Fu Jingchen's message came faster than expected. Two days later, he found Liu Li during his lunch break, a relaxed smile on his face: "I've talked to the supervisor, and the school lab has agreed to lend those measuring instruments for a short period of time. They're mainly an optical comparator and a roundness meter with decent accuracy, which will solve your urgent need for gear measurement. However, we need to go there ourselves to handle the formalities, and we'll also be responsible for the transportation and debugging."
"That's great!" Liu Li exclaimed with delight. This was a godsend! "The paperwork and moving are all fine! We'll handle it ourselves!"
“I happen to be going back to school this weekend to take care of some academic matters,” Fu Jingchen said naturally. “I’m familiar with the lab there, so I can take you there to complete the formalities, which will save you from getting lost. It’s just… we might need a helper to move and debug the equipment, as it’s not light.” He looked at Liu Li, his eyes asking for her opinion, but also hiding a hint of barely perceptible expectation.
Liu Li immediately understood his meaning. Her heart skipped a beat, and she said almost without hesitation, "Okay! I'll go with you! I'll make the arrangements at the technology center first. The weekend is fine."
And so the matter was settled. Externally, it was stated that the technical center had sent someone to the university to borrow equipment in order to solve the measurement problem. But in Liu Li's heart, she had a vague feeling that this wasn't entirely a purely business trip.
Early on a weekend morning, just as dawn was breaking, the two met at the factory gate and boarded the first bus to the provincial capital. The bus was crowded and noisy, filled with various smells. Fu Jingchen naturally let Liu Li sit by the window, while he sat on the outside, using his body to block the crowded flow of people in the aisle.
Throughout the journey, the two continued to discuss work. Liu Li explained in detail the initial ideas for tackling the gearbox problem and the potential measurement challenges, while Fu Jingchen introduced the performance parameters and usage precautions of the instruments. The conversation was professional and substantive, as if it were just another ordinary technical collaboration.
Upon arriving at the provincial university, Fu Jingchen, familiar with the process, guided Liu Li through the borrowing procedures and handed over the equipment to the lab administrator. He carefully checked the condition of the instruments, confirmed that all accessories were complete, and then helped Liu Li carefully pack and secure the relatively lightweight instruments, loading them onto their rented tricycle.
Everything was settled by then it was afternoon. The warm winter sun shone on the quiet university campus, and the tall sycamore trees were bare, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
“Everything’s done, and it’s still early,” Fu Jingchen said, pushing his bicycle and glancing at Liu Li. He asked casually, “Would you like to… take a walk around the campus? The environment here is quite nice.”
Liu Li's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. Looking at Fu Jingchen's profile, which appeared exceptionally clear and bright in the sunlight, she nodded: "Okay."
The two pushed their bikes, walking slowly along the quiet, tree-lined paths of the campus. Away from the familiar factory environment and the specific technical topics, the atmosphere seemed to subtly change. At first, there was some silence, but Fu Jingchen took the initiative to introduce the teaching buildings and library they passed, recounting amusing anecdotes from his time studying there.
"Back then, we often stayed up all night drawing in the classrooms here, and we would stomp our feet in the cold winter."
"The magnolias in that little garden are very beautiful in spring."
Liu Li listened with great interest. This was the first time she had learned so closely about Fu Jingchen's past and this "ivory tower" world that was so different from her own growth trajectory. She also talked about the funny things she did when she first entered the factory, about Master Wang's strictness, and about the lively and bustling daily life in the workshop.
They talked about their student days and their vague hopes for the future. There was no deliberate effort; their words flowed naturally. Sunlight filtered through the bare branches, dancing on them. Occasionally, a student carrying books would hurry by, casting a curious glance.
Walking through the unfamiliar campus, surrounded by familiar yet somehow different people, Liu Li felt a strange sensation. It wasn't like the rumors she'd heard at the factory about "dating" or "strolling around." There was no awkwardness, no embarrassment, just a comfortable and relaxed companionship and conversation.
On the way back, both of them were much quieter. Liu Li leaned against the car window, watching the fields and villages rushing past outside, but her mind was no longer filled with only equipment and data as it had been on the way there. A warm and reassuring feeling quietly enveloped her.
This trip to "borrow the equipment" was a complete success, adding a clear and warm touch to the unspoken understanding between them. Some things seem to have been quietly frozen in time during this ordinary journey.
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