Chapter 240 United We Stand

November 4, 2038. 6:00 AM, Hainan Base.

When Lin Mo woke up, he discovered he had actually slept for a full seven hours.

He lay in bed for a few seconds, stunned, confirming it wasn't an illusion—outside the window, the sky was already bright, birds were chirping, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, painting a golden line on the floor.

How long had it been since he'd slept this long?

He couldn't remember.

While getting up to wash, he noticed in the mirror that his complexion looked much better. The dark circles around his eyes had faded, and his gaze was no longer so weary. He touched the stubble on his chin and decided to shave today.

At exactly seven o'clock, he pushed open the door, preparing to head to the office.

An insulated container sat by the door.

A sticky note was attached to the container in Master Liu's handwriting: "Breakfast. Li Xiao said you must finish it before going to the office."

Lin Mo looked at the note, smiled, and picked up the container to go back inside.

Millet porridge, tea eggs, buns, and side dishes. He sat by the window, finishing it bite by bite, then washed the container and placed it back by the door.

Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang.

It was Chen Xueming.

"Old Lin, you awake?" Chen Xueming's voice came through the receiver, with the sound of waves and the roar of machinery in the background.

"I'm up. You're starting this early?"

"It's not early; work started on the platform at six." Chen Xueming paused. "Old Lin, I'm calling because I want to tell you something."

"Go ahead."

"Stop doing everything yourself from now on," Chen Xueming's voice was serious. "Hand things over to us."

Lin Mo was stunned for a moment and didn't speak.

Chen Xueming continued, "I know you're used to carrying it all yourself. It's been like this since the Room-Temperature Superconductivity days—watching over everything personally, terrified of making even one mistake. But Old Lin, it's not like that anymore."

He paused, his voice carrying a steadiness Lin Mo had never heard before:

"Back then, there were only a few of us: you and Academician Wang, plus Li Xiao, Zhao Gang, and me. If you didn't manage something, no one did. But it's different now—there are over three hundred people on the platform, over two hundred here at the base, and hundreds more at the factory. You can't manage it all alone."

Lin Mo remained silent, listening to him.

"I talked to Li Xiao yesterday," Chen Xueming said. "She said your desk is covered in documents, every single one with annotations, clearly from staying up all night. Old Lin, do you know what Li Xiao said? She said, 'If Senior Brother looks at everything himself, then what are we here for?'"

Lin Mo's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Old Lin," Chen Xueming's voice lowered, "we're not here to add to your trouble. We're here to help you. If there's something to do, give it to us; we'll carry it for you. If we can't handle it, then we'll find you. That way, you can free up your hands to think about the big picture."

Silence hung on the other end of the line for a few seconds.

Then Chen Xueming spoke again: "You know how I used to be—arrogant, finding fault with everyone, wanting to do everything myself because I thought others would mess it up. Later, you taught me that some things have to be done together."

A hint of a smile entered his voice: "Now I've learned. You have to learn, too."

Lin Mo gripped his phone, looking out the window. On the base's training ground, a few early-rising young people were jogging, their laughter drifting over faintly.

"Xueming," he said, "since when did you learn to give such grand lectures?"

Chen Xueming laughed. "Spent a month on the platform chatting with the workers every day; that's how I learned. The workers say a good general doesn't rush to the front to kill the enemy; he stands in the back watching, so the soldiers know he's there."

Lin Mo was silent for a while, then said, "I understand."

"Do you really?"

"Really."

"Alright then," Chen Xueming said. "I called today just to say that. Hanging up now, things to do on the platform."

"Wait." Lin Mo stopped him. "Xueming, thank you."

Chen Xueming paused on the other end, then said with a laugh, "Old Lin, since when did you learn to say thank you?"

Lin Mo laughed as well. "Just learned."

They both hung up at the same time.

At exactly eight o'clock, Lin Mo walked into the Chief Designer's Office.

A stack of newly delivered documents sat on the desk, but there were far fewer than yesterday. He flipped open the top one; it was a process parameter report from the Carbon Nanotubes factory. A sticky note was attached to the cover:

"Chief Designer Lin: The issue has been investigated, and the new formula is showing preliminary results, with the yield rate rising to 38.5%. See the attachment for detailed data. No need to reply; I will report again if anything comes up. — Wu Jianguo"

Lin Mo looked at the note, smiled, and set the report aside.

The second document was a progress report from the space station modification team. A sticky note was also attached to its cover:

"Chief Designer Lin: The construction plan has been confirmed; we move in next Monday. Regular progress will be reported once a week, with any anomalies reported immediately. You don't need to check every day; I'll call for major matters. — Engineer Zhang"

The third, the fourth... every document had a similar sticky note. Some reported the situation and specifically noted "no need to reply," some wrote "synchronized with Li Xiao, she will contact you if anything comes up," and someone even drew a smiley face: "Chief Designer Lin, take a break, we're watching things."

Lin Mo sat in his chair, looking at these sticky notes for a long time.

Then he smiled.

That smile wasn't a polite one, nor was it a forced one from exhaustion; it was a genuine, heartfelt smile.

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Li Xiao:

"Did you organize this?"

Three seconds later, Li Xiao replied:

"I didn't organize it; they did it on their own initiative. I just said 'Senior Brother is too tired' in the group yesterday, and then this morning it turned into this."

Lin Mo looked at the message, the curve of his lips widening further.

Just as he was about to reply, there was a knock on the door.

Zhao Gang pushed the door open, carrying two cups of soy milk.

"Chief Designer Lin, have some soy milk." He placed one cup on Lin Mo's desk and sat down with the other. "Just ran into Master Liu at the Canteen. He said your breakfast went well today and told me to come praise you."

Lin Mo took the soy milk. "Praise me?"

"Praise you for finally learning to take care of yourself." Zhao Gang took a big gulp of soy milk. "I said Chief Designer Lin always knew how to take care of himself, but Master Liu said he didn't before, he only just learned today."

Lin Mo laughed.

Zhao Gang looked at him, his gaze holding the gratification only an old comrade-in-arms could have: "Chief Designer Lin, I have something to say."

"Say it."

Zhao Gang set down his soy milk and looked at him seriously. "If you fall, this team of ours will fall apart."

Lin Mo was taken aback.

"I'm not exaggerating," Zhao Gang said. "I've been in security for so many years and seen all kinds of teams. Some rely on systems, some on interests, but this team of ours relies on you."

He paused, then continued, "Why does Chen Xueming respect you? Because you gave him a hand when he was at his lowest. Why does Li Xiao follow you? Because you always believed in her. Section Chief Wu, Liu Jianguo, Engineer Shen, Academician Zhou... why are these people willing to work themselves to death? Because they know you are doing the same."

Lin Mo remained silent.

"But Chief Designer Lin," Zhao Gang's gaze held a hint of worry, "if you work yourself into the ground, these people will lose their pillar. The three hundred plus on the platform, the two hundred plus at the base, the hundreds in the factory—who are they looking to? They're looking at you. While you're here, they have confidence. If you fall, they'll panic."

He patted Lin Mo's shoulder. "So you have to stay alive, stay well. Eat when it's time to eat, sleep when it's time to sleep. If there's work, give it to us."

Lin Mo looked at him and was silent for a long time.

Then he nodded. "I understand."

Zhao Gang smiled. "Good then. Oh, Li Xiao asked me to remind you that Master Liu is making braised pork for lunch today, and she insists you go to the Canteen to eat."

"Alright."

Zhao Gang stood up and headed out. At the door, he turned back and said, "Chief Designer Lin, those of us following you to build the Sky Ladder aren't doing it so you can carry it for us. It's so we can carry it with you."

The door closed.

Lin Mo sat in his chair, looking at the cup of soy milk that was still steaming.

The base's broadcast sounded outside the window: "Attention all units, today's weather is clear and fine, with a high of 28 degrees Celsius, suitable for outdoor operations..."

He picked up the soy milk and took a sip.

It was sweet.

At 11:30 AM, Lin Mo appeared at the Canteen right on time.

Li Xiao was sitting by the window. Seeing him come in, her eyes lit up: "Senior Brother! Over here!"

Lin Mo walked over with his tray and sat down. On the tray were braised pork, tomato and scrambled eggs, and sautéed seasonal vegetables that Master Liu had specially set aside, along with a bowl of steaming rice.

"Master Liu said he added extra sugar to your portion," Li Xiao said with a giggle. "He knows you like it sweet."

Lin Mo picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth.

It was tender but not greasy, melting in his mouth, and indeed sweeter than usual.

"It's good," he said.

Li Xiao smiled even more happily. "Then eat more."

The two ate and chatted. Li Xiao talked about recent funny incidents at the data center—Xiao Wang spilling coffee on the keyboard, Xiao Zhang falling asleep staring at the screen in the middle of the night, someone naming a server "Sky Ladder No. 1." Lin Mo listened, interjecting a few words occasionally, his expression much more relaxed than in previous days.

After eating, Li Xiao walked him back to his office.

At the door, Li Xiao suddenly called out to him, "Senior Brother."

Lin Mo turned back. "Hmm?"

Li Xiao looked at him and said seriously, "If anything happens in the future, remember to call us. Don't carry it alone."

Lin Mo looked at her, remembering the clumsy little girl from a few years ago who asked "Senior Brother, what should I do?" about everything. Now she stood before him with a steady gaze, like a small tree that had already grown up.

"Alright," he said.

Li Xiao smiled, turned, and ran downstairs.

Lin Mo stood in the hallway, watching her silhouette disappear, then pushed the door into his office.

At 3:00 PM, Lin Mo held a short video conference.

Only four people attended—himself, Chen Xueming, Li Xiao, and Zhao Gang.

Chen Xueming was in the command room of the offshore platform, with busy technicians in the background; Li Xiao was in the data center, data streams still jumping on her screen; Zhao Gang was in the security command center, real-time monitoring footage in front of him.

"I'm calling this meeting to say something." Lin Mo looked at the three faces on the screen. "From now on, we'll divide the work like this—"

He wrote three words on the whiteboard: Carry It Together.

"Xueming is in charge of the platform; you make the final call on all construction issues. Report progress once a week, and contact me anytime for emergencies."

Chen Xueming nodded. "Understood."

"Li Xiao is in charge of data—blockchain systems, network security, engineering monitoring, it's all yours. Likewise, report once a week, and keep me informed of major matters."

Li Xiao nodded. "Received."

"Zhao Gang is in charge of security and all-area alerts. I'll synchronize intelligence from Director Fang's side with you; just say what support you need."

Zhao Gang stood at attention. "Yes sir."

Lin Mo paused and looked at them. "As for me, I'll be responsible for overall planning, coordination, and external relations. I will no longer approve every document or look into every detail. I trust you to handle things well."

The screens were quiet for a few seconds.

Then Chen Xueming laughed. "Old Lin, does this mean you've finally seen the light?"

Lin Mo also laughed. "I suppose so."

Li Xiao raised her hand on the side. "Senior Brother, does that mean we can decide some things on our own now?"

"Yes. But with one condition," Lin Mo looked at them. "Before deciding, think about what I would do if it were me. After deciding, just let me know."

Zhao Gang added from the side, "Isn't that still you managing things?"

The four of them laughed at the same time.

The laughter traveled through the video signals from Hainan to the offshore platform and back to Hainan. Across hundreds of kilometers, they laughed as if they were sitting in the same room.

At 6:00 PM, the sun was setting.

Lin Mo stood by the office window, watching the evening glow on the horizon. The orange-red light spilled over the base's rooftops, dyeing everything in warm colors.

His phone rang.

It was a photo from Chen Xueming.

In the photo, the workers on the offshore platform were finishing for the day. The sunset dyed the entire platform golden, and the massive tower cranes stood against the skyline like steel sculptures. In the distance, waves crashed against the platform's base, splashing white foam.

Below the photo was a line of text:

"Old Lin, the platform is doing great. Don't worry."

Lin Mo looked at the photo for a long time.

Then he replied:

"Good. Let's carry it together."

Three seconds later, Chen Xueming replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

A few seconds later, a message came from Li Xiao:

"Senior Brother, Master Liu is asking what you want for breakfast tomorrow?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment and replied:

"Xiaolongbao."

Li Xiao replied instantly:

"Received! I'll tell Master Liu to make extra; I want some too."

Lin Mo smiled.

The evening glow outside the window grew deeper, burning the entire sky into a sheet of orange-red. On the distant sea level, the silhouette of a freighter was faintly visible, slowly sailing into the distance.

He remembered what Wang Zhenguo had said: "One person goes fast, but a group goes far."

Before, he thought going fast himself was enough.

Now he understood.

The Sky Ladder wasn't something one person could build.

It needed Chen Xueming watching every cable on the platform, Li Xiao guarding every set of data in the data center, Zhao Gang blocking every hidden hand in the shadows, Section Chief Wu milling every raw fiber in the factory, and Master Liu delivering hot meals on time every day.

It needed everyone to carry it together.

The phone rang again.

It was an encrypted message from Fang Lin:

"George's traces have appeared in South America again. The target this time might be your material transport line. I've already synchronized with Zhao Gang; be careful."

Lin Mo looked at the message, his gaze calm.

George hadn't given up yet.

The threats in the shadows still remained.

But he was no longer facing them alone.

He put away his phone and took one last look at the sunset outside the window.

Tomorrow, the sun would rise again.

The Sky Ladder would continue to be built.