Lu Jiaojiao was dressed in a white lab coat, wearing glasses, appearing scholarly and meticulous.
She had only learned yesterday that the Fourth Aerospace Institute had applied to jointly research the new substance "Shi" with the Materials Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The employee sent by the Fourth Aerospace Institute was actually Rong Yu.
And the researcher from the Materials Institute assigned to interface with them was Ji Mohan.
She pushed her glasses up and spoke with a smile: "I have been in charge of the research on 'Shi' all along, so I'm relatively familiar with it. Professor Li asked me to participate in this collaboration project with the Aerospace Institute to help move things along faster. Miss Rong, I hope we have a pleasant cooperation."
Rong Yu glanced at her ID badge—Senior Researcher.
She nodded: "We are short-handed, so thank you for your assistance, Researcher Lu."
Lu Jiaojiao's smile stiffened.
Why did she feel that Rong Yu had an air of superiority, as if granting her permission to join?
She had specifically asked around. Rong Yu was an assistant to a Professor Lin at the Fourth Research Institute, and she had also heard that Rong Yu was only a high school student with no official rank.
How could someone like that try to act superior to her?
Just as she was about to speak, she saw Ji Mohan walking over from the end of the corridor.
Seeing him, Lu Jiaojiao felt a bit guilty and lowered her head, pretending to organize the documents in her hands.
Ji Mohan glanced at her.
He had just been called over by Professor Li, who informed him that Lu Jiaojiao would also participate in this collaborative project with the Fourth Aerospace Institute.
Lu Jiaojiao had hit a wall with him, and then immediately turned to Professor Li.
Professor Li was the laboratory director and had the authority to make such arrangements. As a junior researcher, he could only comply.
"In which areas is Researcher Lu proficient?" Rong Yu had already automatically shifted into work mode. She put on her lab coat as she asked, "Sample preparation, instrument operation, data recording, theoretical support, or safety control?"
Lu Jiaojiao was taken aback.
A high school student who dabbled in the entertainment industry actually knew the detailed division of labor in a laboratory so well?
And why was it Rong Yu questioning her?
Shouldn't it be her questioning Rong Yu?
However, before she could speak, Ji Mohan answered for her: "Jiaojiao is proficient in instrument operation and can handle safety control. I will handle sample preparation and data recording and analysis."
He put on his gloves and had already started retrieving samples.
Rong Yu was also repeatedly confirming the overall experimental plan.
Lu Jiaojiao wore an expression of disbelief.
How could such an important experiment be led by Rong Yu? On what grounds?
If these precious materials were wasted, could Rong Yu bear the responsibility?
But no one answered her doubts.
Rong Yu's cold voice came through: "Researcher Lu, it's time to check the instruments and start them up. Pay attention to safety."
Her command made Lu Jiaojiao obey almost involuntarily. She put on her gloves and began preparing for the experiment earnestly.
Although her abilities were somewhat lacking, she was still among the more outstanding of her generation. Even relying solely on herself, she would eventually be promoted to senior rank. But because she was too eager to prove herself, she had borrowed Ji Mohan's help...
When she immersed herself in work, her attitude was beyond reproach.
With an extra helper, Rong Yu also felt much more at ease.
After who knows how long, the experiment finally concluded.
Lu Jiaojiao thought it was still afternoon, but when she looked outside, it was already dark—past nine o'clock at night.
She had actually been so influenced by Rong Yu's presence that she became completely immersed in her work, forgot to eat lunch, and had been busy until now.
Although, the feeling of being absorbed in work was quite good.
But—
She, a senior researcher, had been ordered around by a high school student who dabbled in the entertainment industry.
More crucially, she discovered that Rong Yu actually had some real substance. Sometimes, she, a senior researcher, couldn't even keep up with Rong Yu's train of thought.
After Rong Yu and Ji Mohan left the laboratory,
Lu Jiaojiao still needed to review the entire experimental process to fully understand the logic.
When she finally walked out of the lab, a few colleagues were still working overtime and casually greeted her: "Leaving so late? How's the experiment progress?"
Lu Jiaojiao smiled and said: "With Mohan here, there's nothing to worry about. And Rong Yu, arranged by the Fourth Aerospace Institute, is quite diligent and was a great help."
"What help can a celebrity be?" a mid-level researcher said. "I think this starlet is treating our Materials Institute as a stage for her show. Who knows how she'll boast about her own contributions later."
"Don't say that," Lu Jiaojiao interjected. "The fact that Rong Yu can be the spokesperson for China's aerospace industry shows she truly has capability. Those who can come to a place like ours are no simple individuals."
The mid-level researcher looked incredulous: "She... she has connections, right?"
Lu Jiaojiao pushed her glasses up: "Stop speculating about others. I'm heading off now, see you tomorrow."
As soon as Rong Yu and Ji Mohan returned to the large penthouse,
a video call from the old son came through. She picked up an apple, lazily leaned back on the sofa, and then answered the call: "Yingbao, didn't I tell you, I..."
"Xiao Yu!"
Old Master Ji loudly called her name, cutting her off.
Only then did she notice that in the video, besides the old man's face, there were also two younger faces.
It was actually Sheng Ciyuan.
And Sheng Ciyuan's older brother with autism.
Rong Yu immediately sat up straight: "Classmate Sheng, you and your brother, why are you at the Ji family home?"
Sheng Ciyuan wore an expression of being at a loss for words.
After he called Rong Yu that day, Rong Yu had express-mailed the key to the Sheng family in Beijing.
He thought his older brother wanted the key.
But, his brother kept staring at the address on the express delivery packaging.
His brother couldn't communicate or interact. He went through great effort to guess that perhaps his brother wanted to go to the place on the express delivery.
He had almost risked his life... hiding it from the family, secretly taking his brother out.
The address showed a certain road and number. When they arrived, they discovered it was actually a vast private estate.
The Sheng family had some background, so he had someone investigate.
This was the old manor of the Ji family, one of the four major families in Haicheng.
But he didn't know why Rong Yu would be living here.
When they reached the estate gate, his brother acted as if stunned, standing dazedly at the main entrance, staring at the lintel, gazing at the eaves, looking at the ancient towering trees. His glass-like eyes were pitch black, like unfathomable ancient pools.
He had no idea what his brother was thinking.
After knocking on the Ji family's door and introducing themselves, the butler led them to see Old Master Ji.
As a result, the moment his brother saw Old Master Ji, it was as if he had been hit by a immobilizing spell, just staring blankly.
Old Master Ji frowned deeply.
One of these two, the younger one, had participated in a competition with his mother, so they were somewhat acquainted.
The other looked about twenty-three or twenty-four, very tall, with a cold countenance. Especially his eyes—they stared straight at a person, unmoving, not even blinking, making one's scalp tingle.
"Old Master Ji, I apologize," Sheng Ciyuan said softly. "My older brother has autism. I beg for your understanding. Could I please speak with Rong Yu for a moment?"
Old Master Ji handed the phone over.
Sheng Ciyuan said, "Rong Yu, it seems my elder brother... wishes to see you again."
