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

In the research institute's conference room, the nameplate for the Tsinghua Qiming Project has already been set up.

[Speaker: Li Mingyuan]

When Lin Xiuhe entered, the sign was placed in the center of the long table.

Her name wasn't on the table.

Zhao Guodong stepped through the door, his expression immediately changing.

"The document was just stamped yesterday, and the presenter has been changed today?"

Secretary Luo sat by the door, the register spread out.

"Lin can sit in on the class. It's better to be safe than sorry since it's a preliminary review by the research institute."

Li Mingyuan put the document bag down.

He picked up the name tag, turned it over, and pushed it aside.

I won't talk about it.

Luo's face darkened.

"Li, don't act impulsively."

Li Mingyuan placed yesterday's list of responsible persons on the table, with the red stamp facing upwards.

"She's in charge, so she should be the main speaker."

Zhao Guodong dragged the chair back, the legs scraping the ground with a screech.

"The person in charge is observing? That's quite a novel way to conduct a preliminary hearing."

At the end of the long table, Engineer Shao looked up.

He had gray hair, wore a gray Zhongshan suit, and had a red pencil beside him.

He picked up the certification form, looked at the red stamp, and then looked at Lin Xiuhe.

"Are you the one who signed your name back yesterday?"

Lin Xiuhe stood in front of the table.

"Yes."

Engineer Shao placed the certification form on the table.

"Okay. Let the two of them go out."

Zhao Guodong was taken aback: "What?"

Engineer Shao pointed to the door.

"Didn't you say she's in charge? Then let her speak alone."

Secretary Luo closed the register, his lips pursed.

Li Mingyuan picked up the folder and walked to the door.

As he passed by Lin Xiuhe, he handed her the thinnest copy of the proposal.

"I've already arranged the order."

Zhao Guodong also started to walk out. But when he reached the door, he turned back.

"Call me if you need anything."

Mr. Shao tapped his red pencil on the table.

"When something happened on stage, no one called for help for her."

Zhao Guodong gritted his teeth and stepped outside. The door closed.

In the conference room, only Lin Xiuhe remained standing in front of the long table.

Secretary Luo pushed the register forward.

"Let's begin."

Lin Xiuhe opened the proposal. Just as she turned to the first page, Engineer Shao raised his hand.

"Don't memorize it."

He pointed to the small demo unit on the corner of the table. It had a wooden base, a metal casing, a row of small lights, and a paper tape moving slowly forward.

Click. Click.

Engineer Shao said, "On the city competition stage, the machines won't listen to you recite the plan."

The equipment operator next to him stepped forward, opened the back cover, and flicked it with his finger.

Snapped.

All the lights went out, and the paper tape stopped.

Outside the door, Zhao Guodong's shadow was pressed against the glass.

Secretary Luo opened the register.

"This is so sudden!"

Mr. Shao placed the pocket watch on the table.

"Those who are bad on stage won't pass her a note first."

He looked at Lin Xiuhe: "Ten minutes. If she can be saved, tell me. If not, we'll find someone else tomorrow."

Lin Xiuhe closed the plan and put it aside.

She walked up to the demo machine but didn't touch it at first.

She looked at the equipment operator: "Who just moved the back cover?"

The equipment operator raised his hand: "Me."

"You stand here."

The equipment operator stood to the side.

Lin Xiuhe pointed to the toolbox: "Open it."

The equipment operator opened the toolbox, which contained screwdrivers, tweezers, and glass tubes, all arranged haphazardly.

Lin Xiuhe squatted down. Underneath the demo machine, the paper tape was stuck near the gears.

She raised her hand: "Tweezers."

The equipment operator handed it over, but Lin Xiuhe didn't take it.

"You take it."

The equipment operator paused. Engineer Shao's red pencil remained between his fingers.

Lin Xiuhe pointed to the paper strip: "Here."

The equipment operator did as instructed, and the stuck paper tape was removed, with a tear appearing on the side.

Lin Xiuhe placed the piece of paper on the table.

"Make a note of this."

Officer Luo frowned: "Why are you writing this down?"

Lin Xiuhe looked up: "Write down where it's bad. That way you won't pretend you didn't see it next time."

Luo's pen stopped.

Mr. Shao glanced at his pocket watch: "Six minutes left."

Lin Xiuhe opened the back cover. Inside, a small, blackened glass tube was visible; she pointed to it.

"Replace this one."

The technician removed the old tube, his fingertips stained with a little black ash. He then picked up a new one from the box.

Lin Xiuhe stopped her, saying, "The thinner one."

The technician replaced it with another one, and it got stuck.

Lin Xiuhe stepped back: "Open."

The operator pressed the switch. Snap, the light turned on briefly, then went out again.

Secretary Luo immediately looked up: "It still doesn't work."

Zhao Guodong, standing outside the door, had already placed his hand on the doorframe. Lin Xiuhe didn't turn around.

"Don't come in." The hand on the doorframe stopped.

She bent down to look at the corner of the table. The plug was crooked, half in the hole and half sticking out.

She pointed over. The equipment operator quickly pressed the button.

Lin Xiuhe stood up straight: "Start again."

Snapped.

The first light came on. The second light came on. The third light came on. The paper tape started moving again.

Click. Click. Click.

Mr. Shao glanced down at his pocket watch: "Seven minutes and forty seconds."

Outside the door, Zhao Guodong slammed his fist into his palm. Li Mingyuan, through the glass, closed his notebook.

In the conference room, Secretary Luo flipped through the register with a rustling sound.

"It's just a minor problem. We'll find it eventually if we keep looking."

Engineer Shao tossed the red pencil over. *Thud.* The red pencil rolled to Officer Luo's side.

"Then why didn't you look for it just now?"

Secretary Luo's hand stopped on the register.

Mr. Shao pointed to the lit-up demo machine: "The paper tape is stuck, the fuse is blown, and the plug is loose. Three things."

"She didn't rush to dismantle it, nor did she let anyone touch it. She calmed the people down first, then calmed the machine down."

He looked at Director Qin: "This person in charge is alright."

Director Qin picked up his teacup, and the lid made a sound as it touched the rim.

"Old Chen has a very accurate eye for people."

Secretary Luo closed the register.

The conference room door was pushed open. Zhao Guodong rushed in, first checking the lights. The lights were still on, and he grinned.

"It's lit up."

Li Mingyuan walked to the table, picked up the nameplate that read "Speaker: Li Mingyuan," and turned it over. The back was blank. He handed it to Engineer Shao.

Engineer Shao took the red pencil and quickly wrote: [Lin Xiuhe]

He pushed the nameplate to the speaker's seat: "Sit down."

Lin Xiuhe stood by the table: "I'll speak standing up."

Engineer Shao glanced at her: "Why?"

"Standing on the city competition stage as well."

Engineer Shao smiled. He opened her proposal, this time without closing it: "Go on."

Lin Xiuhe spoke for only eight minutes. She didn't say anything superfluous.

She explained how the project was presented, who brought the materials, who watched the machines, who started when the lights went out, and who signed off on any problems that arose.

On the last page, she placed the certification form from yesterday on top, with the red stamp facing Engineer Shao.

"Write my name in the person in charge column. If something happens on stage, I'll be standing at the very front."

The sound of pens falling silent in the conference room.

Engineer Shao closed the plan: "Okay."

Officer Luo looked up: "Engineer Shao, the city competition is a public showcase, what if—"

Director Qin put down his teacup: "That's why I sit in the first row."

He looked at Lin Xiuhe: "Tomorrow is the city competition. Let's see how you hold onto this position."

Lin Xiuhe put the proposal into her bag: "Okay."

Engineer Shao tossed the small, blackened glass tube into the iron pan. *Clink*.

"Take it with you."

Lin Xiuhe took it: "Why are you bringing this?"

"Let those who're waiting to see you make a fool of yourself watch." Engineer Shao pushed the iron plate away. "Don't let them think you're all talk."

In the corridor, the Beihang University project team was waiting to enter.

A boy carrying a thick stack of documents looked down at the paper package in Lin Xiuhe's hand.

"Does Tsinghua's pre-screening program even involve repairing machines?"

Zhao Guodong was about to retort when Lin Xiuhe started walking towards the stairs.

The boy laughed again: "Don't fix it on the stage tomorrow."

Lin Xiuhe stopped at the top of the stairs. A red notice was posted on the wall.

[National College Applied Technology Competition (City-level)]

[Entry starts at 8:30 AM tomorrow]

After she finished reading it, she turned around and said, "If it's broken, fix it."

The boy's smile faded.

Lin Xiuhe continued downstairs: "See you on stage."

At the entrance of the research institute. Zhou Zhiyuan was still outside the iron gate.

The lunchbox was placed by the gatekeeper next to the stove; the aluminum was scalding hot. Lin Xiuhe took it.

Zhou Zhiyuan checked his watch: "Seven minutes and forty seconds?"

Lin Xiuhe looked up: "How did you know?"

"Director Qin smiled when he came downstairs." He handed her the chopsticks. "Did you win?"

Lin Xiuhe opened the paper package. Inside lay a small, charred glass tube.

"The light is on."

Zhou Zhiyuan looked at the section of black pipe: "Will you bring it on stage tomorrow?"

"Um."

"Who is it for?"

"For those who are waiting to see me make a fool of myself."

Zhou Zhiyuan lifted the lid of the lunchbox, and steam billowed out.

"Let's eat first. After we're full, let's go see the stage tomorrow."

Zhao Guodong rushed out of the door: "Is there any food left for me?"

The security guard handed another lunchbox through the window: "Yes."

Zhao Guodong took it and gave Zhou Zhiyuan a thumbs up: "You really know how to wait."

Li Mingyuan came out carrying a bag of documents: "We'll be here this afternoon, let's check out the machines first."

Zhao Guodong hadn't even swallowed a mouthful of rice when he asked, "Watching again?"

Lin Xiuhe closed her lunchbox: "I'll eat as I walk."

Zhou Zhiyuan pushed his bicycle, and the bell rang. Ding.

He walked on the outermost side.

Lin Xiuhe held the proposal bag, with the paper package on top.

The wind blew in from the entrance of the research institute.

The red notice for the city competition was displayed on the wall.

tomorrow.

She wanted to stand on the stage.