Chapter 26 Going Against the Current Feeling down? Let's row a boat together...

"Ada, I've finished writing it, take a look."

With a week left until the deadline, Liang Siyu had finished the introduction and discussion section, and there was still plenty of time for Xu Aida to go through the entire text again.

Their paper was completed quite smoothly, mainly because Ada is very perceptive with data. The results of the new algorithm are excellent, with significant improvements in prediction accuracy and real-time performance. It should have no problem passing the NIPS conference review.

However, they are currently using electromyography data from healthy participants. If they submit their work to a medical journal, it may be questioned whether the participants are representative and do not match the actual application scenario.

Therefore, collecting data from patients with limb disabilities in the next phase is crucial.

During lunch, his phone rang. Xu Aida, with pizza in his mouth, swiped the screen with the back of his hand and saw the email title. His expression immediately changed.

If she hadn't had food in her mouth, she would have loved to curse out loud.

Liang Siyu finished the last bite, wiped his hands, took out his phone and looked at it, and felt utterly disgusted.

Xu Aida threw the remaining half of the pizza onto the plate: "I'm not eating it. I'll go back and take a look. I'll submit it today. Anyway, it doesn't need any major changes."

She was in a bad mood and just wanted to finish up what she was doing as soon as possible.

They were both shrouded in a low mood all afternoon.

Xu Aida checked the submitted version, forcing himself not to think about the email, and focused on finishing what he was doing.

Liang Siyu carefully read the email to see what new requirements the ethics committee had put forward this time.

This is the third time they have been asked to provide additional information.

The ethics committee initially questioned the issue of identity conflict. After his defense, he invited Professor Brooke to serve as co-principal investigator for New York affairs and suggested contacting a third-party ethics organization to arrange an independent coordinator.

The committee agreed, but after they submitted supplementary materials, the application was not approved because the experimental design required further evaluation.

Secondly, the ethics committee questioned their experimental design, pointing out that providing "real-time feedback" could put stress on participants.

Professor Will said, "If the feedback doesn't match the intention, do you think the participants will feel stressed? Will they feel that their own defect is causing them to be unable to control the prosthesis, resulting in a strong sense of frustration?"

They stated that they had rigorous instructions during the recruitment and testing process to help participants fully understand that this was only a trial-stage technology with limited predictive power for motor intentions and was unrelated to the participants' health conditions.

Participants can stop at any time if they feel uncomfortable. They also have a standard self-assessment scale for their emotions.

However, it still didn't pass the review that time.

After discussing the results with them, the two mentors believed that the preliminary results were positive and were willing to provide additional funding to provide psychological counseling support services to participants in need.

They added this new safeguard to their application materials.

When supplementing the materials, Hsu Ai-ta poked him in the chest and said, "You still want to withdraw your authorship? The committee is now nitpicking the experimental design. Do you think withdrawing your authorship will solve the problem?"

He gave a wry smile and hugged her, saying, "I was wrong, Your Majesty is wise."

He was initially naive, thinking the other party would continue to harp on the issue of "identity conflict," and that withdrawing would allow two organizations to collect data, which would be better for the project.

Unexpectedly, Professor Will changed his tune and began to criticize the experimental design, which meant that even if they removed the New York site, the other party would not give up easily.

In the email just now, the ethics committee questioned, "If the algorithm's feedback is inaccurate, it may undermine participants' trust in the rehabilitation institution, thereby affecting their enthusiasm for subsequent treatment."

This is a completely fabricated accusation. Any new exploratory research project carries this risk.

Does the fact that there are errors in the feedback from neuroprosthetics during the experimental phase mean that people should give up on regular rehabilitation treatment? This is a classic slippery slope fallacy.

Following this logic, all clinical trials of new drugs, or even exploratory studies of invasive surgery, should be immediately halted.

Liang Siyu rubbed his temples. Reason told him that he should now go through the literature and compile evidence to prove that this research on non-invasive medical devices would not affect patient compliance at all.

But the other party has made it clear that they are not "evaluating" but are blatantly delaying under the guise of "protecting participants".

Xu Aida pushed aside her keyboard and started packing her things. It was only 4:30, but after submitting her paper, she felt she wasn't in the mood to work anymore and didn't want to waste time pretending.

Liang Siyu looked at his reply, which was only half a page long, saved it, and went out with her.

They walked silently toward the parking lot, when suddenly an idea struck him: "Ada, how about we go boating?"

Their gym bags were in the car. It was about a 20-minute drive from school to his usual rowing club. The river in the park was also quite scenic, and while rowing, he could watch the sunset and change his mood.

She was a little stunned and didn't answer for a moment.

He wrapped his arms around her waist: "Let's go for a leisurely ride, rent a two-person boat, it's not difficult, I'll teach you."

She nodded: "Go ahead."

It wasn't that she was afraid of difficulties. In fact, she could row, though her skill level was very average, probably not even at the beginner level. He taught her, after their wedding in July of this year.

Yes, in their previous life, they had a small wedding ceremony six months after registering their marriage, at the suggestion of both sets of parents, and also because he still wanted a more ceremonial ceremony.

They had a lawn wedding on Long Island, renting a small chapel at a country club. It was held at the end of July and only the closest family and friends attended, a little over thirty people.

During their time on Long Island, they rowed, paddleboarded, and strolled along the beach, before embarking on their honeymoon in the South of France and Italy.

Looking back now, it really feels like a dream.

She sighed softly, watched the car drive into the parking lot, and pulled her chaotic thoughts back to reality.

"Ada, don't look so sullen. Let's put those unhappy things aside for now," he gently persuaded her.

Hmph, she's not thinking about that old geezer from the ethics committee.

She retorted, "Rowing is pure pain. I'm just getting into the zone early."

As he parked the car, he glanced at her in surprise: "Oh, you know about this? Was it scratched before?"

Yes, her past, and her future that he didn't know.

She pursed her lips and denied it softly: "No, I've only ever kayaked."

Back then, the phrase "Rowing is pure pain" caught her attention on the theme wall of that club on Long Island.

She was so happy during her first kayaking experience that when they came out, she excitedly asked him what he meant by that. How could such a fun activity as kayaking be purely painful?

He laughed and said, "Next time I'll take you to a stroke of 40, and we'll maintain it for 30 seconds, then you'll see."

The second time, she watched him and the coach on the ergometer, their faces flushed from exhaustion, and she naturally understood.

He skillfully led her into the club.

At the front desk, a young coach greeted him: "Ned, long time no see."

He glanced at his female companion and raised an eyebrow. "Double scull?"

Liang Siyu shook hands with the other person and patted them on the back, emphasizing: "Training in a two-person boat."

He turned his head and explained to her, "The training boat is wider, making it less likely to capsize, which is very beginner-friendly."

The coach had them change first, gave Ada the necessary ground training, and helped her put on her life jacket before leading them to the dock.

Liang Siyu boarded the boat first, and the coach added some weight to Xu Aida's seat before letting her on. The two have a significant height and weight difference, and without the added weight, the boat's center of gravity would easily become unstable.

Having not rowed for many years, Xu Aida felt that the boat was narrower than she remembered, and the edges were low, making her feel unsafe. Of course, it was still much better than those toothpick-like racing boats.

"Ada, don't put down your oars yet. Let's wait until we leave the dock and enter the river."

Liang Siyu gave her a few instructions, raised his hand to signal the instructor, and gently rowed the small boat. The boat swayed slightly, turned slowly, and left the dock. The instructor followed easily in a single-person boat.

Once they entered the straight river, Liang Siyu began directing her to paddle, constantly reminding her, "Go in vertically, paddle, come out of the water, turn flat, go in vertically."

Gradually, they found their rhythm in harmony. A gentle evening breeze caressed their faces, the riverbanks were lush and green, and the small boat sped along.

"Not bad, you picked it up pretty quickly," he complimented her.

She smiled happily, turned to look at him, and raised her voice slightly: "I learn everything quickly."

In her past life, she learned rowing much faster than he learned paddleboarding. He struggled for most of the day but couldn't stand up. After all, he was too tall and it was difficult for him to maintain his balance on the small paddleboard.

When a cruise ship occasionally passes by, Xu Aida still gets a little nervous, but Liang Siyu comforts her, "It's okay, I'm watching, don't worry."

She maintained her paddling rhythm and couldn't help but complain: "That's the bad thing about rowing, you're facing away from the direction of travel, it doesn't feel safe."

He laughed: "Even if you're paddling face-up, the real danger is actually the underwater currents and whirlpools—you can't see them. Rowing relies on feel; you have to practice slowly. Once you get used to it, the water will tell you how to row."

He was talking about rowing, but her hand suddenly stopped, as if he had struck a nerve.

The rhythm was disrupted, and she panicked a little. She gripped the oars tightly, trying to keep up with his beat, but this only made things worse, and the boat rocked even more violently.

"Don't panic, don't move, listen to my commands." His voice came steadily from behind.

His oars emerged steadily from the water, allowing her to row alone for a while before they returned to the rhythm together.

As the boat gradually stabilized, she breathed softly, casting aside all other thoughts and focusing solely on the present moment—the clear ripples on the river, the narrow boat, the synchronized oars, and the man who brought her peace of mind.

Bathed in the bright yet gentle glow of the sunset, they rowed around the harbor and returned.

"Shall we go to the Inner Harbour for blue crab?" he suggested. Because of the recent deterioration in security, they hadn't gone out for dinner much for the past two or three weeks.

“Okay, let’s have a big meal.” She hugged his arm and pressed herself against his side. “I’m going to eat all those awful crabs.”

"With that furious tone you're using, please allow me a moment of silence for the crabs."

She gently shook his arm: "Whose side are you on?"

"With you, with you." He pulled his arm away and hugged her with a smile.

They temporarily forgot about the annoying ethical reviews and spent a peaceful night.

Before going to bed, Liang Siyu remembered something: "Oh right, Memorial Day is coming soon, and I'm thinking of taking two more days off to go home. Why don't you come with me to Long Island for a few days?"

"I think I'll pass." Her throat was a little dry.

In her past life, she did go home with him during this long weekend to discuss wedding preparations and look at venues.

Now, she doesn't really want to go to Long Island, and she doesn't really want to trigger those memories again.

Liang Siyu persuaded, "Ada, come along. Long Island has nice scenery, it'll be a good way to relax." He paused, "You know, Baltimore hasn't been very safe lately, I'm worried about leaving you alone."

She fell silent. Last month, a violent clash occurred in Baltimore, and the atmosphere throughout the city was unusually tense.

Tonight they went to the Inner Harbour for dinner, an area that is usually safe but is now filled with a tense atmosphere.

She grew up in the Bay Area, where the environment was relatively peaceful, and had never seen anything like this before.

If he weren't by her side, she probably wouldn't dare go out at night, even if she was driving.

But she still hesitated about Long Island.

"Do you feel a little uncomfortable being with the elders?" His tone softened. "How about this, we'll just stay on Long Island for a day, have dinner with Granny, and then go back to the city, just the two of us."

She paused, Granny Vivi, she had completely forgotten about it.

"Ada, what's wrong?" He saw her eyes were red and his heart ached. "Are you in a bad mood and don't want to go out? Then I'll stay with you."

She couldn't steal away the little time he and Granny Vivi had left.

For the sake of that elegant yet mischievous lady, she nodded: "Let's go to Long Island, I've never been there before."

His eyes changed instantly, like a lighthouse being lit up in the afterglow of the setting sun.

He hesitated just now, afraid that he had been too hasty, but the fact that she was willing to meet his grandmother made him more confident about proposing to her in July.

Feeling a little guilty, she turned her head away from his overly intense and bright gaze.

He leaned down and kissed her passionately.

"Ugh," she pushed him hard, trying to gain a moment of space and clarity.

But his arms were as tight as scorching steel, holding her firmly in his grasp, almost crushing her into a tiny snowflake.

He kissed her deeper, taking away her air, her breath, her senses, and even her thoughts.

In a daze, she could no longer remember anything and melted in his burning palm.