Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 25: Wait, You're Serious?

After finalizing their communication plan, Lin Xu and Jiang Xingye left the CEO's office together. 

A few minutes later, Liu Tong also exited. 

Only Ren Jian and Chu Xu remained in the office. 

"Have some tea."

Ren Jian pushed a teacup toward Chu Xu. 

Chu Xu took a sip and remarked:

"Not bad."

"This year's new harvest?"

"Mingqian Longjing, specially bought for you."

Ren Jian stood up, retrieved two boxes of tea leaves from behind his desk and handed them to Chu Xu, then immediately asked:

"What do you think about this Lin Xu character?"

"Not so simple."

Chu Xu accepted the tea and replied:

"He's always mysterious - whether it was the initial master design plan or these new materials now."

"Last time we just asked him to refine the proposal and provide more specific information, right?"

"But what does he do? Turns around and slaps two new material reports on the table."

"You don't actually believe that story about some Asperger's genius helping him develop these, do you?"

"...Shouldn't I believe it?"

Ren Jian looked stunned.

"It seems quite reasonable to me..."

"...Reasonable my ass!"

Chu Xu leaned back against the sofa cushions.

"Boss, we're talking about industrial manufacturing processes here, not some lab formula."

"Without proper equipment and instruments, who could possibly develop this stuff?"

"Didn't you see the equipment list he provided? All large-scale machinery, diverse categories, and highly specialized."

"While not impossible to acquire, assembling all that for experiments wouldn't be easy either."

"And that document is... strange. It's fragmented."

"The first part is remarkably complete, down to precise data."

"The latter half? Just an empty framework without substance."

"Seeing something like this, what would you think?"

"...Plagiarized?"

Ren Jian frowned.

"Not exactly plagiarized... more like obtained through special channels."

"But we don't know what those channels are."

"...That's dangerous."

Ren Jian exhaled deeply.

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

"Why terminate?"

Chu Xu looked at Ren Jian with a barely perceptible smile.

"It's fine."

"As far as I know, there isn't a single domestic research group working on industrial production methods for these two materials."

"If it is copied, it must be from overseas."

"Given the current environment, why should we worry about that?"

"Use it."

Chu Xu straightened slightly.

"Relax, it's fine."

"These two materials are important. If we can crack their industrial production methods, the benefits... far outweigh the risks."

"I'm concerned about government investigation."

Ren Jian lowered his voice.

"Competitors don't worry me, and investors will be easy to explain to."

"But if it involves the authorities..."

"We have results - why should they care where they came from?"

Chu Xu spread his hands, looking utterly unconcerned:

"If you stole 3nm lithography technology from ASML, how do you think the government would treat you?"

"Even if they had to make an example of you, you'd be in jail today and flying to Hainan tomorrow to live in a beachfront villa."

"While these industrial production methods aren't quite that extreme, the principle is similar."

"So my suggestion is: proceed boldly."

"If he won't say anything, we'll pretend we don't know anything."

"Mutual understanding benefits everyone, no?"

"...Fair point."

Ren Jian finally relaxed.

After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly asked:

"Do you think... this Lin Xu... might be some kind of... spy?"

Chu Xu shook his head.

"Who knows?"

Meanwhile, after leaving the chairman's office, Lin Xu simply exchanged brief greetings with Jiang Xingye before heading straight to the finance department. 

He was there to collect money. 

As Ren Jian had said, funds were indeed essential for dealing with the mysterious "Xu Jin." 

Although drawing petty cash required listing it as entertainment expenses, although reimbursement would need proper invoices, at least it wasn't his own money. 

And while 200,000 yuan didn't sound like much, it was sufficient for initial groundwork. 

However, how to spend this money posed a problem. 

After collecting the funds and seeing the "200000.00" appear in his account, Lin Xu fell into thought. 

Should he stuff it all in a red envelope and slap it in Xu Jin's face to make him cooperate in this charade? 

No, that might arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble. 

Maybe set up a fund to sponsor his research, gradually leaking the technology? 

This approach would work, but the timeline would be long and require more funding. 

What a hassle. 

Damn. 

Should have just insisted I developed the materials myself - take it or leave it. 

If pushed, I could start my own company using this technology to make a fortune, then reconnect with Jiang Xingye to uncover apocalypse clues from another angle... 

Lin Xu pondered as he walked, but ultimately decided the best plan was still to continue working at Tianqiong Technology. 

Because in the Bracelet World's beginning, he was at Tianqiong's doorstep. 

This company must have strong connections to both the apocalypse and that mysterious "Planetary Reincarnation" organization. 

Going independent would mean abandoning the most direct path. 

So he'd proceed with the second plan for now. 

First step: find Xu Jin. 

No time to waste - off to Nanjing University! 

Lin Xu exited the company and hailed a taxi straight to Nanjing University. 

With petty cash in hand, he felt confident enough to skip regular rides and go straight for luxury class. 

Speeding to the university gates, Lin Xu tried blending in with passing students to sneak inside, but the sharp-eyed security guard stopped him and dragged him into the guardhouse. 

In the Bracelet World, he'd led elite mercenaries who didn't even flinch at armed security. 

But in reality, one old guard was enough to handle him. 

Cornered, Lin Xu could only comply and show his credentials. 

"Sir, I'm Tianqiong Technology's technical department manager here on official business." 

"Official business requires registration! Why try sneaking in?" 

The guard glared as Lin Xu smiled apologetically: 

"Didn't know the procedure..." 

"None of that - register!" 

"Name, phone, ID number, purpose of visit, and who's meeting you?" 

Lin Xu obediently filled out the form, then answered: 

"We learned through channels about a talented materials science researcher and wanted to discuss opportunities..." 

"Why not contact the career office then?" 

The guard looked skeptical. 

"Well... our candidate is special - already hired elsewhere, but we want to make an offer..." 

"Poaching, eh?" 

The guard clicked his tongue. 

"You shouldn't discuss this inside. Handle it by phone." 

"But we don't have his contact... Sir, let me in - I promise no trouble. Or treat me as a tourist - aren't there many visitors entering?" 

"They have appointments. Do you?" 

"I'll make one now!" 

Lin Xu pulled out his phone. 

"Where do I scan?" 

"Gate QR code. But we've hit today's visitor limit - come back tomorrow with an appointment." 

"...Could you make an exception?" 

Lin Xu produced a box of premium cigarettes originally meant for Xu Jin, now repurposed for the guard. 

The guard accepted them discreetly and nodded slightly: 

"Go make your appointment. I'll squeeze you in." 

"By the way, who are you meeting? At least know his name?" 

"Of course!" 

Lin Xu quickly scanned the code and answered: 

"Xu Jin from Materials Science." 

"Xu Jin??" 

The guard froze. 

"You're here for him??" 

Damn. 

Lin Xu's heart sank. 

A celebrity! 

This complicates things. 

As he prepared to respond, the guard waved him through: 

"Go ahead. He's probably sitting by Lizhao Lake at this hour." 

"Lizhao Lake? Quite the leisurely spot." 

"Leisurely nothing." 

The guard chuckled: 

"This is his daily calisthenics time - rain or shine." 

"Let me tell you, classes or not, thunderstorm or downpour, he does his exercises at this exact time every day. Famous for it around here." 

"...That's insane." 

Lin Xu asked incredulously: 

"The school allows this?" 

"Pfft. Heard he's got mental issues - probably not who you want anyway. Go see for yourself and get it over with." 

The guard's casual remark made Lin Xu's pulse jump. 

"What kind of mental issues?" 

"OCD." 

Lin Xu relaxed slightly. 

Then: 

"Also some autism thing... Ash... Ash-something..." 

"Asperger's." 

Lin Xu completed grimly. 

The guard nodded immediately. 

"Yeah, Asperger's!"