Chapter 83: An Invitation from the Research Team

Because she had previously posted various weapon modification blueprints for a fee at the research institute, many veteran users on the forums assumed that Zhuang Xiaoyuan was a private scientific expert. Whenever they encountered numerous problems while assembling equipment according to those diagrams, they began sending private messages to seek her advice.

This was also the time when Zhuang Xiaoyuan admired Zhuang Xiaosi the most, for the detailed answers to each private message came solely from Zhuang Xiaosi’s memories. If humanity’s technological level could rise so rapidly in this world, it was all thanks to Zhuang Xiaosi.

“Knock, knock, knock.” Just as Zhuang Xiaoyuan finished answering a particularly difficult question and was about to open the next private message, a clear knocking sounded at the door.

“I’m coming.” With a slight frown, Zhuang Xiaoyuan called out, casually closed the projection screen, and walked to the door. At this hour, someone knocking was unlikely to be Uncle Feng—could they have gotten the wrong address? With this thought, Zhuang Xiaoyuan reached out and opened the door.

“May I ask, who are you looking for?” Outside stood a pair, one young and one old. The first thing Zhuang Xiaoyuan noticed about them was the young man at the front, whose military uniform bore the insignia of a major: two bars and a star.

“Hmm? Hello, excuse me… Is this the residence of Professor Zhuang Zhou Mengdie?” Seeing Zhuang Xiaoyuan open the door, both men paused in surprise. The young major, peering past Zhuang Xiaoyuan into the room, hesitantly asked.

“Who are you?” Hearing the major’s question, a flash of realization crossed Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s eyes, but she didn’t answer his query and instead posed her own.

“We are…” Though Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s expression shifted only briefly, the keen-eyed young major caught it immediately. To become a major at his age was no ordinary feat; he must either possess exceptional talent, strong backing, or be a high-ranking divine-armored warrior.

“Xiao Chu, enough with the pleasantries—let’s be direct. Young miss, you must be Professor Zhuang Zhou Mengdie. We came here based on your information address, hoping to invite you to join the Maple City Armaments Research Group, to jointly study how to enhance the effectiveness and power of human weaponry against evil forces.”

Both the young major and the elder, experienced as he was, noticed the subtle shift in Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s demeanor. The elder, robust and wearing a white lab coat, brusquely pushed the major aside and extended the invitation directly to Zhuang Xiaoyuan. The young major, now relegated to the background, could only wear an awkward, helpless expression.

The elder had no doubts about Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s abilities; besides trusting the person who tracked her address, he had met many prodigies whose extraordinary knowledge and skills manifested at a young age. With humanity facing crisis, countless geniuses emerged—not only among divine-armored warriors, but also in scientific research. Many divine-armored warriors themselves possessed scientific expertise.

“Um, sorry…” When she posted that paid technical thread, Zhuang Xiaoyuan had anticipated this day would come and mentally prepared herself. Zhuang Xiaosi’s memory contained ample technical data on equipment but nothing on network security. Even if Zhuang Xiaoyuan wanted to use bot networks to disguise her real address, she couldn’t manage it. She was utterly exposed to experts—how could she not be found?

“Master Zhuang Zhou Mengdie, I am Mu Gengnian, currently the leader of the Maple City Armaments Research Group. I sincerely hope you will join us. Your abilities could significantly elevate humanity’s technological level, granting us an advantage in our ongoing war against evil.” Mu Gengnian, with genuine intent, repeated his invitation, adopting a stance that suggested he wouldn’t leave unless she agreed.

“Um, please come in. I’m not refusing, but I need someone else’s approval first.” Slightly at a loss in the face of Mu Gengnian’s invitation, Zhuang Xiaoyuan scratched her face and opened the door wider for them to enter. She returned to her desk, picked up her planetary laptop, and tapped its side to switch it into phone mode.

“Someone else’s approval?” Following Mu Gengnian into the compact dormitory—which carried none of the usual feminine air—the young major heard Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s reply and flashed a look of confusion, then surprise. “Are you not yet of age?”

“Hmm? Didn’t you investigate before coming?” Now it was Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s turn to be puzzled. Normally, the military would thoroughly review a person’s basic information before approaching them. When Hua Jing submitted Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s registration, she specifically included her records of employment and education at the military department.

“Ah, well, we realized too late—after a colleague pointed out your post on Phoenix Net, we traced your address and came straight here.” With an embarrassed cough, the young major turned his head slightly. This was indeed a rash move, far from his usual style, but Mu Gengnian had pressed him relentlessly. Had they obtained the proper information, they wouldn’t be so surprised and confused now.

“Hello, Uncle Feng? Are you free right now?” As the young major quietly felt awkward, Zhuang Xiaoyuan had already dialed Feng Guoqing’s number. Although Feng Guoqing had not succeeded in adopting Zhuang Xiaoyuan, his name was listed as her guardian in her records. It was also worth noting that Wen Hui’s guardian had been changed to Hua Jing when her file was entered into the divine-armored warrior database.

“Yes, I’ve had breakfast. Yes, I know. Yes, I have something here. No, no… It’s an elder named Mu Gengnian who wants me to join a research group. Yes, that’s right—Maple City Armaments Research Group. He did say he’s the leader. Okay, I’ll wait for you to come.” After hanging up, Zhuang Xiaoyuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as she mentioned Mu Gengnian, Feng Guoqing bombarded her with questions.

Feng Guoqing was probably stunned. Zhuang Xiaoyuan had never called him before, and now, suddenly, she dropped a bombshell. It must have startled him, and he was surely already rushing from his office toward her.

“Finished with your call? What did your father say?” Standing to the side, Mu Gengnian smiled warmly and asked. Learning that Zhuang Xiaoyuan was not yet of age only made him value her more. After all, there are degrees of genius, and within the same field, the younger the prodigy, the greater the advantage.

“He’s not my father; I graduated from a military institution.” Hearing Mu Gengnian use the word “father,” Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt a little embarrassed. She had always respected Feng Guoqing as a father figure, and their relationship was much like that of ordinary parent and child. Yet, because of Feng Guoqing’s dazzling daughter, Zhuang Xiaoyuan always felt inferior. Though she was now striving toward her goal, she still believed herself unqualified to be considered Feng Guoqing’s daughter.

So she needed to continue working hard, to grow, until she could catch up to that elder sister. Only then would Zhuang Xiaoyuan feel confident that she deserved to be called Feng Guoqing’s daughter.