Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 24: Asperger's Syndrome

"So you're saying your 'friend' at Jinling University gave you this material?"

"What's your relationship with him? Something this important and he just hands it over without patenting it?"

Ren Jian sitting across from Lin Xu asked suspiciously.

"It's a very complex, very long story..."

Lin Xu scratched his head and replied:

"This friend of mine has Asperger's syndrome."

There was no way around it - he had to improvise now.

Sorry, Xu Jin, you'll have to take the fall for this.

"He has severe social and language barriers, struggles with communication."

"But in materials science - or anything involving permutations and combinations - he has astonishing talent."

"It's like he has some divine intuition, always effortlessly finding the optimal solution."

"Or maybe he's already mentally simulated and eliminated all wrong outcomes before presenting the correct one."

"I'm not him, so I can't describe his actual experience."

"But either way, you understand why he'd give the material to me now, right?"

Ren Jian looked thoughtful.

"Asperger's... like 'Rain Man'?"

"Yes, exactly like Rain Man."

Lin Xu nodded:

"Except Rain Man's talent was in mathematics, while his is in materials science."

"Is that possible?"

Ren Jian frowned.

"My understanding is Asperger's is a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder? Their talents usually focus on number-related fields, how could it deviate to materials science?"

"First, Asperger's isn't limited to mathematical talents - real-world Asperger's individuals work in all kinds of fields."

"Second, who says materials science isn't number-related?"

Lin Xu spoke with absolute conviction, leaving Ren Jian no room for rebuttal.

"Alright, I accept that."

He opened the tea set and poured three cups, pushing one each to Lin Xu and Jiang Xingye.

"Drink."

Lin Xu took a small sip while Jiang Xingye drained hers in one go. She'd run quite a distance earlier and was parched.

Ren Jian glanced at her and asked helplessly:

"Another cup?"

"No no no."

Jiang Xingye quickly waved her hands.

Ren Jian shook his head amusedly before turning back to Lin Xu:

"So given your... friend's condition, how should we communicate with him going forward?"

"I mean if this technology proves viable, patent rights will be extremely tricky to resolve."

"Legally speaking, do Asperger's patients have full civil capacity?"

"They do. Currently there's no legal classification of Asperger's as mental illness - they're treated as fully capable civil subjects."

Lin Xu knew this well - not from research but from TV dramas.

"And communication?"

Ren Jian pressed.

"I'll handle it - he won't interact with anyone else."

Obviously he wouldn't. If you actually met him, the whole ruse would collapse!

"Understood. Results matter more than process."

Ren Jian took a small sip of tea.

"If you can secure documentation - we don't even need the patent, just more favorable licensing terms - that would be a huge accomplishment."

"And if you can recruit him directly... many things are negotiable!"

"You're certain this material works?"

Lin Xu probed.

"I'm no expert but I've researched PEEK materials. In my opinion, this has high probability of validity."

"The specifics would require..."

Before he could finish, the chairman's office door was knocked.

"Boss."

The executive secretary stood at the door.

"Engineer Chu and Manager Liu are here."

The two men behind him entered. Ren Jian nodded and without preamble handed them the material.

"No questions - just assess credibility."

They took the documents and without a word huddled together to examine them.

"Next page."

Chu Xu said.

"Flip."

Purchasing Manager Liu turned the page.

"Next."

"Next."

...

After over ten minutes, they looked up simultaneously.

Exchanging glances, Chu Xu said:

"Old Liu, you're the materials expert - you explain."

"Alright then."

Liu nodded slightly:

"The material is incomplete - missing far too much."

"Current completeness is under 30%."

"But the overall framework is flawless - this is extremely robust, innovative process material."

"The liquid molding flange approach for PEEK has been explored before - current challenges focus on temperature control, wettability and viscosity."

"No consensus on solutions - general approach is improving equipment precision."

"But this proposal takes a completely different path - its use of unidirectional breathable membrane-assisted vacuum infusion molding is groundbreaking."

"Theoretically speaking, I can't find any flaws."

"Also, strictly performance-wise, M46X material isn't optimal."

"Those Japs always overhype their - sorry."

"I mean purely performance-wise, our domestically developed M55X carbon fiber is superior."

"But this process's advantage is dramatic cost reduction."

"The key breakthrough is using lignin as bio-based precursor - this aspect..."

"Put simply, if achievable, it's hugely significant."

"M46X is general-purpose technology, lignin precursor is too - applicable to M46X, M55X, and all carbon fiber materials."

"The developer likely just used M46X as test case."

"He focused solely on this material, ignoring broader applications."

"Very strange approach... how to describe it..."

"Like someone using a golden shovel not to sell but to actually dig trees."

Liu frowned deeply as Ren Jian added:

"The inventor has Asperger's syndrome."

"Asperger's?"

Liu was stunned.

"What's that?"

"Rain Man."

"What's Rain Man?"

Seeing Ren Jian about to lose his temper, Lin Xu quickly explained:

"A lonely genius - like Guo Jing in materials science."

"Guo Jing?"

"Even more wooden than Guo Jing."

"Oh then I understand - autism then."

Liu sighed in relief.

His understanding of autism was flawed but at least he grasped Lin Xu's meaning.

"That makes perfect sense then - exactly the thought process of someone mentally handicapped..."

"So what's our plan? Approach him directly to complete the material?"

"If you confirm validity, Lin Xu will handle communication."

"I can't guarantee 100%."

As Liu spoke, Ren Jian's expression shifted.

But Liu continued:

"About 99% credible though."

"...If you keep pausing like that, I'm transferring you to logistics."

Ren Jian glared at Liu before standing to address Lin Xu:

"Then it's settled."

"Lin Xu, you handle communications."

"Remember what I said."

"Succeed at this and it's monumental for Star Voyager-1, our company, even the entire industry!"

"Deliver results and anything you want is negotiable!"

"Go to finance now - withdraw 200,000 yuan operating funds under entertainment expenses."

"Asperger's... such people must be extremely difficult even for friends."

"But whatever it takes - secure him!"