Chapter 16: The Exam
According to Yu Liao, the medication sent by Yi Xin Pharmaceuticals was meant to inhibit tumor growth, but it was clearly doing much more than that.
Hearing their speculations, Yu Liao didn’t seem surprised: “I suspected it all along. How could a tumor medication have such an effect? It’s probably some illegal human experiment.”
Xie Cun interjected: “But your life expectancy has indeed been extended, and you gained a superpower-like healing ability. You could say it’s a blessing in disguise.”
Yu Liao gave a noncommittal smile.
Wei Langxing, who had been listening quietly, cleared his throat and offered his opinion: “According to you, they contacted you regularly, but now they’ve suddenly disappeared. Were there any signs beforehand?”
Yi Xin Pharmaceuticals must have carefully selected their subjects. Perhaps they chose Yu Liao, desperate for a cure, to study the drug’s interaction with the tumor.
Why would they abandon such a valuable case midway?
Yu Liao sighed: “I’m also puzzled. They disappeared without a word. I ran out of medication a long time ago, and they haven’t sent any more. Maybe they think I’m no longer valuable.”
That couldn’t be it, they all thought.
The sudden silence might be due to internal problems within Yi Xin Pharmaceuticals.
Tang Yu’an asked him if there were any changes in his body after stopping the medication. Yu Liao told him there was no difference. The tumor had disappeared with regular use, and it hadn’t returned after stopping.
“If anything, I feel even better after stopping, a bit hyperactive every day.”
“So, the drug really can treat tumors…”
And the side effects seemed positive. If it were widely used in medicine, wouldn’t it save countless lives?
Yu Liao guessed his thoughts from his expression, his face showing hesitation.
After a moment of struggle, he confessed: “Actually, it’s not that the drug eliminated the tumor. It’s more like the drug gave me the ability to eliminate it myself.”
“What do you mean?”
Recalling that time, Yu Liao seemed to have a faint headache.
“After about a month of taking the medication, I could feel the tumor growing in my head. It was terrifying, like a parasite wriggling inside you…”
His face darkened, and he gave a wry smile: “I thought I was going crazy, but the hospital couldn’t find anything wrong. And I had promised not to reveal anything about Yi Xin Pharmaceuticals. I didn’t sleep for days. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I took a sharp spoon and… dug it out myself.”
Hearing this shocking statement, Xie Cun dropped his ice cream spoon into the bowl.
Yu Liao quickly explained: “Don’t worry, it wasn’t the one you’re using. I threw that spoon away…”
Tang Yu’an now understood why he had been so calm about being shot. Someone who could perform self-surgery with a spoon was no ordinary person.
Yu Liao continued: “I thought I was going to die, but I woke up after about ten hours of unconsciousness. My hands and the floor were covered in blood, but my head was completely healed… From then on, I discovered my body could regenerate rapidly. Ordinary wounds would heal in an instant.”
Wei Langxing had encountered countless people in his work, but this was the first time he had met someone so ruthless.
He had suspected Yu Liao was a bit unhinged before; now he was certain.
Should he arrange for a psychologist to assess him…?
Recovering from his initial shock, Xie Cun gave him a thumbs-up: “Dude, you’re awesome. A miracle worker.”
Yu Liao jokingly offered: “Is there anything wrong with you? I can help…”
Xie Cun shook his head vehemently: “No, no, I’m perfectly healthy. I could eat a whole cow right now.”
He was afraid that if he mentioned a headache, Yu Liao would snap his head off.
Perhaps amused by his reaction, Yu Liao laughed.
The atmosphere was lighthearted for the first few seconds. They all found the joke funny. But after everyone else stopped laughing, Yu Liao continued, his laughter becoming uncontrollable, his facial muscles twitching.
The unsettling laughter echoed through the room, as if he was performing a one-man show.
An indescribable feeling washed over Tang Yu’an. He asked softly: “Are… are you alright?”
Only then did Yu Liao’s laughter subside, returning to normal.
He rubbed his stiff face: “Sorry, like I said, I’m a bit hyperactive after stopping the medication. Sometimes I can’t stop laughing. Last time Director Zheng called to check on me, I laughed for a long time and scared him.”
“Director Zheng… Zheng Zhi? You know him?”
That was the director of the Support Department. Wei Langxing had met him a few times.
He was young, friendly, and well-respected in the Bureau.
He hadn’t expected Yu Liao, a low-ranking officer, to know such a high-ranking director.
Yu Liao didn’t hide it: “We were classmates and good friends. We took the exam together… Unfortunately, I didn’t pass. Luckily, he was excellent and loyal. After he became director, he offered me a position. I’m very grateful to him.”
Bureau employees had to pass an exam, and they only had one chance. Failing meant failing.
But the standards for low-level positions were much lower. They hired many temporary employees. If he was close to Director Zheng, there was no reason for him to be assigned such a menial job, tiring and low-paying.
Getting in through connections was common, but those positions usually had opportunities for advancement or were cushy and well-paid. He had never encountered someone who used connections to get a job like this.
Could it be that Zheng Zhi, despite their close relationship, didn’t want to abuse his power, so he assigned him an unimportant position?
If so, he truly lived up to his name, “Zheng Zhi” meaning “upright.”
Thinking about connections, he glanced at Xie Cun, who noticed and asked pointedly: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
This wasn’t the place for an argument. Tang Yu’an said casually: “He has a stiff neck. Don’t mind him.”
Xie Cun: “…”
Wei Langxing: “…”
Unlike Wei Langxing, Tang Yu’an focused on the fact that Yu Liao hadn’t passed the exam.
He checked Yu Liao’s file. He had been a very dedicated employee, far exceeding the requirements for a clerk. His colleagues also said he deserved a promotion, but for some reason, he hadn’t been reassigned.
His university grades were excellent, and he had even won an award in the Interstellar Mental Energy Competition. How could such a person fail the exam?
“Did… something happen during the exam?”
There were always a few people who failed due to illness, but even with extenuating circumstances, rules were rules. They couldn’t retake the exam.
Yu Liao seemed unfazed: “Nothing happened. I thought I did quite well… But I wasn’t accepted. Maybe I overestimated my abilities. I was upset for a while, but Director Zheng helped me get over it, chatting and drinking with me.”
Having a friend during a difficult time was fortunate. Tang Yu’an was happy for him.
Xie Cun, always finding fault with others, exclaimed: “I don’t believe it! Someone like you should have been accepted with high scores. There must be something wrong with the judges!”
In his view, daring to dig out a tumor with a spoon deserved a hundred bonus points. The Bureau needed such decisive individuals. A little crazy was fine; he even admired it.
You only live once, what was wrong with being a little crazy?
“Hey, you, Captain… Wei, don’t you have access to the exam results? Show him where he lost points!”
The “you” was clearly meant to be disrespectful, but with Tang Yu’an present, Wei Langxing didn’t want to argue.
“I can access them on my phone, but it’s the old system. I haven’t updated it since I rarely use it.”
“What’s wrong with the old system? Yu Liao took the exam years ago; it should still be there!”
Those who weren’t accepted couldn’t see their scores. Yu Liao was curious, wanting to know his score and where he went wrong.
Wei Langxing stopped making excuses, taking out his phone and opening the system, entering Yu Liao’s employee ID.
“Let me see, Yu Liao, total score 562… Wait, 562?”
The perfect score was 600. A score above 480 was a pass, and above 550 meant a triple promotion.
Yu Liao scored 562. How could he not be accepted?
They exchanged bewildered glances.
