Chapter 33: I Did It All

"You haven't been doing anything illegal out there, have you?"

Hearing this from his mother, Lin Yang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Mom, what are you talking about? I'm a law-abiding, upstanding citizen!"

"Are you sure?" Zhang Fang remained skeptical.

"Of course I'm sure! Why would you think I'd do anything bad?" Lin Yang was baffled.

"Foreign countries aren't as safe as it is back home. I see on the news all the time how people get tricked into carrying contraband for a bit of money and then end up getting arrested. Mom is just worried you might end up like those people in the news, getting taken advantage of," Zhang Fang explained.

"...Mom, your imagination is really something. But can't you even trust your own son?"

Lin Yang gave a bitter laugh, finally understanding why his mother's first reaction to him making money abroad was to worry about whether he was breaking the law. It was all because she watched too much news!

"As long as you weren't tricked, that's fine." Zhang Fang breathed a sigh of relief, then added, "You're there for a study tour, so focus on your studies. I don't expect you to earn any money; just taking care of yourself and staying safe and healthy is more important than anything else."

"I know, Mom!"

"As long as you know. But then again, how much money did you make?" Zhang Fang's curiosity piqued again.

"Ahem, not much. Just a few tens of thousands."

Lin Yang didn't dare tell the truth. Otherwise, his mother would definitely assume he had done something illegal and worry herself sick.

"Tens of thousands? That much? What exactly did you do?" Zhang Fang was stunned.

"Just got lucky. I happened to help that organization solve a small problem, and since we're fellow countrymen, they gave me a bit extra," Lin Yang explained simply.

Zhang Fang finally set her mind at ease. "Well, look at you, you brat. You’re quite lucky to run into such a good thing."

"Hehe."

"Look at you, getting all smug. How is the study tour going? When do you plan on coming back?" Zhang Fang asked, shifting to the main topic.

"Almost done. I'll let you know when I'm about to return," Lin Yang replied.

"Alright. Anything else? If not, I’m going to hang up. International calls are expensive. Just let me know when you run out of money."

Although she knew her precious son had made some money abroad, Zhang Fang was used to being frugal and still felt the pinch of the long-distance call costs.

Lin Yang nodded. "Nothing else. I have enough money to last a while, so you and Dad don't need to worry about me."

"Alright, I'm hanging up then."

Watching his mother hang up without a single extra word, Lin Yang let out a soft sigh. He had originally intended to send some money back so his parents wouldn't have to work so hard anymore. But after his mother's overreaction, he decided not to bring it up. If she was this worried just hearing he’d made a little money, sending back millions would definitely keep them up all night with anxiety. Plus, a sudden large influx of cash would easily invite suspicion, so he decided to wait for a better opportunity.

After a moment, Lin Yang dialed the number for the Great Academy of Sciences. The full set of controlled nuclear fusion data he had redeemed from the store was vast, and he needed to warn them to prepare for the transfer. At the same time, he needed to ask them to notify the Cultural Relics Bureau to prepare to receive the artifacts he had secured from the Japanese.

Back home, in the duty room of the Great Academy of Sciences, Wang Guang picked up the line the moment it rang. Ever since he had accidentally answered Lin Yang's calls the last two times, he had taken it upon himself to handle the duty shifts. As long as he had no other obligations, he stayed in the duty room.

So, when he heard Lin Yang’s first "Hello" on the other end, he didn't even wait for him to finish before blurting out, "Sir, it is a great honor to receive your call again. Please wait a moment, I will go get our Dean immediately."

This left Lin Yang momentarily stunned. He recognized Wang Guang's voice; it was too much of a coincidence that this kid answered every time. Little did he know, Wang Guang had been volunteering for overtime just to catch his calls.

Meanwhile, at the Extraordinary Management Bureau, Ye Guhong and his team began monitoring the call immediately. Since the last time Lin Yang called the Academy, they had added a dedicated line to ensure any call from him would be intercepted by the Bureau instantly.

Tang Wensheng rubbed his hands together, looking exceptionally excited. "He called so quickly. Those three things that happened in Japan today were likely his doing. Calling now, he must be planning to pass on the data regarding Japan's nuclear breakthrough."

Although Ye Guhong had warned them not to develop such reliance, Tang Wensheng couldn't help but look forward to it. Even Ye Guhong himself felt a small spark of anticipation. Caution was one thing, but when the call actually came, it was impossible not to hope.

At the same time, the monitoring equipment picked up the voice of Zhao Zizhen speaking to Lin Yang.

"Hello, student! I'm so glad to receive your call again! How have you been? Did you run into any trouble in Japan? If there's anything you need help with, please don't hesitate to tell us!" Zhao Zizhen said warmly.

They had decided to address him as "student" after learning his status, as a way to maintain a friendly yet professional distance until his true identity was revealed.

Lin Yang didn't pay much mind to the title and simply said, "Dean Zhao, you are too kind. I'm doing well, thank you for your concern."

"That's good to hear!"

Zhao Zizhen felt a wave of relief. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask if the events in Japan today were his handiwork, but he didn't quite know how to broach the subject. If he was wrong, it would be embarrassing. Zhao Zizhen pulled at his hair in frustration. As the Dean, he was usually adept at social nuances, but the brief silence that followed left him feeling uncomfortable.

However, on the other end of the line, Lin Yang seemed to understand the cause of the sudden silence and took the initiative. "Dean Zhao, I think we can consider ourselves old friends by now, so I'll be direct: those three incidents in Japan today were my doing. I’m calling to tell you to prepare for the receipt of the cultural artifacts, as well as the data on nuclear fusion technology."

These words immediately made Zhao Zizhen and the team at the Bureau straighten up. The nuclear fusion data they had been hoping for had finally arrived!