Chapter 81: Want to Cry but No Tears

  "Of course, Professor Shangguan, it's my honor." Dr. Hill said excitedly. He believed that since Shangguan Hong dared to say it out loud, it meant they had truly succeeded in the experiment. Naturally, he had to witness this historic moment.

  As for live experiments, morality, or Western standards, to hell with all that.

  "Dr. Fujita, what about you?" Shangguan Hong turned his head toward Fujita Jirō, who was wiping sweat with a handkerchief.

  Before Fujita could answer, Dr. Hill spoke first, saying, "Dr. Fujita, if you have objections, perhaps you could wait outside."

  Seeing Hill’s disgusted expression toward him, Fujita felt miserable, but could only swallow his anger and humbly said, "Mr. Shangguan, I'm sorry, I truly didn’t mean to offend you. Please give me a chance to stay and witness this historic moment together."

  In the end, his curiosity about Nanxing One outweighed his pride, and he stayed.

  Shangguan Hong smiled slightly and secretly gave Zhang Yang a thumbs-up when no one was looking. Around nine o’clock, he finally received Wu Hao’s message—the Nanxing One reagent had truly succeeded. Within nine hours, it had successfully eradicated Xu Maogen’s proto-cancer cells in his lymph nodes, as easily as curing a common cold.

  Damn, this was a true miracle. This thing... Zhang Yang was a real genius. What kind of brain did this guy have?

  More importantly, the base materials used to create the Super Anti-Cancer Cells were all easily obtainable in daily life—like lingzhi, cordyceps, and even certain human cell tissues. So, technically, it could even be related to health supplements.

  Of course, strictly speaking, it was still a prescription drug that required approval and extensive clinical trials.

  But it had succeeded—who would care about that now? If you called it a health supplement, then it was a health supplement. After all, it had no side effects whatsoever.

  "Let's begin!" Shangguan Hong said with a big smile, looking at Qiao Xier and Liu Zixuan, the main operators.

  The two beauties exchanged glances, then began working. Each mouse was injected with 0.5 milliliters of the reagent.

  After the injection, they were immediately isolated behind transparent glass for clinical observation. Every hour, blood samples were drawn from the mice for testing to confirm the drug’s efficacy.

  The waiting process was long and tedious, but everyone present was excited—except for Fujita Jirō, who had shamelessly stayed behind. He held his phone, desperate to call someone and curse them out, but clearly, everyone here were senior experts, and the atmosphere was serious. Making a phone call now would be extremely inappropriate.

  He had already pissed off a lot of people. If he caused another scene, he might actually get thrown out!

  Damn those Bai Pharmaceuticals and Shitō—baka, just you wait. He thought angrily while forcing a proud smile as he watched the demonstration.

  After about three hours, the blood samples taken from the lab mice showed that the Nanxing One reagent had begun to take effect, successfully blocking the growth and spread of low-differentiation cancer cells.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Malignant tumors are divided into high, medium, and low differentiation levels, representing their malignancy. Low-differentiation cancers are the most severe. Freezing their spread within three hours proved the reagent’s effectiveness.

  Once the results were announced, Dr. Hill was the first to applaud. "Congratulations, Dr. Shangguan."

  The others also applauded. Secretary Zhao Guoqing even warmly shook Shangguan Hong’s hand, unable to speak for a long time.

  Shangguan Hong smiled faintly, his gaze drifting toward Zhang Yang in the corner as he said slowly, "It seems we’ve achieved our expected goal. Of course, more observation is needed, but theoretically, in another five hours, the mice will have completely cleared their proto-cancer cells. So... everyone... I have an important announcement."

  Everyone’s eyes widened. An important announcement? Time to listen closely!

  Shangguan Hong cleared his throat and smiled slightly. "So, we still have five hours. Everyone, let’s go have lunch."

  The tension and excitement in the room instantly vanished with his humor.

  "Haha, Professor Shangguan, that’s a good suggestion." Secretary Zhao Guoqing adjusted his glasses. "Today’s meal is on me. Heh, and I’m paying out of my own pocket."

  The group exited the lab. Outside, a crowd of reporters, scholars, and business representatives turned their attention toward them.

  Cameras flashed, TV crews pointed their lenses at the smiling, chatting group of big shots. Reporters from the Eagle Kingdom’s SBB and the American CNM shouted from afar, "Mr. Chairman, was the experiment successful? Can you tell us a few words?"

  Dr. Hill looked in great spirits, waving his hand. "Ha, I suggest you ask the host instead. I can’t steal Professor Shangguan’s spotlight."

  His words said it all. The crowd went wild. Damn, this was headline news!

  All the journalists swarmed forward, shoving their mics and cameras toward Shangguan Hong. Those who couldn’t reach him grabbed Ding Pengshan, Zheng Yuntai, or even Dr. Hill. Everyone who came out of the lab was treated like a celebrity just stepping out of the shower—everyone wanted a piece.

  Even Fujita, walking awkwardly, was cornered by a female reporter from the Japanese Kyōnichi Press.

  "Mr. Fujita, as a UICC board member, you’ve witnessed this historic moment. Has the result been confirmed? What’s your evaluation?"

  Baka, can you pick a worse question? Fujita cursed internally but still forced a smile. "The preliminary results are out. So far... it seems, roughly speaking, it’s fine. We’ll know for sure this afternoon. As for my evaluation... if it succeeds, it’s quite an achievement—perhaps even great."

  "It’s said that Shitō Corporation recently developed a new drug called Ailan, soon to hit the market, specifically for chemotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma. How would you compare Meining University’s Nan... Nan... anti-cancer drug with Ailan? Also, since Ailan will be distributed in Huaxia through Bai Pharmaceuticals, do you think this new drug will pose a threat to Ailan?"

  Fujita almost went insane. He wanted to grab the woman’s mic and smack her with it. Would Nanxing One pose a threat to Ailan?

  Are you fucking stupid?

  Threat? It’s outright slaughter!

  And if I answered that now, I’d never be able to go back to Chrysanthemum Kingdom. Evaluate? Evaluate your ass.

  After all, he was an expert funded by Shitō Corporation. Ailan was their latest anti-cancer drug after seven or eight years of hard work. It was advertised to eliminate high and medium-differentiation squamous cell carcinomas and alleviate low-differentiation ones—a major achievement.

  But compared to Nanxing One, it was like comparing cold medicine—one used real meds, the other used plain water. How the hell was he supposed to explain that?

  "Mr. Fujita, Mr. Fujita, could you answer the question?" The female reporter, seeing him frozen, thought he was constipated and stupidly pressed on.

  Fujita’s face turned beet red. Finally, he couldn’t hold it in and let out a fart, immediately making the reporter cover her nose.

  Seeing that, Fujita felt a bit satisfied and quickly said, "Once both drugs hit the market, the results will speak for themselves."

  Then, still fuming, he hurried away. Damn it, he should never have entered that lab.

  ---

  Lunch was held at the Harbor Bay Hotel near Meining University, paid for by Zhao Guoqing and Xia Guoqing.

  At the table, Zhang Yang happened to sit with Deputy Mayor Xia Guoqing. Xia was talkative and kind. He was also a Meining University graduate, so he felt a special fondness for these younger alumni.

  Zhang Yang also knew that it was thanks to Xia Guoqing’s intervention that he and Qiao Xier were released from the police station last time, so he had a good impression of him.

  After a few bites, Xia suddenly chuckled and said to Zhang Yang, "Young man, you’re part of the ‘Dragonborn’ project too, right? How old are you? You don’t look a day over twenty."

  "Hehe, Mayor Xia, I’m twenty-one. I’ll graduate next year."

  "Twenty-one? So young! You’re an undergrad, right? To be involved in such a research project is truly impressive. You’ve brought great honor to our nation. I thank you on behalf of the country. Come, let’s have a drink." Xia clinked glasses with Zhang Yang, then quietly asked, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

  Zhang Yang froze. Was this question trending lately? He nodded. "Yeah, I do."

  "Oh, what a pity." A flash of disappointment crossed Xia’s face before he leaned in and whispered, "If you ever break up, I have someone for you to consider."

  Zhang Yang looked speechlessly at the fifty-something deputy mayor. Was this guy an old rascal? Who even hoped others would break up?

  Seeing Zhang Yang’s dazed look, Xia smiled and added, "It’s my daughter, actually. Oh right, her name’s Xia Weiwei. She’s also from Meining University, Department of Journalism and Communication, freshman year. I’ll give you her QQ number—you can chat sometime, let her learn something."

  Xia Weiwei?

  Zhang Yang almost fell under the table. The name instantly brought to mind that beautiful girl who had ratted him out to Yang Fei. He remembered Zhou Wei mentioning that she was indeed Deputy Mayor Xia’s daughter. What a small world.

  Still, that’d be bad luck! He’d rather avoid her, not chat with her on QQ. That’d be suicide!

  But seeing Xia Guoqing’s kind smile as he handed over the note, Zhang Yang could only take it speechlessly and glance at it. Damn, a five-digit QQ number.