55: Chapter 55: Endorsement by Academicians and Lingering Images of Old Friends

The Spark Alliance's "Escort Plan" meeting was a great success, greatly boosting morale.

Chen Fan knew well that merely solving the survival anxiety was not enough. The meticulously planned smear campaign by the Long Group was like a poisoned soft knife, continuously damaging the public credibility and commercial value of the "Mysterious Bird" and even Fanxing Technology.

This had to be shattered at its root, in the most authoritative and indisputable way possible.

National Materials Laboratory, Fu Dong's office.

In the bright and clean office, the fragrance of tea wafted in the air. Chen Fan sat opposite Professor Fu Dong.

"President Chen, we have organized our most capable team to review the complete test report and theoretical model of the 'Mysterious Bird' you sent three times," Fu Dong put down the ceramic teacup in his hand, his expression serious yet tinged with irrepressible excitement. "The results are beyond doubt. The 24K critical temperature and its various derivative properties are real, reproducible, and of significant importance!"

Chen Fan gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Engineer Fu. I can guarantee the authenticity of the data. But now, the Long Group is exploiting information asymmetry and the public's unfamiliarity with cutting-edge technology to widely spread rumors of 'data fabrication' and 'technology plagiarism.' This not only harms Fanxing but is also poisoning the domestic innovation environment."

His tone was sincere and firm. "I earnestly request that you, Engineer Fu, in your capacity as an academic authority, make a public statement in an appropriate setting, affirming the authenticity of the 'Mysterious Bird' and the research integrity of the Fanxing team. This is not just to clear our name, but also to speak up for all Chinese researchers and private enterprises who are down-to-earth and dedicated to innovation."

Fu Dong spoke slowly. "The spirit of science lies in seeking truth. Since the 'Mysterious Bird' is real, an outstanding achievement, then it is our duty to speak up for it. However, a public statement requires a rigorous format and sufficient supporting evidence."

"I understand," Chen Fan was well-prepared. "We can arrange a formal press conference or interview, hosted by the laboratory. I will provide all necessary, publicly shareable fragments of original experimental records, a sanitized version of the R&D logs, and have core team members available for professional questioning. Everything will be based on scientific facts."

Engineer Fu nodded. "That approach is feasible. Use the most solid evidence to counter the most baseless rumors. The timing?"

"The sooner, the better," a sharp glint flashed in Chen Fan's eyes. "The Long family's public opinion offensive is at its peak. We need a decisive counterattack to completely reverse the public sentiment."

"Good," Fu Dong made the decision. "I'll have the office coordinate immediately. We'll hold a technical briefing here at the laboratory the morning after tomorrow. We'll invite Dean Zhang as well to stand with you."

"I'm immensely grateful!" Chen Fan thanked him solemnly. With the public endorsement of the National Materials Laboratory and two Academicians, the Long family's rumors would collapse on their own.

———

Leaving the laboratory, Chen Fan checked the time and drove straight to the community hospital.

He had made plans with Su Qingyue today to visit Old Master Qin together. Chen Fan picked up Qingyue and stopped at a fruit shop to buy some fruit.

Just after placing the fruit in the car, his phone vibrated. Thinking it was a work message, he opened it to find a long message from Zhang Ya.

The content was filled with remorse, pleading, and a hint of barely perceptible probing:

"Chen Fan, I know I have no right to contact you. Seeing how successful and radiant you are now, I regret it every day. I regret how short-sighted I was back then, how my eyes were clouded by vanity... Leaving you is the biggest regret of my life. I know you hate me, and I don't dare ask for your forgiveness. It's just... we did have so many beautiful memories in the past, and those feelings were real. Chen Fan, can we... ever go back? Even if just as friends, give me a chance to make it up to you? I really... can't let you go."

Between the lines, it was all regret, pleading, reminiscence of the past, and finally, a shameless probe.

Chen Fan read it expressionlessly, his fingers tapping quickly on the screen, replying with only four cold words: No. Don't bother.

Immediately, he blocked the number without hesitation.

"Is everything okay?" Su Qingyue, sensitive to the change in his demeanor, asked softly.

"It's fine, just someone irrelevant," Chen Fan put away his phone, put his arm around her shoulders, his tone relaxed.

"Little Chen is here!" Old Master Qin smiled, gesturing for him to sit. "The newspapers are making a lot of noise, but I see you're not completely at ease. The pressure is significant, isn't it?"

Sitting by the bed, Chen Fan briefly reported on recent developments: the formation of the Spark Alliance and the Long family's raw material blockade, his progress in solving the material problem using the "Urban Mine" concept and the new processing system, and the technical briefing plan he had just finalized with Professor Fu Dong.

Old Master Qin listened carefully, nodding from time to time. "Good, you're handling it methodically. That 'turning waste into treasure' move with the raw materials is especially clever, hitting the blind spot in the Long family's calculations. Fu Dong and Old Zhang being willing to step forward is even more of a stabilizing force.

However," his tone shifted, his expression turning grave, "the Long Group, having grown their business so large, have deep connections in political, business, legal, and underground circles. They are the type who repay every slight and stop at nothing. Open attacks are easy to dodge; hidden arrows are hard to guard against. Now that you're a prominent target, you must never be careless about your personal safety and the safety of those around you." As he spoke, his gaze meaningfully swept over Su Qingyue.

A chill ran through Chen Fan's heart, and he nodded solemnly. "Old Master Qin is right to remind me. I will strengthen my precautions."

Su Qingyue said softly, "You need to take care of yourself too, don't overwork."

After chatting a while longer and seeing Old Master Qin looking tired, Chen Fan and Su Qingyue got up to leave.

Walking on the tree-lined path, Su Qingyue naturally linked her arm with Chen Fan's, offering silent support.

Feeling this warmth, the fatigue from days of constant running around seemed to ease considerably.

"Come on, let me take you for some good food." They got in the car and drove to a high-end restaurant in the city center.

Chen Fan parked in the restaurant's dedicated parking spot. Just after getting out of the car, they saw a luxurious limousine pull up, and the driver respectfully opened the door.

The first person to step out was, surprisingly, Zhang Ya, dressed in designer clothes, her makeup meticulous but unable to conceal her weariness. After getting out, she didn't leave but turned around, a coquettish smile plastered on her face.

She reached into the car to help out a pot-bellied, elderly man around sixty, wearing a famous watch. The old man immediately wrapped his arm around Zhang Ya's waist, his movements intimate and greasy, his hand wandering restlessly.

Zhang Ya's body stiffened slightly, then she pressed closer, looking up and saying something, her demeanor obsequious. The old man laughed heartily, kissed her on the cheek, and with his arm around her, headed towards the neighboring top-tier private nursing center.

This scene happened to fall into the view of Chen Fan and Su Qingyue.

Su Qingyue was somewhat taken aback and looked at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan's gaze swept calmly over the pair. His face showed no ripple of emotion—no anger, no contempt, only an indifference as if watching a stranger's farce. Just moments ago, she had sent him a message pleading for reconciliation, and now she was accompanying such an old man, trading her youth for money.

The woman who had abandoned him for money back then now seemed to have merely trapped herself in another gilded cage. She still hadn't grasped what she truly wanted, appearing even more pitiful and cheap.

At that moment, Zhang Ya happened to glance back.

When her eyes met Chen Fan's, the smile plastered on her face froze completely. Shock, embarrassment, and gnawing regret flashed in her eyes. The dissatisfied muttering of the old man beside her reached her ears as his hands continued to grope.

Chen Fan withdrew his gaze, not bothering to look again.

All the past events were nothing but fleeting clouds. Times had changed, people were different. Chen Fan was no longer the Chen Fan of before, and Zhang Ya was no longer the Zhang Ya of before.

Su Qingyue's warm hand gently covered the back of his. He smiled at her, turned his hand to hold hers, their fingers intertwining.