Chapter 15: A Profound Revelation

The turmoil surrounding the Ji Shan Hall had finally settled. The guiding stake network operated steadily, and the Chen family’s old residence regained its former tranquility and harmony. Madam Chen remained vigorous, pruning flowers in the garden, while Chen Qiming was once again lively and eager, clamoring to return to school. Chen Bojun’s gratitude toward Yang Rui and Su Jin overflowed; he was on the verge of treating them as honored guests.

That afternoon, the setting sun bathed Ji Shan Hall in a warm golden glow. Inside a makeshift monitoring tent, Su Jin finished organizing the last batch of data and compiling the analysis report. She closed her laptop, massaged her slightly sore neck, and was overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of accomplishment and relief. The collision between science and ancient wisdom had not only solved a thorny problem but also opened a new door in her mind.

Clutching the report, a product of their joint efforts, she walked toward the backyard. Yang Rui was resting with his eyes closed beneath an ancient banyan tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on his sharply defined face. The signs of recent exhaustion and overwork had faded somewhat, but the calmness and subtle fatigue in his expression remained.

“Here’s the draft paper,” Su Jin said with a light tone, handing over the document. “You’re the first author. It details the physical properties of the energy field, the guiding principles, material and structural design, and the final verification of results. No ‘feng shui’ or ‘evil energy’—just data and models.” She paused, eyes flicking to Yang Rui’s hand resting over his chest, where the “Star Compass” lay close, then softened with a teasing note. “The data’s perfect, the system stable. So, Chief Technical Advisor, can you finally breathe easy and recharge now?”

Yang Rui accepted the report, a sincere smile lifting the corners of his mouth as he looked at the meticulous title and the two names side by side on the cover. “Dr. Su, you’re really flattering me. My little ‘folk remedy’ couldn’t have made it into such a high-class publication without your ‘scientific translator’ skills and world-class equipment. Most of the credit belongs to you.” He set down the report and stretched, his joints making faint cracking sounds. “But ‘recharge’ is the perfect word. Using this ‘treasure’ is truly taxing—felt like pulling several all-nighters in a row. Now, I just want to find a place to collapse, soak up some sun, and sip something warm.”

Su Jin smiled at his candid, slightly weary words, the golden light of the sunset warming her fair face. “Collapse and soak up the sun? Master Yang, your tastes are awfully simple. You’re a major contributor to solving this ‘urban mystery.’ Isn’t there a more refined way to celebrate?”

“Refined?” Yang Rui raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling as they met hers. “Dr. Su, any suggestions? Attend a concert? Visit an art exhibition? I’m pretty ordinary—might fall asleep.”

Su Jin’s heart skipped a beat under his gaze, but she maintained her composure, feigning thoughtfulness. “Well… considering a certain contributor urgently needs energy and is ‘immune’ to refinement… how about I treat you to coffee? I know a nice place nearby—quiet atmosphere, excellent beans.” Her invitation carried a subtle note of hope.

“Coffee?” Yang Rui’s eyes lit up. “Perfect! Refreshing, energizing, and no need to give up ‘collapsing’! If Dr. Su is buying, I must accept!”

The sun melted like molten gold as the evening breeze gently stirred the air. They drove away from Ji Shan Hall, leaving behind the old residence now restored to calm. The atmosphere in the car was easy and harmonious, carrying the tacit understanding and subtle closeness forged through shared trials.

The café Su Jin recommended was tucked away in a creative park corner shaded by trees, a quiet oasis amid the bustle. Outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows was a carefully tended courtyard; inside, a minimalist industrial style prevailed, with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans mingling with soft jazz.

They found a quiet spot by the window. Su Jin ordered a hand-brewed Yirgacheffe, while Yang Rui chose a hot latte and a slice of what looked like a decadently rich cheesecake.

“Gotta replenish with something solid,” Yang Rui said with a smile, scooping a generous bite of cake and closing his eyes in satisfaction.

Watching his childlike contentment, Su Jin’s lips curved upward. She sipped her floral-fruited coffee lightly, gazing out as dusk deepened, feeling the tension and fatigue of recent days gently dissolve in the warm, peaceful ambiance.

“Honestly,” Su Jin set down her cup and looked at Yang Rui, “this Ji Shan Hall case has greatly inspired my research. The abnormal environmental physical fields beneath historic urban buildings might be more widespread and complex than we imagined. When I return, I plan to apply for a larger project: a systematic environmental physical field survey across the city’s buildings over a century old, especially those extensively renovated. The focus will be monitoring magnetic field anomalies and infrasound pollution sources.”

“A survey?” Yang Rui swallowed his cake, intrigued. “That’s a big undertaking, but definitely necessary. Many old houses feel uncomfortable to live in—not necessarily haunted, maybe it’s these invisible ‘fields’ causing trouble. Like Mr. Chen’s place—if not for your instruments, who would have guessed it was underground magnetic fields and infrasound wreaking havoc?”

“Exactly.” Su Jin nodded, pulling out her tablet and displaying charts and data. “Here, these are background magnetic field annual variation data I collected over the past decade for some city areas during another project.” She turned the screen toward Yang Rui. “Most areas are stable with fluctuations within normal ranges. But…”

Her finger pointed to a spot on the map—a renovated old industrial district near the ancient canal in the western part of the city.

“Look here, the Riverside Cultural and Creative Park in the west. Its background magnetic field strength has shown a steady, continuous upward trend over the last five years! The average annual increase is small, about 0.15 microteslas, but cumulatively, it’s significantly higher than surrounding areas and the city average! Moreover,” she brought up another dataset, “our simple infrasound monitor installed at a partner art gallery there occasionally picks up low-intensity but frequency-concentrated anomalous signals.”

Yang Rui leaned closer to the screen, studying the charts and map markers. Riverside Cultural and Creative Park… He recalled that area—once old factories and warehouses, recently transformed into a hub of art studios, cafés, and design firms, a somewhat bohemian enclave. On the map, the park’s core seemed to faintly outline the shape of a tower.

“Annual magnetic field increase? Infrasound anomalies?” Yang Rui furrowed his brow, fingers tapping absentmindedly on the table—a habit when deep in thought. “Dr. Su, the increase is small but steady… that’s odd. Urban magnetic field fluctuations usually relate to power grids or large equipment, but such a creative park shouldn’t have new industrial sources, right?”

“That’s exactly the suspicious point,” Su Jin affirmed. “I checked the planning records—no new substations or large factories. The main electromagnetic sources are everyday electricity and communication devices, which shouldn’t cause such persistent, unidirectional magnetic growth. Also, the infrasound signals appear randomly, unlike the regular patterns from machinery operation.”