After speaking, the staff member lowered their voice and said to Lan Jin, "But I think you weren't really wrong just now. For Professor Pei, his research results are a huge contribution to all of Blue Star. But for the base, saving everyone's lives is the greatest help."
Lan Jin agreed immediately, nodding. "Yes, nothing is more important than human life."
Before the apocalypse, forget all of Blue Star, just in our country, there were so many people. After the apocalypse, how many were left? If people were not protected from these mutated creatures, by the time everyone realized the need to protect humanity, it would already be too late.
Since the earthquake and aftershocks had ended, the staff naturally returned to their posts. Previously, only Lan Jin had finished exchanging her materials. Now, there were three others, and of course, they would need to exchange theirs too.
Although the earthquake had devastated the base, the contribution point system was separate, so for them, there was no immediate impact.
However, the calm manner of the four of them slightly annoyed some of the observing professor teams. Soon, one looked at the four of them and said unfriendly, "These people… the earthquake just ended. Can't they wait a bit? It's just a few contribution points. Why the rush?"
Someone next to her, sensing the comment was wrong, immediately said, "Why care? It's none of your business. For you, it's just a few points. For others, it's like a paycheck. Exchanging early is fine."
Captain Zhang heard the quarrel clearly. For Lan Jin and the others, he saw no problem. Contribution points needed to be exchanged anyway. Waiting or not, they would be exchanged. Why force waiting?
Exchanging contribution points was not unique to them. Any psychic team's first task after returning to the base was the same. No matter the difficulties ahead, the first goal was to exchange contribution points. Captain Zhang truly thought the four's behavior was fine.
He said immediately, "Professors, shouldn't you go check the top floor to see if any of the data can be saved? Don't just stand in the hall watching others exchange points."
The team's professors were indeed qualified. Professor Pei was a professor, and his students also had expertise in various fields. So Captain Zhang's address of "professors" was completely appropriate.
However, his tone clearly pushed them away, which slightly annoyed the professors.
Before they could respond, Professor Pei, standing at the front, suddenly walked toward the four of them. Just as they finished exchanging points and were turning to leave, they nearly had an accidental close encounter.
The four of them were strong. Professor Pei was an elderly man with graying hair. A collision might have caused problems, so they stepped back rapidly. Lao Gao asked cautiously, "You… need something?"
Professor Pei ignored Lao Gao and looked at Huang Jinghe for a moment. He then asked, "Boy, what is your name?"
Huang Jinghe stammered, "Huang Jinghe. My name is Huang Jinghe."
Professor Pei smiled broadly. "You are Ye Shi's son, right?"
Huang Jinghe froze. Ye Shi—Huang Yeshi—was his father's name. Thinking of the earlier staff comment, this professor came from Capital City, probably the Capital City base.
Huang Jinghe asked, "You know my father?"
"Yes, your father, exactly. I didn't get it wrong. I saw your photo. When I first came to H City base, your parents even sent me. But the situation was urgent. They wanted to go to J City to see you, but for some reason, they were recalled by higher-ups." Professor Pei continued, "I didn't expect to meet you first. But why are you at H City base?"
Seeing a familiar face, Professor Pei completely lost interest in going to the top floor for data. Even with his old eyes, he could predict that after such a huge fissure, the data could not have survived. Going up would only bring heartbreak. He turned to his team and said, "Go search upstairs. Take out everything you can find. I will come up later."
He then wanted to speak privately with Huang Jinghe. Seeing the three others beside him, he asked, "You three…"
Huang Jinghe quickly introduced them. "We used to be neighbors and friends. Now we are teammates. This is Lan Jin, Ling Jiang, Lao Gao."
After this simple introduction, they were properly greeted.
Professor Pei clearly did not intend to speak to the three further, but something occurred to him. He turned back and called them over, saying, "All of you, come with me to the third-floor cafeteria."
The four of them followed Professor Pei upstairs.
During the conversation, they learned that when Huang Jinghe's father brought the team here, he had mentioned that neighbors should take care of Huang Jinghe. So upon mentioning Lan Jin, Huang Jinghe's father's "Sister Lan" reference was explained.
Professor Pei grumbled, "Your father kept talking about Sister Lan. I thought it was some old lady. Didn't expect someone so young."
Lan Jin nearly fell to the ground upon hearing this. But the title "Sister" could not simply be judged by age. Teenagers, thirty-year-olds, and even fifty-year-olds could all be called "sister." Professor Pei could not estimate her age, which was normal.
Still, his parents must know her age.
Even if they didn't initially know, when Lan Jin went shopping with Huang Jinghe previously, base staff would have passed the information. So her age was definitely known.
Professor Pei seemed puzzled again. "I heard you are taking care of a child?"
At the mention of a child, Lan Jin tensed, quickly explaining, "Because we will leave soon, the child was not brought into the base. She stayed outside with Grandma Ling."
Hearing "outside the base," Professor Pei was slightly angry. "Nonsense! Bring her into the base immediately. Soon it will be extremely hot. When the ice melts, you won't even be able to get out safely. Staying outside is dangerous."