769: Robbed

Upon hearing the question, Lin Shuang didn't immediately react.

"Counting from university, it's been about 15 years!"

"Ever since graduating with a Ph.D. from MIT and returning to the country, I've been working at the Nuclear Power Operation Research Institute, right up until today!"

Jiang Jianguo continued to ask, "If I'm not mistaken, you're 39 this year, aren't you?"

Lin Shuang nodded.

"I'll be 39 next month."

"Do you want to advance?"

Lin Shuang was stunned.

"Ah??"

Jiang Jianguo said indifferently, "Since you can't continue with the Tian Ting Heavy Industry Plan, why don't you just be my assistant!"

"The country is currently preparing a nuclear fusion overseas plan, and the first stop is the Middle East. We need a project leader."

"You have enough ability and experience, so I recommend you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuang was first stunned, then said in disbelief, "Academician Jiang, are you... are you serious?"

"Really?"

The nuclear fusion overseas project was the policy most approved by the conservative faction among the series of decisions recently issued by the government.

They all unanimously believed that this policy perfectly implemented the established national policy of development as the core, not only demonstrating the responsibility of a major power but also greatly enhancing the country's international image and right to speak!

But what Lin Shuang couldn't believe was that he was not yet 40 and still lacked experience.

Such an important national-level overseas plan was actually going to let him be the leader?

"Lin Shuang!" Jiang Jianguo suddenly stood up and came to Lin Shuang's front.

"I won't organize that liaison meeting!"

"You know my identity is very sensitive now, it's inconvenient for me to show up!"

"If it must be done, then you organize it!"

"Originally, your age, identity, status, and connections were still a bit lacking, but if you become the leader of the nuclear fusion technology overseas project, that will be completely sufficient!"

At this point, Jiang Jianguo smiled and patted Lin Shuang's shoulder, continuing, "Work hard, after the project is over, you can directly transfer to the political department!"

"The country urgently needs technical talents now, and our faction also urgently needs a public figure to lead!"

"You don't have to worry about the specifics, Academician Jiang will arrange everything!"

After listening to Jiang Jianguo, Lin Shuang was still immersed in disbelief, stammering excitedly, unable to utter a complete sentence.

"What, you don't want to progress?"

Lin Shuang quickly shook his head, saying awkwardly, "Academician Jiang, no, I... I really want to progress!"

Jiang Jianguo laughed loudly.

"That's good!"

"Tomorrow, you go home first, then immediately rush to the capital and get the procedures done as soon as possible!"

"Yes!"

After Lin Shuang left, Jiang Jianguo locked the office, and after a brief thought, he dialed Wu Dawei's 3D holographic call.

Three days later, in Beijing, at a high-end private club, "A national-level overseas project leader under 40, young and promising, truly young and promising!"

"Lin Shuang has officially stepped out of the cage and become the head chicken!"

"Even when he was at Tsinghua University, I knew Lin Shuang's future was limitless!"

"What are you saying? A closed-door disciple personally trained by Academician Jiang, how could his future be limited?"

"Yes, yes, yes, my mistake, my mistake, I'll punish myself with three drinks, hahaha!"

"Come on, everyone, let's toast to the shining new star of the conservative faction!"

"Mr. Lin, I, Director Lu, toast you!"

"Director Lu, you're too kind. I'll still need your guidance in the future!"

"Oh, what guidance? The core technology and specific progress of nuclear fusion overseas are all up to you. I'm just doing some odd jobs, hahaha!"

"Hello, Mr. Lin, my name is Kawataro, from the Suzuki Family!"

"I heard you studied and exchanged at Kyoto University for a period of time, so we can be considered alumni!"

"So, Mr. Kawataro is not only an international friend but also a Kyoto University alumnus. Then I must drink this, Mr. Kawataro, please feel free!"

After Academician Jiang's article was published, after about a week of fermentation, Professor Ai, who was at the center of the public opinion storm, finally appeared and gave his first interview to the media.

"Those with different paths do not conspire together!" This was the only sentence Professor Ai directly answered in the interview.

The concise seven characters finally made the two major ideological camps completely hostile, with no room for reconciliation.

After the interview, every corner of the domestic social network seemed to become a battlefield of public opinion for the radical and conservative factions, with countless netizens arguing endlessly every day.

What was intriguing was that the official side seemed to have remained silent about this ideological debate, seemingly intending to maintain a neutral stance of not helping either side.

The commentators' articles in major official media swayed back and forth, sometimes supporting Professor Ai and sometimes supporting Academician Jiang, primarily aiming to offend no one.

They seemed even more "conservative" than the "conservative faction."

In response, the conservative faction had its own explanation.

"At the forefront of the era of unlimited energy, everything must be felt out. Everyone must be very confused right now!"

"We must propagate our views and absolutely not let the country go down a radical evil path!"

This debate about future development soon spread to the international community on Blue Star.

On overseas social platforms like Blue Eagle, Facebook, and YouTube, many overseas Chinese also began to care about the future development path of their homeland.

Of course, many foreigners also paid attention to this matter!

Because one's position determines one's viewpoint, these foreigners naturally stood on the side of the conservative faction.

Thus, with the support of a large number of "international netizens," the conservative faction felt even more that they were on the right path, constantly forwarding comments from netizens of other countries to corroborate their own views.

Days passed.

Because the official side never formally expressed its stance, and netizens' repetitive arguments were getting old, it really became uninteresting.

The ideological debate gradually subsided, and entertainment news such as "A certain famous celebrity lost 8 million in Macau overnight," "Cherish what you have," "Singing, dancing, rap, basketball," and "Lawyer's letter warning" returned to the trending topics.

However, the tree wants to be still, but the wind does not cease.

A sudden spy incident completely ignited the entire country, and even the Southeast Asian region!

Modu, Shuangdan University, Nuclear Physics and High Energy Physics Experiment Center.

Because it was requisitioned as the main temporary office for the nuclear fusion overseas project, the experiment center was now under temporary military control by the Southern Military Region.

"Mr. Lin, Director Lu is already waiting in the technical department!"

Lin Shuang sat in his office, listening carefully to the staff's report.

"All spare parts for the nuclear fusion power plant have been boxed, and all other preparations have been arranged!"

"We're just waiting for you to export the technical data and operation manual!"

"After the data is verified, we will officially depart for the Middle East this afternoon!"

"A naval fleet and an external mecha special forces team from the General Military Region will escort us throughout the aid construction work!"

Lin Shuang nodded with satisfaction.

"Got it."

He stood up and took the elevator with the staff to the technical department on the second basement floor.

As soon as he exited the elevator, he saw Director Lu of the Development and Reform Commission.

"Director Lu, you've been working hard recently!"

Director Lu smiled.

"I'm just a logistics worker, what hard work?"

"The hardest working people are you technical guys!"

Just then, Lin Shuang, as a highly intelligent person, suddenly noticed several unfamiliar faces around him.

"Who are these people?"

Director Lu didn't explain much.

"They are a few of my subordinates, accompanying us to the Middle East today."

Lin Shuang stopped and curiously looked at the few people.

"Mr. Lin, is something wrong?" Director Lu asked.

Lin Shuang replied solemnly, "No unauthorized personnel are allowed in the technical department. Please ask them to go upstairs first."

Director Lu suddenly realized, "Ah, that's my fault!"

"You three go wait for me on the first floor!"

"Okay, Director Lu."

Arriving at the entrance of the technical department, Lin Shuang turned around and said with a smile, "Director Lu, please wait for me a few minutes at the door."

"Okay!"

Through multiple identification methods such as iris recognition and fingerprint recognition, Lin Shuang opened the glass door and walked into the technical department.

"Hello, Mr. Lin!"

At this time, there were only three researchers in the technical department.

"Start importing the data!"

Lin Shuang came to a laptop and inserted the confidential USB drive into the port.

After entering a long string of passwords, the data was successfully imported in less than a minute.

Afterward, Lin Shuang also imported the technical data into another backup laptop.

These two encrypted laptops would be taken to the Middle East together to lead the aid construction work as technical carriers.

"Leave them here for now, someone will come to pick them up later!"

"Okay!"

Lin Shuang quickly finished his work and was about to leave the technical department.

As soon as he opened the door, he found Director Lu striding in.

"Director Lu, what is this?..." Lin Shuang was a bit confused watching Director Lu rush into the technical department with his three subordinates.

"Mr. Lin, have the technical data been imported into both laptops?" Director Lu looked at the two already-bagged laptops on the table and asked with a smile.

Lin Shuang replied somewhat confusedly, "It has been successfully imported. What's wrong, Director Lu? The technical department is not allowed to be entered casually, please leave now!"

Director Lu ignored Lin Shuang, turned his head, and whispered to his subordinates behind him, "Act!"

Seeing that two of the three directly went up and took the two computer bags, the clever Lin Shuang suddenly realized something, and he directly shouted out, "Robbery, it's a robbery!!!"

The three researchers were directly scared to death, huddling in the corner, not daring to move.

Lin Shuang, however, was quite brave, rushing up and wrestling with the three in the corridor, grabbing the computer bags with both hands and refusing to let go.

"You, you!"

The next second, Lin Shuang looked at the dagger plunged into his chest, his face full of disbelief.

The person, not satisfied, pulled it out and repeatedly stabbed him in the stomach more than a dozen times.

Lin Shuang's internal organs were damaged, and he began to vomit large mouthfuls of blood.

"Alright, time is limited, let's go!"

Watching the four figures leave, Lin Shuang's consciousness gradually blurred.

Twenty minutes later, the Southern Commander stood in front of the technical department's door, inquiring about the situation.

"How is Lin Shuang?"

"He's been sent to the hospital, but... it's likely he won't make it..."

"What about security? What about surveillance?"

"All logistics, including security, were Lu Jing's people. Today's incident was all arranged by him!"

"Where are the police?"

"Lu Jing was clearly prepared. What were they doing? The other party just used some small tricks to send all the security personnel away!"

The Southern Commander's veins bulged on his forehead.

"Have they been caught?!"

"All four people have been caught!"

"What about the computers?"

"One is missing! Still searching for it!"

Upon hearing this, the Southern Commander cursed angrily, "What a bunch of damn idiots!"

"They were watched so closely, and such a big incident still happened!"

"How are we going to explain this to the higher-ups?!"

The city's Public Security Bureau Director next to him shook his head and sighed, "Alas!"

"Who would have thought that Lu Jing would...!"

Upon hearing this, everyone else also sighed.

This spy operation could be considered very low-level and very crude.

But what was unbearable was that this Lu Jing had a very high position, and he even became a high-level official in a major confidential project!

What's the difference between this and directly putting a mouse in a rice jar? No wonder there were holes everywhere!

"It doesn't make sense!"

"They could have carried out the operation abroad after leaving the country!"

"Why were they in such a hurry to act domestically?"

Weren't they afraid of being discovered?