Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 17：The Butterfly

Jiang Jingguo opened the door, and the officer, accompanied by several special police officers, stepped inside.
The others remained outside, waiting. They were all acutely aware that Jiang Fan's research on controllable nuclear fusion was a national secret of the highest order, accessible only to authorized personnel. No one else was permitted to touch it.
Moments later, one of the special police officers emerged, holding a computer, followed by another officer armed with a gun.
Inside the room, several more officers were scanning the surroundings with unknown instruments. It wasn't until they had thoroughly examined everything that they ceased their actions.
Jiang Jingguo and Li Guiqin stood there, bewildered.
"Mr. Jiang, please rest assured, we will provide compensation for the computer and other items we have taken," the officer assured them.
Jiang Jingguo wasn't interested in compensation; all he wanted to know was what had happened to his son, Jiang Fan. But the officer had yet to say a word about it.
The officer took out his WeChat phone and dialed a number.
"Minister Zhou, the relevant items from Jiang Fan's home have been taken, but Jiang Fan is not at home..."
"Understood."
After completing the report, the officer turned to Jiang Jingguo and asked,
"Mr. Jiang, where is Jiang Fan now?"
"I don't know," Jiang Jingguo replied.
"Then please try calling him."
"I can call him, but can you at least tell me what has happened to my son?"
Jiang Jingguo's voice trembled. After giving it some thought, he realized that the entire neighborhood had been sealed off for his son's sake. Dragon Lao and Qiao Lao were both here for Jiang Fan. He was certain something major had occurred. Otherwise, such a spectacle wouldn't have been made.
"I only know that Jiang Fan invented solar photovoltaic materials. I'm not aware of anything else," the officer replied. This was the cover story arranged by Minister Zhou, a deliberate diversion to conceal Jiang Fan's development of controllable nuclear fusion.
The solar photovoltaic material wasn't exactly groundbreaking technology, and the techniques had already been widely perfected. For the public, it was more readily accepted and unlikely to arouse suspicion. After all, there had been other students recruited to top universities for similar inventions.
But if it were publicly announced that Jiang Fan had developed the formula and data for controllable nuclear fusion, the entire world would erupt. Hostile foreign powers would likely send spies or even assassins to deal with him. This wasn't an unheard-of occurrence.
Thus, announcing that Jiang Fan had developed solar photovoltaic materials was also a measure of protection for him.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jingguo felt a surge of excitement. Everything that had happened suddenly made sense.
Moreover, Dragon Lao and Qiao Lao had both said they represented Longke University and Huqing University. Could it be that they wanted to recruit his son?
At this thought, Jiang Jingguo's excitement grew, and he glanced eagerly at Li Guiqin, who was still in a state of shock, unable to process what was happening.
But for now, he needed to contact Jiang Fan and make sure his son returned quickly. If Dragon Lao and the others became impatient and left, he would regret it beyond measure.
Who could have imagined that his son was so extraordinary, that he had invented solar photovoltaic materials? Jiang Jingguo felt a sense of pride swelling within him.
So what if Jiang Fan only scored 300 on the college entrance exam? Ha! He could still be recruited by the nation's top universities.
The more Jiang Jingguo thought about it, the more excited he became, and he immediately took out his phone to call his son.
Meanwhile, Jiang Fan, his face flushed with embarrassment, was walking alongside Chu Ruoxi, who had just pulled his hand.
It wasn't until they reached a corner that Chu Ruoxi glanced back and released his hand, muttering angrily,
"Hmph! A bunch of power-hungry people. Just wait until Teacher Wang isn't around next time; I'll show them!"
When Chu Ruoxi turned back to face Jiang Fan, she noticed his flushed face.
"Eh! Jiang Fan, what happened to your face?" she asked, puzzled.
Jiang Fan, flustered, quickly touched his burning face and explained in a panic,
"Uh... the weather is just too hot!"
Chu Ruoxi didn't pay much attention and continued walking ahead with Jiang Fan.
Meanwhile, Jiang Fan's mind was in turmoil. This was the first time a girl had held his hand, and for so long. He could clearly feel an electric current pulsing through his hand from Chu Ruoxi.
His heart raced wildly.
Could this be what it felt like to have a crush?
As Jiang Fan pondered this, his phone rang. It was his father, Jiang Jingguo, calling.
"Hello, Dad?"
"Xiao Fan, where are you?"
Jiang Jingguo's excited voice came through the phone.
"I'm with Chu... Chu Ruoxi at school," Jiang Fan said, his voice faltering when he mentioned Chu Ruoxi's name.
"Oh..."
Before Jiang Jingguo could speak further, another man's voice, deep and resonant, came on the line.
"Hello, Jiang Fan, we've received your email. Are you free to speak now?"
Hearing the mention of the email, Jiang Fan's heart skipped a beat. He glanced over at Chu Ruoxi, who was distractedly chasing a butterfly, and replied,
"I'm free."
"Good, just a moment."
A few seconds later, Jiang Fan heard a door close softly. The voice on the other end lowered, and a few brief words were exchanged before the phone was hung up.
The gist of it was that from now on, Jiang Fan was to tell no one about the contents of the email. To the outside world, he was to claim he had developed solar photovoltaic materials.
He was also instructed not to leave the school, as they would be coming to pick him up soon.
Jiang Fan wasn't surprised by the call. As a former researcher, he understood the weight of the information he had sent. It was classified as a national top-secret document. He was quite satisfied with the country's response.
With such national attention on him, he suspected there wouldn't be any issue with his future recruitment by Longke University.
Thinking about the rewards he would soon receive from the system, Jiang Fan couldn't help but smile.
"Jiang Fan, what are you grinning about? Hurry up and help me catch that butterfly!"
"Oh!"
Jiang Fan responded, quickly catching up to Chu Ruoxi as they both tried to catch the beautiful butterfly.
The butterfly fluttered gracefully, its delicate wings almost translucent like fine white gauze, with intricate, elegant patterns.
Though the butterfly's flight was slow, Jiang Fan and Chu Ruoxi couldn't catch it no matter how hard they tried!
Just as they were about to give up, the butterfly gently landed on a flower by the side of the path.
Chu Ruoxi raised a slender finger to her lips.
"Shh."
Then, she stealthily approached the butterfly, extending her hand slowly. With a quick motion, she attempted to catch it.
But the butterfly, unhurried, flapped its wings and flew upwards!
"Aww, so close!" Chu Ruoxi pouted adorably, watching the butterfly soar higher into the sky, shimmering in the golden sunlight.
"Whoo...."
A sudden whirring sound filled the air!
"Eh! Jiang Fan, look! A helicopter! I'd love to ride it and feel the wind!"

4o mini