Chapter Two: You Had Better Have a Reason
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An inexplicable feeling overwhelmed him. Wang Guang’s hand trembled uncontrollably. He moved the mouse over the email, took several deep breaths, and, restraining his excitement, clicked it open.
The next moment, the words that appeared on the screen were: "Photolithography Machine Manufacturing Manual."
Disappointment crashed over Wang Guang instantly.
“It’s just a prank after all!” he sighed, unsure whether to feel relieved or let down.
Everyone knew that if this manual had truly come from the Windmill Kingdom, it would not be written in Shangxia language. Foreigners’ documents always used their own languages.
He was about to close the email when, just as his mouse hovered over the close button, a dense line of foreign text suddenly caught his eye.
“What is this...?”
Wang Guang froze, leaning closer to the screen.
Moments later, shock dawned in his eyes.
The dense foreign text was a translated version of the photolithography machine manufacturing manual!
And the grammar was impeccably precise!
“Could this actually be a bilingual edition?”
Suppressing his astonishment, Wang Guang continued reading.
The more he read, the more alarmed he became.
For after barely half a page, some of the content was already incomprehensible to him.
Especially when he saw the first three-dimensional image, his shock reached a peak!
Complex formulas, profound principles, and exquisitely detailed illustrations—all indicated that this manual was very likely authentic!
Moreover, the sender had gone to the trouble of providing a translation beforehand!
And a highly refined translation at that!
The quality was at least at the academician level—otherwise, it would be impossible to translate such specialized terminology so precisely, even he found it headache-inducing.
Swish, swish, swish!
Wang Guang rapidly scrolled through the document. Though he lost understanding midway through the first page, he kept going until he reached the very end.
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After confirming that the entire document was a bilingual manual, Wang Guang’s whole body trembled with excitement, his cheeks flushed!
Especially since, after the bilingual document, there was an original version in pure foreign language, untranslated!
This completely unsettled Wang Guang!
Even if he couldn’t understand the latter parts, judging by the portions he could comprehend, the professional and intricate knowledge contained therein was undeniably vital—whether or not it pertained to photolithography machines.
He glanced at the clock—1:30 a.m.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and quickly dialed a number.
“Professor, I’ve received a very special email. Please come immediately!”
“What email? Can’t we look at it tomorrow? It’s so late. Or just forward it to me.”
“No, professor, you must come right away! I can’t forward it, nor wait until tomorrow. Please come to the institute as fast as possible!”
“Absolutely!”
Wang Guang’s voice trembled.
There was a pause on the other end, then a heavy voice replied, “Alright, Xiaoguang, I’ll be there within ten minutes!”
Hearing this, Wang Guang felt all his strength drain away. He slumped into his chair, eyes wide, fixed unblinkingly on the screen.
As if this was more important than his very life.
Time passed, slowly.
Ten minutes felt like ten days to Wang Guang.
He couldn’t stop glancing at the clock every few seconds.
Finally, urgent knocking came at the door of the duty room.
“Xiaoguang, it’s me!”
Wang Guang sprang up and hurried to open.
The visitor was a somewhat portly middle-aged man in his fifties—Academician Zhao Zizhen, director of the Grand Science Institute.
Frowning, Zhao asked immediately, “What on earth has happened to make you call me out in the middle of the night?”
Wang Guang pointed to the email document on the screen and said in a low voice, “Professor, look for yourself. I’m not sure.”
“What's this? Photolithography machine manufacturing manual? Illustrated version?”
Zhao frowned deeper, displeased. “Xiaoguang, you wouldn’t have called me here in the middle of the night just to show me some prank, would you?”
Wang Guang said nothing. Zhao’s gaze dropped to the document and then abruptly stopped.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
“This... this is impossible!”
“How could this be?”
“This is actually a photolithography machine manufacturing manual??”
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“The formulas, the principles...”
Muttering to himself, Zhao Zizhen swiftly scrolled through the document, his hands shaking as well.
For a full five minutes, Zhao forced himself to stop, then turned with a trembling voice to ask Wang Guang, “Who sent this?”
Wang Guang recounted the mysterious phone call he had received.
Zhao’s eyes widened further. “What? You mean you received a mysterious call from abroad saying they would send the photolithography machine manual—and then they actually sent it?”
“Yes, professor!” Wang Guang nodded fervently. “I’m still a novice and can only understand a little. Is this... real?”
Zhao cast a complicated glance at the document but didn’t answer. Instead, his expression grew grave as he instructed, “Xiaoguang, nothing about tonight’s events must be leaked under any circumstances!”
With that, Zhao turned and eyed a red button in the duty room. After a brief pause, he decisively pressed it.
Buzzing filled the entire Grand Science Institute as a piercing alarm sounded.
Outside the duty room, a heavy security door slowly descended, sealing the entire room.
Even the main entrance was locked behind another security barrier.
“What’s going on?”
“Who triggered the level-three alert?”
“Who’s on duty tonight?”
Other staff working late or overnight rushed out in shock, staring at the descending security gates, stunned.
Because from the moment the security gates closed, no one was allowed to enter or exit freely.
Otherwise, they would face charges of treason.
“Professor, what are you doing?”
Wang Guang was stunned.
Zhao Zizhen said nothing but pulled out his phone and began calling old academicians one by one.
Soon, several senior academicians arrived at the duty room, their faces grim.
One, about Zhao’s age, said bluntly, “Old Zhao, you go to such lengths in the middle of the night, summon us all here, disturb our sleep, and activate the level-three security alert—you better have something earth-shattering!”
Zhao ignored him, gesturing to the document on the screen with utmost solemnity.
“Apologies for disturbing you all so late, but this is urgent. Please help me verify whether this is genuine.”
Everyone looked at the document.
As they each read through it, their faces flushed deeply.