Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

All the members of Research Institute 23 were standing in the corridor outside the third-floor meeting room, eagerly watching the entrance passage.

Noticing the passage door being activated, everyone opened their eyes wide. Someone said, ”The new captain is here! I bet our captain is definitely a stern old man!”

”I bet he’s an old joker.”

”I think it should be a gentle-looking but secretly fierce female senior.”

However, when the door was pulled open, and they saw Hua Junqiao leading in a delicate young girl, all the members were dumbfounded.

This...

They all guessed the identity of the young girl, yet they were unwilling to admit it.

Such a young little girl couldn’t be the captain they’ve been eagerly awaiting, right?

But then, they saw Hua Junqiao clapping and introducing, ”Everyone, this is our captain of Research Institute 23, Xu Xingguang. Come over and get acquainted.”

Xu Xingguang’s identity was confirmed by Hua Junqiao, making this group of medical research experts, with an average age of over 38, show expressions of disbelief.

The corridor was filled with a ’strange’ atmosphere.

After a while, the youngest member of the team couldn’t help but voice the question everyone’s been wondering about, ”Captain Xu, how old are you this year...?”

Xu Xingguang was wearing a red and black style windbreaker, her ponytail tied high, black pants paired with flat canvas shoes, exuding a natural youthful energy all over.

She seemed more suited to staying on a university campus, discussing courses, basketball, and photography with students, rather than standing here leading them as a captain in research.

Instead of answering, Xu Xingguang asked him back, ”How old are you?”

The man named Jin Yaoyang said somewhat proudly, ”I’m 32 this year, the youngest in our institute.” He paused, then hurriedly added, ”That was before.”

But clearly, with Captain Xu’s arrival, this record was about to be refreshed.

Nodding, Xu Xingguang told Jin Yaoyang, ”Not much older, exactly ten years younger than you.”

Hearing this, the entire corridor fell silent.

”22 years old.” Jin Yaoyang’s expression turned numb, and he rubbed his slightly tired brow, sighing, ”My niece is 22, just graduated from university this year and is still endlessly interviewing for jobs.”

The same 22-year-old, yet Captain Xu became the leader of the top-secret Research Institute 23!

Everyone had the same brain, what did Captain Xu eat to grow such a mind?

Did she eat others’ intelligence?

Xu Xingguang’s arrival was a harsh stimulus to these aged researchers.

And Xu Xingguang also deeply understood one thing: Facing a group of talented and strong colleagues, humility couldn’t earn their recognition and respect. Only strength was the only way to persuade them and gain their approval.

Therefore, on the first day of meeting, Xu Xingguang revealed her other identity. ”Everyone, I am the Medicine Farmer Star, also the discoverer of the biochemical weapon, Corpse Centipede.”

Upon learning that Xu Xingguang was the famous Medicine Farmer Star, they finally understood why she appeared here.

Medicine Farmer Star was the discoverer of the Corpse Centipede, and also the only person in the world skilled at capturing and completely destroying the Corpse Centipede alive. Having her lead Research Institute 23 was the expectation of all.

If even the Medicine Farmer Star wasn’t qualified to be here, then they might as well pack up and go home to farm.

The members of Group 23 immediately adjusted their mindset.

A man with slightly white hair was the first to step forward towards Xu Xingguang, saluting her and introducing himself, ”Researcher No. 11, Chen Taikang, greets Captain Xu!”

Next, a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and a square face also saluted Xu Xingguang, introducing himself, ”Researcher No. 10, Sheng Guangtao, greets Captain Xu!”

The young man who had previously inquired about Xu Xingguang’s age now adopted a respectful demeanor and introduced himself, ”Researcher No. 9, Jin Yaoyang, greets Captain Xu!”

The oldest man in the institute also said, ”Researcher No. 8, Wang Zefa, greets Captain Xu.” He paused, then quietly added, ”Out of everyone in the research institute, Little Jin is the youngest, and I’m the oldest, at 61 this year.”

Standing nearby, Hua Junqiao quietly said to Xu Xingguang, ”No. 8 used to be the vice president of Xia Country Hospital, and was already at retirement age. After Research Institute 23 was established, the President’s order personally brought him back. He has dealt with Traditional Chinese Medicine for 55 years. If Captain Xu has any questions related to Traditional Chinese Medicine, you can discuss more with him.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingguang looked at the senior Wang Zefa with respect, ”Hello.”