14. An Opportunity (Please Keep Reading~)

Xu Wen’s private office was remarkably tidy; within Ma En’s line of sight, there was no trash, and a few fresh flowers bloomed in pots on the windowsill.

A massive wooden cabinet stood directly before him, just behind his office chair. At about two meters high, a locked safe was visible. Judging by the wealth of items inside, these were likely remnants from Dr. Li’s time here.

Had no one taken them?

Click.

Xu Wen reached out to turn off the recording device, then looked up at the young man sitting restrained in the chair.

“Ma En, Ma En,” he said with a hint of schadenfreude, “why did you go see him before making a move? Were you trying to make everyone suspect you had issues?”

Ma En sat calmly and replied, “I could have made him shoot himself in the hallway, or twisted your head off with a glance—watch yourself.”

Xu Wen quickly straightened, trying to cover up, “I mean, that might complicate your discharge…”

That was one of the reasons Ma En had killed Lü Yide.

A secondary strategy—demonstrating power.

As for why he had gone to see him, naturally, it was to make the matter appear reasonable to a select few—people Xu Wen had no need to know about.

“How’s the discharge going?” Ma En asked casually, as if he were the one conducting the interrogation.

Xu Wen scratched his head. “I’m handling it, but honestly, even if you weren’t there when he died, they’d still suspect you. Technically, I’m fully responsible for you, but I’m new here, so it’s not that simple.

“And it looks like your deal with my teacher was done privately. The other hospital staff think you’re penniless and powerless; the vice president even told me to sacrifice you.”

“Teacher?” Ma En’s face showed puzzlement.

Xu Wen reclined against the edge of his desk. “Before coming here, Dr. Li was a professor at my university. Although he didn’t earn nearly as much then, he had special projects, including privately taking on students. If you were willing, you could even earn a doctorate under his guidance.

“Though he left before I started graduate school, I wasn’t after a shortcut—I wanted knowledge.

“This professor, single-mindedly ambitious, is the most accomplished scholar I’ve ever met.”

When the young doctor spoke of this mentor, there was no trace of respect in his tone.

“He was also a decent partner,” Ma En remarked.

At least, his past self had chosen him.

Xu Wen nodded in agreement.

Strictly speaking, he was a good teacher. But sadly, after his death, not a single person truly mourned him. I attended his funeral, and no one was sincere.

“I heard he had an ex-wife and a daughter he never met, but neither cared about the old man’s fate. His prepared will didn’t mention them; all his apparent wealth was donated, seemingly to buy a good reputation.

“The illicit assets will remain locked in the bank forever.”

As he spoke, Ma En’s attention was drawn to the mechanical combination lock.

He had a vague feeling—irrational yet believable—that he knew how to open it with telekinesis, as if…

He had done this before.

“But there’s one thing I don’t understand,” Xu Wen’s voice brought him back to reality. “Not that I care about his death, but I do wonder if it was really suicide.

“The police concluded it was, but maybe there’s more to it. After all…

“There’s more than just you and me here.”

Ma En answered calmly, “I don’t care about you or anyone else, just like I don’t care about Lü Yide. If he hadn’t just happened to stand in the way of my discharge, I wouldn’t bother with him.”

His meaning was clear.

Once discharged, he would be no threat to anyone.

Conversely, if anyone tried to stop him from leaving…

“Of course, I’m handling this. It’ll take about a week to persuade my superiors,” Xu Wen hurriedly said. “By then, I’ll give you an answer you’re satisfied with.

“And you don’t have to pay me, but if possible, I’d like to ask a small favor.”

Ma En watched him.

He continued, “Some people are trying to take me down, but you know how things are here—they can’t make a move yet. If you notice anything, let me know.

“I’ll repay you.”

“If it’s not dangerous for me, I’ll tell you,” Ma En said. “But Doctor Xu, I’m neutral now. If I get involved, I’ll side with whoever’s winning. So maybe you’d prefer I stay neutral.”

Xu Wen smiled confidently. “Don’t worry, I’m far stronger than they are.”

Ma En replied nonchalantly, “Then I’ll see how it goes. Or, if you help me get discharged smoothly, maybe I can offer you some extra help.”

Xu Wen answered, “Alright, I’ll take that.”

He didn’t believe Ma En’s promise at all. If discharged, Ma En would surely abandon him and everyone else, never turning back to help.

Ma En said, “Then…”

Xu Wen glanced at the recorder. “I’ll give you a piece of paper; just read from it when the time comes.”

Ma En smiled. “Pleasure working together?”

Xu Wen returned the smile. “Pleasure working together.”

He was basically clear now.

This was a trap set for him.

He had taken the job hoping to leverage the famed phenomena at the Victor Rehabilitation Center to temporarily hold off his pursuers. But now, this place was turning into a prison.

Come to think of it, Li Wu’s death at this juncture was suspiciously convenient.

Clearly, the company had arranged it, and he had become a sitting duck.

But fortunately, his acceptance of this job wasn’t solely because of the Victor Center’s nature.

Xu Wen had long anticipated various risks, but what truly resolved him was the resource here—madmen.

These half-crazed individuals possessed extraordinary mental powers, and at Victor, they were like fish in a shallow pond—easily caught in dozens.

Ma En, Ning Changkong, and Cao Yan were the best he had selected.

With them, his research would proceed smoothly. When that happened, neither the company nor anything else would matter before him.

Opportunities vanish in an instant.