Chapter 18 New Partners

Lin Mo discovered that there was a special kind of tranquility in the base's mornings.

It wasn't absolute silence, but a tranquility unique to the deep mountains, carrying the scent of vegetation. The sound of birds chirping drifted from afar, faint and indistinct, making the surroundings seem even more profound.

He stood by the window, watching the mist slowly rise from the valley, mentally planning today's schedule—discussing material purification plans with Academician Chen in the morning, meeting with engineers from the equipment department to inspect the new testing instruments in the afternoon, and revising the technical report intended for internal use in the evening.

His schedule was packed, but he liked the feeling. Having things to do, a direction to follow, and something to look forward to.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a head poked in, looking left and right before the whole person slipped inside.

It was a girl, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a ponytail, wearing a cartoon-print hoodie, and carrying a backpack that looked even bigger than she was. She stood at the door, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lin Mo, her face filled with the excitement of a fan meeting an idol.

"Hello, Teacher Lin!" she said loudly, then, as if realizing she was too loud, she quickly covered her mouth and repeated softly, "Hello, Teacher Lin."

Lin Mo was taken aback for a moment: "And you are..."

"My name is Li Xiao!" The girl walked over quickly and extended her hand. "I'm a computer science major, just transferred to the tiangong project as a research assistant! Director Fang asked me to report for duty today!"

Lin Mo shook her hand and felt her palm was a bit sweaty—not sure if it was from nervousness or from carrying that big bag.

"Welcome, welcome." He let go of her hand and sized up the new assistant. "Director Fang mentioned before that a computer expert would be coming. Is that you?"

Li Xiao nodded vigorously, her ponytail swaying with her. "Yes, yes, yes, that's me! My master's thesis was on the application of machine learning in materials data mining, and it won a university-level outstanding thesis award! I also published an SCI paper, though I was only the third author..."

She stopped suddenly, her face turning slightly red. "Um... Teacher Lin, am I talking too much?"

Lin Mo couldn't help but smile. "It's fine. Talking a lot is good; it makes things lively."

Li Xiao's eyes lit up. "Really? My previous supervisor always complained that I talked too much, saying I couldn't stop once I started. I said it's because I have a desire to express myself, and he said it's a lack of self-restraint..."

At this point, she suddenly realized she was talking too much again and quickly covered her mouth.

Lin Mo shook his head with a smile and pointed to a chair. "Sit down. Put your bag down first, don't keep carrying it."

Only then did Li Xiao react, quickly taking off the massive backpack. The bag hit the floor with a dull thud, sounding like it was filled with quite a few things.

"What did you bring?" Lin Mo asked curiously.

"A computer!" Li Xiao squatted down and opened the bag, starting to take things out. "A desktop I assembled myself. It's a bit heavy, but the processing speed is fast! There's also a spare monitor, a mechanical keyboard, a mobile hard drive, and all sorts of data cables..."

Lin Mo watched the pile of items, his eyelid twitching. "You... carried this all the way from where?"

"Beijing," Li Xiao said as if it were obvious. "I took the high-speed rail to the city, and then a car from the base picked me up. The driver helped me carry it to the ground floor; I only carried it up this one floor myself."

Lin Mo was silent for two seconds, suddenly feeling that he might need to re-plan the space in this office.

"Alright... just leave it there for now," he said. "I'll have logistics arrange a workstation for you later, and you can put these devices there."

Li Xiao nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Teacher Lin, I heard from Director Fang that there are three other people in our team? Academician, Su Qing, and Zhang Zhe? What are their personalities like? Are they easy to get along with? Should I go and introduce myself to them first?"

Looking at her rapid-fire questions, Lin Mo suddenly understood why Fang Lin had sent this girl.

Over the past three days, the atmosphere in the team had indeed been a bit tense. Academician was too shy, Su Qing was lively but after all a fresh graduate, and that great Buddha Zhang Zhe was as cold as an iceberg. He, the chief, was immersed in data all day. The entire Materials Science Division lacked a spark of life.

Someone like Li Xiao was exactly what was needed to stir up these stagnant waters.

"They're all in the laboratory," Lin Mo said. "I'll take you over in a bit. But first, let me tell you a few things."

Li Xiao sat up straight. "Please, go ahead."

"First, this project of ours has a very high security clearance. You've signed the non-disclosure agreement, right?"

Li Xiao nodded. "Signed it, signed it. Director Fang personally watched me sign it before I came."

"Second, the work intensity might be very high. Overtime is the norm, and pulling all-nighters isn't uncommon. Be mentally prepared."

Li Xiao nodded again. "No problem! When I was rushing my thesis during undergrad, I only slept eight hours in three days. I can handle it!"

Looking at her determined expression, Lin Mo suddenly worried if the girl had some misunderstanding about "pulling all-nighters."

"Third," he paused, "Zhang Zhe is a man of few words, cold-faced, and can be blunt. But he's truly talented; our team can't do without him. If he says something that makes you uncomfortable, don't take it to heart. If you really can't stand it, you can come to me."

Li Xiao blinked. "Is Dr. Zhang hard to get along with?"

"Not hard to get along with," Lin Mo chose his words carefully, "it's just... it takes a little time to understand him."

Li Xiao nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled. "Teacher Lin, are you giving me a heads-up?"

Lin Mo was taken aback, then also smiled. "I suppose so."

"Don't worry!" Li Xiao stood up and patted her chest. "I might not be good at other things, but I'm thick-skinned. I don't take anything anyone says to heart; I'll forget it after a night's sleep!"

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Teacher Lin, which room am I staying in? My luggage is still downstairs. Should I go and drop it off first?"

Only then did Lin Mo remember this matter and picked up the phone to call logistics.

Ten minutes later, he led Li Xiao out of the office toward the living quarters. Along the way, Li Xiao's eyes never stopped moving, looking left and right, everything seemed fresh to her.

"Wow, this corridor is so long!" "Wow, this gate is so cool!" "Wow, I've seen that instrument in a paper; it costs over three million a unit!"

Lin Mo walked in front, listening to the chirping behind him, and suddenly felt that this cold underground space really seemed a bit warmer.

Arriving at the elevator, they happened to run into Zhao Gang coming out.

Zhao Gang saw Lin Mo and nodded, his gaze sweeping over Li Xiao behind him, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Newcomer?" he asked.

"Yes, research assistant, Li Xiao." Lin Mo stepped aside to introduce her. "Li Xiao, this is Captain Zhao Gang, the head of base security."

Li Xiao quickly stepped forward and extended her hand. "Hello, Captain Zhao!"

Zhao Gang glanced at her hand, didn't shake it, and just nodded. "Newcomers need to get an access pass. Come to the security office this afternoon with your ID card and a one-inch photo."

With that, he passed the two of them and walked straight away.

Li Xiao's hand hung in mid-air for two seconds before she sheepishly withdrew it, muttering softly, "So cool..."

Lin Mo suppressed a smile. "Like I said, it takes a little time to understand."

Li Xiao nodded, then became excited again. "But he really has that special forces vibe! He walks like the wind, has a sharp gaze, and speaks briefly and powerfully! I'll model a character after him when I write novels in the future!"

Lin Mo was surprised. "You write novels too?"

Li Xiao smiled bashfully. "Just a hobby, just some random writing. But don't worry, I will absolutely not write anything related to the project. I do have security awareness!"

The elevator arrived, and the two walked in.

Watching the floor numbers change, Li Xiao suddenly asked, "Teacher Lin, are you under a lot of pressure?"

Lin Mo turned to look at her.

"I heard from Director Fang that you're the chief scientist and the entire Materials Science Division listens to you." Li Xiao looked at him seriously. "Being the chief at twenty-six, surely a lot of people aren't convinced, right?"

Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds, then smiled. "It's alright."

"What do you mean by 'alright'?"

"It means... it's normal for some people to be unconvinced." Lin Mo looked at his reflection in the elevator doors. "I just let the results speak for themselves."

Li Xiao nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly said, "I believe in you."

Lin Mo was taken aback. "Why?"

"Because there's light in your eyes," Li Xiao said seriously. "I've seen the type who just drift through the days, and those who just want to get a professional title; their eyes are gray. But you're different. When you look at people, your eyes are bright."

Lin Mo was stunned.

The elevator doors opened, and Li Xiao skipped out first, turning back to smile at him. "Teacher Lin, take me to see my room!"

Lin Mo came back to his senses and followed her out.

On the third floor of the living quarters, next to 301, was room 305, which had been arranged for Li Xiao. Lin Mo helped her open the door and handed her the key card.

"Get settled first. We'll meet at the cafeteria at noon. This afternoon, I'll take you to the laboratory to meet the others."

Li Xiao nodded, then suddenly asked, "Teacher Lin, what do you usually eat for lunch?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment. "I eat whatever the cafeteria has. Why?"

"Then I'll find you then!" Li Xiao said with a smile. "I'm new here and don't know anyone, so you have to look out for me!"

Looking at her smiling face, Lin Mo suddenly felt that this new assistant might be much more useful than he had imagined.

12:00 PM, cafeteria.

Lin Mo had just sat down with his tray when he saw Li Xiao skipping over with her own tray, followed by a helpless-looking Academician and a grinning Su Qing.

"Teacher Lin!" Li Xiao sat down opposite him. "I just ran into Mingyuan and Su Qing downstairs, so we came up together! Dr. Zhang said he'd be here later and told us to eat first."

Academician sat down silently next to Lin Mo, his expression a bit complex. Su Qing, on the other hand, was looking at Li Xiao with a smile; the two had clearly already become acquainted.

"You all got to know each other quite fast," Lin Mo said.

"Of course!" Li Xiao picked up a piece of braised pork. "My greatest strength is being naturally friendly. Downstairs just now, I asked Sister Su Qing for directions to the cafeteria, and she just brought me here. We ran into Mingyuan on the way, so I dragged him along too."

Academician said softly, "I was originally going to the laboratory to calculate the data once more..."

"Calculate it after eating!" Li Xiao said as if it were only natural. "Food is the fuel of life; you'll be weak if you skip a meal. Besides, a team should eat together to be lively; it's boring to hide away and eat alone."

Looking at her, Lin Mo suddenly remembered when he had just started his PhD; he was like this too, everything was fresh, he was curious about everything, and he had endless energy all day.

Later, as he kept working, that energy slowly wore away.

But now, looking at this chirping girl before him, he suddenly felt that that energy seemed to have returned a little.

After finishing the meal, the group walked underground together.

Passing through the first-floor hall, they encountered Zhao Gang again. He was standing by the door of the security control room, looking at something on the screen on the wall.

Li Xiao had learned her lesson this time and didn't approach, just waved from a distance and said softly, "Hello, Captain Zhao!"

Zhao Gang turned his head, glanced at her, nodded expressionlessly, and turned back to the screen.

Li Xiao shrunk her neck and whispered to Lin Mo, "Does he not like me?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment. "It's not that he doesn't like you; he's just not used to you yet."

"Then how long will it take to get used to me?"

Lin Mo looked at Zhao Gang's back, remembering how he too had been scanned from head to toe by that gaze on his first day.

"Probably when you prove that you're not a trouble," he said.

Li Xiao nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled. "That's simple. What I'm most afraid of is causing trouble for others. I'll definitely perform well and make Captain Zhao see me in a new light!"

Looking at her face full of confidence, Lin Mo felt a bit envious.

It's good to be young.

3:00 PM, Materials Science Division laboratory.

When Lin Mo walked in with Li Xiao, Zhang Zhe was standing in front of an instrument looking at data. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze swept over Li Xiao, and then he continued looking down at the data.

"Dr. Zhang," Lin Mo said, "this is the new research assistant, Li Xiao. She's a computer science major and will be responsible for data processing and algorithm support from now on."

Zhang Zhe nodded without saying a word.

Li Xiao took a step forward of her own accord. "Hello, Dr. Zhang! Please take good care of me!"

Zhang Zhe glanced at her, gave a faint "Mm," and turned back to continue looking at the data.

Li Xiao's hand hung in mid-air again, and she sheepishly withdrew it, whispering to Lin Mo, "He really is a man of few words..."

Lin Mo patted her shoulder and said in a low voice, "Don't mind him; he's like this with everyone."

Su Qing popped up from the side and pulled Li Xiao away. "Come, come, come, I'll show you around the equipment! Don't mind him; he's just cold on the outside but warm on the inside. You'll get used to him once you're familiar!"

The two girls chirped as they walked away.

Lin Mo walked to Zhang Zhe's side and looked at the data curves on the screen.

"How is it?"

Zhang Zhe was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Yesterday's test results showed the purity has increased by another percentage point."

Lin Mo's eyes lit up. "How much?"

"99.3%."

Lin Mo took a deep breath, looking at that nearly perfect curve, his heart rate accelerating slightly.

From the initial 95% to the current 99.3%. Every step had been an ordeal of countless days and nights. But at the moment he saw the data, all the ordeals were worth it.

"Continue," he said. "Work toward 99.5%."

Zhang Zhe nodded, then suddenly asked, "The newcomer, is she reliable?"

Lin Mo looked at Li Xiao, who was laughing and talking with Su Qing in the distance, and thought for a moment. "I don't know, but we can give her a try."

Zhang Zhe didn't speak further.

In the laboratory, the hum of the operating instruments was constant.

Lin Mo stood by the window, looking at the continuous mountains outside, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up in his heart—it was as if all the puzzle pieces were falling into place one by one.

The material foundation for Room-Temperature Superconductivity was there. The top-tier expert team was there. Support at the national level was there.

And now, even that long-lost spark of life had returned.

Next, it was time to truly go all out.