After Carl returned to his room, Chen Hao didn't go to sleep immediately. He sat at his desk, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the surface. The night outside was deep, and the streetlights downstairs were still on, casting a dim yellow glow. He stared at that light for a long time, then suddenly stood up and pulled an old notebook from a drawer.
The notebook cover was slightly curled, and there was a little oil stain in the corner, as if he had accidentally gotten it while eating hot pot last time. He opened the first page, paused for two seconds, and wrote a line: "I want to do real scientific research."
After writing that sentence, he laughed at himself. Before, when teachers asked students to write about their dreams, he would copy things like "I want to be a game streamer" or "I want to join an esports team." Now, he was actually writing about "scientific research" in a serious tone—it sounded like a dream.
But instead of closing the notebook, he continued writing.
"Goal: To understand the questions that no one dares to ask."
"For example, who sent the signal from that planet?"
Why can the energy module repair itself?
"And... were we the first civilization to discover it?"
The list of questions grew longer and longer, gradually filling the paper. He became more and more excited as he wrote, his heart pounding as if he had just run 800 meters. But then, he got stuck again.
He knew the problem, but didn't know what to do next. Should he research? Enroll in a training course? Or send his resume directly to the Chinese Academy of Sciences? He couldn't even figure out where to begin.
Just then, the door slid open gently.
Nana walked in, her footsteps light, her mechanical eyes flashing a faint blue light. "You are currently in a state of high concentration, which has lasted for forty-three minutes. It is recommended that you drink some water or take a short break."
Chen Hao looked up. "Stop using all that jargon, just say it—am I crazy?"
“Based on behavioral model analysis, your current mood swings are typical of goal-driven hyperactivity, which isn’t abnormal.” She walked to the computer and sat down. “Would you like me to retrieve the development path in the relevant field?”
"You have one of these?"
"My knowledge base contains nearly fifty years of global research project data, grant application processes, university cooperation models, and independent project operation cases." After she finished speaking, she tapped a few times on the keyboard, and a well-structured document immediately popped up on the screen: "Suggested direction: Simulation and construction of sustainable energy systems under extreme environments."
Chen Hao leaned closer to take a look. "This name is too long. It sounds like a government report."
"It can be referred to as the 'Alien Energy Reproduction Project'."
"That's great!" he slammed his hand on the table. "It sounds like we're going to build a flying saucer."
Nana didn't smile, but her blue eyes flickered slightly. "From a resource perspective, you have three unique advantages: first, field exploration experience; second, unpublished data records; and third, a background in cross-species collaboration."
"Wait a minute." Chen Hao waved his hand. "When you say 'cross-species,' are you referring to me and Karl?"
"yes."
"Isn't that just humans and robots working together? Why all the fancy words?"
"Academic expression needs to be packaged."
Chen Hao grinned, "You're quite knowledgeable."
The two began to go through the plan point by point.
With the research direction set, the next step is the specific steps. Nana suggested first writing a draft paper, organizing the core data they collected on the planet, and then contacting the labs at the three universities to see if there were any collaboration opportunities. If that didn't work out, they could apply for private research grants and build a small-scale experimental setup themselves.
"We will complete the prototype testing within three months," Nana said.
"Three months?" Chen Hao's eyes widened. "I haven't even touched a screwdriver more than a few times."
"I can guide the assembly."
"Then you might as well just cover the whole thing."
"No. The project leader must have practical skills; otherwise, the project will not pass the ethics review."
Chen Hao sighed, "It seems we really have to take action."
As he took notes, he muttered to himself, "I used to find copying homework too tiring, but now I'm voluntarily adding extra work for myself."
“Your changes are quite obvious,” Nana suddenly said.
Where is it obvious?
“Three months ago, you were awake for a maximum of six hours a day, four of which you spent watching short videos. Now, you can proactively plan long-term goals late at night.”
So you mean I was pretty useless before?
"I'm just stating the facts."
Chen Hao laughed out loud, "Fine, I'm too lazy to argue anyway."
They readjusted the schedule.
First month: Complete data organization and paper framework;
Second month: Contact the supervisor and submit a preliminary plan;
Third month: Procurement of materials and construction of basic facilities.
"We still need to find a place to put the equipment." Chen Hao scratched his head. "My balcony is used for drying clothes, we can't just move the washing machine there, can we?"
"The basement has a usable space of 12.3 square meters, good ventilation, and meets the load-bearing capacity standards."
“My mom is still storing pickled vegetables there.”
"The success rate of communication is expected to be 61%."
"Damn, we might as well just roll the dice."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. The mother poked her head in, "Still not asleep so late?"
"We are planning something big that will change the fate of humanity," Chen Hao said seriously.
The mother glanced at the charts on the computer screen, then at the open notebook, and said, "Oh, while you're at it, you can also plan out your ideas for tomorrow's breakfast."
The door closed.
Chen Hao chuckled and continued writing.
There were a few new lines of content on the paper:
"Find a venue."
"Buy parts."
"Learn to use a soldering iron."
"Let's try our best to prevent the lab from ever exploding."
Nana looked at the last one and said, "Safety can be improved through standardized operations; we don't have to rely on luck."
"But I think that for a combination like ours, luck is the biggest variable."
She didn't reply, but silently saved all the files and created a new folder named "project x".
"Shall we call it Project X from now on?" Chen Hao asked.
"Can."
"Sounds like a secret weapon."
"Or the failure product number."
Chen Hao laughed so hard he almost slipped off his chair.
After laughing, he looked down at his notebook and suddenly fell silent.
He recalled the moment he first opened the data capsule on the planet. The door slowly rose, revealing a swirling blue light within, as if it held the secrets of the entire universe. At that moment, only one thought occupied his mind: If only this thing could be sold for money.
Things are different now.
He didn't want to sell it; he wanted to understand it.
"Nana," he said softly, "do you think we can really make this happen?"
“Based on the current conditions, the success rate is less than 80%.” She paused for a second, “but the sentence you just wrote made me update the model.”
Which sentence?
"'It's not about becoming famous, but about understanding the questions that no one dares to ask.'"
"This can be considered data?"
"This is the motivation parameter. The original forecast was based on resources and capabilities, and the new model incorporates driving force weights. It is now assessed at 76.3, and it is still rising."
Chen Hao paused for a moment, then closed the notebook and slapped it twice.
"Okay, let's do it."
He stood up, stretched, and turned to leave the study. But he stopped at the door, turned back, and asked, "Did you say goodnight?"
"Not yet." Nana stood in front of the computer, the blue light reflecting off the metal casing. "Goodnight, partner."
Chen Hao smiled, turned off the lights, and went out.
The hallway outside was quiet, with only the faint sound of a dripping faucet in the distance. He walked through the living room and glimpsed the comic book Karl had been reading yesterday still on the coffee table, cover down, with half a dried-out mung bean cake underneath.
He didn't touch it.
Before returning to his room, he went into the kitchen again and poured himself a glass of water. As he finished drinking and put the glass down, he heard a soft hum from the refrigerator.
It's like some kind of activation signal.
He stood still.
A new question popped into my head:
If we actually build a prototype, what's the first thing to do?
Brewing coffee?
Charge?
Or should we try responding to the signals coming from that planet?
Before he could figure it out, he heard Nana's voice coming from the direction of the study.
"Reminder: There will be a science lecture at the community center at 10:00 AM tomorrow. The speaker is a retired engineer from the Aerospace Research Institute, and the topic is 'How ordinary people can participate in scientific exploration'."
Chen Hao was stunned.
He remembered that Susan had mentioned this event a few days ago.
He had planned to pretend to be asleep to avoid it.
But now, he finds himself seriously considering whether or not to listen.
He turned and walked towards the study, pushing open the slightly ajar door.
“Nana,” he said, “print out the information for that lecture.”
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