I Have A Super USB Drive

by <unknown>

  "This had the advantage of precise injections as with hyaluronic acid, to reconstruct facial contours."

  "How do you solve the problem of the ectopic survival of stem cells?"

  Chen Chen suddenly asked, "Can the injected stem cells survive for more than a month?"

  "That…"

  The researcher was embarrassed. "Because the technology is still underdeveloped, the survival rate still isn't very optimistic."

  Chen Chen immediately shook his head wordlessly.

  These projects would truly sound attractive to certain rich ladies, young or old. Nonetheless, Chen Chen knew that they were merely diversions that did not address the root of the aging problem.

  To put it simply, these so-called "cell anti-aging" and "stem cell anti-aging" were new forms of stupidity tax.

  Stem cells had regenerative abilities and they could indeed differentiate into various types of new cells, replacing aging, apoptotic cells in the body. However, this did not mean that the same effect could be achieved just by injecting stem cells into one's body.

  After all, the human body was in a comprehensive state of balance in terms of pH, energy circulation or body temperature.

  Once this balance was disrupted, it often heralded the appearances of various diseases or even cancer.

  It did not mean that just because stem cells had regenerative abilities, humans could regain their youth by undergoing stem cell therapy or otherwise being injected with stem cells.

  This was merely a delusion.

  Even to treat leukemia entailed that the body's balance was destroyed to make a niche for stem cells before treatment could begin. How could ordinary injection methods have an effect so effortlessly?

  Even if they were autologous stem cells that were reinfused into the body, most of them would die within a few weeks because they could not withstand the change in the environment.

  The term "stem cell anti-aging" appeared lofty and scientific-based, but in truth, it was not even as effective as taking supplements.

  Although many people might feel that their bodies became warmer and more energetic after being injected with stem cells, this was merely a short-term physiological reaction.

  There was one way to cheat in competitive sports – drawing a certain volume of blood in advance, then reinfusing it back into the body before the competition.

  After doing so, the athlete's physical fitness, body oxygen content, and endurance limit would be significantly enhanced for a short time.

  This cheat was infamously known as "blood doping".

  These stem cell anti-aging treatments used the same principle as "blood doping".

  Therefore, these stem cell anti-aging treatments generally would have some effect at the time, but they would return to their original state after a short while.

  Not only that but medical accidents such as disfigurement, tumor formation, and blindness, caused by stem cell healthcare, were even more common.

  The human application of stem cells was only in its infancy at the present.

  …

  After his tour, Chen Chen felt nothing but slight disappointment.

  To think that even the technical reserves of a Swiss technology company were nothing more than this.

  Still, this was just a small company, after all. Although they were involved in stem cell research, it was on a superficial level. They certainly could not be compared to pharmaceutical giants like Roche and Novartis.

  Nevertheless, Chen Chen had to acquire this company. Even though a purchase of this scale was a serious blow to his funds, it saved him a lot of time.

  Chen Chen could also choose to build a Swiss company from scratch and establish a research institute, but the timeline for that would be too long.

  Chen Chen's parents were no longer young. They had entered middle age.

  A long time ago, when Chen Chen had just learned of the concept of "death" when he saw his grandfather passed away with his own eyes. Suddenly, he was overcome with terror –

  Why did humans end up dying? What was death, really?

  At that time, his father told him that death was just like sleeping. One would know nothing and think of nothing.

  However, it was different from sleeping. One would wake up from sleep and be greeted with the next sunny day.

  On the other hand, death was a sleep in which one would never see a second day.

  This childish, cultish explanation caused Chen Chen to pee his pants on the spot. This cast a shadow over his childhood years.

  Due to this, when he heard about the possibility of immortality in Professor Wang Xi's class, he was completely floored.

  Even more incredible was the fact that his own life was rewritten on that very same day.

  'Maybe I can use the USB drive to greatly extend the lifespan of the entire human race before my parents have fully aged?'

  Chen Chen could not help pondering this.

  After all, having possessed the USB drive, he was destined to live a long life. However, if he was alone, it would be too dull.

  Chen Chen valued his relationship with his parents more than romantic love or friendship because the latter might turn sour but familial affection would not.

  Of course, this only applied to the affection of parents.

  Three days later, Chen Chen and Preston Company formally signed an agreement. Chen Chen purchased all the shares of Preston Company for three hundred and fifty million Swiss francs. This included the two-thousand-square-meter office building and a small research institute.

  At this point, Chen Chen finally had everything ready. He could commence the scheme he had been working on for a long time.

  A plan focusing on research in the field of life sciences such as stem cell engineering, genetic engineering, human tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, all in an attempt to completely subvert the laws of life –

  The "Humanity's Lifespan Escape" plan.

  Chapter 54: Setting Up the Subsidiary Company |

  "Ladies and gentlemen:

  "I believe everyone knows who I am because I've just met all of you a few days ago and we've engaged in friendly talks.

  "Today is the first time I sit here as a chairman."

  On a new Monday, Chen Chen sat in the first seat of Preston Company's conference room. On both sides were the employees of the company.

  A solemn atmosphere, for some reason, was gradually taking over the conference room.

  "Oh, right, I forgot to inform everyone that our company has a new name – Blackwatch, which symbolically means 'light that is black'."

  Chen Chen continued. "At the same time, in the distant east, we have a parent company. In the future, it may often be the parent company that relays orders to all of you."

  Chen Chen checked the time and raised his head. "Alright, I won't blabber on. Next, I'll organize the company's personnel transfer."

  When Chen Chen said this, the mood in the conference room grew even more somber. Everyone pricked their ears. Even Qian Wenhuan, who believed he had a good chance of staying on, could not prevent his heart from pounding like a rabbit's.

  An emperor one day, a courtier the next. Currently, everyone's future and fate were encompassed in a single thought of this young man.

  "Mr. Wynn."

  First, Chen Chen looked to the old man beside him. "Although you're no longer a shareholder, your ability to manage the company is evident to everyone. I wonder if you're interested in continuing as the general manager of this company?"

  "If you're not averse to that." Mr. Wynn was thoroughly shocked.

  Initially, Mr. Wynn had been ready to resign. He thought that today was simply a formality, that his role would merely be to keep things running until a new general manager had been appointed.

  However, he had never expected that this new boss would be so generous in continuing to employ him.

  "Don't worry, I'll send someone to assist you."

  Chen Chen responded at once, "I'll send someone from the
parent company to be your assistant. He'll work with you but he wouldn't interfere with your decision-making. I hope you won't mind."

  "That would be perfect. I'll teach him all I know."

  Wynn smiled without concern. This was human nature. Even before the company was acquired, he had been surrounded by spies hired by other shareholders. How could Wynn not understand this?

  Chen Chen nodded in acknowledgment and turned to the director of finance. "Mr. Kofi, I apologize, but I have other plans for your post. According to Swiss labor law, I'll give you two options."

  The middle-aged man addressed as Kofi turned pale but still forced a hapless smile. "Please tell me."

  "The first option: you continue working for me as an ordinary employee in finance. Of course, your director-level salary would not be cut. Moreover, the focus of our company's business will move to Africa in the future. At that point, we'll need a large pool of elite talents. Perhaps you'll progress further there."

  Chen Chen said sincerely, "The second option: if you're interested in developing yourself in another company, I'm willing to compensate you a hundred thousand Swiss francs, in accordance with your previous contract."

  To someone in a high-ranking position, being bold enough to use the general manager of the previous company could be said to be an act of generosity, cultivated confidence, and so on.

  However, if one did not switch out the director of finance, that was no longer generosity, but being muddleheaded.

  Although Chen Chen could also use coercive methods to make this man submit, this might arouse the common hatred of the other employees. After all, there was a saying in China –"one would grieve for one's own kind."

  This would deflate the will of the employees.

  Rather than getting worked up over a bit of petty profit, it was wiser to offer generous terms to appease the other party. At this point, Chen Chen was not only reassuring one employee working in finance but the hearts of every employee in the company.

  "You're truly a gentleman, Mr. Chen."

  Kofi could not help but sigh in relief over Chen Chen's kindness. "I'd like to choose the second option."

  "No problem."

  Chen Chen nodded with a smile, showing no signs of anger or embarrassment regarding Kofi's decision. "As for the rest of the staff in the office, your positions remain the same."

  Everyone who heard this felt a weight lifted off their shoulders.

  "However, I have new arrangements for the research department."

  Just when everyone had relaxed inwardly, Chen Chen suddenly spoke again.

  "For the past few days, I've inspected the previous projects of the research institute and was suddenly struck by a misgiving."

  Chen Chen looked toward the end of the conference table. "Are we a technology company that focuses on tissue engineering or an aesthetic medicine company?"

  Everyone sat up straighter when they heard this, turning swiftly to look at the person in charge of research, Samuel, who was sitting at the end of the table.

  Unlike the rest, Samuel had always acted domineering. It was just that he held a number of patents which were the company's main business. Therefore, even the board of directors would tolerate him silently.

  To say nothing of the employees in the company.

  Naturally, Chen Chen's attack on Samuel would not result in a backlash.

  Now that Chen Chen had assumed this position, if he wanted to quickly take control of the company, the first thing he had to do was appease the employees. The second thing was to put on a show of force.

  Displaying both grace and authority would always be the most effective method for someone in charge.

  "Biomedical cosmetics isn't in conflict with tissue engineering technology," even so, when put under pressure by Chen Chen, Samuel merely replied breezily.

  "But the produced results are different."

  Chen Chen shook his head. "Mr. Samuel, have you considered that, if one day, stem cell treatments that completely rewrite the physiological age of humans emerge in the market, what will happen to companies like ours, which focuses only on removing scars and wrinkles?"

  "That's impossible!"

  Samuel snorted coldly. "Current technology hasn't reached that point at all!"

  "That's not necessarily true."

  Chen Chen shook his head while pressing a remote control. Instantly, a screen descended behind him.

  At the same time, the projector in the conference room started up automatically and displayed an image.

  The image showed a paper taken from Cell, the title of which was: Rebuilding the Immune System with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Allows SD Rats to Regain Youth.

  "I've read this paper before."

  Samuel harrumphed icily. "Killing the stem cells in the bone marrow to create the niche – an experiment like this is too crazy. I don't know how the original author could've that level of assurance. Unless we can invite him here personally, this isn't feasible in the slightest."

  "Very well, Mr. Samuel."

  Chen Chen applauded upon hearing these words and revealed the author column in the paper. "The author of this experiment is yours truly. Your wish is granted."

  "…"

  Samuel was instantly speechless.

  A low collective murmur could be heard in the conference room. The eyes of Wynn, Qian Wenhuan, and the rest seemed to light up as if they were getting to know this young man from Mainland China for the first time.

  People who were capable would be respected no matter where they were.

  Chen Chen suppressed their expression of surprise and said in an unquestionable voice, "Starting from tomorrow, all projects of the research institute will be suspended indefinitely. I'll start new projects over the next few days.

  "This will include using mesenchymal stem cells to rebuild the immune system. Besides, I'll restart projects on induced pluripotent stem cells and cultivating human organs through induction technology…

  "The funding for this new project will be provided by the parent company. The investment for the first phase is…"

  Chen Chen raised two fingers. "Two hundred million Swiss francs."

  Chapter 55: Unlicensed Warning |

  In the research institute, Chen Chen had used less than a month to replicate the experiments he did in Shangdu.

  Everyone's eyes were bulging with amazement as they stared at the eight SD rats in the cage. The rats' fur had regained its luster and they were behaving younger.

  If they had not seen it for themselves, who would believe that, a month ago, these were aging rats that were on their last legs?

  Of course, regaining youth came with a price. Before the experiment, they had twenty-five rats in total, but only eight survived by the end.

  The survival rate was less than one-third.

  "Through the CT scan, we can determine that the experimental targets, whether in terms of bone, muscle, hematopoietic function or liver, all show signs of rejuvenation."

  The researchers on the side looked through the resulting data line by line with astonished expressions. "As befitting of the all-round effects of mesenchymal stem cells."

  "It's just that the survival rate is too low," someone lamented. "If the survival rate was higher, it'd be perfect."

  "It's because of the subjects."

  However, Samuel suddenly made a rare refutation. "They were old rats in the first place. Their physical functions had deteriorated to the extreme. Plus, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not originally meant to be treatments for rats. It's to be expected that there would be a high fatality rate."

  Throughout this period, as Chen Chen ate and slept with the group of researchers, proving his incredible achievements and talents in the field of biology, he had won over the entire research institute. No one underestimated Chen Chen anymore.

  To become a scientific researcher, one would have an arrogant, solitary heart. Perhaps most of them had no talent for business and could only work for companies. Still, this did not
mean they were willing to submit to others.

  Samuel, for instance, did not think highly of the board of directors at all.

  However, Chen Chen was different. With a boss like this whose abilities were more impressive than their own, they were fully appeased.

  Therefore, Samuel had a total transformation in his attitude from his disdain at the start to the subsequent skeptical phase to becoming a diehard follower of Chen Chen. All these took only half a month.

  "Mr. Samuel is right. The goal of this experiment was never for the rats."

  Chen Chen, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "So, the next thing to do is to experiment with primates."

  "Are we going too fast?" The researcher who commented before was hesitant. "We'll be trying a medium-sized mammal next, right? It won't be easy to get approval or get past WAP…"

  WAP was the abbreviation for "World Animal Protection", a group of humans dedicated to safeguarding the rights and interests of animals.

  It would be an exaggeration to say that they had severely obstructed scientific research. Obstacles of development would not hinder development, but it did affect the development of biology.

  The 19th-century French physiologist, Claude Bernard, once said, "The science of life is a superb and dazzlingly lit hall which may be reached only by passing through a long and ghastly kitchen."

  Blind sympathy with the weak would not result in moral elevation. The fortress of human civilization was destined to be built upon the bones of countless races.

  "We could, but there's no need for all that."

  Chen Chen considered this for a moment. "Primates are the best choice. Solely based on how similar they are to humans, their survival rate for the chemotherapy would increase by more than fifty percent.

  "Furthermore, I'll discuss this matter with Mr. Wynn first. I think that as long as there's a suitable political donation, we'll quickly get approval through his contacts."

  Everyone nodded in a dumbfounded manner.

  "Therefore, in the following period, everyone may start their preparations. Next time, our test subjects may be a group of macaques or even chimpanzees."