LWDC Chapter 104

Ning Fei missed the best “pep talk” time due to Duan Yunhong’s unexpected move, but he still caught up with Wang Haiyang and chatted a few words during the short walk to the apartment building.

“Professor Wang, I talked to people from Tianyue today and learned that their escort formation is different, but it sounds pretty good.” Ning Fei got straight to the point, but his tone was casual, as if chatting idly, “Their entire team escorts the research team back and forth, and everyone knows each other. It’s like a group tour. This should also show that Tianyue values their scientists, right? Your junior brother who had dinner with you today seems to be doing well?”

“…Ah, yes.” Wang Haiyang seemed a little distracted, and his tone was also a bit emotional, “He is indeed doing well, both in his career and in his life. Some of the technologies that Tianyue brought this time are also really interesting. Some technologies are not even the most urgent or the most productive right now. It’s quite forward-thinking of Tianyue to consider future implementation and promotion.”

Ning Fei knew immediately that Chen Yikun’s implicit recommendation of Tianyue had worked well, so he immediately followed up with the attack: “Oh? They were chosen by Tianyue for exchange, so their technological development is not bad. I’m not very clear about Professor Wang’s research field, but Huichuan should also be supporting the development in this direction, right? I’ve seen some of Huichuan’s publicly available new research results, and I feel that our base is constantly producing new technologies and new achievements. But I came late and have only seen the past few months. Professor Wang, have you been on the public announcements before? You know, those ‘Professor So-and-so leads the So-and-so team,’ etc.?”

Wang Haiyang’s expression was a bit embarrassed and troubled, but he was already familiar with Ning Fei, and he had drunk some wine tonight, so he rarely frankly refuted Ning Fei’s “praise to death”: “Alas, I’m ashamed. My team hasn’t produced any results, so I haven’t been on the public announcements.”

Ning Fei was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then said, “Ha, Professor Wang, why are you ashamed in front of me? In my eyes, you are all amazing scientists. In the future, won’t we have to rely on your technology to change the world? It may not be there now, but it will definitely be there in the future.”

Wang Haiyang said with emotion, “It’s difficult…”

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, Professor Wang. I know that research may not produce results, and mistakes should be allowed. Huichuan is such a big base, and its economic situation is ranked first. Can’t it support your research? If it really doesn’t work, go to Tianyue. Anyway, they can even support projects that haven’t produced many results. If you go there, you might be able to relax a bit.” Seeing that they had arrived downstairs, Ning Fei patted Wang Haiyang’s arm, “It’s time to go up. Bye. I don’t think Professor Wang needs to think too much. Your family still supports you very much. Get some rest, and we’ll talk about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow.”

His words of “enticement” were very straightforward, but the short rhythm was just right, and they were mixed in with the casual chat, making them seem more like jokes. So he cleverly didn’t arouse Wang Haiyang’s vigilance, but silently planted the seed deeper in the other person’s heart.

Wang Haiyang also simply said goodbye to him and went upstairs thoughtfully.

Ning Fei returned to his own home, turned on the lights, and wanted to lie directly on the bed; but because of the smell of hot pot and smoke all over his body, he simply took off his upper clothes and outer pants, leaving only a little bit of cloth, and lay down on the bed.

——What a tiring night.

He had planned everything step by step, and Ning Fei had even rehearsed what words to say when walking home with Wang Haiyang. As a result, Duan Yunhong’s arrival directly messed up Ning Fei’s main event. If Ning Fei hadn’t given it his all at the end, completing a small push in a few words, it would have been a waste of a package of hot pot seasoning and the points spent on inviting so many people to dinner.

Silently reviewing tonight’s actions in his mind, Ning Fei stopped the thoughts that were about to extend to Duan Yunhong’s side, turned over, picked up his mobile phone, and sent a message to Zheng Liwen: [All safely delivered.]

Zheng Liwen replied quickly: [Received. Did that Director Duan do anything?]

Ning Fei: [No, silent all the way.]

Zheng Liwen: [Then what did he come for? It’s impossible that he really came to find a researcher from another base, right?]

Ning Fei couldn’t explain the matter clearly. He could think of several possible reasons for Duan Yunhong’s appearance here, but he couldn’t determine which one was the real answer. In the end, Duan Yunhong probably still didn’t know the extent of the debt collection mission, and didn’t understand what Ning Fei was doing or what his purpose was. So Ning Fei wasn’t sure what kind of response strategy he had chosen. Ning Fei even guessed that Duan Yunhong might be adjusting his plan at any time based on his movements.

And then because Chen Yikun came, Duan Yunhong might have wanted to find traces of his adopted daughter from his actions, so he kept staring at his movements. After all, theoretically Chen Yikun would take his adopted daughter away at this time, and the adopted daughter would have to go through Huichuan’s official adoption procedures in order to be taken away. As long as Duan Yunhong could interfere with this procedure, he could easily disrupt Chen Yikun’s “debt repayment” process.

And tonight, Duan Yunhong caught Chen Yikun and Wang Haiyang meeting. This matter itself might not be a big deal, but Ning Fei actually “supervised the scene,” so Duan Yunhong would definitely be suspicious of this matter. No, from the fact that Ning Fei lived near Wang Haiyang’s house to the last time he saw Ning Fei and Wang Haiyang arguing in the cafeteria, this inherently suspicious man must have thought a lot about Ning Fei’s real purpose in coming to Huichuan.

In the end, it was strange that Ning Fei was in Huichuan and not in Tianyue.

——What does Duan Yunhong think about this matter…

Knock knock knock!

Ning Fei’s wildly flying thoughts were interrupted by the sudden knock on the door. Someone came to find him so late at night. Ning Fei sat up abruptly, grabbed a pair of big shorts from the bed, quickly put them on, picked up the T-shirt on the ground and quickly put it on. Finally, he picked up his gun, walked to the door, and asked through the door panel, “Who is it?”

There was no answer from outside for a while.

Ning Fei narrowed his eyes slightly, pulled back the safety on the gun, raised the gun, and moved away from the door panel’s range, “Speak!”

“Me.”

A familiar male voice finally gave the simplest response.

Ning Fei was really stunned this time. He slowly put down the gun, but still didn’t open the door, and continued to ask, “Just you alone?”

The man outside the door said playfully, answering a different question, “Did we have a code word?”

Indeed, Ning Fei’s question was actually asked because he was afraid that a “familiar person would bring a bad guy,” so the answer should be a code word that only familiar people would know. But he really hadn’t used this kind of code word with the guy outside, so naturally the person outside couldn’t answer.

But that person’s tone and state were enough to show that he was relaxed.

Only then did Ning Fei put the safety back on, and opened the door with one hand.

Standing outside the door was indeed only one person—Duan Yunhong.

“Director Duan, you’re visiting so late at night.” Ning Fei turned around, carrying the gun back, and didn’t care about Duan Yunhong behind him, “What brings you here?”

Duan Yunhong entered the door, closed the door, and looked around. His gaze finally landed on the pants thrown on the ground, “You live here?”

“This is a one-bedroom apartment. The place you just walked past, no matter how small, is still considered a living room.” Ning Fei put the handgun back in place, “There’s water, electricity, and natural gas. These conditions are not bad. What more do you want?”

Duan Yunhong took out a box from his pocket and threw it in Ning Fei’s direction, “With these conditions, you still throw things at me?”

Ning Fei caught it and took a look. It was the box of cigarettes that he had just given to someone as a birthday gift.

“I didn’t have anything else on me at the time, so I could only take this.” Ning Fei smiled and didn’t show any awkward expression. He casually put the cigarettes on the table, “Director Duan, you can just think it’s shabby.”

Actually, these cigarettes were brought to Ning Fei by Yu Zhou. They were branded and of good quality. Even before the zombie tide, they weren’t considered poor. In this day and age, even a hand-rolled cigarette costs a few cents, let alone this kind of brand-name cigarette. But Ning Fei didn’t argue with Duan Yunhong. Throwing a pack of smoked cigarettes to someone as a birthday gift was stingy enough, and Ning Fei himself felt it was funny when he thought about it.

Duan Yunhong said, “Huichuan has these by the carton, and even better ones. I have the exchange qualification.”

“Why are you saying this? Do you want to give me some?” Ning Fei laughed, “No need, I’m not addicted, this is enough.”

Duan Yunhong didn’t reply, but just raised his hand. When Ning Fei showed a puzzled expression, a whole carton of cigarettes appeared in his hand.

“!!!” Ning Fei was shocked, “Spatial ability!”

——Damn, this guy really has a hidden ability, space type!

Duan Yunhong shoved the cigarettes into his arms and took out a lighter and handed it to him.

Ning Fei subconsciously said, “I have a lighter too.”

Duan Yunhong: “Windproof.”

Ning Fei: “…”

He blinked and suddenly realized, and chuckled: “No way, Duan Yunhong, how long have you been stalking me tonight? You even saw someone else lighting my cigarette!”

At that time, Ning Fei and Zheng Liwen were standing quite close in order to light the cigarette. He didn’t know where Duan Yunhong saw it, how much he saw, or how much he heard. Anyway, neither of them noticed his existence. But Duan Yunhong might have even taken his car back into space and was hiding in the dark alone. It shouldn’t be too difficult not to be discovered.

“Aren’t you assuming that I’ve been closely monitoring Chen Yikun’s actions?” Duan Yunhong faced the exposure and surprisingly maintained his composure, “There’s no need to pretend to be ignorant. It’s meaningless and a waste of time.”

“Tch, why do you make me sound a little two-faced?” Ning Fei finally accepted the lighter too, and put all the things back on the table again, “So, you came to knock on my door in the middle of the night and are standing in my bedroom to interrogate me?”

Director Duan coldly retorted, “Your living room is too crowded for two people to stand in.”

“Okay, you have a point.” Ning Fei turned back and leaned against the table, “But to be honest, I have to lead a team out of the base tomorrow, and I’m already very sleepy. Why don’t you interrogate me another day?”

Duan Yunhong said, “You have a mission tomorrow? Then why did you have such a late dinner party today and drink alcohol?”

“We have to go out and ‘risk our lives on grand adventures’ every now and then. Does that mean we’re not allowed to have dinner parties and drink alcohol when we have a mission? Then how are we supposed to live?” Ning Fei shrugged indifferently, “I didn’t drink much either. Aren’t I very sober? I won’t die, don’t worry.”

Duan Yunhong narrowed his eyes slightly, “So you went there to monitor Chen Yikun and Wang Haiyang’s gathering.”

“Didn’t we agree not to talk about it tonight? Why are we starting again?” Ning Fei didn’t care that Duan Yunhong hadn’t agreed to “not interrogate tonight” at all, walked straight to the bed, and sat down with a thud, “No reception, no goodbye.”

Duan Yunhong stood high above him, silently staring at him for a few seconds, and actually turned around and left.

Ning Fei sat on the edge of the bed without moving, watching the other person walk out of the room, listening to the sound of the door opening and closing. He was really a little surprised this time.

“He actually really left…? Weirdo.”