"Hehe, Xiao Su, once we're back in Hualing, follow Professor Zhang and help with the development of the button-type plasma battery. You don't need to worry about the rest."
Although Su Xun had just modified the button-type plasma battery and indeed displayed extraordinary talent,
he was, after all, still a newcomer.
For classified, cutting-edge projects like this, Professor Ma wouldn't allow him to participate.
Su Xun wasn't naive—since they wouldn't let him see the files, he didn't insist.
After all, the designs came from him; he knew every microscopic parameter like the back of his hand.
He merely wanted to help solve the core issues so they could complete their task faster,
while also enhancing his status within Hualing,
ultimately securing more resources for developing other black technology.
At that moment, Professor Ma turned to Professor Liang and said his farewells,
"Well then, today's exchange ends here. Let's hurry back to Hualing—time waits for no one."
"Alright, you go on ahead," Professor Liang replied, his gaze flitting repeatedly toward Su Xun.
"Lao Zhang, Fang Min, gather everyone for the return trip.
Oh, and Fang Min—once we're back, you'll be in charge of settling Comrade Su Xun in."
He then smiled at Su Xun and patted him on the shoulder.
"Work hard. The future belongs to you."
With that, he and several professors—still clutching the steel battle suit designs—took the lead and departed.
"Let's get going, too,"
Professor Zhang called out, leading the remaining group outside.
Su Xun walked beside Fang Min, just about to step onto the escalator when Professor Liang's voice rang out from behind him.
"Su Xun?"
"Yes?"
Su Xun paused and turned to look.
"Yes, I do have something," Liang gestured for him to come over.
Fang Min frowned immediately.
"Lao Liang, I know exactly what you're up to.
Let me tell you—he's already a member of the Hualing Research Institute!"
Liang flared up.
"What am I up to? I'm just eager to recruit talent.
He hasn't registered with Hualing yet—how can you claim him as yours?
Besides, isn't Z City University your talent reserve anyway? What difference does it make where he is?"
He ignored Fang Min's darkening expression and turned directly to Su Xun.
"Son, would you like to stay at Z University?
Don't worry about your academic background.
If you're willing, this old man can easily appoint you as an assistant professor!"
Liang was himself a professor at Z City University.
"Once you've made some contributions, I'll get you a professorship for sure! Would you be—"
Before he could finish, Professor Zhang's voice thundered from the escalator.
"You shameless old goat! General Chen personally assigned Su Xun to Hualing. That makes him one of us!"
He attempted to climb up the escalator,
but for a man in his sixties or seventies, it proved too much—he began to slip.
"Lao Zhang! You'll hurt yourself!"
Fang Min shouted, panic-stricken.
The others, halfway down the escalator, turned in alarm.
"Professor Zhang, careful!"
Su Xun's eyes narrowed. He dashed up the steps, grabbed the handrail,
and wrapped his body around Professor Zhang, pressing the emergency stop.
The escalator ground to a halt. A collective breath of relief swept through the crowd.
Professor Liang rushed forward, and Professor Zhang—mistaking his intentions—sighed in relief,
"I'm fine, no need to pretend—"
But Liang looked past him and addressed Su Xun.
"So, have you made up your mind?"
Su Xun offered an awkward smile.
"Thank you for your generous offer, but I still intend to join Hualing."
Though Z University's lab was decent, it lacked the large-scale facilities Su Xun needed for his ambitious projects.
"You hear that, Fang Min? Let's go!"
Professor Zhang, visibly annoyed, grabbed Su Xun and began descending the escalator.
"Slow down,"
Fang Min followed quickly.
Liang could only shake his head in defeat,
but he hadn't given up entirely.
He shouted after them,
"Su Xun! Z University will always welcome you—come visit anytime!"
By this time, Su Xun had reached the fourth floor, being half-dragged by Professor Zhang and Fang Min, one on each side.
Before he could respond, he was already back on the escalator.
Soon, the Hualing Research Institute team boarded their vehicles.
Originally, Fang Min was supposed to ride with Su Xun,
but Professor Zhang insisted on trying out the sports car.
In the end, Fang Min had to take the institute's shuttle bus.
Thus, the two vehicles—one after the other—began their journey toward Hualing.
Along the way, Professor Zhang couldn't stop praising Su Xun for his ingenious modifications to the button-style plasma battery. He repeatedly pressed for details, eager to know how Su Xun had conceived such an idea.
Su Xun replied offhandedly, "It just came to me in a flash."
"A flash of inspiration! Many of the world's greatest inventions were born from just such a moment! Edison, after testing countless materials, had a sudden inspiration to use tungsten for the lightbulb filament. Ørsted too, quite by chance, placed a magnetic needle near a closed circuit and discovered the magnetic field around a current. And then—"
"Professor, I'm driving," Su Xun interjected, feeling his ears beginning to ache.
"Oh, oh—got a bit carried away," Professor Zhang chuckled and finally fell silent.
Su Xun glanced sideways at the professor, only to meet his narrowed, glinting eyes. A shiver ran down his spine. Why did this old man suddenly look… oddly mischievous?
Just then, Nikola's voice echoed in his ear: "I've finished compiling all data from the Z City supercomputer and uploaded it to the Nikola server. The AI neural network has been successfully activated."
Su Xun nodded inwardly. The more data Nikola controlled, the more advanced it would become. He thought of Tony Stark's creation of Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and mused to himself: With the system's help, I could try something similar—build an army of machines. But for that, I'll need a powerful AI to command them.
Before long, their convoy reached the Hualing Research Institute on the southern outskirts of Z City. Su Xun's old workshop had been in the north, so this place was practically its polar opposite.
The Hualing Institute was vast. The entire southern suburb was cordoned off with steel fencing, encompassing rows of towering experimental buildings. Nearby, there was even a residential district specifically built for the researchers.
After traveling the institute's perimeter road and passing more than a dozen checkpoints, the vehicles finally arrived at the main gate. The driver presented credentials, and the guards waved them through—except for Su Xun. Professor Zhang informed him that his car wouldn't be permitted past the gate.
"Xiao Su, come find me once you're inside," Zhang said as he prepared to get off. "Oh, by the way, the old man's name is Zhang Lin. You've heard of me, right?"
Had he?
Su Xun froze for nearly a minute, unable to respond. Thankfully, Fang Min came to his rescue. Stepping down from the institute's shuttle bus, she smiled and said, "Old Zhang, go on ahead. I'll help Su Xun settle in."
"Well… alright," Professor Zhang muttered, visibly wounded. As he walked into the institute, he mumbled under his breath, "Even the newest model of the 3D printer was my improvement… how could he not have heard of me?"
Fang Min smiled at Su Xun, then climbed into the passenger seat. "Don't mind him—Professor Zhang's always like that."
"No problem."
"Alright then, drive to the residential area. I'll arrange your accommodations."
"Got it."
"By the way, did you bring any luggage?"
"I didn't."
"No luggage? That's actually—wait." Fang Min blinked in surprise. "Didn't General Xu tell you that the institute is under closed management?"
"He did."
"You won't be allowed to return home."
"I see."
"And you didn't bring anything?"
"Can't I just buy what I need here?"
"Well… sure, but… I mean, don't you have any personal items you'd want to bring?"
"Not really."
His Iron Man suit was dismantled and stored in the front luggage compartment. As for the rest, there wasn't anything worth taking.
Fang Min stared at him, stunned. This kid… she thought, he really is something else.