Chapter 57#
Return#
In the end, in front of the people of the whole country, the people from the Space Agency gave the small rocket model to the researcher.
The researcher stood among the people from the Space Agency holding the small rocket model, his expression extremely tragic.
When Team Leader Mo returns from his business trip, he would be almost gone.
Netizens were delighted when they saw his expression.
[Laughing to death! So easy to deceive hahahahahaha]
[Is the team leader he mentioned the one who liked to touch medals mentioned during the award ceremony two years ago? Help! Too cute!]
[Someone actually remembers! My first reaction was also him! By the way, has Professor Wang found a partner?]
[I’m also curious; the image of a perpetual bachelor is too deeply rooted in people’s hearts.]
The reporter glanced at the phone screen handed over by the photographer, then turned and asked the researcher: “May I ask, after the previous award ceremony, did your Team Leader Mo finally get to touch the medal?”
The researcher said without thinking: “He touched it, he touched it. Professor Wang let him touch it after going back.”
The reporter smiled: “So it really is that Team Leader Mo.”
The researcher paused.
He hugged the small rocket in his hands tightly, and his eyes gradually rounded.
The reporter was tricking him into talking!
“One last question,” the reporter said, suppressing a smile, “this is also the question the vast number of netizens are most concerned about. Has Professor Wang found a partner?”
The researcher was originally a bit nervous, afraid that the reporter would trick him into talking again. Upon hearing the question, he relaxed. He raised an eyebrow and shook his head quickly: “He’s still far from it.”
Wang Zhifeng had always been thinking about their Team Leader Mo but didn’t dare to pursue him. According to his speed, they might already be holding children while he was still being “loving and harmonious best friends” with Team Leader Mo.
A live broadcast that was originally very tense and solemn became a scene of great joy after the excitement and exhilaration of the successful launch, especially with the reporter’s subsequent interview.
the entire live broadcast was very successful, and afterward, topics related to the rocket launch successfully dominated the trending search.
Dawn-2 Successfully Launched!#
Digging Up Rocket Model#
Professor Wang Has No Partner#
CCTV Reporter’s Continuous Tricking # In this wave, the reporter is in the stratosphere!#
Spring went and autumn came, cold went and summer arrived.
In every ordinary day and night, there were always people constantly striving for the sake of thousands of households.
Western Desert.
As the first ray of the morning sun leaped out from the distant sand dunes, the sound of propellers echoed through the desert.
The sand and dust shook, and the gates that had been closed for several years and were already covered with yellow sand made a booming sound and slowly opened.
The incandescent light coming from inside the gate illuminated the nearby sand, which was still a bit dim.
A line of silhouettes was projected onto the sandy ground.
The neatly lined-up pilots and escort guards stood at attention and saluted as soon as they saw the gates of the research base open.
The sound of the propellers gradually weakened, and only the sound of fabric rubbing remained on the empty desert.
The photographer sent by the central government stood aside with a camera, feeling his throat a bit dry, but didn’t even dare to swallow.
A young man wearing a white lab coat was the first to walk out.
Facing the rising morning sun, he gave a military salute. Facing the group of soldiers, his back was still held straight, and his voice was clear, elegant, and resonant:
“I am the general manager of the CI project, the person in charge of the General Institute of Technology affiliated with Jinghua University directly under the central government, Mo Xuzhi.”
“After three years, five months, and twenty-eight days, the 1,161 researchers of the CI project have lived up to the expectations of the central government and the country, and successfully completed the CI project.”
“The CI project is declared successful.”
One of the pilots took a step forward.
“Yu Yang, commander of the Second Regiment, Third Brigade, Fifth Division of the First Flight Army, reporting to you. We are the various battalion and platoon commanders of the Second Regiment.”
“Now following the orders of the central government, we’re taking you home!”
A long wind rose across the vast yellow desert.
The moment Mo Xuzhi and Yu Yang’s eyes met, both of them were stunned for a moment.
Then they moved their gazes away from each other and began to organize the departure.
There were too many researchers to fly all at once, so they left in several batches.
Mo Xuzhi and Wang Zhifeng stayed until the last.
Everyone else had already boarded the helicopters. The two stood together and, seeing that everyone had left, boarded a nearby helicopter together.
After boarding the helicopter, Mo Xuzhi leaned against the backrest and stopped moving. The spirit he had just forced up disappeared instantly. He reached out his hand toward Wang Zhifeng, his eyes narrowed into a slit. “Go to sleep later.”
Wang Zhifeng set aside the SpongeBob eye mask Mo Xuzhi wanted, shook out a few pills, found a water cup to test the water temperature, and after finding it was warm, unscrewed the bottle cap and said: “Take the medicine first.”
Mo Xuzhi replied weakly: “Okay.”
He struggled to get up and took the medicine, then immediately closed his eyes after finishing.
Wang Zhifeng put away the pill box and the water cup, then dutifully put the eye mask on Mo Xuzhi.
The light in the sky was strong, and Mo Xuzhi never slept comfortably with the light on his eyes.
“This…”
An officer in the front passenger seat wanted to speak but was nudged by the elbow of the pilot in the driver’s seat.
“It’s fine, he’s just a bit sensitive to light,” Wang Zhifeng said, taking off his white lab coat and covering Mo Xuzhi with it. “Even the sound of the propellers won’t wake him up.”
Mo Xuzhi had been too tired these past few days, reaching the point where he could fall asleep even standing up as soon as he closed his eyes.
When it reached the acceptance stage, there was no place that didn’t need him. While others were only responsible for their own departments, Mo Xuzhi had to go around the entire site. He had only rested for a few hours in total over several consecutive days. It was good enough that he didn’t fall head-first into the sand when he came out.
The person in the passenger seat saw that Wang Zhifeng’s series of movements were overly familiar and was a bit surprised: “You two have a really good relationship.”
Wang Zhifeng smiled slightly and gently supported the side of Mo Xuzhi’s head, letting him lean on him.
The helicopter crossed the desert and delivered everyone to the airport.
The researchers bid farewell to the pilots and changed to a special plane bound for Beijing.
“What is the commander looking at?”
The airport was cleared from 8:00 to 10:00 to make room for the helicopters and the special plane and to avoid accidents caused by passengers watching. Only the pilots and airport staff were in the area, and the rest were the researchers boarding the plane. Seeing Yu Yang staring at the place where they were boarding, the person standing aside also looked over there but didn’t see anything special.
“Nothing.” Yu Yang withdrew his gaze and then gave a loud shout, “Fall in!”
Wang Zhifeng carried Mo Xuzhi onto the plane on his back.
The plane was much quieter than the helicopter and more comfortable to sit on. Most of the researchers couldn’t hold on and fell asleep.
Wang Zhifeng also closed his eyes and took a short nap.
The plane soon arrived in Beijing.
Beijing was not like the Northwest. As a transportation hub connecting various parts of the country and abroad, the airport could not be closed for two hours; it could only vacate a passage so that researchers could get directly into the cars after getting off the plane.
People waiting for planes at the airport were already curious when they saw the row of vehicles at the airport entrance. Then, when they saw a plane land, the airport staff and armed police all rushed over quickly.
First one person, then two people, then everyone got off the plane in order.
They were all wearing uniform white lab coats and were led by the staff through a special passage to get directly into the cars.
So those cars were prepared for them.
“Who are those people? Are they doctors?”
“So many doctors?” someone said, “it doesn’t seem quite like it.”
The cars parked at the entrance came and went. Four planes came in succession, and only after people got off four times did the airport staff disperse.
Armed police protected the last people to get off the plane as they left the airport.
Mo Xuzhi was among them.
The plane was a bit bumpy during the descent. After being shaken awake, he pulled off his eye mask and looked around, only to find that he had not only gotten off the helicopter but had also arrived at the airport in Beijing.
This sleep had been quite long.
As soon as he woke up, Wang Zhifeng beside him also woke up.
Wang Zhifeng let him take a sip of water to moisten his throat, and then they got off the plane.
On the last plane, there were not only researchers but also accompanying doctors and others. Everyone didn’t say much, or rather didn’t have much strength to speak, and left the airport quietly and in an orderly manner.
Unlike the silence here, the other side of the airport was overly lively, with screams and shouts filling people’s ear canals.
Over there, it should be fans picking up stars at the airport, and the scene was very lively. Some fans even interfered with ordinary tourists boarding or leaving, and the airport security had to go to maintain order.
Everyone from the research base was assigned to different hospitals in Beijing for physical examinations.
Many people were found with various minor problems and had to stay in the hospital temporarily.
Other people who had no problems would be arranged in nearby hotels if they wanted to rest, and if they felt they could continue and wanted to go back, helicopters would be arranged for transportation.
There were no other major problems with Mo Xuzhi’s body; it was still the same as before, just too tired and needing a rest.
He happened to be assigned to the military region hospital where he had stayed before. The doctors and nurses were very enthusiastic, saying there was no need to be polite and that returning here was like returning home.
Mo Xuzhi ultimately didn’t stay at the hospital.
Wang Zhifeng said his home was nearby and he wouldn’t mind if he went to his house to rest.
Since it was just for a sleep anyway, Mo Xuzhi decided to go to Wang Zhifeng’s house to rest, which was better than occupying medical resources here.
What Wang Zhifeng meant by “nearby” was truly nearby; after leaving the hospital and walking a few more steps, they reached the community where he lived.
Click
The front door opened, and Wang Zhifeng entered the house first, then took a pair of yellow slippers from the shoe cabinet.
It was a yellow, blue-eyed SpongeBob.
Mo Xuzhi didn’t put them on immediately.
Wang Zhifeng knew what he was thinking and said: “These are prepared for guests, you can wear them with peace of mind.”
Mo Xuzhi then put on the slippers and followed him into the house.
Wang Zhifeng lived in a high-rise duplex with a very good view. After the entrance was the living room, which had floor-to-ceiling windows. The floor-to-ceiling windows faced the front door. As soon as you entered the door, you could see the clouds rendered by the sunlight.
His house was also very tidy, without using too gorgeous or somber colors. White walls and wooden furniture, with a pot of green plants placed in front of the window, looked simple and clear, very comfortable.
“This is the kitchen and study, and the master bedroom. The guest room is over there, with a bathroom and a washstand inside.”
Mo Xuzhi stood in the living room looking at the scenery. Wang Zhifeng found towels, toothbrushes, and other things from the cabinet and said, “If you want to take a shower, there are clothes to change into in the wardrobe of the room, none of which have been worn. The quilt cover on the bed is changed by the cleaning service every two weeks, so you can sleep directly.”
“Wait a minute,” Mo Xuzhi saw him taking out toothbrushes, towels, and mouthwash cups from the cabinet, and even having a tendency to continue taking things, he quickly stopped him and said, “I’m just sleeping here for a while.”
Wang Zhifeng’s movements stopped, and he looked up and smiled, “I know.”
Mustn’t be in a hurry; must take it slow.
Mustn’t scare the person away.
Mo Xuzhi took a quick shower and then buried himself in the quilt.
Wang Zhifeng’s guest room was arranged very similarly to his dormitory at Jingda, even the green plants on the windowsill were the same. The feeling of not being adjusted to it disappeared instantly. He was already sleepy, and his head fell asleep as soon as it touched the bed.
Wang Zhifeng closed the room door, went back to his own room for a shower, set an alarm, and also slept for a while. After the alarm rang, he got up and went out.
When Mo Xuzhi got up, he found that it was already dark.
The twilight outside the window was heavy, and looking down from the window, he could see most of the dot-like lights.
Mo Xuzhi opened the room door and saw that the light in the living room was on, but no one was there.
A sound came from the kitchen, and a scent floated in the air.
Mo Xuzhi went to the kitchen.
The kitchen was full of steam. When the door opened, accompanied by the heat wave rushing to his face was an even stronger aroma.
Wang Zhifeng was still wearing an apron. Hearing the sound, he turned his head and just saw Mo Xuzhi standing at the door.
He looked as if he hadn’t fully woken up, his eyelids still drooping, and his hair also very messy.
“Awake?” Wang Zhifeng smiled, “If you’re awake, go rinse your mouth. It’s time to eat in a while.”
Mo Xuzhi’s mind was dazed at this moment. He did whatever Wang Zhifeng said, and he really turned around and went back to the room to brush his teeth.
After washing his face, his head became a bit clearer.
When he came out of the room again, Wang Zhifeng had already brought the dishes to the dining table and was arranging the bowls and chopsticks.
He hadn’t eaten much all day, and Mo Xuzhi still felt good. As soon as he smelled this scent, he suddenly had a bit of an appetite.
Mo Xuzhi approached the dining table, looked down at the food on the table, was a bit surprised, and asked: “You made all these?”
“Mm.” Wang Zhifeng arranged the bowls and chopsticks, came over to pull out a chair for Mo Xuzhi, and said: “Eat quickly.”
Mo Xuzhi said thank you, then sat down and began to eat face-to-face with Wang Zhifeng.
They had eaten face-to-face like this countless times before, but this time it felt a bit different.
Maybe it was because Wang Zhifeng made the meal this time, or maybe it was because he was at Wang Zhifeng’s house for the first time; his subjective feeling was different.
Wang Zhifeng poured Mo Xuzhi a glass of milk, then asked: “Mo Xuzhi, do you like dogs?”
“Hmm?”
Mo Xuzhi looked up, “Why do you ask?”
“It’s like this. A friend’s dog wasn’t watched, and went out with another family’s dog for a while, and when it came home it was carrying puppies. He can’t raise them all and is asking who wants to raise one.”
Wang Zhifeng lied without a draft. The dog was real; the friend was fake.
He had been planning this since he learned about Mo Xuzhi’s illness. He read many books about raising pet dogs and checked a lot of information, and now he finally had the time to implement it.
The doctor said that raising a clingy pet would have a very good effect on curing depression.
“I currently don’t have…”
“I know,” Wang Zhifeng said. “It’s me who’s raising it. After not rushing the schedule now, I’m not that busy anymore. I wanted to ask if you could accompany me to pick up the puppy tomorrow?”
Mo Xuzhi nodded: “Sure.”
After this project was over, the higher-ups gave them five days of leave, and there was no problem doing anything.
Wang Zhifeng smiled and added: “My friend is catching a plane and needs to go relatively early tomorrow. It’s already not early now, and this place is a bit far from the Institute of Technology and your apartment. Just stay here for tonight.”
Mo Xuzhi agreed.
After traveling for so long today, he didn’t want to move a single bit anymore.
“What about the others? Are they still in the hospital?”
Wang Zhifeng said: “Those who need treatment are all in the hospital. There’s a press conference the day after tomorrow. Everyone except those who need to stay for the press conference can freely plan their itinerary.”
“Mm… hmm?” Mo Xuzhi realized it and felt refreshed, “Press conference?”
Wang Zhifeng said: “A notice has already been sent, and it was also sent to you. You didn’t receive it, so let me pass it on.”
It meant he had to participate.
Mo Xuzhi stared at the chopsticks in his hand and sighed.
He would rather stay in the laboratory for another half month than deal with the media.
“What about the people in our Institute of Technology?”
“Two of them were frequently in contact with radioactive elements, and their bodies have some damage.” Seeing Mo Xuzhi’s expression change instantly, Wang Zhifeng added, “It’s partial organ damage. An examination has been done, and no other lesions were caused. As long as they take good care of themselves, they will be fine.”
Mo Xuzhi’s furrowed brows then relaxed a bit, and he asked again: “What about the others?”
“They’ve already gone back. They are the fastest ones to run after being assigned to the military region hospital.”
Mo Xuzhi’s eyebrows relaxed, and he smiled: “They are the most active when it comes to holidays.”
Wang Zhifeng nodded: “After all, it’s an excellent tradition of the Institute of Technology.”
Besides them being a bit busy, the Science Park could be considered the earliest and most punctual among the research institutes when it came to leaving work.
The researchers at their institute leaving work could be compared to middle school students rushing for food in the cafeteria. Except for those who just entered the institute and were in a hurry to catch up with the progress, the rest of the “old glib ones” all left the office instantly.
“What about Ji Baiwen? Is the cut on his hand when he sent the equipment underground okay?”
“When checking today, it was found that the wound had become inflamed. It’s not a big problem, but he still has to stay in the hospital. It looks like he won’t be let go until he’s had a few IV drips.”
Mo Xuzhi propped up his chin and smiled.
The light hit from above, illuminating his tired eyebrows.
He said: “Professor Wang, I am very happy.”
“I brought all 1,161 people back.”
“You are great.”
Wang Zhifeng put down his chopsticks, paused for a moment, then followed his heart and reached out his hand to gently stroke the top of Mo Xuzhi’s head.
Mo Xuzhi didn’t dodge.
He leaned on the table with Wang Zhifeng’s force, and his vision gradually blurred.
He smiled and said: “Stroking a head is what elders do to juniors. Do you want to buy me oranges?”
Wang Zhifeng said warmly: “This is a sign of encouragement.”
Afterward, the room was silent.
Mo Xuzhi fell asleep again.
He fell asleep leaning on the table. Wang Zhifeng couldn’t handle it easily. It took him a long time to find a suitable angle to carry the person back to the room.
Mo Xuzhi was very thin. Holding him in his arms didn’t feel very real, as if the person in his arms would float away as soon as he let go.
Getting further and further away from him.
In the night of Beijing, some people were sleepless all night, some were seeking pleasure with wine, and some had a deep and dreamless sleep. Early the next morning, Mo Xuzhi and Wang Zhifeng went to the park to meet Wang Zhifeng’s friend who was catching a plane and picked up the puppy.
From a distance, you could see a rope attached to the snowy white little fluff ball, which was frolicking on the grass.
Across a long distance, the fluff ball seemed to have noticed them. Its four legs ran their separate ways, and it rolled and slid in front of them.
After smelling Mo Xuzhi and Wang Zhifeng all over, the little white ball finally decided to rub against Mo Xuzhi’s leg with all its might. Seeing that he ignored it, its head even bumped against Mo Xuzhi’s leg, and it flipped its belly and stopped moving.
This was a “scam.”
It was the first time Mo Xuzhi encountered a “scam.” He was a bit stunned for a while, and then hesitated, crouched down, and stroked the little white ball unskillfully.
As soon as he stroked it, the little white ball instantly recovered, its claws grabbing his finger and not letting go.
Mo Xuzhi had no experience in this area at all and could only stiffen his body and look at Wang Zhifeng.
Wang Zhifeng crouched down together, but didn’t help, just watched from the side and said: “Touch it; it doesn’t bite.”
Mo Xuzhi looked at the moving little fur ball, completely unable to start: “This is not a question of whether it bites or not…”
Such a small thing, he completely didn’t dare to touch it, afraid that he would break it with one touch.
In the end, the puppy was still carried back by Mo Xuzhi.
Wang Zhifeng carried the toys and the leash of the puppy given by the “friend,” and took a large box of puppy’s things at the community gate. After returning to the house, he and Mo Xuzhi arranged them together.
The puppy was not afraid of strangers, and it could even be said to be silly and heartless. After arriving at the house, it began to frolic, having no sense of tension at all in a new environment.
Mo Xuzhi helped to build various things and then prepared to leave. The puppy couldn’t bear to hear the sound of the door opening. As soon as it heard the sound, it quickly rolled to the entrance and pulled Mo Xuzhi’s trouser leg back.
Wang Zhifeng smiled and said: “If you have nothing else to do today, stay and keep it company.”
“You see it’s quite pitiful without anyone’s company, isn’t it?”
Wang Zhifeng decided to transfer money to the pet shop owner one more time later.
He originally chose this puppy because its eyes were bright and he thought Mo Xuzhi would like it, but he didn’t expect the puppy to be so clever.
Mo Xuzhi then returned to the living room.
The puppy seemed to be afraid that he would leave again, and stopped frolicking, nestling in Mo Xuzhi’s arms, from time to time sticking out its head to take a peek at Wang Zhifeng.
The two people and one dog sat on the carpet in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows and read books for an entire morning.
Yesterday Mo Xuzhi had slept for almost a whole day. Today he was in good spirits, and even his brain was much lighter, making him more focused on reading than usual.
Only the puppy was not honest in his arms, from time to time reaching out its paws to interfere with his reading.
Afterward, it was Wang Zhifeng who reached out his hand to lift the puppy by the back of its neck and moved it aside, not letting it disturb Mo Xuzhi’s reading.
“I see your thirst for knowledge,” Wang Zhifeng opened a book belonging to the same series as the one Mo Xuzhi was reading, grabbed the puppy’s paw and pointed at the top line, saying: “This is what I’m good at. Don’t disturb him; let me teach you, no tuition fee.”
So Wang Zhifeng then talked about the wave-particle duality of light to the puppy for an hour.
By the end of his talk, Mo Xuzhi also stopped reading and leaned on the cushion just watching Wang Zhifeng give lessons to the puppy.
The puppy’s originally bright eyes gradually lost their luster.