Send someone to investigate
Chen Yu looked at his father's rare stern expression and knew that there was really no room for negotiation on this matter.
He shrank his neck. Although he still felt itchy in his heart, he didn't dare to argue anymore. He could only say "Oh" in disappointment and walked away unwillingly.
Deputy Minister Chen looked at his son's departing back, shook his head helplessly, and paused slightly with his hand holding the teacup.
This boy's curiosity reminded him that Zhong Ling's existence and the special nature of the base had probably attracted a lot of attention and speculation within the compound.
It seems that the subsequent confidentiality work is quite stressful, and he needs to report this matter.
Country M, inside a modern building.
In the huge circular conference room, Li Qiang’s paper on the “YX factor” was projected on the screen.
There was a low sound of discussion, mixed with English with different accents.
"Cellular Discovery has confirmed that Li Qiang disappeared after submitting his paper."
A blond and blue-eyed man named Bruce knocked on the table with obvious impatience in his tone.
"We tried to contact him through multiple channels, including his university and supervisor, but all efforts fell on deaf ears."
"He should be protected by the Huaxia Nation."
Another old man with gray hair and gold-rimmed glasses said in a deep voice, his name is Aluka.
"His mentor, Chen Jianhua, announced that Li Qiang has developed serious health problems due to excessive research and is currently undergoing long-term closed-door treatment. He declined all visitors."
"'Serious health issues'?"
Bruce sneered, his eyes fixed on the amazing plant growth promotion data of "YX Factor".
"I think they discovered something incredible, but it was hidden by their country."
"A discovery of this magnitude could revolutionize agriculture and potentially even have implications for biomedicine...its value is immeasurable."
"We must find a way to contact Li Qiang himself, or find the true source of that 'YX Factor'."
Aluka pushed up his glasses, and the lenses reflected a cold light.
"Direct contact with Li Qiang is no longer possible. Their level of protection is very high."
"Then try a roundabout strategy."
Julie, the dark-haired woman who had been silent the entire time, spoke up in a calm voice.
"There will be an International Young Biologists Forum in Brims next month. On behalf of the organizing committee, we have invited Li Qiang to give a special lecture."
"The reasons are sound and the standards are high enough. Let's see how they respond."
Bruce's eyes lit up.
"Good idea! If he's really seriously ill, then they have every right to refuse. If they come up with some other excuse, it's even more proof that something fishy is going on."
"That's it."
Aruka nodded in agreement.
"If the invitation is declined, immediately initiate Project Nightingale."
Julie added, her eyes sharp.
"Let Nightingale trace back the source of the samples based on Li Qiang's activities before he published his paper."
"He can't possibly conjure something like this out of thin air. There has to be a source."
The order passed through encrypted lines, crossed the ocean, and reached the East.
A few days later, in Shangjing, in a confidential office somewhere.
Zhou Zhenguo frowned as he looked at the email that popped up on the screen.
The email was forwarded to him by Professor Chen. It was an official invitation letter from the organizing committee of the International Young Biologists Forum, specifically inviting Li Qiang as a special guest to report on his groundbreaking research published in "Cellular Discovery".
"Oh, you're pretty quick."
Zhou Zhenguo snorted coldly and tapped the table with his fingertips.
The "Bobcat" next to him had a blank expression on his face.
"As expected. They can't help but be jealous of the value of the YX Factor."
"Want to get Li Qiang out? Dream on."
Zhou Zhenguo picked up the internal phone.
"Meet Professor Chen Jianhua."
After a short wait, the call was connected.
"Old Chen, I'm Zhou Zhenguo. I saw the invitation to the forum in Blimps."
"So what do you think?"
Chen Jianhua's tired voice came from the other end of the phone.
"These people are still ruthless."
"You're well aware of Li Qiang's current situation. Whether he can speak out when he goes abroad to make a report depends on his ability."
Zhou Zhenguo spoke in a calm tone.
"I know. Just formally decline the invitation on the grounds that Li Qiang has suffered a sudden acute cerebrovascular disease and requires long-term rest and rehabilitation treatment."
"The wording should be professional, and you should show the hospital's diagnosis certificate and be more genuine."
"clear."
Chen Jianhua agreed.
"Also, I plan to raise Li Qiang's security level by one level to prevent anyone from having any ill intentions."
"This is better."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhenguo looked at Bobcat.
“They’re not going to stop.”
Bobcat nodded.
"The invitation is just a test. If it's rejected, they will most likely mobilize their hidden forces within the country."
"They will most likely investigate Li Qiang's movements, especially during the time he returned to his hometown."
A cold light flashed in Zhou Zhenguo's eyes.
"Issue the relevant security departments to be on high alert and closely monitor and identify any unusual individuals or activities that may have occurred recently."
"Time to clean out those hiding rats."
At the same time, in a city thousands of miles away from Shangjing.
In a corner of an inconspicuous coffee shop, a man wearing an ordinary jacket and a baseball cap was stirring the coffee in front of him with his head down.
A faint electric sound came from his Bluetooth headset, followed by a processed voice that was indistinguishable between male and female.
"Nightingale is activated."
The man's hand paused slightly, and the coffee spoon made a light sound on the wall of the cup.
"Target: Li Qiang from Yunxi Village, Qionghai City, source of the 'YX Factor' sample."
“Entry point: the trajectory of their activities before and after the publication of their papers.”
"Time limit: as soon as possible."
"receive."
The man responded in a low voice, his voice almost drowned out by the background music in the cafe.
He put on his sunglasses, stood up and left the cafe.
The afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, cutting alternating stripes of light and dark across the floor.
Nightingale sat on the sofa with a laptop on the table in front of her.
His fingers moved quickly on the keyboard, and various data streams and code windows flashed across the screen.
All of Li Qiang’s online information had long been deleted, and not many valuable traces could be found.
Nightingale began to track back. Since the school marked when Li Qiang published his paper was Qionghai University, he traced back little by little from the time when Li Qiang's paper was published to check his travel records in Qionghai.
Finally, he found some abnormalities in the background log of Qionghai City Bus Official Website.
In the half month before the paper was published, Li Qiang’s travel records showed that his destination was a place called Yunxi Village. Could that be his home?
"Nightingale" retrieved earlier data, performed a cross-comparison, and found that the frequency was somewhat unusual.
During that half month, Li Qiang went to Yunxi Village far more times than at any other time during his college years.
I go back almost every week, sometimes even more often.
This seems somewhat inconsistent with the state of a scientific researcher who is immersed in the laboratory and is about to make a major breakthrough.
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