Howard's tightly pressed lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He hadn't expected her to help him out of this predicament in this way, even giving him a "legitimate" identity to remain.

He suppressed the complex emotions surging within him and said in a cold voice, "As the project leader, Comrade Mingzhao has the right to designate the necessary collaborators."

Her decision is the project team's decision. Mr. Liu, Professor Chen, you just need to cooperate.

He used the "stepping stone" Mingzhao provided to instantly elevate her personal decision to the level of authority within the project team.

Wang Ai was so angry that she was trembling all over, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Chen Songnian looked at Mingzhao with a deep gaze, then at Huo Hua with a firm attitude, and finally sighed heavily, pulling back Wang Ai who still wanted to argue.

"Alright, since it's Comrade Mingzhao's decision, and it's for the sake of the project... Commander Huo, please be sure to abide by the confidentiality regulations."

Howard didn't speak, but nodded slightly. His gaze, hidden under the brim of his hat, fell back on Mingzhao, his expression deep and unfathomable.

Mingzhao seemed oblivious to the silent exchange. She picked up the list covered in red crosses, walked up to Wang Ai, and handed it to her directly.

Wang Ai caught it instinctively, not understanding why.

“A list,” Mingzhao said succinctly.

“I know! No means no! You’re making me…” Wang Ai said irritably.

“Solve it.” Mingzhao interrupted her, pointing to the names of several key components marked with an X on the list.

"High-frequency transistors are available on old communication modules with inventory number KT-74B. Remove them. Precision resistors are available from the third section of a discarded 'Dongfeng-3' telemetry circuit board, series R17-R22, with tolerances within acceptable limits. Go to the warehouse and have them delivered to my desk before 4 PM today."

Her speech was measured, yet it came down like a series of precise commands. Every word pointed to specific, forgotten "scrap" items and usable replacement parts!

She even pinpointed the inventory number and its exact location on the discarded equipment!

Wang Ai froze completely, her hand holding the list trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on the "alternative solutions" that Ming Zhao had casually pointed out, her face drained of color.

Chen Songnian also gasped, his eyes filled with horror as he looked at Mingzhao! How did she know?

The warehouse manager himself might not even remember the details of the parts on those stockpiled old modules and scrapped circuit boards!

This has nothing to do with ability!

He felt a surge of mockery towards Mingzhao, thinking that he was only fit to use these scrap metal.

Howard watched this scene quietly, watching Mingzhao crush the obstacles that Wang Ai had carefully set up with the most indifferent tone.

She was so powerful, so radiant, that she seemed to need no one... including him.

So what exactly was her "abnormal reaction" last night?

"Is there anything else?"

Mingzhao looked at Wang Ai, who was stunned, tilted her head slightly, and asked with a pure question in her clear eyes, as if she was just asking if the other party had heard the mission clearly.

Wang Ai suddenly snapped back to reality, overwhelmed by immense embarrassment and a fear of being completely seen through and powerless to resist.

Her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word. Clutching the list that seemed to have turned scalding hot, she turned abruptly and almost staggered out of the laboratory.

Chen Songnian gave Mingzhao a deep look, his gaze extremely complex, a mixture of shock, fear, and an indescribable solemnity.

He didn't say anything more and left quickly with a sullen face.

Once again, only the two of them remained in the lab. The old oscilloscope screen glowed with a faint green light.

Howard walked to the lab bench, looking at the circuit board that Mingzhao had "stitched together" with scrap parts and wires, and then at the oscilloscope core next to it that had been disassembled and partially reassembled.

After a moment of silence, he spoke in a low voice, slightly hoarse even to himself: "How...how did you know where those old parts were?"

Mingzhao picked up a pencil and quickly sketched a complex circuit diagram on a new sheet of white paper, the pencil tip making a scratching sound.

Upon hearing this, she didn't even look up, her tone as indifferent as if discussing the weather: "Database scan. I checked it when I went into the warehouse."

Have you seen it? Howard recalled that when she first arrived to report for duty, Zhang Mingyuan had indeed shown her around the environment, including the warehouse filled with miscellaneous items.

But that was just a fleeting glance! She actually scanned and recorded the model, location, and even usable parts of all the "junk" items in the corner? Is that something the human brain can do?

Howard felt that his understanding had been strongly challenged once again.

He looked at Mingzhao's focused profile, which still had a bit of black oil stains left from earlier. Far from looking dirty, it made her skin look even whiter, and her focused expression had a breathtakingly pure beauty.

The uncontrollable heartbeat and burning sensation from last night seemed to be stirring again in his chest.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he forcefully suppressed the unfamiliar agitation, trying to steer the conversation back on track: "Wang Ai and Chen Songnian... be careful. They won't let this go."

“Inefficient.” Mingzhao continued writing, offering a casual comment, seemingly unconcerned whether he was referring to Wang Ai’s difficult behavior or their potential future actions.

Howard: "..." He realized that he simply couldn't understand her thinking using common sense.

Just then, Mingzhao seemed to have completed a crucial part of the drawing. She put down her pen, looked up, and her gaze finally fell on Howard.

That clear, calm gaze, like a searchlight, swept across his face, finally settling on the slightly bulging pocket of his military shirt where those "abnormal reports" were kept.

Howard's heart sank! His muscles tensed instantly.

She found out? What will she ask? Will she confront him about why he stole her analysis report?

Or... should we treat him again as an "outlier" that needs to be studied?

The air seemed to freeze.

Mingzhao's gaze lingered on the pocket for two seconds, then calmly shifted away, returning to her drawings.

Just when Howard thought she wouldn't speak, she did, her voice still flat, but the question she asked was:

Did your heart race last night?

"boom--!"

Howard felt like he'd been hit hard in the head! All the blood seemed to rush to his head, and his eardrums were ringing.

What did she ask?!

What's causing my heart to race?

She actually... just asked that directly?!

In between dismantling a pile of junk, silencing those who were being difficult, and drawing complex blueprints, I asked him, in a technical tone, about his heartbeat last night!