Chapter 4: I Haven't Even Gone In Yet!

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Inside Professor Zhang’s laboratory.

Early in the morning, Zhao Haikuo and the others braved the biting cold wind to conduct data testing.

It had been a month since the last incident, and everyone harbored a burning determination deep within.

Su Dingping’s words, “Turn what should be into what must be,” echoed continuously in their minds, driving them to throw themselves into their graduation projects from dawn till dusk.

The decades-old blood feud felt as vivid as yesterday, and now the Eastern powers dared to bully the Chinese Navy again?

They would never allow it!

Yawning, Zhao Haikuo remarked, “Junior brother, you haven’t been around for a long time.”

“Not since that day! It’s been a whole month!”

A silhouette immediately formed in Zhao Haikuo’s mind—Su Dingping walking alone into the cold wind that night—and he sighed softly.

Meanwhile, the one everyone was concerned about, Su Dingping, was laughing heartily inside the military engineering blueprint forging chamber.

“It’s finally done!”

The originally empty shipyard, save for a few instruments brought from Professor Zhang’s lab, was now piled high with various materials and blueprints.

After four months of relentless day-and-night efforts, he had studied over a dozen warships both domestic and foreign, sifted through countless documents and references, and personally calculated and designed blueprints weighing nearly a ton.

All hardships and difficulties had been overcome by Su Dingping.

At last, the core technologies of the 956E Modern-class guided missile destroyer had been successfully deciphered.

As each technology was decoded, he gained control of the 956E.

“Power systems mastered, naval gun systems mastered, radar systems mastered…”

Taking a deep breath, Su Dingping appeared in the 956E’s main control room.

Pressing the start button, the shipyard echoed with a series of roaring sounds as the 956E slowly glided out of the dock.

After sailing tens of kilometers, Su Dingping began testing the radar system.

The next moment, a small green dot representing the shipyard appeared on the radar screen.

He pressed the button for the close-in weapon system.

Seconds later, a deafening “rat-a-tat-tat” burst forth from the deck guns.

Watching the fiery tongues of flame erupt from the barrels, Su Dingping successively tested the electronic jamming system, sonar system, and more.

After a full hour, a smile appeared on Su Dingping’s face.

“Except for the anti-ship and air-defense missile systems, everything else is flawless!”

The first phase was complete, and Su Dingping was in high spirits.

Reappearing at the shipyard, he waved his hand, and the scattered blueprints and materials neatly gathered together.

Looking at the suddenly spacious shipyard, he felt it was time to replicate some machining equipment in the various labs and begin forging.

“Better hurry, hope to make it in time for the December evaluation.”

…

Elsewhere, Zhao Haikuo shook himself from his thoughts.

“Sigh, I wonder what Junior brother is up to now. Pressure can be a driver, but I really worry he might be pushing himself too hard.”

“What do you think he’s researching? He’s always so secretive.”

“I have no idea. By the way, what are you guys designing?”

“Classified!”

They exchanged glances and laughed, lightening the mood considerably.

Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

“Senior brother, could you help me out?”

Hearing Su Dingping’s voice, Zhao Haikuo quickly responded.

“Junior brother, you finally show up! There’s nothing I can’t handle at Harbin Institute of Technology!”

“I know you’re proud, but I want to ask you to come with me to another lab to borrow some equipment.”

“Leave it to me!”

Without hesitation, Zhao Haikuo grabbed Su Dingping and headed out.

Soon, they arrived at Professor Wu’s research group.

“Little sister, your big brother’s here to see you!”

Zhao Haikuo called out inside.

A tall, strikingly beautiful woman appeared at the door.

“Zhao, can’t you lower your voice?” she snapped at Zhao Haikuo, “Sister Wang’s not here.”

“Yun, I’m not here for Sister Wang. I want to borrow some equipment from your lab.”

“No way!”

Faced with Guo Xueyun’s blunt refusal, Zhao Haikuo’s face fell slightly.

“Junior brother, Yun’s just mad at me, don’t take it seriously.”

Clearing his throat, Zhao Haikuo continued.

“Yun, your displeasure with me shouldn’t extend to my junior brother. I’m borrowing this on his behalf.”

“Your junior brother?”

Guo Xueyun’s gaze landed on Su Dingping.

So this handsome guy was Su Dingping?

“You’re the famous Su Dingping?”

Before Su Dingping could reply, Zhao Haikuo quickly confirmed, “Absolutely!”

A smile bloomed on Guo Xueyun’s face.

“Junior brother, I’m Guo Xueyun. Just call me Sister Xueyun. I’ve heard my mentor praise you often and told us to learn from you. Finally, I get to meet you in person.”

“What equipment do you need? Speak freely…”

Without waiting for a response, Guo Xueyun pulled Su Dingping inside.

Zhao Haikuo was left bewildered by the scene.

What was going on? Yun was usually so cold!

Wasn’t I supposed to have more face than him? This made no sense!

Just as Zhao Haikuo stepped forward to follow, the door slammed shut behind him.

He was utterly dumbfounded.

Hey! I haven’t gone in yet!

More than half an hour later, Su Dingping emerged holding a piece of equipment, accompanied by Guo Xueyun.

Guo Xueyun waved to Su Dingping. “Junior brother Su, next time just come by yourself if you need anything.”

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“Thanks, Sister Xueyun.”

The useful instruments from Professor Wu’s lab had all been replicated within the military blueprint forging chamber; the device in Su Dingping’s hands was merely a pretext.

After bidding farewell to Guo Xueyun, the two dashed off toward the next research group.

Along the way, Zhao Haikuo’s expression was strange.

“Yun has never been nice to me before, but after you arrived, it’s like a miracle happened.”

“Sister Xueyun is actually quite nice.”

“Quite nice? You don’t know her… never mind.” Zhao Haikuo hesitated, then said, “Let’s go to the next one.”

He was determined to salvage some of his pride.

An hour later, Zhao Haikuo was alone, carrying a pile of equipment back toward Professor Zhang’s lab.

Though he had been rebuffed by Guo Xueyun, he was confident in his own standing.

But to his surprise, the professors and students from other labs all came out when they heard Su Dingping had come to borrow equipment.

Zhao Haikuo knew well that this reticent junior brother, who rarely visited others, had already gained quite a reputation in the surrounding circles.

He gave up struggling, found an excuse to transport some equipment back, and returned alone.

Su Dingping had been busy all afternoon, and the necessary instruments and machining equipment were largely gathered.

Fortunately, the 956E was not the most advanced guided missile destroyer currently, so these devices would suffice.

In the military blueprint forging chamber, Su Dingping looked at the fully stocked shipyard, rubbing his hands excitedly.

“Let’s get to work!”

Here, with just a thought, he could control all the machines to operate simultaneously, never worrying about being overwhelmed alone.

Amid the piercing roar of machinery, Su Dingping moved among the instruments, continuously recording data.

With the ready-made 956E as a comparison, the process adjustments progressed rapidly.

As the graduation project deadline approached, the forging plan for the 956E advanced smoothly.

The day before the project defense, while busy wrapping up in the private lab office, Su Dingping was interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Junior brother, come out, there’s something you need to see.”

“Senior brother, what is it?”

Su Dingping hurried out.

He had been so busy recently that he hardly had time to pay attention to outside matters.

“This time, the evaluation situation differs from what our mentor said,” Zhao Haikuo explained.

“Five months ago, didn’t the mentor say he would personally conduct the evaluation? I heard from other mentors that this time, none of our institute’s mentors will be involved in the unified selection!”

“Moreover, I heard that people from the National Defense Armaments Office and the Naval Equipment Verification and Research Center will be coming.”

Su Dingping frowned slightly.

A graduate project causing such a stir? Could it be that Professor Zhang’s team failed their breakthrough? Or was it related to the news two months ago?

Zhao Haikuo sighed.

“This evaluation will be even tougher.”

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