"Chen? It's Professor Mayland," a voice from the speakerphone projected out into average size office.

"Yes Professor, good afternoon," Professor Chen replied into the speakerphone, but his eyes were still focused on the charts on his dual screens.

“The exchange program is starting?” Professor Mayland's voice projected out into average size office. As the department head of the Biology department, he needed to make sure the exchange program was taken care of before he left for the day. “How many are they sending from China?”

"One moment." Professor Chen quickly searched for the files on his computer. After clicking on the file, a new screen appeared on his computer that covered the various tabs. “They are sending over twelve researchers,” Professor Chen replied after counting the numbers. “Ah, wait, thirteen. They have recently added an extra researcher. I'll send you the file."

“Oh?” Professor Mayland wondered who was added to the roster list. Typically, only the top researcher in the field was invited to the exchange program. The email file popped up a few seconds later and Professor Mayland scanned at the names, making sure it wasn't anyone important. “Is this a new researcher? I don’t recognize the name and he seems rather young as well.”

The average age of researchers in the program was around 45.

“I’m not sure who he is either,” Professor Chen was born in the States, and knew only a bit about the news from China. 

Professor Mayland shrugged, it wasn’t important. The program was simply for diplomatic relations and connections, it didn’t matter who attended the program. “Professor Chen, I am leaving them in your hands.”

Professor Chen sighed and hung up the phone. The special task was to parade the Chinese around for two weeks, act as a host, and provide them with accommodations. He was one of four professors of Asian descent and the newest to be appointed as the professor, so he was stuck in charge of the program. It was a bit unfair, he would rather focus on his own research.

The following day, Professor Chen got up early and drove to the airport half an hour away. On arrival, he walked toward the terminal. In typical fashion, the plane was delayed, but luckily only for 15 minutes. When the indicator signaled the plane’s arrival, his teaching assistants pulled out a banner to welcome their arrival.

As people shuffled out of the terminal, a few of the researchers saw the sign, and greeted Professor Chen. Everyone was smiling, but visibly tired from the long flight. During the wait, they all greeted one another as none of the researchers were from the same institution, and were unfamiliar with each other. 

The pecking order was easily established based on what institution they were from. Unless they were the chief of a department, the order was Capital University, Tashin University, Magic City University, Morning University and CAS. Even Professor Chen could only remember the names of the five researchers from the top institutions.

The researchers were mostly older, from their forties to fifties, and were less inclined to openly boast. However, they were still proud of their institution when talking about their current work. Researchers ranged from backgrounds in biology, chemistry, and medicine, all of whom had taken an interest in learning more about genetics.

The scientists were rowdy and in good spirit, not like the anti-social types as commonly portrayed. Everyone in the program was ambitious and inquisitive. They could be sly foxes, watchful owls, and hungry wolves when it came to seeking knowledge and being a part of a big discovery. However, they were also old enough to know that money and connections were ways to fulfill those ambitions. A sequencing machine could cost up to 6 million yuan and thousands of hours of research from researchers and students. Without a global collaboration, the genome project wouldn’t be possible.

Professor Chen counted the heads, “twelve.” They were missing one more person from the list, “Yun Li?”

“I’m here,” Li Yun replied. He had been standing nearby the entire time at the far corner, but no one greeted him. Scientists were unique and had their odd quirks, but Li Yun didn’t look like one.  Rather, he looked like he blended in the background.

Li Yun couldn’t blame them as he was testing his aura. He had been toned down and his steps were light. Even as he towered above the typical Asian, people simply ignored him as though he was an extra on the movie set.

“Oh, it looks like everyone is here,” Professor Chen escorted them to a bus waiting by the side of the airport.

During the ride, Professor Chen acted like a tour guide, talking about the different areas they were driving through. He spoke mostly in English, with occasional Mandarin in between. His parents originated from the Island country, so he rarely spoke the language and was a bit self-conscious about his accent.

"The city is known for baseball and harbors, but as one of the oldest cities in the state, there were many historical sites scattered throughout the cities," Professor Chen narrated and pointed to as many landmarks during their bus ride.

Many of the researchers took snapshots on their phones, even the ones that had been there before. No matter where they go, their phones and selfie sticks flickered to take photos of buildings, landscapes, and historical churches. Naturally, as a regular and normal Chinese tourist, Li Yun had his phone out to live stream the skyline as the bus traveled across the arched bridge.

Random1:Where is the doc streaming from?

toolazy: Is he in the States?

tomakesn: Wow, Dr. Li is moving up in the world.

After the impromptu tour, the bus stopped in front of a hotel where everyone was assigned a room.

“Tomorrow’s itinerary is simple, we will tour the campus and then the laboratory,” Professor Chen explained. “I’m sure everyone is tired today. This evening, we will have a welcoming ceremony in the banquet area. I’ll see everyone then. Please feel free to explore for the rest of the day.”

Professor Chen left, returning to his usual teaching assignment as it was still before noon and leaving the other scientists to mingle among themselves. 

“Dr. Li?” Asked Professor Tong, trying to recall the name. He suddenly remembered the young surgeon who operated on Minister Yue. As a researcher, he was often in the university laboratory rather than the hospital, but there were a lot of people who had heard about Minister Yue’s surgery.

Li Yun also tried to recall if he had met Professor Tong, but he drew a blank.

“I’m Professor Tong from Magic City,” he replied as he noticed the deer in the headlight look from Li Yun. “We haven’t met, but I have seen the footage of your seminar.”

The other researchers thought Professor Tong was being cordial to the newcomer. Who in the group hadn’t presented at high-profile conferences or seminars? All the researchers were well-known in their own field and were selected by the school to represent them during the exchange.

“Ah, professor, I remember your research paper, but I was trying to recall if you had attended the seminar,” Li Yun responded.

“Unfortunately, I was in between meeting with patients that couldn’t attend,” said Professor Tong. “My coworker showed me the footage afterward, and till this day, I do not know if it’s a magic show or medical seminar. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with your podcasts.”

“You follow the ZZ Live?” Li Yun wasn’t particularly famous, so it often surprised him to meet with viewers outside of his usual circle.

“Do you really think there are undetectable portals in our bodies that dictate our emotions?” asked Professor Tong. “It sounds almost like science fiction.”

“It’s just a working theory,” said Li Yun. “I am not sure how to describe the workings of these meridians, but there are historical documents that described them as channels. I am using that as a basis to further the research.”

Aside from Professor Tong, no one else was interested. However, as the youngest member of the group, everyone treated Li Yun quite well. As the exchange program was a mini vacation for the other researchers, they didn’t see the others as competitors. 

The first two days were basically tours, and the following days were up to the researchers to decide where they wanted to go.

“We are heading to Apple City after the exchange program, do you want to join?” asked Professor Tong.

“My girlfriend will be coming soon, and we are going to visit a relative,” said Li Yun.

Rouxi had a couple of exams to take before the start of a national holiday. She was going to arrive at the end of the week. In the meanwhile, Li Yun was going to focus on hiking the national forest and collecting data.

“Ah, it’s good to be young,” Professor Tong commented.