The meeting concluded successfully, and after the meeting, Ye Zhizhou took the finished product of the X2 gene modification liquid and the improved version to the laboratory for detailed testing. Jiang Guolong went to his office with Ren Qiao, while He Yu, after organizing her materials, approached Ye Zhizhou.
"Senior Ye," she said.
"What is it?" Ye Zhizhou set up the equipment and started writing and drawing in his communication notebook without lifting his head. "We're out of dumplings. Eating too many gave me diarrhea, so you should control yourself."
"I didn't come to ask you for candy!" He Yu was exasperated as she circled in front of him. "I think you need to talk to Senior Fang. He entrusted the X2 project to Ren Qiao with Master's permission. At the time, I felt it was inappropriate. Ren Qiao was just an intern on the first floor, and how could they choose her as the temporary lecturer for the project? Moreover, X2 has been your research project since you joined the institute. What Senior Fang did seems like he's setting a trap for you."
Ye Zhizhou paused at her words and put away his electronic pen. He sent a text message to Fang Yixing and nodded. "It does seem a bit strange. I thought it was Master making a mistake in his experiments, but it turns out it's Senior Fang."
"But I'm worried that I might not be doing the right thing. Those people in the project team who always look out for Ren Qiao might say I'm backstabbing her or undermining her behind her back," He Yu frowned, a hint of frustration on her face. "I chose to study genetics because I wanted to focus on research in the future, without having to worry about interpersonal relationships like this. But ever since Ren Qiao came, it feels like I'm constantly explaining this and that to others. It's so annoying."
Ye Zhizhou tapped his communicator and reassured her, "Don't worry. I'll talk to Senior Fang and the people in the project team. Master said that Ren Qiao will be following me in the future, so I'll keep a close eye on her. Don't burden yourself with unnecessary guilt. Things should stay the way they were before. Try to be happy."
"You make it sound so simple..." He Yu muttered, then shook her head to clear her jumbled thoughts. She smiled and said, "But I haven't congratulated you yet. The X2 project has finally yielded results. Congratulations, Senior! It's a testament to your hard work and dedication."
"Thank you." Ye Zhizhou returned her smile and sighed, "Everyone has had it tough, and I appreciate you all for joining this rather unstable ship of mine."
"Where's the instability? Even Master eventually boarded it." He Yu teased, then continued, "Although your car accident was quite unfortunate, it wasn't in vain. You discovered the 3s mental power, then came up with the X2 gene liquid, and even an improved version right after. Senior, you're incredible. Now, everyone in the institute and school is talking about it, saying we have a genius who gained 3s mental power after being hit by a hovercar. When the X2 is officially announced, their jaws will probably drop. Senior, did you see some divine light during the accident and have aliens implant some intelligent brain stuff in your head?"
"That story you just made up... it's a shame you didn't major in literature." Ye Zhizhou chuckled and shook his head, reopening his notebook. "Alright, enough of that. Master will need to check your thesis later. You should go and prepare."
Only then did He Yu remember her master's habit of checking the thesis after meetings, and she hurriedly ran off, looking completely overwhelmed.
The laboratory grew quiet, and Ye Zhizhou pulled out his electronic pen, his eyes showing a hint of confusion. An intelligent brain... it does seem somewhat like that. The process of X2 yielding results went so smoothly, as if it were a dream. Those previously troublesome issues suddenly became clear, as if another version of himself had already researched X2 and was just waiting for him to write down the results. That feeling was too mystical, and it felt somewhat unreal. And then there was the sudden habit of making dumplings after the car accident. It didn't exist before, yet he somehow knew the materials and methods for making dumplings...
At dinner, Fang Yixing finally descended from the second-floor laboratory and was promptly dragged to the cafeteria by Ye Zhizhou.
"Senior, why did you let an intern be the main lecturer for my project? Considering qualifications, experience, talent, and connections... from any perspective, it's inappropriate to have a research student who just entered the institute take on the role," Fang Yixing complained.
"Huh? A research student who just entered the institute? Main lecturer?" Fang Yixing was even more bewildered than him. He took the milk Ye Zhizhou handed him, sipped it, then made a disgusted sound and cleared his throat. "How could I randomly assign someone as the main lecturer for your project? All the materials in her hands are yours, and she's basically just a messenger. When you had the accident, they suddenly wanted to monitor the project's progress from above. I thought she spoke fairly well, so I gave her the materials to memorize and let her handle meetings to cope with the inspection from above. I didn't assign her as the main lecturer."
Ye Zhizhou furrowed his brows. "But I heard that you asked Master to let her be the main lecturer."
"Nonsense." Fang Yixing called a waiter to replace the coffee, wearing an expression of "Are you kidding me?". "What I told Master was to have her temporarily act as a messenger before you returned, just to handle the crazy inspections from above. Everyone was busy, and your juniors, including He Yu, kept taking turns to visit you in the hospital after your accident. The project team was short-staffed, and she happened to be the least busy intern. This kind of task, memorizing materials and handling inspections, could only be entrusted to her. As for whether she's the main lecturer or not, it's not something I decided, and neither would anyone else with qualifications in the project team. It's all baseless rumors."
Ye Zhizhou fell silent and continued to inquire, "What's the story with the project being monitored from above? Weren't they unsupportive initially?"
"Well..." Fang Yixing glanced around, making sure no one was eavesdropping, then leaned in closer and pointed upwards with his chopsticks. In a hushed voice, he said, "The eldest son of a certain big shot up there suddenly suffered a genetic breakdown over a month ago. They tried every method, but nothing worked. I don't know who mentioned your project in front of them, but... now that your project has produced results, if it can save that big shot's son, your life is about to reach its peak."
Ye Zhizhou was speechless. "Just because of that? It was a little over a month ago, wasn't it, the accident."
Fang Yixing blinked, touched his head, and chuckled, "What month is it now?"
"It's January, the new year."
"Oh, haha, my bad. That's over two months ago. Look at me, I've lost track of time," Fang Yixing laughed to cover his embarrassment and quickly changed the subject. "Hey, before your accident, didn't you say you found some relatives? How did the recognition process go? But I didn't see any relatives visiting you in the hospital."
Ye Zhizhou was taken aback and rubbed his forehead with his hand. "I found relatives? I have to recognize them?"
"Yes." Fang Yixing noticed his genuine confusion and his playful demeanor vanished. He furrowed his brows. "Little Ye, you... don't remember any of this?"
He shook his head, suddenly feeling a headache coming on. "I don't remember... my memories from before and after the accident are somewhat hazy."
"You really..." Fang Yixing's expression turned serious, and he tapped the table. "This is obviously because you haven't fully recovered from your injuries. No, you should go back and rest. I'll give you a leave of absence. Don't worry about the pressure from above. I've already obtained special approval for your leave in your capacity as my subordinate."
"You finally remembered that you're a second-generation?" The headache eased, and Ye Zhizhou picked up his chopsticks and tapped his food tray. He smiled and said, "Eat up, the food will get cold. I have a sense of propriety when it comes to my health. There won't be any issues."
"...Stubborn as ever! You'll die on the lab table sooner or later!" Fang Yixing rolled his eyes at Ye Zhizhou, downed his coffee in one gulp, and buried himself in his meal.
Ye Zhizhou looked at the messy hair on his head, his expression turning serious. He had indeed forgotten some things... he had to remember.
Another week passed, and the X2 gene liquid was finally fully tested, entering the experimental observation phase.
"Senior Ye, did you really research all of this by yourself? That's amazing," Ren Qiao, with her starry eyes, followed Ye Zhizhou like a little tail.
"It's not just me; I couldn't have done it alone. It's the result of everyone's hard work," Ye Zhizhou replied with a smile. He turned and loaded the last batch of gene liquid into the storage box. After setting the password and locking it, he looked at several project team members who were recording data for the improved version and said, "You've all worked hard this week. I'll treat you tonight. What would you like to eat? I'll make a reservation."
The exhausted project team members cheered at the invitation, immediately discussing their dining options with great enthusiasm.
Ren Qiao, feeling envious, said, "Senior Ye, you're amazing. Everyone likes you so much, unlike me..."
"Everyone likes you too. It's just that you're a girl, so people express themselves more subtly. We're all a bunch of clumsy folks who've been in the lab for too long, not very good at pleasing girls. Don't overthink it," Ye Zhizhou turned around, casually changed the storage box's password, and then placed it in the freezer.
Hearing this, Ren Qiao still felt a bit down. "But Senior He Yu is also a girl, and everyone doesn't treat her the same way as they do me... And maybe... maybe I did something to upset Senior He Yu, she barely talks to me..."
At this moment, the project team members had already settled on a restaurant for dinner and the atmosphere had quieted down. Just then, they heard Ren Qiao's words clearly, making the atmosphere awkward.
"Uh, I didn't mean that..." Ren Qiao felt flustered as she hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean that Senior He Yu is bullying me. I... I just want to know how to become closer to her..."
The project team members exchanged glances, making the atmosphere even more awkward.
"Of course, Senior He Yu didn't bully you," Ye Zhizhou naturally intervened, seemingly oblivious to the strange atmosphere. He smiled and said, "She's even come to bully me. Lately, she's been busy with her end-of-term reports, and I've been making her work overtime. She's a bit stressed. Not just her, I dare say everyone in the project team wants to bully me. What do you all think?"
The strange atmosphere was instantly broken, and the project team members all joined in the teasing, saying that He Yu was clearly a good buddy, and they were planning to return to school after the new year to enjoy an easy life. Then, the topic shifted to advising Ren Qiao on how to accumulate experience and quickly integrate into the team. The previously awkward atmosphere was no more, and it returned to its usual warmth.
Ren Qiao obediently listened to their advice, but she couldn't help but tighten her grip on the documents in her hand.
After the dinner gathering, Ye Zhizhou didn't go home but returned to the research institute under the cover of night. After greeting his colleagues on the night shift, he arrived at the large conference room, connected the projector to the surveillance room, and used his access card to gain access to the lab's surveillance.
The surveillance screens showed everything as normal. He projected the surveillance feed onto his communicator and then turned off the projector. He leaned on the table, staring at the surveillance feed on his communicator. He didn't understand why he was doing this, but his intuition told him it was necessary. The flags that had appeared above Ren Qiao's head before, her recent behavior, and the various language traps she had set that afternoon all made him highly concerned. And then there were Fang Yixing's words—Fang Yixing said he let Ren Qiao act as a messenger because she spoke well, but from their recent interactions, Ren Qiao clearly appeared to be a somewhat shy and innocent girl. She even stuttered when she was nervous...
Click.
The faint sound of something scraping against the ground echoed in the spacious conference room, interrupting his thoughts. He sat up, looked around, and felt puzzled. Was it an illusion? Or had he accidentally dropped something?
Click, click.
The sound became clearer, and he couldn't help but hold his breath, recalling various ghost stories he had seen in the past.
Click, click... Thud!
He abruptly stood up, furrowing his brow as he peered under the conference table.
Click, click.
"...Could there be a mouse in the conference room?" he wondered.
He rubbed his face, chuckled at his own timidity, and crouched down to look under the table.
There was a barrier under the table, making it difficult to see what was underneath. He gingerly removed the movable panel and then crawled under the conference table.
The floors and walls of the research institute were equipped with self-cleaning features, so there was no dust or debris under the table. He turned on the flashlight on his communicator, shining it around, and stopped in a corner under the table.
"What's this... a mirror?" He reached out and picked up the only thing under the table, examining it. "Why would there be a mirror in the conference room? Who brought it?" But the mirror couldn't move on its own, so what had caused the strange sounds earlier? Could there really be a mouse in the conference room?
With these thoughts in mind, he crawled out and prepared to inquire at the logistics department.
"The password has been changed! How would I know? He just changed it!"
A familiar voice made him freeze in his tracks as he was crawling out. He turned his gaze to the surveillance feed on the communicator.
Ren Qiao was standing in front of a safe in the laboratory, yelling in frustration at the communicator, "Stop nagging! What can I do if the password has been changed? It's your fault for not killing him earlier. Now, I have to deal with this mess."
The voice on the other end said something else, and Ren Qiao angrily disconnected the call before quickly leaving the lab.
Ye Zhizhou sat on the floor, watching the surveillance feed that now showed an empty laboratory. His emotions were complicated. He had actually... captured something on camera.
"[Currently checking the host's physical condition... Check completed. The mental sea has hidden injuries, and the soul is depleted. Requires rest. Suitable elixirs: Calming Pill, High-Quality Spirit-Nurturing Elixir.]"
A screen suddenly appeared in front of him, and he blinked in confusion. Strangely, he didn't feel surprised or scared; he just felt somewhat bewildered. He raised his hand to cover his eyes and murmured softly, "Strange, why do I suddenly feel like crying..."
The old, worn-out mirror placed on his lap shifted gently, as if comforting him and acting a bit coquettish.