The news of the second wave of the viral epidemic was completely suppressed. Although reports of a newly developed influenza vaccine cycled through the news, the number of people coming in to inquire was, as Ren Lifei had predicted, still very few. While major hospitals were overflowing, the public generally viewed it as nothing more than a flu—hardly a major crisis. Furthermore, with the mandatory holidays in effect, staying at home eliminated the risk of transmission. Going out for a shot at a hospital crowded with patients seemed, if anything, more dangerous. Consequently, throughout the entire morning, very few people visited the specially designated consultation office.
The hospital doctors were currently run off their feet, having to squeeze out every spare second just to eat or drink. Ren Lifei had provided Jiang Cheng with a white lab coat, and as an external consultant, he was stationed there to play a temporary role. He wouldn't actually be administering injections; even if he had to, Yao Jingbo, who had been dragged in to help since his classes were canceled, was right there beside him.
Sitting in the small, makeshift office and watching the people passing by in the corridor, Yao Jingbo felt remarkably idle by comparison. Of course, he was the only idle one. Though Jiang Cheng sat at the adjacent desk, he was never still, constantly looking up data and occasionally writing things down.
Having had enough of his leisure, Yao Jingbo leaned over to take a look. "What are you busy with?"
"Discussing my graduation thesis with my supervisor. Also, trying to find out exactly how that sequence was leaked."
Yao Jingbo only knew half the story regarding the sequence. Hearing this, he realized there were hidden details, but since Jiang Cheng didn't elaborate, he didn't ask. He was debating whether to go back to spacing out and enjoying his rare downtime or to follow Jiang Cheng’s lead and finish his own pending work. Just as he was hesitating, a man holding a registration slip walked in.
Yao Jingbo immediately straightened up. "Hello. Are you here to inquire about the vaccine?"
The man nodded, glanced at the busy Jiang Cheng, and sat down next to Yao Jingbo. "I saw on the news that there’s a flu vaccine now."
Jiang Cheng stopped typing and looked over. Yao Jingbo glanced at the computer on the desk. "Zhang Hesheng?"
"Yes, that's me."
Yao Jingbo took his registration slip to verify the details. "So, do you want to get vaccinated?"
"I'm considering it. Someone at home already has the flu, and I'm worried about infecting the kids. I wanted to bring them in for the shot. Is the vaccine safe for children?"
"Oh," Yao Jingbo replied. "There shouldn't be any major issues for now. It can help boost a child's immunity. However, we first have to ensure the recipient isn't already infected; otherwise, it could be quite troublesome. Since it's for a child, it's best to bring them here. I can't issue a prescription based on a verbal description alone."
He then let out a small sound of curiosity. "By the way, do you want to get it yourself? This wave of flu is particularly severe with a long recovery period. It makes the body very susceptible to other viruses, and that’s when the real trouble starts."
Zhang Hesheng’s expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained control. "Is that so? What other viruses could I catch?"
Yao Jingbo spent most of his time teaching students at the medical school. When he spoke earnestly, his explanations carried a great deal of credibility. "Many. This prevalent strain is a mutation of Influenza A. Other strains like Influenza B, viral pneumonia—it’s hard to say. When you're healthy, you're fine, but once your resistance drops, you're vulnerable to whatever comes your way. It’s not impossible to develop respiratory issues or even pulmonary hemorrhage. That would be life-threatening."
Yao Jingbo appeared sincere on the surface, but he was actually observing the man's reactions closely. In a corner behind him, a small surveillance camera recorded everything.
Zhang Hesheng was visibly startled by the end. "Pulmonary hemorrhage? Have there been cases already?"
Jiang Cheng, who had been listening intently, looked up and said, "Yes, there have been. So, if you haven't been infected yet, it's best to get the shot as soon as possible."
"Is it... is it reliable? Will I definitely be fine after the shot?"
"Of course. Otherwise, we wouldn't have announced it on the news," Yao Jingbo said firmly. "This is Dr. Jiang, who was involved in the vaccine's development. Dr. Jiang is a returnee from abroad with exceptional professional skills. You can rest completely easy on that front."
Zhang Hesheng studied Jiang Cheng carefully. Jiang Cheng didn't look away, saying candidly, "Get it as soon as you can. In fact, even if your child isn't here today, you could get a shot for yourself first."
Zhang Hesheng nodded hesitantly, then shook his head. "No, I just came today to ask for my child. I'll go back and bring the kid here first."
Without waiting for Yao Jingbo or Jiang Cheng to say anything more, he left in a hurry.
Yao Jingbo and Jiang Cheng exchanged a look, then turned toward the camera. Yao Jingbo asked, "Is that the one?"
Jiang Cheng shook his head. "I can't tell."
Yao Jingbo shrugged. "Well, let Lu Linjiang and his team deal with the headache. That's their specialty."
Lu Linjiang already had all of Zhang Hesheng’s information. From the moment anyone stepped into Jiang Cheng’s office, their data was rapidly retrieved based on the information provided during registration.
About a dozen people had come in for consultations that morning. Lu Linjiang could now recite their household registration information by heart. He watched Zhang Hesheng leave the office, switching through surveillance feeds to follow him to the parking lot and into a car. He didn't send anyone to tail him; he simply sent a message to Yao Jingbo: "This is the one."
Unaware that he was now entirely under police surveillance, Zhang Hesheng drove hurriedly toward a villa district in the suburbs to find Jiang Shenghang.
After hearing the information Zhang Hesheng had gathered, Jiang Shenghang’s expression turned grim. "Are you sure?"
"At least that's what they said. Especially that one called Jiang Cheng—he directly urged me to get the shot."
"Then why didn't you get it?" Jiang Shenghang was clearly dissatisfied. "If you had taken the vaccine, we could have tested it in a while to see if his vaccine is real or fake."
Zhang Hesheng pursed his lips, suppressing his irritation. "President Jiang, even if I had taken it today, it would take at least half a month to test for antibodies. Our plan might not be able to wait that long."
Jiang Shenghang glanced at him. "Then what should we do now?"
The study fell silent, making the vibration of the phone in Zhang Hesheng’s pocket seem particularly loud. Zhang Hesheng glanced at Jiang Shenghang, took out the phone, and looked at the number. "It's from the CDC."
Jiang Shenghang looked at him, and Zhang Hesheng quickly answered. A male voice came through: "Is this Mr. Zhang Hesheng?"
Zhang Hesheng confirmed, and the person continued, "You came to the CDC today to inquire about the vaccine. The flu epidemic is still quite serious. The CDC suggests it would be better for you to come and get vaccinated as soon as possible."
"I'm considering it," Zhang Hesheng brushed him off.
"Yes, it's best not to delay the vaccination. Please come as soon as you can."
Seeing that the other party was about to hang up, Zhang Hesheng hurriedly asked, "The doctor today mentioned there might be subsequent viruses—is that true?"
Hearing this, Jiang Shenghang couldn't help but lift his head slightly, staring intently at the phone in Zhang Hesheng’s hand. Zhang Hesheng had been watching Jiang Shenghang; seeing him look over, he simply switched to speakerphone.
"We aren't at liberty to disclose that, but please trust us; the CDC always acts with the public's safety in mind," Jiang Cheng said, trying to make his tone sound as sincere as possible. "If it's convenient, Mr. Zhang, please come for the vaccine soon."
Zhang Hesheng hung up after a few more words, and silence returned to the study. Jiang Shenghang lit a cigarette. "What do you think?"
"They mentioned pulmonary hemorrhage. That last sentence... I think there was definitely a hidden meaning. There's a high probability the vaccine is real."
Jiang Shenghang smoked half a cigarette in silence before making a call of his own. As usual, the other party didn't pick up until the very last second. "Hello, Uncle. What is it?"
Jiang Shenghang cleared his throat, adopting a rare, grandfatherly tone. "Langmin, have you seen the news?"
"Oh, about the vaccine?"
"Yes. I recall you have some connections with people at the CDC. Could you go and ask around?"
A cold smirk played on Jiang Langmin’s lips. "Sure. Do you have a specific target? It’s not quite appropriate to just ask around randomly."
Zhang Hesheng had already mentioned the name, so Jiang Shenghang said it naturally: "Someone named Jiang Cheng. I feel like I've heard the name somewhere before."
"Jiang Cheng..." Jiang Langmin acted as if he had just realized. "No need to ask around. I know him. If he's involved in the vaccine development, then it's likely a real thing."
Jiang Shenghang took a deep drag of his cigarette. "I see."
Jiang Langmin remained silent. Jiang Shenghang suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, I heard the police went to see you?"
"Yes. They said they found my fingerprints on a suspicious item."
Jiang Shenghang clicked his tongue. "How did that happen? And why didn't you tell me when something like this happened? I only found out when Lawyer Zou told me."
"It's not a big deal. I probably didn't wipe my prints off properly when I gave you the strain. Regardless, I don't know that Wu Yuxing. No matter how much they investigate, they won't find anything linking back to me."
Jiang Shenghang hadn't expected the other man to provide him with such a convenient excuse. He followed the lead. "It was my fault too, for not checking carefully before handing the item over. Get some rest, Langmin. If the police give you any trouble, remember to tell me. Your uncle will always have your back."
The mocking smile on Jiang Langmin’s face deepened, but his tone remained respectful. "I know. Thank you, Uncle."
Both parties hung up the phone, and with perfect synchronicity, both expressions turned to ones of disdain.
Zhang Hesheng carefully observed Jiang Shenghang’s expression. "He didn't suspect anything?"
Jiang Shenghang glanced at him and crushed his cigarette butt into the ashtray. "Does it matter? That cub... whether he suspects anything or not, he has to be dealt with. Since he's willing to put on an act in front of me, there's no need for me to drop the mask just yet."
Zhang Hesheng didn't understand why Jiang Shenghang was so targeted toward his own nephew, nor did he have the heart to figure out the internal politics. He only asked the most critical question at hand: "Then, President Jiang, what about the vaccine?"
Jiang Shenghang felt like he had been holding a winning hand and was about to sweep the board, only to be intercepted. "Use our internal contacts to stir the pot first. We must push that vaccine out."
***
