Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 15: Meeting the Original Creator?

After bidding farewell to Jiang Xingye and returning home, Lin Xu immediately crashed into bed for some much-needed sleep. He had expended too much energy in Bracelet World, with the number on his bracelet dropping straight to 1—he desperately needed proper rest to recover.  

By morning, the number on his bracelet had only climbed back to 3. Rather than rushing back in to search for more clues, he followed Jiang Xingye's advice and spent time carefully preparing the materials he'd need for Monday's meeting with the boss.  

The alternate world was one thing, but real life was another.  

Right now, he wasn't Tianqiong Technology's CEO—not even a flight control system designer. Just a lowly programmer.  

If he didn't seize this opportunity, how could he ever become CEO?  

Without becoming CEO, how could he secure enough resources?  

Without resources, how could he investigate the truth behind the Apocalypse?  

Without uncovering that truth, how could he escape on a rocket?  

Ha.  

Lin Xu spent a full ten hours compiling every necessary document. The centerpiece was a feasibility analysis report.  

As he researched and wrote, he gradually realized something: the true designer behind the Star Voyager-1 project was nothing short of a genius. Though the technology appeared complex at first glance, breaking it down revealed each key component was actually manageable.  

Some technologies could be adapted from military applications, others innovated within existing frameworks, and the few truly impossible aspects could simply be postponed until technological advancements caught up in a few years.  

By the time he finished the report, Lin Xu had to admit—the project was nearly flawless in its completeness.  

So... whose work had he stolen?  

Shen Li? That chief engineer?  

No, Tianqiong Technology didn't even have someone by that name.  

Puzzling.  

Would they be transferring someone in later?  

Great.  

Not only did the company house his ex-wife, but soon there'd be some top expert whose achievements he'd apparently plagiarized.  

The thought of future workplace dynamics was exhausting...  

Lin Xu collapsed onto his bed as his computer screen dimmed to black...  

......  

The next day.  

Lin Xu arrived punctually at the reception room adjacent to the chairman's office. Jiang Xingye had arrived slightly earlier, and beside her sat Chen Yan, the new project's team leader and manager.  

"Got all your materials ready?" Chen Yan asked eagerly the moment he spotted Lin Xu.  

His attitude had visibly improved leaps and bounds since their last encounter.  

"Yes, everything's prepared."  

"Team Leader, would you like to review them first?"  

"Certainly, hand them over."  

Chen Yan accepted the documents without mentioning how Lin Xu had completed them without prior review—a minor breach of protocol he now conveniently overlooked.  

As he flipped through the pages, Chen Yan couldn't stop making impressed noises.  

"Truly, talent emerges young. I knew at first glance you had remarkable capabilities."  

"Why else would I have entrusted such an important task to you during the meeting?"  

"Now it's clear my judgment was absolutely correct."  

"Your proposal is exceptional. You've no idea how highly Chairman Ren and Chief Designer Chu spoke of you."  

"Tsk, this feasibility report is particularly well-written."  

"Were all these technical references from your personal knowledge base? That's some impressive accumulated expertise..."  

As the praise kept coming, Lin Xu found himself at a loss—acknowledging the compliments felt disingenuous, but ignoring them seemed rude.  

What did he mean by "correct judgment"?  

Everyone knew exactly what Chen Yan had been thinking when he dumped that responsibility on Lin Xu during the meeting.  

Lin Xu offered only minimal responses, refusing to engage further.  

Jiang Xingye, however, seized the chance to vent.  

"Manager Chen, how unexpectedly... humane of you."  

"I must have misunderstood you earlier. During the meeting, I actually thought you were deliberately targeting Lin Xu."  

"No no, certainly not!" Chen Yan waved his hands rapidly, his expression slightly strained.  

Fortunately, his discomfort didn't last long. After barely reviewing two pages, the reception room door opened.  

"Lin Xu, come with me please."  

The chairman's secretary who entered called for Lin Xu specifically. When Jiang Xingye and Chen Yan moved to follow, she stopped them.  

"Lin Xu will go first. You two please wait here."  

All three occupants froze.  

Just Lin Xu alone?  

That wasn't standard procedure.  

While protagonist-centered narratives often featured higher-ups singling out individuals for special attention—a fantasy trope that sounded appealing—real corporate dynamics operated differently. Typically, when senior leadership met with junior staff, middle management served as intermediaries to ensure smooth communication and proper protocol.  

But now...  

Ren Jian was breaking convention.  

What was his game?  

Lin Xu's mind flooded with questions as he followed the secretary to the chairman's office. The moment he stepped inside, he sensed the atmosphere was... off.  

Tense.  

Both Ren Jian and Chu Xu, seated nearby, wore stiff expressions.  

This wasn't the meeting he'd anticipated.  

"Sit."  

Ren Jian's single-word command preceded the secretary's exit. Lin Xu remained composed, taking his seat on the sofa to await further instructions.  

"I'll be direct."  

Ren Jian continued:  

"We've reviewed your materials. Impressive work."  

"So impressive, in fact, that it exceeds what someone at your level with your experience should reasonably produce."  

"At first glance, we merely thought your concepts showed promise. But upon detailed review, Chief Designer Chu and I agreed—many of your proposed solutions demonstrate an unusually high degree of methodological rigor."  

"Scientific research follows objective laws."  

"It's 2025. The era of sudden, inexplicable geniuses has passed."  

"Which makes us question your report's origins."  

"After consulting industry peers and higher-level research partners, we've noted concerning similarities between your proposal and certain solutions from competitor organizations."  

"Without access to their complete documents, this remains speculative."  

"But the risks are undeniable."  

"Now I must ask you directly:"  

"Did you author this proposal yourself, or did you acquire it through improper channels?"  

"......"  

Lin Xu was speechless.  

Well, that escalated quickly.  

Had he actually encountered the original creator?  

Impossible.  

If the similarities were truly that striking, he'd likely be speaking with national security officers instead of these two.  

Relief washed over him.  

While he hadn't exactly authored the proposal himself, it certainly wasn't stolen from any competitor.  

"First," Lin Xu began, "I authored this proposal independently. It's unrelated to any competitor or government research—I guarantee that."  

"Second, even if similarities exist, that doesn't prove I stole trade secrets."  

"Spaceflight architectures are limited—you could pull random frameworks from Baidu and find overlaps. This accusation is premature."  

"Finally... I understand leadership's concerns about legal risks in commercial enterprises."  

"But what if we simply outpace everyone else?"  

"What if our technical specifications prove more detailed and advanced than any competitor's?"  

Ren Jian and Chu Xu exchanged startled glances.  

"You actually have those details?"  

Lin Xu nodded firmly.  

"I do."  

......  

One hour later, Lin Xu exited the chairman's office.  

Ren Jian and Chu Xu locked eyes before the chairman spoke:  

"Chief Designer Chu, in your professional opinion—how credible is this Lin Xu?"  

Chu Xu frowned, then shook his head.  

"I can't determine that anymore."  

"He demonstrated legitimate understanding of numerous technical specifics we discussed."  

"Yet I wouldn't call him professionally expert."  

"But does that distinction even matter now?"  

"Some matters defy simple conclusions. Young people often harbor unpredictable potential."  

"Give him time."  

"Whether he succeeds or fails, we can't abandon this proposal."  

"Lin Xu's right—if we move fast enough, legal constraints become irrelevant."  

"Assemble the technical team immediately. As for leadership..."  

"If Lin Xu delivers substantive contributions, let him lead."  

"I've a feeling... with him involved, this Star Voyager-1 project might actually take flight..."