229 - Laboratory

Chris returned to his body. The moment he saw Li Yun, he recalled telling the stranger about the job prospect as a programmer. He wasn't aware that fifteen minutes had lapsed since that moment.

"Since you're a programmer, do you know anything about video game development?" Li Yun asked, pretending to continue with their earlier conversation.

"Uh, it's a very selective program to get into," said Chris. It wasn't choice of program as the first choice program was full and he was placed in his third choice of degree program.

"Are you still interested in programming for a game? It's not as fun and easy as it sounds."

"You have done programming before?" asked Chris.

"No, but I see my friend doing it, it looks a bit boring," Li Yun didn't understand how Bufu could sit in front of the computer and not say a word when he was in the zone. He wondered how bored his girlfriends were when they were with him. Before his mind strayed off, he handed Chris a business card.

"You're a researcher at a pharmaceutical company?" Chris asked. He wondered why a stranger would pass him a business card.

"Shennong has a branch that is developing a game," said Li Yun. "They are planning to hire more people if the game is successful and maybe expand overseas."

Chris wondered how the stranger knew he was more interested in gaming, but then again, most young men were interested in gaming.

"The company doesn't care much about education," said Li Yun, as the boss, he could hire someone off the street and no one could complain. "If there are results, the company will hire. You're a freshman? You can get a degree if you want, but if you can create a game in three years on your own, I'll hire you."

"Really? You can do that?" asked Chris. 

Li Yun nodded. 

Chris scratched his head and wondered if this was some sort of scam.

"I bet you think this is a scam," said Li Yun.

Chris twitched, wondering if Li Yun was a psychic. 

"What do you have to lose?" Li Yun asked. He didn't have to prove anything. If Chris wanted to believe that the future had a purpose, he would make himself believe it. 

"All right, what type of game should I make?" Chris asked. He really had nothing to lose. If he failed his exams, he could focus on making the game. If he passed his exams, he could continue going to school.

"What type of games do you think are missing?" asked Li Yun.

As they discussed the details, Chris was more vibrant in narrating his ideas. Although he lacked imagination, he liked the idea of seeing stories come alive with programming.

Eventually, they walked past an ugly building and arrived at the sidewalk before a blocky granite building with a sign indicating it as the Blackhead Institute.

"Thanks for your help!" Li Yun said.

"Ah, thank you," said Chris.

Chris walked away into the distance. Li Yun wasn't sure if Chris would encounter roadblocks, but at least he was in a better place than before. It was up to him to deal with his own demons.

****

Professor Chen and the other researchers arrived at the institute, and saw Li Yun sleeping at the red granite footstep leading up to the front court. They figured he was still jet-lagged, but he stood up before Professor Chen reached out to wake him up.

"I'm ready," Li Yun declared.

"Oh," Professor Chen backed away and looked at the others. "As we head inside, I'll explain to you the history of our institute." He lead everyone into the building. "There are around twenty researchers here, all leading a laboratory based on their area of interest."

Li Yun had briefly looked up bios of the researchers and their different fields of focus.  The researchers were investigating studies such as regeneration of flatworms, genetic expression, and stem cells. Each and every research could lead to advancement in human health, and had the potential to win a Nobel prize.

"This right here is where all the magic happens," Professor Chen enthusiastically exclaimed looking through a glazed window into a laboratory.

The name of the laboratory was designated for Professor Chen. He was studying plants used in traditional medicine to prevent protein misfolding, a cellular event, where protein failed to achieve its functional structure, causing Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's.

The laboratory wasn't as futuristic as the ones people like to imagine when people think of high-tech laboratories. There were fume hoods around the perimeter and open mechanical ducts. The stools and chairs were a mismatch of old and new.

Inside the laboratory, the lab technicians worked to gather data. It was a cumbersome job, but unlike a few years ago, much of the data was automated. The lab assistants simply had to verify the results on their computer screens. The task was repetitive and tedious.

"Professor Chen, with new biotechnology, when do you think science will be able to cure ALS and Parkinson's?" asked one of the Chinese researchers.

"There are a lot of interesting treatments out there, targeted gene therapy and deep brain stimulation," Professor Chen explained. "But as a relatively new study, time isn't on our side."

Researchers spent years collecting and analyzing data, and in collaboration with a global network of researchers to gather and verify data. The process was time-consuming and cost millions of research.

"There have been many advances in genetic manipulation and exciting laboratory results, but reproducing beneficial results to the human body will need further investigation," Professor Chen continued. "In my lab, we have identified many anticarcinogenic compounds, but to be able to perform it on all the cells in the body without causing harm to the rest of the body has been extremely difficult."

After Professor Chen explained his own work, he led them to the next laboratory down the hallway.

"This laboratory belongs to Professor Mayland, who is researching inhibitors to restrict certain types of gene expression that cause various genetic diseases," Professor Chen explained.

Inside the laboratory, they saw a tall man with greyish blond hair. The man was in his fifties, but although he appeared personable, a lot of the assistants felt uncomfortable.

"What are you doing?" Professor Mayland asked his assistant in a chiding tone. "You're missing an extra set of data."

"But Professor, the data was incorrect," replied the assistant.

"Then you should have marked it as such," said Professor Mayland. "Documentations and details should not be missed!"

The error was relatively small, but Professor Mayland was able to pick it up immediately. His type of personality made it difficult for others to work under him, but his perfectionism made him perfect to lead the laboratory. That was, if his assistants didn't quit first.

"Ahem," Professor Chen cleared his throat to get Professor Mayland's attention. "Professor Mayland, here are the researchers from China."

Professor Mayland looked at them and warmly greeted them. Unlike how he dealt with his assistants, he was quite chatty and talkative to the researchers, asking them a lot of questions.

"He's quite thorough and attentive," Li Yun thought. This was the type of personality that was usually cultivated by someone from a traditional and well-off family. He wondered if his analysis from his cultural background was the same in the States.

Li Yun greeted him last as he was standing near the back.

"Wait, what is your name again?" asked Professor Mayland.

"Yun Li," he repeated. 

"You published an article on the Yunli compound?" asked Mayland. He suddenly realized why the name was familiar.

Li Yun was surprised there were people who knew his name. The research article he had submitted to BMJ was released only last week. The web article provided the clinical trial data of Huifu and the pre-clinical data of Yunli.