Chapter 185
Chapter 185
Nan Mu clasped his hands so tightly his knuckles whitened. Suddenly, several mysteries that had long eluded him fell into place.
“Wen Xin broke into Wisdom Biotech Company’s system and downloaded these two files. He probably drew someone’s attention and was attacked. Before his attacker could deal with him, Wen Tangtang and the others arrived, forcing the attacker to flee. Amid the chaos, Wen Xin may have remained conscious long enough to hide the flash drive somewhere concealed in the desk.”
The sawdust suggested Wen Xin had cut a hole near a corner of the desk, just large enough for the drive. That also explained why its color matched the wood: he had prepared this contingency in advance and deliberately bought one that blended in.
The hiding place must have been low enough that none of the desk’s later users noticed it. Then, while the desk was being moved, a collision or some other disturbance had shaken it loose.
“No wonder,” Qiu Ziyu said as realization dawned. “Wen Miao said in her recording that Wen Xin kept suffering accidents in the hospital. Maybe his attacker searched his room because he couldn’t find the drive. When that failed, he decided to silence Wen Xin permanently.”
His gaze locked on the screen. Gripping Nan Mu’s arm, he urged, “Quick-open the other folder! If Wen Xin downloaded it too, it may be just as important.”
===
Nan Mu opened Regeneration of Nerve Cells and Cloning Research of Stem Cells.
“Huh.” Qiu Ziyu sensed something was wrong. “Isn’t this folder rather small? There are far fewer files than in Quantum Computer.”
After checking repeatedly, Nan Mu agreed.
“Analysis reports, experimental data…” He compared the folders. “It’s missing photographs and other records from the experiments. There’s no experimental-data report or analysis either.”
Qiu Ziyu drew a tense breath. “Do you think it’s complete? Could Wen Xin have been attacked while downloading it?”
Nan Mu’s mouth tightened. “It’s possible.”
Unfortunately, although he had studied biology, his work after graduation focused on microbial environmental protection. He was no longer well versed in neural-cell regeneration. He would need to consult references and relearn much of the field before he could analyze the material.
Qiu Ziyu frowned skeptically. “And how long would that take?”
He knew how busy Nan Mu was. If they waited for him to work by day and research by night, it would be far too late.
He urged Nan Mu to print the files. “I’ll take them to a specialist.”
Nan Mu narrowed his eyes. “You actually have a friend who specializes in this?”
The distrust offended Qiu Ziyu. He widened his eyes. “Of course! Who are you looking down on?”
“Fine, fine.” Nan Mu surrendered, connected the laptop to the printer, and began printing. While they waited, he casually asked, “Who is this specialist friend of yours?”
“Wen Tangtang.”
Nan Mu paused while loading the paper. Shock spread over his face as he turned toward Qiu Ziyu, his eyes plainly saying, You have no shame.
Wen Tangtang was indeed an expert in the field.
But still!
“Since when is she your friend?”
Qiu Ziyu answered righteously, “Since just now.”
Nan Mu was speechless.
===
Qiu Ziyu took the printed documents back to the station to see Wen Tangtang. Nan Mu brought the flash drive to A University of Science and Technology, hoping Professor Wang Zheng of the biology department could provide useful insight.
After parking beneath Chongjing Building, Nan Mu texted Wang Zheng.
Nan Mu: I’m here. Where are you?
After a long wait, Wang Zheng replied: Give me a minute. Almost done.
The car was stifling, so Nan Mu got out to walk around.
The moment he did, an excited voice called behind him, “Nan Mu?”
He turned and saw a vaguely familiar, handsome man with an athletic build and bright eyes.
“Ah… Ah Chuan?” Nan Mu asked uncertainly.
“Hey, you still remember me!” Ah Chuan threw an arm around his shoulders. “It’s been… almost ten years, hasn’t it?”
Nan Mu’s uncertainty vanished at the familiar gesture. He remembered their days together on the university basketball team.
They had been young, hotheaded, and eager to show off. Ah Chuan studied chemistry. Though both played for the university team, annual departmental matches always turned them into rivals, leaving them annoyed with each other for days afterward.
“It has. You haven’t changed.” Nan Mu gave a rare smile. Ah Chuan was as energetic as ever.
Mistaking it for a compliment on his appearance, Ah Chuan touched his face bashfully. “You’re the one who looks exactly the same. These students have shaved years off my life.”
“You became a professor?”
That surprised Nan Mu. The most troublesome student of their day was now a professor tormented by students of his own. The irony amused him.
“What goes around comes around,” Nan Mu teased. “Now you know what you put your professors through.”
…
Ah Chuan eventually mentioned Wen Xin, whose death the previous month remained one of the school’s most discussed subjects.
“Wen Xin and I weren’t in the same major, but we were roommates. After graduation, we both joined the university as teachers the same year.” Ah Chuan sighed, his expression regretful and respectful. “He was extraordinarily gifted. He had been researching Quantum Entanglement Theory alone and sometimes called me with questions about superheavy materials. Such a loss. He was truly brilliant.”
Quantum entanglement and superheavy materials?
Probably for the Time Machine, Nan Mu thought.
“Oh, speaking of Wen Xin, a package of his arrived at the department. When I called, he said he’d collect it the next day. Then… I saw the news about his accident. I don’t know whom to give it to. He had no family, and the only person close to him was Wen Tangtang, but then she went to prison…”
A package belonging to Wen Xin?
Nan Mu’s heart stirred.