The success of the second experiment was like a stone thrown into a shallow pool of water, creating ripples far greater than the commotion caused by the first failure.

Liu Li clearly felt that the gazes directed at her had changed. Before, there was curiosity mixed with a touch of distance; now, there was a lot more genuine inquiry, and even a hint of... admiration?

What surprised her most was Zhou Wei's change.

That afternoon, she was hunched over her desk, comparing the data from two experiments and figuring out how to further optimize the stepwise prestressing strategy, when a figure stopped beside her desk.

It was Zhou Wei. He was holding a notebook, and his expression was a little unnatural, as if he had made up his mind.

"Comrade Liu Li," he cleared his throat, "could you show me that data you recorded in your last experiment, the inflection point where cutting heat causes a sudden increase in deformation?"

Liu Li was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant and pushed the notebook over: "Here it is."

Zhou Wei pulled up a chair and sat down, examining the data very carefully. His fingers traced the data lines, his brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently. After finishing, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he pointed to one of the formula derivations and asked, "How did you determine the correction coefficient for this compensation amount? I calculated it using conventional formulas in elasticity, but it doesn't seem to match the value you actually use."

Liu Li's heart skipped a beat. It seemed this top student from Tsinghua University was genuinely starting to consider her "homemade method." She didn't hold back, pulling out her draft paper filled with force analysis sketches: "The conventional formula assumes an ideal state. I've combined the nonlinear characteristics of actual materials and the influence of fixture stiffness to make an empirical correction. Look, here, and here, these are all adjustments derived from measured data..."

The two began discussing at the desk. One explained the theoretical basis and model simplification, while the other supplemented the discussion with practical phenomena and data corrections. They were a little reserved at first, but later they became engrossed in the conversation, their speaking pace accelerating.

“Your optimized support point layout actually aligns with the idea of ​​reducing mid-span bending moment in continuous beam theory,” Zhou Wei said thoughtfully. “However, you’re using the most direct and clumsy method of ‘adding more support points’.”

“The method is clumsy, but it works,” Liu Li laughed. “Our workshop veterans often say, ‘It doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it’s a good cat.’ No matter how beautiful the theory is, it’s useless if it can’t be put into practice.”

Zhou Wei, unusually, did not refute, but instead nodded: "Indeed. The measured data you provided is very enlightening for me to improve that vibration model. Some of my previous assumptions may have been too idealistic."

As they were talking, Sun Mei and two other group members came over. Sun Mei looked at Zhou Wei and Liu Li, who were having a lively discussion, and couldn't hide her surprise. She picked up the pages of paper where Liu Li was recording data and looked at them, especially the clearly marked deformation suppression rate. She pursed her lips, didn't say anything, but the disdain in her eyes had obviously faded a lot.

“Liu Li,” Zhou Wei suddenly looked up, his eyes shining, “what are your plans for verifying more complex parts next? I think we can collaborate. You can use your methods to conduct process experiments and provide data, while I can use theoretical models for simulation and prediction. We can verify each other, which will make optimization more efficient!”

This suggestion warmed Liu Li's heart. It meant that her "self-taught" skills had finally been recognized by the professionally trained elites, who were even willing to cooperate on an equal footing!

"That's great!" she responded immediately. "I was just worried that the next part's transformation mode would be even more complex, and relying on trial and error would be too slow!"

The atmosphere in the office gradually warmed up. For the first time, the invisible barriers that had previously existed showed signs of loosening in the face of concrete data and promising methods.

Zhou Wei, once the most steadfast skeptic, silently tells everyone through his transformation: in this place, what ultimately matters is not background or seniority, but solid skills and achievements.