Chapter 268 Lin Mo's Admonition
January 27, 2040.
3:00 PM, Hainan Astronaut Training Center.
Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the lounge, casting warm shadows on the wooden floor. Outside, several coconut trees swayed gently in the breeze, with the azure sea visible in the distance.
It was the final day before the test.
The three astronauts sat on the sofa in casual clothes, looking much more relaxed than during training. Zhang Pengfei held a cup of tea, sipping it slowly; Engineer Li Wei leaned against the back of the sofa with his eyes closed to rest; Medical Monitor Wang Yanan flipped through a magazine, occasionally looking out the window.
The door was pushed open.
Lin Mo walked in.
The three of them stood up at the same time.
"Chief Designer Lin!" Zhang Pengfei greeted him. "What brings you here?"
Lin Mo smiled and went over to shake hands with each of them. His hand was steady, but his grip was firm.
"I came to see you all," he said. "Sit, everyone sit."
The four of them sat down on the sofas. Lin Mo sat in the middle, with Zhang Pengfei on his left, Engineer Li Wei on his right, and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan sitting opposite them.
A few seconds of silence followed.
Lin Mo looked at them, his gaze moving from Zhang Pengfei's face to Engineer Li Wei's, and then to Medical Monitor Wang Yanan's. The expressions on all three were calm, but Lin Mo could see what lay beneath that calm—anticipation, tension, and a trace of subtle unease.
"Tomorrow, you'll be going up," Lin Mo said, his voice very soft.
The three of them nodded.
Lin Mo continued, "I know you've trained for a long time and are well-prepared. I also know that you aren't afraid of anything."
He paused.
"But I want to tell you one thing."
The three of them looked at him, waiting for him to speak.
Lin Mo's gaze became very deep.
"You are pioneers of human space exploration," he said. "Starting tomorrow, you will take humanity's first space elevator toward a destination thirty-six thousand kilometers away. This is something no one in history has ever done before."
His voice tightened slightly.
"But to me, you aren't just pioneers." He looked at Zhang Pengfei. "You are Zhang Pengfei, who has a daughter waiting for your return." He looked at Engineer Li Wei. "You are Engineer Li Wei, who loves to joke and loves braised pork." He looked at Medical Monitor Wang Yanan. "You are Medical Monitor Wang Yanan, who is meticulously detailed and always the last one to double-check the equipment."
His eyes reddened slightly.
"You are the people I trust the most."
The lounge was deathly quiet.
The sound of the wind outside and the distant waves felt as if they were isolated in another world.
Lin Mo stood up, walked over to them, and held out his hand.
Zhang Pengfei was the first to stand and shake his hand. Lin Mo's grip was firm, and he held it for a long time.
"Come back safely," Lin Mo said.
Zhang Pengfei nodded, his eyes a bit red. "We will."
Engineer Li Wei was the second to stand and shake Lin Mo's hand. His lips moved as if to say something, but the words didn't come out. Lin Mo patted his shoulder. "When you get back, I'll treat you to all the braised pork you can eat."
Engineer Li Wei laughed, but as he did, tears glistened in the corners of his eyes.
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan was the third to stand. She took Lin Mo's hand and looked into his eyes.
"Chief Designer Lin," she said softly, "we will come back."
Lin Mo nodded without saying a word.
The three of them stood in a row, facing him.
Then, they simultaneously raised their right hands and gave a solemn military salute.
Lin Mo looked at them, silent for a few seconds.
Then, he gave a deep bow.
At 5:00 PM, the lounge door was pushed open again.
Chen Xueming walked in, carrying three insulated lunch boxes.
"Master Liu asked me to bring these," he said, placing the lunch boxes on the table. "Braised pork, sweet and sour spare ribs, and steamed fish—all your favorites."
The three of them gathered around and opened the lunch boxes. The steaming aroma wafted out, filling the entire lounge.
Engineer Li Wei took a deep breath. "I've missed Master Liu's cooking so much!"
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan smiled as she picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth. "Delicious!"
Zhang Pengfei ate slowly, his gaze fixed on the sea outside the window.
Chen Xueming sat beside him and asked softly, "Commander Zhang, what are you thinking about?"
Zhang Pengfei was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Thinking about my daughter."
Chen Xueming nodded and said nothing.
Zhang Pengfei continued, "She called me yesterday and said she ranked third in her grade on the mock exam. I told her I was proud of her. She said, 'Dad, you have to work hard too. I'll be waiting for you to come back.'"
His voice choked up slightly.
Chen Xueming patted his shoulder. "You will. After she finishes her college entrance exams, you can bring her up here to take a look."
Zhang Pengfei turned to look at him and smiled.
"Okay."
At 7:00 PM, Zhao Gang entered the lounge.
He was wearing a training uniform and looked travel-worn, clearly having just rushed back from the platform.
"You're all here?" He smiled and walked over, shaking hands with everyone.
Zhang Pengfei looked at him. "Commander Zhao, how are things over at the platform?"
Zhao Gang nodded. "Everything is normal. We've tripled the patrol boats, the radar is monitoring twenty-four hours a day, and the underwater sonar has been upgraded. Not even a fly could get in."
Engineer Li Wei laughed. "Commander Zhao, I believe you. Last time you said not even a fly could get in, those two divers were caught."
Zhao Gang laughed as well. "That was an accident. It won't happen this time."
He paused and looked at the three of them.
"Tomorrow, go up with peace of mind. Leave everything on the ground to us."
The three of them nodded.
Zhao Gang reached out and shook each of their hands. Then he stood still and looked at them.
"I've been a soldier for twenty years and have protected many people," he said in a low voice. "But protecting you is the most important mission of my life."
Zhang Pengfei looked at him and nodded solemnly.
At 9:00 PM, the three of them stood on the rooftop of the training center.
Above them was a dense blanket of stars, and in the distance were the city lights. The sea breeze blew gently, carrying a salty tang.
Engineer Li Wei looked up at the starry sky. "Tomorrow, we're going up."
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan stood beside him. "Are you scared?"
Engineer Li Wei thought for a moment. "A little bit. But mostly, I'm excited."
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan smiled. "Me too."
Zhang Pengfei stood behind them without speaking. He just looked at the starry sky, toward where the invisible cables extended.
After a long time, he said softly:
"Let's go. Back to sleep."
The three of them turned and walked toward the stairs.
Tomorrow, when the sun rises, they will step onto that road leading to the stars.