Chapter 4: I haven't even gone in yet!

Inside Professor Zhang’s laboratory.

Zhao Haikuo and the others had come in early, braving the cold wind to conduct data tests.

A month had passed since the last incident, and everyone was holding onto a sense of determination.

Su Dingping’s words, "Turn 'should' into 'must'," echoed in their minds constantly, motivating them to throw themselves into their graduation projects from dawn till dusk.

The blood feud from decades ago felt as fresh as yesterday, and now, the Eastern Ocean nation wanted to throw its weight around over the heads of the Huaxia Navy again?

They would never agree to it!

Yawning, Zhao Haikuo said, "Little Junior Brother hasn't been here in a long time."

"He hasn't been here since that day! It’s been a month!"

Zhao Haikuo’s mind immediately conjured the image of Su Dingping’s back as he walked away alone into the cold wind that night, and he couldn't help but sigh softly.

At this very moment, the Su Dingping everyone was missing was laughing out loud inside the Military Industry Illustrated Handbook’s forging space.

"Finally finished!"

The once-empty shipyard was now piled high with various data and blueprints, save for a few instruments brought over from Professor Zhang’s laboratory.

Over the past four months of working day and night, he had studied over a dozen domestic and foreign warships, consulted countless documents and literature, and produced a ton of blueprints he had calculated and designed himself.

Su Dingping had endured all the hardships and difficulties.

Finally, every core technology of the [956E Sovremenny-class guided-missile destroyer] had been successfully analyzed.

And as each technology was parsed, he gained the ability to operate the 956E.

"Propulsion system mastered, naval gun system mastered, radar system also mastered..."

Taking a deep breath, Su Dingping appeared in the 956E’s main control room.

He pressed the start button, and accompanied by a series of rumbling sounds, the 956E slowly sailed out of the dock.

After sailing dozens of kilometers out, Su Dingping began testing the radar system.

The next second, a small green dot representing the shipyard appeared on the radar display.

He pressed the button for the close-in weapon system.

A few seconds later, a deafening "da-da-da" sound erupted from the deck.

Watching the tongues of fire spitting from the gun barrels, Su Dingping proceeded to test the electronic jamming system, sonar system, and more.

A full hour later, a smile appeared on Su Dingping’s face.

"Aside from the anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, everything else is working perfectly!"

The first phase was a complete success, and Su Dingping was in a fantastic mood.

Appearing back in the shipyard, he waved his hand, and the blueprints and data scattered everywhere were gathered together.

Looking at the suddenly spacious shipyard, he felt it was time to go to the various laboratories to replicate some machine tools and begin forging.

"Better hurry; I hope I can make it in time for the December assessment."

...

On the other side, Zhao Haikuo snapped back to reality.

"Sigh, I wonder what Little Junior Brother is doing now. Even though pressure is motivation, I’m really worried he’ll burn himself out."

"What do you guys think Little Junior Brother is actually researching? He’s always so secretive about it."

"I don't know. By the way, what are you guys designing?"

"Classified!"

The group looked at each other and burst into laughter, the atmosphere suddenly feeling much lighter.

Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

"Senior Brother, can you do me a favor?"

Hearing Su Dingping’s voice, Zhao Haikuo quickly replied.

"Little Junior Brother, you finally showed up! There isn't a single thing at Harbin Institute of Technology that I can't handle!"

"I know you have a lot of pull, Senior Brother. I wanted to ask you to accompany me to some other laboratories to borrow some experimental equipment."

"Leave it to me!"

Without a second thought, Zhao Haikuo grabbed Su Dingping and headed out.

Soon, the two arrived at Professor Wu’s research group.

"Hey, sister, your big brother is here to see you."

Zhao Haikuo called out inside.

Soon, a tall woman with a cold and elegant face appeared at the door.

"Zhao, can’t you lower your voice?" She glared at Zhao Haikuo and said irritably, "Sister Wang isn't here."

"Little Yun, I’m not here to see your Sister Wang. I want to borrow some equipment from your lab."

"Not lending!"

Being rejected so bluntly by Guo Xueyun, Zhao Haikuo immediately felt a bit embarrassed.

"Little Junior Brother, your Sister Yun is just upset with me, don't take it to heart."

Coughing lightly, Zhao Haikuo continued.

"Little Yun, you can't take your dissatisfaction with me out on my Little Junior Brother. I’m borrowing this for him."

"Your Little Junior Brother?"

Guo Xueyun’s gaze landed on Su Dingping.

This handsome young man was Su Dingping?

"You’re that brilliant Su Dingping?"

Before Su Dingping could speak, Zhao Haikuo immediately said, "The one and only!"

A smile immediately appeared on Guo Xueyun’s face.

"Hello, Junior Brother. I’m Guo Xueyun, just call me Sister Xueyun. I’ve often heard my mentor praise you and tell us to learn from you. I’ve finally met you in person today."

"What equipment do you need to borrow, Junior Brother? Come inside and let’s talk..."

Guo Xueyun pulled Su Dingping inside without a word, leaving Zhao Haikuo bewildered.

What was going on? Little Yun was usually so cold!

Didn't I have more pull? This makes no sense!

Just as Zhao Haikuo was about to step inside, he heard a "bang," and the door was shut by Guo Xueyun.

Now, he was completely dumbfounded.

Hey!

I haven't gone in yet!

After more than half an hour, Su Dingping walked out holding a piece of equipment, accompanied by Guo Xueyun.

Guo Xueyun waved at Su Dingping, "Junior Brother Su, just come yourself next time if you need anything."

"Thank you, Sister Xueyun."

All the useful equipment from Professor Wu’s research group had already been replicated by Su Dingping into the Military Industry Illustrated Handbook’s forging space; the instrument he held in his hand was just a pretext he had found.

Bidding farewell to Guo Xueyun, the two headed to the next research group.

Along the way, Zhao Haikuo’s expression was strange.

"Little Yun has never given me a pleasant look before. It’s like a ghost possessed her when you went in."

"Sister Xueyun is actually quite nice."

"Quite nice? You don't know her... forget it." Zhao Haikuo stopped mid-sentence. "Let’s go, next one."

He was determined to regain some face.

An hour later, Zhao Haikuo was left alone, carrying a pile of equipment back toward Professor Zhang’s laboratory.

Although he had hit a wall with Guo Xueyun, he was confident that he still had plenty of influence.

But little did he know, the students of the professors he visited later had all heard that Su Dingping was coming to borrow equipment and had come out to meet him. Zhao Haikuo stopped struggling; he found an excuse to move the equipment back and returned alone.

Su Dingping had been busy all afternoon, and the instruments and machine tools he needed were mostly gathered.

Fortunately, the 956E wasn't the most advanced guided-missile destroyer currently in existence, so this equipment was barely enough.

In the Military Industry Illustrated Handbook’s forging space, Su Dingping looked at the fully stocked shipyard, rubbing his hands in excitement.

"Start work!"

Here, he could control all the machine tools to run simultaneously with a single thought, with no fear of being unable to keep up on his own.

Accompanied by a harsh roar, Su Dingping shuttled between the various instruments, constantly recording relevant data.

With the ready-made 956E for comparison, the adjustments to the craftsmanship proceeded rapidly.

As the day of the graduation project approached, the forging plan for the 956E went very smoothly.

The day before the graduation project review, Su Dingping, who was busy finishing up in his independent office at the lab, was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Little Junior Brother, something’s come up, come out for a second."

"Senior Brother, what’s wrong?"

Su Dingping quickly walked out.

He had been incredibly busy lately and had no time to pay attention to outside affairs.

"Little Junior Brother, the situation for this evaluation is different from what the mentor said."

Zhao Haikuo said.

"Five months ago, didn't the mentor say he would evaluate it personally? I heard from other mentors that the faculty mentors won't be participating in this unified evaluation!"

"And, I heard that the National Defense Armament Department and the Naval Equipment Demonstration and Research Center will be sending people over."

Su Dingping frowned slightly.

A graduate student’s final project causing such a stir—could it be that Professor Zhang and the others had failed in their research? Or was it related to the news from two months ago?

Zhao Haikuo sighed.

"This evaluation is going to be even tougher."