“Who was it just now that brought her in?” Xie Dingyuan suddenly asked.
Here it comes, here it comes!
The reckoning has begun!
“Professor, not me.”
“Not me either.”
“……”
Everyone hurried to clear themselves, afraid of being implicated.
Weren’t you saying he didn’t lose his temper and even smiled?
What is this now?!
In the end, a hand was quietly raised. “It… it was me.”
Xie Dingyuan raised an eyebrow. “Li… Juzhu?”
He hadn’t expected Professor Xie to remember his name. Li Juzhu’s originally deathly pale face suddenly showed a trace of excitement, and the dimness in his eyes brightened as well.
“Yes,” he nodded heavily. “It was me.”
Xie Dingyuan said, “Your experimental technique is good, very standardized. Starting tomorrow, follow me into the sealed laboratory as my assistant.”
“!”
“What? Not willing?”
“No, no! I’m willing!” Happiness came too suddenly, Li Juzhu almost couldn’t believe it.
Even after Xie Dingyuan turned and left, he was still standing there, unable to react.
Eyes blank, expression dazed.
“Little Juju, snap out of it!” A colleague snapped his fingers in front of him.
“Congratulations! Not just anyone gets personally selected by Professor Xie to enter the lab.”
“And as an assistant, no less impressive!”
“Our little Juju’s experimental skills were already top-notch. It’s not surprising he got picked.”
“Remember, once you’re in there, follow the professor closely and learn well. You’ll definitely benefit a lot.”
“……”
Watching everyone congratulate him and give him earnest advice, Li Juzhu felt both moved and ashamed.
He had thought he was being marginalized and unwelcome, but in reality, everyone was friendly and willing to communicate.
It was he himself who lacked patience and feared disappointment, cautiously retracting the step he had once taken forward.
“Thank you! Thank you, everyone!”
“Do your best, little Juju!”
“Okay!”
But…
What the h*ll is little Juju?
…
After obtaining the materials, Jiang Fuyue first went through Xie Dingyuan’s team’s research on inactivated vaccines and recombinant vaccines.
For two consecutive days, she did nothing but sit at her station reading materials, looking things up, and cross-referencing papers. She didn’t touch any experimental equipment, nor did she apply to enter the sealed laboratory to officially start experiments.
Though Jiang Fuyue had chosen the most secluded corner of the shared lab area, curious gazes still drifted toward her from time to time, carrying a hint of probing.
Xu Kuan said, “She’s actually just reading? My god! She really treats this place like a university library?”
Bai Chuanhao kept his hands moving, didn’t even look up. “Why do you care so much about her? Have you finished your own work?”
“Cough… I’m just curious about Jiang Fuyue’s research direction.”
The research directions of his team and Dan Pinghua’s team had long been determined; only Jiang Fuyue’s remained unclear.
Before departure, Xu Kuan had subtly asked higher-ups, but the answers were all vague, only saying that Jiang Fuyue’s task was to improve vaccine efficacy.
There were many ways to do that. Improving existing vaccines or developing new ones both counted.
Which would Jiang Fuyue choose?
Xu Kuan said, “Personally, I think she’s more likely to choose improvement. After all, R&D isn’t that easy. Even with the full strength of a team, it’s not guaranteed. Just her alone? Don’t be ridiculous.”
It wasn’t that Xu Kuan was looking down on anyone, it was simply the reality.
For a new vaccine to be born, withstand the test of time, and be used long-term was extremely, extremely difficult.
Bai Chuanhao also didn’t believe Jiang Fuyue would foolishly try to develop a brand-new vaccine. “Anyone with a bit of intelligence knows which choice to make.”
But Jiang Fuyue did exactly the unintelligent thing—
“I want to research a live attenuated vaccine.”
Xie Dingyuan was slightly startled.
The answer was unexpected, yet also somehow anticipated.
“You’ve thought it through?”
“Yes. I’ve reviewed all the materials. At present, inactivated vaccines can’t defend against mutated strains, while recombinant vaccines can actively respond to mutations but have low efficacy. Both types have obvious flaws. Under these circumstances, the significance of improvement isn’t that great.”
Xie Dingyuan nodded. “That’s true. But live attenuated vaccines aren’t so easy to develop. And you’re only one person.”
“How will I know if I don’t try?” She curved her lips into a smile. “Besides, it’s just me anyway.”
She didn’t have to shoulder a team’s honor, wouldn’t be swayed by others’ opinions, nor did she need to consider collective gains and losses.
As long as she was willing, even if she failed ten thousand times, no one would say anything.
Jiang Fuyue was both the general issuing orders and the soldier charging into battle!
“So that’s turned into your advantage now?” Xie Dingyuan shook his head and chuckled softly.
Jiang Fuyue shrugged. “I’ve never thought of it as a disadvantage.”
“Do you need help?”
Her eyes instantly lit up. She immediately took out a list, unfolded it, and handed it over. “I’ve listed all the experimental equipment I need.”
The man raised an eyebrow.
She blinked at him ingratiatingly, like she was sending sparks.
Xie Dingyuan coughed lightly, took it, and gave it a quick glance. Good lord, one page packed full.
“Can you get these?” she asked.
“I’ll try. Generally speaking, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“That’s great!” She jumped up excitedly and hugged him. “Thank you!”
A burst of citrus fragrance rushed toward him. The girl’s soft body pressed against his firm chest. Xie Dingyuan’s heartbeat stalled abruptly, his breathing quickened.
But it lasted only two seconds. After the hug, she pulled away.
“That’s it?”
Jiang Fuyue said, “What? From the way you’re talking, you think it’s not enough?”
Xie Dingyuan muttered softly, “It really is a bit little…”
“……”
“Ahem! Add a bit more.”
Jiang Fuyue: “?” What is this, bargaining at the market?
“Just a little!”
“…How do you want me to add it?”
The man pondered seriously, he looked even more focused than when facing analysis reports.
The corner of Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched.
Suddenly, he leaned his face over, tapped his lips with his index finger, and began waggling his eyebrows in a suggestive hint.
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
She genuinely didn’t get it.
The man got anxious. “Kiss me!”
The next second, the citrus scent abruptly grew rich, followed by a soft touch landing on his lips.
Xie Dingyuan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his arms, pressing them closer together.
He took the initiative. Just as Jiang Fuyue tried to pull back, he hooked her and entangled her tightly, refusing to let go.
“Mmph—” The girl punched his shoulder.
He retreated slightly, their breaths still intermingled. Giving her only two seconds to breathe, he leaned in again.
After who knew how long, Xie Dingyuan finally released her.
Due to brief oxygen deprivation, a flush crept up Jiang Fuyue’s cheeks.
The man’s breathing was slightly ragged, his dark eyes deep, a faintly satisfied smile at the corner of his mouth.
He smacked his lips and commented, “Now that’s more like it.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……” She had sacrificed far too much for scientific research.
As she was leaving, Xie Dingyuan happened to receive an intercom transmission in Arabic.
Jiang Fuyue pointed outside, her lips moving silently—I’ll go out first.
The man nodded.
She turned and left, passing through the outer lab area. It was dead silent.
Only after her figure disappeared from view did the crowd completely erupt—
“Her again? She came to see Professor Xie again?”
“Why is it that no such stunning beauty ever comes looking for me?”
“When you’re at the professor’s level, you won’t be barking like a rabid single dog.”
“Did the beauty touch up her makeup after going in? The lipstick shade’s pretty good, bright red.”
“Are you blind? She went in bare-faced!”
“No, really… her lips weren’t this red before she went in.”
“All day long you just stare at other people’s mouths, what kind of intentions do you have?”
“Exactly! Where else were you looking? Confess honestly!”
“……” My fault, I was wrong, pretend I said nothing.
And at this moment, inside—
After ending the call and putting down the walkie-talkie, Xie Dingyuan leaned against the lab bench, absentmindedly stroking his lips, wearing a smitten, lovestruck smile.
If the people outside were to rush in right now, their eyeballs would probably explode.
In their impression, cold-faced and ruthless, with a heart as hard as iron, how could Professor Xie be smiling so… spring-breeze-like and rippling with romance?
Although they didn’t dare actually go in, everyone’s overflowing curiosity wasn’t discounted in the slightest—
“Hey, Little Juju, how about you use delivering materials as an excuse and go in to check out the situation?”
Li Juzhu shook his head like a rattle-drum: “I’m scared…”
Yeah, who wouldn’t be scared?
That’s Xie Dingyuan!
But there are also those who aren’t scared, for example—
Jiang Fuyue!
She goes in whenever she wants, leaves whenever she wants, and several times Professor Xie even personally walked her out.
Tsk…
But speaking of Jiang Fuyue, as soon as she returned next door, she also received quite a few pointing fingers and whispered remarks.
“Why did she run out again?”
“Can’t figure out whether she’s here to research vaccines, or here to sightsee.”
“……”
To all of this, Jiang Fuyue ignored it completely, not even sparing an extra glance.
You say yours, I do mine, that’s how domineering it is.
Xu Kuan’s eyes rolled; he tossed aside the work in his hands and walked over to her workstation.
“Hehe…” Before even opening his mouth, he let out two silly laughs.
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
“Do you need something?”
“A little, not much.” Xu Kuan rubbed his hands together.
“Go on.”
“I see you haven’t been on the experimental bench lately, and you haven’t gone into the restricted area either. What have you been busy with?”
Jiang Fuyue raised her eyes and leisurely sized him up: “You’re here to snoop for information?”
“Cough… don’t put it so harshly. I’m not some long-tongued gossip at the village entrance. This is called communication and exchange, progressing together through the collision of ideas, get it?”
She shook her head: “Don’t get it.”
Xu Kuan: “……” So pretty, yet her words can choke people to death.
“Anything else? If not, I need to get busy. You can go back.”
Xu Kuan left dejectedly.
After going back, he kept muttering, “Which one will she choose?”
When Bai Chuanhao heard this, he was immediately speechless: “…Haven’t we already discussed this issue? Why are you still hung up on it?”
“I don’t know the final answer yet, of course I’m hung up.”
Bai Chuanhao spoke with certainty: “Jiang Fuyue would never choose to develop a new vaccine. Save it, stop messing around.”
“You sure?” Why does he always feel that Jiang Fuyue is holding back some big move, and might suddenly drop a royal bomb?
Bai Chuanhao couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
……
The sun set in the west, another day passed.
Xie Dingyuan arranged to meet Kaza on the ramparts.
“What? Want to watch the sunset with me?” Kaza walked over in full camouflage, drenched in sweat, clearly having just finished training.
He was a commanding officer, so he didn’t need to train, but every inspection and assessment, he had to be present.
When the soldiers were left out in the sun, he was left out in the sun with them; when the soldiers stood, he had to stand even more properly than they did.
“At least let me go back and take a shower, get myself smelling nice before coming to see you, that would give it a sense of ceremony!”
Xie Dingyuan turned his eyes coldly: “Have some shame, thanks.”
Kaza patted his own cheeks, making crisp pia~pia sounds: “Isn’t this a face? Don’t worry, it’s thick!”
“……”
Xie Dingyuan couldn’t be bothered to waste words with him. He took out the list and stuffed it straight into the other man’s arms.
“What the heck is this?”
Kaza muttered as he opened it. It was either machines or instruments, with a bunch of English abbreviations inside.
Xie Dingyuan got straight to the point: “Prepare the experimental equipment on this list within two days.”
“Didn’t you just add a batch of equipment last week? Why do you need more?”
“It’s not for me.”
“Huh?” Kaza had a face full of question marks. “If you don’t need it, why apply for it? Too much experimenting and your brain’s broken too?”
Xie Dingyuan raised an eyebrow: “Can’t I help someone out?”
Kaza pressed on: “Help who?”
He didn’t speak.
Kaza: “Then I at least need to know where to deliver these instruments and equipment once they arrive, right?”
Xie Dingyuan: “Just deliver them into Jiang Fuyue’s hands.”
Jiang Fuyue?
Isn’t that the one from a few days ago who had a fever and fainted, and was personally carried to the medical room by Xie Dingyuan?
“Really fallen for her?”
Xie Dingyuan: “?”
Kaza patted his shoulder with a look of seasoned gravity, speaking earnestly: “Brother, although love always comes so suddenly and without reason, don’t forget, you already have a girlfriend. How can you fall for every one you see? That’s really not good.”
Xie Dingyuan was even more confused: “What are you talking about?”
“I’m teaching you to be an upright, kind, good man.”
“?”
“Brother, take my advice, never become a scumbag.”
“……” Seriously ill.
“Hey! Why did you leave? I’m not done talking yet!” Kaza stretched out an Erkang hand.
……
Two days later, the equipment arrived.
Kaza showed up in Bai Chuanhao’s experimental area, dressed in a crisp military uniform, hands clasped behind his back, each step steady and imposing.
Seeing him, everyone felt a bit intimidated; after all, his warning last time and the way he ordered soldiers to stand guard had been extremely intimidating.
“Where’s Jiang Fuyue?”
Everyone’s eyes showed surprise. After Professor Xie last time, here was another big shot who opened his mouth asking for her.
“She’s over there—”
Someone pointed the way for Kaza.
Following the direction, he looked over and could only see a secluded corner, and a sliver of clothing showing from that corner.
Kaza raised his hand: “Everyone, get back to work.”
Meaning: don’t crowd around, do whatever you’re supposed to do.
After that, he lifted his feet and walked toward where Jiang Fuyue was.
Everyone continued working, but their minds had already flown over there, ears pricked up as well.
They exchanged glances—
This Jiang Fuyue is impressive! Even the commanding officer can call her by name in one breath!
First Professor Xie, then Kaza, both coming to look for her. Amazing!
Listen to what the two of them are saying.
There must be gossip!
Jiang Fuyue only felt a shadow fall over her head. She looked up and met a pair of light brown eyes.
She stood up and stepped back two paces, this was a defensive move.
Then she calmly sized him up, from clothing to features, her gaze highly penetrating, as if she saw straight through him at a glance.
Kaza swallowed, not panicking, steady!
And at this moment, Jiang Fuyue had already withdrawn her gaze: “May I ask who you are?”
“Kaza, one of the heads of the Suweitan Base, and also Xie Dingyuan’s good brother.” He deliberately spoke Arabic, wanting to make things difficult for her.
Unfortunately…
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