Chapter 328: International Regulatory Agency Cooperation·Signing of the Agreement

Sunlight had just shone into the government building's hallway; Zhao Jianguo stood at the meeting room doorway, holding a half-cool teacup in his hand. He looked up at the sign: the copper plate that originally read 'Special Duty Bureau Sixth Meeting Room' had been changed to 'International Technology Regulatory Agency First Cooperation Signing Ceremony'. The characters were more, the sign larger, and it reflected strongly.

He pushed the door open; people were already seated inside. The new bureau chief sat in the main seat, wearing a navy-blue uniform with the collar fastened tightly, as if afraid to leak any emotion he shouldn't show. The lawyer laid out documents on the side, the sheets neatly aligned, even the page orientations perfectly matched. Zhao Jianguo placed his cup on a small table in the corner and walked over.

"Just in time." The new bureau chief stood, extended his hand, "We've been waiting for you to sign."

Zhao Jianguo shook his hand, said nothing more, pulled out a chair and sat down. The lawyer cleared his throat and opened the agreement book.

"Article One: Effective immediately, the Special Duty Bureau is renamed the International Technology Regulatory Agency, its function expanding from sole safety control to frontier technology evaluation, supervision, and joint development..." The lawyer read it smoothly, like a weather broadcast during breakfast, neither rushed nor slow.

Zhao Jianguo listened, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the tabletop. This name change was fast—too fast. Yesterday He Yushui was still in the classroom putting VR goggles on students; today over here they hung a sign and absorbed it. He didn't interrupt, just nodded.

"Article Two: Mr. Zhao Jianguo, as the civilian technology lead developer, hereby establishes a cooperative relationship with this agency, sharing non-confidential research results, participating in the National Technology Strategy Planning Meeting, and enjoying priority policy support and resource allocation channels..."

"Wait." Zhao Jianguo raised his hand, "'Non-confidential'? What counts as confidential? Who decides that?"

The new bureau chief smiled: "Of course, it's determined by standard procedure after organizational assessment. Rest assured, it won't affect your daily research."

Zhao Jianguo looked at him, then lowered his gaze to the agreement, and said: "Fine, continue."

The lawyer turned the page. "Article Three: Both parties agree to establish a Joint Technical Committee, holding regular meetings each quarter to review project progress; major breakthroughs must be reported in advance to ensure technology application conforms to national security and ethical standards."

Zhao Jianguo's mouth twitched. The four words 'ethical standards' sounded proper, but everyone knew it was just to stop someone like him, of unknown origin, from doing something uncontrollable. He didn't argue, just picked up his pen and drew a small circle in his notebook.

"Article Four: This cooperation is valid for five years, renewable upon expiration; if either party violates the terms during that period, the other party has the right to terminate the cooperation and pursue liability according to law."

"Five years?" Zhao Jianguo finally spoke, "That's quite long."

"Not long." The new bureau chief replied, "We intend long-term cooperation."

Zhao Jianguo smiled slightly, without responding.

The lawyer closed the book: "Those are the main clauses; let me know if you have any objections."

Zhao Jianguo twisted the pen cap open and then shut it, saying: "You just changed a name and swapped a sign, and you want me to hand over my stuff? I'm not the type to sign on a whim."

The new bureau chief's expression didn't change: "We're not asking you to 'hand it over,' but to 'do it together.' What you're doing now isn't just your own affair. Over 130 schools worldwide have connected to the system, and UNESCO has registered it. Don't you think it's time for an official status?"

Zhao Jianguo narrowed his eyes. That statement was correct. Once technology spreads, it's no longer private property. But the question is, why now? Why is he personally coming to sign? The Special Duty Bureau's renaming is such a big deal—no wind of it leaked—yet suddenly he's sitting here reciting the agreement.

He lifted his head: "You guys move really fast."

"The circumstances force it." The new bureau chief said, "We can't be slow."

Zhao Jianguo stared at him for two seconds, then finally picked up his pen and wrote his name in the signature column. The characters were neat and steady, not floating.

The lawyer put away the agreement and began tidying the folders. The new bureau chief exhaled in relief, lifted his teacup, and took a sip.

Just then, a bell rang.

The new bureau chief's phone in his pants pocket vibrated. He pulled it out; the screen lit up, caller ID showing four characters: **Chen Jianguo's true body**.

The room fell silent all at once.

Zhao Jianguo's hand halted at the edge of the table, the pen still pinched between his fingers. He stared at those four characters, saying nothing.

The new bureau chief quickly pressed to hang up, flipped the phone face-down on the table, and said with a smile, "Just a personal call, wrong number."

Zhao Jianguo nodded, as if he believed it yet also as if he didn't. He slowly slipped the pen into his coat pocket, looked up at the new bureau chief, and said in a low voice, "Your Special Duty Bureau's renaming—was someone above pulling the strings?"

"I can't say that." The new bureau chief's smile faded somewhat.

"Also." Zhao Jianguo stood up, moved his wrist, "But someone using the name 'true body' to call shows they know I'm more than one. That's not information an ordinary level can access."

The new bureau chief didn't respond.

Zhao Jianguo walked to the window; outside, the sunlight was just right, shining on a few black sedans below. He glanced at his watch: 9:23. Not much different from the time He Yushui had class yesterday. The world has changed, but not in the same way.

He turned around and said, "I can cooperate, or I can keep doing my own thing. But one point—if anyone tries to use 'another me' to pressure me, then don't blame me for not showing sentiment."

The new bureau chief sat still, only saying, "I'm just carrying out orders."

"I know." Zhao Jianguo smiled, "But whoever issued the order must have someone to back it up."

The lawyer had already walked to the doorway, hand on the door handle, not daring to look back. The air in the room seemed to have congealed.

Zhao Jianguo finally glanced at the phone on the table; the screen was dark, but those four characters seemed still imprinted on it.

"Looks like someone can't sit still." He said that and turned toward the doorway.

From behind, the new bureau chief asked, "Will you come back?"

Zhao Jianguo stopped, without turning back: "It depends on what you do next."

The door opened, hallway light spilling in. He walked out, his footsteps fading away.

Back in the meeting room, the new bureau chief pulled out his phone again, stared at the missed call log, his thumb hovering over the callback button, yet he didn't press it.

The lawyer whispered, "Shall we continue?"

"Continue." The new bureau chief slipped the phone back into his pocket, "But we need to change the approach."

Outside, a bus drove by, blocking the license plate on a corner downstairs. Sunlight hit the glass, reflecting a white beam that flickered the eyes of the guard in the duty room.

Zhao Jianguo walked out of the building, stood on the steps, lifted his head to look at the sky. Few clouds, not much wind. He took out a cigarette case, pulled one out, and lit it.

The flame jumped slightly, reflected in his eyes.

He took a deep puff, exhaled a smoke ring, and watched it disperse, vanishing into the air.

In the distance, a military-green jeep crept up, stopped at the roadside. The window rolled down, and the driver poked his head out to wave at him.

Zhao Jianguo stubbed out the cigarette and walked over.

"Zhao Gong, the Space Agency wants you over there." The driver said, "They say the data from the Space Agriculture Station is out, and they'd like you to take a look."

Zhao Jianguo grunted in acknowledgement, opened the car door, and got in.

The car started, tires rolling over the tree shadows on the ground.

He leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, his gaze had changed.