Negative Electrode Material Chapter 7

A Stubborn Donkey Like a Fox

Chapter 7: A Stubborn Donkey Like a Fox

The secretary pushed open the heavy office door for him and said softly, President Gao, the young master has arrived.

Gao Xuefeng was not yet sixty years old. His hair was thick, cut into a clean and sharp crew cut with every strand standing upright. Standing at 185 centimeters tall with a burly build, his presence was even more imposing than Gao Huan’s. He had a long, chiseled face, and a pair of Lindberg square-rimmed reading glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. A faint vertical furrow between his brows made him look exceptionally stern.

He was currently marking points on a land map. The fountain pen in his hand came to a sudden halt at the secretary’s words. He looked up from over his lenses toward the door. A flash of gratification flickered in his eyes, and the furrow between his brows softened for a moment before instantly returning to its original place.

Dad. Gao Huan stood at the door, his chest tightening slightly. He was no stranger to the atmosphere of this office, yet he had not stepped foot inside for three or four years. The mixture of familiarity and estrangement made his movements appear somewhat stiff.

The secretary withdrew. The heavy door closed with a click, and the space between father and son fell silent.

Did you arrive this morning? Gao Xuefeng put down his pen, his voice steady.

Yes. Uncle Zhang and Wang Yuan picked me up. Uncle Zhang was Gao Xuefeng’s driver.

It’s good that you’re back. Wang Yuan has made arrangements; you’ll follow him for a while. Observe more, ask more.

Gao Huan wanted to say that he hadn’t decided to stay, but he truly had nothing else to do domestically. Okay. It had been a long time since he had been face-to-face with his father, and he wasn’t sure if he should say anything else.

Wang Yuan found a place for you to stay over at Yinshui Bridge. He knows you’re used to living alone. Gao Xuefeng paused, his tone softening. I’ll have Xiao Li go over and cook for you later. You’re still the same, thin as a rail… At this point, he suddenly fell silent, as if realizing that he was constantly asking Wang Yuan for updates on Gao Huan’s condition.

Gao Huan caught the slip immediately but pretended not to notice. That’s too much trouble. I can manage on my own. This physique probably won’t change anytime soon.

There were two soft knocks on the door.

Wang Yuan leaned in and said to Gao Xuefeng, Teacher Lin from the battery lab is here.

He paused, as if weighing his words, but eventually couldn’t help adding, He’s quite handsome, looks like a fox, but talks like a stubborn donkey. His gaze shifted quickly from Gao Xuefeng to Gao Huan, and he whispered, Does the young master want to come with me to meet him?

Gao Xuefeng’s Haoyue Group followed policy trends closely. Although they weren’t impulsive enough to manufacture electric vehicles themselves, after two years of tracking, they had established a special fund to invest in an all-solid-state battery lab at a top domestic university. The Teacher Lin that Wang Yuan described as looking like a fox was Lin Yi, the head of this laboratory.

Lin Yi was thirty-three years old and a rising star in the field of anode materials research. His achievements at the National University were among the best in the country. The National University had always been known for its strength in materials science and was among the first group of high-level polytechnic institutions designated for key construction by the Ministry of Education.

In the meeting room, Gao Huan merely listened quietly. Wang Yuan was discussing the battery lab’s budget with several department heads.

Teacher Lin, you have to understand that this isn’t just your personal laboratory. The Group has a timeline, and the shareholders have capital waiting for results. Wang Yuan’s tone was sharp, every word carrying an edge.

At the other end of the table, Lin Yi held his documents, his neck held stiff and straight. Science cannot compress time like an assembly line. If the experimental cycles aren’t completed, not only will the previous work be wasted, but serious problems could arise. If you want to rush the progress, I won’t be able to continue. It was clear he was trying to control his emotions, but his face was flushed red, and he refused to back down an inch.

The air in the meeting room froze for a moment.

Gao Huan looked up and studied the man seriously.

He wasn’t tall and had a slender build, dressed neatly in an ordinary white shirt and gray trousers. He had a narrow, slightly stern oval face, with a few stray strands of bangs scattered across his forehead. A pair of fine metal-rimmed glasses sat on his straight nose, and behind the lenses were long, narrow eyes that tilted up slightly at the corners. His lip color was vivid, looking full of vitality.

He really does look a bit like a fox, Gao Huan thought to himself.

The meeting adjourned. Wang Yuan walked briskly down the hallway, the irritation between his brows yet to dissipate. Gao Huan followed behind, his expression remaining indifferent, as if the argument just now had been someone else’s play.

I gave him the budget, and he didn’t ask for a cent more; I told him to shorten the cycle, and he absolutely refused. Wang Yuan couldn’t help but continue complaining, slapping his folder against his palm. He insists on doing everything his way. Tell me, how do you cooperate with someone like that?

You might not know, but Lin Yi is truly one of the best in his field. I specifically had someone from the Chinese Academy of Sciences look at his lab reports. I was hoping to hear some criticisms, but the guy just stared for a long time and thought I was there to pick a fight. Wang Yuan sighed, speaking as if to himself. But sometimes I still wonder if I chose the wrong person.

Gao Huan listened quietly, a hint of interest appearing in his expression for the first time.

Returning to the office, Wang Yuan looked back at Gao Huan, who had followed him in, and felt a slight stir in his heart. He keenly sensed that this young master was either interested in the project or interested in Lin Yi himself.

He suddenly had an idea. Why not let Gao Huan deal with Lin Yi? Firstly, it would let him see how other young people worked themselves to the bone; secondly, the task wasn’t that difficult to start with; and thirdly… it would save Her Majesty from having to deal with that stubborn donkey and wasting years of her life on stress!