Chapter 123 Fang Lin Mediates

The day Fang Lin arrived, the Gobi Desert was hit by the biggest sandstorm of the year.

By the time her car drove into the base, pushing through the sky filled with yellow sand, it was already four in the afternoon. The car door opened, and she hopped out wrapped in a thick windbreaker, wearing goggles, looking just like an explorer who had just returned from another planet.

Lin Mo was standing at the entrance of the Prefabricated Building waiting for her.

"Director Fang, why did you come in this kind of weather?"

Fang Lin took off her goggles and glanced at him.

"If I didn't come now, I fear something major would happen here."

Lin Mo was silent for a second, then stepped aside.

"Please, come inside."

Fang Lin met with Director Zhang first.

Director Zhang was staying in the best Prefabricated Building temporarily vacated by the base. The room was heated, and the table was set with fruit and tea, forming a sharp contrast to the world of wind and sand outside.

Fang Lin sat down and, without any small talk, spoke directly.

"Director Zhang, I heard you and Lin Mo had an argument?"

Director Zhang's expression was a bit unnatural.

"Director Fang, you are truly well-informed."

Fang Lin nodded.

"My job is to be well-informed." She picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Director Zhang, I can understand your pressure. The higher-ups are pushing hard, and the International Alliance is pressing urgently; anyone would be anxious in your position."

Director Zhang sighed.

"Director Fang, you are the only one who understands me. That young Lin is just too stubborn. I said to ignite by the end of the year, but he absolutely refuses, and even said something like 'You can't shoulder the consequences'—me, not able to shoulder it? I've worked in administration for thirty years; what kind of storms haven't I seen?"

Fang Lin looked at him, silent for a few seconds.

Then she put down her teacup.

"Director Zhang, let me ask you a question."

Director Zhang nodded.

"What do you think is the worst possible outcome if the Nuclear Fusion device fails to ignite?"

Director Zhang was stunned for a moment.

"What kind of outcome could there be? If the device breaks, we just fix it."

Fang Lin shook her head.

"You are wrong. If the First Wall Material fails, the plasma at hundreds of millions of degrees will directly impact the vacuum chamber, and the entire device could be instantly scrapped. Radiation would leak, contaminating hundreds of kilometers, and it wouldn't be recoverable for decades. International public opinion would be in an uproar, saying that the Chinese people are eager for quick success and instant benefits, treating national security as a joke."

She paused.

"Can you shoulder these consequences?"

Director Zhang opened his mouth, unable to speak.

Fang Lin continued, "I am not saying it will definitely fail. But the caution of Lin Mo and his team is justified. For technical issues, we must respect the experts' opinions."

Director Zhang was silent for a long time.

Finally, he sighed.

"Director Fang, it's not that I want to force them. It's just... the higher-ups are watching, and the International Alliance is pressing hard; what can I do?"

Fang Lin nodded.

"I understand. But the solution isn't to force things. You get them more time, and they get you results. That is the right path."

Director Zhang looked at her, his eyes complex.

"Director Fang, are you taking their side?"

Fang Lin smiled.

"I am not taking any side. I only stand with the facts. The fact is, Lin Mo and his team are right. The fact is, you also need results. Neither side is wrong; we just need to find a balance point."

She stood up.

"Director Zhang, please rest for now. I am going to see Lin Mo."

When Fang Lin walked into Lin Mo's Prefabricated Building, he was standing by the window, watching the wind and sand outside.

"Lin Mo."

Lin Mo turned around.

"Director Fang."

Fang Lin sat down and pointed to the chair opposite her.

"Sit."

Lin Mo sat down.

Fang Lin looked at him, silent for a few seconds.

"Lin Mo, I've heard everything you said to Director Zhang the other day."

Lin Mo nodded.

"Do you think I was wrong?"

Fang Lin shook her head.

"You weren't wrong. But the approach could be better."

Lin Mo looked at her.

Fang Lin continued, "Your persistence is correct. Scientific laws cannot be violated, and if something goes wrong, no one can bear the responsibility. I understand this, and in fact, Director Zhang understands it too. But he has his own pressures and his own difficulties."

She paused.

"If you were in his position, you might not do better than him."

Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds.

"Director Fang, it's not that I don't understand him. But he is demanding ignition by the end of the year, which is technically impossible. If I don't stand my ground and something really happens, who will bear the consequences?"

Fang Lin nodded.

"I understand. That's why I came today—not to criticize you, but to remind you: sticking to your principles is correct, but you must also pay attention to your methods."

She looked at Lin Mo.

"Do you know what Director Zhang fears most?"

Lin Mo shook his head.

"What he fears is not you, nor failure; it's the higher-ups thinking he is incompetent," Fang Lin said. "What he needs is something to report upward—milestones, a clear timeline, and visible progress. If you give him these, he can help you block a lot of the pressure."

Lin Mo listened, deep in thought.

Fang Lin continued, "You are not fighting alone. Behind you, there is Chen Xueming, Li Xiao, Zhao Gang, and the entire team. Above you, there are people like Director Zhang and a larger system. You need to learn how to get along with them and learn how to express your persistence in a way they can understand."

Lin Mo was silent for a long time.

Then he looked up.

"Director Fang, thank you."

Fang Lin smiled.

"What is there to thank me for? I've watched you walk every step of the way; I don't want to see you stumble in a place like this."

She stood up and walked to the window.

The wind and sand outside had lessened a bit, and a sliver of dim yellow sunlight appeared on the horizon.

"Lin Mo, do you know, when I was young, I was just like you. I thought what was right was right, and what was wrong was wrong, with no middle ground."

She turned around.

"Later, I realized that the world is not black and white. Sometimes, you need to compromise, communicate, and make others understand you."

Lin Mo nodded.

"I will remember that."

Fang Lin looked at him with gratification in her eyes.

"Good. Then I'll be going. I've already talked to Director Zhang. You both take a step back; bring out results by next June."

Lin Mo stood up.

"Director Fang, thank you for making the special trip."

Fang Lin waved her hand.

"It's what I should do."

She pushed open the door and walked into the now-diminished wind and sand outside.

The car started and slowly drove away.

Lin Mo stood at the doorway, watching the car disappear at the edge of the Gobi Desert.

For a long time, he didn't move.

That evening, Lin Mo sat alone in the Prefabricated Building, thinking about what Fang Lin had said.

"Sticking to your principles is correct, but you must also pay attention to your methods."

He remembered Director Zhang's face and recalled him saying, "The pressure from above is too great."

Perhaps, Fang Lin was right.

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Director Zhang:

"Director Zhang, are you free tomorrow morning? I would like to talk to you about next year's milestones and the resources that need your coordination."

A few minutes later, Director Zhang replied:

"Good."

Lin Mo put down his phone and looked at the night sky outside the window.

The wind and sand had stopped, and the stars were shining brightly again.

He thought, perhaps this road involves more than just the technical hurdle.

There are many people and many things he needs to learn how to face.

But he was not afraid.

Because he was not alone.