278: Familiarity

After being led by the Researcher and getting a general understanding of the laboratory's core research directions, Cynthia stopped walking.

"Thank you for the introduction, it's very... impressive," she turned to the Researcher guiding them, her face wearing a polite but serious expression. "The prototype vaccine we are escorting this time is the absolute top priority of the current mission.

If possible, I would like to personally see the area where it is currently stored and where the research will be conducted, to confirm the security environment and the personnel we will interface with. This should be within our authority, right?"

The Researcher nodded, showing no surprise. "Of course. Please follow me, everyone. The vaccine prototype and its related research are arranged in the dedicated Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Laboratory and its supporting analysis area in Zone B. Permissions have been pre-authorized for you."

They followed the Researcher into another corridor. After passing through stricter airlock doors and an air shower for disinfection, they entered an area with even more stringent environmental controls.

The sound of air circulation here was more pronounced, the lighting bright and uniform. Through large observation windows, they could see Researchers inside wearing full protective suits operating various types of precision instruments.

"This is the main work area for the current vaccine prototype project," the Researcher said, stopping before an observation window and gesturing for everyone to look inside.

Inside the window was a standard, modern, high-level biological laboratory. Workbenches held high-speed centrifuges, PCR machines, cell culture incubators, and a series of cutting-edge equipment that even Shen Mingyuan couldn't name.

An elderly professor with graying hair and thick glasses was standing in front of a microscope, carefully observing something, occasionally giving low instructions to an assistant recording data beside him.

"Leading this project is Professor Yang Zhenhua, one of the leading figures in the fields of virology and immunology in the country, and also a senior founding member of this laboratory," the Researcher introduced, his tone full of respect. "He is personally responsible for the basic structural analysis and safety assessment of the vaccine prototype."

As if sensing the gaze from outside the window, Professor Yang Zhenhua looked up, adjusted his glasses, and upon recognizing the visitors, gave a slight nod towards the group outside. He then said a few words to his assistant, removed his gloves, and walked towards the buffer room leading to the external area.

A moment later, Professor Yang emerged from the buffer room. Though Advanced in years, his steps were steady, his gaze sharp yet calm. "You must be the 'Escort Team' sent by headquarters. You've worked hard."

His voice was steady, carrying the rigorous demeanor characteristic of older-generation scientific Researchers. "The vaccine sample has been safely stored. The preliminary physical characteristic verification is correct.

We are working diligently to conduct the first round of gene sequencing and proteomic analysis to verify whether its structure completely matches the design blueprint. This is the foundation for all subsequent in-depth research."

"Professor Yang, hello. I am Cynthia. This is Lu Jianchuan, Shen Mingyuan, and Wei Ziqing."

Cynthia stepped forward, introducing the team on their behalf. "Ensuring the vaccine's safety and its smooth entry into the research process is our responsibility. If you have any security-related needs or concerns going forward, please communicate with us at any time."

"Good. With you here, we can also focus more on the technical issues."

Professor Yang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the four of them, lingering slightly on Lu Jianchuan and Shen Mingyuan as if he had sensed their qualities different from ordinary security personnel. But he didn't ask further, instead beginning to explain some technical details.

"The design concept of this prototype vaccine is very ingenious. It doesn't directly target a specific virus but attempts to construct a broad-spectrum immune activation pathway based on the stable-state recognition of the evo factor... Of course, the specifics are very complex."

Just as Professor Yang was giving a brief introduction and Cynthia and the others were listening attentively, the door to the laboratory's main corridor slid open again, and a figure walked in.

The newcomer was a man who appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. He wore an immaculate white lab coat, stood tall and straight, his hair meticulously combed. His face was handsome, bearing an extremely amiable smile, and his eyes were bright, shining with intelligence.

He held a tablet computer in his hand, walking over with light, brisk steps.

"Professor Yang, the preliminary data from the third batch of the control group's cell cultures is out. The trend looks very promising..."

Before he could finish, seeing the group beside Professor Yang, he immediately stopped speaking, his smile becoming even more genial. "Oh? We have guests?"

The Researcher who had been leading them immediately stepped forward, his tone carrying obvious admiration, and introduced, "Dr. Chen, you're here. These are the special operations personnel sent by headquarters to be responsible for the security of the vaccine project."

He turned to Cynthia and the others.

"This is Dr. Chen Ruian, the pride of our laboratory, a top Genius in the fields of bioengineering and synthetic biology, and also one of Professor Yang's most important collaborators. He is currently providing crucial support for us in optimizing the vaccine's delivery System and enhancing its efficacy."

Dr. Chen Ruian waved his hand modestly. "Engineer Liu, you flatter me. It's all teamwork. Professor Yang is the one steering the ship."

He politely nodded to Cynthia and the others. "Hello, everyone. You've worked hard. With all of you safeguarding the vaccine project, our research can proceed with greater peace of mind."

His speech and conduct were impeccable, full of confidence yet not at all ostentatious, easily making a good impression.

However, the moment Cynthia saw Dr. Chen Ruian's face, her body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

An extremely intense sense of familiarity, like an electric shock, suddenly struck her!

This face... she had definitely seen it somewhere before! Not a fleeting impression from newspapers or television, but... something more profound, more indelible?

But when she desperately tried to recall, her memory was as if shrouded in thick fog, leaving only waves of heart-palpitating pain and a sense of emptiness.

Dr. Chen Ruian keenly noticed Cynthia's momentary distraction and frozen gaze. He tilted his head slightly, his face showing just the right amount of concern and puzzlement:

"This... Ms. Cynthia, is it? Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? The air circulation in the lab can indeed feel a bit stuffy for newcomers sometimes."

Cynthia snapped back to attention, suppressing the churning shock and suspicion within her, quickly adjusting her expression, and shook her head. "No, I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Dr. Chen."

She paused, meeting his probing gaze, and decided to test the waters directly. "It's just... I thought you looked somewhat familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Dr. Chen Ruian's face seemed to brighten a bit more. He let out a soft "ah," speaking in a tone that was slightly self-deprecating yet accustomed:

"So that's why. It might be because I occasionally participate in some academic releases or appear in some science-related interviews and reports.

In our line of work, sometimes it's inevitable to be approached by the media to explain scientific issues of public concern. Perhaps you've seen this face of mine in some news clip or magazine page?"

This explanation was reasonable. An outstanding young scientist with a certain degree of media exposure being recognized as familiar was perfectly normal.

"Is that so?" Cynthia replied along with his words, her lips also curving into an understanding smile with effort. "That might indeed be the case."

But inside her, a cold and clear voice was shouting: Absolutely not!

The heart palpitations and emptiness brought by that sense of familiarity were definitely not from a fleeting glimpse on a newspaper headline or a TV interview. It was more like a... mark imprinted deeper, mixed with complex emotions.

It's just that the source of this mark was currently locked away by layers of mist, and she couldn't grasp it no matter how hard she tried.

Dr. Chen Ruian exchanged a few more pleasantries, showing just the right amount of curiosity and polite appreciation especially towards Lu Jianchuan and Shen Mingyuan. Then, citing that he shouldn't disturb their conversation with Professor Yang and that he still had data to process, he took his leave appropriately and returned to the laboratory's core area.

Only when that tall, straight figure in the white lab coat disappeared around the corridor corner did Cynthia seem to let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. However, the unshakeable doubt and confusion between her brows deepened.

Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan exchanged a glance. Both had keenly noticed Cynthia's brief abnormality earlier and her lingering unease now.

Taking advantage of a moment when Professor Yang was confirming some technical detail with the guiding Researcher, Shen Mingyuan inconspicuously moved half a step closer to Cynthia. In a volume only those nearby could hear, his tone sounding like casual chatter but carrying clear concern, he asked, "Hey, what happened just now? You seemed to freeze up a bit when you were talking with that Dr. Chen. Do you know him?"

Lu Jianchuan also turned his head, his gaze calm but focused on Cynthia. Although he didn't ask directly, he was clearly waiting for her answer as well.

Cynthia's body stiffened slightly, seemingly not expecting them to have observed so keenly.

She quickly glanced at Professor Yang and the Researcher not far away, confirming their attention wasn't on them. Then she pursed her lips, her usual bright smile fading, replaced by a rare hesitation and gravity.

She was silent for a few seconds, as if organizing her words, or weighing how much to say.

"Something's off..." she finally spoke in a low voice, her voice very quiet. "I feel... this place is familiar."

Shen Mingyuan raised an eyebrow. "Familiar? You have an impression of this lab? Have you been here before?" He recalled the limited information Golden Bone had provided about Cynthia, which didn't mention any connection to Haichuan City or this specific laboratory.

"That's the strangest part," Cynthia shook her head, her eyes filled with self-doubt and confusion.

"I have not been here. There's no part in my mission records, in my memory, related to the Haichuan City GUPA Key Laboratory.

However, from the moment I got off the plane, the air here, the light, even... a certain atmosphere, gave me an indescribable sense of familiarity. And now, seeing that Dr. Chen Ruian just now..."

She paused, as if confirming her inner feelings.

"That sense of familiarity became even stronger, so strong it's... heart-palpitating." She looked up at Shen Mingyuan and Lu Jianchuan, her gaze clear but carrying a trace of barely perceptible bewilderment.

"I'm sure I haven't met him, at least not in my 'memory.' But his face, some subtle expressions when he speaks... make me feel a... damn familiarity. This isn't right. This is absolutely not right."

Her tone shifted from confusion to certainty, even taking on a trace of barely noticeable anxiety. This disconnect between memory and feeling was clearly troubling her greatly.

Shen Mingyuan thoughtfully stroked his chin, his Detective instincts beginning to turn. "No memory, but the feeling is familiar... This sounds like the result of some kind of memory interference or deep suggestion. Brother Jianchuan, what do you think?"

Lu Jianchuan's expression was serious. "Where there's an anomaly, there's a cause."

He said in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the Advanced yet cold laboratory environment around them. "This 'sense of familiarity' doesn't come out of nowhere. Perhaps, it is itself a clue."