Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 34: The Shock

"I can't tell you... I can't tell you..."

Xu Jin muttered under his breath before suddenly springing to his feet and shouting:

"I can't tell you!"

"Shut up! Stop asking me!"

His entire body tensed, fingers clenched so tightly his knuckles protruded grotesquely as he began pounding his own head repeatedly.

Lin Xu was startled. Instinctively, he wanted to restrain Xu Jin but hesitated about how to intervene. He'd seen videos online of autistic individuals having meltdowns - even through a screen, he could feel the helplessness and despair.

He'd thought Xu Jin's Asperger's syndrome was different from lower-functioning autism. But now he realized that when it came to "social impairment" and "stereotyped behaviors," autism was always autism!

The sound of Xu Jin's fists hammering his own skull echoed loudly. Lin Xu rushed forward to restrain him, shouting:

"Calm down! Calm down!"

"It's okay, it's okay!"

"Say it!"

"I won't tell anyone!"

"Come closer, whisper it to me!"

"Relax!"

Lin Xu refused to back down. He locked Xu Jin in a tight grip, ignoring the other man's struggles completely.

As Xu Jin's thrashing grew more violent, other customers in the coffee shop turned to stare. Someone began approaching them, prompting Lin Xu to wave them off urgently:

"Stay back!"

"He has autism - he'll be fine soon!"

The person retreated obediently, their eyes filled with pity.

After at least five minutes of struggle, Xu Jin finally exhausted himself. He collapsed, gasping for breath as if regaining his rationality.

"I'm okay... I'm okay..."

Lin Xu was drenched in sweat, his arms strained from the effort. But at least there was one difference between high-functioning autism like Asperger's and lower-functioning types - when rationality returned, it could override their emotions.

Breathing heavily, Lin Xu slumped back onto the sofa, shaken by the sudden outburst.

"...You don't need to be so tense."

Lin Xu spoke carefully:

"I just wanted to know why. If you really don't want to say, forget it."

"Zhurong rover."

Xu Jin grabbed fistfuls of his own hair.

"Zhurong rover... I need to bring the Zhurong rover back..."

"Bring the Zhurong rover back?!"

Lin Xu was stunned.

"Why??"

"Do you want to bring back the rover itself, or what it discovered?"

"Bring the Zhurong rover back... bring the Zhurong rover back..."

Xu Jin kept repeating this phrase, refusing to elaborate no matter how Lin Xu pressed him.

Lin Xu frowned deeply.

"Is this related to your father?"

"Is it because of your father that you want to retrieve the Zhurong rover?"

"Yes... no..."

Xu Jin seemed to be descending into confusion again. Not daring to push further, Lin Xu soothed:

"Alright, alright."

"Let's stop here. We won't talk about this anymore."

"Look at these materials. Here, examine these two sets of data."

"I have many questions to discuss with you. Help me analyze them, okay?"

The moment Lin Xu changed topics, Xu Jin's expression immediately calmed. Picking up the documents, he said:

"These datasets are incomplete. I need specialized equipment for testing."

"Temperature control in liquid forming processes is a major issue - we require more precise thermal regulation systems."

"Actually, full automation should be implemented..."

Xu Jin became instantly absorbed. Lin Xu sighed in relief. At least he'd found a way to stabilize him. But their future collaboration would likely be far from smooth sailing.

Still, as long as he maintained majority patent rights, he could at least proceed smoothly with Tianqiong Technology...

......

Two hours later.

Lin Xu had finally covered all necessary topics with Xu Jin, whose emotions had stabilized completely. After sternly instructing Xu Jin not to mention their meeting to anyone or prematurely disclose any material information (to avoid legal consequences), Lin Xu escorted him back to Jinling University campus.

Watching Xu Jin's slightly unsteady steps as he walked toward the academic buildings, Lin Xu finally relaxed. His own pessimistic prediction had come true - dealing with such a genius was utterly exhausting. Perhaps he should consult a professional doctor later about more effective communication methods with Xu Jin. If every unexpected question triggered such episodes, their work would become impossible.

Still, this conversation had yielded results. Not only had they finalized contract and patent issues, but Lin Xu had also obtained crucial information. Xu Jin's Mars mission was definitely related to the Zhurong rover, and possibly his father. The Mars rover held some special obsession for him - to understand his motivations, Lin Xu would need to research the Zhurong rover's design details.

Time to go back and investigate. Lin Xu turned and entered the waiting car, failing to notice that Xu Jin hadn't actually entered the academic building...

......

Several hours later.

Zhong Mountain, Jinling Cadre Sanatorium.

Xu Jin walked down the sanatorium's long corridor, his shadow flickering across Roman-style pillars under the alternating light from curtained windows. After precisely 241 steps, he stopped before a door adorned with a red "fortune” character.

His movements grew erratic again - neck twitching, wrists rotating, fingers flexing repeatedly before clawing at his hair. These tics revealed his inner turmoil. After prolonged hesitation, he finally pushed open the slightly ajar door.

Inside, a nurse in plain work clothes sat beside the hospital bed, gently massaging the atrophied muscles of the emaciated patient to prevent bedsores. Noticing Xu Jin's entrance, the nurse nodded slightly and whispered:

"Professor Xu is in good condition today. All vitals have stabilized."

"He just fell asleep, so I'll..."

"I'm still awake."

The patient's eyes opened suddenly, softening slightly upon seeing Xu Jin.

"You're here?"

"How was school today?"

"...Good, Dad."

Xu Jin lowered his head slightly and sat beside Xu Qianlin.

"I did calisthenics and studied."

"I've received acceptance from the Materials Research Institute and will start soon."

"And I'm working on something else - progress on those two materials I've been researching."

"Dad, I'll help our country build the rocket."

"Then we can go to Mars... I'll bring the Zhurong rover back..."

"Don't overthink it."

Xu Qianlin raised a hand to stop him.

"Getting it launched was accomplishment enough. Retrieval isn't important."

"I'm old now, my body failing."

"I've long stopped dwelling on such matters. Forget what I told you before."

"Live your own life well - study hard, work diligently."

"If opportunity arises, serve our country."

"Understood?"

"Understood."

Xu Jin nodded emphatically. Xu Qianlin took a slow breath before continuing:

"The Zhurong rover isn't that important. What happened to it might not hold the significance we imagine."

"The universe is vast, with much we don't understand."

"Perhaps its fate was merely random fluctuation."

"Like how as a child you didn't know why wheels turn or wind blows, but understanding came with time."

"Time will provide answers."

"Don't force things, understand?"

"...Understand."

Xu Jin nodded first, then abruptly added:

"But I want to try, Dad."

"That's fine, of course."

Xu Qianlin patted Xu Jin's head.

"But mind your health, and stay vigilant against deception."

"Now, I need more rest."

"Your mother's cooking in the kitchen - go help her."

"Okay, Dad."

Xu Jin stood and "obediently" exited. The moment the door closed, Xu Qianlin's expression shifted. He gestured the nurse over and said:

"Investigate the boy."

"He's acting unusual today."

"Check if he's met anyone or accessed restricted information."

"Make a request to the organization."

"Increase Xu Jin's security level appropriately, and quickly."

"When I was capable, I could watch over him myself."

"Now that I can't, the state must protect him."

"Understood."

The nurse nodded.

"What do you suspect? It would help expedite the investigation."

"I don't know."

Xu Qianlin shook his head.

"He keeps mentioning materials research, suggesting some breakthrough."

"But I know my son - however brilliant, progress shouldn't come this fast."

"Perhaps his work attracted attention, someone feeding him information."

"Maybe they want to exploit him... though most approaching now would be frauds."

"Investigate thoroughly."

"If they are frauds..."

"arrest them immediately, as a warning to others!"