Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 35：Little Wild Cat

The team stared in awe at the plan that Jiang Fan had meticulously compiled after staying up all night. They hadn't expected such dedication from this young man, and it left them with no excuse but to give their all as well.

Thus, after Jiang Fan had outlined the key challenges in the plan, everyone divided the tasks and plunged into their respective roles in the research and development work.

When the base had over 100 personnel, there had been occasional friction and misunderstandings among the team members. However, now, united by a shared purpose, they all worked seamlessly toward a common goal.

The entire research facility was immersed in a bustling yet orderly atmosphere, charged with energy and focus.

Zhou Huaide, observing the scene, couldn't help but nod approvingly, feeling an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. His main role now was to assist Jiang Fan and fulfill any requests or technical needs he had.

Despite being the overall commander, Zhou was content to work as Jiang Fan's assistant, and under his leadership, the entire team worked in perfect harmony. Their efficiency had tripled compared to the norm.

What would have normally taken the team an entire day to complete was now finished in less than half the time.

Zhou Huaide made his way to the data room to find Jiang Fan, who was still immersed in his work. Seeing him so engrossed, Zhou hesitated to interrupt. But with all the work now done by the research team, if they didn't ask Jiang Fan for the next set of materials, they would be left with nothing to do.

"Hey, Xiao Fan!" Zhou called.

Jiang Fan looked up from his desk.

"Uncle Zhou, is there a problem?" Jiang Fan asked.

"We've finished the plan you gave us this morning," Zhou replied.

"Already?" Jiang Fan was surprised.

"Yes, go ahead and check it. See if there are any issues," Zhou said.

"Alright!" Jiang Fan stood, took the detailed plan he had prepared, and walked out with Zhou.

They began reviewing the areas that the research team had revised. After a brief inspection, Jiang Fan nodded with satisfaction.

"No problems!" he confirmed.

The tense expressions of the team members melted into smiles.

Jiang Fan handed over the next set of documents to Zhou Huaide to continue the revisions, then returned to the data room to keep refining the plan.

Day after day, Jiang Fan would organize the details, hand them to Zhou Huaide, and once the revisions were completed, they would move on to the next step.

After a full day of intense work, it was already past 10 p.m. when Zhou Huaide decided to call it a day. Everyone was exhausted, but each face wore a satisfied smile.

As everyone headed off to rest, Jiang Fan remained in the data room, still working.

"Xiao Fan, it's best to leave the rest for tomorrow. You didn't get any rest last night, you need to take care of yourself," Zhou Huaide said, concerned.

"I'm fine, Uncle Zhou. I'll finish this last part, then I'll rest. Otherwise, they'll be asking for it tomorrow," Jiang Fan replied, determined.

Although Zhou Huaide wished to insist that Jiang Fan rest, he knew the task ahead was urgent. After a brief pause, he said, "Fine, but after you finish, make sure you get some rest."

"Alright, Uncle Zhou. You go ahead and rest too; you've worked hard today."

Zhou Huaide gave him a brief nod and left the data room, but not before casting one last concerned look at Jiang Fan.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Research personnel often worked around the clock, and he knew it was their dedication that was enabling Longguo to catch up with the West in such a short time.

After stepping outside, Zhou Huaide sat on a stone, taking out a cigarette and lighting it.

He took a long drag, then exhaled slowly. He hadn't smoked before being appointed as the commander of the Northern Base, but the pressure from the stalled progress in controlled nuclear fusion had driven him to this habit. From a few cigarettes a day to a whole pack.

He looked up at the starry sky, his thoughts drifting to his wife and children. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

He wasn't a good husband, nor a good father. In the past ten years, he had only visited home five times, each time in a rush, leaving just as quickly.

Two more years had passed since, and now he longed to see his children, to check if they'd grown taller. But the project still hadn't seen results, and he felt he had let down both his country and his family.

Casting the cigarette aside, he rose and headed back to his quarters.

The next morning, everyone was up early.

At the cafeteria, the team noticed that Jiang Fan was nowhere to be found.

Zhang Wenxian had planned to go to Jiang Fan's quarters and wake him up, but everyone urged him to let the young man rest a little longer, considering how hard he had worked the previous day.

After breakfast, the team gathered in the research room to review the revisions from the previous day.

At that moment, the door to the data room opened.

Jiang Fan stretched, and the sound of cracking joints filled the air.

Seeing the team gathered, he greeted them with a casual, "Morning!"

Everyone stared, perplexed.

When did Jiang Fan come into the data room?

Zhou Huaide looked at Jiang Fan in astonishment.

"You didn't sleep all night?" he asked.

Jiang Fan gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "I got so caught up in it, I forgot."

Jiang Fan handed Zhou Huaide a thick stack of documents.

Zhou Huaide eagerly took the papers, then, with a stern look, said, "I order you to rest, now."

"It's fine, Uncle Zhou. I'm not tired," Jiang Fan replied nonchalantly. Thanks to the system's overnight capsules, staying up late was effortless for him.

"That's not acceptable. You must go rest now. I'll have someone bring your meals to your quarters," Zhou insisted.

After some persuasion from Zhou and the others, Jiang Fan reluctantly agreed to rest.

Back in his quarters, a staff member from the cafeteria soon arrived with his meal.

His stomach growled, and he quickly devoured the food.

Just then, his phone buzzed. He opened WeChat and saw multiple messages from the "Little Wildcat" from yesterday.

Little Wildcat: Jiang Fan, why aren't you replying? I've been waiting for you for ages!
Little Wildcat: By the way, have you had breakfast?
Little Wildcat: You haven't gotten up yet, have you?
Little Wildcat: It's almost time for lunch!
Little Wildcat: How are you still asleep at noon?
Little Wildcat: It's evening now—where are you?
Little Wildcat: ???

Jiang Fan read the messages with a sense of exasperation. To avoid further messages from Qiao Yifei, he replied:

Jiang Fan: Miss Qiao Yifei, please don't message me anymore. I have a girlfriend.