The next day, Fang Rui sent teams to visit the parents of the students on the list, asking if they had recently given their children any medication. At the same time, they reminded the parents not to believe in the existence of any so-called "smart pills."
To be on the safe side, Fang Rui also reported the situation to Director Wang.
The director pondered for a moment and said, "Fang Rui, all of this is just speculation at this point. We have no evidence, and no case has been filed. Under these circumstances, it's impossible to apply for a search warrant."
"Director, what if he really is using those students to test drugs? That could lead to a major medical accident! The situation is critical, and we must stop him immediately! If you don't agree, I'll investigate on my own!" Seeing that the director remained unmoved, Fang Rui decided to leave and find another way.
"Come back! Can't you let me finish? You want to investigate his lab, right? I'll contact the fire department later. We can use a fire safety inspection as a pretext to have the firefighters accompany you for a surprise inspection. That way, it'll be legal."
"Director, why didn't you just get to the point earlier?"
"I *was* getting to the point! You can't just rush into things; you need to strategize." Director Wang waved his hand. "Go ahead and investigate."
Captain Chen from the fire department knew Fang Rui and provided them with a few sets of firefighter uniforms.
He glanced at Mu Mian and asked, "Is this young lady coming too?"
"Donât you have a uniform that fits her?"
"No, but itâs fine. She can just wear her own clothes. If anyone questions it, Iâll say sheâs a clerk, handling paperwork. Being a bit shorter wonât matter."
Mu Mian retorted, "Iâm not short. Iâm 158 cm, only 1.5 cm below the average height for women in Jiangzhou City. If I wear slightly higher heels, Iâll reach the average height."
"..."
Jiang Yinianâs private lab was located at Colenda Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of the Jiangmiao Group. The company was divided into a pharmaceutical factory and a research center. The research center was a four-story building with a futuristic design.
Manager Liu, the head of the research center, came to greet them. "Didnât we just have a fire inspection last month?"
Captain Chen replied, "This is a follow-up inspection. Last week, a lab at a university in the country caught fire, nearly causing casualties. So, the higher-ups have ordered us to conduct stricter inspections of labs in the city. Donât worry, this time itâs just about rectifying issues. No finesâyet. But if things arenât fixed by the next inspection, there will be penalties."
"I havenât heard about that incident," Manager Liu said, his gaze lingering on Mu Mian.
"There are so many news stories nationwide; you canât possibly know them all."
"Alright. Just make it quick, so you donât disrupt our work."
Once inside the building, they headed straight to the fourth floor, where Jiang Yinianâs private lab was located.
The lab was spacious, divided into multiple sections by glass partitions, making the entire space visible from the entrance.
There were over a dozen employees working inside, all of them young.
As she entered the lab, Mu Mian was stunned. The lab was almost identical to her fatherâs. The placement of every instrument, the orientation of the windowsâeverything was replicated exactly.
"Whatâs wrong?" Fang Rui whispered.
"He âââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââââcopied my fatherâs lab."
Captain Chen and his team conducted a thorough inspection of the labâs fire safety equipment. To make it look convincing, he occasionally raised questions: "Has this fire extinguisher been inspected regularly? Really? Donât lie to me. If itâs been inspected, whereâs the inspection record?"
Fang Rui and Mu Mian carefully searched the lab but found nothing suspicious. All the experimental procedures appeared to be standard.
During the search, Mu Mian noticed a lot of information. Based on the file names on the desks, they were conducting research on drugs for Alzheimerâs disease. Although she couldnât see the full reports, Mu Mian suspected that Jiang Yinian was replicating the research her father had been working on before his death.
The inspection went smoothly, but when they tried to inspect one of the offices, Manager Liu stopped them. "Iâm sorry, but this is our bossâs office. Itâs off-limits to anyone without his permission."
"But we need to check for fire hazards."
"Well..."
"Let them in."
Jiang Yinianâs voice came from behind them.
Mu Mian and Fang Rui turned around, meeting his gaze.
Jiang Yinian looked at Mu Mian and Fang Rui. "Mu Mian, Officer Fang, if you wanted to visit my lab, you could have just asked me. Iâd be happy to give you a tour."
Manager Liu looked surprised. "Youâre police officers?"
"Manager Liu, go back to your work. Iâll handle this personally."
Jiang Yinian said to Mu Mian, "You wanted to search my office, right? Go ahead."
Mu Mian and Fang Rui entered Jiang Yinianâs office. Mu Mian noticed that his office was also an exact replica of her fatherâs.
Mu Mian couldnât understand. If he had caused her fatherâs death, why would he replicate his lab? Was it some kind of tribute?
After Mu Mian and Fang Rui entered the office, Jiang Yinian closed the door behind them, shutting everyone else out.
The walls of the office were made of one-way glass, allowing those inside to see out, but not the other way around.
Mu Mian couldnât hold back any longer. "Senior Jiang, why did you cause the car accident that killed my parents? My father liked you so much. Why would you do that to him?"
Jiang Yinian replied, "Mu Mian, it wasnât me. Will you believe me?"
"No. Iâve learned to recognize lies now. I think youâre lying again."
Jiang Yinian looked hurt. "No one believes me. But itâs fine. Iâm continuing his research as a way to honor him."
Mu Mian asked, "Are you talking about Neuro-Rose?"
"Iâm referring to Professor Shenâs final research projectâthe one on Alzheimerâs drugs." Jiang Yinian glanced at the people outside. "Iâve gathered many people to continue that research."
"But itâs already been proven wrong."
"So what?"
"Theyâre all wasting their talents. Youâre misusing their abilities," Mu Mian couldnât help but point out.
"I donât need them to produce results for me. But theyâre not losing anything either; theyâre getting paid well. Do you think theyâre passionate about research? If they were, they would have left by now."
Mu Mian realized she couldnât understand Jiang Yinianâs mindset at all.
She pressed on, "What exactly is your Genius Brain Project?"
"Mu Mian, donât you think the root of inequality among people lies in the inequality of intelligence? Intelligence determines ability, which in turn affects social status and income. If we could eliminate the gap in intelligence, wouldnât the world be a fairer place?"
Fang Rui couldnât comprehend why Jiang Yinian would hold such an extreme view. He himself was a genius, a beneficiary of this so-called inequality. Why would he want to dismantle it?
Mu Mian corrected him, "Senior Jiang, you canât achieve that."
Jiang Yinian smiled. "I was just joking earlier. What Genius Brain Project? It sounds childish. Mu Mian, if youâre interested in our research, feel free to look through the reports on the desk."
Mu Mian didnât hold back and openly examined the reports on the desk. But after flipping through them, she realized there was no trace of Neuro-Rose here.
This lab wasnât being used for experiments at all. It was just a place for Jiang Yinian to reminisce. He had gathered groups of people to repeat her fatherâs research, only to fail again and again.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!