Before long, the match between Argentina and Croatia began.
Argentina was obviously the stronger team.
They easily won 3-0, advancing to the final.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!"
Messi knelt on the grass of the field.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!"
In the living room, Gao Yang rolled on the floor:
"We won! Damn it! Lin Xian, we're going to make a fortune!"
Gao Yang rolled back up, tightly gripping Lin Xian's hand:
"Comrade Lin Xian! Our bright future depends on you!"
Lin Xian shook off Gao Yang's hand:
"Weren't you just saying that my dreams aren't reliable, that they're not a glimpse of the real future world?"
"Uh..."
Gao Yang scratched his head, looking at the pile of lottery tickets on the table:
"I probably need more experimental data before I can draw conclusions. So, for the semi-final tomorrow, between France and Morocco, who do you think will win? Tell me quickly!"
Lin Xian recalled the sentence he saw in his dream...
[Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout to win the championship.]
"Since France made it to the final against Argentina, then France will definitely win tomorrow. Are you still planning to bet? Better to cash out while you can."
Gao Yang chuckled as he picked up the scattered lottery tickets:
"Don't worry, I know my limits. I'll come over to your place tomorrow to watch the game!"
"Don't come over... I want to sleep."
"Oh, come on, you have to wake up at 00:42 anyway, so why sleep afterwards? Let's verify whether your dreams are accurate together!"
...
The next night, Gao Yang arrived as scheduled.
He held a thick stack of lottery tickets triumphantly:
"Hehehe~~ I won over ten thousand from the tickets I bought yesterday, and today I added some savings and bet thirty thousand on France winning! Lin Xian, if France really wins this time, we can earn seventy to eighty thousand!"
"But what if they lose?"
"Get out! You jinx, stop talking nonsense!"
As usual, at three o'clock in the morning, amidst Lin Xian's yawns, the match began.
France indeed launched a fierce attack and ultimately won 2-0, advancing to the final.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!!"
Gao Yang transformed into a berserk mop, vigorously cleaning the floor of Lin Xian's living room:
"It's amazing, Lin Xian! We're making a fortune! We've earned a year's salary in one go!"
"No, have we got our priorities wrong?"
Lin Xian suddenly realized, looking at Gao Yang cleaning frantically:
"I invited you here to discuss the dreams, but how did it become watching the World Cup with you?"
"Oh hahaha..."
Gao Yang got up from the floor, pacing with his hands behind his back:
"Actually, I still don't quite believe that your dreams can predict the future. It's just too unbelievable."
"But! If Argentina really wins the final, just like what you saw in your dream, then it might be really something!"
"The final will be played in a few days, and I'll come over to watch the match with you!"
Lin Xian was speechless:
"I think there's no need to continue the verification. You really don't need to come anymore. Actually, if you want me, a complete football ignoramus, to buy lottery tickets, I'd bet on these two teams winning. There's obviously a huge gap in strength."
"By the way, Lin Xian, you should buy some lottery tickets next time. I can't just watch myself driving a Land Rover while my brother continues to struggle, can I? I think next time we can really go all-in on Argentina to win!"
"Let's talk about it later. I'm not in the mood."
...
After seeing off Gao Yang, Lin Xian slept until lunchtime.
It was a weekend and he didn't have to work, so he enjoyed a good sleep.
But there was still something on his agenda for the afternoon. Lin Xian planned to go to the hospital to visit Professor Xu Yun's daughter.
A few days ago, Zhao Yingjun had instructed Lin Xian to buy some things and pay a visit.
Lin Xian had asked the counselor and found out that Professor Xu Yun was busy with research in the school laboratory during weekdays and only went to the hospital to accompany his daughter on weekends.
So, if Lin Xian wanted to see him, the weekend visit to the hospital was the best option.
After lunch, Lin Xian bought a few boxes of gifts and then took a taxi to the affiliated hospital of Donghai University.
The affiliated hospital of Donghai University was one of the top hospitals in Donghai City. There were numerous experts inside, and it was renowned nationwide for treating incurable diseases that other hospitals couldn't handle.
So, since the experts here had said that Professor Xu Yun's daughter had no chance of waking up, it was probably true.
Thinking about how this girl had turned into a vegetative state since she was four or five years old, spending her life unaware on a sickbed, it was really heartbreaking.
But this also deepened Lin Xian's confusion—
Why didn't Professor Xu Yun want to exchange his failed research for money and then focus on accompanying his daughter, or let her enjoy better treatment? Could it be... that a scientist's dignity was so important?
...
The inpatient building was over twenty floors tall, and Professor Xu Yun's daughter was staying in a room on the 17th floor.
Lin Xian quickly found his destination according to the information on the doorplate.
It was a single room, and the name "Xu Yiyi" was written on the doorplate, presumably the name of Professor Xu Yun's daughter.
The door to the ward was half open.
Lin Xian knocked gently, and the smooth wooden door opened directly...
The scene inside surprised Lin Xian.
From inside to outside, it was filled with various high-end gifts, all of them valuable.
And on these gifts and flowers, there were blessing cards from various major cosmetics companies, many of which were from world-famous beauty giants...
It seemed that Zhao Yingjun was right.
Today's Professor Xu Yun was considered a golden opportunity for beauty companies worldwide.
The chemical substance he considered a disgrace, a failed product, was a huge gold mine in the eyes of these beauty companies.
In the ward by the window, there was a multifunctional hospital bed.
On the blue sheets lay a slender girl.
Her arm resting on the side of the bed truly epitomized the term "skin and bones." And her legs, which Professor Xu Yun held in his hands, carefully stretching and exercising them, were also shriveled to the point where no muscles could be seen.
Like a fragile porcelain doll, about to break with a touch.
Lin Xian stood at the door, silent.
For someone who had been bedridden for over a decade, all the muscles in her body were probably completely atrophied long ago. Even if he persisted in doing stretching exercises for her every day, it would probably only bring psychological comfort.
Lin Xian watched as Professor Xu Yun completed a set of rehabilitation exercises for his daughter and then turned around:
"Why don't you take these things away? There are already enough here."
Lin Xian placed the gifts he was holding behind the door and said softly:
"Professor Xu, please take care of yourself, and these supplements are for you."
Professor Xu pushed his glasses up and looked Lin Xian up and down:
"You're a student at Donghai University?"
Lin Xian was puzzled, how did he know?
He nodded:
"Yes, Professor Xu, my name is Lin Xian, and I graduated from Donghai University."
"Weren't you the host of the school anniversary gala and the freshman welcome party?"
Lin Xian nodded again, marveling at Professor Xu Yun's good memory:
"Yes, Professor Xu, do you remember me? I often served as the host for campus activities during college, and I hosted the freshman welcome party for three consecutive years."
Professor Xu Yun smiled rarely:
"No wonder you look so familiar. I saw you at Mr. Chu's dinner party the other day and felt a sense of déjà vu."
Perhaps it was the inherent affection of a teacher for his students, Lin Xian felt that Professor Xu Yun was much gentler today than before.
Professor Xu beckoned for Lin Xian to come closer to the bedside.
Lin Xian was somewhat surprised.
He had already prepared to be kicked out by Professor Xu, but he didn't expect him to want to chat with him a bit longer.
Lin Xian walked to the bedside and looked at the pale girl lying on the hospital bed.
"Young man..."
Professor Xu turned his head, looking at Lin Xian:
"Do you know... why I'm unwilling to sell that failed product to you?"
Lin Xian was taken aback.