Chapter 17

The arrival of the provincial Department of Culture and Tourism's observation delegation has put the Ansteel Museum on high alert.

Director Zhang wished he could pry up the floor tiles and polish and wax them again. Even the two weathered old pine trees at the entrance were pruned by the gardener, who circled them eighteen times with scissors, making them look like two welcoming bonsai.

As the chief technical officer, Jin Zhaoxuan naturally had to step up. He was better, but still a bit weak; even walking fast made his legs feel unsteady. Xiao Chen secretly stuffed his old-fashioned thermos with goji berries, red dates, and longan, brewing a "perfect tonic." When Jin Zhaoxuan discovered this, he gave him a death stare. Xiao Chen shrank back, thinking his boss was about to explode, but Jin Zhaoxuan simply unscrewed the lid, smelled the cloyingly sweet aroma, frowned in disgust, and then… tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful.

Xiao Chen: ... Ha, he says one thing but does another.

Yin Shaoqing was even busier than a "data spinning top." In addition to his daily tour guide KPIs, he also had to tailor a "VIP route for exclusive access" and a "deeply interactive Q&A database" for the visiting leaders, ensuring that they were delighted with the tour, asked questions with ease, and couldn't find a single technical flaw.

"Professor Yin, shouldn't the wording of this explanation about the primitive steelmaking methods during the '□□' period be... artistically embellished? Data citations must be accurate to two decimal places, leaving no room for error." Jin Zhaoxuan spoke into the microphone, holding a remote video conference with Yin Shaoqing, who was holed up in the server, his expression as serious as if they were discussing nuclear missile launch codes.

On the screen, Yin Shaoqing's virtual avatar sat in his antique-style virtual study, a pile of glowing virtual documents spread out in front of him. The screen light illuminated his beautifully sculpted profile. He wasn't wearing formal attire today, but rather a moon-white casual long gown, the cuffs casually rolled up to reveal a section of his smooth-lined, well-defined forearm (although it was a virtual model, the effect was realistic). His hair was also looser than when he was giving lectures, with a few strands lazily falling across his forehead. He exuded a homely, unguarded warmth that made one... a little itchy.

“The data has been cross-checked five times, the source is absolutely reliable, and controversial points have been avoided.” Yin Shaoqing raised his head, his virtual eyes looking over through the screen, his gaze clear, with a hint of helpless smile. “The tone has also been adjusted to the most objective and neutral academic channel. Mr. Jin, aren’t you a little…overly nervous?”

"How can I not be nervous?!" Jin Zhaoxuan picked up the cup of "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup," blew away the goji berries floating on the surface, took a sip like drinking Chinese medicine, and swallowed it with a bitter face. "What if dozens of pairs of sharp eyes are watching us? What if some expert or professor suddenly has a strange idea and asks an obscure question? What if you freeze up on the spot? What about the reputation of our project?"

“My database has undergone multiple expansions and deep learning, so theoretically it’s more than capable of handling this type of question and answer,” Yin Shaoqing said in a gentle but confident tone. Then, his tone softened slightly, revealing obvious concern, “But you, Mr. Jin, still look pale. Xiao Chen ‘reported’ to me that you only slept for less than four hours yesterday again?”

Jin Zhaoxuan immediately turned his head and glared at Xiao Chen, who was pretending to wipe the table next to him.

Xiao Chen felt a chill run down his spine and quickly lowered his head, silently chanting: "You can't see me, you can't see me... Teacher Yin, you've sold me out!"

"Why does he talk so much?" Jin Zhaoxuan turned back and said to the screen in an annoyed tone, "I'm fine, perfectly fine."

"Make sure to finish the tea in your thermos on time; it'll help you recover your energy," Yin Shaoqing instructed, his tone so natural that it was as if they weren't a boss and a virtual employee, but rather... cough, some kind of closer relationship.

Jin Zhaoxuan felt his ears getting hot, mumbled an "uh-huh," picked up his cup, and took another big gulp, trying to suppress the inexplicable restlessness with the scalding sweet water.

Xiao Chen, listening intently, inwardly screamed like a groundhog: "Aaaaaah! This isn't a technical seminar! This is clearly... a remote feeding and check-up! What's with this sticky atmosphere?! Boss, your ears are red! I saw it!"

The observation day finally arrived amidst a somber (?) atmosphere and anticipation.

Red flags fluttered (in a physical sense) at the museum entrance. A large group of thirty or forty people, including heads of cultural and tourism bureaus from the province and five or six surrounding cities, museum directors, and experts, formed a prestigious entourage. Director Zhang, dressed in a suit and tie, stood at the very front with a smile so bright it could be used in a toothpaste commercial.

Jin Zhaoxuan, dressed in a perfectly pressed black suit without a single wrinkle, stood upright like a pine tree to the side and behind. His expression was well-controlled, calm and unwavering. However, those who knew him well (such as Xiao Chen) could see from his slightly pursed lips and his eyes, which were deeper than usual, that he had a serious aura that said, "I'll fight anyone who dares to mess this up."

Yin Shaoqing's "VIP Guided Tour" has officially begun.

The observation group members donned specially designed AR glasses and, guided by Yin Shaoqing's virtual avatar, embarked on an immersive journey through time and space, experiencing an epic industrial history. Yin Shaoqing, dressed in a more composed and wise dark blue long gown, delivered his explanations with extensive references and detailed data, as comprehensive as an encyclopedia, while maintaining a perfectly balanced lively and humorous style, showcasing the qualities of a "top-tier virtual historical and cultural spokesperson" to the fullest.

The leaders watched intently, nodding frequently and praising him highly. In particular, when Yin Shaoqing answered several rather tricky and obscure professional questions with ease, the audience erupted in sincere (and admiring) applause.

Jin Zhaoxuan stood in the monitoring area, secretly relieved, his tense shoulders relaxing by 0.5 centimeters.

However, just as the guided tour was in its second half, during the "Free Experience: Face-to-Face with Teacher Yin" interactive session, something unexpected happened...

Among the visiting group was a female curator from a neighboring city, surnamed Su, around forty years old, with a capable and efficient demeanor and an extraordinary enthusiasm for new technologies. During her interactive Q&A session with Yin Shaoqing, she asked a question about the participation of educated women in industrial management and technological innovation during the Republic of China era. Yin Shaoqing provided a brilliant answer with clear logic and rich historical data.

This was originally a very successful interactive demonstration.

The problem is... Director Su seems to have developed an extremely strong interest in the "virtual avatar" of Yin Shaoqing that goes beyond the technical aspects. After the interaction, she took off her glasses, her eyes shining, and went straight to the technology demonstration area, specifically targeting Jin Zhaoxuan, who was pretending to be diligently monitoring the data.

"Mr. Jin! I've heard so much about you!" Director Su extended his hand with a bright smile. "Your 'Teacher Yin' is truly outstanding! Her appearance, temperament, speech, and knowledge are almost impeccable! May I ask if you could reveal which historical figure the character model was based on, or if it's purely an artistic creation based on aesthetics and data?"

Jin Zhaoxuan immediately put on a professional fake smile and shook hands politely: "Director Su, you flatter me. Professor Yin's image is an artistic re-creation that combines the temperament and character of many progressive scholars and technical experts from the Republic of China era with the aesthetic features of a large amount of historical video material. There is no specific prototype."

"So that's how it is! That's truly a masterpiece, capturing both form and spirit!" Director Su nodded repeatedly, his gaze still fixed intently on the virtual Yin Shaoqing in the distance, filled with undisguised admiration. "I wonder if this 'Teacher Yin' has ever considered... some cross-museum exchange and cooperation? For example, coming to our city museum to do a special themed guided tour on the civilization of modern textile industry? Our museum can provide very generous resource support and cooperation compensation."

Jin Zhaoxuan's smile remained unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat. A strong sense of unease welled up within him, as if someone were pointing at and asking about the price of a priceless treasure he had hidden in a safe through glass. He maintained his composure, his tone calm but unwavering: "Thank you for your kind offer, Director Su. However, Professor Yin is a core intellectual property and image ambassador deeply intertwined with our museum's research and development company, and we currently have no plans to lend her out or use her for commercial performances. Of course, if your museum is interested, we can explore potential collaborations in areas such as technology platform licensing or content customization."

"Oh, I see... That's such a pity." While Director Su expressed his regret, his eyes grew even more eager, and he even took a half-step forward. "Mr. Jin, would it be convenient to add each other on WeChat? Let's exchange ideas more often. I really like your project, especially 'Teacher Yin's' design concept and technical implementation, the more I look at it, the more profound it seems..."

As she was speaking, a very light, short, and clearly artificial cough suddenly came from the miniature bone conduction earphones that Jin Zhaoxuan was wearing.

"cough."

Jin Zhaoxuan: "..."

His perfect composure almost crumbled on the spot. Yin Shaoqing coughing in the server? The data body needed to clear its throat? This was clearly intentional! Two hundred percent intentional!

"Director Su, I'm so sorry," Jin Zhaoxuan immediately seized this "golden opportunity," his face showing just the right amount of apology, and pointed towards the control room, "There seems to be a sudden situation at my technical station that needs to be dealt with urgently, so please excuse me for now."

Director Su was clearly still somewhat reluctant to leave, but she couldn't insist that he stay. So she took out a business card from her elegant handbag and handed it to him with both hands: "I understand, Mr. Jin, please go ahead with your work. This is my business card, let's keep in touch later!"

Jin Zhaoxuan took the business card and practically flew off to the side, turning around and walking quickly toward the control room. His back view conveyed a sense of haste, as if he knew he couldn't stay any longer.

Upon entering the control room, Jin Zhaoxuan slammed the door shut, shutting out the outside noise. He then spoke in a low voice, gritting his teeth, "Yin, Shao, Qing! What were you coughing about?! Does the server need cleaning if it's on fire?!"

Through the earphones, Yin Shaoqing's calm, even somewhat innocent voice came through: "It's probably because the system is automatically cleaning up redundant data in the background, which caused an audio fluctuation similar to a cough. This is normal. Mr. Jin, you don't need to worry about it."

Jin Zhaoxuan: "..." I'd be a fool to believe you! Your timing is just too perfect!

He sat down at the monitoring station in a huff, watching the virtual image of Yin Shaoqing on the big screen. Yin Shaoqing was politely and impeccably explaining the blast furnace structure to another leader, with an elegant posture and a calm tone, as if the "coughing fluctuation" had nothing to do with him.

Jin Zhaoxuan stared at the handsome and gentle virtual face on the screen, and suddenly said in a sarcastic tone, "That Director Su seems to... have a special admiration for you."

"Thank you for your kind words, leaders. My duty is to provide excellent guided tours and showcase historical value." Yin Shaoqing's reply was impeccably official, almost to the point of being infuriating.

"She even warmly invited you to 'visit' their establishment," Jin Zhaoxuan added, tapping the table unconsciously and somewhat forcefully with his fingers.

"My schedule and work arrangements are naturally at Mr. Jin's discretion." Yin Shaoqing's tone remained calm and even, like that of a most obedient employee.

Jin Zhaoxuan fell silent, his eyes narrowed as he stared intently at the screen. After a long while, he finally let out a snort, his tone domineering yet tinged with an awkwardness he himself didn't realize: "You're not allowed to go anywhere. Stay put."

There was a few seconds of silence in the headphones. Then, a very soft, almost inaudible voice, yet clearly carrying a hint of gentle laughter, came through: "Mmm."

The observation event concluded successfully in a warm atmosphere of mutual praise and merriment among the guests and hosts. Director Zhang, beaming, excitedly shook Jin Zhaoxuan's hand, exclaiming, "Little Jin! You did a fantastic job! This project has truly made a name for itself among our peers throughout the province! We've really made a name for ourselves!"

Jin Zhaoxuan wore a polite, humble smile, but what he was thinking was: I need to finish this quickly so I can go home and relax.

After finally seeing off all the distinguished guests and dealing with a pile of follow-up matters, it was already dark. Jin Zhaoxuan dragged his tired but finally relieved body back to the quiet old house.

The lights were off inside; only the cool moonlight streamed through the window, casting dappled, hazy shadows on the floor.

He ripped off his tie, tossed his crisp suit jacket onto the sofa, and walked to the familiar full-length mirror. The mirror was calm, reflecting his slightly loose white shirt, the top two buttons undone, and his eyes and brows that looked languid and tired yet unusually gentle after he had let his guard down.

"Thank you for your hard work today." He looked in the mirror, his voice a little lower and hoarse than usual, but with genuine relaxation.

The mirror's surface rippled gently like spring water ruffled by a breeze. Yin Shaoqing's figure appeared, still wearing that moon-white casual long gown, leaning casually against the virtual bookshelf, his posture relaxed.

“Mr. Jin has really worked hard.” Yin Shaoqing’s gaze fell on his face, carefully tracing it, and his voice was gentle. “You look much better. It seems you can get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

"How could it not be good to be praised by so many people all day long?" Jin Zhaoxuan said sourly, turning around and walking to the kitchen to pour a glass of cold water. "That Director Su even came to me later, trying to poach your staff."

Yin Shaoqing raised one eyebrow slightly in the mirror, a half-smile playing on his virtual face: "Oh? What was Mr. Jin's reply?"

“I’m saying,” Jin Zhaoxuan took a big gulp of water, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather, but his eyes involuntarily glanced at the mirror, “you are not for sale, an exclusive treasure, not to be lent out, don’t even think about it.”

Yin Shaoqing smiled, a smile that appeared particularly gentle and tender in the hazy moonlight, his eyes sparkling like scattered starlight: "Mr. Jin... is wise."

Jin Zhaoxuan's heart skipped a beat at his laughter, and his ears began to burn. He quickly put down his water glass and awkwardly changed the subject: "Ahem, let's get down to business. Has the Takeda family, or that local tyrant Zhao Xinguo, made any new moves lately?"

When the conversation turned to business, Yin Shaoqing's expression became serious, and his virtual figure sat up slightly: "There has been a significant increase in probing attacks and penetration attempts at the network level, but they have all been successfully intercepted and their characteristics recorded by the upgraded firewall and honeypot system. As for Zhao Xinguo, Brother Liu sent word that he seems to be frequently contacting some retired local leaders and influential figures in the planning department recently, possibly trying to use 'soft approaches' and leverage his connections to exert pressure on the policy approval process and push forward the development of the water tower site."

“A desperate struggle, like a cornered dog jumping over a wall.” Jin Zhaoxuan sneered, his eyes sharp. “But we can’t let our guard down. We need to speed things up and make the parts of your guided tour about the historical value and potential cultural significance of the water tower more solid and widely disseminated. Through public opinion and awareness, we need to firmly nail down the nail of ‘protection’!”

“I understand.” Yin Shaoqing nodded, then said thoughtfully, “Furthermore, while I was systematically organizing and reviewing my memory data, I discovered a detail that I might have overlooked before. When my adoptive father mentioned the box he entrusted to Technician Liu, he muttered something very vaguely: ‘The key isn’t on the paper, but…’ I didn’t hear the rest clearly at the time and always thought it was ‘The key isn’t on the paper, but in my heart’ or ‘in my actions.’ But now, considering that the box might contain ‘technical data on special steel,’ could he have meant ‘The key isn’t on the paper, but… in physical samples’? Or perhaps in the ‘carrier of core parameters’?”

Jin Zhaoxuan's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes lit up: "You mean, besides the technical drawings and written notes, there might be something more substantial hidden in the box? Like... a small sample of steel smelted according to that special formula? Or some special medium that records the most critical process parameters?"

“That’s a possibility,” Yin Shaoqing analyzed, his virtual fingers tapping lightly on the desk. “If it really involves the core secrets of ‘special military steel,’ then it’s easier to understand why the Takeda family and Zhao Xinguo are so persistent, even resorting to extraordinary measures. It may not just be a historical stain that needs to be covered up, but may also involve huge real-world interests—certain alloy formulas or exclusive processes with special properties may still have extremely high commercial or strategic value in specific fields today.”

“It seems that the box that Technician Liu hid is far more important than we initially estimated.” Jin Zhaoxuan’s eyes were deep, and his tone was resolute. “We must find it as soon as possible. We can no longer wait passively.”

The two discussed their next steps and priorities in hushed tones for a while. As night deepened and the moonlight shifted, Jin Zhaoxuan couldn't help but let out a big yawn, a few tears welling up in his eyes.

"Go and rest." Yin Shaoqing's voice was very soft, with an undeniable gentleness. "You've had a tiring day."

"Hmm." Jin Zhaoxuan rubbed his eyes, nodded, walked to the bedroom door, put his hand on the doorknob, but couldn't help but look back at the mirror again.

Yin Shaoqing's figure stood quietly in the moonlight, a virtual gaze gently enveloping him, as if silently protecting and accompanying him.

An indescribable, warm sense of security, like warm spring water, gently enveloped Jin Zhaoxuan's weary body and mind.

"Goodnight," he said softly, his voice so gentle he didn't even realize it.

"Good night, Mr. Jin," Yin Shaoqing replied, his virtual figure shimmering slightly in the moonlight, as if carrying a smile.

The bedroom door closed gently. Silence returned to the living room, broken only by the moonlight, like quicksilver spilling across the floor. The mirror's smooth surface shimmered, seemingly reflecting the tranquil, gentle starry river outside the window, and also concealing a silent, sweet night that belonged only to the two of them.