I built an armada.

After closing the office door, Su Dingping relaxed his body and leaned back in his chair.

He rubbed his temples.

Even if he were slow to notice, he should have realized something was wrong when he saw Guo Xueyun like this.

However, Guo Xueyun's actions were entirely within the rules, without the slightest transgression.

This made it really difficult for him to speak.

Su Dingping closed his eyes.

But the faint light in Guo Xueyun's eyes floated into his mind.

Su Dingping had never seen such a light before, or perhaps he had, but he had never paid any attention to it.

This time, however, the light seemed to carry a slightly different feeling.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking it."

Su Dingping rubbed his nose, putting the matter behind him, and immersed himself in his research.

The joint meeting was a great success, and Guo Xueyun's explanation was very clear and well-organized.

Even when faced with slightly sharp criticism, she handled it with great grace.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't targeting Guo Xueyun, it's just a routine question.

However, researchers in science and engineering tend to be straightforward; they say yes or no, never beating around the bush.

That's why it seems a little sharp.

Su Dingping was naturally seated in the main seat, but he remained silent most of the time.

Occasionally, at a few key points, make a brief summary or ask follow-up questions.

After the meeting concluded and the plan was approved, the next step was to proceed to the preparation phase for wind tunnel testing.

After the meeting, Su Dingping called Guo Xueyun over.

"Engineer Guo... Xiaoyun, come with me to the Materials Research Institute this afternoon."

Upon hearing Su Dingping shout that, a look of surprise appeared on Guo Xueyun's face.

The little voice in her mind silently pumped her fist and gave herself a thumbs-up.

"What's wrong?"

However, Guo Xueyun pretended to remain calm on the surface.

"The research institute has encountered a bottleneck in its research on new composite materials and may need to fly to us to provide some data."

Su Dingping was completely unaware of the slight elation in Guo Xueyun's heart.

"Okay, Mr. Su."

Guo Xueyun nodded. "What documents do I need to prepare?"

"Take what I've explained today and I'll wait for you in the garage."

……

The materials research institute is not far from them, only about a ten-minute drive away.

Su Dingping was driving, while Guo Xueyun was sitting in the passenger seat.

Guo Xueyun couldn't help but feel a little excited, because this was the first time they had spent a long time alone in a confined space.

She even sensed a hint of ambiguity in the atmosphere.

The somewhat enclosed space of a train carriage is a great opportunity to bring two people closer together.

Guo Xueyun simply didn't have time to think about those messy things right now.

Because it is a closed research base, there are very few pedestrians along the way.

There were hardly any researchers walking around outside.

The world was completely silent, except for the whirring of car engines.

The roadside scenery is a bit bleak in late autumn in the north.

Are you settling in well with the food and accommodations here?

"The weather here is a bit dry, quite different from where you used to live. Will you be able to adapt?"

Guo Xueyun smiled.

"Over the years, I've traveled all over the country, from the far north to the far south. The weather here is a bit different from other places, but I've managed to adapt."

"As for the food... our base's chefs are so skilled, how could there be anything we're not used to?"

"On the contrary, it is you, Dingping..."

Guo Xueyun's tone suddenly softened.

"Can your body really handle staying up all night like this all the time?"

"Work is work, and life is life. You should take better care of your health."

Su Dingping shook his head repeatedly.

"It's okay, I'm already used to this kind of life."

“During the critical phase of the project, it was common for me to stay up for several nights in a row.”

Guo Xueyun disagreed with Su Dingping's statement.

“In the past, time was tight and tasks were heavy, but now, compared to before, the tasks are not as heavy.”

"I know what you're thinking. The sooner we finish the task, the more confident we'll be."

"But that's not how you calculate it."

Guo Xueyun said very seriously.

"Did you know? Your brain is the most precious asset we all possess."

"Scientific research has found that persistent sleep deprivation can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, disrupt hormone secretion, and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes."

"Most importantly, it is highly likely to trigger or aggravate mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, and in old age, it may even greatly increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease."

"If you can live smoothly to the age of 80, still walking briskly and eating well, that is the country's most valuable asset."

"Even if you can't fight on the front line of scientific research by then, you can still train batches of new researchers for our country."

"So your top priority is to adjust your schedule, protect your health, and think about your long-term future."

Guo Xueyun smiled slightly.

"How old are you now? You have a long research career ahead of you, 30 years? 50 years?"

"If someone dies young because they don't take care of their health, that would be the greatest loss."

At this point, Guo Xueyun winked playfully and made a joke.

"As a top-notch scientist, you shouldn't be such a short-sighted person, right?"

Su Dingping made a gesture of surrender.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging me, Master. I'm really scared of you."

"I will definitely take better care of my health from now on!"

"Verbal promises aren't very convincing. I'll keep an eye on you when I have time."

"Especially at the end of the study."

The two people were brought closer by this conversation, and their previous identities were no longer relevant.

However, the two were old classmates who had known each other for many years, but they hadn't seen each other for quite some time.

The conversation naturally turned to technology.

There were occasional brief silences during the breaks in the discussion.

But this silence didn't make either of them feel awkward.

Only strangers who aren't particularly close will feel awkward when they're in the same enclosed space with nothing to say to each other.

But the relationship between the two has long since transcended the level of ordinary friends.

As for the current situation... Guo Xueyun didn't mention it, and Su Dingping naturally wouldn't think in that direction.

After a brief silence, Guo Xueyun suddenly spoke. "Are you under a lot of pressure at work?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Guo Xueyun regretted them.

I feel it might be a bit presumptuous of me to ask this question so suddenly.

"got used to."

Su Dingping gave his answer.

Is the pressure immense? To be honest, even Su Dingping doesn't know.

On the one hand, he knew that even without him, this generation of researchers would eventually be able to develop the things he had envisioned.

His arrival merely accelerated this process.

On the one hand, seeing the country having to endure humiliation abroad, Su Dingping couldn't help but urge himself on.

Faster, faster!
Even if it only allows our people to hold their heads high among the nations of the world a year earlier, Su Dingping would feel that his trip was worthwhile.

However, his results far exceeded his own expectations.

Not only did they bring out so many new technologies ahead of time, but they even ventured into areas that Longxia in his previous life had not yet reached.

To be honest, Su Dingping certainly felt a sense of pride.

But he knew that wasn't enough, far from enough.

When he had achieved his biggest goal, Su Dingping suddenly realized that this was not his ultimate pursuit at all.

Limiting one's vision to the small planet Earth is far too simplistic.

Compared to the vast universe, Earth is nothing, and humanity on Earth is even less significant.

As for the Eagle Tribe, to be honest, Su Dingping didn't really care about the Eagle Tribe.

Because Su Dingping knew that the decline of the Eagle Tribe was a foregone conclusion and would not change.

His real opponent was not the Eagle Tribe, or rather, the Eagle Tribe was only his opponent at this stage.

Su Dingping felt that his real goal should be set on the stars and the sea.

Perhaps, in his lifetime, he will be fortunate enough to personally visit Mars and see what that dark red planet is like.
Or consider those space elevators and Dyson spheres that exist only in science fiction works—can they actually be manufactured in reality?
Of course, the Eagle Tribe will not give up easily during this process and will definitely fight against Longxia again.

All he had to do was move forward, forward, and forward again!
Guo Xueyun turned her head to look at him, and Su Dingping's eyes seemed to contain an entire galaxy.

"You are a hero, a hero of our Longxia..."

He is also the goal I strive to reach and... a hero!
Guo Xueyun didn't say the second half of the sentence aloud, but silently recited it in her heart.

Su Dingping glanced at her.

"I am not a hero. I am just an ordinary person standing on the shoulders of giants, who just happened to have a little bit of luck."

"The real heroes are every ordinary person who strives to live a good life, every researcher who stays up all night with me, and the senior scientists who give up a comfortable life to return to China."

Su Dingping gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Compared to these people, I am nothing at all."

“I have never encountered any difficulties in my life. The country has arranged everything for me. I don’t need to worry about food, clothing, housing, or anything else.”

"The treatment is so good, even if I haven't rested well, they will send someone to pay special attention to my mental health..."

Su Dingping didn't really think he was anything special; he was just one in a million lucky people.

Guo Xueyun looked at Su Dingping with some surprise.

She never imagined that Su Dingping would think that way.

It seems we still don't know enough about Su Dingping.

"Dingping..."

……

The meeting at the research institute did not proceed particularly smoothly.

The people here have brought out a new type of carbon fiber-ceramic matrix composite material.

Based on the data on paper, both the strength and heat resistance meet the standards.

However, when simulating high-frequency dynamic loads, microcrack propagation problems emerged.

"We need more precise experimental data."

An elderly academician with gray hair in the materials group said "Like".

"The data you provided before was far too ideal. We must take into account the extreme conditions that may be encountered in actual flight."

Guo Xueyun was prepared and presented the data she had brought.

The old academician looked at the data carefully and couldn't help but mutter, "This boundary... is very stringent."

The old academician couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Your data requirements were so lenient before, but now they've become so strict. Isn't this just making things difficult for us?"

"So this is just the boundary."

Su Dingping continued.

"Good material properties lead to good applications, while poor material properties lead to poor designs."

“During the initial design phase, we considered extreme scenarios as much as possible, but under hypersonic conditions, the required strength was far below our needs.”

"This data is from our recent experiments."

"If we can't solve the materials issue, then we'll have to sacrifice some performance, which means..."

"The potential of the Black Bird might be... less than satisfactory."

Of course, this so-called "not quite satisfactory" only applies to Su Dingping's high standards.

Even with current materials, if applied to the Xuan Bird, its performance would astound the world.

Unfortunately, while other countries in the world are still working on fifth-generation fighters, China has already developed a sixth-generation fighter.

Even if this is not a fully realized sixth-generation fighter jet, the gap between two generations of aircraft is enough to make people despair.

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

"I have to say, if you're solely focused on performance, there might be some minor safety issues..."

I want both.

Su Dingping said calmly, but his tone contained an undeniable air of authority.

"We need time."

The old academician finally spoke slowly.

"Furthermore, we require you to share all kinds of experimental data with us at all times."

"That's how it should be."

Su Dingping nodded.

"From now on, I will have someone send you the experimental data as soon as possible."

After exchanging ideas with the senior academicians for several hours, Su Dingping and Guo Xueyun finally embarked on their return journey.

Unlike when I came in the afternoon, as evening approached, I could see groups of researchers taking a leisurely stroll along the way.

However, both of them were quite tired at this point, so they spoke even less.

It was already very late when we got back to the base.

Of course, the cafeteria was not closed, and some experienced chefs remained on duty.

Considering that some researchers work late into the night and are exhausted, they inevitably get hungry, so experienced staff members wait for them until very late every night.

The cafeteria also offers late-night snacks.

A bowl of steaming hot noodles on an autumn night is undoubtedly the ultimate enjoyment.

The two of them, without any regard for their image, slurped down a large bowl of noodles. After finishing his meal, Su Dingping still felt a little unsatisfied, so he added a braised chicken leg to his plate.

"Phew... I'm so full."

Guo Xueyun let out a burp, completely lacking in decorum, but immediately realized her current appearance was somewhat inappropriate, and her face flushed slightly. (End of Chapter)