23: Chapter 23 He made the right bet!

On the other side.

The official vehicle drove steadily on the road back to the Third Research Institute.

Outside the car window, streetlights flew past one after another, casting alternating light and shadow inside the cabin.

Wei Jiancheng leaned back in the rear seat, his body, which had been tense all day, finally relaxed, but one hand rested on the edge of the car window, fingertips tapping unconsciously.

The rhythm was fast, revealing his still-unsettled state of mind.

Lin Yuan sat beside him, his body relaxed against the seat back, looking at the fleeting streetscape outside the window with a calm expression.

The car was very quiet.

The first to speak was Wei Jiancheng.

He gave a dry cough, turned his head to look at Lin Yuan, opened his mouth, and closed it again, as if deliberating on something he wasn't used to saying out loud.

This appearance formed a sharp contrast to his usual image of a decisive, quick-tempered powder keg.

Finally, he spoke up.

"Lin Yuan."

"Hmm?"

Lin Yuan turned his head.

Wei Jiancheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and a very unnatural expression appeared on his aged face.

"This..."

He even rubbed his hands together a bit awkwardly.

"You've probably figured out by now that I'm not someone who knows how to say polite pleasantries."

"But there is something I must tell you."

He raised his hand, and his fan-sized palm slapped heavily onto Lin Yuan's shoulder with a 'slap'.

"Thank you."

Just two words, dry and simple, yet they carried weight.

Lin Yuan's body swayed from the slap, and he smiled while rubbing his shoulder.

"Director Wei, this slap of yours is much more sincere than any polite words."

"Stop being cheeky."

Wei Jiancheng glared at him, but he couldn't suppress the slight arc at the corner of his mouth.

He braced his hands on his knees, leaned forward slightly, and stared at Lin Yuan, his eyes drifting a bit, as if he were talking to himself.

"I've spent most of my life working on the Photolithography Machine. Ever since I dove into it when I was young, most of my hair has turned white, and I've withered away."

"How many times have people from above come down to inspect and patted me on the shoulder, asking, 'Old Wei, is there any hope?'"

"I'd say yes."

"They'd ask again, 'How long?'"

"I'd say, 'It's hard to say.'"

He let out a self-deprecating dry laugh, a laugh filled with too much unspeakable bitterness.

"But now, damn it, I can finally say it out loud."

"Lin Yuan, if this really succeeds, you will be the undisputed number one contributor in our Xia Country's Photolithography Machine field."

Lin Yuan looked at his bloodshot eyes and the flame called hope that had reignited in the depths of them.

This stubbornness and passion could not be faked.

"Director Wei, it's too early to say that now."

Lin Yuan restrained his smile, his expression turning serious.

"Theoretical verification is just the first hurdle. Afterward, forming the special task force, building the prototype, system integration... which of these isn't a tough battle?"

"A tough battle?"

Wei Jiancheng scoffed, snorting air through his nose.

"In my life, when have I ever been afraid of a tough battle?"

However, after saying this, he leaned back against the seat and raised a hand to rub his temples.

"It's just that I'm a bit older now, and my stamina isn't what it used to be."

"Twenty or thirty years ago, let alone staying up all night, it was normal for me to not leave the laboratory for three days and three nights..."

Halfway through, he waved his hand, cutting himself off.

"Forget it, no point in talking about past glories."

"In short, the road is open now. Even if I, Old Wei, have to risk this old life of mine, I will get this machine built!"

Lin Yuan looked at him, said nothing more, and just smiled quietly.

The car soon drove into the Third Research Institute and slowed to a stop in front of the administration building.

The car door opened, and Wei Jiancheng jumped out first; his energy level was completely different from when they had departed.

Lin Yuan followed him out of the car, and the two stood under the streetlamp.

"Director Wei, go back and get some rest early tonight."

He tilted his chin toward the direction of the dormitory building.

"Don't let the commander-in-chief collapse before the special task force is even approved."

Wei Jiancheng let out a "Tsk" and retorted stubbornly.

"Rest assured, my health is just fine."

After saying that, he didn't linger, waved at Lin Yuan, turned around, and walked toward the dormitory building with long, determined strides.

Lin Yuan watched his hurried figure disappear beyond the halo of the streetlamp, shook his head, and turned to walk in the opposite direction.

...

Meanwhile.

In the Ziguang Pavilion, on the corridor leading to Elder Long's office area.

Lin Jixian walked quickly, his leather shoes making little sound on the carpet, but the frequency of his steps betrayed his inner unrest.

The news he had just heard from Chen Jingshan was like a fire, burning fiercely in his chest.

He now had only one thought repeating over and over in his mind—

"How long had it been since the Xia Country Daily published that tweet about the theoretical breakthrough in Photolithography Machine?"

One day.

At most, less than twenty-four hours.

When the tweet was published, to be honest, Lin Jixian's heart had been hanging in the balance.

After all, at that time, as far as he knew, it was just a concept for a Steady-state Micro-focused Light Source.

And now—

Chen Jingshan told him that the theoretical data was not only available, but it was a complete set, verified, and even the pickiest technical fanatics at the Third Research Institute of the Xia Academy of Sciences were convinced.

Not only that, but Lin Yuan also held the theoretical data for the objective lens and the wafer stage.

He even proposed a plan to form a special task force to overcome the challenges of the Photolithography Machine.

When Chen Jingshan said these things on the other end of the phone, Lin Jixian once thought he was dreaming.

Was Xia Country really going to have its own top-tier Photolithography Machine?

He walked through the corridor, came to an inconspicuous door, adjusted his breathing, and knocked three times gently.

"Come in."

Long Zhenguo's steady voice came from inside the door.

Lin Jixian pushed the door open and entered; Elder Long was sitting behind his desk, looking at a document.

"Elder Long."

Lin Jixian stood still, without any unnecessary pleasantries, and went straight to the point.

"Dean Chen from the Xia Academy of Sciences just called."

"The complete set of theoretical materials for the 'Steady-state Micro-focused Light Source' submitted by Comrade Lin Yuan today has passed full verification by the Third Research Institute and is completely feasible."

Upon hearing this, Elder Long slowly raised his head, put down the pen in his hand, and his gaze fell on Lin Jixian's face.

Lin Jixian bore that gaze and continued his report, every word resounding with impact.

"In addition, Comrade Lin Yuan also stated that he has theoretical achievements in the other two major core components of the Photolithography Machine: the objective lens system and the dual-wafer stage system."

"He proposed to Dean Chen to set up a special task force to overcome the Photolithography Machine challenges, advancing the three major components simultaneously to conquer them together!"

"Dean Chen has already agreed and is organizing the proposal, preparing to submit it."

The report was finished.

Lin Jixian stood with his hands down, waiting for the final instructions.

The office was quiet for a few seconds.

Long Zhenguo did not speak.

He put down the internal reference he was holding and slowly leaned back against the chair.

The old man with graying temples, his eyes that had seen all the storms of history, were slightly closed at this moment, making it impossible for anyone to see the emotions within.

But Lin Jixian noticed that the index finger of Elder Long's right hand, resting on the armrest, tapped gently.

Just once.

Having followed Elder Long for so many years, the number of times Lin Jixian had seen this movement could be counted on one hand.

Every time it appeared, it meant that the old man's heart was experiencing a violent turbulence far beyond what others could imagine.

That day, in this office, when Lin Yuan sat across from Elder Long and said, "I have a system," Elder Long chose to believe him.

And now, in just a few days, Lin Yuan had placed the results before him.

The theoretical data was here.

The verification results were positive.

He even had knowledge of all three major components and wanted to form a special task force to go all out.

What did this mean?

It meant that the unbelievable system—was real!

It wasn't a scam, not a hallucination, and not some audacious bluff by a young man.

It was a real, power-altering force capable of changing the destiny of a nation, one that transcended everyone's understanding.

He had won the bet!

"Regarding the special task force."

Long Zhenguo finally spoke, his voice as steady as ever, but with an imperceptible weight to it.

"What exactly does the Xia Academy of Sciences need?"

Lin Jixian perked up, straightening his back as a conditioned reflex.

"Dean Chen is organizing the specific proposal. Initially, it looks like the scale of resources required will be massive. Personnel, equipment, funding, facilities, and inter-departmental coordination authority..."

"Tell him to submit the proposal as soon as possible."

Long Zhenguo's fingers tapped lightly on the desk twice.

"If they need people, give them people; if they need resources, give them resources."

"List all the necessary personnel and materials. Do not cut corners, do not compromise; write down exactly what is needed."

Lin Jixian's breathing hitched.

Do not cut corners, do not compromise.

These eight words would never appear in the approval process of any national-level project.

Elder Long's voice sounded again, calm, yet carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

"Tell Old Chen, I will approve the money and the personnel."

"If there is any resistance..."

"... I will coordinate it!"