Seeing Mingzhao's obvious interest, Liu Zhenshan felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

But he couldn't say more.

He could only watch Mingzhao longingly.

We hope she will make a wise choice.

He genuinely wanted Mingzhao to stay.

Now he dares not say it outright, he can only watch Mingzhao anxiously. His mind keeps repeating to himself: Stay, stay…

Mingzhao looked apologetically at Liu Zhenshan.

His eyes held an apologetic look.

Liu Zhenshan immediately understood: "Alright, you can go now, go, go, go..."

Liu Zhenshan closed his eyes, unwilling to face it.

He couldn't keep Mingzhao.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Mingyuan immediately acted like a mother hen protecting her chicks, grabbing the oddly shaped aluminum lunchbox communicator still connected to the solar panel on the table and holding it tightly in his arms.

He spoke very quickly, as if afraid that if he hesitated even for a second, the item would be lost.

Liu Zhenshan opened his eyes and glanced at him vaguely, thinking to himself, "Alright, alright, let's all go."

Then his eyes widened suddenly: "You stand right there!"

Seeing Zhang Mingyuan's delighted expression, Liu Zhenshan felt a surge of anger and pointed at the communicator.

"Old Zhang! This...this prototype! You have to save me two! We...we still need to report it to higher authorities! We also need to prepare for mass production..."

"No!" Zhang Mingyuan immediately hugged him tighter, interrupting him righteously, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming.

"Old Liu! This is no child's play! You know better than I do about the technical complexity and potential risks of this thing! How to research it, how to report it, how to deploy it—all of that has to be decided by the ministry and higher authorities! Giving it to you now? Who will be responsible if something goes wrong? I'm doing this for safety! For the greater good!"

He spoke with great ceremony, but his feet seemed to have greased them as he slipped out with his lunchbox in hand. "Comrade Mingzhao, Commander Huo, you two continue your conversation! I'm going back to the station first!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already disappeared through the doorway, leaving only a series of hurried footsteps.

Looking at the empty doorway, Liu Zhenshan trembled with anger. In the end, he could only slump back into the creaking rattan chair and slam his fist on the table, making the ashtray bounce.

So frustrating! So incredibly frustrating!

Howard remained oblivious to all of this. His grip on Mingzhao's wrist didn't loosen at all; he merely turned slightly to the side, conveying a silent urging.

Mingzhao didn't say anything more, obediently letting him pull her along as they turned and walked towards the door.

Her steps remained steady, as if she were simply moving from one workplace to another, and the undeniable strength in her wrist seemed to have no effect on her whatsoever.

Just as he stepped out of the factory director's office, Old Ma from the gatehouse rushed over, his face showing a hint of caution: "Comrade Mingzhao! Um... at the factory gate, your... your wife and your brother are waiting!"

Lover? Brother?

Mingzhao stopped in her tracks, a fleeting look of bewilderment crossing her face for the first time. Lover? Oh, Howard. Brother? ...Who?

During this period, she was so engrossed in her studies that she almost forgot she was connected to these complex social relationships in this world.

Mingzhao looked at Liu Zhenshan and said, "Then I'll leave first? I'll also go pack my things."

Liu Zhenshan looked at Mingzhao with a very solemn expression.

"Comrade Mingzhao, I originally wanted to keep you at Hongxing Machinery Factory. But I know that with your abilities, you will receive the best treatment wherever you are. If you have other ideas in the future, you are welcome to come to Hongxing Machinery Factory at any time. I will always reserve a place for you here."

Mingzhao pondered Liu Zhenshan's words and nodded to indicate that he had received them.

Liu Zhenshan wiped his face and let out a sigh.

"If... I need to..."

After saying that, Liu Zhenshan shook his head again: "Never mind, it's nothing."

Mingzhao understood his unspoken words, but Mingzhao could not make a promise.

He simply nodded again and calmly said, "Director Liu, regarding the shortage of Alloy No. 7, I will continue to look for alternative solutions. The key parts of the blueprints have been completed. Subsequent basic structure manufacturing can be carried out according to these guidelines."

Liu Zhenshan nodded: "Okay."

The sweltering summer has quietly passed by without us even realizing it.

In the northern part of the city, the temperature drops sharply as soon as summer ends.

Wearing only a thin summer shirt, Mingzhao felt a bit cold when the wind blew.

From afar, you can see two figures standing tall like autumn pines at the entrance.

"Howard? Bro. You're here."

Howard looked at Mingzhao, his eyes filled with undisguised scrutiny and heartache. He took off his coat and draped it over Mingzhao's shoulders.

"Zhaozhao, we just wanted to come and see you. Did we disturb your work?"

Minglang eagerly asked a question. Seeing Huo Hua draping a coat over the little girl, he looked at Mingzhao with some pity.

I was so focused on looking at Mingzhao that I forgot to check if she was cold.

"It's all my brother's fault."

Minglang stomped his heel on the ground. He looked at Mingzhao with a tense expression.

Will Zhao Zhao feel that she is an incompetent older brother?

He then glared at Howard, wondering who Mingzhao's real brother was.

Damn it, I've been outdone.

"Are you free today? Can you take the day off? I'll take you shopping for clothes! Let's dress up Zhaozhao like a little princess!"

"It's nothing. I didn't notice it either."

Mingzhao dared not accept the title of "little princess".

"But I'm free today. Wait for me while I pack my things."

Howard's expression shifted: "What do you need to pack? I'll help you!"

Minglang opened his mouth, glared at Huo Hua, and then anxiously spoke up.

"Yes, Zhao Zhao. Let your brother help you carry it!"

"Then come with me."

Mingzhao turned and led the way, with the two following behind him.

The gatekeeper, seeing two tall men following behind Mingzhao, suddenly thought that Mingzhao's family relationships seemed quite good.

For the past two weeks, no one had come to see her, so we thought Comrade Mingzhao didn't have many people at home.

Howard and Minglang stood at the door, waiting for Mingzhao to pack her personal belongings.

After all, men and women are different, so it wasn't appropriate for Minglang to go in and help.

Howard wanted to go in and help, but Minglang stopped him.

"What are you doing going into a girl's room, you grown man?"

"If you're going to be an older brother, you should be aware of what it means to be an older brother. Don't be so lacking in boundaries."

Be careful, your sister might dislike you.

Minglang thought of his younger sister back home; she was just like that—a girl's life was off-limits to any stinky man. If he did, she'd throw a tantrum, and it would take forever to appease him.

Upon hearing this, Howard's eyes were as deep as an unfathomable, icy pool.

"elder brother?"

Minglang gave Howard a strange look.

"What? You have a problem with that?"

"I am Mingzhao's husband!"

Minglang turned pale upon hearing this, and he grabbed Howard's collar.

"So what? You're his brother, remember that."

Something's not right? What husband??

Minglang gritted his teeth, glaring fiercely at Howard, his eyes filled with icy coldness and anger.

"You wouldn't have already... with Zhaozhao..."

"Holy shit, Howard, you shameless bastard!"