Since its creation, this amplifier had never successfully activated before and had even caused mental strain to several test subjects.
The research team responsible had worked tirelessly for nearly a year without completing a single successful experiment.
Now, the flashing data streams on the terminal screens filled everyone’s hearts with joy.
Their efforts had finally borne fruit!
After documenting the data, You Jin found his heart racing as if witnessing a miracle.
Yun Xingze slowly opened his eyes. “Is the recording done?”
“It’s done,” Jin Xuan confirmed after checking the saved data, letting out a relieved sigh. “Wonderful. This amplifier has finally completed its first successful trial.”
Cheng Yuan personally removed Yun Xingze’s helmet and said solemnly, “Yun Xingze, you’re a young man with boundless potential.”
His tone carried genuine admiration.
Beads of sweat dotted Yun Xingze’s temples. When he stood up, everyone in the lab spontaneously broke into applause.
These white-coated researchers; some senior scientists, some junior assistants all looked at Yun Xingze with the gaze one might reserve for a priceless treasure.
Yun Xingze blinked in surprise before casually saying, “I’m going to get some water.”
“Don’t move!” Ming Xiao abruptly stopped him, making him jump. “You shouldn’t exert yourself!”
Someone quickly wheeled over a cart: “Snacks, drinks, bottled water whatever you’d like.”
Yun Xingze grabbed a water bottle and drank half of it in one go before turning to Cheng Yuan. “Can I go check out my personal lab now?”
Cheng Yuan nodded eagerly. “Of course.”
After Yun Xingze and Cheng Yuan left, the researchers marveled at how Yun Xingze was their savior while speculating about why he wanted a private lab.
Some thought he was genuinely interested in research, others suspected he wanted the title of “researcher,” and a few believed he might just be doing it for fun.
Professor Jin Xuan waved off their discussions. “As long as he keeps helping with our experiments, I wouldn’t mind giving him my own lab as a bedroom if he wanted.”
Everyone recognized Yun Xingze’s importance and readily agreed.
“Completely reasonable. It’s just one lab.”
“Such a modest request. We could give him several more if needed.”
Ming Xiao also nodded in agreement. “Who cares what he uses it for? It’s just a lab. He could turn it into a bathroom for all I care.”
Completely forgetting what he’d previously said to Yun Xingze.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yuan assigned Yun Xingze the best-equipped priority lab, filled with the newest and most expensive equipment.
After inspecting the facilities, Yun Xingze was thoroughly satisfied.
The contract granted him full control over this lab for one year.
A year was more than enough time for him to accomplish many things.
Cheng Yuan assigned Eugene as Yun Xingze’s temporary assistant, patting him on the shoulder before saying, “I have a meeting to attend. If you need anything, just give me a call.”
After the dean left, Eugene curiously asked Yun Xingze, “Are you really planning to conduct research here?”
Yun Xingze gave him a strange look. “What else would I do here? Sleep and shower?”
“Even if you did, we wouldn’t mind,” Eugene quickly replied. “I’m just a little curious because it’s rare to see a mecha warrior interested in research.”
Yun Xingze curled his lips into a faint smile. “Well, now you’ve seen one.”
To be precise, he wasn’t a mecha warrior with a passing interest in research.
He was a research prodigy currently experiencing mecha combat in NCLM.
“So, do you actually know how to use this equipment?” Eugene asked cautiously, careful not to offend him.
“A little,” Yun Xingze replied casually.
Though the equipment was outdated, he could still recognize its functions.
Hearing this, Eugene assumed Yun Xingze probably didn’t know how to use it but, not wanting to hurt his pride, said, “That’s good. If you run into any trouble, just call me anytime.”
Yun Xingze nodded.
Eugene simply regarded Yun Xingze as an ordinary military academy student with a curiosity for research, hoping to assist him as much as possible in the future.
Sitting in front of a machine, Yun Xingze suddenly recalled his past life as a researcher.
Back then, his days had been filled with endless experiments, sustained only by passion. Looking back now, it felt like a lifetime ago—nostalgic, even.
But in his current identity as an ordinary person, Yun Xingze knew he had to produce results here to earn the respect of the research institute’s members and secure more resources.
After dismissing Eugene, Yun Xingze gazed at his holographic screen and murmured to himself, “First order of business, let’s start with improving neural bridging technology.”
He had no interest in the institute’s conventional experimental methods, they were far too slow.
Instead, he intended to rely on his own expertise to design a new type of neural connector ready for mass production.
Technologically speaking, it would likely surpass this world’s current level by at least a decade. Without much assistance, Yun Xingze had a lot on his plate.
Thus, he decided to visit the research institute every night after training.
The institute took Yun Xingze’s schedule very seriously, arranging a dedicated transport shuttle for him; one with the highest security clearance, comparable to that of the royal family.
His frequent late-night departures from the hotel over the past two days naturally aroused Luo Wenchuan’s suspicion.
Since everything about the research institute was confidential, Yun Xingze couldn’t disclose the truth. When questioned, he simply said he was scouting for suitable mecha modification materials nearby.
Luo Wenchuan didn’t press further, though his lips tightened slightly as he asked, “Do you need me to come with you?”
“No need,” Yun Xingze declined smoothly. “I can handle it alone.”
A flicker of disappointment flashed in Luo Wenchuan’s eyes, catching Yun Xingze off guard.
He frowned slightly. “Senior, is something wrong?”
After a moment of silence, Luo Wenchuan said quietly, “We agreed the other day to play ‘Mecha Stars’ together. Did you forget?” After speaking, he casually glanced at Yun Xingze’s eyes for a moment.
Yun Xingze suddenly remembered he had indeed promised Luo Wenchuan this request before.
But now, his mind was solely focused on research, leaving him no energy for games.
“Senior Da Chuan, I think I’ll pass on gaming for now,” Yun Xingze said, scratching his head.
He cautiously observed Luo Wenchuan’s expression and noticed a trace of concealed disappointment in his calm demeanor, which tugged at his heart.
Suddenly, Yun Xingze had an idea. He said to Luo Wenchuan, “How about this, I’ll lend you my account and you can play for me these next few days.”
Luo Wenchuan looked up at him.
“Didn’t we say before.” Yun Xingze swallowed, speaking somewhat awkwardly, “that we wanted our IDs to appear side by side on the leaderboard?”
Hearing this, Luo Wenchuan’s lips curved slightly, the disappointment in his eyes fading.
Then he nodded and said, “Alright. I’ll wait until you’re free to play together.”
Seeing Luo Wenchuan’s faint smile, Yun Xingze felt his own mood lift.
He handed Luo Wenchuan his room key. “You can go straight to my room. The game pod doesn’t have a password, you can log in directly.”
Luo Wenchuan took the key and said to Yun Xingze, “Come back early. If anything comes up, remember to contact me.”
Yun Xingze felt a warm sense of being cared for, but at the same time, Luo Wenchuan also trusted him completely, never prying into his whereabouts.
After Yun Xingze left, Luo Wenchuan entered his room and opened the game pod.
Inside, the faint scent of Yun Xingze lingered, more noticeable in the confined space.
It might have been from his body wash or shampoo. Luo Wenchuan wasn’t sure.
Truthfully, not being able to play games with Yun Xingze still left him feeling disappointed.
But he didn’t say it aloud.
He was afraid Yun Xingze might grow impatient with him.
Luo Wenchuan realized that the more he cared about Yun Xingze, the more he became prone to overthinking.
He began to wonder if he should find an opportunity to change the nature of their relationship.
But now clearly wasn’t the right time. They were still in the middle of the competition. If Yun Xingze didn’t feel the same way, confessing recklessly could affect both their moods, even their performance in the tournament.
Lost in thought, Luo Wenchuan accidentally pressed a button.
He had opened a hidden account within Yun Xingze’s “Mecha Stars” profile.
Just as he was about to close the wrong account, his gaze suddenly landed on the ID:
[Chi Yu’s Little Star].
