before you continue