The midterm mecha design grades were out. Wang Tianwei opened the public notice and looked.
"A-"
A quite excellent score! Teacher Eugene even left her a comment:
"You are able to proficiently apply various materials and maximize their performance, showing the potential to become an excellent mecha maker. However, the exterior design of your mecha is too casual. It is recommended that you look at more avant-garde mecha design blueprints."
The teacher praised her!!!
But her mecha design was casual? She had clearly drawn inspiration from the most popular sci-fi movie of the year! Who wouldn't want to own a mecha like that!?
But this score was the highest evaluation she had received since the semester began, so a little flaw didn't matter!
So she smugly posted the score and the professional teacher's comments in her family group chat, reaping countless praises from her parents.
When Wang Kaiyu saw it right after his training, he was also happy for her.
"What design blueprint? Send it over for a look."
"It's a secret! I'll bring it home to show you guys after I make it at the end of the semester!"
Wang Tianwei was full of energy. It seemed she hadn't suffered any grievances at Qilin!
"Kaiyu, what news is making you so happy?"
His teammate, Lucas, saw him smiling at his optical computer from afar.
"Nothing."
Wang Kaiyu closed the screen. He hadn't forgotten that this teammate of his had a big mouth, but the curiosity in his heart still made him ask,
"Is it very difficult for a mecha maker to maximize the performance of all materials?"
Lucas thought he was asking him.
"Of course it is! There are so many materials used to make a mecha! If you demand flexibility, it will inevitably suppress stability and safety. If you demand hardness, the overall weight of the mecha will be too high! To assemble the right things in the right positions, and also take into account personal usage habits! This is a very difficult thing to do, okay! Only a truly excellent mecha maker can do it! — Like me... What are you laughing at?"
Hearing him praise Wang Tianwei, Wang Kaiyu felt much more comfortable in his heart.
"Nothing, then you are also an excellent mecha maker."
"...I feel like something is weird, but of course I am! You'll be relying on me for your future mechas, okay! Shouldn't you treat me a little better!?"
"Yes, yes, yes..."
**********
"Sorry, Lyra. I'm already struggling a bit to keep up with the coursework right now. I really don't have the extra energy to participate in whatever competition you mentioned."
"My brother said it's not good to participate in those underground tournaments when our combat styles haven't even taken shape yet. I think you should reconsider it too, Lyra."
"I don't want to go. Thanks for the invitation."
"Not interested."
Zhang Lyra pressed her lips tightly together and lowered her right hand.
Yes, the bounty mecha tournaments were mostly attended by people in society. Even if there were students, they were at least juniors or seniors about to graduate.
Freshmen like them should indeed focus on their studies...
But in her inbox lay an email from her younger sister... Shirley didn't have her own optical computer yet and could only contact her using a handheld console their father had discarded.
In the past, she would always ask how the school was, if it was pretty, and questions like that.
But this time she said she missed her, and also said she didn't want to drink nutrient solutions anymore, asking if she could eat real food when she came back?
...The cheapest thing in the Federation was nutrient solution, which could meet the basic needs of humans.
It was just that demi-humans like them had a high consumption rate, so they easily felt hungry if they only drank nutrient solutions.
High-grade ones, like the type Wang Tianwei and the others drank, could guarantee a sufficient nutritional supply even with the consumption rate of military academy students.
Wang Tianwei had once slipped her a pack. It tasted great and kept her full of energy for half a day! It also reduced the frequency of her bathroom breaks.
But the price... could cover her meals at the school cafeteria for a whole day using the student discount.
She had clearly received Qilin's scholarship, and except for necessary expenses, she had transferred all of it to her mother. Yet her sister said they were drinking the most ordinary nutrient solutions at home... That money had probably been used to pay off debts.
She herself didn't have to worry about food and clothing at school; the cafeteria prices were fair, and she had school uniforms and training clothes. But her mother and sister didn't!
Shirley hadn't started school yet. What if she couldn't keep up her nutrition? What demi-humans took the most pride in was their physical stamina...
Her mother was getting older, going to work at the factory every day while also taking care of her father, whose mental power had collapsed on the battlefield... She urgently needed money!
The coursework at Qilin was very busy, and fighting in tournaments would inevitably take up students' personal time.
But as a demi-human military academy student, the ways she could find to make money were really limited. When she entered Qilin, she thought that as a single-soldier combatant, she could participate in tournaments in her junior or senior year, win a few more matches to improve her family's life, and her father could also receive better medical treatment...
But thinking of the email her sister sent, she really couldn't wait until her junior or senior year...
"Lyra didn't come to eat lunch again today?"
Wang Tianwei held her food tray and searched the cafeteria, but didn't see the figure of the red-haired bear demi-human.
Jian Jingyu carefully set down his food tray.
"Yeah, it's been four days since we ran into her, right? But she always comes to class on time. Maybe she bought nutrient solutions or went to another cafeteria?"
Wang Tianwei doubted this. Although Qilin had three cafeterias, the first cafeteria could be said to be the most cost-effective!
The other two cafeterias mostly sold snacks and junk food, and Lyra generally didn't go there...
But it was also possible that she bought a batch of nutrient solutions? She would find time to ask her in the afternoon.
Huang Yan was still sitting in front of the two, biting on a tube of nutrient solution while flipping through a book.
Wang Tianwei looked at his serious demeanor.
"Your command department is also having midterms recently, right? How is it?"
Huang Yan didn't even take his eyes off the book.
"We are tested on sandbox simulations, wheel battles... We only just finished the exam this afternoon."
Jian Jingyu couldn't help but reveal a look of admiration.
Sandbox simulations! And wheel battles! God destined him not to be a commander!
Wang Tianwei also felt a headache just hearing it. She pulled a pack of nutrient solution from her pocket and handed it over.
"Drink this... It's good for the brain."
Huang Yan took it and looked at it. It was still the simplest packaging, obviously not on the market yet.
"Yida Technology has researched a lot of new products recently, huh? Targeted at military academy students?"
Wang Tianwei, as usual, gave Jian Jingyu a pack too, and then started to eat heartily.
"Targeted at me... You guys know, I urgently need to grow taller and nourish my brain... My mom just had someone develop these two types of nutrient solutions. They seem to be somewhat useful to drink. What do you guys think?"
Huang Yan stuffed the nutrient solution into his pocket. He wasn't like these two who drank nutrient solutions like water...
Jian Jingyu thought for a moment.
"It's useful. My physical combat level has been very stable recently, and my head doesn't hurt as much in Yama Chao's class."
Huang Yan then said,
"My data is inaccurate because I'm also taking other medicines. But the taste is good."
Wang Tianwei nodded her head vaguely.
The nutrient solutions sent to her from home had to pass the strictest inspections, so there would absolutely be no problems with the quality.
Her parents also said that this batch of nutrient solutions would be on the market in a while, and they were currently choosing the packaging.
However, getting the approval of these two was still pretty good. She had no other hobbies, just loved to show off...
