Chapter 104: Wang Bowen's Office

Page 1/3

Xiao Sun accompanied Zhang Mingyang as they continued to gather information, and by now, they had a solid grasp of the basic situation.

“Beep beep…”

Zhang Mingyang’s communicator rang.

“Grandpa Wang?”

“Hello, Grandpa Wang, did you need me? I’m currently inspecting the experiment benches in the Power Department.”

On the other end, Wang Bowen’s voice was a bit hoarse. “Mingyang, do you have some time now? Can you come over for a moment?”

Zhang Mingyang glanced at the time—it was just ten o’clock. He had nearly finished checking the Power Department area and had a good understanding of the situation.

“I’m free.”

Wang Bowen replied, “Then come find me. I’m in my office on the 35th floor of Nanshan. We’ll talk there.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Zhang Mingyang called Xiao Sun over and told him he had something to attend to, so he wouldn’t be able to continue the inspection today. He promised to meet him another day.

The two parted ways. Zhang Mingyang stepped out from the experiment bench area and noticed a vehicle headed to the main base. After a brief discussion with the driver, he got in.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the base airport. Zhang Mingyang quickly made his way toward Nanshan.

Passing through the grand plaza, he spotted Bai Muqing again—she was with the same man from before.

“Ahem, ahem!”

He coughed loudly twice to catch Bai Muqing’s attention.

“Zhang Mingyang?”

Bai Muqing had been looking for him these past few days and was surprised to see him here. “Wait up, Zhang Mingyang!”

She chased after him, her face filled with anger.

Seeing Bai Muqing coming after him, Zhang Mingyang quickened his pace, his legs moving faster. In no time, he had distanced himself.

Bai Muqing, realizing the gap was only widening, stopped chasing. Panting heavily, she watched Zhang Mingyang’s figure slowly fade away.

“When did this kid get so fit? Running this fast?”

Zhang Mingyang glanced back, saw Bai Muqing was no longer chasing, and slowed down. For some reason, seeing her with that man irritated him.

“This Commander System is really something—running this far without losing breath. Wait, isn’t it supposed to be broken?”

“Forget it. I’ll think about that later. First, I need to find Grandpa Wang.”

At the foot of Nanshan, Zhang Mingyang found one of the three rows of elevators, swiped his badge, and stepped inside.

“Wait, I thought Nanshan was all classified areas and off-limits?”

Looking at the badge on his chest, he wondered, “Does this official really have that much authority?”

Soon, the elevator arrived at the 35th floor. The doors opened, and Zhang Mingyang stepped out.

Outside, corridors stretched to both sides. Zhang Mingyang wasn’t sure which way to go.

Just then, a middle-aged man approached. Zhang Mingyang quickly stopped him and asked for directions to the director’s office.

Page 2/3

The man pointed left. “Go straight ahead. After five or six offices, you’ll see it. The door plate says ‘Director’s Office.’”

“Thanks.”

With guidance, Zhang Mingyang headed left. After passing five offices, he finally found the director’s office.

“Knock knock!”

“Come in.”

Wang Bowen’s voice came from inside.

Pushing open the door, Zhang Mingyang entered. The room was empty except for Wang Bowen, who was drinking tea and reviewing documents.

“Director Wang, you wanted to see me?”

Wang Bowen looked up and quickly stood to greet him.

“Come, come.”

He gestured for Zhang Mingyang to join him in the reception area.

After closing the door, Zhang Mingyang walked over.

“Sit.”

“Okay.”

Zhang Mingyang took a seat. “Director Wang, what did you need to discuss?”

Wang Bowen poured tea and replied, “When you’re around others, just call me Director Wang. But here, since it’s just us, call me Grandpa Wang.”

“Okay.”

As Wang Bowen brewed tea, Zhang Mingyang looked around the room. It was his first time here. The modest room resembled any ordinary leader’s office: a desk, a cabinet, and a reception area. The walls were covered with various photographs. Behind the desk was a wooden door, likely leading to a private room.

“First time here, right?”

Zhang Mingyang nodded. “Yes, first time.”

“How do you like my office?”

Zhang Mingyang smiled, “Lots of photos.”

“Haha…”

Wang Bowen chuckled. “Go take a look.”

“All right.”

Zhang Mingyang had heard that the director’s office contained many old photos unavailable elsewhere. He finally had the chance to see them.

He stood and examined the pictures one by one.

The photos included images of a young Wang Bowen and early days of the base, but none showed Wang Huairen as they had mentioned.

“That’s odd. Didn’t they say there would be old photos of Wang Huairen here?”

Noticing Zhang Mingyang’s furtive glance, Wang Bowen asked, “Are you looking for photos of Wang Huairen?”

Page 3/3

Zhang Mingyang nodded and smiled. “They said you have many old photos others don’t. I just wanted to take a look.”

Wang Bowen smiled and stood. He walked to the cabinet, took out a photo album, and handed it to Zhang Mingyang.

“Grandpa Wang, what’s this?”

Wang Bowen replied, “This is the album you wanted to see.”

“Ah?”

Zhang Mingyang eagerly flipped through it. On the first page, he saw Wang Huairen.

“Grandpa Wang, is this Wang Huairen?”

The photo showed a short, chubby man standing amid a crowd with a broad smile.

Wang Bowen looked at the photo, his expression shifting with a hint of nostalgia. “It’s been nearly twenty years. Time has aged us all.”

Seeing Wang Bowen’s expression, Zhang Mingyang understood why the album was tucked away in a cabinet.

“Grandpa Wang, is Jin Yaowen in here too?”

At the mention of the name, Wang Bowen paused but then pointed to a photo. “Wang Bowen is the one on Wang Huairen’s left.”

“Ah?”

In the photo, a younger man, even chubbier than Wang Huairen, stood to his left. “Grandpa Wang, this is Jin Yaowen?”

Wang Bowen nodded. “Yes, that’s him. Isn’t he even more amusing than Wang Huairen?”

Looking at the picture, Zhang Mingyang thought so too. Wang Huairen looked quite overweight himself, but Jin Yaowen was heavier—probably around 200 pounds—and about the same height as Wang Huairen, roughly 1.7 meters.

Zhang Mingyang chuckled, “Grandpa Wang, could Jin Yaowen have been jealous of Wang Huairen’s weight and left because of that?”

Wang Bowen smiled wryly and shook his head. “If only it were that simple.”

He then stood and gazed out the window.

“I wish those two were still here.”

Seeing Wang Bowen’s expression, Zhang Mingyang suddenly felt that Jin Yaowen wasn’t a bad person. Grandpa Wang’s feelings toward someone who tried to erase decades of the base’s achievements weren’t hatred but regret. There was definitely more to the story.

“Grandpa Wang, why did those two fall out? Weren’t they close before?”

Wang Bowen turned and sat down again. “Come, sit here.”

Zhang Mingyang sat, holding the album.

Wang Bowen said, “How those two came to be estranged is the biggest mystery in the base. No one knows. If you want to find out, you’ll have to speak with one of them.”

“Grandpa Wang, you don’t know either?”

Zhang Mingyang’s interest deepened. “Could it be they both liked the same woman and fell out over her?”

…