After using her eyes to force the persistent researcher to back off, Liu Yi’an looked toward the front of the hall again. By then, Deputy Director Li had already hurried over with a broad smile plastered across his face, enthusiastically exchanging pleasantries with the stern-looking military officer serving as the deputy. “Deputy Officer Chen, welcome, welcome! And for Commander Zhou to come here in person as well it truly honors our research institute!”
The officer known as “Deputy Officer Chen” remained expressionless and merely gave a slight nod. He then stepped aside, revealing the tall commanding officer behind him, who had remained silent all this time, his face still obscured by the shadows of the crowd. The commanding officer did not speak. He simply swept his calm gaze across the hall. The invisible pressure carried by that gaze quickly silenced the previously somewhat noisy hall.
All inquiries and conversations with people outside their immediate group were handled by Deputy Officer Chen on his behalf.
Deputy Officer Chen’s voice was steady, yet carried a cold, strictly businesslike edge. “Deputy Director Li, I’ve heard that the institute has achieved remarkable results recently. Commander Zhou has come today specifically to learn more about your work, particularly… your progress in optimizing the high-temperature resistance of aerospace materials.” His gaze seemed to casually, yet deliberately, sweep over Wei Qing.
Deputy Director Li hurriedly ushered Wei Qing to the front. “Yes, yes, exactly! This is Director Wei Qing, one of our institute’s directors. Her recent research has focused precisely on this area! Qingqing, quickly brief Deputy Officer Chen and Commander Zhou!”
Wei Qing forced herself to remain composed and stepped forward. The smile she managed to put on looked somewhat stiff as she began reciting the prepared speech she had long since memorized. “Deputy Officer Chen, Commander Zhou, my research primarily focuses on the mechanisms of high-temperature-resistant coatings for new composite materials…”
As she spoke, her eyes kept drifting toward the silent commanding officer, clearly hoping to gain his attention. However, Commander Zhou merely listened quietly, his features still blurred by the interplay of light and shadow, without saying a word.
After listening for only a few sentences, Deputy Officer Chen interrupted her directly and posed several highly technical and pointed questions, targeting the weak points in her core derivations and experimental verification. Wei Qing’s face grew paler and paler, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. Her answers were fragmented and incoherent, with one statement contradicting another.
Deputy Director Li was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, constantly interrupting to offer explanations.
“Deputy Officer Chen, Director Wei wasn’t feeling well recently and was only discharged from the hospital not long ago. Some of the details may…”
“Being unwell means she can produce a research report that has received ‘high recognition’?”
Deputy Officer Chen did not raise his voice, but the skepticism in his words instantly left Deputy Director Li speechless. He instinctively glanced again at the silent Commander Zhou. The latter still showed no reaction, but his silence itself felt like an invisible pressure.
Then Deputy Officer Chen changed tack and brought up the fire that had occurred not long before, his tone stern.
“We also heard that your institute recently suffered a serious fire accident, in which a researcher was seriously injured and important research materials were destroyed. Deputy Director Li, have the institute’s safety management measures and accident investigation been properly handled? Is there any possibility of human negligence or other problems?”
Cold sweat covered Deputy Director Li’s forehead, and he could only repeatedly assure him that corrective measures were already underway.
Deputy Officer Chen did not seem satisfied. He looked at Deputy Director Li again and spoke clearly.
“We’ve also noticed that there appears to be a dispute over overlapping research results concerning high-temperature-resistant materials at your institute. Given the current circumstances, Commander Zhou believes it is necessary to conduct an independent assessment of the actual capabilities of the researchers involved.”
He paused. This time, his gaze clearly swept toward the direction where Liu Yi’an was standing. Although Liu Yi’an could not tell whether he had actually seen her, his words nevertheless struck directly at the heart of the matter.
“Therefore, we recommend that the researchers involved in the dispute independently prepare and submit brand-new, complete research project reports within one week. The institute and the military will jointly organize the review at that time, so that the truth can be established and the matter properly clarified.”
Deputy Director Li’s face went deathly pale. He knew this was no longer a suggestion, but an unquestionable order. He immediately turned toward the crowd and announced loudly.
“Yes, Deputy Officer Chen is absolutely right! Wei Qing, Liu Yi’an, the two of you will each submit a new research project one week from now! The institute and the military will jointly evaluate them!”
From within the crowd, Liu Yi’an calmly replied:
“Fine.”
Wei Qing’s face had turned ashen as she struggled to say:
“Yes.”
It seemed that the matter had been settled. At that moment, Commander Zhou, who had remained silent throughout, gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Deputy Officer Chen understood immediately and said something to Deputy Director Li. Deputy Director Li quickly nodded, then began urgently scanning the crowd. He soon spotted Liu Yi’an, his expression a mixture of urgency and the look of someone about to assign her a task. He raised his hand and was about to call her over clearly, Deputy Officer Chen or Commander Zhou had likely asked for Liu Yi’an, as the “person involved” or the “researcher required to submit a new project,” to accompany them or provide some clarification.
At the exact moment Deputy Director Li raised his hand and was about to open his mouth, Liu Yi’an did not hesitate. Taking advantage of several colleagues standing in front of her, she shifted sideways and quickly slipped toward the nearest side door, like a drop of water merging into the sea, disappearing silently from the hall.
Inside the hall.
Deputy Director Li walked over to Deputy Officer Chen and Commander Zhou with an ingratiating smile.
“Deputy Officer Chen, Commander Zhou, regarding some background information about the new research project, we could have Researcher Liu Yi’an explain it briefly. She probably hasn’t gone far…”
Deputy Officer Chen did not answer immediately. Instead, he first glanced at the commanding officer beside him.
Zhou Yuping’s gaze had already fallen on the spot where Liu Yi’an had been standing, which was now empty. His eyes then shifted toward the slightly swaying side door, and deep within his eyes flickered an extremely faint, almost imperceptible glimmer something that could have been surprise, or perhaps a hint of amusement at something he had expected.
Deputy Officer Chen understood the meaning conveyed by his superior’s silence. He turned to Deputy Director Li, his tone returning to its usual calmness.
“No need. Just proceed with the arrangements we agreed upon earlier. Deputy Director Li, please continue showing us the other key areas.”
Deputy Director Li was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly replied, “Yes, yes, of course. This way, please. This way.”
The next day.
Liu Yi’an stood at the entrance of the military district’s fire station, looking at the gray-and-white building in front of her.
An old soldier poked his head out of the guardhouse. “Comrade, who are you looking for?”
“I’m looking for Zhou Yuping.”
The old soldier looked her up and down. “Commander Zhou isn’t here. He’s out on a mission.”
Liu Yi’an nodded and was about to turn around when a familiar voice came from behind her.
“Wait.”
She turned around.
Zhou Yuping walked out from inside wearing a training uniform, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to thank you.” Liu Yi’an looked at him. “For what happened yesterday.”
Zhou Yuping wiped the sweat from his face. “It was nothing.”
“It may have been nothing to you, but to me, it was a lifesaving favor.” Liu Yi’an spoke seriously.
Zhou Yuping was silent for a few seconds. “Come inside.”
He led her into the reception room, poured her a glass of water, and handed it to her.
“Have you decided on your new research project?”
Liu Yi’an took the glass. “Yes.”
“What field?”
“Optimizing the high-temperature resistance of aerospace materials.” Liu Yi’an answered calmly,
“I’ve been researching this for a long time, so I have some groundwork to build on.”
Zhou Yuping’s eyes flickered. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“This field is very difficult. One week isn’t enough.”
“It’s enough.” Liu Yi’an tightened her grip on the glass. “I know what I’m doing.”
Zhou Yuping looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
This woman was more confident and assured than he had imagined.
“If you need help, just tell me,” he suddenly said.
Liu Yi’an looked up and met his deep, dark eyes.
“Why are you helping me?”
Zhou Yuping didn’t answer. He simply stood up. “It’s getting late. I’ll take you home.”
Liu Yi’an didn’t ask any further.
Some things didn’t need to be spelled out.
At the Fu family’s old residence.
Fu Yanchen’s father pushed open the door, his face livid.
“Where’s Yanchen?”
The butler hurried forward. “Second Young Master is in the study.”
Fu Yanchen’s father strode upstairs and kicked open the study door.
“Dad?” Fu Yanchen looked up. “Why are you back?”
“If I hadn’t come back, were you planning to completely disgrace the Fu family?” his father demanded angrily.
Fu Yanchen frowned. “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean?” His father sneered. “You think I don’t know about what happened to Liu Yi’an?”
Fu Yanchen’s expression changed.
“Academic fraud, setting fire to the laboratory and you actually helped Wei Qing do such a thing?” His father slapped him across the face. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Fu Yanchen covered his face. “Dad, things aren’t the way you think…”
“Not the way I think?” His father interrupted. “Then what way are they? Tell me!”
Fu Yanchen gritted his teeth. “I only wanted to help my sister-in-law…”
“Help her?” His father slapped him again. “Do you know who Liu Yi’an’s parents were?”
Fu Yanchen froze.
“Her parents were senior officials in the national space administration. Back then, they were escorting top-secret data to Beijing when they were killed by an insider.” Fu Yanchen’s father’s voice turned cold. “The organization has been investigating the culprit all this time. They’ve never given up.”
“Liu Yi’an is the orphan of national martyrs. If you lay a hand on her, you’re asking for trouble!”
Fu Yanchen’s face went deathly pale.
He had never known that Liu Yi’an had such a background.
“What do we do now?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“What do we do?” His father sneered. “Marry her.”
“What?” Fu Yanchen jerked his head up.
“Marry her immediately.” His father’s tone brooked no argument. “Only then can we silence the rumors and let the people above us see the Fu family’s stance.”
“I refuse!” Fu Yanchen shouted angrily. “I don’t like her!”
“You don’t like her?” His father mocked him. “Then who do you like? Wei Qing?”
Fu Yanchen was rendered speechless.
“You dare set your sights on your elder brother’s widow?” His father’s eyes were cold. “Yanchen, I really think you’ve gone insane.”
“I haven’t…”
“Good. You’d better not have.” His father cut him off. “Tomorrow, I’m going to the Liu family to propose the marriage. You’ll obediently prepare for the wedding.”
“Dad!”