Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 573: Chapter 574: Not Asking

While continuing to cut the two bloody steaks, Yan Buwen calmly said, "Does Princess Jian think someone would impersonate me?"

Jian could hardly stand the disgusting sight of his eating habits. The smell of the pungent Jamaican rum and the raw blood of the steak filled her nose, making her turn away and frown. "Although I always thought you were somewhat unusual, I didn't expect your unusualness to be so revolting."

"Thank you for the compliment," Yan Buwen replied inexplicably, then stuffed another piece of raw steak into his mouth and chewed. "I heard that Princess Jian of the British Royal Society has quietly appeared in Zhonghai, so I put down my work and rushed over. Of course, I've long admired Mr. Yang as well. Mr. Yang is a senior whom I, a junior, greatly respect. It's a great honor to meet both of you today. May I have the honor of sharing a drink with you?"

Yang Chen felt a bit uneasy. Indeed, his relationship with the Yang family was no secret within the prominent families of Yanjing. No matter how he tried to avoid these connections, he couldn't escape them.

However, as his relationship with Guo Xuehua improved, his resistance to the concept of family also lessened. After all, despite Yang Pojun and Yang Lie's resentment towards him, Yang Gongming, Guo Xuehua, and even Yan Sanniang had shown him goodwill.

Moreover, the Yang family had not intended to abandon him initially. His circumstances were partly due to their lack of foresight, but they were not entirely to blame.

As his cultivation improved, so did his mindset, allowing him to see things more clearly. However, this didn't mean Yang Chen could retreat into a monastic life and renounce worldly matters; it just meant he viewed things more rationally.

Jian sneered disdainfully, "Don't you feel hypocritical saying that?"

Yang Chen was slightly surprised. Jian seemed to have some grudge against Yan Buwen, unlike himself, who had only hit his brother Yan Buxue. Jian's temper was usually calm and composed, not something easily disturbed.

"Princess Jian seems to misunderstand me. I wonder what I did to offend you," Yan Buwen spoke candidly, aware of Jian's true identity.

Yang Chen also looked at Jian curiously. It was his first time seeing her so sarcastic towards someone.

Jian, looking annoyed, explained to Yang Chen, "Last year's Nobel Prize selection, both the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Nobel Committee invited me to be the final chief judge. I initially didn't want to participate because it contradicted the selection tradition and Alfred Nobel's dying wish.

"However, they disclosed some information about the candidates, and I found out that the hottest candidate this time was from Yanxia."

At this point, Jian glared at Yan Buwen, who was quietly eating his steak, making it clear that this "Yanxia person" was him.

Yang Chen was a bit surprised. Although he knew Yan Buwen was skilled in scientific research, he hadn't realized the extent. He hadn't expected Yan Buwen to be the leading candidate for the Nobel Prize.

He also understood why Jian would be invited. The Nobel Prize had never been awarded to a scientist from Yanxia, involving many international, historical, and political issues. So, it wasn't just about the award itself.

Thus, the Nobel Committee sought someone who could take on the responsibility and make the final decision. The only person who could gain worldwide recognition in the scientific community and face little opposition was Jian.

Jian's unique status in the scientific community was due to her almost non-partisan stance.

Jian's students were elites from around the world, and she herself did not directly participate in those technological research projects. Of course, this also included not working on advanced weapons for any country.

The reason the world tolerated the existence of such a unique genius scientist like Jian, without trying to bring her into their own country, was twofold. First, as a Welsh royal heir, Jian would not directly engage in political struggles. Second, she was one of the few publicly protected by Yang Chen.

Since Jian wouldn't contribute to any one country, wouldn't disrupt the balance of global scientific power, and was cultivating fresh talent for the scientific progress of all nations, who would dare to provoke her and risk unnecessary trouble?

Yang Chen thought of these points but didn't understand why Yan Buwen being a candidate would offend Jian.

Jian continued, "At that time, I understood the committee's intention. They had already decided that this Yanxia person would win the Nobel Prize that year. So, it wasn't really my judgment; I was just there to shoulder the pressure. In the end, I agreed." She paused, took a sip of cold red wine, and gritted her teeth, "When I announced the results, the Medical Prize and the Chemistry Prize were awarded to the young academician Yan Buwen from the Yanxia Academy of Sciences. But within an hour of my announcement, the Yanxia side suddenly declared that Academician Yan Buwen refused to accept any foreign scientific awards.

"When we asked the Yanxia Academy of Sciences for the reason, the response was that Academician Yan Buwen said his achievements were not for others to judge!"

Yang Chen looked at Yan Buwen curiously. He didn't expect such arrogance from someone who seemed so unassuming. With a smile, he said, "You're angry about that?"

"How could I not be angry? I was trying to help the committee by using my reputation to announce the decision, and then this guy made me look like a fool in front of the world!" Jian was furious, taking another two sips of wine, her cheeks flushed.

Yan Buwen, having finished most of his steak, finally smiled calmly and said, "Princess Jian, so that's what made you angry. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. If I really offended you, I apologize now." He raised his bottle of rum as if toasting and took a large swig.

"Forget it, I can't afford an apology from a great scientist like you," Jian replied coldly, not wanting to look at Yan Buwen.

Yang Chen shook his head with a smile. He hadn't known about these events since he had just returned to Yanxia at that time. Given Jian's temperament, she could overlook many things, but someone being arrogant in her field of expertise and disregarding her would certainly hurt her pride. After all, she was the teacher of so many core scientific experts worldwide. Even if she was wise beyond her years, she was still a young woman. How could she not feel hurt?

After a while, the atmosphere quieted down. Yang Chen had unknowingly finished the steak on his plate, including the portion Jian couldn't eat.

Seeing Jian still pouting unhappily, Yang Chen smiled and said, "I'm done. Shall we go?"

Jian had no objections. She felt that Yan Buwen's visit wasn't just to chit-chat, but she didn't care to ask further.

Yan Buwen, seeing that Yang Chen had no intention of conversing with him, finally spoke again, "Mr. Yang, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Yang Chen asked curiously, "Say what?"

"You beat up my foolish brother," Yan Buwen said, narrowing his eyes.

Yang Chen slapped his forehead, looking enlightened, "Are you here for revenge?"

"Of course not. Since I called him a fool, naturally, it wasn't your fault," Yan Buwen replied disdainfully.

"Since it's not about your brother, why are you wasting time with so much nonsense? I don't think your brain is very smart either. Tsk tsk, you can't even get to the point," Yang Chen frowned, pulling out his phone to check the time. "Because of you, our lunch got interrupted. I'm being polite by not scolding you, yet you keep wasting our time. Don't you know we're in a hurry to leave? Are you picking a fight or thinking I'm easy to bully? I'm telling you, I'm not afraid to fight you!"

As he spoke, Yang Chen rolled up his sleeves, looking ready for a brawl.

Yan Buwen was stunned. Just a moment ago, everything was fine, but now this guy was ready to get physical? And when did he ever intend to waste time? Who was the one talking the most nonsense?

Seeing Yan Buwen's bewildered expression, Jian couldn't help but smile. She knew Yang Chen was deliberately being vulgar because he disliked Yan Buwen's arrogant demeanor.

It was like a highly educated intellectual encountering an old farmer from the mountains. No matter how many logical arguments or eloquent words you use, they only recognize crops, not letters. When a scholar meets a soldier, reasoning becomes futile. Originally in control, Yan Buwen found his rhythm disrupted by Yang Chen's sudden change in demeanor, leaving him somewhat annoyed and unsure how to proceed.

"I think Mr. Yang misunderstands. I'm not here to discuss my foolish brother today."

"But you already mentioned him," Yang Chen retorted with a snort.

Yan Buwen was momentarily at a loss for words again. Without further argument, he continued decisively, "I came here today to clarify one thing: Tang Zhechen's poisoning was not my doing."