“Zhipeng, you’re really something! I, Old Tian, chased after Zhao Min for so long, and she never even gave me a second glance. But who would’ve thought she’d actually start pursuing you!” Tian Hongtao walked over first, speaking with a tone of frustration.
However, his face only showed admiration, with no hint of ill will.
Zhang Zhipeng smiled slightly and said, “Haha! I don’t even know how I managed to catch Zhao Min’s eye.”
“To be honest, I once wanted to pursue her too, but I didn’t have the courage—I was afraid of being rejected.”
Tian Hongtao asked, “So, are you planning to accept Zhao Min’s affection?”
Fang Qingping, standing nearby, interjected, “Of course Zhipeng will accept! He’d be an absolute fool not to!”
Zhang Zhipeng laughed and said, “As someone who will likely spend years buried in a lab as a research nerd, if a great girl like her doesn’t mind that, of course, I’ll accept her and cherish her.”
“Dr. Tian, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take away something you wanted, but this was the girl’s own choice. I can only apologize to you, brother!”
Zhang Zhipeng looked at Tian Hongtao with sincere eyes.
Tian Hongtao waved his hand and said, “Brother, don’t underestimate Old Tian like that.”
“I’m not the petty, narrow-minded type.”
“When it comes to pursuing a girl, it’s all about one’s own abilities and charm.”
“You’ve won Zhao Min’s heart, and I can only congratulate you on that!”
Zhang Zhipeng smiled and nodded, feeling that Tian Hongtao was someone worth befriending.
In fact, those who genuinely devote themselves to scientific research are usually quite pure-hearted, without too many selfish, opportunistic desires.
Of course, there are also some who merely coast along in the research field. They rely on flattery, currying favor with superiors, and bullying subordinates, yet they manage to attain high positions in research, with some even becoming academicians and so-called renowned experts.
But in the early 1990s, although society was gradually becoming more money-oriented and profit-driven, the research community was still relatively clean overall.
...
Zhang Zhilin hurriedly left the aerospace research building and found an IC card phone by the roadside on campus.
She called her aunt, Zhang Xiaorui.
When Zhang Xiaorui learned that Zhang Zhipeng had happily agreed to meet Zhao Min, she finally relaxed her anxious heart.
Zhang Zhilin hesitated for a moment, then headed straight to the computer science department.
It didn’t take her much effort to find Zhao Min’s office.
By this time, Zhao Min was already seated in her office.
She had finished her morning class, but her mind was exceptionally restless.
She didn’t know how Zhang Zhipeng felt about the situation.
After all, the matchmaker she had found was Zhang Zhipeng’s own aunt. Surely, he wouldn’t disregard his aunt’s wishes, would he?
“Ms. Zhao, someone is here to see you,” a colleague informed Zhao Min.
Zhao Min quickly got up and went outside.
She saw Zhang Zhilin standing there.
Zhao Min didn’t actually know Zhang Zhilin.
However, Zhang Zhilin bore a slight resemblance to both Zhang Xiaorui and Zhang Zhipeng, which made Zhao Min’s heart race.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“And you are?” Zhao Min asked tentatively.
Zhang Zhilin smiled slightly, sizing up Zhao Min, and thought to herself that she was indeed very beautiful. She said, “Ms. Zhao, I’m Zhang Zhipeng’s sister. My name is Zhang Zhilin.”
Zhao Min, pleasantly surprised, shook hands with Zhang Zhilin and said, “Hello, Sister Zhilin! I’ve heard you’re a teacher in the foreign languages department. We should definitely get to know each other better.”
Zhang Zhilin smiled and said, “Of course! I came over to tell you that once Zhipeng is done with his work, he’ll come to find you. He’d like to invite you to lunch. Are you available?”
Zhao Min was overjoyed and quickly nodded, “Yes, yes! Of course!”
“Thank you, Sister Zhilin. When will he be coming over?”
Zhang Zhilin, liking Zhao Min more and more, said, “He’s still in the lab right now, but he should be done by around 11:40.”
Zhao Min smiled and said, “Great! I’ll wait for him here.”
Zhang Zhilin waved to her and said, “I’ve got some work to finish, so we’ll chat another time, alright?”
Zhao Min escorted her out of the department building.
At that moment, Zhao Min’s mood was simply fantastic.
After sitting in the office for a while, she thought about passing the time by reading a book.
But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't focus.
She glanced at the time—it was only 10:29 a.m.
Zhao Min thought to herself, "Why don't I just go to his lab and wait for him there? There's nothing to be shy about, right?"
Zhao Min had never been to Zhang Zhipeng's lab before.
She had wanted to visit for a long time, and this way, she could accompany him while he worked on experiments more often.
Maybe she could even help him out with the research.
Zhao Min thought of Shu Ting's poem "To the Oak Tree."
"If you love him, then be the kapok tree beside him, standing together as trees, with roots tightly intertwined underground, and leaves touching in the clouds."
In Zhang Zhipeng's lab.
Today, he was working with particular ease.
By 10:53 a.m., the hand-polished photolithography machine was almost complete.
The 8-inch silicon wafer had also been cut precisely.
The photoresist and other auxiliary materials were all prepared.
Zhang Zhipeng silently looked around the lab, taking in the preparations he had made for the hand-crafted CPU.
He felt a bit excited.
"Zhipeng, are we ready to start making the CPU you designed?" Tian Hongtao asked, clearly in high spirits. After all, after all these days of hard work, it seemed they were finally approaching the moment of success.
Zhang Zhipeng nodded and said, "Yes, but we shouldn't expect to succeed on the first try."
"Chip manufacturing is a meticulous process. The slightest mistake could lead to total failure."
Tian Hongtao laughed and said, "I know that. Scientific experiments are all about learning from thousands of failures to finally achieve success."
"Even so, we've been pretty lucky so far."
"Shall we get started right away?"
Tian Hongtao was eager to begin.
He was excited about the prospect of creating the first domestically produced CPU in China.
Even though Zhang Zhipeng was the lead, Tian Hongtao was a major participant as well, wasn't he?
Zhang Zhipeng smiled, glanced at his watch, and said, "It's almost 11:00. I think we should hold off on starting for now."
"Once we begin, it could take three or four hours to finish."
Tian Hongtao slapped his forehead and said, "Got it! I almost forgot you have something important at noon today."
Just as they were talking, there was a gentle knock at the lab door.
Zhang Zhipeng walked over and opened the door.
To his surprise, it was Zhao Min standing outside.
"Oh!"
"Ms. Zhao is here!" Zhang Zhipeng blurted out instinctively.
He blushed, even feeling a bit flustered.
After all, he had always considered her just an ordinary colleague.
But now, their relationship was suddenly about to become closer.
He wasn't quite used to this change yet.
Zhao Min, however, was calm and composed. She smiled sweetly and said, "Am I not welcome?"
Zhang Zhipeng quickly shook his head. "Of course you're welcome, very welcome."
"Oh, please come in."
Zhao Min walked into Zhang Zhipeng's lab with confidence.
She knew everyone there.
She didn't feel awkward at all, smiling and waving at them, "Hello, everyone."
So, in many cases, men's mental resilience really can't compare to women's.
Women have a much stronger ability to adapt to their environment.
They can quickly step into their new roles, and this was something Zhang Zhipeng had to admire about them.