Chapter Eight: An Old Acquaintance

After staying in S City for a few days, Qin Yu bid farewell to Meng Ke and set out for C City.

Qin Yu was exceptionally gifted—otherwise, she would not have earned a doctorate in chemistry at just sixteen. Yet her heart was wholly devoted to Li Mo, so she gave up the opportunity to study abroad in the United States and remained by Li Mo’s side. Moreover, Li Mo considered it too dangerous for women to handle chemical substances, and he disliked the pervasive scent of chemicals that clung to her. So, in the end, Qin Yu abandoned her research in chemistry. Her classmates and friends found her decision utterly baffling, especially Wang Li, who had always set her as his benchmark and strove to surpass her, yet remained perpetually second. Later, Wang Li tried several times to persuade her to return, but she never did. Still, the two of them became close friends.

Wang Li established a chemical factory and his own research base in C City. When he first started the factory, Qin Yu invested some funds in it. This time, Qin Yu came to C City not only to purchase some cold weapons but also because she wanted those chemical substances.

The apocalypse in her previous life had come about so mysteriously. She had heard it was triggered by someone’s experiment gone wrong, leading to the spread of the virus. Stranger still, after the world ended, she never saw any of the chemistry scientists she once knew. Although the military had access to some people developing anti-zombie virus medications, she could tell those drugs were not the work of the experts she was familiar with. Those people were too brilliant to take over a year to barely come up with a medicine that only resisted the lowest-grade zombie toxin. The arrival of the apocalypse was shrouded in peculiarity.

In that lifetime, she had been fortunate enough to see those basic anti-zombie toxins. She was confident that, given enough raw materials, she could develop a better antidote within a month. Although she was sure she could survive the beginning of the apocalypse, luck was always unpredictable, so it was best to be prepared.

When Wang Li received Qin Yu’s call, he was delivering a lecture at C University. As soon as he heard she was in C City, he hurriedly excused himself with a word to the supervisor and left.

Qin Yu looked at the man before her—his rimless glasses perched steadily on his nose, staring at her with a hint of anger—and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, is this really how you greet me after I finally make it to C City? Not very friendly of you…”

“Well? What brings you to C City?” Wang Li knew that Qin Yu never did anything without a reason—well, except for things involving that man. Thinking of him, Wang Li shot Qin Yu a resentful glance.

“Ahem… I came here… ahem…” Qin Yu looked at Wang Li, feeling a bit awkward.

“All right, out with it—what do you need me to do?” Wang Li, exasperated by the embarrassed woman before him, pressed on.

“Do you remember the chemical factory I invested in back then?” Qin Yu ventured cautiously.

“I do. Why?” Wang Li looked at her in confusion.

“Well… would you be willing to sell me your shares in the factory?”

Wang Li gazed at her, noticing the hint of entreaty in her eyes, and couldn’t help but laugh. “That factory, huh? If you want it, it’s yours. Haven’t there been a string of explosions at factories recently? That one’s been shut down for now—chemicals and everything else are just piling up in the warehouse. Take whatever you want. Keeping it is a losing game for me anyway, and I’m not happy about it. I trust your abilities; I’m sure it will reach its full potential in your hands.”

“Oh? Is that so…” Qin Yu inwardly rejoiced—having a stockpile of chemicals was perfect; she’d have plenty of materials to work with. “Thank you, truly. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best. And—I’ll make sure to repay you properly.”

Wang Li gave her a curious look but said nothing more. He felt as though Qin Yu had changed, become… sillier, perhaps. No, that couldn’t be—she was much too clever for that. Wang Li shook his head at himself. If anyone was being foolish, it was him, not her. Smiling wryly, he mocked himself.

Qin Yu watched Wang Li lost in his own thoughts and sighed inwardly. Time truly is a butcher’s knife—look at what it’s done to Wang, once the great talent, now half-muddled. Tsk, tsk.

After chatting for a while longer, they parted ways. Qin Yu said goodbye to Wang Li and decided to visit that weapons shop next.