The Genius Scientist and the “Injured” Youth

“Mr. Shi, I’ve found someone to restore the photo you wanted.”

Inside the spacious office, Shi Ji stood before the floor-to-ceiling window. Hearing the voice behind him, he turned around just as Yan Guangsheng handed him an envelope.

Shi Ji took it and pulled out the contents. The originally blurred photo had been technically processed; about 70 to 80 percent of it was restored, though large sections remained indistinct.

Fearing Shi Ji might misunderstand, Yan Guangsheng quickly explained, “This is already the result of the latest restoration technology. The photo you gave me was incredibly difficult. We’ve already…”

Shi Ji cut him off with a wave of his hand. He lowered his eyes to the photo, his gaze coming to rest on the two children at the edge.

The two children looked about the same age, their small hands tightly clasped together.

One was indeed Li Chen as a young boy. The other child standing beside him was slightly taller. He was turned slightly outward, positioned in a way that shielded Li Chen behind him.

“But Mr. Shi, where did this photo come from?” Yan Guangsheng suddenly asked. “I think I recognize Professor Qin Zhe on here.”

Shi Ji’s gaze snapped to Yan Guangsheng. Sunlight filtered through his lenses; his expression was unreadable, making Yan Guangsheng worry he had overstepped. “Mr. Shi, I—I didn’t mean to pry! I just… I caught a glimpse by accident.”

As Yan Guangsheng scrambled for an excuse, the man before him frowned and asked, “Professor Qin?”

Realizing Shi Ji wasn’t angry, Yan Guangsheng breathed a sigh of relief. He pointed to the man in the center of the photo. “This person is Qin Zhe.”

Shi Ji looked where he was pointing. The man in the middle looked very young. The other laboratory personnel in the photo were instinctively leaning toward him—a gesture of trust and reliance they likely hadn’t even realized at the time. It marked him as their leader.

Sure enough, Yan Guangsheng continued, “This Qin Zhe is extraordinary. He achieved massive scientific breakthroughs at a young age. Some even say he was the one who proposed the current technology for cultivating artificial Top-tier Omegas.”

“He was so young back then, tsk tsk.” Yan Guangsheng shook his head in admiration. “Only in his early twenties. He was a genius. He was scouted by Professor Shi and Professor Song and became their student, but his eventual achievements actually surpassed his teachers’!”

Yan Guangsheng abruptly went silent, realizing he was speaking inappropriately in front of Shi Ji.

“Mr. Shi, I… I didn’t mean anything by it…” Yan Guangsheng swallowed hard, trying to backpedal. “No matter how great he was… he was still just a student of Professor Shi and Professor Song.”

Shi Ji placed the photo back in the envelope. He took a deep breath and asked, “Can you contact him?”

Yan Guangsheng blinked blankly. “You mean contact Qin Zhe?”

Shi Ji nodded.

“Oh, that’s… that’s beyond difficult.” Yan Guangsheng’s face crumpled in a grimace. “That’s like trying to reach the heavens!”

Shi Ji: “Is he that hard to invite?”

“More than just hard!” Yan Guangsheng said. “National leaders have tried to meet him and failed. If you want to see him, I’m afraid…”

He trailed off, but Shi Ji understood the implication.

Shi Ji didn’t press him. He simply said, “Try your best to find someone who can reach him. Tell him I have something he would be interested in.”

Yan Guangsheng agreed repeatedly, then paused. “What kind of thing do you have that would interest Qin Zhe?”

Shi Ji glanced at him but didn’t answer. He took the envelope and left the office.

Back in the car, Shi Ji tossed the photo into the glove compartment and rubbed his aching temples. The recent events were too complex, and he couldn’t find a breakthrough. He felt like an ant lost in a thick fog.

However, this sudden photo and the mention of Qin Zhe seemed to be the biggest keys to the puzzle. No matter what, he had to meet Qin Zhe.

Just then, his phone on the passenger seat rang. Seeing the contact name, he swiped to answer. He connected it to the car’s Bluetooth and started the engine.

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before a voice spoke: “Shi Ji?”

It was Li Chen. The youth’s tone was cautious, as if testing the waters. Shi Ji arched an eyebrow and gave a soft “Mhm.”

“Could you…” Li Chen paused. “Could you come pick us up at XX Road?”

“It’s raining over here… we can’t find a taxi.”

He spoke quickly, as if afraid Shi Ji wouldn’t hear him or would hang up.

After speaking, Li Chen gripped his phone, listening intently to the sounds on Shi Ji’s end. He bit his lip, his tension nearly overflowing. After all, Shi Ji had been ignoring him since he got angry. Li Chen had to admit that calling was a selfish move on his part.

He felt his heart skipping beats in time with Shi Ji’s breathing. After a long silence, just as Li Chen thought he would be rejected, the man spoke: “I’ll be there soon.”

The gloom in Li Chen’s chest vanished instantly. The loneliness in his eyes was replaced by a spark of joy he hadn’t even noticed. “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

He hung up. Beside him, Jiang Mo watched Li Chen’s ecstatic face. The boy’s “tail” was practically wagging like a propeller. Jiang Mo curled his lip in mock disgust. “Someone once told me quite confidently that he would never like his brother.”

Hearing Jiang Mo’s snarky comment, Li Chen suppressed his smile and glared at him. He walked to the curb and tilted his chin up, staring down the road in anticipation of that familiar black car.

“He’s practically turning into a ‘Brother-Waiting Stone.'” Another youth standing next to Jiang Mo shook his head at Li Chen’s pathetic display. His deep chestnut hair glowed like a ripe nut in the sun, and his glassy eyes were beautiful when he smiled.

“Jiang Mo, do you think if I take a picture of him like this, it would shock our whole high school?” The youth nudged Jiang Mo’s arm. “The guy who used to go so crazy the whole school was terrified now has the face of a girl in love.”

Jiang Mo couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing Li Chen’s sharp gaze sweep over them, he quickly cleared his throat. “Alright, alright, Lin Yi. Stop teasing him.”

Li Chen ignored them. After he released a tiny bit of his pheromones, Jiang Mo and Lin Yi finally behaved.

It didn’t take long for Shi Ji’s car to pull up. The boy’s cheeks were flushed from the sun. Jiang Mo waved enthusiastically, and Shi Ji nodded in response.

“Get in,” Shi Ji said, his gaze landing on the other youth. “And this is…”

“Lin Yi!” Jiang Mo answered first. “Our classmate. He transferred in two months ago, but we’ve known each other since we were kids!”

The youth named Lin Yi stepped forward and gave a slightly stiff bow. “Bro—”

“This is my brother.”

Li Chen, who was about to get in, interrupted sharply. The emphasis on “my” was unmistakable. His tone was unfriendly, and his eyes held a rare spark of hostility. Lin Yi was taken aback; he had never seen Li Chen act like this.

Jiang Mo, who had learned his lesson twice before, quickly tugged on Lin Yi’s shirt. “Don’t call him ‘brother.’ This kid is very protective of his food; he’ll hit you,” he whispered.

Lin Yi realized immediately. He changed his tone and blurted out, “Hello, sir!”

The chestnut-haired boy’s boisterous energy was surprisingly similar to Jiang Mo’s. As Shi Ji watched the three of them, a realization hit him.

In the original plot, after Li Chen and Jiang Mo (Male Lead 1) confessed their feelings, Jiang Mo was forced to go abroad by his family. During their separation, Li Chen met Ji Shichu (Male Lead 2). When Jiang Mo returned two years later, he had a fiancé by his side.

That fiancé’s name was Lin Yi.

Lin Yi was a rare Top-tier Omega with a high pheromone compatibility with Jiang Mo. He was also Jiang Mo’s childhood friend. In the original text, he was the “vicious male supporting character” who made life difficult for Li Chen because he loved Jiang Mo.

Shi Ji’s gaze became subtle as he looked at the three of them. From love rivals to friends… how exciting.

He didn’t realize he was staring too long. Li Chen, becoming annoyed, poked Shi Ji’s shoulder to reclaim his attention. When that failed to disrupt Shi Ji’s internal monologue, Li Chen’s expression darkened.

Waiting until no one was looking, he pulled a newly bought utility knife from his pocket. He clicked the blade out and quickly sliced his own arm.

A finger-length wound appeared instantly. The skin split, and bright red blood welled up. Li Chen felt no pain; he simply watched the blood flow. He didn’t even blink.

It was Lin Yi who noticed first. “Li Chen! You’re bleeding!”

Shi Ji snapped his head around. Li Chen’s arm hung at his side, a long trail of blood running down his skin.

The youth tucked the knife back into his pocket, his lashes trembling. Then, he spoke in a pitiful, small voice:

“It hurts so much.”

“Brother.”