Before Lu Zhou had even finished speaking, Academician Yuan immediately took over.
"Professor Lu, you're being too formal! The problem with the Moon Palace was our mistake to begin with. You came all this way to help us solve it, and if we still nitpicked over such details, we'd look far too petty."
As he spoke, the old man shot Zheng Xiangdong a glare and reprimanded him in a low voice.
"Listen to yourself!"
Although, from the chief engineer's standpoint, he had no right to criticize the group's vice president.
Academician Yuan was, after all, one of Aerospace Science Group's old guard. Even the president himself would show him considerable respect, let alone Zheng Xiangdong, a vice president who had only recently been promoted.
After being reprimanded by Academician Yuan, Zheng Xiangdong's face flushed red. He could barely save face, but he knew his earlier remark had been inappropriate. He could only bite the bullet, lower his head, and apologize to Lu Zhou with a smile.
"...Please don't mention compensation again, Professor Lu. I was just anxious at the time, worried that we might delay the nation's space program. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Lu Zhou simply smiled and said nothing.
Though he had said he would compensate Aerospace Science Group if he messed things up, it had merely been an offhand remark.
There was no way he was paying compensation.
Even if he really did mess things up and was willing to pay, Zheng Xiangdong would not dare accept it.
As for why...
The money belonged to the state. Whether it was earned or lost, it was all the state's business and had nothing to do with him.
Even if Lu Zhou were made to pay, it would do him no good and would only bring