267: Chapter 267 The Old Place

Seeing this, Lin Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly, his pace involuntarily quickening as he stepped forward to greet him in a few strides.

"Dean Chen."

There was a hint of genuine surprise and concern in Lin Yuan's tone.

"It's freezing out here, why aren't you waiting in your office?"

Hearing Lin Yuan's words, a brilliant smile bloomed on his face as he said half-jokingly:

"Oh, you, Academician Lin, are now a great hero of our country."

"You've returned after achieving such monumental feats; as the Dean, I couldn't possibly lack the awareness to come out and welcome you, could I?"

Lin Yuan chuckled upon hearing this and shook his head helplessly.

"You're too kind, you'll embarrass me."

"You've been waiting here for quite a while, haven't you?"

"Not that long."

Chen Jingshan waved his hand with a smile, turned around nonchalantly, and made a "please" gesture.

"I only came out after I received news that you had departed and estimated that the time was about right."

As he spoke, he humorously mocked himself.

"Otherwise, if I had really stood in this draft for half an hour, these old bones of mine wouldn't have been able to take it."

"Enough talk, let's go, let's get inside first."

"We mustn't let you catch a cold; your body is now the most precious treasure of our entire Xia nation!"

Lin Yuan smiled knowingly and did not engage in any more pleasantries.

The two walked side by side, striding towards the main entrance of the main building.

Qin Meng, like a silent shadow, carried Lin Yuan's backpack and followed at a moderate distance behind him.

"Ding—" The automatic sensor door slid open silently before them.

Warm air, like a thick velvet blanket, instantly enveloped them.

The hall was brightly lit and well-heated, a world apart from the sub-zero winter outside.

Chen Jingshan led Lin Yuan through the spacious foyer, turning his head to look at Lin Yuan as they walked, his eyes filled with unconcealable amazement.

"Academician Lin!"

"That post you made this morning really dropped a bombshell on our Xia Academy of Sciences!"

He sighed with deep emotion, his tone carrying a mix of wry helplessness.

"You have no idea, from the moment your post went live until now, my private phone hasn't stopped ringing for even a second!"

"Everyone in the academy, any expert or professor even remotely involved with Life Sciences or genetic engineering, has gone absolutely crazy!"

"Especially those veterans at the Life Sciences Institute under our academy; they were so polite and enthusiastic on the phone today!"

Chen Jingshan slowed his pace slightly as he spoke.

"One after another, they kept asking me if your new project needs hands, and if they can participate."

"A few even declared to me that even if it meant just being an assistant or helping wash test tubes, they would be willing and wouldn't say a word against it!"

The expression on his face as he said this was extremely subtle, a mix of deep emotion and absurd helplessness.

A group of old academicians and professors who had spent half their lives deeply involved in their respective fields were now scrambling to be assistants to a young man in his early twenties.

Who would have believed such a thing half a year ago?

If anyone had dared to say it, they would have been treated as a lunatic!

But now, it was the reality!

Listening to Chen Jingshan's description, Lin Yuan just smiled slightly without responding.

Chen Jingshan took a deep breath and continued.

"However, I didn't give them a definite answer."

He glanced at Lin Yuan, his tone becoming steady again.

"On this matter, I must first seek your own opinion."

"After all, this is your project. Regarding the staffing for the new team, I need to know your specific thoughts and requirements before I can coordinate and make arrangements."

Lin Yuan waved his hand dismissively upon hearing this.

"Dean Chen, you arrange it as you see fit."

"As long as their expertise is relevant, the security clearance is sufficient, and their character is reliable, that will do."

"As for the rest, you are more experienced than I am."

"Professionals should handle professional matters. I completely trust your judgment when it comes to personnel screening and allocation, so I will leave the trouble to you."

Chen Jingshan nodded upon hearing this and agreed decisively.

"Very well, since you trust me, I will handle this personally and guarantee that I will assemble the top team in the country for you."

After finalizing the matters regarding the supporting research personnel, Lin Yuan raised a hand to stroke his chin and chuckled.

"However, judging by your description, Dean Chen, it seems everyone is very passionate about this project."

Chen Jingshan paused his steps upon hearing this.

He turned his head to look at Lin Yuan.

"How could they not be?"

"Right now, it's not just the general public online, but our entire scientific community, from top to bottom, after seeing the image and the words you posted..."

"Everyone is guessing..."

Chen Jingshan's voice subconsciously lowered, his Adam's apple bobbed violently, he swallowed, and asked tentatively:

"Academician Lin."

"Are you... are you really planning to develop that 'Super Soldier Serum' this time?!"

As his voice fell, the corridor suddenly fell silent.

Facing Chen Jingshan's extremely blunt probing, Lin Yuan neither confirmed nor denied it.

He simply stopped, met his gaze, and revealed a meaningful, faint smile.

Although he didn't say a word, this gesture, in Chen Jingshan's eyes, spoke volumes.

Chen Jingshan's heart trembled slightly, but he forcefully suppressed the tsunami-like shock in his heart and, being extremely sensible, did not ask any more questions.

He naturally pushed the topic forward and moved on to other matters.

"Actually, ever since you contacted me a while ago, revealing your idea to venture into the Life Sciences field and asking me to help push forward the preliminary work..."

He said as he led the way, trying hard to restore his usual steady tone.

"The academy has already attached great importance to it and started making preparations immediately."

The two turned a corner in the corridor, and the passage ahead extended into the depths of the building.

Chen Jingshan's pace was steady, his speaking speed neither fast nor slow, but every word was crisp and clear.

"As of today, the Life Sciences experimental site you require has been completely prepared."

"All kinds of top-tier equipment, including gene sequencers, cell culture chambers, and supercomputing terminals, have been moved in and have undergone rigorous testing; they are ready for immediate use."

Speaking of this, Chen Jingshan suddenly stopped, turned to face Lin Yuan, his eyes revealing a strange glow of nostalgia and excitement.

"As for the location of this site—"

"Academician Lin, you certainly won't find it unfamiliar; it's still that same old place."