"Huh?"
Everyone looked bewildered.
Mr. Qin, who waited at the door to pick up Huo Rou every day, was their new colleague?
An unspoken thought occurred to everyone simultaneously: he's here to be the project team's financial manager, the one who pays the bills...
It wasn't that they doubted him. To ordinary people, Qin Ningyi was akin to a god of wealth. They couldn't fathom any other position for him within the project team.
The professor silently observed their expressions, recalling his own reaction when he first heard the news.
When he discovered that the anonymous participant on the list of designers behind this project was Qin Ningyi, his expression was even more comical than theirs.
However, he kept that particular piece of information to himself.
"Everyone should know the name of this new colleague, so I won't introduce him further," the professor paused before continuing. "He has extensive research in fluid thrust vector technology. From now on, he will be involved in the overall design and technical breakthroughs of our project..."
By then, most of the team members had stopped listening to the professor.
If they could truly integrate such technology, their project's concept would be entirely redefined.
"What's going on with you?" Huo Rou nudged Qin Ningyi's arm. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming at noon? And you studied economics, didn't you?"
The only connection she could think of for him to be involved with this project team was that the team required investors.
She couldn't comprehend how Qin Ningyi was now contributing to technical breakthroughs.
Qin Ningyi playfully flicked her nose. "Past hobby."
He had always been aware of his responsibilities, but there were many things he still couldn't resist pursuing. For instance, the Flaming Arrow commando unit, and...
"But I'm quite fortunate," Qin Ningyi said, his tone tinged with a subtle joy. "While contributing to the country, I also get to keep an eye on you."
Huo Rou shook her head helplessly. Was she that much of a worry?
Even by the end of the afternoon, everyone was still somewhat dazed.
Who exactly had shown up today?
First, Zhao Chenyi had resolved two to three days' worth of work left by Wei Shykang in an afternoon. Then, the professor brought another assistant to discuss technology with Qin Ningyi.
Those who had the chance to witness it still had the image of the assistant leaving, their eyes shining so brightly they could have illuminated the entire room.
"Is he really that amazing?" Zhao Chenyi asked as he helped a colleague with their work, trying to glean some gossip.
Unlike Huo Rou's gentle yet not overly familiar demeanor, his personality made it easy for him to integrate into the group.
Now, he could even join in on gossip sessions.
A colleague nodded empathetically. "You didn't see the professor and that assistant's expressions when you were working on that formula earlier. They were incredibly shocked!"
Zhao Chenyi glanced in that direction. His mentor was already formidable. It was one thing for Qin Ningyi to be wealthy, but to possess other skill attributes as well?
He decided to test it out.
Zhao Chenyi pulled out a physics problem that had been troubling him and approached Qin Ningyi. "Brother Qin, may I ask a question?"
Qin Ningyi shifted his gaze from the design blueprints and formulas in his hands.
After just a glance, he said plainly, "This is unrelated to the project."
Zhao Chenyi knew it was unrelated to the project; he had already completed the project-related tasks earlier.
"I thought since you have research experience in fluid thrust vector technology, you might be able to help me with this problem."
After saying this, he subtly glanced in Huo Rou's direction and carefully added, "Brother Qin, will it take up too much of your time?"
After uttering those words, Zhao Chenyi felt goosebumps erupt all over him.
Such "tea-like" phrasing was truly unpleasant. He hoped his mentor, a woman of steel and directness, wouldn't pick up on his subtle insinuations.
It would be so detrimental to his likeability!
Qin Ningyi's eyes flickered with a complex expression as he raised an eyebrow, then looked again at what Zhao Chenyi had handed him.
As if remembering something, he curled his lips into a smile. "No."
"Who asked you to be A Rou's student?" His tone was drawn out, as if he were reluctantly agreeing out of obligation.
Before Zhao Chenyi could finish rubbing away the goosebumps, Qin Ningyi took his notebook and began drawing, writing, and calculating on it...
With a flurry of activity, Zhao Chenyi's gaze was completely captivated by what appeared on the page. He would occasionally point and ask a question.
Qin Ningyi drew the final stroke and handed the page filled with his elegant handwriting back to him. "Done."
"Brother Qin, your..." Zhao Chenyi's eyes had turned to admiration. "How did you come up with this method? You're incredible!"
Qin Ningyi accepted Zhao Chenyi's astonishment and praise without reservation. He said with a drawn-out tone, "Who asked me to be A Rou's man?"
Zhao Chenyi: ...
Alright, he understood now. Qin Ningyi had definitely overheard his earlier mention of "my mentor" before arriving.
These repeated "A Rou's" remarks...
He felt completely overwhelmed.