Neither Professor Bruce nor Old Professor Zhang noticed anything unusual on Ye Xunzhi's side.
Professor Bruce was still talking passionately:
"Our Country M has come with the utmost sincerity this time. We hope to engage in in-depth technical exchanges with your country and share everything we know with one another. If possible, Country M is even willing to provide resources for the research and development of new technologies."
Old Professor Zhang paused. "Research and development of new technologies?"
"Yes." Professor Bruce smiled brightly. "As they say, science knows no borders. To put it in your Hua Nation's terms, we hope to progress together with your country and develop together."
His words left Old Professor Zhang repeatedly taken aback.
[Look at that, this foreigner is making empty promises again. Anyone who believes him will probably end up dead without even a place to be buried.]
Listening to the sarcastic voice behind him, Ye Qi'an felt the veins at his temples twitching.
Ye Xunzhi watched Professor Bruce fire off one sentence after another like a Peashooter, her gaze growing increasingly contemptuous.
[He makes it sound so wonderful, but Professor Bruce is clearly after the core research results in Old Professor Zhang's head.]
[He plans to kill the donkey once the grinding is done and burn the bridge once he's crossed it. Important experimental results can't be uploaded back to their country over the internet, so the researchers can only personally escort the USB drive home.]
[And the day those researchers return home will be the day they die.]
When Ye Qi'an heard the word "die," his previously calm eyes rippled like a lake struck by a stone, and he cast a subtle glance at Professor Bruce.
What did that mean? Assassination? Impossible. Country M wouldn't do something so obvious.
Detention? But that could easily cause a dispute between the two countries.
He soon received his answer.
[Country M is a devious bastard, too. They deliberately caused a plane crash.]
Ye Qi'an himself had once told Ye Xunzhi the details of that plane crash.
Ye Qi'an had originally been one of the people scheduled to go to Country M for the technical exchange, but something had suddenly happened at home, and the old man had developed health problems as well.
Anxious to return and handle matters, Ye Qi'an had unexpectedly escaped that fatal disaster through a twist of fate.
Old Professor Zhang, however, had not escaped the plane crash. Country M's response had been-
They had already dealt with the maintenance workers responsible for the inspections, executing every one of them by firing squad and leaving no living witnesses.
They had also paid Hua Nation a large sum in compensation, stating that it had merely been an accident, that they were deeply saddened as well, and that they hoped for opportunities to cooperate again in the future.
As for Hua Nation's requests to send people to retrieve the research materials, the other side had repeatedly rejected them with evasive wording, blatantly acting like robbers and refusing to hand anything over.
With millions upon millions of citizens behind it, the government could not simply launch a war over this, either, so the two sides continued dancing around each other.
How could Ye Qi'an possibly accept that? He had privately investigated the plane crash and successfully caught Professor Bruce as he lay dying.
Perhaps because he was about to die, Professor Bruce had told Ye Qi'an the truth.
As Ye Xunzhi recalled this, she could almost still see the gloomy expression her third brother had worn then.
[Country M deliberately had the airport's maintenance workers loosen two important aircraft components, causing the plane to break apart in flight. Raging flames burst from the left wing, and the plane rolled over and plunged straight into the sea.]
[All ten researchers traveling with Grandpa Zhang and all eleven crew members on the plane died.]
[Not only that, Professor Bruce knew Grandpa Zhang liked to suck on a piece of candy when he got airsick, so before boarding, he slipped Grandpa Zhang a small packet of mints. Every piece had been poisoned to ensure that the key personnel would die.]
[You really wouldn't guess that this amiable fellow was such a ruthless character behind the scenes!]
How could someone who liked her be a bad person?
Ye Xunzhi did not want to watch this kindly old professor die without knowing why.
She felt obliged to give a warning, but she was not a researcher. As expected, she would have to start with her third brother.
[I really want to stop this, but what reason can I give?]
[If I tell my third brother that I'm actually Zhuge Liang reincarnated, that I observed the stars last night and discovered that Country M is plotting against our researchers and Old Professor Zhang, and that they're highly likely to make their move through something in the air, so we'd better not go-would he believe such a ridiculous excuse?]
Ye Qi'an: I would!
Go on, say it! Hurry up! You must have your reasons for doing this, all right? As long as there's a reason, I'll believe you!
Never mind Zhuge Liang-even if Ye Xunzhi said she had been Sun Wukong in her previous life and could transform into things big and small anywhere she pleased, he would believe her.
After thinking it over and still failing to find a suitable reason, Ye Xunzhi decided to simply make something up.
Even if she got scolded, interrupting this conversation would still count as a win. She could work out a longer-term plan afterward. In any case, she could not let Old Professor Zhang agree.
She tugged at Ye Qi'an, and he immediately turned around, his questioning gaze tinged with encouragement. He lowered his voice. "What is it?"
Ye Xunzhi spoke with complete seriousness. "Third Brother, I'm actually Zhuge Liang reincarnated..."
Before she could finish, Ye Qi'an took her hand and nodded with utmost cooperation. "What wise counsel do you have, esteemed sir?"
?
[He's playing along so well. How did I never notice this side of my third brother before? Is he secretly a delusional role-player?]
Ye "Delusional Role-Player" Qi'an: I'll endure it.
He smiled warmly. "Little Sister, is there something you want to tell me?"
Seeing how cooperative he was, Ye Xunzhi figured it saved her the trouble and brought out the story she had made up.
[If my third brother really cares that much about Grandpa Zhang, then even if I'm talking nonsense, with his personality, he should still take it to heart.]
Ye Xunzhi was right. Given Ye Qi'an's personality, even if he was a little displeased, he would not easily disregard such words.
Besides, now that he knew the inside story, this was the sort of thing he would rather believe existed than dismiss.
And if it was only the plane... Ye Qi'an straightened and decided to probe a little.
Old Professor Zhang and Professor Bruce were deep in enthusiastic conversation, and Old Professor Zhang's face already showed clear eagerness.
Just then, Ye Qi'an calmly interjected, "Professor Bruce, thank you very much for your invitation, but may I ask about arrangements such as meals, accommodations, and transportation?"
Professor Bruce knew that this was Old Professor Zhang's prized student, Ye Qi'an.
He had dealt with him before as well. This young man had limitless prospects and was very likely to become one of Hua Nation's elite scientific researchers in the future.
He replied affably, "Of course, Country M will take full responsibility for all of that. We'll charter a plane to transport you all both ways."
Ye Qi'an smiled. "Actually, regarding the return journey, the Ye Family has its own private plane. There's no need to trouble your country. My family can take care of it."
Professor Bruce's smile stiffened, and his already guilty thoughts suddenly became jumbled.
He did not understand why it was the plane-why had he singled out the plane? Had the other party discovered something? Impossible. Only a handful of Country M's senior officials knew about this plan.
Ye Qi'an kept a close watch on his microexpressions. Originally, he had only believed sixty percent of what Ye Xunzhi said, but now, seeing the other man's reaction, her words' credibility instantly rose to a full hundred percent.
It was actually true!
If the other man had nothing to hide, he could not possibly have reacted like that.
Before you continue