"Xiang Kui, male, 19 years old, a second-year student in Class 13 of the Computer Science Department at South City University. Academic performance is average, personality introverted, with no bad habits. Both parents are workers, and the family's financial condition is modest…"
"That's all?" Chen Guodong asked after reviewing the information.
"Yes, sir. This was compiled from the identity records linked to his phone number and his university files," the subordinate replied.
"I see." Although the report revealed nothing remarkable, Chen Guodong was certain the young man was far from ordinary.
How did he obtain Chen's phone number in the first place? And judging by his possession of such critical material, his capabilities were clearly extraordinary. Moreover, his tone during the call hadn't carried a trace of deference, as one might expect given the disparity in their statuses. Instead, it was casual, almost as though he were conversing with an old friend.
Could such a person be ordinary? Chen Guodong didn't need to guess—the answer was self-evident. After some thought, he retrieved a specially secured phone and dialed a number shrouded in even greater secrecy.
"Hello, is that you, Guodong? What's the matter?" A voice answered, kind yet imbued with authority.
"Yes, sir. We've just received an exceptionally valuable piece of information..." Chen Guodong recounted the sequence of events in detail.
The voice on the other end fell silent for a moment, clearly pondering the situation. After more than a minute of contemplation, it finally asked, "Guodong, how much of the research budget remains?"
"Seven hundred billion dollars," Chen Guodong responded without hesitation.
"Seven hundred billion?" The voice repeated softly, as though deliberating, before decisively concluding, "A seventh of it, then."
"A hundred billion?" Chen Guodong's heart jolted. "Isn't that too much?" He had anticipated the material's value to be immense, but not to the extent of consuming ten years' worth of the nation's research budget in one stroke.
"Guodong, you must understand—the country cannot shortchange those who make monumental contributions to its success," the voice explained. "And frankly, this is already a modest amount. Consider this: if we were to undertake the project ourselves, how much more would it cost? Not to mention the time it would take."
"Yes, sir. I understand," Chen Guodong replied solemnly, nodding firmly.
"Good." The voice expressed satisfaction before shifting to a more personal tone. "By the way, Guodong, don't spend all your time cooped up in the lab. Take some time to rest. It's been a while since you've seen your family, hasn't it? Make sure to visit them and put their minds at ease."
"Yes, sir!" Chen Guodong responded, his voice taut with emotion. Despite being a hardened soldier, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved by the heartfelt concern of his superior.
"General Chen, have the results come in?" The voice on the other end still carried an air of unseriousness.
"Yes, the results are out," Chen Guodong took a deep breath. "The transaction price is one billion dollars!"
"One billion?" The other party was clearly stunned by the astronomical figure. Initially, they had assumed that securing tens of millions would be an accomplishment, but to their astonishment, the offer was a staggering hundred billion dollars—and this was just the initial price. It seemed there was room for negotiation if necessary.
"What? Is it still too little?" Seeing the other party fall silent after hearing the number, Chen Guodong assumed they were dissatisfied and frowned.
In truth, he felt the cost was already excessive. If the other party were to push further, they might be forced into a compulsory deal since the funds allocated by his superior were capped at one billion, and exceeding this would undoubtedly create difficulties.
However, the reply took an unexpected turn. "No, I think it's too much."
"Too much?" Chen Guodong was momentarily stunned. Who in the world thinks money is excessive? Quickly recovering, he half-jokingly added, "If you think it's too much, you could always donate some to the nation."
"Haha, I was thinking the same thing," the other party responded with surprising sincerity. "How about this: I'll donate seven-tenths of it to the country. You only need to give me the remaining three-tenths."
"What!" This time, Chen Guodong was genuinely shocked. Seven-tenths—that was seventy billion dollars. Even a fool wouldn't part with such a colossal sum. It was a figure that could drive anyone mad with greed.
Doubtful, Chen Guodong asked again to confirm, "You're saying you only want thirty billion?"
Unbeknownst to him, the other party had acquired the invaluable data almost by chance, with minimal effort. To them, this windfall was unexpected, and even a fraction of it was enough to sustain countless lifetimes.
"Yes, I'll donate seventy billion to the country!" The voice was firm, though whether other motives lingered in their heart was anyone's guess.
"On behalf of the entire nation, I extend my deepest gratitude," Chen Guodong said earnestly. He could no longer doubt the other party's patriotic fervor. Who else in this day and age would donate such an astronomical amount without hesitation? People like this were not just rare—they were practically extinct.
"It's my duty," the other person replied humbly, before asking, "By the way, General Chen, if such a large sum suddenly appears in my account, will it attract any investigation?"
"Rest assured, the funds will be transferred to your account through official channels—there won't be any issues," Chen Guodong replied with a hint of amusement, silently admiring the other party's prudence.
"That puts my mind at ease," the other person said with a relieved sigh.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll end the call. Of course, if you come across anything important in the future, don't hesitate to contact me. My number will remain unchanged." With that, Chen Guodong ended the call, eager to share the good news with his superior.
Little did he know, the other person gave a wry smile upon hearing his words: This General Chen—does he think I'm a professional spy?
Dialing the mysterious number once more, Chen Guodong felt a slight tension.
"Guodong, is the matter settled?" The familiar voice, warm yet commanding, came through.
"Yes, sir, but he refused," Chen Guodong replied.
"Oh?" The voice on the other end registered mild surprise. "Then negotiate with him carefully; offering more is an option."
"No, sir, you misunderstand. He didn't refuse because it was too little—he thought it was too much. In fact, he donated seventy billion of it to the nation."
The line fell silent for a moment before the voice spoke again, tinged with admiration, "If only the country had more young people like him. Guodong, make sure to accommodate him if he has any needs. Also, assign a team to shadow him discreetly. Ensure his safety at all costs. Anyone capable of acquiring such critical information will undoubtedly attract unwanted attention from unsavory elements. We cannot afford any mishaps!"
"Understood, sir!"