As soon as the meeting ended, the five of them felt like they had been injected with an enhanced dose of adrenaline, walking on air as they floated out of the Meeting Room.

"Everyone! Over here! We have our own office space!" Jiang Jitong shouted and pointed to a bright room nearby, his tone resembling an NPC in a game announcing a hidden quest, with the reward being a luxurious mansion in the starting village.

Professor Yang Ping had mentioned to Tang Shun about setting up a research group, and Tang Shun had furnished this office overnight, with computers and desks all in place, just waiting for the players to move in.

Chu Xiaoxiao almost stumbled over to her workstation, which had her name on it, and carefully placed a stack of documents on the desk, as if they were fragile treasures instead of paper.

She took off her glasses, rubbed her tense temples, and her mind was still looping through the dazzling words "five small targets" and "in vitro immunological function verification and high-throughput screening." In her past understanding, a project of this scale could only be glimpsed in the acknowledgments of top-tier Journals or in interviews with top experts. Now, she was not only a Participant but responsible for such a core part? Now? She, Chu Xiaoxiao, not only become a Participant but also in charge of a core part?

This felt like a level 1 newbie, fresh out of the starting village, being thrown straight into the final boss room with a full set of divine gear.

Absurd, but exhilarating!

"What's wrong, Xiaoxiao? Overwhelmed by Professor Yang's dominant aura?" He Zijian at the adjacent desk noticed her dazed look and asked softly.

Chu Xiaoxiao put her glasses back on, took a deep breath, and tried to look like a seasoned player: "A bit... no, very overwhelmed! He Zijian, don't you think this opening is too surreal? It's only our first day!"

He Zijian showed a faint, understanding smile on his reserved face and pointed to the similar "mission scroll" on his own desk: "Who wouldn't agree? If my doctoral project had one percent of the funding and cutting-edge resources that this one does, my thesis could come with its own soundtrack. But now, I've been air-dropped into the endless deep sea, and Professor Yang said, 'Can't swim? Learn on the spot!'

"Haha, that metaphor is spot on!" Wang Chao chimed in, the most excited of the group, with his eyes shining behind his black-rimmed glasses, "But I love this style! I'm so fed up with endless project proposals, interminable review meetings, and lengthy approvals. This is what scientific research should look like: aim for the targets, concentrate fire, and launch a full assault! Just think about it, if we actually pull it off..." He didn't finish, but his eyes said it all—that would be a textbook-level breakthrough.

Liu Yang sat a little further away, not joining the discussion. He had already opened his computer, brought up the molecular cloning software interface, furrowing his brows and tapping unconsciously on the Desktop.

Jiang Jitong walked over and patted Liu Yang on the shoulder:

"Feeling the pressure?"

His voice was as calm as ever.

Liu Yang looked up with a slightly helpless smile: "Senior Brother Jiang, to be honest, the pressure is immense. The 'efficient, rapid molecular cloning platform' the Professor described sounds simple, but supporting such rapid iteration of de novo protein design means we need to establish a standardized and almost automated process. From primer design, gene synthesis, vector construction, to mutant library establishment—every step must be foolproof. Also, many functional domains may be unstable, and expression and purification will be significant issues."

Liu Yang wasn't sure where his sudden confidence in such a grand project came from, daring to speak these words.

"Problems are meant to be solved." Jiang Jitong pulled up a chair and sat down.

"You're not fighting alone; Chu Xiaoxiao and He Zijian will provide you with functional domain design advice from an immunological perspective to help you avoid obviously ineffective constructs."

"All high-end Experimental Equipment is available 24/7. If we need any special enzymes or reagents, report them, no, just mention them in the group chat with the Professor, and he will resolve it, no!! Tell me directly; the Professor has already given me privileges."

"What you need to do now is not to worry but to get started immediately. First, thoroughly study the Professor's materials and recommended Journals, then draft a detailed platform construction plan. List all the necessary Experimental Equipment, consumables, and software support, and give me a list."

Jiang Jitong's words were like a reassuring pill, and Liu Yang nodded, his gaze becoming focused again: "I understand, Senior Brother Jiang, I'll start tonight."

"Don't stay up all night! That's a specific instruction from the Professor—ensure work-life balance; this is a long-term battle." Jiang Jitong reminded and then looked at the others, "The same goes for everyone. I know you might have a tangle of thoughts now, but that's okay; start by studying the materials. Clarify the framework and basic concepts. We are a team; any issues that arise, discuss in the group chat anytime, or come directly to me."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "Professor Yang trusts us by giving us extraordinary resources and freedom, and we must live up to that trust."

Everyone nodded solemnly, and after the initial shock and excitement, the weight of responsibility had already settled in.

But Jiang Jitong quickly added: "Don't feel any pressure; scientific research should be relaxing and passionate, not burdensome."

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