Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

Lin Xiuhe stood at the laboratory door, the soy milk in her hand no longer hot.

She looked at Zhou Zhiyuan. "How do you know it failed before?"

Zhou Zhiyuan stood outside the door, his shoes not crossing the threshold.

"First, bring the person in charge down."

Lin Xiuhe gripped the door frame.

"You've made me wait again."

"This time, it's not about waiting."

Zhou Zhiyuan looked at the laboratory behind her.

"You have to get to that position first."

Lin Xiuhe stared at him for a long time.

"it is good."

"Once I'm on the platform, don't try to stop me with 'later' again."

-

The third day after the start of the second phase of the Enlightenment Project.

The atmosphere in the entire automation building had clearly changed. People were discussing the Qiming Project in the corridors, laboratories, and even the cafeteria.

As everyone knows, the person in charge will ultimately be chosen from among three people.

Lin Xiuhe. Li Mingyuan. Zhao Guodong.

Any one of these names is eye-catching enough.

In the afternoon in the lab, Zhao Guodong had already revised the structure three times, and the table was piled high with scrap paper.

Li Mingyuan glanced at it as he passed by and frowned: "It's been overturned again?"

"Um."

"This is the third time."

"So?" Zhao Guodong didn't even look up, continuing to write the formula.

Li Mingyuan remained silent for two seconds, and ultimately said nothing.

Because he knew that Zhao Guodong was that kind of person—he wouldn't turn back even if he hit a brick wall.

Nine o'clock in the evening.

Most of the people in the lab had left. Zhao Guodong was still there.

The lamplight cast a long shadow over him. A cold lunchbox sat untouched on the table.

The draft paper is filled with numbers, then crossed out. Rewritten, then crossed out again. The cycle repeats endlessly.

After an unknown amount of time, the laboratory door was pushed open.

Lin Xiuhe walked in, holding documents in her hand.

Seeing that he was still there, she was slightly taken aback: "Didn't you go back?"

"Soon."

"This is what you said three hours ago."

Zhao Guodong finally looked up, his eyes bloodshot and he looked tired: "You have a really good memory."

Lin Xiuhe walked to the table, picked up a draft at random, glanced at it, and slowly frowned.

Because she discovered that Zhao Guodong was doing something very risky. He wanted to completely refactor the optimization process.

If successful, the project's performance will improve by at least one level. If it fails, all previous work will be wasted.

"Are you crazy?" she asked directly.

Zhao Guodong did not deny it: "Maybe."

"worth?"

"It's worth it." The answer was given without the slightest hesitation.

After a few seconds, Lin Xiuhe asked, "Why?"

Zhao Guodong looked down at the blueprints, remaining silent for a long time. So long that Lin Xiuhe thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, he suddenly spoke up: "Because I don't want to lose."

"Who did you lose to?"

"Everyone."

The window was pushed by the wind, and the glass rattled softly.

Zhao Guodong smiled, but without his usual sharpness: "My dad used to say that people are different. Some people are born at the finish line. Some people run as fast as they can, but they still can't catch up."

Lin Xiuhe listened quietly without interrupting.

"I didn't accept it when I was a kid. But later I realized he was right." Zhao Guodong looked out the window, his voice calm. "Li Mingyuan has a study at home, teachers, and he's been taught since he was little. You, on the other hand, are even more amazing. You got first place in your major."

"Only I am different."

Zhao Guodong crumpled the paper into a ball, then unfolded it again. "I can only try again and again."

Lin Xiuhe looked at the crumpled and unfolded draft paper. It turned out that what he was fighting for was never just a ranking.

"So what are you trying to prove?" she asked.

Zhao Guodong was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It proves that hard work pays off."

One sentence left Lin Xiuhe stunned.

Because she suddenly remembered herself from a past life. Actually, they were very similar—neither of them wanted to accept their fate, and both believed that hard work could change things. They just expressed it differently.

The next day. Project team meeting.

Zhao Guodong handed in the revised plan. Everyone was stunned, including Li Mingyuan.

Because compared to before, it's almost like a completely different approach. It's bolder, more complex, and more excellent.

The discussion in the conference room lasted a full hour. In the end, even Professor Chen fell silent.

After the meeting, Director Qin turned to the last page of the documents and suddenly asked, "Who did this?"

"Me." Zhao Guodong stood up.

Director Qin stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled: "Not bad."

Just two words, yet they silenced the entire conference room.

This is because it is the first time that the institute has publicly recognized a student.

As Zhao Guodong walked out of the conference room, he appeared calm, but his grip on the documents tightened noticeably.

Li Mingyuan patted him on the shoulder: "Congratulations."

Zhao Guodong glanced at him: "We haven't won yet."

"I know," Li Mingyuan smiled, "that's why I won't let you win."

The two of them laughed at the same time.

Evening. Lin Xiuhe went back to the lab to retrieve something.

As I walked down the corridor, I suddenly heard a sound coming from the office. The door wasn't closed properly.

It was Professor Chen and Director Qin.

"How is it?" Director Qin asked.

"good."

Which one is better?

Professor Chen took a sip of tea: "Both are good."

"If I really have to choose one?"

A few seconds of silence filled the office. Then Professor Chen's voice came through: "Zhao Guodong surprised me. Li Mingyuan puts my mind at ease. Lin Xiuhe—"

The sound stopped.

Director Qin smiled: "What's wrong with her?"

Professor Chen smiled softly, "She reminds me of someone."

Lin Xiuhe paused slightly, then continued walking without stopping.

Because she knew that now was not the time to hear certain things.

It was evening. She was the only one left in the lab.

The Qiming project materials were spread out on the table, next to the Qiming project materials. The two documents were placed side by side.

She was about to continue reading when she suddenly noticed an extra sheet of paper at the end of the document. It wasn't there yesterday; it was clearly added later.

Lin Xiuhe paused for a moment, then slowly picked it up.

There was only one sentence on the paper, written in a strong and vigorous hand, clearly written by Professor Chen.

If the opportunity comes sooner.

Are you ready?

In that instant, Lin Xiuhe's pupils contracted slightly. The opportunity had arrived ahead of schedule? So Professor Chen had seen it too.

Some things are accelerating.