Chapter Twenty: I Am Sorry, Sir!
“I’m heading to Little Sakura to take care of some business, so let’s set that aside for now. I’ve also sent you something to your official Academy of Sciences email. Please check it carefully.” Lin Yang didn’t elaborate on his trip to Little Sakura. After a brief pause, he added, “How about this? I don’t like owing people money either. Just consider whatever’s in the email as something you bought from me. That way, we’re even. How does that sound?”
“Ah? What did you send?” Zhao Zhen suddenly recalled that Wang Guang had mentioned something about Lin Yang sending them something besides borrowing money.
While he asked, Wang Guang had already quickly opened the official email.
“It’s nothing much, just manufacturing blueprints for a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine. It’s more advanced than the one from Windmill Country. Ten million for it—won’t be a loss for you,” Lin Yang replied casually.
At the same time, Wang Guang opened the email and saw the blueprints Lin Yang had sent.
Upon seeing the glaringly obvious title “0.1-Nanometer Lithography Machine Manufacturing Manual (Illustrated),” the two of them were stunned again, then couldn’t help but exchange bewildered glances.
A manufacturing manual for a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine?
Was this some kind of joke?
Everyone knew that the most advanced lithography machine in the world currently was the 3-nanometer one from Windmill Country.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, Lin Yang had sent them blueprints for a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine?
It was already absurd enough to have acquired the manufacturing manual for the Windmill Country’s lithography machine—it was a product that existed on Blue Star, after all.
But 0.1 nanometers? That was something else entirely.
That was purely conceptual technology. With Blue Star’s current level of tech, it would take at least a hundred years, if not more, to reach such a standard.
And yet here it was, seemingly right in front of them. This had to be a prank, right?
Indeed, both of them first thought Lin Yang was just teasing them.
In fact, an uncontrollable thought flashed through Zhao Zhen’s mind—that perhaps Lin Yang, not wanting to owe money, had just thrown together some random document to fool them.
Although he had already decided to complete the deal regardless of its authenticity, he couldn’t help feeling a strange unease.
Still, despite this, Zhao Zhen couldn’t resist opening the file.
After all, considering what Lin Yang had done for them before, even if it was a bluff, it didn’t matter much.
However, as soon as Zhao Zhen skimmed through the document, he shuddered as if struck by lightning!
“Th-this is…”
Zhao Zhen was utterly stunned!
Because, from the very first word, this document didn’t look like a careless fabrication!
If it were before they built the 3-nanometer lithography machine, he might not have been able to tell at a glance.
But with prior experience, Zhao Zhen immediately recognized this was genuinely a more advanced lithography machine manufacturing manual!
There was no doubt about it!
He was dumbfounded!
He was bewildered!
He was utterly flustered again!
A 0.1-nanometer lithography machine!
How could this be possible?
Inside the Alien Affairs Bureau…
Ye Guhong and the others were monitoring the call. When they heard Lin Yang say he was trading a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine manufacturing manual for ten million, they exchanged glances but didn’t take it seriously at first.
Yet, when Zhao Zhen fell silent, an involuntary tension gripped them all!
Could it be that the manufacturing manual sent to the Academy’s email was truly authentic?
“Old Zhao? Old Zhao!?” Ye Guhong called out anxiously.
But there was no response from Zhao Zhen.
This made Ye Guhong instantly rise to his feet and raise his voice: “Zhao Zhen? Speak! Respond immediately!”
He was getting anxious and kept calling out.
There was no choice—he couldn’t remain calm!
The longer Zhao Zhen stayed silent, the more it suggested the manual might be genuine.
And if it really was, it would be a matter bigger than the sky itself!
A 0.1-nanometer lithography machine… just thinking about it was enough to take one’s breath away!
Ye Guhong dared not imagine the unimaginable consequences if it was true!
Tang Wensheng and the others held their breath, exchanging nervous glances.
They couldn’t fathom what a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine truly meant.
Just producing a 3-nanometer lithography machine had already fundamentally transformed many industries domestically, saving hundreds of billions annually in related costs.
If it really was a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine, how many times greater would the impact be?
No!
If a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine really existed, its significance and impact would transcend monetary value!
It would mean technology leapt forward by several centuries.
It would catapult Shangxia directly into becoming the most powerful technological empire on the entire planet!
Moreover, there would be consequences beyond what they could even imagine—or dare to imagine!
Shangxia was already formidable, but with the aid of a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine, what would it look like in a few years? They didn’t dare to think further!
…
Inside the Academy of Sciences.
Zhao Zhen stood frozen, phone in hand, for a full thirty seconds.
The manual before his eyes became his sole focus!
The exquisitely detailed formulas, the intricate arrangements, the perfect combinations—they fascinated and consumed him utterly!
0.1 nanometers!
Absolutely a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine!
Zhao Zhen’s heart roared!
He felt as if he were going mad!
No one could understand his current emotions.
Just days ago, he was lamenting the lack of sufficiently advanced lithography machines domestically. Now, he directly possessed technology at least several centuries ahead of the rest of the world—a 0.1-nanometer lithography machine!
Such a dreamlike occurrence—if he weren’t living it himself, he wouldn’t believe it for a moment!
He could hear Ye Guhong’s urgent calls through the earpiece.
But he simply couldn’t respond.
Because at this moment, all he wanted to do was cry!
Yes, that’s right…
Zhao Zhen wanted to cry!
Having spent his entire life at the forefront of scientific research, he had devoted his entire existence to science.
His greatest wish was to witness his motherland’s scientific leap forward!
Now, his wish had come true!
Few could understand this feeling.
He wanted to weep!
And he really did cry!
“Oh heavens, I, Zhao, am fortunate in this life to behold such exquisite marvels. I can die without regrets!”
“I can die without regrets! Ha ha ha ha…”
Zhao Zhen laughed and cried, as if possessed.
Then, as if reminded of something, his sobbing grew louder, wailing into the phone with heartfelt confessions:
“I’m sorry, I’ve wronged you! I apologize for the petty doubts I just harbored!”
“At first, I thought you were just trying to avoid owing money, deliberately fooling us. Now I’m ashamed of my thoughts!”
“Now I understand—you must have worried we’d feel guilty accepting such a precious gift, so you cleverly devised this loan as an exchange.”
“Compared to you, my thoughts are filthy and despicable.”
“I am guilty!”
“I—I apologize to you!”
Zhao Zhen bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
Though it was just a phone call and Lin Yang couldn’t see him, he still did this.
It was as if only by doing so could his heart find some relief.