In the center of Research Lab No. 2 of the Second Research Institute, the gray-white mecha stood in silent vigil, emanating a faint yet palpable aura of formidable power. Every time Bai Hao passed by, he would inevitably cast an upward glance, as if beholding a vista of boundless promise.
Compared to six months prior, the mecha had undergone significant alterations, including multiple changes to its external design, not to mention numerous upgrades to its internal, hidden systems.
Inside the cockpit, the elderly Huang Shujian sat in the pilot's seat, his expression earnest as he patiently calibrated the systems. Streams of data scrolled rapidly across the light screen. Standing behind him, Bai Hao watched intently, swiftly recording the diagnostic data.
Half an hour later, Huang Shujian let out a soft sigh of relief. "All data recorded?" he asked quietly.
Bai Hao nodded promptly. "Yes, all recorded."
A faint smile touched the old man's typically stern face. He pulled the key card from the slot and said evenly, "That's enough for today. Organize the data first, then bring it to my office."
"Yes, Teacher."
Bai Hao held immense respect for the elder before him. In the over six months since joining Baoli Corporation, the old man had taught him a great deal. Although his primary duties still involved tedious data recording, he harbored no resentment. From these minute data points, he understood that mecha design was no simple task; it encompassed vast and complex fields. It wasn't merely a product of imagination but was built upon a foundation of theory and practice. Seemingly insignificant data was the direct quantitative embodiment of this knowledge, and mastering it was the most basic requirement for a mecha designer.
The old man stored the key card in his carrying case and slowly rose from the pilot's seat.
Bai Hao moved forward, intending to offer support.
The old man, however, stubbornly waved him off, smiling. "I'm not so old that I need assistance yet."
In truth, the old man was already over seventy. His hair was thinning, white and sparse at the sides. While he seemed physically robust, Bai Hao worried, especially since the elder frequently worked through the night every few days, sometimes consecutively for several days.
Bai Hao followed the old man out of the cockpit and returned to his own workstation, beginning the tedious task of data organization.
Two hours later, Bai Hao knocked on the door of Huang Shujian's office, the organized data in hand.
"Come in."
The slightly aged voice came from within the room.
Bai Hao pushed the door open and presented the compiled data. "Teacher, the data is organized."
"Mm, just leave it on the desk for now." The old man's eyes were fixed on the light screen before him, his tone mild. "Have a seat for a moment. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Bai Hao was slightly surprised, wondering what the elder wished to discuss.
A few minutes later, the old man shifted his gaze from the screen to Bai Hao. "Bai Hao, it's been nearly half a year with the Second Group, hasn't it?"
Bai Hao nodded. "Six and a half months."
The old man smiled. "What do you think of the Second Group?"
Bai Hao was momentarily taken aback but answered quickly, "It's very good."
A simple, clear response, reflecting his genuine feelings.
The old man continued, "Just two words?"
"I really like it here," Bai Hao added.
The old man chuckled lightly, his tone shifting slightly. "I like it too. However, today I have a matter to discuss with you. Over these six months in Lab No. 2, your performance has been excellent. You've conscientiously completed all the tasks I assigned, meeting both quality and quantity standards. You've barely passed my preliminary assessment. A serious and rigorous work ethic is an indispensable foundation for an excellent mecha designer, and you possess this basic quality. However, being an outstanding designer requires more than just diligence; it demands solid theoretical knowledge and rich practical experience. From my perspective, you are relatively lacking, especially in theoretical knowledge, where there is still a significant gap. This is my primary concern..."
He spoke for a full ten minutes before pausing to catch his breath.
Bai Hao listened attentively, his mind racing. The old man's lengthy speech was a critique of his past six months' work. While there was affirmation, it focused more on his shortcomings and deficiencies. He wasn't sure of the intent behind these words and felt uneasy. "Am I not suited for the Second Group?" he wondered silently.
The old man took a sip of tea from his cup before continuing unhurriedly, "I believe you are somewhat aware of what I've just mentioned?"
Bai Hao nodded, speaking with a hint of nervousness, "Teacher, I will strive hard to make up for my shortcomings.Please believe in me."
"I do believe in you," the old man said, setting down his cup with a gentle smile. "However, I have a faster method to help you弥补 your theoretical gaps while also providing considerable practical opportunity. I just don't know if you're willing to try it."
"A faster method?" Bai Hao asked, somewhat puzzled.
The old man nodded. "Yes. Within the Second Group, I have little time to teach you theory; it's mostly self-study. But with your current foundational knowledge, self-study is quite inefficient."
"Then, Teacher, what do you suggest?" Bai Hao agreed; he often had to consult the network to barely understand many texts, confirming the low efficiency of self-study.
The old man exhaled softly. "I want you to study at a professional mecha design academy."
"A professional academy? But with my qualifications..." Bai Hao's face showed astonishment. Professional academies weren't for just anyone; they required passing specialized entrance exams, and the tuition fees were notoriously high.
The old man waved his hand, interrupting. "Don't worry about the academy arrangements; I will handle them. However, your status would be that of an auditor. Furthermore, you must continue your work with the Second Group concurrently. You'll have to use your personal rest time to make up for it. This means you'll have very little free time. I wonder if you are willing?"
"I am willing," Bai Hao replied without hesitation. For him, this was an exceptional opportunity.
The old man looked at him with approval. "Good. I will make the arrangements as soon as possible."
Two days later, Huang Shujian had finalized the academy arrangements for Bai Hao. However, upon hearing the academy's name, Bai Hao was stunned—it was actually Qin Yuan Academy. If he remembered correctly, Ye Xiangyi, the daughter of his fellow townsman Wu Jin from B5 Mining Planet, was a student in the Mecha Department at Qin Yuan Academy. Wu Jin had spoken about it often enough that Bai Hao still had some impression.
"The world can be both vast and small," Bai Hao mused to himself.
In the following days, Bai Hao prepared for his upcoming studies, primarily arranging his work responsibilities. Henceforth, he would have to rely on evenings and weekends to manage his duties, making his schedule naturally tighter. However, he was grateful that Teacher Huang Shujian had considerately adjusted his workload, reducing some tasks and eliminating unnecessary ones, which significantly lightened his burden.
Mid-September had arrived, and Qin Yuan Academy was already in session.
The day came for Bai Hao to report to the academy. Early in the morning, dressed neatly and full of anticipation, he walked out of the Baoli Corporation headquarters and boarded a maglev train bound for the university town in the western city district.
The maglev train, a common public transport vehicle, ran on elevated dedicated tracks. Extremely fast, it traversed more than half of Baoli City in under half an hour, arriving at the western university town.
The town housed over twenty higher education institutions of varying sizes, including comprehensive universities and highly specialized colleges. Qin Yuan Academy was considered a mid-sized institution within the town, but its reputation was undoubtedly among the best, even enjoying some renown throughout the Central Star Cluster. It was a specialized mecha academy that had produced many excellent pilots, designers, and other elite talents for the Empire. Notably, one of the mere dozen or so Empire's super-pilots holding the "Ten-Star Pilot" title was an alumnus, and the number of star-ranked pilots it had produced was countless .
Entering the university town, Bai Hao quickly found Qin Yuan Academy. The academy's gate was simple and structural, shaped like an 'N,' possessing a distinct artistic aesthetic. Upon stepping inside, he was immediately enveloped in an atmosphere of vibrant youthful energy. Whether it was the beautiful autumn flowers lining the paths or the female students in short skirts showcasing slender legs and exuding a youthful aura, everything was visually pleasing and refreshing to him .
The students of Qin Yuan Academy all wore uniform black attire, simple yet elegant. As a newly arrived auditor dressed in casual, ordinary clothes, Bai Hao felt somewhat out of place .
On the campus paths, many students heading to classes cast curious glances his way.
Feeling slightly awkward, Bai Hao hurried towards the administration building to find the person Teacher Huang had instructed him to meet. It was a polite, middle-aged man in his forties .
The man first briefly inquired about Bai Hao's situation and then asked about Huang Shujian's recent circumstances .
Bai Hao answered each question honestly.
Half an hour later, the man assigned a woman in her thirties to help Bai Hao complete the necessary procedures for auditing students. After nearly two hours of busywork, all formalities were finally completed. Bai Hao received a student card embedded with his relevant identification information. The card was more than just an ID; it was essential for many campus activities, such as swiping into lecture halls and borrowing books from the library. It could also be used for payments in the cafeteria, provided sufficient funds were loaded onto it .
After the formalities, the woman showed Bai Hao around the academy, providing a detailed introduction. While Qin Yuan Academy wasn't very large, the tour was necessary for Bai Hao, who was setting foot on campus for the first time .
Bai Hao felt very positive about Qin Yuan Academy. On B5 Mining Planet, he had received ten years of basic education, after which he had been largely self-taught. He had never experienced a higher learning institution like Qin Yuan. Now, having obtained such a rare opportunity, he naturally needed to cherish it especially .
In the afternoon, Bai Hao entered the lecture hall with a thread of excitement. The lecturer, a man in his sixties, was teaching a class on fundamental mecha knowledge. Although Bai Hao was already somewhat familiar with the content, he listened with utmost concentration, afraid of missing any crucial details .
After the class ended, Bai Hao hurriedly left Qin Yuan Academy and returned to Baoli Corporation to dive into his work. It was nearly 11 PM by the time he finished his tasks. Too tired to return to his dormitory at the Second Research Institute, he simply slept in the rest room at the lab .