Chapter 42 Review Preparation

At six in the morning, Li Xiao woke up. It wasn't the alarm that woke her, but the tension in her own heart. The expert group was arriving today, and the review would officially begin tomorrow. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, mentally reviewing the prepared materials over and over again.

Literature reviews, experimental data, test reports, patent documents... She had checked every single one at least three times, yet she still felt uneasy.

By six-thirty, she couldn't lie still any longer. She got up, washed up, and rushed into the laboratory before seven o'clock.

There was already someone in the laboratory.

Lin Mo was sitting in front of the computer, holding a cup of coffee, staring at the data on the screen. Hearing the door, he turned his head, saw Li Xiao, and paused for a moment.

"So early?"

Li Xiao nodded, walked to her desk, and turned on her computer. Lin Mo looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Nervous?"

Li Xiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "A little bit."

Lin Mo put down his coffee cup, stood up, and walked over to her.

"Li Xiao," he said, "do you know what our data is?"

"1450."

"Then do you know what the best lithium battery on the market is?"

"250 to 300."

"And the Germany team's?"

"780."

Lin Mo nodded, looking at her: "Then what are you still nervous about?"

Li Xiao paused, then smiled.

"Teacher Lin," she said, "now that you put it that way, it seems there really isn't anything to be nervous about."

Lin Mo patted her shoulder and turned back to his seat.

"Everything that needed to be prepared has been prepared," he said. "As for the rest, let those experts come and ask."

At nine in the morning, Zhao Gang brought a few security personnel to start setting up the conference room.

The conference room was on the second floor of the base, a place specifically for receiving important visitors. It was over a hundred square meters, with an oval long table in the middle that could seat twenty people. Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, and the view outside the window was excellent, overlooking the distant mountains.

Zhao Gang stood at the doorway, directing a few people to adjust the position of the tables and chairs.

"Move the table ten centimeters to the left," he said. "Yes, like that. Arrange the chairs neatly, with equal spacing."

A young security guard asked in a low voice: "Captain Zhao, it's just a review meeting, is it necessary to be this meticulous?"

Zhao Gang glanced at him, a look that made the young security guard immediately shut his mouth.

Liu Yang was snickering on the side, but after receiving a glare from Zhao Gang, he quickly composed himself.

"All personnel entering and leaving must be registered," Zhao Gang continued with the instructions. "Set up a security check at the entrance of the conference room; everyone must pass through it. Mobile phones, computers, any electronic devices are not allowed inside."

He walked to the window and pointed outside: "Install temporary surveillance outside the windows to cover all angles. There will be people on duty in the corridor twenty-four hours a day."

The young security guard was stunned as he listened: "Captain Zhao, what level of security is this?"

Zhao Gang was silent for two seconds, then said: "National level."

At ten in the morning, the first batch of experts arrived at the base.

Lin Mo stood by the laboratory window, watching the black commercial vehicle slowly drive into the gate. The car door opened, and three men of similar age stepped out. They were all in their fifties, dressed impeccably, with elegant temperaments.

Fang Lin stood at the entrance to welcome them and shook hands with each of them.

Lin Mo did not go down. Fang Lin had said that before the review begins, it is best for the protagonist to maintain a bit of mystery.

But he remembered those three faces.

At two in the afternoon, the second batch of experts arrived.

This time there were two: one had gray hair and looked to be over sixty; the other was in his early forties, wore glasses, and looked scholarly.

Fang Lin welcomed them as well.

Lin Mo continued to stand by the window, watching those unfamiliar faces walk into the base one after another.

At four in the afternoon, the last car arrived.

The car door opened, and a man wearing a dark jacket stepped out. He was in his thirties, of medium height, and wore gold-rimmed glasses. After getting out of the car, he didn't look around, but walked straight toward Fang Lin with a quick pace.

Chen Xueming.

Lin Mo watched that figure from a distance of several dozen meters. His posture while walking was very confident, even a bit arrogant, as if he were on his own turf.

Fang Lin went up to meet him and shook his hand. He nodded, said a few words, and then followed the reception staff inside.

Lin Mo only had time to see a profile.

But he remembered that sharp gaze—it was exactly the same as yesterday.

At seven in the evening, in the cafeteria.

Li Xiao carried a plate of food and sat down opposite Lin Mo, her expression complex.

"Teacher Lin, I saw that Chen Xueming."

Lin Mo looked up: "Oh?"

Li Xiao lowered her voice and said mysteriously: "He was sitting in the corner eating, all by himself. He ignored everyone and just stared at his phone."

Lin Mo smiled: "Why were you staring at him?"

Li Xiao blushed: "I just... wanted to see what he looked like."

"And what does he look like?"

Li Xiao thought for a moment and said seriously: "Quite handsome. It's just that... he looks like he's not someone to be trifled with."

Lin Mo was amused by her.

After dinner, the two of them walked toward the laboratory.

When passing by the conference room, the door was ajar, and it was brightly lit inside. Several experts were gathered around the table discussing something, and their voices could be heard faintly.

Li Xiao stopped, wanting to listen, but was pulled away by Lin Mo.

"Don't listen," he said, "tomorrow you'll know what they're going to ask."

At nine in the evening, Lin Mo checked the materials for the last time.

All the data had been organized, five copies each, bound into volumes. The original experimental records were also ready, a thick stack piled on the table.

Li Xiao stood by, looking at the materials, and suddenly said: "Teacher Lin, I think we can do it."

Lin Mo looked up: "Why are you suddenly so confident?"

Li Xiao thought about it: "Because we are real."

Lin Mo looked at her and smiled.

"Yes," he said, "we are real."

At ten in the evening, Lin Mo walked out of the laboratory.

The corridor was very quiet, with only his own footsteps. When passing by the security control room, he glanced inside—Zhao Gang was still there, facing the screens on the wall. He knocked on the door and walked in.

"Captain Zhao, not heading back yet?"

Zhao Gang shook his head: "I'm on the night shift tonight."

Lin Mo stood beside him, watching the surveillance footage. The entrance to the conference room, the experts' dormitory building, the cafeteria, the corridors... every corner was clearly visible.

"Thank you for your hard work," he said.

Zhao Gang didn't speak, just nodded.

Lin Mo turned to leave, when he suddenly heard Zhao Gang say: "Dr. Lin."

He stopped and turned back.

Zhao Gang looked at him, with something complex in his eyes.

"Tomorrow," he said, "do a good job."

Lin Mo paused, then smiled.

"Okay."

He walked out of the control room and walked down the empty corridor.

Outside the window, the moonlight was perfect.

Tomorrow would be the real test.

But in his heart, he was as calm as a pool of water.