Tuesday Evening: Wrapping Up at Wei's Lab
The hum of machinery faded as the team began winding down for the night.
The first successful experiment had been conducted.
They had replicated the anomaly. They had recorded its effects.
Now, they had a direction forward.
But direction alone wasn't enough.
Understanding was key.
...
A Well-Timed Break
Wei glanced at his team. They had been working for hours without pause.
Even though he could keep going, not everyone was built the same way.
"We're breaking for a bit," he said, setting his tablet down. Dr. Yao looked up, surprised. "A break?"
Wei nodded. "Go get something to eat. We'll debrief after."
Feng stretched with a smirk. "See? I told you he's capable of basic human compassion."
Wei ignored him, checking the last data readings as most of the team stepped out for food.
He didn't need a break.
But he needed them to have one.
...
Tea, Strategy, and Yao's Explanation
Twenty minutes later, Wei, Feng, and Dr. Yao sat alone in the lounge, a tea set between them.
Yao held a steaming cup, but it remained untouched.
"You're not eating?" Wei asked, pouring himself a cup.
Dr. Yao exhaled. "I've lost my appetite."
Wei studied him. "Because of the data?"
Yao shook his head. "Because of what happens next."
Wei took a sip of his tea, letting the silence settle before responding. "You don't think we should continue?"
"I think we should be careful," Yao corrected. "Whatever we're dealing with is affecting real people. And now that we've proved we can manipulate it…"
Wei set his cup down. "Now we learn to control it."
Yao let out a short laugh, but it lacked humor. "Control? You're talking like this is some kind of corporate acquisition."
Wei leaned forward slightly. "Everything has rules, Yao. Even curses. Once we understand the rules, we can break them."
Yao stared at him, then exhaled. "And if the cost is too high?"
Wei didn't answer immediately.
He knew what Yao was asking—how far was he willing to push?
He had no intention of harming anyone.
But knowledge always had a price.
...
The Science Behind the Collapse
Dr. Yao finally sipped his tea, the warmth settling his nerves. Then he spoke.
"I've been reviewing studies on electromagnetic fields and their effects on biological systems," he began.
Wei's interest sharpened. "And?"
"There's strong evidence that electromagnetic fluctuations can influence cardiac and neural activity."
Wei raised an eyebrow. "Define 'influence.'"
Dr. Yao leaned forward. "If electromagnetic fields pulse at certain frequencies, they can sync up with the human body's natural electrical activity—like how a pacemaker works."
Feng's smirk faded. "Wait. You're saying this thing could actually mess with people's hearts and nerves?"
Yao nodded. "If the fluctuations line up just right, they can cause misfires in nerve signals, irregular heartbeats, and even induce temporary neurological symptoms."
Wei's fingers tapped against the table, his mind clicking into place.
"This means we might not just be tracking where the collapses happen," he mused. "We might be able to predict them based on physiological responses."
Yao hesitated. "If we're right about this, we need to be careful. We could be affecting real people's health."
Wei studied him. Unlike before, this wasn't just scientific hesitance. Yao was genuinely worried.
Wei exhaled. He wasn't reckless.
"We have medics in the facility," he reassured. "If anything goes wrong, we stop immediately."
Yao held his gaze for a long moment before nodding.
Wei wasn't reckless.
But he wasn't afraid to take calculated risks, either.
...
Yao sighed and set his cup down. "If we're really going forward, we need a strategy."
Wei nodded. "Tomorrow, we run simulations."
Yao looked at him sharply.
Wei continued, "No more blind tests. We need to define safe thresholds before we push forward."
Feng leaned back. "Smart move. So tomorrow's just math?"
"Calculations, models, predictions," Wei confirmed. "No live experiments until we know how far we can push the energy field without triggering collapses."
Dr. Yao visibly relaxed. "That's the responsible approach."
Wei smirked. "I do have those sometimes."
Feng scoffed. "Rare, but I'll take it."
...
The Call to Dr. Qiao
After the tea, Wei took out his phone.
"Who are you calling?" Feng asked, walking in with a snack in hand.
"Dr. Qiao."
Feng raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
Wei shook his head. "No. I'm having him come on Thursday."
Feng frowned. "Not tomorrow?"
Wei leaned back against the desk.
"Wednesday is just calculations," he said. "Yao and his team will be running data models, setting up safe thresholds.There's no point in me staying the full shift—I'll check in, but they don't need me watching over their shoulders."
Feng smirked. "And here I thought you liked hovering."
Wei ignored him as Dr. Qiao picked up.
"Wei?" Qiao's voice was slightly gruff, as if he'd been working late himself.
"I need you at my lab on Thursday," Wei said, getting straight to the point.
A pause. Then: "For?". Wei's gaze flickered to the data screen.
"Forensics. Medical anomalies. You'll see when you get here."
Another pause. Then a chuckle. "Cryptic as ever."
"Thursday," Wei repeated. "Come prepared."
...
A Detail That Didn't Go Unnoticed
Feng watched him with a lazy grin. "Forensics, huh?"
Wei took another sip of tea.
"The devil's in the details," he murmured.
Feng chuckled. "I was talking about the tea."
Wei raised an eyebrow.
"You actually noticed we have a decent tea setup in this lab," Feng continued. "I think I'm more surprised by that than anything else today."
Wei didn't respond.
But he did make a mental note—his assistant had done well in setting up this facility, down to the small comforts.
The details mattered.
And when people felt grounded, they worked better.
A quiet investment in stability.
Something he should acknowledge more often.
...
By the time the team finished their last checks, it was nearly midnight.
Most of them were ready to go home.
Wei lingered behind, reviewing the last batch of results before finally grabbing his coat.
"Don't stay too late, boss," Feng called over his shoulder. "Tomorrow's the boring part."
Wei smirked. "Exactly why I won't be staying long."
Dr. Yao gave him an exasperated look but didn't argue.
The night ended with the team dispersing, leaving behind a lab full of data and the promise of bigger discoveries ahead.