"CP 1766, January 17. 171 days have passed since landing. Local time: AD 2017, February 4."

  "I've thought of a minor issue. I'll definitely be providing humanity with technology still under patent protection. When I eventually return to Lierus, can they prosecute me for not paying patent fees?"

  "Joking aside. I do believe some xenophobic, 'speciesist' individuals back home will use this as an opportunity to attack me, claiming that I've 'turned defenceless barbarians into dangerous rivals on par with the Republic.' Though they're a minority, better to be mentally prepared. Honestly, I do resemble those traitors in movies who pity aliens and give them technology. Though my real motive boils down to just wanting to go home. Best-case scenario, the Interstellar Exploration Mission will find this place first, but I won't count on it unless they suddenly increase the funding tenfold."

  "All that is at least a decade away, though. No need to dwell on it now."

  "Ye Min is attending a private science conference outside right now. We plan to introduce my existence to that new partner. An experienced veteran with practical know-how is essential for developing this thing. I just hope the new partner won't keep comparing me to a fox…"

  "Today's weather mirrors yesterday's, still foggy and drizzly, or more accurately, hazy."

  ***

  Time flows relentlessly, and in the blink of an eye, it's February 4th. Min's long-awaited next PSDM is about to begin.

  "First, more jokes — those folks are truly talented. After all these years, they still manage to put a fresh spin on elephant-and-refrigerator jokes. Then I need to promote the new blog I've started. And then I also need to..."

  However, none of that is the main point. His real focus is on finding potential collaborators at the venue. Mark hasn't explicitly refused, but aside from logging in once to remind Min he hasn't forgotten, he's been completely silent. This is genuinely suspicious, making Min increasingly doubt what kind of work Mark is actually doing now...

  Though Min still can't fathom why he enjoys such footage. As before, they plan to put Xi P's phone in a corner of the room to record video. Xi P himself is desperate to attend in person, but this time the meeting is being held in one of the city's few skyscrapers. Unless he can fly, peeking through the windows is out of the question.

  Besides, neither his black cloak nor that fur suit seems appropriate attire for a scientific symposium.

  The meeting time has again been chosen at evening hours, a choice Min finds somewhat questionable. While evening social events are common, this is a weekend — can't they just meet during daylight? Especially since this isn't a casual gathering but a demanding scientific discussion requiring intense concentration. Surely daytime offers better mental clarity for such matters?

  'Do they think humans are nocturnal creatures?' Min grumbles inwardly.

  ***

  After a twenty-minute ride, Min arrives at the building hosting the symposium.

  "B3... this must be it. Whoa."

  Following the signs, Min pushes open an unremarkable double wooden door. Beyond the doors, he is immediately stunned by the scene: a massive, two-storey-high, tiered room capable of holding over a hundred people, with a dedicated podium at the far end. The overall layout almost gives Min the illusion of a theatre, though the gaps between the tiers are wider, making it easier to move around than in a real theatre.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Even renting this space for a short time would be enough to bankrupt some people. A staggering contrast compared to the last PSDM held in someone's living room. Perhaps someone has invested in this since then.

  Whether the atmosphere is solemn or festive, Min isn't overly concerned about the setting. As long as enough people show up, that's all that matters. The hall is still nearly empty at this hour; Min is likely among the earliest arrivals. Unlike a living room — though theoretically no different — the solemn atmosphere here makes Min too nervous to sneak the phone into a corner to film. He hopes Xi P won't mind him breaking this promise.

  His original plan was to look for partners after the host finished speaking; now it seems wiser to start immediately. Judging by the scene, the turnout won't be small. Min doesn't want to spend the entire symposium scrambling for partners, he has other business to attend to...

  Like telling that joke about the elephant and the refrigerator.

  ***

  Another long moment passes before the official start time finally arrives. As if by magic, the moment the host steps onto the stage, the venue falls silent. Those still on their feet scramble to find seats, all eyes now fixed on the host.

  "Good evening, fellow tech professionals. This marks the 7th Private Science Discussion Meeting, and I'm sure many of you are here for the first time. Relax, everyone — no aliens or T-Rexes will burst through the walls, and no one will suddenly grab a railgun and start firing wildly."

  A wave of good-natured chuckles ripples through the hall. Min takes the opportunity to glance around, almost everyone is smiling. One individual, dressed to resemble Einstein's famous portrait, laughs so hard his wig nearly slips off.

  "I'm sure you're all thrilled to be back at our original venue, right? But first, let me address something more serious. Our key partner, Edward, passed away the day before yesterday. This is a tremendous blow to the operation of our PSDM and a profound loss. Unless a miracle occurs, this very event may well be our last event. Please cherish this opportunity." Unprepared for such a devastating announcement, the host's words land like a red-hot iron thrown into water. The venue, which had been buzzing with anticipation, falls utterly silent. People exchange glances, only faint sighs breaking the stillness.

  "May he rest in peace." The host murmurs.

  " May he rest in peace." Murmurs echo back from the crowd, voices uneven and scattered.

  "..."

  The host finally concludes the opening remarks. It's truly unfortunate, but what else can Min do? Besides, he never felt particularly attached to this private conference...

  Just as Min stretches lazily and decides to resume his search for collaborators, a voice suddenly addresses him from behind: "Hey, have you heard about the recent NgAgo1

  incident? "

  "That's not 'recent' — already two years ago. NgAgo might not perform gene editing, but it still works somewhat on RNA." Min turns slowly, his tone tinged with irritation. Bringing this up out of the blue to a Chinese scientist? He strongly suspects this is a deliberate jab at his ethnicity.

  But the moment he turns, Min freezes. Long ago, Min had seen that face almost daily. Even now, he hasn't forgotten who it belongs to: Mark Cong!

  As if anticipating Min's reaction, Mark flashes a meaningful smile: "Honestly, I never expected to run into you here. Isn't this coincidence rather amusing?"

  "...Um... well. Nice to see you too. How have you been? Seems like you've been pretty busy lately."

  "Not bad. Been buried in research. The lab's had some... well, complications. As for your situation, I've got most of the pieces now. Interesting concept. Your partner is quite the talent. From what you mentioned in your email, with him or her on board, why would you still need my help?"

  Min doesn't answer Mark's question straight away. Instead, he takes a moment to size him up. While Min isn't particularly fashion-conscious, he can see that Mark's suit exudes an understated luxury. His hair is neatly parted in the style of the 1940s, giving him a sharp, energetic look. He's always had that refined rogue vibe, but he looks and sounds even more polished now. Must be living quite well lately.

  Of course, Min wouldn't judge people by their looks. Besides, he knows Mark's true character from before. Finally making up his mind, Min says: "It's a bit complicated. While he did bring it up, he's not really skilled in chemical synthesis. Are you free tonight? Want to come over to my place? He'll be there too. I think you'd like to meet him."

  "Oh? He didn't come to the seminar?"

  "He... has a rather distinctive look, and he genuinely prefers not to attend and be noticed." Min shakes his head.

  "Alright, we haven't hung out in ages. All this mystery has me intrigued."

  Steeling himself, Min continues the conversation, covering everything from life after college to recent news. He refrains from mentioning Xi P for now — they're in a public place, and there are simply too many people around...