Chapter 39: An Unexpected Encounter

Where should I take Dingping to visit?

Back in his room, Sun Yongguo was feeling quite distressed.

Although he had been to Qingdao many times, he had never actually toured the city, and he had absolutely no idea which places were worth visiting.

"Comrade Gongnong, why don't you handle this? Dingping is your protégé, after all," Sun Yongguo said, looking toward Zhang Gongnong.

"Director, I'm fine if you ask me to do scientific research, but asking me to take Dingping out to play... I... I can't exactly take him to our Naval Museum, can I?"

"The Chief has given me a difficult problem."

The two men stared at each other in silence.

If they were asked to master core technologies, they would do so willingly, no matter how bitter or exhausting the work. But this matter was truly outside their field of knowledge.

Crucially, they didn't feel comfortable entrusting it to an outsider.

Zhang Gongnong went out for a while and then returned. "I just checked; it might snow tomorrow."

"A timely snow foretells a bountiful year. We should indeed take Dingping out to see it. Comrade Gongnong, I am entrusting this arduous task to you," Sun Yongguo said, patting Zhang Gongnong on the shoulder with a determined tone.

"Director!"

"No room for negotiation!"

The next morning, Zhang Gongnong, who had spent the entire night researching travel guides, knocked on Su Dingping's door with dark circles under his eyes.

"Dingping, let's head out."

When the door opened, Su Dingping was startled to see Zhang Gongnong carrying a massive backpack.

"Professor Zhang, are we really going?"

"It's an order from the Chief; I must comply!"

Without giving him a choice, Zhang Gongnong led Su Dingping out of the base.

In the car, Zhang Gongnong said excitedly, "I spent all night looking up guides. We're going to Mount Lao first! The weather forecast says it will snow today, so we might just catch it. I made sure to look into it; I know you young people like romantic things."

"Watching snow? What's the point of watching snow?" Su Dingping was stunned.

Watching snow with a grown man felt incredibly awkward. This was the kind of thing one should do with a girl.

"Isn't watching snow very romantic?"

As soon as Zhang Gongnong said this, Su Dingping replied, "Doesn't it snow all the time in Harbin?"

Zhang Gongnong froze, only then realizing the truth.

Indeed, he had seen more than enough snow in Harbin. He scratched his head sheepishly. For a moment, the air was thick with nothing but awkwardness.

"It's fine. I haven't seen the snow in Qingdao yet."

Hearing this, a smile immediately appeared on Zhang Gongnong's face.

"Right, right, right. The feeling is different in different places. When we watched the snow in Harbin, we weren't in the mood for it. But now it's different. The 956E project has entered its final stage; our state of mind is different. As they say, a timely snow foretells a bountiful year."

"In the new millennium, our Navy will surely welcome a rebirth!"

Two hours later, Zhang Gongnong brought Su Dingping to the Mount Lao scenic area.

Outside the scenic area, it was a sea of people. Countless men and women had come to Mount Lao on this day, wanting to witness the first snow of the millennium and exchange lifelong promises to one another.

As the ticket checking continued, the awkwardness in Zhang Gongnong's heart grew. Looking around, people were either couples, families, or groups of friends. Only the two of them stood out as exceptionally conspicuous.

"The tickets are checked. Let's go."

Just as Zhang Gongnong was leading Su Dingping further in, he heard someone shout from behind.

"Professor Zhang? Junior Su?"

The two turned around to see Wang Xin waving at them from not far away. Beside her, Guo Xueyun was also looking their way; although she didn't call out, a hint of excitement appeared on her face.

"It really is Professor Zhang!" Wang Xin pulled Guo Xueyun along as they jogged over. "Professor Zhang, when did you and Junior Su arrive in Qingdao?"

Su Dingping replied, "We just arrived yesterday."

"If we had known you were coming to Qingdao today, we would have joined you yesterday. By the way, Junior Su..." Wang Xin looked at Su Dingping. "What have you been busy with lately? We've been looking for you everywhere."

"Doing experiments, quite busy," Zhang Gongnong quickly explained.

Su Dingping nodded.

"I see," Wang Xin said to herself. "Junior Sister Xueyun, I told you Junior Su must be busy with experiments! Now that we've found him, we can rest easy."

At these words, Su Dingping froze for a moment, and Guo Xueyun's face turned slightly red.

She murmured, "Senior Sister, what are you saying?"

Wang Xin suggested, "Since we're all here, let's enjoy the trip together."

The group of four walked further in.

Zhang Gongnong breathed a sigh of relief. This was good; at least the journey wouldn't be awkward.

Along the way, Su Dingping and Zhang Gongnong finally learned why the two women were there. It turned out Guo Xueyun was a local from Qingdao, and while Wang Xin had originally made plans with Zhao Haikuo, he had to go home, so she had accompanied Guo Xueyun back.

An hour later, Wang Xin gradually slowed her pace and quietly nudged Zhang Gongnong with her hand.

Zhang Gongnong glanced at Wang Xin, and realizing what was happening, he also slowed down. After creating a gap of several steps, Zhang Gongnong whispered, "What's the situation?"

"I'm not entirely sure. They've only met a few times," Wang Xin said with a helpless shrug. "But I've clearly felt that Junior Sister Xueyun has been a bit distracted lately."

Zhang Gongnong's gaze fell on the two people ahead. The more he looked, the more he felt they were quite a good match. A talented man and a beautiful woman.

"Only met a few times? That's enough. Back then, I had only met once and..." After observing for a while and seeing that neither of them was speaking, Wang Xin asked directly, "Professor Zhang, has Junior Su never had a girlfriend before?"

Zhang Gongnong thought seriously. "It seems he hasn't."

"Junior Sister Xueyun hasn't either."

Wang Xin grew anxious. "This is bad. Two people who have never dated... how are they supposed to talk?"

***

Meanwhile, at the Northern Fleet Command Headquarters.

Xu Dongguo carefully placed a document and a medal into a box, along with a set of naval uniform. Closing the box, his expression relaxed significantly. After going through so many procedures, they were finally finished.

Once the contents of this box were handed to Su Dingping, Su Dingping would officially and legitimately become a member of the Navy.

"Guard, contact Sun Yongguo and tell him to come over."

"Yes, Chief!"

Soon, Sun Yongguo arrived in a hurry. Upon entering the office, he saw the box sitting on the desk. Without even thinking, he knew the contents were extremely important.

"Chief, you called for me?"

"Comrade Yongguo, everything is prepared," Xu Dongguo said, patting the box in front of him.

"Chief, is it all in there?"

Xu Dongguo nodded. "Remember, these items must be handed to Comrade Su Dingping personally. The location must be kept secret, and the personnel must be kept secret!"

"And you, Chief?"

Xu Dongguo shook his head, his expression solemn. "We recently caught several spies, likely from the Russian side. My every move might bring unnecessary trouble to Comrade Su Dingping! Comrade Su Dingping is a treasure of our Navy; the secrecy work must be impeccable! Do you understand?"

"Yes, Chief!"

"The current situation is special; we can only ask Comrade Su Dingping to endure some hardship for now. One day in the future, their names will surely be known to the world."