Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 193 The Birth of Pi

On the first Friday after the National Day holiday, small stalls were set up along the two widest roads at the main gate of Harbin Institute of Technology.

The enthusiasm of the upperclassmen was second only to that of the registration day. There were not many opportunities left to have a large-scale interaction with the "fragrant and soft" underclassmen, and hormones were once again raging in the air.

Today is recruitment day for the student council and countless clubs.

This is the only way for Zhai Da and Lu Wei to get home. Originally, they planned to take Lu Wei to the Industrial Innovation Center, but Zhai Da stopped and watched for a while when they passed by.

After a moment of contemplation
"After all, we're already here."

As expected, when Chinese people reach a certain age, they will awaken to what they are meant to awaken to.

Larger clubs, such as various sports and arts groups, often have dozens or even hundreds of members, while smaller ones include some niche hobbies.

"Chenghai 3C Club", "Guobao Right Research Club", "Tarot Club Harbin Institute of Technology Branch".
What is this garbage?
While he was speechless, Zhai Da heard someone call his name from behind.

"Zhai Da! You guys came to see the club too?"

Turning my head, I saw a large group of students from the Materials Engineering Class 1. They seemed to have come together after class, a mix of men and women.

Ge Shang looked at Lu Wei and said with a grin and a glib tone, "Hello, Fairy Sister, I'm Zhai Da!"

Zhai Da was taken aback: "What, a celestial beauty?"

"Lu Tianxian! You don't know her?"

With classes officially starting, the mysterious female champion who hadn't participated in military training finally came into everyone's view.

Such a stunningly beautiful girl is hard not to attract attention.

Although she and the top male scholar were always seen together, seemingly already taken, she was still given many descriptions and nicknames by busybodies.

I don't know how it spread, but eventually everything came together and it overlapped with the very popular nickname "Liu Yifei" in recent years, turning into a "Fairy Sister" that Zhai Da found very exaggerated and awkward.

Triple meaning: beautiful, aloof, and a year older than the student repeating a grade (just kidding).

This nickname was active in various QQ groups and school forums, mainly because freshmen were joining in the fun. Zhai Da had never seen anyone call him a lunatic to his face.

Except for Ge Shang.

After hearing the whole story, Zhai Da felt like his toes were about to dig into the ground; the rustic, old-fashioned vibe of the internet was overwhelming.

But then she became curious: "Do I have a nickname?"

"Uh, does 'great writer' count? That's the common appellation."

"Why is it that when it comes to me...it's just average?"

"This is normal? What kind of nickname do you want?"

"For example, 'handsome guy'."

"So rustic."

There were many club booths, and the group dispersed after only a few steps. The students from the Materials Engineering class stopped at various booths according to their interests.

Zhai Da and Lu Wei, on the other hand, were recruited by people as soon as they stood still.

"Zhai, come join our 'Literary Society'!"

"Zhai, our drama club needs you."

"Lu, would you be interested in joining the modeling club?"

Having been seen together for so long, the two are not difficult to identify.

After lingering a little longer, she was spotted by some sharp-eyed upperclassmen, who then launched a strong offensive.

Recruiting two top scorers into their club would undoubtedly be a huge asset, especially for someone like Zhai Da who has already made a name for himself in society.

Maybe it can bring them all to heaven.

Some people go to good universities to build connections, while others are the kind of connections that others want to reach.

The literature club wanted some writers to give them guidance, the drama club wanted Zhai Da to write scripts for them, and even the music club pestered them, hoping that Zhai Da could write lyrics for their novice works.

With Zhai Da around, they might even get lucky and walk straight out of the campus!
Seeing that more and more people were gathering, Zhai Da quickly pulled Lu Wei away and ran until they reached an intersection before daring to stop.

That's ridiculous! The female president of the drama club was practically clinging to his lap just now.
It almost created a situation where three mountains surrounded two basins.

Zhai Da felt he could leave now, but still asked Lu Wei for her opinion: "Anything you're interested in?"

Lu Wei shook her head: "Actually, they're all pretty ordinary."

Yes, ordinary.

University clubs are merely gatherings of enthusiasts, not even "amateur" ones. Young people participate based on their own interests, and what they want is just some fun.

The best writers aren't in the "Literature Club," and the best basketball players aren't in the "Basketball Club."

Even those with the best figures probably don't have time to participate in "modeling clubs".

It could even be the counselor.

Zhai Da shrugged: "Being ordinary is normal. If someone is truly talented, who would want to play house here?"

After seeing it all in person, Zhai Da became even more certain that he wouldn't join the club, but the extracurricular credits were a real concern.

The school's attitude is clear: they have to figure out how to get these credits themselves. They hope that Zhai Da and Lu Wei won't just focus on attending classes and neglect other aspects of university life.

Just as he was about to call Lu Wei home, Zhai Da suddenly noticed that a strand of hair had fallen down from Xiao Mutou's left forehead, making his neat ponytail look a little messy.

Lu Wei noticed it too, her slender fingers tucking a stray strand of hair behind her delicate ear, then she touched the top of her head:

"Hairpins are gone."

It's a very ordinary hair clip, with no decorations other than a few shiny plastic beads, but it's one that Lu Wei has used for several years.
She has always been very frugal.

But looking back at the still chaotic club recruitment site, Zhai Da realized that the chances of finding it were almost zero.

Moreover, if we go back, we'll be sandwiched between three mountains and two basins again.
Zhai Da thought for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Come on, I'll make one for you."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At the Industrial Innovation Center, Zhai Da skillfully swiped his employee badge and led Lu Wei upstairs.

He originally planned to adjust the "wrist card dealer", but now he has a new idea.

"There's a metal 3D printer up there, which can theoretically make anything. How about I make you a small titanium alloy hair clip?"

Lu Wei's big eyes lit up, as if she was looking forward to it.

Zhai Da chuckled and said mysteriously, "I don't have to pay for the materials here. I can make whatever you need at home. Do you want a titanium alloy washbasin?"

Lu Wei's big eyes shone even brighter.

In the 3D printing equipment room, Zhai Da skillfully turned on the desktop computer that was provided and began modeling.

Two hours later, in the metalworking practice room on the first floor, Zhai Da was carefully refining the details.

Titanium alloys are generally considered to be very hard, but their actual characteristics are "lightweight and high strength" and "corrosion and temperature resistance", not hardness. Tungsten steel knives can handle them with ease.

According to Xu Xuejun, in the early days, domestic titanium alloys were "easy to rough-machine but difficult to finish-machine," and parts were basically all machined by hand.

Lu Wei sat quietly reading a book. Since the work she was doing was relatively simple, and worried that Xiao Mutou might be bored, Zhai Da started a conversation.

"By the way, how's the 'sensitivity conjecture' you've been researching going? Have you solved it yet?"

Lu Wei thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's more like a course than a problem, so there's a lot for me to learn."

"Oh, that means it's quite far away."

"But you might also figure it out overnight—that's the charm of mathematics!"

Zhai Da raised his head and looked at Lu Wei with a hint of surprise on his face.

He had actually detected excitement in Lu Wei's tone!
Lu Wei seemed unaware of what was wrong: "What's wrong?"

Zhai Da stared at him for a long time: "It's nothing, I just think you really like math."

He couldn't help but think of Lu Wei in the past, dull and pale, yet she would still occasionally take out her "Mathematical Olympiad Little Series" to look through.

Despite experiencing painful upheavals in his life, he never gave up his passion for mathematics, and he would not be surprised no matter how much Lu Wei achieved in this field.

"I suddenly feel like maybe you can get Fields someday!"

Even Lu Wei knew that Fields was far more distant than the "sensitivity conjecture."

But she is different now; she now has the courage and power to imagine the "future".

After reuniting with Zhai Da.

"Maybe you'll be proud of me?"

Zhai Da smiled and gave a firm answer:

"I'm incredibly proud."

I might consider turning on the "disco lights" at home when I'm studying in the future.

Let's add a touch of metaphysical power to Lu Wei's little dream.

She probably won't object, right?
"By the way, we still need to figure out the extracurricular credits. I reckon we won't be doing a full four years of undergraduate studies; we might get stuck. How about we start our own club?"

According to the plan, the next semester will be for academician training. Given that both of them are talented and accomplished, it's hard to imagine them following the typical four-year university schedule.

It's best to plan ahead.

Lu Wei thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of club?"

"If we want to take it easy, we can find some people we like, gather five people, and form a club to earn credits. I don't think we're the only ones with similar ideas."

Lu Wei seemed to be deep in thought.

What kind of thing is considered pleasing to the eye?

Zhai Da thought for a moment: "A smart person, an interesting person, or a talented person?"

He suddenly thought of Lu Tao, guessing that with Lu Tao's level of social anxiety, he was probably also having trouble with his credits.

After pondering for a while, Zhai Da remembered a novel he had read in his previous life.

"How about calling it 'Genius Club'?"

Lu Wei hesitated, then asked, "Isn't the name a bit too strange?"

To be precise, they were too arrogant.

It's a bit absurd for a club that's just a shell for collecting credits to have this name.

"Then what do you think it should be called? It doesn't matter if it's weird, the Sweet and Sour Pork Research Society already exists."

Inside the room, the only sounds were Zhai Da picking up and putting down his tools, and the banging and hammering.

After a long silence, Lu Wei suddenly spoke:

How about calling it 'π'?

"Pie? Pi?"

"Does that mean there are infinite possibilities?"

Zhai Da's eyes lit up: "Excellent! It's low-key yet sophisticated, more suitable than the 'Genius Club'."

After carefully putting away the tools one by one, Zhai Da said, "I'll ask someone about it on Monday."

He probably has a few candidates in mind; it would be easy to gather five people.

The desk was gradually tidied up, but Lu Wei didn't see the so-called "titanium alloy hair clip," and her expectant eyes gradually turned into a hint of doubt.
Only after Zhai Da had completely finished tidying up did he approach him.

"Little hands."

Lu Wei obediently extended her palm.

Zhai Da blew on the carefully crafted hair clip and placed it on top of it.

"I was originally planning to do a magic trick and put it on you directly, but you wouldn't be able to see it if I put it on, so I'll just give it to you directly."

Because the item was very small and had been hidden by Zhai Da's hands, Lu Wei had never known what the hair clip looked like.

"do you like it?"

Lu Wei was somewhat surprised. She picked it up with her delicate hand and examined it carefully in the setting sun outside the window.

The titanium alloy material was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.

On the hair clip, there is a tiny "Nokia 3310", only the size of a peanut.

Yet it is depicted so vividly with just a few outlines that even the buttons are there.

This was the first gift Zhai Da gave her, and also a "token" that truly established a strong connection between the two.

Lu Wei hasn't changed her phone to this day, and that's why.

Now, she owns the same hair clip.

The light in his eyes grew stronger and stronger, gradually spilling out to the corners of his mouth.

While Lu Wei was admiring the hair clip, Zhai Da was admiring Lu Wei.

Watching Lu Wei's lips curl up little by little.

The amplitude was very slight, and the angle was very subtle.
But it was the first time Zhai Da had ever witnessed Xiao Mutou's smile.

"So beautiful!"

"So beautiful!"

Zhai Da felt as if he had returned to the days when he had just reunited with Lu Wei.

Watching the little wooden figure walk into the bus with a cold and reluctant expression, leaving behind the only light from the streetlights.

If the spring breeze has pity on the flowers, may it grant them a smile again?

(End of this chapter)