Chapter 60: The Research Institute (Part 1)

"Don't worry, Professor. I don't think he'll go back on his word," Cheng Yi reassured his mentor, "He doesn't seem like the type of person who would promise something and not follow through."

The old professor, however, remained cautious. "You never know. I'm concerned someone else might try to snatch him from us."

A talent like Dr. F.S. would be highly sought after, not only by their research institute but also by other medical organizations in the field. Time was of the essence. They needed to make contact as soon as possible and ideally, secure an agreement before anyone else did. That would be the safest strategy.

"Understood, Professor. I'll keep in regular contact with him," Cheng Yi said. Personally, he was just as curious about Dr. F.S. He had read the SCI journal papers authored by him and was eager to learn more from the acclaimed doctor.

---

Monday afternoon, after finishing her lunch, Jian Yiling requested leave from her teacher, citing a stomachache, and headed to the school infirmary. She didn't stay there long, though. With the excuse of the medical note she obtained, she quickly left the school.

At the bus stop near the school gates, Jian Yiling boarded a public bus, transferring twice before finally getting on the No. 716 bus, which would take her to her destination.

The Huijing Research Institute was located on the outskirts of Hengyuan City, at the last stop of the bus route. By the time they were two or three stops away from the institute, there were only two passengers left on the bus—Jian Yiling and a middle-aged woman.

The woman's eyes were red, and her face was tense, bearing the weight of worry and grief. Her demeanor suggested she was going through something deeply troubling.

When the bus reached the final stop, both Jian Yiling and the woman got off. The moment her feet hit the ground, the woman hurried toward the front gates of the research institute.

The gates were made of a high-security alloy, clearly designed to keep unauthorized visitors out. The woman stood in front of the entrance for a while, hesitant, unsure how to open the electronic gate.

In desperation, she started pounding on the metal door with her fists, her voice breaking as she shouted, "Please! I beg you! The hospital said you have a special medicine that can save my husband! I'm begging you, give me the medicine to save his life!"

Her cries grew louder and more frantic, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded for help. The commotion she caused was so disruptive that the security guard from the nearby guardhouse had no choice but to come over and intervene.

"Ma'am, please calm down. If you have a request, you need to submit an application through our institute's website. Provide all the relevant information about the patient, and if your husband qualifies, someone from the research institute will get in touch with you," the guard explained in a firm yet patient tone.

"Don't lie to me!" the woman yelled back, her voice hoarse from desperation. "I submitted that application a month ago! No one ever responded! My husband is dying, and you want me to wait? Wait for him to die?"

The guard, unfazed by her anger, tried to reason with her. "Ma'am, if your husband didn't qualify, it's likely because his condition doesn't meet the criteria for the clinical trial of the experimental drug."

"Liar!" she screamed, unwilling to accept the explanation. "It's because we can't afford it, isn't it? You only give the medicine to rich people, don't you? You let the poor die!"

The woman's accusations fell on deaf ears as the guard maintained his composure, though a hint of weariness crossed his face. "That's not true. We can't administer unapproved drugs to patients who don't meet the criteria, regardless of their financial situation."

Suddenly, the woman collapsed dramatically onto the ground in front of the gate. "I don't care anymore! You either give me the medicine, or I'll die right here at the entrance to your institute! Let the world see what kind of heartless monsters you really are, letting people die just because they can't pay you!"

Seeing her lying on the ground in protest, the guard sighed, his frustration barely concealed. He had seen many such cases before—people resorting to theatrics to force the institute's hand. He had learned not to be overly reactive to such displays.

Jian Yiling, who had quietly observed the scene unfold, calmly sidestepped the woman lying on the ground and approached the gate. The guard, noticing her approach, took a step forward and intercepted her path.

"Little girl, you should be at school. Don't get involved in this. Don't help your mom cause more trouble," the guard said, misunderstanding the situation. He assumed Jian Yiling was with the desperate woman.

Jian Yiling remained silent, her expression calm as she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. Without saying a word, she opened an app and displayed a QR code on the screen. The security guard blinked in surprise, momentarily confused by her actions. 

It took him a moment to realize what was happening, but as soon as he saw the QR code, his demeanor shifted from one of suspicion to one of quiet respect. He glanced back at the woman on the ground, then back at Jian Yiling.

Apologizing quickly, the guard stepped aside to let her through, tapping a few buttons on his control panel to unlock the electronic alloy gate.

The large, secure door slowly slid open, allowing Jian Yiling to pass through without a second glance at the distraught woman still shouting outside.