At the Institute of Biotechnology, Chen Mo quietly followed Wu Bing through the halls.
The facility was clean and brightly lit. Most of the staff wore white lab coats and face masks, walking briskly in and out of the laboratories. Occasionally, when they passed by Chen Mo and Wu Bing, a few couldn't help but glance at them.
The biological research institute wasn't open to the public, so there weren't many outsiders here. Wu Bing guiding a guest personally—especially a man—naturally drew some attention.
Chen Mo didn't mind. He simply followed Wu Bing and observed the structure of the institute. The equipment inside was all top-notch. From this alone, it was clear how much support was behind the "Captain Huaxia" project.
After passing through several layers of clearance, the two reached a secure laboratory.
Inside, there was a large transparent tempered glass room. Several monkeys were playing freely, appearing healthy and full of energy.
"These are the primates used for the drug tests," Wu Bing explained. "Three of them were injected with the potential development agent. Two weeks in, all indicators remain within normal ranges—no signs of rejection or side effects."
Chen Mo nodded slightly. "How do their physical stats compare to the control group?"
"All physical indicators—reaction speed, muscle fiber toughness, neural response time—have improved significantly," Wu Bing said. "We've monitored their behavior around the clock. They're more agile and coordinated than the control group."
She turned to look at Chen Mo. "We're currently preparing for early-stage clinical trials. The monkeys' long-term indicators still need observation, but so far, the results are promising."
Chen Mo looked thoughtfully at the monkeys. The data confirmed what he already knew—the drug was effective. But seeing professionals verify it with rigorous testing gave him peace of mind.
After a while, Wu Bing led him to a conference room, where she poured him a cup of tea.
"How long are you staying in the capital?" she asked.
"Two or three days. I have a few things to handle." Chen Mo took a sip of tea. "Anything else I should know about the trial?"
"The ethics committee has given preliminary approval. Once the long-term animal data is stable, we'll proceed with human testing under strict protocols. If you'd like, you can send a team to observe."
"No problem," Chen Mo said. "But I'll leave it to you. You're the expert in this area."
Wu Bing gave a small smile. "Don't say that. Without your formula, we wouldn't even be here."
After finishing the meeting, Wu Bing offered to treat Chen Mo to lunch. Since he wasn't familiar with the area, he accepted.
The two left the institute and drove to a well-known nearby seafood restaurant, Le Busi Marina.
The restaurant wasn't overly luxurious, but it had a solid reputation. It sat on the edge of a small lake and offered a quiet, private atmosphere with decent privacy.
As they stepped inside, the waiter immediately recognized Wu Bing and respectfully led them to a private booth by the window.
"This place is pretty nice," Chen Mo said, glancing around.
"I come here occasionally. The food's good, and it's not far from the institute," Wu Bing replied.
While they were ordering, a man in a white lab coat walked into the restaurant, holding a takeout bag. When he saw Wu Bing and Chen Mo seated together, his steps paused for a moment.
He stood frozen at the door, his expression shifting slightly as he stared at them.
That's Wu Bing. And the man sitting with her—isn't that the one from the news?
He quickly looked away, clenched his jaw, and turned to leave, his takeout bag in hand. He didn't want to see any more.
The waiter at the counter glanced over, then leaned in and whispered something to a colleague. A few staff members looked over curiously, but none dared to make a scene.
Wu Bing, however, remained unaware of the man's presence. She chatted with Chen Mo as usual, relaxed and composed.
Inside, though, that man couldn't stay calm.
"Why him?"
He had pursued Wu Bing for months but had been politely turned down each time. Now she was sharing a meal with a man like this?
Was it because he was Chen Mo?
Fame. Wealth. Status. That's all it took?
Jealousy and frustration brewed in his chest. He clenched his fists, but in the end, he didn't say a word and left quietly.
Back in the booth, Wu Bing was smiling.
"By the way, I read your new paper on smart robots. Impressive stuff. Is it true your team is planning real-world applications soon?"
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "You've been keeping tabs?"
"Of course. Once you enter this field, it's hard not to follow the top players."
Chen Mo laughed lightly and continued eating. The meal ended on a relaxed note.
After lunch, Wu Bing personally drove Chen Mo back to his hotel. Before he got out of the car, she spoke again.
"Thank you for your trust."
Chen Mo smiled. "I hope the results will be as smooth as we expect."
Watching him leave, Wu Bing sat in silence for a while before driving off.
Inside the institute, the man from earlier returned to his lab, slamming the door shut behind him. He sat in his seat, breathing heavily, unable to concentrate.
That man really was Chen Mo.
He knew he was no match. But the bitterness in his chest was hard to swallow.