Chapter 48 Taking the Initiative to Schedule a Meeting

In the early morning, Kunlun Base was shrouded in a thin mist, with traces of snow still lingering on the distant peaks of the Qilian Mountains.

Lin Mo stood by his dormitory window, clutching a slip of paper—it had the phone number Fang Lin had left for him last night. Chen Xueming's number.

"Have you made up your mind?" Zhao Gang walked over from behind. The gauze on his arm had already been removed; his movements were still a bit stiff, but his spirit had fully recovered.

Lin Mo nodded. "I have."

"Then I'll go with you," Zhao Gang said as if it were a matter of course. "In case that kid loses his head—"

"He won't," Lin Mo interrupted, turning to look at Zhao Gang. "Besides, this is my business."

Zhao Gang raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but ultimately just patted Lin Mo on the shoulder. "Fine. Call me anytime if something happens."

Lin Mo smiled and looked down at the slip of paper.

Fang Lin's account of Chen Xueming's background from last night kept swirling in his mind. A PhD from Caltech, a postdoc at MIT, and three top-tier journal publications during his research in the US—a resume like that would make him a sought-after talent at any university in the country.

Yet he had returned, only to hit walls everywhere.

Lin Mo could imagine the sense of disparity. When he was being marginalized abroad, he must have fantasized about the scene upon his return: applause, recognition, and a chance to show his skills. But the reality was that his arrogance made colleagues uncomfortable, his resume made leaders wary, and his bluntness caused his project applications to be shelved time and again.

The irony was that his field of research—Lithium-Sulfur Batteries—was exactly what needed an electrochemical expert like him.

Lin Mo dialed the number.

It rang three times before someone picked up, but there was no sound.

"Dr. Chen," Lin Mo spoke first. "This is Lin Mo."

The other end was silent for a few seconds before Chen Xueming's somewhat raspy voice came through: "Is something the matter, Teacher Lin?"

That "Teacher Lin" sounded stiff, carrying a clear sense of reluctance.

"I'd like to invite you for a cup of tea," Lin Mo said. "There's a teahouse called 'The Old Place' in the small town just outside the base."

"Tea?" Chen Xueming was clearly stunned, likely not expecting Lin Mo to invite him for tea.

"Yes, tea," Lin Mo's tone was calm. "Tomorrow at three in the afternoon, I'll be waiting for you."

Another few seconds of silence.

"Fine," Chen Xueming said before hanging up.

Lin Mo put away his phone and looked out the window. The thin mist was dissipating, and sunlight spilled through the clouds, gilding the Kunlun Mountains in a layer of gold.

At half-past two the next afternoon, Lin Mo arrived at the town early.

Though called a town, it was actually a settlement that had developed around the base. It consisted of a few streets and dozens of shops, inhabited by the families of base employees or small vendors doing business with the base.

'The Old Place' teahouse was at the east end of the town. Its storefront wasn't large, but it was kept clean. The owner was a woman in her fifties whose husband was a veteran of the base; he had stayed here to open this shop after being discharged.

"Little Lin is here?" The woman recognized Lin Mo and greeted him with a smile. "The usual spot?"

"Yes, the one by the window," Lin Mo nodded. "A friend is coming in a bit. Bring a pot of a type of oolong tea first."

"Coming right up!"

Lin Mo sat by the window, where he could see the street outside. There weren't many people on the street at this time; occasionally, a military vehicle would drive by, kicking up a cloud of dust.

At five minutes to three, Chen Xueming's figure appeared at the corner.

He was still wearing that dark gray jacket, walking with his head slightly lowered at a steady pace. When he reached the teahouse entrance, he paused, looked up at the sign, and then pushed the door open.

"Over here," Lin Mo waved to him.

Chen Xueming walked over and sat down across from Lin Mo, his movements somewhat stiff. He looked at the teapot on the table, then at Lin Mo. His lips moved, but no words came out.

Lin Mo poured him a cup of tea. "a type of oolong tea. I'm not sure if it's to your taste."

Chen Xueming picked up the cup, took a sip, set it down, and finally spoke: "Is something the matter, Teacher Lin?"

It was still that stiff "Teacher Lin."

Lin Mo was in no hurry to answer. He poured himself a cup, took a slow sip, and then said, "Dr. Chen, I know what's on your mind right now."

Chen Xueming's eyes flickered. "Oh?"

"You're thinking whether I'm here to show off," Lin Mo's tone was calm. "Or perhaps to see you make a fool of yourself."

Chen Xueming didn't say anything, but his expression was an admission.

"Neither," Lin Mo set down his tea cup. "I'm here to apologize."

Chen Xueming was stunned.

"At the review meeting that day, my attitude wasn't very good," Lin Mo looked at him seriously. "The questions you raised were indeed valuable, but at the time, I was only thinking about how to prove myself and didn't respond to you properly."

Chen Xueming's lips moved, and after a long moment, he said, "You... don't need to apologize. I was the one who questioned your data first."

"Questioning is fine," Lin Mo said. "Scientific research is supposed to be questioned. What was problematic was my attitude."

Chen Xueming lowered his eyes, staring at the tea in his cup, and remained silent for a long while.

"Teacher Lin," his voice grew quieter, "do you know why I was so stubborn?"

"I know," Lin Mo said. "Director Fang told me about your situation."

Chen Xueming looked up, a trace of complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Then you should know I wasn't targeting you," he said. "I just... wasn't convinced."

"Not convinced of what?"

"Not convinced why you could do it when I've achieved nothing after three years," Chen Xueming's voice was a bit raspy. "When I was in America, Lithium-Sulfur Batteries were my main research direction. I published papers and held patents, but after returning—my project applications were rejected, my search for collaboration was rejected, and everyone said my theories were fine but too far from industrialization."

He picked up the tea cup and drained it in one gulp.

"But I won't accept it. Of the research I did in America, which one didn't start from theory? Which one wasn't questioned countless times? Why can they do it, but I have to wait?"

Lin Mo listened quietly without speaking.

"At the review meeting that day, when I saw your data—1450 watt-hours per kilogram," Chen Xueming gave a bitter smile. "My first reaction wasn't happiness, but disbelief. Because I've done it myself, I know how difficult that data is. I spent three years, and my best sample only reached 780. How did you do it? Just with that... whatever system?"

Lin Mo didn't take the bait, but instead asked, "Do you still doubt our data now?"

Chen Xueming was silent for a few seconds before shaking his head. "It was verified on-site. I saw it done with my own eyes. The data is real."

"Then do you believe it?"

This question left Chen Xueming stunned.

He opened his mouth to say something, then swallowed it back. Finally, he said, "I don't know what to believe. Believe that you have some special technology? But you won't say. Believe that you're lucky? But luck can't double energy density."

Lin Mo looked at him and suddenly asked, "Dr. Chen, if I invited you to join our team right now, would you be willing?"

The tea cup in Chen Xueming's hand almost fell.

He looked up sharply, staring at Lin Mo in disbelief. "What did you say?"

"I said, I'm inviting you to join," Lin Mo said word for word. "The Lithium-Sulfur Battery project group needs a talent like you."

Chen Xueming stared blankly at Lin Mo, the expression on his face shifting through shock, confusion, doubt, and expectation... before finally turning into bitterness.

"Teacher Lin," he set down the tea cup. "Are you serious, or do you pity me?"

"Neither," Lin Mo said. "I need you."

He looked into Chen Xueming's eyes, his tone serious. "Our sample reached 1450, but that data is just the beginning. To truly industrialize, there are countless problems to solve: cycle life, safety, cost control, production processes... every single one is a tough nut to crack. In our team, Li Xiao is a computer genius, Zhang Zhe is a materials expert, and Old Zhao is the head of security, but in the direction of electrochemistry—we lack someone who truly knows the trade."

Chen Xueming's Adam's apple bobbed.

"You've published in top journals, you hold patents, and you've researched the field of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries for eight whole years," Lin Mo said. "In this field, you know more than I do. I can stumble upon luck in the laboratory, but industrialization can't rely on luck; it has to rely on real skill. I believe in your skill."

Chen Xueming lowered his head, staring at the tea in his cup, which had already gone cold.

His shoulders trembled slightly.

"Aren't... aren't you afraid that if I join, I'll still have this foul temper?" His voice was a bit hoarse.

"I am," Lin Mo smiled. "But you aren't targeting me, so why should I be afraid?"

"I might question every decision you make."

"Questions are welcome. As long as you have data to support them."

"I might argue with your assistant."

"That girl, Li Xiao—most people can't win an argument against her."

"I..." Chen Xueming looked up, his eyes slightly red. "Teacher Lin, I really wasn't convinced. I wasn't targeting you, I just... wasn't reconciled. I returned to the country to do things, but in these past few years, I've achieved nothing."

"Now there's an opportunity," Lin Mo said.

Chen Xueming stared at Lin Mo for a long time, his gaze containing scrutiny, struggle, longing, and an indescribable emotion. Finally, he took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

Lin Mo thought he was about to leave.

But Chen Xueming didn't leave. He picked up the teapot, refilled Lin Mo's cup, and then poured one for himself.

Then he raised his tea cup, looked at Lin Mo, and said seriously, "Teacher Lin, I, Chen Xueming, don't know how to say pretty words. I toast you with this tea. In the future, just watch my performance."

Lin Mo raised his cup and lightly clinked it against his.

Both men drained their cups at the same time.

The sunlight from outside happened to shine in, falling on the table and on the two of them.

"Can you come to the base to report for duty tomorrow?" Lin Mo asked.

"I can," Chen Xueming nodded, then paused. "Teacher Lin, I have a question."

"Ask."

"That data of yours... how did you actually achieve it?"

Lin Mo smiled. "You'll find out tomorrow."

Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment, then he also smiled.

This was the first time he had smiled today.

By the time Lin Mo returned to the base, it was almost dark.

Zhao Gang was waiting at the entrance. Seeing him get out of the car, he quickly walked over. "How did it go?"

"It's settled," Lin Mo said. "He's coming to report tomorrow."

Zhao Gang breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned. "Do you really trust him?"

"If he really wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn't have publicly questioned us at the review meeting," Lin Mo said. "People like him are straightforward; they don't play dirty."

Zhao Gang thought about it and nodded. "I suppose so."

The two of them walked inside side by side.

"By the way," Zhao Gang suddenly said, "Li Xiao tinkered with a new program today. She says it can automatically analyze anomalies in experimental data. That girl has been making rapid progress lately."

"That's a good thing," Lin Mo smiled. "When Chen Xueming comes tomorrow, tell her to learn more about electrochemistry from him. She shouldn't just spend all day writing code."

"Alright, I'll pass it on," Zhao Gang laughed as well. "But that girl definitely won't be convinced. She thinks her coding is better than anything else."

Lin Mo shook his head and walked into the laboratory building.

At the end of the corridor, the laboratory lights were still on. Through the glass window, he could see Li Xiao hunched over her computer, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Zhang Zhe was nearby organizing samples, his movements focused.

Lin Mo stood by the window and watched for a few seconds, an indescribable sense of stability welling up in his heart.

These people were all here.

He pushed the door and walked in.

"Teacher Lin is back!" Li Xiao looked up. "How was it? Did that prickly Chen Xueming agree?"

"He agreed," Lin Mo said. "He's coming tomorrow."

"Wow!" Li Xiao's eyes lit up. "Then I have to tidy up my workstation. I can't let him laugh at how messy we are."

Zhang Zhe looked up and made a rare joke: "Are you sure you're afraid of being laughed at, and not just trying to leave a good impression on the new colleague?"

Li Xiao's face turned red. "Teacher Zhang, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Lin Mo smiled and walked to his workstation, sitting down and opening his computer.

On the screen, the system interface sat there quietly.

[Current research points: 870]

The last exchange for the Lithium-Sulfur Battery technology pack had cost 500 points, the simulation deduction took 50 points, and after the successful review meeting, it had increased by another 120 points. Good progress.

Lin Mo thought for a moment and typed a line into the system:

Query key bottlenecks in the industrialization of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The system quickly popped up the results:

[Key Bottlenecks for Industrialization]

Cycle life (Current lab data: 800 cycles, Industrialization requirement: ≥2000 cycles)

Safety (Dendrite growth issues, thermal runaway risk)

Cost control (Separators, electrolytes, additives)

Production processes (Consistency, yield rate)

[Suggested Directions for Breakthrough]

Electrolyte optimization—requires electrochemical expert

Separator modification—requires materials expert

Anode protection—requires joint effort

Lin Mo looked at the screen, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

The electrochemical expert would be arriving tomorrow.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper. The distant Kunlun Mountains were a faint silhouette, like a silent barrier.

But Lin Mo knew that beyond the barrier lay a much wider world.

And those worlds were waiting for them.