Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 59: The Tianqin Project

Not long after finishing his conversation with Bai Mo, she sent over the clues she had compiled.  

Lin Xu carefully reviewed them, but quickly realized there wasn't much substantive content.  

In fact, most of it consisted of her descriptions about that "plane" or rather "cross-section" world.  

It was filled with dreamlike ramblings that would have made Lin Xu question Bai Mo's mental state if he hadn't already accepted and understood the concept of "higher-dimensional space."  

This was understandable.  

After all, Bai Mo didn't have a bracelet like his to enter the future world at will and search for different clues.  

However, this gave Lin Xu a new idea.  

He had always thought the bracelet was a "simulator" that could replicate a real future, allowing him repeated trial-and-error and information gathering.  

But what if it was actually a "timeline stabilizer"?  

What if this was an anchor point enabling stable travel through higher-dimensional space?  

Currently, this seemed quite plausible.  

Lin Xu examined the bracelet on his wrist, gently stroking it to reveal the number "3."  

His energy had replenished—he could venture into another world again.  

But he'd have to wait until he got home.  

Checking the time, it was only 5 PM.  

Why bother staying at work?  

Wait—he was on flexible clock-in anyway—what was the point of pretending to work?  

In this situation, even going home to sleep would be more productive than sitting in the office.  

With that thought, he decisively packed his laptop and phone to leave—just as someone knocked on his office door.  

"Come in."  

Lin Xu sighed and sat back down.  

The door opened, revealing Jiang Xingye.  

"What brings you here?"  

"Director Lin."  

Jiang Xingye closed the door behind her, her tone shifting instantly.  

"Are you okay?"  

"I'm fine—why wouldn't I be?"  

Lin Xu shrugged, feigning nonchalance.  

"I heard you came back in a government-plated car—what's going on? Are you under surveillance?"  

"Is it related to Xu Jin?"  

"Are they going to arrest you?"  

The concern in Jiang Xingye's eyes was genuine—she was truly worried he'd gotten into trouble.  

Lin Xu coughed and spun a lie:  

"It's about historical issues at Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory—since I'm now responsible for it, they came to me for questioning."  

"Just routine inquiries, nothing serious."  

"That's good, that's good."  

Jiang Xingye visibly relaxed, a smile returning to her face.  

"So where are you off to? All packed up?"  

"...Going home."  

Lin Xu replied somewhat awkwardly:  

"I need rest—I'm tired."  

"...Right, right. There's definitely a thick wall between us now."  

Jiang Xingye rolled her eyes.  

"Go ahead then—I still have work to do."  

As she turned to leave, Lin Xu called out:  

"Wait."  

"Why don't you clock out early too? I'll take you to dinner."  

"Trying to leverage your position for favors?"  

Jiang Xingye raised an eyebrow.  

"Director Lin, isn't this inappropriate? With so many people watching..."  

"...Are you coming or not?"  

Jiang Xingye adopted a pitiful expression:  

"Of course I'll go!"  

"I'd do anything you ask, Director Lin—please be gentle with Xingye..."  

"...There's a camera above you."  

Lin Xu pointed at the ceiling. Jiang Xingye stiffened and looked up—only to find nothing there.  

"Tricking me?"  

She glared at Lin Xu angrily.  

"You're the silly one—who'd install cameras in a director's private office?"  

"Let's go—pack your things. Perfect timing for dinner before leaving."  

"Roger that!"  

Jiang Xingye cheerfully pushed the door open and left, while Lin Xu called a ride and waited for her downstairs.  

As the car headed toward their apartment, Jiang Xingye suddenly asked:  

"What's really going on with Bai Mo?"  

"How did a chat about university life make her break down?"  

Lin Xu hesitated—how should he answer?  

Tell Jiang Xingye that Bai Mo had experienced higher-dimensional space, just like him?  

Would she even believe it?  

Wait—  

Regardless, maybe he should try confiding in her.  

After all, Jiang Xingye was undeniably connected to the Planetary Reincarnation organization—which itself held crucial clues about the apocalypse.  

Now, regarding everyone tied to the apocalypse, Lin Xu had gathered some information—or at least motives.  

Only Jiang Xingye remained a complete black box.  

He needed to pry it open—at least crack it slightly.  

With that thought, Lin Xu said:  

"She believes she's had... supernatural experiences."  

"She thinks she's entered higher-dimensional space, and that the answers lie in space—specifically, on Mars."  

"That's why she wants to go to Mars."  

"We discussed this topic, and well... she broke down."  

"Mars?? Higher-dimensional space?!"  

Jiang Xingye was stunned.  

"Seriously?!"  

"You believe that too?!"  

Lin Xu met her gaze and nodded slowly:  

"I find her account quite credible."  

"Not that she's entirely correct, but perhaps she did experience something unusual."  

"...Can't wrap my head around it."  

Jiang Xingye shrugged. Lin Xu pressed further:  

"You don't believe it? Didn't you say you wanted to go to Mars too?"  

"So why do you want to go?"  

"Me?"  

Jiang Xingye blinked.  

"I just thought going to Mars sounded fun—but definitely not alone, only with someone I love."  

"Farming on Mars—the Chinese version of The Little Prince. Romantic, right?"  

"...Are you the ultimate romance-obsessed airhead?!"  

Lin Xu was dumbfounded.  

Wait—was her future presence on Mars really because of such an absurd reason?  

Did she follow him there after he went?  

And the divorce?  

How did she become his ex-wife then?  

His gaze at Jiang Xingye grew uncertain—he truly couldn't fathom this girl's thoughts.  

Jiang Xingye ignored his reaction, rolling her eyes with a sigh:  

"The Mars romance thing was obviously a joke."  

"Honestly, even just going to Mars was casual talk."  

"We haven't even sorted things out on Earth—why rush to Mars?"  

"If I ever go, it'd only be for an unavoidable reason."  

"Like if they desperately needed a flight control engineer there..."  

"I see..."  

Lin Xu nodded thoughtfully.  

Unavoidable reason...  

The answer probably lay within the Bracelet World.  

Tonight—find Bai Mo from 20 years later.  

Perhaps she'd have answers.  

The car arrived at their destination. Lin Xu and Jiang Xingye got out and entered a hot pot restaurant side by side.  

Neither seemed to notice—compared to their last visit here, the distance between them had noticeably shrunk...  

Meanwhile, at the FAST Observatory in Guizhou...  

A gray-haired scholar held the latest report while his bespectacled assistant delivered a brief summary:  

"...The previous anomalous celestial phenomenon was too brief."  

"We deployed nearly all available equipment, but results remain unclear and inconclusive."  

"The only certainty is abnormal gravitational waves between Mars and Earth."  

"The Tianqin satellite has detected corresponding data, but without Tianqin-2 and Tianqin-3 completing the network, we can't pinpoint the source."  

"Colleagues are attempting collaboration with LIGO in the US and Virgo in Europe for more detailed data."  

"But expectations should remain low."  

"The gravitational waves were too weak and brief—likely drowned in noise."  

"Still, something is better than nothing..."  

"Indeed."  

The scholar sighed.  

"Something is better than nothing."  

"Our priority is accelerating the Tianqin network's completion."  

"This project has been stalled by budget constraints."  

"We need revised cost estimates—especially for structural materials, the main variable expense."  

"If cheaper solutions exist..."  

"We must proceed regardless."  

"Start inquiries—thoroughly investigate alternatives."  

"This requires immediate action."  

"Understood."  

The assistant nodded, though clueless about where to "investigate."  

If they needed both affordability and reliability, only new materials would suffice.  

But where could such materials be found?  

Where exactly should this investigation lead...?