Chapter 44: The Confidentiality Protocol

Goudan rubbed the spot where he had been bumped. “You’re right, Master. I suppose I’m just too clever.”

Zhong Yuxiu was speechless.

“I’m an intelligent and adorable robot, Master. Don’t you think so?”

“Go away for now. Your battery is almost out—hurry back and recharge.” Half drawing the curtains, Zhong Yuxiu returned to bed to read.

“Master doesn’t love Goudan. Goudan is so pitiful.” Goudan let out a sigh that seemed almost genuine, drooping his head in dejection as he trudged back to the lab.

The corners of Zhong Yuxiu’s lips twitched. Such a drama queen!

Once her hair was dry, she adjusted her mental state, and soon fell asleep lying in bed.

When she woke, the sky outside was already dark. Zhong Yuxiu yawned, tossed back her covers, and got out of bed. She slipped on her shoes, left her room, and, still a bit groggy, made her way slowly down the stairs, steadying herself on the railing.

“Comrade Zhong is up. Still not quite awake, are you?”

Blinking the sleep from her eyes, Zhong Yuxiu saw four people sitting in the hall: Li Yun, Hao Nan, Tian Shangguo... and Yan Rushan!

“Comrade Yan...”

“Comrade Zhong, congratulations on your new research breakthrough. The higher-ups are very pleased. The charging vehicle you developed will be implemented as soon as possible. I imagine it won’t be long before it’s in wide use,” Yan Rushan said, his eyes warm, the corners of his lips gently lifting in a smile.

“We can talk about that later. Let’s eat first. After dinner, we’ll discuss it in my room.” Zhong Yuxiu ruffled her hair, not wishing to speak of such things in front of Li Yun and the others.

Yan Rushan readily agreed. “Let’s eat, then. I haven’t had dinner yet—I was waiting for you.”

He could not have made his feelings more obvious if he tried.

Zhong Yuxiu felt a pang. If she were still the Zhong Yuxiu from her first life, perhaps she would have accepted him by now.

After dinner, Li Yun tidied up, while Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo stationed themselves at the foot of the stairs; not only did they stay put, but they ensured Li Yun didn’t come up either.

Once Yan Rushan was ushered into the lab, Zhong Yuxiu finally spoke.

“You mean to reveal the chip, the lithium battery, and the sensor now?”

She wasn’t being paranoid; the truth was, these technologies didn’t even exist yet abroad.

“You’re not as well-informed as you think. Word of the three items you developed has already leaked. Someone’s been holding it back, but even so, it won’t last long. I heard from my grandfather that the higher-ups want to ramp up production and sell abroad.”

“Sell them once, and won’t they be able to develop them themselves?” These weren’t impossible inventions—any reasonably clever researcher could replicate them.

“Exactly, which is why we must manufacture them on a large scale first. Make a profit while we can.”

Zhong Yuxiu gestured to the bench beside her and sat down herself. Yan Rushan nodded and took a seat.

“Are we just going to let foreigners snatch away these three golden eggs?”

Yan Rushan shook his head. “We’ll file patents first. Even if they develop them, they can’t use them openly. Our country is weak. Peaceful development is our only way forward.”

“Patents won’t stop them.” Zhong Yuxiu mused for a long moment before saying, “I can add a protective lock to these three technologies to ensure others can’t easily replicate them. If anyone tries, it will immediately trigger self-destruction.”

“Is that possible?” Yan Rushan was astonished.

Zhong Yuxiu nodded slightly, her eyes deep. “The sensors and chips require my programming. I can add a security protocol inside. As for the lithium battery, it’s hardware—I can’t program it.”

“Even two out of three is good...”

Before Yan Rushan finished, Zhong Yuxiu continued, “Although I can’t program the battery directly, we can modify it to work with the sensor or chip. If one is triggered, all will be destroyed—leaving nothing behind.”

Maximum secrecy achieved.

Yan Rushan’s eyes shone. “That’s an excellent solution.”

“I’ll start on the program now. You can leave when you like—no need to say goodbye.” Zhong Yuxiu turned on her computer, sat down, and her fingers began to fly over the keys. The keyboard was not the silent type of the future, but clacked loudly.

Yan Rushan stood behind her, watching lines of code appear. He could understand each string by itself, but together they formed a language that recognized him, but which he did not recognize.

Lost in her work, Zhong Yuxiu entered a state of complete absorption. When she finally finished, it was deep into the night. Only then did she remember Yan Rushan and look around the lab for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t even noticed when he’d left.

“Goudan, when did Comrade Yan Rushan leave?”

“Master, Comrade Yan Rushan left half an hour after you got busy,” Goudan replied, then fell silent once more.

Zhong Yuxiu stretched, slumping over her computer, unwilling to move.

“Goudan, I don’t want to move.”

“Understood, Master.” Goudan approached, lifted her up, and carried her out of the lab, placing her gently on her bedroom bed. “Master, I’ll go fetch some hot water for you to wash your face and hands. Do you need to soak your feet?”

Zhong Yuxiu rolled her neck. “No need, I already bathed earlier.”

“Roger that.”

Goudan opened the door and went downstairs. Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo, waiting at the stairwell, saw him and knew Zhong Yuxiu had finished her work. They waited a while longer until Goudan carried the basin of hot water into the room and then came out again. They took the basin from him.

“We’ll take it from here. You go and look after Comrade Zhong.”

Goudan beeped twice, turned back into the room, and closed the door behind him.

Hao Nan’s face broke into a smile. “Comrade Zhong’s finished for the day and is preparing for bed. Otherwise, she wouldn’t need hot water.”

“We should wash up and sleep too. We have to be up early tomorrow,” Tian Shangguo said just as Hao Nan nodded in agreement. The two headed to their room, gathered their things, and carried the basins downstairs to wash up. They moved quickly, wrapping up in a few minutes.

Back upstairs, they entered their room, shut the door, and quickly fell asleep.

It was a restful night.

The next day, Zhong Yuxiu woke early and bumped into Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo as she went out.

“Good morning, Comrade Hao. Good morning, Comrade Tian.”

“Good morning, Comrade Zhong.”

“Good morning, Comrade Zhong,” they replied in unison.

Zhong Yuxiu smiled. “You won’t be able to exercise today.”

“It’s fine, we can exercise when we get back.” Comrade Zhong usually stayed home all day, rarely going out, so they had plenty of free time.

“That’s good, then.”

The three of them went downstairs together. Zhong Yuxiu washed up first, followed by Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo. Just as they were about to have breakfast, Yan Rushan arrived, perfectly on time.

“Comrade Yan, you’re up early!” Zhong Yuxiu teased.

Yan Rushan’s expression was calm. “It’s not early. After breakfast, we’ll be off to school. You’re going to the university today—we can go together.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I had breakfast before coming, but I can still keep you company.” Yan Rushan sat down beside her, perfectly at ease, and handed her a bowl and chopsticks. There were only four sets on the table, and after he took Li Jie’s, there were none left. “Li Jie, could you bring out another set, please?”

Li Yun smiled and nodded. “Of course, Comrade Yan. Enjoy your meal.”

Zhong Yuxiu: ...

She almost laughed—he was clearly here to freeload. His skin was getting thicker by the day, and no amount of discouragement could drive him away.