Chapter 232: Wu Bing's Guess
Chen Mo hadn't expected Wu Bing to visit—especially not this late at night. Dressed in casual clothes instead of her usual professional attire, she seemed more relaxed, her temperament softer and more vibrant.
He quickly fetched a cup and poured her some hot water.
In the living room, the two sat across from each other. The atmosphere was slightly awkward.
They had only met twice before and barely knew each other. But from now on, their collaboration meant they'd likely be seeing each other often.
"Did I come at the wrong time? Was it too abrupt?" Wu Bing asked with a smile.
"Not at all," Chen Mo replied, shaking his head. "A beautiful woman knocking on my door at night? Very welcome. Though I doubt Miss Wu came by for no reason?"
"Can't I drop by just because I want to?"
"You can," Chen Mo said with a chuckle, leaving it at that.
The room fell quiet again. Neither of them knew what to say next. Wu Bing, however, didn't seem in any rush. She studied Chen Mo curiously, as if trying to see through him.
Her direct gaze made Chen Mo a little uncomfortable.
Being stared at in silence by a woman late at night, in a private setting—it was hard not to let the imagination wander.
Eventually, Wu Bing broke the silence.
"Have you tested the potential agent on anything other than mice and rabbits? Like… humans?"
She finally voiced the question that had been nagging at her.
Every day recently, she had checked on the test monkeys. So far, there were no signs of side effects. In fact, not only had the monkeys' bone density and muscle strength increased, but their immune systems had improved significantly. Their overall physical performance had skyrocketed.
By normal standards of pharmaceutical development, reaching such results in animal trials meant the drug was close to clinical trial readiness.
More puzzling was the fact that the first trial with the agent had succeeded—no side effects, almost no need for improvement.
That kind of result was unheard of.
The cause, of course, was the mysterious "silence factor."
And yet, Wu Bing couldn't believe Chen Mo had discovered the substance and developed the potential-enhancing agent all at once, without human testing.
Back at the Marching Ant Company, she hadn't dared to ask. They hadn't confirmed cooperation yet, and she didn't want to risk offending Chen Mo. If he pulled out of the deal, the consequences for her team would've been huge.
But now that the collaboration was official—and with Chen Mo living right next door—she felt it was the right time to ask.
"Lately, we've been focused on cellular and animal studies," she said, looking straight at him. "But that raises a key question: how does the drug affect the brain? Things like memory, learning speed, comprehension... we have no idea yet. We can't observe that in animals."
Her eyes lit up with curiosity.
"You're not thinking…" Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "That I took the drug myself, and that's why I'm so smart?"
Wu Bing didn't look away. "Do you want the truth?"
"Always."
"Then yes. That's exactly what I was thinking."
She said it without hesitation.
Ever since she learned about the drug, she had wondered: Could it be that Chen Mo used it on himself—and that's why he's such a genius?
It was a bold guess, and not something she could say in front of others. But now that he was her neighbor, and they were working together, she took the risk.
Chen Mo smiled and shook his head. He had to admit—Wu Bing had sharp instincts. She wasn't completely wrong.
He had been the first to use the potential agent. It had indeed helped him develop his brain. But the boost wasn't as exaggerated as she imagined.
His "Super Brain" had developed through two key events: first, when he obtained the ability from the Science and Technology Library, and second, when it was upgraded from [Trainee] to [Technology Apprentice].
The potential agent helped, yes—but it was a low-level version, with only limited effect on his brain.
Seeing his expression, Wu Bing quickly added, "Mr. Chen, I didn't mean to offend you. As a researcher, I just couldn't help but wonder. The agent is too perfect."
"You want to know the truth?" Chen Mo asked, his tone calm.
"I really do." Wu Bing nodded seriously. "I promise, no matter what you tell me, I won't breathe a word to anyone."
"And why should I believe you?" Chen Mo pressed.
That question stumped her.
She hesitated, eyes flickering, then—suddenly—her face turned red.
Big mistake.
Wu Bing had no habit of bluffing. At this moment, her embarrassment was written all over her face.
Chen Mo caught it instantly.
To break the tension, he joked, "You're not thinking… if you became my girlfriend and gave yourself to me, I'd tell you the answer?"
"Who wants to be your girlfriend?! Who said anything about 'giving' themselves? You've watched too many dramas."
Wu Bing shot up, flustered, her cheeks burning. She was quick to defend herself, but her reaction made it obvious.
She really had thought about it.
She wasn't immune to Chen Mo's charm—his talent, his mystery, his position. And she was still single.
She had entertained the idea, if only for a moment.
What she hadn't expected was for Chen Mo to see through her so easily—and call her out on it.
Now, she was mortified.
"Well, now I can relax," Chen Mo said with a sigh of relief, teasingly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Wu Bing huffed. "You thought I had designs on you? That I came over to throw myself at you? Do I look that desperate?"
She was half joking, but something in her voice hinted at disappointment.
Their first meeting, she had brushed him off as a playboy. But after learning who he really was, she had developed some admiration. As fellow researchers, they had common ground—more than she could say for the string of blind dates her relatives had arranged.
Chen Mo scratched his nose, laughing inwardly. His teasing had definitely landed.
"It's not that. Honestly, there's no big secret," he said. "You know as well as I do that human clinical trials are strictly regulated. I would never risk someone else's health just for data. That's why I came to work with your team—for proper, legal trials."
Wu Bing collected herself, nodding. "I may have crossed a line with that question earlier. I apologize."
"No harm done," Chen Mo replied, grinning. "Can't blame you. Sometimes, when someone's just too outstanding, people can't help but get curious."
Wu Bing gave him a side-eye. "Didn't expect you to be the narcissistic type."
But despite the sarcasm, she found herself smiling.
The tension had lifted. She didn't pursue the subject any further. Clinical trials would soon begin. If the drug affected brain function, the results would speak for themselves.
They chatted a bit longer—small talk about the capital, science gossip, a few personal stories—before Wu Bing finally stood to leave.
"Good night," she said.
"Good night," Chen Mo replied.
—
The next morning, after breakfast, Chen Mo joined Li Chengzhi and headed off to the institute.
His main objective here had officially begun:
The clinical trials for the potential agent.