Did the world end today?

Chapter 25 No, are you serious?

After determining the direction of subsequent communication, Lin Xu and Jiang Xingye walked out of the president's office together.

A few minutes later, Liu Tong also went out.

Only Ren Jian and Chu Xu remained in the office.

"Drink tea."

Ren Jian pushed a teacup towards Chu Xu.

Chu Xu picked up his cup, took a sip, and savored the taste:
"good."

"This year's new tea?"

"Pre-Qingming Longjing tea, bought especially for you."

Ren Jian got up, walked behind his desk, took out two boxes of tea, handed them to Chu Xu, and then asked:

What do you think of Lin Xu as a person?

"not that simple."

Chu Xu took the tea leaves and replied:

"He's always so secretive, including about the previous overall design plan and the materials used this time."

"I remember last time we just told him to go back and refine the plan and provide more specific information, right?"

"And what did they do? They just handed over two sets of new materials."

"You don't actually believe him when he says some genius with Asperger's helped him create these two things, do you?"

"Can't we trust it?"

Ren Jian was stunned.

"I think it's quite reasonable."

"What's so reasonable about that?!"

Chu Xu leaned back and lay down on the sofa back.

“My boss, that’s an industrial manufacturing process, not some laboratory formula.”

"Without complete equipment and instruments, who could create something like this?"

"Didn't you see the list of equipment he provided? It's all large equipment, with a wide variety of categories, and it's very specialized."

"While it's not impossible to obtain these devices, it's not easy to gather them all for experiments."

"And the document was very strange; it was broken."

"The first part is quite complete, and even the data is accurate."

"The latter half is just an empty shell, without any flesh and blood."

"If you had something like this in front of you, what would come to mind?"

"Copied?"

Ren Jian frowned.

"It can't be said that it was copied. It should be said that it was obtained through some special channels."

"But we don't know the specific channels."

That's very dangerous.

Ren Jian breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Then let's just terminate this project, or at least..."

Why terminate it?

Chu Xu looked at Ren Jian, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"it does not matter."

"To my knowledge, there are no research groups in China working on the industrialization of these two materials."

"If it really was copied, then it was copied from overseas."

"Given the current situation, are we still afraid of this?"

"Use it."

Chu Xu sat up slightly.

"Don't worry, it's okay."

"These two materials are very important. If we can develop an industrialized manufacturing method, the benefits we can gain will far outweigh the risks."

"I'm afraid of an official investigation."

Ren Jian lowered his voice.

"I'm not afraid of competitors, and it's even easier to explain to investors."

"But what if it involves official matters?"

"We have achieved results, so why do you care where we came from?"

Chu Xu spread his hands, looking completely nonchalant, and said:
"If you stole the 3nm lithography technology from ASML, how do you think the authorities would treat you?"

"Even if you want to give an explanation, you'll be in jail today, and tomorrow you'll be flying straight to Hainan Island and staying in a Shanghai-style hotel."

"Although the industrial production methods for these two materials are not quite as exaggerated, they can actually be compared."

"So my advice is, go for it!"

Since he won't say it outright, let's pretend we don't know.

"It's better for everyone if we keep it a secret, isn't it?"

"That's true."

Ren Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly asked:

"Do you think this Lin Xu might be some kind of secret agent?"

Chu Xu shook his head.

"Who knows?"

Meanwhile, after leaving the chairman's office, Lin Xu simply greeted Jiang Xingye and headed straight for the finance office.

He went there to collect the money.

Just as Ren Jian said, funds are indeed indispensable in order to deal with the mysterious "Xu Jin".

Although withdrawing petty cash from the finance department is categorized as entertainment expenses, and reimbursement definitely requires going through procedures and obtaining invoices, at least you don't have to spend your own money.

Moreover, while 200,000 may not sound like much, it's almost enough as initial funding.

However, how to spend this money is a problem.

After receiving the money, Lin Xu fell into deep thought as he looked at the number "200000.00" that had been deposited into his card.

Should I just throw a big red envelope in his face and make him cooperate with my act?
No, doing so might make him doubt himself and cause unnecessary trouble. Should I try to secure a grant to sponsor his research and subtly reveal the technology to him?
That's not a problem, it's just that the cycle might be very long and the amount of capital investment would be quite large.

It's very troublesome.

Depend on.

If I had known, I would have just insisted that I was the one who created it. Take it or leave it.

If pushed to the limit, I'll start my own company and get rich using this technology. Then I'll try to reconnect with Jiang Xingye; maybe I can get clues about the apocalypse from another angle.
As Lin Xu walked, he pondered the matter in his mind, but in the end, he decided that the best option was still to continue working at Sky Dome Technology.

Because the beginning of the bracelet world was right at the door of Sky Dome Technology.

This company must have a strong connection to the apocalypse and that mysterious "planetary reincarnation" organization.

Starting your own business is like taking a roundabout route instead of something closer to you.

Let's proceed with the second plan then.

Regardless, we need to find Xu Jin's people first.

Enough talk, let's go to Jinling University!
Lin Xu walked out of the company gate, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for Jinling University.

Having some spare cash on hand made him more assertive; he stopped taking express taxis and went straight for the luxury version.

Lin Xu sped all the way to the gate of Jinling University and tried to sneak in by following the students coming and going, but the sharp-eyed gatekeeper stopped him and dragged him into the small dark room of the gatehouse.

In the world of the bracelet, he led an elite mercenary force and didn't even put heavily armed security personnel in his eyes.

But in the real world, even a doorman is enough for him to have his way with.

With things having come to this point, Lin Xu had no choice but to back down and reveal his identity.

"Sir, I am the technical manager of Sky Dome Technology. I'm here on business."

"If you have something important to do, register it! Why are you following us in?"

The old man glared angrily, and Lin Xu smiled apologetically:

"I just didn't know."

"Stop grinning and register!"

"Name, phone number, ID number, what brings you here, is anyone available to answer?"

Lin Xu took the pen and obediently filled in his basic information, then answered:

"We learned about a talented person in the School of Materials Science and Engineering through other channels, and we specifically came to talk to him."

"Then why don't you talk to the teachers in the career services office?"

The old man asked with a suspicious look on his face.

"The person we're looking for is a bit special. He's already been accepted by another organization, but we'd like to try again."

"Poaching customers?"

The old man clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"You don't need to go in to discuss this; let's just talk about it over the phone."

"I don't have any contact information, sir. Please let me in, I promise I won't cause any trouble—or if all else fails, just treat me as a tourist, aren't there so many tourists wanting to go in?"

"They have an appointment, do you?"

"I'll book it now!"

Lin Xu took out his phone.

Where should I scan the code?

"Scan the QR code at the entrance yourself. We've reached our capacity for today. Please make an appointment and come back tomorrow."

"Please be accommodating."

Lin Xu took out a box of 95 Supreme from his pocket. He had prepared it specifically because he was worried that Xu Jin would smoke, but now it was perfect for the old man.

The gatekeeper calmly accepted the cigarette, nodded slightly, and said:

"Then go and make an appointment, I'll reserve a spot for you."

"By the way, who are you looking for? You must know their name, right?"

"I know the name!"

Lin Xu quickly scanned the code and replied:

"Xu Jin, Xu Jin from the School of Materials Science and Engineering."

"Xu Jin??"

The gatekeeper stood there, stunned.

"You're looking for him??"

It’s over.

Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat.

He's a celebrity!
This is going to be difficult.

He was about to say something when the old man waved his hand and said:
"Then go in. I'll give you directions. He shouldn't be in the teaching building or the dormitory. He should be sitting near Lizhao Lake."

"Lizhao Lake? It's quite a leisurely place."

"What's so leisurely about it?"

The old man said with a smile:
"This is the time he does his morning exercises, without fail, every single day."

"You wouldn't believe it, even if there's thunder and lightning or a downpour, he still does his morning exercises at this time every day. He's famous around here."

"Isn't this a bit outrageous?"

Lin Xu asked incredulously:
"The school doesn't care?"

"Sigh, I heard he has some mental issues—I guess you guys won't want him anyway, so go see him and give up."

The old man's casual remark made Lin Xu's heart skip a beat.

"What kind of mental health issue?"

"Obsessive-compulsive disorder."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, Lin Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

But next second.

"I've heard there's also something called autism, something like 'A...A something'."

"Asperger's".

Lin Xu replied in a deep voice.

The old man nodded immediately.