Ten-odd minutes passed quickly.
Bai Yu maintained his usual composure, letting the doctor carry out various diagnostic procedures. On the other hand, Zhou Wang grew increasingly anxious on the side, terrified that the next moment he would hear the verdict that Bai Yu had only a few days left.
In a short span of time, a layer of cold sweat broke out across the body covered by Zhou Wang’s protective suit. His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, and his heavy gaze remained locked onto Bai Yu.
Looking at Bai Yu’s calm and detached expression, Zhou Wang felt as though he was the one lying gravely ill in bed.
At that moment, he truly felt that Bai Yu could not be judged by ordinary logic. In moments of physical decline and unbearable pain, the other person still acted as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. If Bai Yu didn’t look human, he would have wanted to call him a monster.
Just as Zhou Wang grew so anxious that he wanted to pace back and forth impatiently in the hospital room, the doctor finally finished the checkup. Operating the holographic projection screen swiftly, the doctor soon generated a set of results.
Zhou Wang stared intently at the doctor, not even having time to ask a question before a pleased and surprised voice rang out in the room.
“Professor Bai’s physical condition has actually recovered somewhat! I thought his condition was going to continue deteriorating!”
Upon hearing this, Bai Yu felt no surprise at all; this result matched the diagnostics performed by 4408. Still, had his body truly recovered?
Zhou Wang, however, found it somewhat hard to believe. Glancing at Bai Yu, who still maintained a calm expression, he turned his fixed gaze back to the doctor, asking nervously, “Is what you’re saying true or false?”
Joy filled Dr. Song’s eyes. Without saying anything else, he approached Zhou Wang, directly shifted the holographic screen right in front of him, and pointed to the comparative data charts on it as he explained, “Look at these overall figures from yesterday compared with today’s. His vital signs have clearly rebounded, especially his lung condition, which shows no further damage. It must be because Professor Bai hasn’t had any fitful coughing spells since waking up this time.”
Zhou Wang stared hard at the dense rows of medical data, feeling somewhat incredulous.
At that moment, 4408 also chimed in: “Dr. Song is right. After Bai Yu woke up just now, he really didn’t cough anymore. The data I’m detecting is also trending positively.”
Hearing this, Professor Song chuckled and nodded with a hint of excitement, saying, “Following this trend, Professor Bai might even be cured—at least it won’t get any worse. Though we don’t know the exact cause, this is a good sign. The medical team will begin research immediately to ensure this condition is sustained!”
Only then did Zhou Wang fully snap out of it. His expression swiftly transitioned from incredulity to a firm, resolute look as he cast a heavy gaze straight toward Bai Yu and bluntly stated, “In that case, you should be able to re-enter the lab to conduct research right away.”
Bai Yu, who had been lowering his gaze, slowly lifted his eyes to look at Zhou Wang, who was staring at him with such hopeful expectation, while an ambiguous curve formed almost imperceptibly at the corner of his lips.
He said nothing. Yet even though Bai Yu’s smile was minuscule, Zhou Wang still caught that fleeting trace of mockery, causing his entire person to grow restless and his inner anxiety to spike further.
“Bai Yu, you can’t be willful anymore. Humanity can’t afford to wait,” he stated bluntly in a deep tone.
Listening to this speech filled with moral blackmail, Bai Yu finally let out a genuine smile, though the look in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Wang grew increasingly profound. Zhou Wang was jolted by the look, panicking for a fraction of a second; this kind of Bai Yu made his attitude even more inscrutable.
The next instant, Bai Yu simply uttered: “Mm.”
Zhou Wang was taken aback, completely unprepared for Bai Yu to actually agree. The very next moment, however, he saw the smiling face instantly turn cold and frigid, with obvious deepness and indifference lingering in the corners of his eyes, as if his earlier “mm” was merely to toy with an insignificant person.
Seeing Bai Yu like this, Zhou Wang swallowed involuntarily. Yet finding Bai Yu more and more incomprehensible, unable to suppress his surging emotions, he spoke with a touch of agitation: “What on earth do you mean? We need you in the lab.”
Bai Yu remained cold and detached. He gazed at Zhou Wang and paused for a moment before saying, “I am a patient.”
This remark instantly blocked Zhou Wang’s path. Didn’t he know Bai Yu was a patient? But sick or not, he still had to enter the lab; otherwise, why waste money keeping his life going with such a top-tier medical team? Yet Bai Yu was playing tai chi with them all over again.
“Are you still holding a grudge and unwilling to enter the lab? The grievances you suffered will be compensated to you—isn’t that enough? For every day a research result is delayed from coming out, tens of thousands of people die in agonizing misery with grieving families. Do you want to see this situation drag on for even one more day?”
Hearing this, Bai Yu was stunned for a second, then sighed inwardly with helplessness, finding it utterly laughable. The people at the research center were truly adept at moral blackmail. When you had value, they couldn’t wait to squeeze you dry; when you had no value, they would kick you away as far as possible.
“So, you’re saying it’s my fault after all?” he replied indifferently.
This statement startled Zhou Wang for a moment, causing him to instantly snap out of his anxious and over-excited state. He hurriedly suppressed his fiery temper and swallowed hard with embarrassment.
“Apologies, I was a bit emotional just now. I just hope you’ll enter the lab as soon as possible.”
Bai Yu fell silent, keeping his eyes locked onto Zhou Wang as he said in a deep voice, “Tell me the truth, what happened with the new team?”
Zhou Wang’s pupils instantly constricted; he hadn’t expected Bai Yu to be so sharp.
The research team had indeed run into another accident. A portion of critical experimental data had been destroyed, and the team members were trying their best to recover it. But just to be safe, they still needed Bai Yu to personally oversee things.
As for why the experimental data had been destroyed, it involved certain radical elements—or rather, madmen—within the research center, the kind of lunatics who wanted to drag everyone down with them even if they died in this apocalypse. They had deliberately engineered a scheme to destroy the experimental equipment on the pretext of an accident. Because rescue efforts weren’t fast enough, a portion of the data really had been wiped out.
As a senior researcher, Zhou Wang had dedicated himself to his country and humanity’s scientific endeavors. Even though he understood and was well-versed in the various backstabbing politics of the research community, he still found such an act baffling.
This matter was currently under strict investigation, though a guess was already forming: it might be tied to the fact that Bai Yu’s name had been omitted from the project member list submission.
When all was said and done, however, someone was actively trying to obstruct this research.
If biological genetic technology contamination could be effectively resolved, it would indeed step on the toes of many existing vested interests. Facing massive benefits, who could clearly see the future where humanity was supposed to get better?
For just a few seconds, the emotions in Zhou Wang’s eyes shifted continuously. Although he didn’t say anything, Bai Yu could roughly deduce what had happened simply by observing those emotional changes.
“I am not a patch. You can’t just throw me in as an installation package wherever there’s a bug,” he stated directly, his voice softening slightly like a feather, devoid of any complaints or accusations.
Yet falling into Zhou Wang’s ears, no matter what Bai Yu meant, it only translated to one thing: Bai Yu refused to cooperate.
For a moment, he was completely out of options, growing frantic and clenching his hands tightly as he stared fixedly and irritably at Bai Yu.
Bai Yu’s expression remained flat, his eyelids lowered and lips pressed into a thin line.
He had no desire to clean up the mess left behind by this team; these were all the consequences of political infighting. Why should he be dragged into the vortex of disputes and, on top of that, be expected to come running at a moment’s notice to clean up after them?
He was no bleeding-heart saint.
Bai Yu said no more, while Zhou Wang stared at him, having no idea how to persuade him anymore.
The two sides instantly reached a deadlock, the atmosphere suddenly turning somewhat bizarre.
Right at that moment, however, the doctor beside them suddenly dropped to his knees in the direction of Bai Yu.
This action instantly shocked both Bai Yu and Zhou Wang, causing them to turn their gazes toward the doctor in unison.
“What are you doing?” Zhou Wang spoke first, his tone incredulous.
Bai Yu quickly reined in his astonishment, frowned slightly, and stared at the doctor. “Dr. Song?”
Seeing the shocked expressions directed at him by Bai Yu and Zhou Wang, the doctor managed a bitter smile, looked at Bai Yu with grief-stricken eyes, swallowed with difficulty, and finally spoke: “Professor Bai, can you please hurry and enter the lab to complete this research and solve the crisis of biological genetic technology contamination? My daughter was just infected; she barely underwent gene repair surgery to gain a temporary lease of health, but we don’t know when it will relapse. She’s counting on this research coming to fruition to save her life.”
Having said this, the doctor’s heavy eyes, laced with severe bloodshot veins, welled up with slightly murky tears. His entire pair of eyes grew wet and sorrowful, his expression heartbroken enough to break down in tears at any second.
Watching him like this, Bai Yu was left momentarily stunned.
The doctor continued: “There are countless children just like my daughter. She’s only five years old—an age where she’s barely starting to understand the world—yet she has to suffer this kind of torment. Only brilliant people like you can change their predetermined fate. Professor Bai, I am truly begging you.”
Hearing this heartfelt plea, Bai Yu tightened his grip on the quilt beneath his hands. His expression turned slightly rigid and cold; he gave the doctor a deep look before lowering his gaze.
Zhou Wang was also deeply moved by the doctor’s words. Staring straight at Bai Yu, he pressed on, “Bai Yu, everyone is counting on you now. You can’t be stubborn anymore. Compared to thousands of human lives and the future of humanity, every single one of us is utterly insignificant.”
Bai Yu’s expression hitched for a moment, yet he remained silent.
After a moment, he slowly lifted his gaze to look at Zhou Wang, fixing a profound, dark look upon him. “Is that so?”
This counter-question caught Zhou Wang off guard, making him feel somewhat guilty. Still, meeting Bai Yu’s gaze, he said firmly, “Yes, this is the responsibility and mission of us researchers.”
Bai Yu, however, slightly hooked the corner of his lips. Pausing for a moment, he said, “It’s fine if you want me to re-enter the lab. I have a condition.”
“What condition? As long as it’s doable, we can satisfy it,” Zhou Wang blurted out without a second thought. Yet looking at Bai Yu’s cold and arrogant face and the slight arc curving at the corner of his mouth, his heart instantly jumped into his throat.
Bai Yu’s smile deepened. Although his complexion was pale and filled with weakness, Zhou Wang felt somewhat creeped out by it. This kind of Bai Yu made him feel even more inscrutable and terrifying. Clearly just a young man in his early twenties, he possessed an oppressive aura that made one’s hair stand on end.
He couldn’t help swallowing hard again.
After a full few seconds, Bai Yu finally spoke: “From now on, I and my team members will take complete charge of this experiment. How about that?”
Zhou Wang was stunned instantly, thinking he had misheard. A moment later, however, he realized with absolute certainty that what Bai Yu expressed was precisely the literal meaning of his words.
“Impossible! The team members have already been determined; how can we keep changing things back and forth?” he blurted out anxiously.
Bai Yu chuckled abruptly once more, giving Zhou Wang a deep, meaningful look before saying nothing more.
Zhou Wang immediately figured out Bai Yu’s intent. Bai Yu had handed him an impossible problem, implicitly telling him: if none of you are willing to compromise for my sake, then why should I casually compromise for people like you?
For a moment, Zhou Wang felt a lump in his throat. He realized that Bai Yu was several times harder to deal with than he had imagined; even with someone kneeling and begging him, he still coldly stuck to his own principles.