Ever since Lu Zhe, acting like the nice kid next door who'd just casually dropped the ultimate secret of the universe, had slipped that strangely blue, glowing rock into Song Yin's hand, her life had felt like being caught in the debris field of a supernova. Her previously (relatively) calm scientific existence had instantly become a whirlwind of unpredictable energy fluctuations. That little blue stone was, in her eyes, more precious than a newly unearthed, one-of-a-kind Fabergé egg – after all, the future of her entire planet, and billions upon billions of its inhabitants, kind of hinged on it.
Back in her dorm room, Song Yin's first order of business was to carefully lock the ornate little box containing the blue rock into a specially made metal case. This wasn't your average lockbox; it was crafted from a unique alloy she'd brought from her home planet, designed to effectively isolate and stabilize internal energy fluctuations. The last thing she needed was for this priceless sample to set off any of Earth's ridiculously sensitive scientific instruments. While the chances of Earth's current tech detecting this level of energy were about as likely as finding a decent cup of coffee in interstellar space, Song Yin, after five centuries of meticulous caution, wasn't taking any chances. Every potential risk had to be nipped in the bud, preferably before it even sprouted.
Over the next few days, Song Yin continued her diligent performance as a hardworking researcher, showing up on time and enthusiastically participating in all the lab's various projects. She even volunteered for extra tasks, all the better to have more opportunities to handle and analyze Earth's diverse array of mineral samples. After all, the blue rock Lu Zhe had given her was likely just one variation of the "element." She needed to find more similar samples to fully understand the properties of this mysterious substance.
However, her mind was a million light-years away, completely consumed by the Earth mineral samples that emitted faint yet undeniably odd energy fluctuations. In the past few days, she'd quietly used her analytical abilities, which made Earth's most advanced tech look like an abacus, to scan nearly every mineral specimen in the lab. She'd even sneakily accessed the institute's database, devouring geological surveys and mineral analysis reports like they were the latest celebrity gossip magazines. The results were both exhilarating and perplexing. She discovered that Earth actually had quite a few minerals containing this peculiar energy signature. While their energy intensity was nowhere near the level of the blue rock Lu Zhe had given her, their energy frequencies bore an uncanny resemblance to a rare mineral from her home planet.
It was like an explorer desperately searching for buried treasure suddenly realizing they weren't in a barren desert after all, but rather standing on a beach littered with glittering gold dust! Song Yin realized she might have actually stumbled upon the clue to saving her home. But the accompanying confusion was like a giant, geological-sized question mark hanging over her head. Why were these special energy-containing minerals so scattered and weak on Earth? What was the connection between them and the blue rock Lu Zhe had given her? And the million-dollar question: how on Earth (pun intended) had Lu Zhe even found that specific rock? Had he also sensed the secrets these minerals held?
To unravel these mysteries, Song Yin decided to take the initiative. She needed to study these anomalous samples more deeply, and her current access and resources in the lab were clearly insufficient. She needed a research partner, someone with more authority and resources who could work alongside her. And looking around the lab, heck, the entire research institute, there seemed to be only one viable candidate: the slightly quirky but undeniably brilliant and intuitively sharp young researcher, Lu Zhe.
Over the next few days, Song Yin began her subtle campaign to get closer to Lu Zhe. She'd "accidentally" bump into him by the coffee machine, "casually" ask his opinion on perplexing experimental results, and "innocently" inquire about mineralogical concepts that, to her, were about as basic as knowing which end of a toothbrush to use. And, of course, she'd strategically steer the conversation towards those special, energy-emitting rocks whenever possible.
"Lu Zhe, look at this hematite sample," Song Yin said, holding up a seemingly unremarkable rock, feigning curiosity. Her acting skills were practically Oscar-worthy; the perplexed expression on her face could have fooled even the most seasoned geologist.
Lu Zhe adjusted his glasses and peered at the rock in Song Yin's hand. After a moment of thoughtful contemplation, he said, "Hmm… it's possible its internal structure is a bit unusual, or maybe it contains some other metallic impurities. But if you're interested in these subtle magnetic differences, you could try analyzing it with more precise instruments, like our high-precision magnetometer."
Song Yin mentally chuckled. Of course, I know we can use a magnetometer. I just wanted to see if you had any… special insights into these unusual energy fluctuations. But on the outside, she adopted a look of sudden realization, nodding enthusiastically. "Right, right, right! How did I not think of that? Thank you, Lu Zhe! You're a genius!" Her praise sounded utterly sincere. If she didn't know she had a five-hundred-year-old alien soul, she might have even believed it herself.
Besides her deliberate work-related interactions, Song Yin also started trying to connect with Lu Zhe on a more personal level. She made mental notes of his habits and interests. For instance, she noticed he always ate his packed lunch in the lab's break room, diligently reading what looked like incredibly dense academic journals. So, Song Yin started "coincidentally" choosing the same time to have her lunch in the break room, always managing to sit "just so" next to Lu Zhe.
"Lu Zhe, you're reading the 'Journal of Geochemistry' too? What a coincidence!" Song Yin said, holding her own lunch – a perfectly balanced vegetarian salad – and offering Lu Zhe a friendly smile.
Lu Zhe looked up, a slightly surprised smile gracing his lips when he saw it was Song Yin. "Yeah, just Browse. Are you interested in geochemistry as well?"
Song Yin gracefully picked up her fork, spearing a piece of lettuce and taking a deliberate bite. While chewing thoughtfully, she replied, "Hmm… you could say that. I find many of Earth's minerals quite fascinating. They hold so many secrets we haven't fully understood yet." Her answer was deliberately vague, neither confirming nor denying anything, leaving Lu Zhe plenty of room for speculation.
Over the next few lunch breaks, they engaged in casual conversation. They talked about their research projects, recent developments in the lab, and their respective areas of interest. Song Yin diligently played the role of an enthusiastic but slightly less experienced young PhD, occasionally asking Lu Zhe for clarification on certain concepts, which he always patiently provided.
During one seemingly spontaneous chat, Song Yin finally found an opening to steer the conversation toward what truly mattered. "By the way, Lu Zhe, when you were out on your geological survey, did you ever come across any particularly strange mineral samples? You know… the kind that just felt… unusual?" As she asked, she subtly watched Lu Zhe's reaction out of the corner of her eye.
Lu Zhe's hand, which was holding his coffee cup, paused for a fraction of a second. But his expression remained unchanged, still sporting that warm smile. "Strange mineral samples? Hmm… how do you define 'strange'? Earth has such a vast variety of minerals, many with their own unique characteristics. What level of strangeness are we talking about here?" His answer was perfectly measured, revealing nothing, leaving Song Yin unsure of his true thoughts.
Song Yin considered her next move, deciding to be a bit more direct. "I mean… with a particularly unusual energy signature. Have you ever encountered anything like that?" As she spoke, she carefully controlled her tone, making sure she sounded merely academically curious.
Lu Zhe was silent for a few seconds, then looked up, a hint of something deeper than mere politeness in his eyes. "Minerals with unusual energy signatures… to be honest, yes, I have come across a few. Some rocks emit very faint but… inexplicable energy fluctuations. Why do you ask? Is that something you're researching?" His tone was still gentle, but Song Yin keenly detected a subtle probing quality.
A flicker of excitement sparked within Song Yin. She knew she had finally found her opening. A more enthusiastic expression spread across her face. "Yes! I've actually been studying some Earth mineral samples recently and have noticed similar phenomena. The energy signatures are very weak, but the frequencies are quite peculiar, unlike anything we know. I've been wondering if it could be a new discovery." As she spoke, she pulled out her notebook, flipping through it with practiced ease to a page filled with pre-prepared data and charts.
Lu Zhe leaned closer, his gaze lingering on Song Yin's notebook for a few moments before he looked up, a touch of intrigue in his eyes. "These data points do look rather… anomalous. Where did you collect these samples?"
Song Yin had her story ready. She pointed to a vaguely marked location on the notebook. "I stumbled upon them during a field survey a while back. At the time, I just thought they looked a bit… different, so I collected a few to study. I had no idea they'd show such unusual readings."
Lu Zhe nodded thoughtfully. "This is quite interesting. It seems we might have stumbled upon a fascinating area of research. If you wouldn't mind, I'd be very interested in collaborating with you on these unusual mineral samples. Perhaps we really are on the verge of a new discovery." His tone was filled with genuine enthusiasm, and Song Yin couldn't help but feel a flicker of genuine warmth towards him.
"Really? That would be fantastic!" Song Yin exclaimed, a look of delighted surprise on her face. She knew her plan had worked. Getting closer to Lu Zhe and initiating a collaboration was her best bet for unraveling all the mysteries and finding the "element" to save her home. And she had a feeling that her relationship with Lu Zhe, in the course of this collaboration, was about to take some unexpected turns. A small, hopeful smile touched the corners of Song Yin's lips. Looking at the intelligent and enthusiastic Earth man in front of her, she thought to herself, Lu Zhe, let's see what secrets this planet is hiding, shall we?