Chapter 3 — I Return From The Deep

“There is a criminal record.”

These three words are like a scar stuck to me, no matter how much I tear it, it won't come off. Interviewed for four places, rejected all four. The last place that didn't refuse outright was a small supermarket recruiting cashiers. The boss looked at my information and hesitated: "This... let me consider further." I know there is no hope. Stepping out of the job market, the sunlight made me dizzy. My chest started to hurt again, I held onto the street light pole and coughed. There were blood stains on the tissue. I crumpled the piece of paper and stuffed it into my pocket. The phone rang. Wen Ruo Tang's number.

"Nien So, I've seen the data, it's complete. But to create a dossier to request a review of official academic results, we need more documents to prove it."

“What documents?”

“Notes on the use of laboratory equipment that year, chemical field notebooks, it is best to find Trieu Dung's original experimental notebook.”

I remained silent. These things are all in the university laboratory. And that laboratory, currently belongs to——Tong Uyen Nghi. Four years ago, based on her merits of "exposing academic fraud", she took over Ms. Trieu's entire research group. Promoted to associate professor, received funding, called rain and wind.

“I understand,” I said. “I will think of a way.”

Turn off the device. Standing on the side of the road, the sun burning behind me. Things in the lab, someone like me who just got out of prison can never get them through the front door. Then go through the side door. I opened the phone book——only three numbers were saved inside. Wen Nhuoc Duong, fellow prisoner Tieu Ho, and one more person: Luc Tham. This name has been in the directory for a long time. It was Tieu Ho who left it for me before being released from prison.

"There is a brother outside who has a wide network of connections and works reliably. If you have any difficulties after going out, you can find him."

I hesitated for a second. Call now. Ring three times, someone picks up.
\deer?" The voice is low and a bit lazy.

"Hello, I'm... Tieu Ho's friend."

The other side was silent for two seconds.

“Oh. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“What do you need?”

This person speaks directly enough. I took a deep breath: "I need to go into the biological experimental building of Linhai University to retrieve some things. But my current identity... it's not convenient to go through the main door." Another two seconds of silence. Then he burst out laughing, his tone filled with deep meaning.

“Okay. Tomorrow at 3:00 pm, South gate of the university.”

The phone is disconnected. I looked at the screen blankly for a moment. Is it that simple? Don't ask why? Don't ask about background? But if you think about it, the person who can be involved with Tieu Ho is probably not the type of person who is disciplined. Regardless. Just need to get the things. Less than 10 minutes until 3pm the next day, I was at the South Gate of Linhai University. I'm so familiar with this place. Four years ago, I went in and out of this gate every day. Wearing a backpack, hurriedly ran to the laboratory. At that time, I was the graduate student that Professor Trieu liked best. I had published two SCI papers and was preparing to apply for a doctorate. The future is bright. Then in just one night, everything was gone. I stood outside the gate, looking at the students going back and forth, it seemed like another life. Exactly 3 o'clock. An old black Accord parked on the side of the road. The passenger seat window lowered.

“Giang Niem So?”

I bent down to look in. Sitting in the driver's seat was a man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with cropped hair Short, sharp facial features, sharp jawline. Wearing a gray hoodie and black-rimmed glasses——but the eyes behind those glasses were clear at a glance and you knew you weren't a gentle scholar. The eyes are too sharp.

“Luc Tham?”

“Get in the car.”

I opened the door and walked up. The car was very clean, there was only a slight cigarette smell. He was in no hurry to drive and turned to glance at me. His eyes stayed on my face for two seconds. Without saying anything, he gave me a school card.