One month later.
Before Chen Chen knew it, the season had changed from late autumn to winter.
In late January, the final exams of various subjects were held one after another. The campus was pervaded with a holiday atmosphere, a period of festive joy amid bleak misery.
In Shangdu, dark clouds, formed by the temperature fluctuations, shrouded the skies of southern Mainland China. Snowflakes appeared over the Yangtze River Basin and weather forecasts warned of an incoming cold wave.
In the library, Chen Chen had just put down a copy of Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry and gave a long exhale.
At last, he had reached the end of his frenzied month-long study plan.
Of course, this was just the first stage.
In the past month, Chen Chen had not only completed learning about cell biology, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and so on. He had also delved deeper into the field of stem cells and biochemistry, studying them up to master's level, and came up with a few suppositions.
For instance: "Sever the medulla oblongata of a test subject by separating the head and neck, and use autologous neural stem cell therapy to preserve the physiological functions of the subject. Can the nervous system be reconnected?"
Another one: "Use chemotherapy to destroy the senescent stem cells in the bone marrow of an elderly subject, then employ the 'homing function' to inject autologous hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, cultivated in vitro, to rebuild the immune system. Can the organs of the elderly subject be rejuvenated?"
Still another example: "Excise part of the subject's brain and use autologous neural stem cells to construct a framework model. Can the cranial nerves be reconstructed?"
Chen Chen felt that just a single branch of biology, like the field of adult stem cells, could accomplish so much.
If he was let loose in a laboratory of his own, free to conduct a few experiments and then publish a few
However, that was out of the question.
Chen Chen pondered silently. At present, it was unrealistic to plan about starting a project. He was just a freshman. Forget about the fact that the school would never grant him the authority to start his project, even the professors' project groups would not want him.
Without carrying out experiments himself, he had no way to write papers or make his mark in scientific research.
Chen Chen could not help frowning. His time was running out.
Nonetheless, just then, Chen Chen realized that someone beside him was poking his arm.
He remembered this person. There were certain familiar faces in the reading room if one was there frequently enough. The one beside him was a female student from the Institute of Biological Sciences too. He often saw her reading through similar books.
Even so, she should be a senior because the interface of the graduation plan could often be seen on her screen.
"Hello, I see that you're reading a biochemistry book. Can you spare me a moment to answer a question…"
The female student widened her eyes and bit her lips, asking bashfully.
"Ask away." Chen Chen shut the book in his hands and looked at her serenely.
Faced with his gaze, the girl instinctively avoided his eyes.
She had already noticed Chen Chen's arrival one or two weeks ago. Although this guy was not that handsome, he still attracted a fair amount of attention.
It was for no other reason than that he had an indescribable aura.
It was the air of someone with everything under control. Every gesture and every expression had the same composed manner, full of confidence. His eyes in particular seemed to be concealing vast, starry depths.
After handing over her question, the female student cautiously moved her seat next to Chen Chen, waiting for his explanation at a safe distance like an obedient darling.
A faint fragrance wafted from her. It was the scent of high-end perfume. Chen Chen subconsciously glanced at her before bending down to the question.
[There is a polypeptide whose primary structure may be linear or closed loop. Please make the identification process as simple as possible and write a detailed plan.]
"This is simple enough."
After a moment of thinking, Chen Chen said, "Use 6 moles per liter of hydrogen chloride or 4 moles per liter of sulfuric acid, reflux for 20 hours, obtain L-type amino acids without causing racemization, and analyze their amino acid composition. Then, according to the amino acid composition, choose a suitable proteolytic enzyme for hydrolysis, and try a few more times if it fails at first…
"After that, use the original sample as a control to perform polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, separating the proteins and oligonucleotides... You should know the rest, right?"
The student nodded a few times, comprehension dawning on her face.
"Don't take too much estazolam."
Chen Chen gave her this reminder as he pointed to his head. "It'll affect your thinking abilities."
"How did you know…"
When the student heard this, she was taken aback and asked in astonishment.
"Although you've covered your face with glasses, if one looks closely, one can still see that your face is slightly swollen."
Chen Chen explained, "Also, your eye circles are too heavy and you have bloodshot eyes. Your skin is secreting excessive oil. All these are side effects of taking estazolam. I've just read about a case like this in that book."
"Okay, alright…"
The female student grinned awkwardly. She wanted to cry but did not have the tears.
"Cough cough!"
A loud cough came from the front row as if reminding them that they were talking too loudly in the library.
"If you're able to, you should find a way to stop taking sleeping pills."
Chen Chen continued. "Otherwise, you can't hold on until the second round of the postgraduate entrance exams."
"You knew that I'm taking the postgraduate entrance exams?" The student was even more astounded.
"The list of recommended students will be out when the first semester of the fourth year begins. If you had gotten a recommendation, you won't be taking estazolam and you wouldn't have asked me the question earlier."
Chen Chen clarified, "Besides, a bachelor's degree in biological sciences isn't of much use. Only a master's degree could be put to some use. Anyone with the slightest spark of ambition would choose to continue their studies. Therefore, going into postgraduate studies is your only option."
The girl was on the verge of tears. "I was too dumb. Even after all my sweat and tears, I couldn't get admitted into a postgraduate course, and I also mucked up the basic preliminary entrance exam…"
"You're trying to get into the program here, right? I advise you to seek help from students with good grades. Don't waste your time on graduation plans. If you still can't get in after that… You can still take the entrance exam next year."
"Cough cough!"
A loud, warning cough sounded from the back row.
"But I keep coming up blank for my graduation plans. What do I do?"
The girl pursed her lips, no longer keeping her voice down. "Furthermore, I'm trying to prove to my dad that I can become a research student. If I can't get in the first time, I might not have the patience to try again…"
"Is it just a lack of patience?"
Chen Chen properly observed the girl for the first time. She was not unattractive, only her face was not made-up. She also wore black-rimmed glasses, which made her look somewhat gawky.
However, when one looked at the brand of her clothes, one would think otherwise.
Although she was wearing dark, casual clothes, a careful look would show that these were brands like Celine and Hermès. Even her computer was an Alienware.
Even her long, silky hair was not something attainable with ordinary shampoo.
"There's still hope."
Chen Chen was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Students with excellent research and academics in their undergraduate studies or who have achieved outstanding results in large-scale academic competitions, can apply for a specialized postgraduate recommendation."
"Specialized postgraduate recommendation?"
The girl mumbled to herself. There was a flash of hope before her expression fell again. "But even if I joined my tutor's project team, they would've outstanding research results. I won't get anything..."
Chen Chen shook his head and laughed softly. "If you have the necessary financial ability, you can rent a lab off-campus. I happen to have a few experiments myself. If they succeed, I can attribute one of them to you."
"You?"
Upon hearing this, a guarded look crossed her face and she instinctively leaned backward. "If you want to carry out experiments, why don't you tell your tutor?"
"I haven't been assigned one yet."
The girl's eyes turned round as saucers. She pointed at the pile of English material before Chen Chen. "You're a freshman?"
"Cough cough!"
Fits of coughing rang out from left and right at the same time.
"Grade 20, Biological Sciences Class 2. My name is Chen Chen."
Chen Chen took out his student card and waved it around. "I've given up on the school's labs. The experiments I want to do would progress on a monthly basis. I'm not a professor, so the school won't possibly allow me to take over the labs for so long."
"But you're just a freshman…"
The girl seemed rather tempted and hesitant all at once. "Are you a top student at Zhiyuan College?"
"Nope." Chen Chen shook his head.
"Then how can I trust that you'll help me?"
"I'm merely offering a suggestion. If you don't believe me, I can't do anything about it."
Chen Chen seemed unconcerned and immediately turned his attention to the book in his hand.
"…"