Did the world end today?

Chapter 33 You are the genius

All the clues pointed to Mars.

Judging from the current situation, that place is almost the source of everything.

A great fire descends from the sky, and Mars shines on the other side.

Does this mean that it is humanity's final refuge?
Or is it that there is technology on Mars that would allow humanity to survive the apocalypse?
Based on the clues we have so far, it seems more likely to be the latter.

Furthermore, if the latter is taken as a precondition, then all the information one possesses can be pieced together into a logically complete story.

Xu Jin's father, Xu Qianlin, was the chief engineer of the Mars exploration program and led the launch of the Zhurong Mars rover.

Subsequently, the Zhurong Mars rover discovered remnants of room-temperature superconductors on Mars in 2025.

Meanwhile, Xu Qianlin and his group discovered more clues on Mars, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Planetary Reincarnation Organization.

As a materials science expert, Xu Jin followed in his father's footsteps and went to Mars in pursuit of this room-temperature superconductor.

After bringing back key materials from Mars, human technology entered a period of rapid development, and equipment such as the aerial maglev light rail, which is different from the current technological route, was born.

As they continued their exploration, the organization gradually discovered signs of the apocalypse and began to transform from a research organization into a clandestine organization that was suppressed for "spreading doomsday rhetoric."

Ultimately, for reasons unknown, Xu Jin launched an extreme action and went on the run.

Does that seem reasonable?
But to determine the exact details, there is still a crucial question that must be verified.

So, what exactly is Xu Jin's reason for going to Mars?

I'll have to see him tomorrow to find out.

Of course, before that, I must first discuss the issue of the materials with him.

After saying goodbye to Jiang Xingye, Lin Xu returned home and turned on his computer to look at the to-do list sent from the company.

Just as Jiang Xingye had said before, the actual testing went very smoothly, and there were basically no things that needed to be modified.

He made slight adjustments to the code based on the test feedback, then lay down on the bed and fell asleep immediately.

The numbers on the bracelet have reached zero.

This time, he did not enter another world.
The next morning, Lin Xu slept until he naturally woke up.

After opening his eyes, he submitted his fieldwork check-in on the computer, and Jiang Xingye approved it instantly as always.

Afterwards, as usual, he hailed a luxury car and headed straight for Jinling University.

He arranged to meet Xu Jin at 10 a.m. at a coffee shop near the entrance of Jinling University.

When he arrived, he wanted to call Xu Jin to ask if he had arrived yet, but when he looked up, he found that Xu Jin was already sitting in the corner.

"Morning."

Lin Xu stepped forward.

"Let's find a private room; it's not convenient to discuss business here."

"No, right here."

Xu Jin shook his head.

Lin Xu was stunned for a moment. He glanced at the table in front of Xu Jin and realized that the tabletop was a shade brighter than the other tables in the store.

Goodness, you wiped it yourself, didn't you?
He also became a waiter/waitress at the coffee shop.
"Alright then, let's talk here."

Lin Xu sat down opposite Xu Jin and took out a document that he had prepared in advance from his backpack and placed it on the table.

"It's the same thing we talked about before. I know you're researching M46X and PEEK materials."

"I happen to have a document here that describes a low-cost industrial method for producing these two materials."

"If you need it, I can give you this material."

"But the premise is that we must cooperate."

"We hold the patent rights to this material in joint ownership according to the contract."

"I'm asking for 80% of the share, and you want 20%. Do you agree?"

In reality, Lin Xu's bottom line requirement for this patent share was 67%, and proposing 80% was just to give Xu Jin room for negotiation.

According to the company's shareholding structure, only a shareholding of 67% or more can achieve absolute control; otherwise, the decision may be vetoed by the second-largest shareholder.

Under the current patent law, joint ownership by shares has no legal support and can only be protected by additional contracts or corporate shareholding systems.

Therefore, Lin Xu needed to agree on the shareholding in advance. In case their cooperation were to be conducted in the form of a company, conflicts over the division of equity could be avoided beforehand.

To his surprise, Xu Jin agreed without hesitation.

"I don't need shares, but I want to participate in R&D."

"I'd like to see this document. May I see it now?"

Xu Jin's tone was somewhat hurried, but Lin Xu calmly took out another document from his backpack and said:

"Let's sign the confidentiality agreement first, and then we can talk."

Xu Jin took the agreement, grabbed a pen and signed it quickly, then pressed his fingerprint on the agreement as Lin Xu had requested.

At this moment, he was no longer a germaphobe. After completing a series of actions, he couldn't wait to open the documents that Lin Xu had brought.

Judging from his expression, we can't talk business until he finishes reading it.

So Lin Xu simply sat down and ordered two cups of coffee.

He originally thought Xu Jin wouldn't drink it, but to his surprise, after the coffee was served, he downed it in one gulp.

He crunched on the ice cubes in the glass, and Lin Xu's mind briefly conjured up images of commercials he had seen before.

What should I do if my teeth are sensitive?
Use XXX toothpaste.

After waiting quietly for an hour, Xu Jin finally finished reading the document.

Then, he neatly rearranged the messy documents, looked up at Lin Xu, and solemnly said:
"Thank you!"

"You are a true genius!"

"Thank you for taking me with you!"

"Then what do you need me to do?"

"I can do anything!"

"There's no need to put it that way."

Lin Xu swallowed the teasing remark that was about to come out.

That's not Jiang Xingye on the other side!
He coughed and began to speak:
"As you can see, this material is a very rare achievement, but for various reasons, I cannot complete the entire research directly in my personal capacity."

"Therefore, I need to cooperate with you."

"You have the resources to conduct process research and development, right?"

"What you need to do is use those resources to thoroughly improve the process and officially enter the industrial production process."

"After all this is done, you and I will apply for the patent as co-owners, and then agree on the patent share through a contract and have it notarized by a notary office."

"At that time, we can share the benefits brought by the patents,"

"That's possible, but what about Sky Dome Technology? You said you'd send me to Mars, you said you could build spaceships!"

"I want to go to Mars! I want to go to Mars!"

Xu Jin's tone became more urgent, and his expression turned anxious.

These are symptoms of an impending obsessive-compulsive disorder attack.

Clearly, the conditions Lin Xu mentioned were not what he truly wanted, which caused him to become mentally agitated.

He just wants to go to Mars!

Lin Xu raised his hand.

"Quiet, quiet."

"Don't worry, you will definitely go to Mars."

"But before that, you have to tell me the answer."

Lin Xu paused, looked directly into Xu Jin's eyes, and asked solemnly: