New Year's Day, the day for paying visits.
The Ji family, being one of the most prominent families in Haicheng, and with Old Master Ji being of advanced age, countless people came to pay their New Year respects.
After making phone calls upstairs to her uncle, aunt, and various teachers to extend New Year greetings, Rong Yu began sketching and writing on scratch paper. She stayed busy in her room for several consecutive days. Once her calculations were nearly complete, she called for Ji Zhouye, her temporary assistant, to help input the extensive data into the computer and run the numbers.
Just as she was about to get up and stretch, her phone vibrated. She glanced at the caller ID—it was actually Sheng Ciyuan.
She wasn't really familiar with him.
She answered the call, "Hello, classmate Sheng, Happy New Year."
"Rong Yu, Happy New Year to you too." Sheng Ciyuan seemed to find it difficult to broach the subject. He was silent for a good while before hesitantly saying, "Um, do you remember my older brother?"
Rong Yu's mind immediately conjured up those eyes that held little warmth, like glass marbles.
"My brother... he has autism." Sheng Ciyuan sighed. "Sometimes he's just like a child, very unreasonable. Last time, wasn't it that he proactively gave you the key to his collection room? I don't know why, but now he insists on having it back... I know this is really awkward, but I'm truly at my wit's end..."
"This was originally your brother's possession, it's not awkward at all," Rong Yu said with a smile. "Send me your home address, and I'll arrange for someone to courier it over right away."
"I'm sorry, I really didn't expect things to turn out like this," Sheng Ciyuan apologized profusely. "Next time you're in the capital, I'll treat you to a meal to make up for it."
Rong Yu comforted him a few more words.
After hanging up, she took out the key strung on a red cord from her backpack.
She wrapped the key in paper and went downstairs. "Steward Yu, could you please help arrange a fast delivery for something?"
Steward Yu immediately went to handle it.
Duoduo was playing with a puzzle in the living room. Rong Yu walked over to join her, but noticed several sheets of scratch paper scattered on the floor by the sofa, covered densely with formulas, data, and some element names.
Seeing the elements on the paper, she froze for a moment, then reached out and picked them up.
After reading them, she looked up and asked, "Duoduo, are these your Third Uncle's scratch papers that he left here?"
Duoduo nodded. "Third Uncle was just here for some water and put them down."
As she spoke, Ji Mohan walked over, munching on an apple, muttering to himself with a distant look in his eyes. It was obvious a massive hypothetical deduction or calculation was underway in his mind.
Once his gaze returned to normal, Rong Yu picked up the scratch paper and asked, "'Shi'? What element is this?"
"A new element discovered in the Qasa'er Desert, temporarily named 'Shi'," Ji Mohan explained with great interest. "Last year, our team was working on a different project in Qasa'er and accidentally drilled into a special crystalline layer a hundred meters underground. Preliminary analysis showed its chemical structure doesn't match any known minerals. The Materials Research Institute tentatively gave it this name and has already published an internal paper on it. Once the experimental verification is complete, it will be officially announced to the public."
He pulled up the internal paper on his phone and handed it over.
Rong Yu examined it carefully.
This substance had a trigonal crystal system with a unique spiral atomic arrangement.
Its energy conversion efficiency reached 92%, far surpassing existing photovoltaic materials. When exposed to environments above 150 degrees Celsius, micro-cracks on its surface would self-heal...
"I'm currently researching this area," Ji Mohan continued. "The SiO₂ lattice reconstruction rate of 'Shi' is two orders of magnitude lower than traditional materials..."
A storm of astonishment surged in Rong Yu's heart.
She had been analyzing countless substances every day, trying various combinations, yet couldn't meet the requirements for the space environment.
She never expected such an unexpected breakthrough.
"How much of this substance was brought back?" Rong Yu stood up. "Mohan, take me to the Materials Research Institute."
Ji Mohan was currently researching more potential applications of this new material. Seeing his great-grandmother's expression, he knew a new direction had emerged.
Both of them were research fanatics.
Once an idea struck, they couldn't wait to pursue it.
They couldn't bear to wait another moment.
"Great-grandmother, don't rush. Let me book the flights first," he said, pulling out his phone. "The earliest flight is tonight at nine o'clock. Will that work?"
Rong Yu nodded. "That one, then."
As soon as their words fell, Old Master Ji rushed in. "Hold on, Third, it's only the fourth day of the New Year, and you're already egging your great-grandmother on to work? How can you be so annoying?"
Ji Mohan: "..."
What did this have to do with him? Clearly, it was his workaholic great-grandmother who was eager to see the new material.
Duoduo raised her hand. "I can testify, it was Auntie who wanted to work."
"Adults are talking, what's a child doing interrupting?" Old Master Ji, utterly unreasonable, clung to Rong Yu's arm. "I don't care. Wherever you go, I go."
Rong Yu pushed his face away. "So many people are lined up to pay you New Year respects. If you leave, they'll come for nothing. Besides, it's too cold in the capital these days. Your old bones can't take it. What if you catch a cold? Be good, listen, stay home quietly. I'll be back in a few days."
"Great-grandpa is so embarrassing, such a big person still needs Auntie to coax him," Duoduo made a face. "I'm only five, and I already don't cling to Daddy anymore. Great-grandpa should be ashamed."
Old Master Ji: "..."
Being looked down upon by a genuine child really made him lose all face.
He had no choice but to compromise. "Fine then, I'll stay home. Hey, who's that, Old Yu, come quickly and pack the luggage, bring lots of warm clothes..."
Old Master Ji personally saw Rong Yu and Ji Mohan off at the airport.
Ji Mohan had never enjoyed such treatment in all his life.
On the way, Rong Yu contacted Director You of the Fourth Aerospace Institute, explaining the critical nature of the matter. Director You immediately arranged for someone to follow the formal procedures.
By the time the plane landed in the capital, it was already past midnight.
Ji Mohan hailed a taxi and took Rong Yu directly to his place.
He was a rough-and-tumble guy. Although the Ji family provided funds, he didn't think much about it and simply bought a small bachelor apartment.
It only had one bedroom, so he planned to sleep on the living room sofa.
That so-called bedroom was truly a mess—clothes strewn everywhere, dirty sheets, dust all over the floor...
Rong Yu was truly exasperated. "Let's go to your Second Brother's large apartment."
"Great-grandmother, please wait in the living room for a bit," Ji Mohan was also very embarrassed. Who knew a family elder would suddenly descend upon his dwelling? He frantically started gathering clothes. "Give me half an hour—no, twenty minutes, and it'll be fine. It's so late, Great-grandmother should rest early to conserve energy. We can go to Second Brother's place tomorrow."
Rong Yu stood in the living room; there was nowhere to sit.
A faint, unpleasant smell seemed to linger from somewhere.
She endured it for a while but finally couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed Ji Mohan. "Regardless of how late it is, hail a taxi immediately, pack your things, and let's go."
Ji Mohan scratched his head. "Yes, Great-grandmother."
By the time they finally made it to Ji Yanting's large apartment, it was already past one in the morning.
Fortunately, Ji Yanting always had his assistants arrange for regular cleaning, so everywhere was spotless. They washed up and fell into bed asleep.
The author is suffering from cervical spondylosis and has been feeling dizzy and foggy-headed. The doctor advised proper rest. I will strive to maintain three updates per day this month, but will temporarily reduce to two updates per day next month. I'm mentioning this in advance and hope for everyone's understanding.
For readers who can't get enough, you can search for the short drama adaptations of this book. Several versions are available. You can watch them on Tomato or download the Red Fruit Short Drama app to view them. Thank you all for your support.
