Prepare to confess
Li Qiang was frightened by his mentor's sudden anger and his face turned pale in an instant.
"Do you think this is a purely academic discovery?" Chen Jianhua stood up and paced back and forth behind his desk, his tone full of disappointment and anger.
"Have you ever thought about the implications of something this amazingly effective once its source is known? Have you reported this to the university or the government? No! You just published it directly in a top international journal!"
He stopped, pointed at Li Qiang's nose, and said word by word: "Do you know? Now the higher-ups have called me directly to ask about it! Some people abroad have a sharper nose than a dog, and they are already checking your background!
You so easily exposed a discovery that could be related to vital national interests to the world without evaluation or permission! You are courting disaster! What a passive position you are putting the country in!
"I... I didn't think that much..." Li Qiang's voice trembled. He was dizzy from the words "national interests," "playing hardship upon oneself," and "putting the country in a passive position." His previous ambition was replaced by immense fear. He had never imagined that a paper would lead to such serious consequences.
"Didn't you think that much?!" Chen Jianhua laughed in anger. "I think you've been blinded by that little bit of fame! To get an article published in Cellular Discovery, you've thrown even the most basic sense of confidentiality and national pride to the winds! You're selling out the country's potential resources, are you aware of that?!"
The word "betrayal" hit Li Qiang's heart like a hammer, leaving him cold all over. He slumped in his chair, his face pale and his mind blank.
Chen Jianhua looked at his distraught appearance, and the anger in his heart subsided a little, but he was still filled with more worry and disappointment.
He sighed heavily and sat back in his chair. His tone was tired but still stern. "Li Qiang, things have come to this point. You must now, immediately, write me a detailed report on everything you know about the origin of this 'YX Factor'. Don't hide anything! This is no longer just a personal matter for you."
Li Qiang raised his head, his eyes were empty, his lips moved a few times, but he couldn't say a word.
He knew he was in deep trouble. The golden road he had thought of now looked more like a dead end leading to the abyss. And he was already standing on the edge of a cliff.
Li Qiang sat in his tutor's office, his mind unable to think.
Spread out on the table was the paper he published in Cellular Discovery.
The mentor's eyes were calm and he looked at him without blinking.
"Li Qiang, regarding the source of the YX factor samples, both the university and the journal need a clear explanation."
The instructor's voice was not loud, but every word struck Li Qiang's heart.
He knew he couldn't escape.
The lies he had prepared in advance were vulnerable when faced with real questioning.
Cold sweat began to seep from the corners of his forehead and flow down his cheeks.
He must tell the truth. Only by telling the truth can there be a glimmer of hope.
Li Qiang took a deep breath, his throat felt dry and tight.
He opened his mouth, ready to tell about Yunxi Village, Zhong Ling's old house and the attic.
"Teacher, actually..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, an indescribable pain suddenly gripped his brain.
Buzz——
It was as if a steel needle had pierced his solar plexus, stirring his nerves.
Everything in front of my eyes went black in an instant, and all the sounds became distorted.
"Well!"
He groaned, held his head with his hands uncontrollably, and his body swayed.
The words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat and turned into broken moans.
What's going on?
This headache... came too suddenly and was too severe.
The instructor couldn't help but frown when he saw his face turn pale as paper in an instant and veins popping out on his forehead.
"Li Qiang? What's wrong with you?"
Li Qiang was in so much pain that he couldn't speak. He could only shake his head vigorously, and cold sweat soaked his back.
This feeling...seems a little familiar.
By the way, ever since he came back from Yunxi Village that day, he has had headaches from time to time.
But he always thought that it was the sequelae of staying up late and being under high mental stress.
I didn't expect it to be so serious this time.
The severe pain came and went away quickly. His face was pale and his lips were trembling slightly.
The mentor looked at his shaky appearance and softened his tone.
"I see you're not in a good state. Are you under too much pressure recently?"
"Don't talk about it for now. Go back and have a good rest. Your health is important. Come back to me when you've rested well."
Li Qiang nodded weakly. At this moment, he really didn't have the strength to say anything.
He left the office with unsteady steps.
Behind him, the tutor looked at his back, his eyes more solemn and puzzled.
Li Qiang almost floated back to the dormitory.
He fell onto the bed, without even taking off his clothes, and his consciousness quickly sank into darkness.
He slept soundly, as if to drive away all the fatigue and pain.
Outside the dormitory building, an inconspicuous black car was parked quietly in the corner, its windows covered with dark film, making it impossible to see inside.
On campus, a few seemingly ordinary students would occasionally glance towards the dormitory building.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Qiang slowly woke up.
He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling in a daze.
My head...doesn't hurt anymore.
The piercing pain disappeared without a trace, leaving only a slight feeling of heaviness.
I must be too tired.
He sat up, rubbed his temples, and took a long breath.
After the rest, my thoughts seemed to become much clearer.
frank.
Must be honest.
This is the only way out.
He pulled himself together and headed towards his mentor's office again.
This time, he must make everything clear.
When he opened the door, the tutor was still sitting there, seemingly waiting for him.
"Teacher, I..."
Li Qiang mustered up his courage and spoke again.
However, just when he was about to reveal the key information—
boom!
The pain was more intense and violent than the last time, sweeping across his entire head in an instant like a tsunami!
"ah--!"
He screamed, staggered back a few steps, and almost fell.
There were flashes of stars in front of my eyes and sharp ringing sounds in my ears.
The brain seemed to be torn apart by this brutal force.
Something is wrong!
Something is definitely wrong!
This is no ordinary headache!
Li Qiang's mind flashed back to those vague memories - the night, the attic, the strange plant, the dazzling golden light...
Although I can no longer remember the details, the fear that penetrated my bones now emerges with incredible clarity.
It was that night!
Something must have happened in that attic!
This headache...is preventing him from telling the truth!
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