Chen Hu stood before two peculiar stones, his mind filled with curiosity and bewilderment. These stones seemed to possess an extraordinary quality, distinguishing themselves from the mundane rocks surrounding them. Chen Hu seriously examined them, running his fingers along their surfaces.
"These cannot be mere stones," he concluded, his decision made. Delving deeper into his scrutiny, he observed their uniform grey-black colour and the absence of discernible patterns or lines.
"A genuine stone wouldn't possess such uniformity in color, nor would it lack any markings," Chen Hu mused aloud, his fingertips caressing the enigmatic objects. To his surprise, they emitted a coldness that resembled the touch of metal.
"Could it be...?" Chen Hu's thoughts trailed off as he began to suspect that these "stones" were, in fact, pieces of metal.
Just as this realization began to take root in Chen Hu's mind, a figure emerged from the sea—Liu Yong. In his hands, he held two stones, one large and one small, mirroring the appearance of the previous pair.
Storing the new additions in the car trunk, Liu Yong dried himself off with a towel and changed into fresh clothes. Chen Hu observed the quartet of stones, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. He turned to Liu Yong and spoke, his voice brimming with intrigue, "Boss, these objects don't resemble stones at all. They bear a striking resemblance to metal."
Enquiring Chen Hu's observation, Liu Yong approached the car's rear and scrutinized the "stones" again. Chen Hu's remark had sparked something within him—a growing certainty that these objects were more than just stones; they appeared metal.
"Indeed, they do appear metallic," Liu Yong responded, his enthusiasm ignited. The more he examined the objects, the more convinced he became that they were indeed composed of metal.
Mulling over the implications, Liu Yong contemplated the concept of metal existing deep within an underwater cave, thousands of meters beneath the surface. Could it be a relic from an alien civilization? Perhaps, fifty thousand years ago, extraterrestrial beings had indeed visited Earth.
Picking up one of the metals, Liu Yong weighed it in his hand. If it were indeed metal, it felt surprisingly lightweight—lighter than an ordinary stone. Determined to unravel the mystery, he returned the objects to his company for further examination.
With a decisive wave of his hand, Liu Yong instructed, "Let's go back to the company."
The two men boarded the car and headed to Global Shipping Group. Chen Hu focused on driving while Liu Yong occupied the back seat, lost in his thoughts.
"If these objects are indeed metal, what kind of metal are they? What are their physical properties?" Liu Yong pondered aloud, his mind abuzz with questions. He deduced that their density must be relatively low if they were not hollow. Could there exist a lightweight metal that matched their description?
In Liu Yong's recollection, the aluminium alloy was a light metal. The pieces of metal sent by Bawang seemed to possess a weight comparable to aluminium alloy.
Moreover, their corrosion resistance appeared formidable. Since the giant cavity had formed fifty thousand years ago, the metals must have been submerged in seawater for the same duration. Usually, any metal subjected to such an environment would have rusted beyond recognition. Yet, the surface of these pieces remained utterly unblemished.
Chen Hu safely navigated the car back to Global Shipping Group while Liu Yong ruminated over his musings throughout the journey.
Upon arriving at the office building, Liu Yong gestured to Chen Hu, saying, "Move these items to my office."
Chen Hu complied, carrying the three large rocks inside. Liu Yong scanned his office, considering the best placement for the objects. Eventually, he opened a spacious cabinet, clearing a shelf for their temporary resting place.
"Let's put them here for now. I don't need your assistance at the moment, Chen Hu. Feel free to occupy yourself with other tasks," Liu Yong directed, closing the cabinet door after the rocks were safely stored.
Chen Hu nodded, exiting the office and gently closing the door behind him.
Left alone with the intriguing pieces of metal, Liu Yong couldn't help but fixate on their appearance. The more he observed them, the more they resembled sizable metal fragments rather than ordinary stones.
After a contemplative gaze, Liu Yong closed the cabinet door, concealing the objects from view. Taking a seat in his office chair, he retrieved a magnifying glass from the drawer, its purpose clear—to scrutinize the metal piece resting on his desk under closer inspection.
Examining it meticulously, Liu Yong couldn't contain his excitement as he quietly affirmed, "Without a doubt, it's forged metal, not a stone." The notion that these metals could be remnants of an ancient alien civilization, existing for fifty thousand years filled him with a sense of exhilaration.
Metals originating from extraterrestrial civilizations couldn't be ordinary. Their properties remained an enigma that Liu Yong eagerly anticipated solving firsthand.
Qiu Yang, acting with remarkable efficiency, swiftly procured all the items Liu Yong had requested. He knocked on the office door in less than an hour, entering at Liu Yong's beckoning.
"Boss, I've purchased everything you asked for and arranged them in the adjacent room," Qiu Yang reported dutifully.
Liu Yong's excitement grew further upon hearing the news. With one hand gripping the metal piece on the desk, he rose from his chair, ready to proceed to the small conference room where the acquired items awaited.
Observing the large metal piece in Liu Yong's possession, Qiu Yang's brows furrowed with perplexity. He couldn't help but wonder what the boss intended to do with such a sizable stone.
Could it be that Liu Yong planned to conduct chemical experiments with it? Images of his high school chemistry teacher's classroom demonstrations flashed through Qiu Yang's mind.
Unbeknownst to Qiu Yang, Liu Yong's motivations were far from whimsical. His purpose was to examine and verify the properties of this peculiar metal personally.
Pushing open the conference room door, Liu Yong entered, and his eyes immediately fell upon the assortment of items displayed on the conference table. Qiu Yang had successfully acquired all twenty to thirty pieces as requested.
A surge of excitement coursed through Liu Yong's veins as he shed his coat, rolling up his sleeves. He was poised to embark on a personal investigation, determined to uncover the true nature of this metal.
"I am eager to discover what kind of metal this truly is," Liu Yong declared, anticipation palpable in his voice. And so, with a sense of purpose, he set about his quest for answers, ready to unveil the mysteries hidden within these enigmatic objects.
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