99: Chapter 99 Reminiscing

"Ring ring ring~~"

The piercing ring of the telephone shattered the silence of the study, abruptly pulling Chen Youhua back from the abstract world of Three-dimensional Fluids.

He rubbed his dry eyes and grabbed the buzzing phone on the desk.

The words "Academician Zheng" danced on the screen.

"Hello, Old Zheng?"

Chen Youhua picked up the phone, his voice raspy but his tone relaxed.

"You're quite a rare guest; it's been a while since I've heard from you. I thought you'd forgotten about this living person."

Academician Zheng's signature hearty and friendly laughter immediately came through the receiver, making Chen Youhua's ears ring.

"Hahaha, you brat! Would I dare forget? I was just afraid of disturbing our Xiao Chen, the State Scholar, while he's busy with his grand research."

Oh, you have no idea; I've been busy as a bee lately. Spark Base has undergone another complete upgrade.

The scale of it, tsk tsk... You really should come and see it when you have time! This is the hometown of your enlightenment; it's completely transformed now, much more grand!"

Academician Zheng's voice carried unabashed pride and excitement, like he was showing off his newly renovated house.

Chen Youhua smiled helplessly and leaned back in his chair.

"Old Zheng, stop teasing me. I'm also at my wit's end, trying to overcome a mathematical problem lately."

Over at the biology lab, I've left everything to Senior Sister Li Wei and Senior Brother Wang Zhe to handle.

You know, I'm really not cut out for management; I'm lucky if I can just keep my own affairs straight."

He subconsciously glanced at the pile of Dimension-reduction drafts on the corner of the desk that had been sentenced to death.

Academician Zheng knew Chen Youhua well and realized the mathematical 'hard bone' he mentioned must be no small matter, but he didn't ask for specifics.

He changed the subject, his tone remaining warm.

"It's good to leave it to them. That little fellow enlightenment is watching over the lab, so nothing major will go wrong."

But Youhua, I'll say it again: you really should come back and visit when you have time.

After the industrial version of the enlightenment engine was released, although many restrictions were placed on its functions, you have no idea... the changes it has brought to our industrial upgrading can only be described as an explosion!"

Lately, breakthrough technical reports have been flying into the base like snowflakes! It's enough to make us old-timers feel invigorated!

That's why we finally decided to fully re-equip the base. It's much stronger now than the last time you were here; you really should see it!"

Hearing the excitement in Academician Zheng's voice, a gratified smile couldn't help but tug at the corner of Chen Youhua's mouth.

This was exactly his original intention when he had pushed through all opposition to support releasing the limited capabilities of enlightenment.

"Hearing you say that, I'm relieved.

I'll definitely find time to go back and visit; it's not that far, after all."

He paused, his tone filled with emotion.

"Our country certainly doesn't lack talent; what's often missing is just that bit of circumstance and opportunity.

enlightenment is like that match; as long as it's given a chance, the energy accumulated in this land can burst into brilliant sparks."

"Well said! Absolutely right!"

Academician Zheng slapped his thigh hard on the other end of the line, his voice booming.

"So, we old-timers feel privately that the country's attention and support for you, State Scholar Chen, is still not enough! Far from enough! Hahahaha!"

He spoke half-jokingly and half-seriously.

After the laughter, Academician Zheng's tone suddenly dropped, taking on a hint of imperceptible seriousness.

"By the way, Youhua, let me ask you something.

Lately... have you unintentionally offended anyone? Or have you felt anything unusual?"

Chen Youhua was stunned by the sudden question and subconsciously thought back.

"Offended someone? No.

I spend all day either soaked in the lab or shut in my study; I have very little contact with the outside world.

What is it, Old Zheng? Did something happen?"

"Oh, it's nothing major, don't be nervous."

Academician Zheng immediately softened his tone, but the sense of warning became heavier.

"It's just that the situation on all fronts has been quite tense lately; a tall tree catches the wind.

You must take to heart and strictly follow any reminders or suggestions from the security team.

Remember, ensuring your personal absolute safety is the primary task that stands above and overrides everything else. At any time and in any place, you cannot afford to be careless!"

Chen Youhua thought of the silent, upright figure outside the lab and the vigilant protection near the supper stall last night. A warm current surged in his heart, and he became more solemn.

"Yes, don't worry, I know the stakes. I mostly move between the campus and the lab; it's very safe.

Once this... well, this project I'm working on shows some promise,"

He vaguely glossed over the Navier-Stokes Equation.

"I plan to build a large-scale, comprehensive frontier laboratory myself—physics, mathematics, biology, information... a multi-disciplinary cross-over type, to solidify basic research."

"Build a laboratory?!"

Academician Zheng's voice instantly jumped an octave, filled with surprise and a hint of urgency that it should have happened sooner.

"This is a good thing, a wonderful thing! Why didn't you say so earlier?

This is a basic setup you should have had in the first place. Leave this to me; you just pick the location.

Which piece of land do you have your eye on? I'll coordinate resources immediately and arrange the top team to survey, design, and construct it for you! I guarantee it'll be fast and high-quality!"

Chen Youhua grew anxious upon hearing this; his intention was to wait until the project was completed and use his own earnings to fund it.

"No, no, no, Old Zheng! This won't do! I meant after the Prosthetic Project is launched and has generated output and revenue, I would..."

"Nonsense!"

Academician Zheng interrupted him directly, his tone becoming exceptionally serious with an unquestionable sense of authority, as if he had returned to being the Academician who made the final decisions at major meetings.

"Comrade Chen Youhua, is the contribution you've made to the country not worth a single laboratory?

enlightenment, the Qiming Smart Manufacturing Engine—can the direct and indirect economic benefits and technical upgrade dividends they've brought after being released, and the boost to the country's overall strength, be measured in money?

For the sake of the big picture, we temporarily cannot give you the honors and awards you deserve, and we already feel we owe you. You absolutely cannot refuse the resource guarantees that should be yours! This is the foundation for you to conduct your research in peace!"

Academician Zheng took a deep breath and softened his tone, but remained resolute.

"Alright, it's settled!

Choose an intended location as soon as possible. We'll send people for a site survey and provide professional advice based on geological, environmental, and security requirements.

Start construction first. By the time your Prosthetic Project is a complete success, you'll be able to move into your new home seamlessly. That's how we'll do it!"

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, carrying an irrefutable determination.

Chen Youhua held the phone, watching the sky outside gradually dim, then looked down at the pile of mathematical drafts on the desk that symbolized failure and a new beginning.

Finally, he could only let out a single word, helplessly yet with a hint of warmth from being understood:

"...Okay."