81: Chapter 81 Intercepting

Inside the A-705 Laboratory.

Wang Zhe and Li Wei darted about the spacious and bright experimental area like two children entering an amusement park for the first time.

Their fingers traced the cold metal frames of the brand-new clean benches, and their eyes greedily swept over the gleaming, clearly labeled instruments.

The high-throughput centrifuge, the fluorescent quantitative PCR machine, and even the silhouette of the flow cytometer in the corner all exuded a sense of high-end sophistication.

"Oh my god... Wang Zhe, look! This cell culture system comes with fully automatic monitoring!"

Li Wei pointed to the equipment inside the glass partition, her voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.

"And this! This micromanipulation platform! It's several times better than that antique I used before!"

Wang Zhe excitedly patted the workbench, as if he could already see himself showing off his skills on it.

"This place... is it really ours to use? Am I dreaming?"

He pinched his arm hard. "Hiss! It hurts! It's real!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with anticipation for the future and a trace of disbelief.

This was the main battlefield where they would follow Chen Youhua to challenge that prosthetic project!

Meanwhile, Chen Youhua had already walked into the independent office assigned to the project lead.

The office was not luxurious, but it was spacious, bright, and had an excellent view; a huge floor-to-ceiling window offered a panoramic view of nearly half the campus.

A large solid wood desk, an ergonomic chair, and a high-end computer were all provided.

He turned on the computer, set a password, and logged into his encrypted email.

The enlightenment installation package sent by Academician Zheng lay quietly in the inbox.

A faint, imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he clicked on the installer.

It was time to give those two overexcited guys outside a real surprise.

...

Biology Building, third floor, a slightly crowded laboratory.

Professor Sun Liren irritably threw his phone onto the desk piled with documents, making a dull "thud" sound.

He rubbed his temples hard, trying to suppress the anger surging to his head.

"Still didn't get a slot?"

Beside him, Researcher Zhang Weijie, wearing thick glasses and with slightly messy hair, asked cautiously, holding an experimental record that needed a signature.

He was a core member of Professor Sun's team, and the pressure regarding the project schedule was immense.

"Get a slot?"

Professor Sun let out a cold snort through his nose, dripping with sarcasm.

"Old Zhang, they never intended to let us have a slot! I've been applying for A-705 for nearly half a year and submitted reports three times! Each time they said resources were tight and needed to be coordinated! And what was the result?"

He slammed the table, making the pen holder on it jump.

"They gave it to someone else without a word! They didn't even notify us; if I hadn't taken the initiative to call and ask, I would still be kept in the dark!"

Zhang Weijie's expression also darkened.

The A-705 Laboratory was one of the independent laboratories in the building with the best location, the largest area, and reportedly the most complete basic configuration.

Their team was currently squeezed into such a small space, with seven or eight people taking turns using a few key pieces of equipment; not only was efficiency low, but they also frequently argued over scheduling.

Several key experiments he was working on were seriously lagging behind because of long wait times for equipment and intermittent data collection.

"Then... the school has to give us an explanation, right? Our project schedule..." Zhang Weijie's voice was filled with anxiety.

"Explanation?"

Professor Sun waved his hand wearily, his face full of helplessness and a sense of indignation at being slighted.

"The explanation is that resources are limited and priority must be given to key projects! They told us to overcome difficulties and ensure the project is delivered on schedule! Hah!"

He let out a short, mirthless laugh.

"Ensure delivery? With what? Running on love? The equipment queue will last until forever!"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm down, and said to Zhang Weijie.

"Old Zhang, there's no other way. Tell everyone to... overcome it a bit more.

For the most urgent experiments, if you really can't get a slot, go to Professor Li or Professor Zhao next door and ask if we can borrow their equipment temporarily.

Humble yourself and say... say that we really can't manage our turnover here, the project deadlines are very tight, and I'll find a way to return the favor later."

As he spoke to the end, his tone carried a trace of imperceptible humiliation.

He, Sun Liren, was considered a person of status in the department, but now he had to make his students and subordinates beg for equipment everywhere. Where was he supposed to put his face?

Zhang Weijie nodded silently, but he was holding back a surge of anger inside.

He knew all too well what borrowing equipment meant.

Looking at others' expressions, waiting in line for their gaps, having no control over his time, and having his experimental design shattered.

How could he guarantee data quality and project progress this way?

But he also knew Professor Sun's difficulties, so he could only reply.

"Okay, Professor Sun, I'll go coordinate it. Everyone... will understand."

"Understand?"

Professor Sun shook his head self-deprecatingly, his eyes somewhat dim.

"What's the use of understanding? If the project isn't completed and we can't get follow-up funding, the team will have to disband. It's not easy to do a project..."

He waved his hand, signaling Zhang Weijie to get busy.

"Go on, tell everyone to hang in there. We'll get past this hurdle first."

Zhang Weijie walked out of the office with the record book, feeling heavy-hearted.

In the laboratory, several graduate students and laboratory technicians were huddled together, whispering, their faces showing anxiety and fatigue.

Seeing Zhang Weijie come out, they all crowded around.

"Brother Zhang, how did it go? Is there any hope for A-705?" a young graduate student asked eagerly.

Zhang Weijie shook his head and sighed.

"No hope. Someone intercepted it."

"What?! Intercepted?"

A short-tempered lab technician's voice suddenly rose.

"We applied the earliest, our materials were the most complete, and Professor Sun went to run around for it several times himself. On what grounds? Who has such big connections?!"

"Exactly! How many times has this been? Every time, the better resources never reach us!"

Another graduate student also complained.

"Did it go to some well-connected person again?"

"Alright! Everyone, say less!"

Zhang Weijie frowned and shouted in a low voice, suppressing everyone's dissatisfaction.

"Professor Sun is also in a difficult position. It's useless to say these things now. The top priority is to ensure the project schedule.

Everyone, prioritize the experiments you have on hand. If you really can't wait for our equipment, make a list for me. I'll go to other groups to coordinate borrowing. Remember, have a good attitude!"

Although everyone was still indignant, they knew that complaining wouldn't solve the problem, so they had to disperse helplessly and continue their work, though the atmosphere in the laboratory was even more oppressive and dull than before.

Watching everyone's busy and stifled figures, the fire in Zhang Weijie's heart burned brighter and brighter.

A-705... that place he had looked up at countless times from downstairs, imagining himself doing experiments freely in the spacious area inside... was it just gone like that? And he didn't even know who the opponent was?

He walked to the window, his gaze involuntarily cast towards the direction of the top floor.

The huge floor-to-ceiling window of the A-705 Laboratory reflected dazzling light in the sun.

"No way!"

Zhang Weijie clenched his fists, his eyes becoming sharp.

"I can't just let it go. I want to see who has such great ability to silently snatch away the laboratory we've been eyeing for half a year!"

He decided that he would find an opportunity to probe the background of this new neighbor.

At the very least, he had to know who put their team in such a passive position.

He couldn't swallow this stifled anger.