Chapter 53: The Laboratory's Initial Completion

For the following half month, apart from his daily routines and the occasional, necessary genetic exchanges with his two elder sisters at home, Lu Yu spent almost all his time reading. After this period of study, he felt that his understanding of programming had deepened significantly, with noticeable improvement compared to before. It seemed he had been right: adopting the right way of thinking truly enhanced both his efficiency and comprehension.

While Lu Yu was engrossed in his studies, Tang Zhiming devoted himself wholeheartedly to the establishment of the laboratory ever since his appointment. Because Lu Yu had emphasized the urgency, Liu Shichang also took the matter seriously. There was available space in the industrial park, and when Deng Qiang leased premises near the company, he specifically designated a small building closest to the company’s warehouse as the site for the lab. After more than half a month of expedited renovation and the installation of various safety measures, the preliminary laboratory equipment that Lu Yu had ordered just days before had also been delivered and set up.

Now, the laboratory was ready for initial use—sufficient for Lu Yu’s research into physical enhancement and anti-aging drugs. As for further lab development and equipment upgrades, that would depend on the available funds at Pink White Black Cosmetics and Lu Yu’s decisions.

When Lu Yu received Tang Zhiming’s notice, he was a little excited—he hadn’t expected the lab to be completed so quickly, even if it was only preliminary, as he’d specified. Still, Tang Zhiming’s efficiency left no doubt. Lu Yu sent messages to Shi Zixuan and Qin Xiaomian, letting them know he’d be busy for a while and might not be coming home. He asked them to leave messages if they needed anything, since he wasn’t sure if he’d be reachable by phone while working. When engrossed in experiments, everything else faded into the background.

He had already compiled a list of materials he’d need and sent it to Deng Qiang. Given Deng Qiang’s speed, everything should be in place. Packing lightly, with just two changes of clothes, Lu Yu headed for Pink White Black Cosmetics. Upon arrival, he joined Deng Qiang and Tang Zhiming for an inspection of the new lab.

Satisfied, Lu Yu nodded and said to Tang Zhiming, “You’ve worked hard. I’ll be using the lab for a while, so there’s no need for anyone else to stay here. Go home and get some rest.” Tang Zhiming understood that Lu Yu wanted privacy in the lab and agreed, “Alright, President Lu. If you need anything, just call me.” Lu Yu smiled, and then had Deng Qiang’s people move all the previously ordered materials into the lab before closing the door behind him.

Looking at the brand-new lab and professional equipment, Lu Yu felt that this was leagues beyond the makeshift lab he’d built himself before. He decided to scrap the old one after this experiment was over—no need to keep renting the space or maintaining the outdated equipment.

After categorizing the materials and drugs, Lu Yu sat quietly in the lab, going over the experimental steps and recalling every minute detail. The setbacks and subsequent study had given him a deeper understanding of the entire process. What once seemed flawless now revealed room for improvement, especially in the experiments concerning cellular aging, where he had found new directions to explore.

After pondering for a long time, Lu Yu began to power on the equipment one by one and started with the relatively simpler research—developing a physical enhancement drug.

In his previous experiments, Lu Yu had pursued several ideas for enhancing physical strength. Two seemed most promising: one involved greatly stimulating cellular activity through drugs to enhance the function of various organs. The challenge was achieving balance; boosting one organ often harmed another, given the complexity of the human body. The other approach aimed to induce slight mutations in organ cells via drugs. If only one organ mutated, immune rejection became the key issue; if all cells mutated, the consequences were unpredictable—Lu Yu didn’t dare experiment on himself yet. Comparatively, the first method seemed more manageable.

Lu Yu quickly focused, immersing himself in drug research, frequently testing ingredients on animal cells as he went.

Lu Yu’s passion for experimentation surpassed even his zeal for study. He ordered takeout when hungry, napped in the lab’s rest area when exhausted, and otherwise remained completely absorbed in his work. During this period, he asked Deng Qiang to procure more materials and drugs twice—not just new types, but also resupplies of those already in use—showing the intensity of his experiments and the rapid consumption of supplies.

Meanwhile, Pink White Black Cosmetics conducted three rounds of online sales throughout June, moving 12 million boxes of Riverbank Hydrating Masks and Snow Cream Whitening Masks, generating 2.028 billion yuan in sales. They also sold six million bottles of two types of body wash, earning 1.854 billion yuan. Total revenue for the month reached 3.882 billion yuan, an increase of 816 million over May’s 3.066 billion. The hydrating cream production line remained limited, so its sales lagged behind the masks and body washes.

In Lu Yu’s hometown, the herbal processing center and planting base were nearly complete, ready to begin operations and provide experience for future projects. The new facilities were already bringing change to the small town. Although the impact was modest so far, the projects promised steady development and increasing prosperity for the area. Nearby villagers would likely begin growing medicinal herbs for the company to purchase, boosting local incomes.

Beyond this, little else of note occurred. The only significant event was a data dispute between Shunfeng and Cainiao, neither willing to share their core business data. In the era of big data, such information was invaluable—theirs was a competition for commercial resources. Speaking of big data, the massive amount of user information generated daily posed major storage challenges. Lu Yu’s previously developed compression algorithm would be tremendously useful here—but he hadn’t thought of promoting it yet.

After organizing the lab supplies, Lu Yu finally left the laboratory to find it was already mid-July. The height of summer brought oppressive heat, and he struggled to adjust, as if he’d been transported from a temperate zone to tropical Africa. Checking his phone, he realized he’d spent nearly a month locked away inside. Squinting against the bright sun and rubbing his brow, he tried to acclimate to the light and warmth.

Reflecting on the past month, he recognized both gains and losses. The breakthrough was the successful development of a drug that, by greatly stimulating cellular activity, could enhance physical constitution while minimizing immune rejection and maintaining bodily balance. This drug not only improved physical health but also slowed the aging process—though not to the point of eternal youth, its effects were still remarkable, akin to the transition from youth to maturity.

However, his attempts at inducing slight organ mutations had failed. The problem was not with the drug itself, but with the body’s extreme rejection response to mutated cells. As for group-wide cell mutations, Lu Yu dared not even imagine the consequences. Tests on lab mice were inconclusive—some survived, others died, and the survivors exhibited varying outcomes. In the end, Lu Yu carefully incinerated all the test subjects to eliminate any mutated cells, and repeatedly sanitized the equipment to prevent any leaks.

He also encountered obstacles in researching drugs to extend lifespan—problems his current knowledge couldn’t yet solve. That would have to wait until he’d learned more. After all, the quest for longevity had never been a simple matter; even in worlds of immortal legends, one must face celestial tribulations to break through life’s barriers.

Though there were many failures, the successful development of the physical enhancement drug was no small victory for Lu Yu. Even if it didn’t grant superhuman abilities like in novels or films, it did noticeably improve health and vitality, and could slow aging such that one’s appearance would scarcely change over a decade. The results were extraordinary. Lu Yu believed that if he dared to sell such a drug, it would fetch an astronomical price instantly. But would he risk it? Clearly, he would not—not for the social consequences alone. Publicizing such research would be like a child flaunting gold bricks in a bustling market—tempting disaster. Why invite endless trouble for a fleeting moment of pride? That would be as senseless as seeking forbidden pleasure just for a brief thrill.

Lu Yu considered himself rational. He hadn’t lost his mind.

The small quantity of the drug he now possessed, he intended to use only on himself, and to privately share with his parents and closest companions as a health supplement. No one else would know. After all, a ruler who cannot keep a secret loses his ministers; a minister who cannot keep a secret loses his life; a matter that is not kept secret will bring harm. Besides, this wasn’t a one-time, lifelong remedy—it required monthly doses to continually stimulate cell activity. This was no elixir of immortality.

After adjusting for a while to the sunlight and heat, Lu Yu called Tang Zhiming to say he was done with the lab and to arrange for cleanup. Hanging up, he set off for home—rumpled clothes, messy hair, stubbled chin, and a bag slung over his shoulder. He walked out of the industrial park, hailed a cab, and headed home.

His plan was simple: eat a hearty meal, soak in a hot bath, and then sleep for three days and nights if necessary. The recent experiments had drained him—he needed to recover properly.

He ordered takeout from the cab, and it arrived just as he got home. Without a care for appearances, he wolfed down his food, then headed upstairs for a bath, tossing his clothes haphazardly on the floor. Afterward, he gathered all his clothes—those from the floor and his bag—stuffed them in the washing machine, then collapsed into bed and fell fast asleep.