Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 55: Come In, Let's Talk

The real reason?

Bai Mo across from Lin Xu examined him with scrutinizing eyes, seemingly unable to immediately discern his intentions.

This unexpectedly made her feel a trace of anxiety.

----In fact, any situation that couldn't be reasoned through with logic and rationality would plunge her into anxiety.

Fortunately, most scenarios encountered in daily life didn't have significant impact.

After brief contemplation, she replied:

"There's really only one main reason."

"I've always been naturally curious about space, and I want to become an astronaut."

"But I can't pass the official selection process. Trying to reach the industry's peak through my own abilities and participate in space missions as a non-professional astronaut is also nearly impossible."

"Because my major inherently doesn't meet the selection criteria for non-professional astronauts."

"So for me, the most rational choice is joining a private aerospace company to advance commercial spaceflight development while seeking opportunities along the way."

After Bai Mo finished speaking, Lin Xu nodded slightly.

"You've already told the HRD this reason, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"What promises did he give you?"

Lin Xu continued questioning.

"HR promises are never trustworthy... so I didn't take them seriously."

"But even without her promises, I wouldn't change my own judgment."

"As I said, this is the most reasonable choice, the most rational choice."

"Understood."

Lin Xu nodded thoughtfully.

A natural interest in space?

Considering her background, this seemed quite reasonable.

She had studied aircraft manufacturing, seemingly aiming directly for "aerospace."

But there appeared to be another issue here.

If she truly had an innate desire to "go to space," why didn't she pursue defense universities or military academies that offered closer paths?

Wouldn't becoming a pilot first, then an astronaut, be much easier than switching from aircraft design behind the scenes to the front stage?

Given how rational she was, Lin Xu couldn't believe she hadn't recognized the difference between these two paths.

Thinking this, Lin Xu said:

"But there's a problem with your statement."

"You probably weren't 'born' interested in the cosmos or space."

"It must have started at least after you entered university—that is, after 2018—that you became interested in space, right?"

"Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone to Xi'an Aeronautical University to study aircraft manufacturing. That's a path inconsistent with your ultimate goal."

As he finished speaking, Lin Xu clearly noticed Bai Mo's eyes flickering several times.

Bullseye!

Guessed correctly!

Something must have influenced her!

Sure enough, after brief silence, Bai Mo nodded and said:

"Yes."

"To be precise, it was from 2021 onward that I decided I wanted to personally fly into space to see it."

"However, regarding the specific reason... may I decline to explain?"

"It's personal privacy, not convenient to disclose publicly."

"...Alright."

Lin Xu obviously couldn't force her to speak using interrogation methods.

But even if she refused to explain, today's meeting had meaning.

At least it confirmed she was highly rational, extremely execution-oriented, and straightforward.

Personality traits like these fundamentally don't change.

Understanding this characteristic would make communication more efficient once inside Bracelet World.

At that moment, Jiang Xingye's voice sounded outside the door.

She seemed unaware where her new office was, still asking people outside.

Lin Xu stood up to open the door, casually asking Bai Mo:

"You wouldn't happen to want to go to Mars too, would you?"

In that instant.

Bai Mo's expression drastically changed.

Lin Xu froze mid-motion.

He paused briefly.

Then he rapidly fired questions at Bai Mo:

"Why Mars?"

"What's the reason?"

"Planetary Reincarnation? The apocalypse? The Zhurong rover? The solar halo? The prophecy? Or the extra-dimensional experience??"

He blurted out every key term from all the major clues he knew.

Bai Mo's expression could no longer be described as just unpleasant.

Anxiety, terror, panic, helplessness...

That capable demeanor completely vanished.

Her facial muscles even contorted violently from intense spasms.

"I... I..."

"You..."

Bai Mo stammered incoherently.

Lin Xu decisively pulled out his phone and said:

"Remember my number!"

"You probably don't want to discuss this in front of others."

"But most of what you know, I already know too!"

"Calm down first."

"We'll talk another time!"

"Understood... understood..."

Bai Mo's trembling hands fumbled with her phone, entering the wrong digits multiple times before finally getting Lin Xu's number right.

The way she looked at Lin Xu had completely changed.

Lin Xu couldn't describe what that gaze meant.

But intuitively...

It resembled someone who had trekked endlessly through a desert finally spotting a real oasis...

Just then, Jiang Xingye finally located Lin Xu's office.

She knocked, and Lin Xu said "Come in."

Jiang Xingye pushed the door open.

"Director Lin, sorry I'm late."

"I didn't..."

"I'll be leaving now."

Bai Mo kept her head low as she walked toward the exit.

She struggled to control her body movements, desperately hiding her nearly uncontrollable expression.

Jiang Xingye was dumbfounded.

Only after the office door closed again did she turn to Lin Xu.

"What the hell?"

"What did you do?!"

Judging by her accusatory tone, she seemed less concerned about Lin Xu botching an interview and more worried something "indescribable" had happened between him and Bai Mo.

"I..."

"Ah, it's hard to explain!"

Lin Xu knew it wasn't time to come clean with Jiang Xingye yet, so he gave an ambiguous answer.

"We talked a bit about her university days—why she chose this major, why she wanted to join Tianqiong Technology."

"I might have pushed too far—seems like I broke through her defenses..."

"That's it??"

Jiang Xingye took a step closer.

"You think I'd believe that?"

"That's really all."

Lin Xu met Jiang Xingye's gaze unflinchingly.

He wasn't actually lying.

He just hadn't told the whole story.

Seeing sincerity in his eyes, Jiang Xingye relaxed slightly.

"Good if you're not lying... Don't worry, if she backs out I'll find you someone else."

"Don't report this yet, otherwise HR might use it against you."

"You just got promoted—can't afford any blemishes."

"Just say there were communication gaps during my initial discussions with her. I'll handle the explanation."

"No need."

Lin Xu waved his hand.

"She just had a mental breakdown, not a work-related one."

"She'll come."

"And honestly, I think she's quite suitable for this position."

"That's good."

Jiang Xingye exhaled deeply, then asked curiously:

"So what exactly did you talk about?"

"I just—"

"Ring ring ring—"

Just as Lin Xu was about to answer, his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen—an unknown number.

Telemarketer?

He answered casually, only to hear a man's voice:

"Mr. Lin Xu, this is the Comprehensive Intelligence Division of Jinling City National Security Bureau."

"Our address is Jinling Public Security Bureau, Liuchao Road, Jinling City."

"Please come over now."

"Come straight in when you arrive. We need to... discuss some matters with you."