Power and Wealth

Morning.

A Florida research center.

Level six, no. 2 isolation room.

This is a small room with an office layout. There’s a round table, projector, and many scientific equipments. Seldom people use this room unless there’s an important meeting. They would isolate the participants in this room to prevent news from leaking. However, this room is slightly different today. There’s a single bed in the corner.

This office is not meant for anyone to live in.

There’s no signal, no sunlight, and even the door is bulletproof.

*Sounds of someone tearing paper.

A few documents were torn into pieces. A woman with gold-rimmed spectacles sat on a leather chair. She was tearing some documents in frustration.

Three months….

She had been locked for three months….

Zhong Lizhen forced herself to calm down. She pushed her spectacles and walked to the intercom.

Beep… beep… beep….

A man’s voice sounded.

“Hi, Professor Zhong.” This man was speaking in English.

“I want to go outside for some sunlight, Thomas.” Zhong Lizhen said.

“Sorry, Professor Zhong. You cannot leave the isolation ward.”

“Why? It’s been three months! You all are restricting my freedom!”

“I do not decide this, Professor Zhong. You are my teacher, and many of us in the research center are your students. I want to help, but I cannot do anything.”

“I only want to get some fresh air. Only for ten minutes.”

“I can’t let you out, especially… especially now.”

“Pass the intercom to the higher-ups. I will speak to them.”

“I can’t do that now. Outside is….”

“What happened outside? Tell me.”

The man paused for a second and said softly. “I don’t know what happened exactly, and your room is soundproof. We heard hundreds of gunshots outside the research center and didn’t know what was happening.”

“Gunshots?!”

“Yes.”

“What about now?”

“Many soldiers had been mobilized, and the gunshots stopped.”

“I understand. I want to go out for a walk. I have not gone under the sun for too many days, and my body cannot take it. Hurry and help me contact the higher-ups.”

“Alright. I will try. To be honest, the higher-ups will not agree. This will be your home and workplace for at least one year.”

Zhong Lizhen looked terrible after hanging up the intercom. She thought about what Thomas had said to her.

Gunshots?

Who is it?

Are those from the people coming to save her?

But there’s a whole troop station here. How are they going to save me?

Zhong Lizhen had worked in the research center for ten years and knew the people here well. She was worried for her comrades. It’s impossible to rescue her unless China sends its military. She was losing hope. She wants to return home and work for her home country. She does not want to be locked up in this room without sunlight.

Zhong Lizhen sat on the chair, looking terrible.

Beep… beep… beep…. The intercom by the door sounded.

Zhong Lizhen walked over and answered.

“Professor Zhong. Is the research data ready?” A middle-aged man asked. “We need the date for an experiment. Please hurry up.” He was polite, but his tone was threatening.

Zhong Lizhen pushed her spectacles. “You all had restricted my movements, and I don’t want to do anything for you. Do it yourself!”

“Professor Zhong, this research is everyone’s combined effort. You should not….”

“I should not do what?! I just want to leave this place now!”

“We have a deadline for this research and experiment. If the first test fails, you will….”

“I don’t need you to worry for me. This country had disappointed me, and you all want me to continue to work for you?! Dream on!”

“……”

“What else do you want?”

“Do you have any requests?”

“I want to go out now.”

“I cannot allow it.”

“Then forget it. I would rather the research fail than let you all succeed. I deleted the vital data. Don’t even think of getting any breakthroughs in the next ten years!”

“Professor Zhong.” That man was furious. “You must be more flexible!”

Zhong Lizhen retorted. “I don’t know what flexibility is. You have known me for over two years and should know my character well.”

“Fine. Consider your decision again. It’s going to be lunchtime. I will speak to you again. If we cannot complete this research or have any breakthrough, our life will be hell. The higher-ups are running out of patience.”

“I want to see how you are all going to do that!”

“They will not pull back any punches even if you are one of the top scientists.”

“Sure. I will wait.”

Zhong Lizhen hung up and returned to her bed. She took a deep breath, and her desire to return home increased.

She wants to go back to China.

She must find a way to go back.

What should I do? Will someone come and save me?

But this research center's security is secured. Who can save her?

Will China give up on me?