In the afternoon, Zhao Chen finished handling the matters at hand and drove to Zhengfa University.
Shan City In March, the sun is already a little warm.
The Wutong tree on campus has just sprouted new shoots, which are tender green and swaying gently in the breeze.
Zhao Chen asked Liu Haitao to park the car at the school gate, and he got out of the car and walked in.
He hasn't been back for a long time. His student status is still there, but he rarely shows up in class anymore.
Walking on the familiar tree-lined road, occasionally a passing student would glance at him and think he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was.
Shen Zhiyi has no classes in the afternoon and is waiting for him in the dormitory.
Zhao Chen sent her a message downstairs, and within three minutes, she ran downstairs.
She was wearing a white sweatshirt, her hair was draped over her shoulders, she had a smile on her face and bright eyes.
"When did you come back?"
"Just arrived yesterday." Zhao Chen looked at her and smiled, "Let's go, go for a walk."
The two of them walked slowly along the campus path, exited South Gate, and walked to the riverside.
Yangtze River This section of Shan City is very wide, the water flow is not fast, and the sun shines on the river surface like gold.
Shen Zhiyi walked beside him, neither fast nor slow, occasionally looking up at him.
"United States, is everything going well?" she asked.
Zhao Chen nodded. "Smooth. The position of Tesla is completed, and now it is the second Major Shareholder."
Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment. "Second Major Shareholder? Didn't you just buy some stocks just like you said?"
Zhao Chen smiled. "I bought some. The price is 9.88%."
Shen Zhiyi took a breath, then reached out and patted him.
"9.88% is called 'point'? How come you are so unrealistic in what you say!"
Zhao Chen smiled and ducked away.
"In Wall Street, 9.88% is really not that much. Elon Musk holds more than 20%. I am ranked second, but I am still far away from him."
Shen Zhiyi retracted his hand, held his arm, and spoke in a more serious tone.
"Achen, you know, I see every step you take.
Since you started selling cars last year, you have invested in Short Selling Henglong, then invested in Yunnan Agriculture, then invested in Bubble Mary, and now Tesla.
Step by step, getting bigger and bigger.
Sometimes I see the latest trends of Henglong on the news, and when I see those comments, I just think - this person is my boyfriend."
Zhao Chen looked at her and said nothing.
Shen Zhiyi continued, "I'm proud of you. Really."
The river wind blew over and blew her hair to her face.
Zhao Chen reached out to help her push it away, and his fingers paused on her cheek. "It's still early. This has just begun."
Shen Zhiyi looked at him and suddenly smiled.
"You say that every time. Last year you said 'This is just the beginning' and this year you said 'This is just the beginning'.
Then tell me, when will it be 'almost over'?"
Zhao Chen thought for a while. "Maybe it will never end."
Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment, then leaned on his shoulder and didn't ask any more questions.
The two of them walked along the river for a long time. When they reached a viewing platform, they stopped and leaned against the railing to look at the river.
Shen Zhiyi suddenly asked, "Have you seen Elon Musk?"
Zhao Chen nodded. "Yes. I met Saturday."
Shen Zhiyi's eyes lit up. "What does he look like? Is it the same as in the news?"
Zhao Chen thought for a while. "Taller than in the news. His hair is a bit messy and he is dressed casually, but his eyes are very bright.
He didn't look anywhere else when he was talking, he just kept staring at you."
Shen Zhiyi was even more curious. "What did he talk to you about?"
Zhao Chen leaned on the railing and thought for a while.
"First ask me why I want to buy Tesla. I said I am optimistic about it.
He asked me again if I wanted to join Board of Directors, and I said no. Then he relaxed and started talking about the Rockets."
Shen Zhiyi smiled. "Rockets? Are you talking about rockets?"
Zhao Chen also laughed. "Yes. Starship."
SpaceX's new project is bigger than Falcon Heavy, and its goal is to send people to Mars."
Shen Zhiyi's eyes widened. "Mars? Can you really go to Mars?"
Zhao Chen said, "He said he could. I believe him."
Shen Zhiyi looked at him, with something inexplicable in his eyes.
"Do you really believe he can send people to Mars?"
Zhao Chen thought for a while and spoke the truth.
"Xin. It's not because he can do it now, it's because he is doing it in the right way.
First Principles--Tear the problem down to the bottom and then build it up again. This method is not wrong."
Shen Zhiyi was silent for a while, then whispered:
"Achen, you know, the way you talk is different from before."
Zhao Chen was stunned for a moment. "What's the difference?"
Shen Zhiyi thought for a while. "You used to speak like you were explaining. Now you speak like you are stating."
You no longer need others to believe you, you just say what you believe."
Zhao Chen looked at her and suddenly smiled. "When did you become so good at analyzing?"
Shen Zhiyi also smiled and reached out to pat him.
"I was originally smart, but you were too busy and didn't realize it."
The two laughed for a while and then became quiet.
The river breeze blows from the water, carrying water vapor and a faint fishy smell.
The distant mountain shadows are looming in the mist, like an ink painting.
Shen Zhiyi suddenly asked, "Will you go to United States again?"
Zhao Chen nodded. "Go. I'll leave in a few days. There are still things to deal with at SpaceX."
Shen Zhiyi looked at him with a trace of reluctance in his eyes, but did not say it out loud.
"Then please be safe. Don't be too tired."
Zhao Chen said, "Okay."
The two stood there for a while, then turned around and walked back.
When he walked to the school gate, Shen Zhiyi stopped and looked at Zhao Chen. "Are you going to be busy again?"
Zhao Chen thought for a while. "Yes. I will open Board of Directors the day after tomorrow. I came to see you today."
Shen Zhiyi smiled, his eyes turned into crescents.
She stood on tiptoes and touched him lightly on the cheek. "Then you treat me to dinner tonight. I want to eat Hot Pot."
Zhao Chen said, "Okay. Which one is at the school gate?"
Shen Zhiyi shook his head. "That restaurant is too spicy. Find another one."
Zhao Chen smiled. "I listen to you."
The two walked into the campus side by side.
The setting sun stretched their shadows very long, spreading them in the light and shadow under the Wutong tree, like a painting.
In the evening, Zhao Chen and Shen Zhiyi had dinner at a Hot Pot restaurant in front of the school.
After eating, the two of them did not go back to school. Instead, they walked slowly along the road to the apartment rented by Shen Zhiyi.
The apartment is not far from the school, about ten minutes' walk, and is in a quiet community.
She usually lives in the dormitory and occasionally comes here to stay, but when Zhao Chen comes to see her, they will definitely come here.
Shen Zhiyi took out the key and opened the door, turning sideways to let Zhao Chen go in first.
The apartment is not big, with one bedroom and one living room, but it is very clean.
There is a bouquet of dried flowers on Living Room's coffee table, and there is a small bookshelf in the corner, with several Law textbooks and a half-opened novel on it.
There is a pot of Pothos on the windowsill, with vines hanging down, looking very quiet under the warm yellow light.
"Sit wherever you want." Shen Zhiyi changed his shoes and walked into the kitchen, "I'll get you a glass of water."
Shen Zhiyi brought two glasses of water over, sat down next to him, and handed one to him. "What are you looking at?"
Zhao Chen took the water cup. "Look at your Pothos. It looks pretty good."
Shen Zhiyi smiled. "You always praise Pothos. Can you change the word?"
Zhao Chen thought for a while. "Your bookshelf is very neatly arranged."
Shen Zhiyi reached out and patted him. "You did it on purpose."
Zhao Chen smiled and ducked, then leaned on the sofa and let Panasonic come.
Shen Zhiyi leaned on his shoulder, and the two of them sat in the quiet light for a while.
"Tell me more about Elon Musk."
Shen Zhiyi suddenly spoke with a soft voice, "Is he really as... crazy as the news said?"
Zhao Chen thought for a while. "Crazy is crazy, but that kind of madness is different from others. He is not trying to gain attention, but he really thinks those things can be done.
Mars Immigration, underground tunnels, Brain-Computer Interface--Others think it is science fiction, but he thinks it is an engineering problem. Engineering problems can be solved."
Shen Zhiyi raised his head and looked at him. "Do you think he can solve it?"
Zhao Chen said, "Starship can fly. Brain-Computer Interface can make it. The tunnel may be a little slower, but the direction is right."
Everything he does is to solve a specific problem. He is not shouting slogans, he is really working."
Shen Zhiyi was silent for a while, then whispered, "You too."
Zhao Chen was stunned for a moment. "What am I doing too?"
Shen Zhiyi said, "You are also doing specific things. You are not shouting slogans, you are really working."
Zhao Chen looked at her and said nothing.
Shen Zhiyi continued, "I used to think that successful people are those who talk on TV.
Later I discovered that people who really do things don't have time to talk on TV."
After she finished speaking, she buried her face in his shoulder to prevent him from seeing her expression.
Zhao Chen put his arms around her and said nothing.