Meeting Senator Li Chief

Professor Collins's words made President Albert's expression stiffen.

He remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "That is indeed a problem."

"Like Xia Country, America still doesn't have a controlled nuclear fusion facility of its own..."

Albert's murmuring made Professor Collins's eyes suddenly light up.

He hurriedly agreed, "Exactly, Mr. President. We need a fusion reactor that truly belongs to us!"

Albert considered this for a moment. "Give me a timeline, Professor."

"Without a firm timeline, there's no way Congress will approve it."

Faced with Albert's pointed gaze, Professor Collins hesitated. "Perhaps... around ten years?"

Albert's brows instantly furrowed. "Ten years?! Professor, are you joking?"

"Never mind me-Congress would never agree to this plan!"

Professor Collins gave an awkward chuckle and hurriedly tried again. "Five years. I believe we can have our own American fusion reactor within five years!"

Albert nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, within the first ring road of Xia Country's Capital City.

Inside the building that could not be found on any map, Hong Qiming knocked on the office door once again, his expression solemn.

"Come in."

Hong Qiming took a deep breath to settle his surging emotions, then reached out and pushed open the rather heavy wooden door.

"Senator Li Chief."

Hong Qiming lowered his head slightly and greeted the elderly man behind the desk with a respectful bow.

At the sight of Hong Qiming, the elderly man's face filled with smiles. He slowly stood, walked over to Hong Qiming, and nodded. "Excellent, excellent. You handled this beautifully!"

A smile also appeared on Hong Qiming's somewhat stern face. He nodded lightly and said in a low voice, "I never expected that young fellow Lü Yongchang to be so capable, either."

A trace of wistfulness crossed Senator Li's eyes. "Yes... I've read all the reports you sent over a couple of days ago."

Then Senator Li abruptly changed the subject, his expression turning serious. "Qiming, what do you think of this young fellow Lü Yongchang?"

Hong Qiming's pupils suddenly contracted.

Senator Li's question stirred a vague suspicion in his mind.

Could Senator Li be planning to...

He dared not conceal anything and immediately told him everything he had seen.

After hearing Hong Qiming out, Senator Li nodded thoughtfully. "It seems you're quite fond of him."

"I intend to groom him into a leading figure of the next generation. What do you think?"

Hong Qiming took a deep breath, then said solemnly, "Senator Li, I believe Lü Yongchang can shoulder that responsibility!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Senator Li's face. "In that case, bring him here in a couple of days. I want to meet him personally."

"What?!"

"Senator Li wants to see me?!"

Even Lü Yongchang, who had grown accustomed to meeting all manner of important figures in his previous life, could not help feeling surprised.

He had not expected Senator Li to notice him so soon.

But why?

A single controlled nuclear fusion ignition experiment shouldn't be enough to draw Senator Li's attention!

After thinking for a long time without finding an answer, Lü Yongchang put on an ingratiating smile and edged closer to Hong Qiming. "Minister Hong, do you know... why Senator Li wants to see me?"

Hong Qiming cast a helpless glance at the grinning Lü Yongchang before him.

He genuinely could not understand why this young fellow was not afraid of him at all.

He was, after all, a senator with full ministerial rank!

Although puzzled, he still told Lü Yongchang everything he knew.

"Senator Li intends to groom you into a leading figure among the younger generation. You need to be ready."

As those words fell, not only Lü Yongchang's pupils but also those of Fang Xu beside him suddenly contracted!

Lü Yongchang's smile faded somewhat as he asked solemnly, "Minister Hong, did Senator Li really say that?"

"Every word!"

At Hong Qiming's unequivocal reply, a spark of excitement flashed through Lü Yongchang's eyes.

If this really worked out, he would stand an even better chance against that future catastrophe!

In his original plan, he had expected to need around three years to reach his current level of achievement.

But now... in less than a month, he had completed every part of his preliminary plan!

"Minister Hong, when do we leave?"

Hong Qiming looked at the "young pup" before him with a faint smile. "Tomorrow. I'll take you to meet Senator Li myself!"

The next day.

A black Audi A6 slowly came to a stop outside the mysterious building within Capital City's first ring road.

When the doors opened, a middle-aged man stepped out first, followed by a college student whose face still retained a hint of youthful innocence.

"Yongchang, when you meet Senator Li, don't say anything out of line. Be serious, understood?"

A hint of apprehension appeared in Hong Qiming's eyes. As Lü Yongchang's "guarantor," he would likely be in serious trouble too if anything went wrong!

Lü Yongchang nodded lightly without speaking.

At this, amusement appeared in Hong Qiming's eyes.

"I never thought I'd see you nervous!"

"I've certainly never seen you like this in front of me!"

Hong Qiming's teasing drew Lü Yongchang back from his thoughts.

A trace of bewilderment flashed through his eyes.

Nervous?

I'm not nervous!

I was just thinking about how to get Senator Li to take the development of aerospace technology seriously!

Still, since Minister Hong had said so, he silently accepted the remark.

I can't exactly contradict him at a time like this, can I?

As a former chief scientist, he was not that lacking in social awareness!

"Relax. Senator Li is very approachable."

Seeing that Lü Yongchang remained silent, Minister Hong's eyes grew even more amused. He reached out and lightly patted his shoulder. "Come on. Let's not keep Senator Li waiting."

Knock, knock, knock!

Brisk, rhythmic knocks rang out in the quiet corridor.

"Come in!"

An elderly man's voice came from inside.

The heavy wooden door slowly opened, revealing a familiar, unassuming office before Lü Yongchang.

A hint of nostalgia flashed through his eyes.

In his previous life, he had been a frequent visitor to this office!

"Lü Yongchang, correct?"

The moment he saw Lü Yongchang, a smile appeared on the elderly man's face. He slowly rose from his chair and walked over to him.

Senator Li looked Lü Yongchang up and down, praising him repeatedly. "Excellent, excellent. A fine young man."

He reached out and patted Lü Yongchang's shoulder. "On behalf of Xia Country, thank you."

As he spoke, Senator Li actually bowed to Lü Yongchang.

"Senator Li!"

Seeing this, Hong Qiming's eyes filled with alarm, and he hurriedly said, "Senator Li! You mustn't!"

Lü Yongchang also reacted immediately and was about to step aside and help Senator Li straighten up, but Senator Li's left hand held him firmly in place, forcing him to accept the bow.

"Senator Li, this is..." Lü Yongchang gave a rueful smile. "I only did what a researcher should do."

As Senator Li straightened, those words visibly moved him. "What a researcher should do... Good! Very good!"

"A few days ago, I asked Minister Hong what he thought of you."

"Originally, I thought Minister Hong might be a little biased in your favor. Now it seems Minister Hong didn't tell me the full truth at all!"

As he spoke, Senator Li cast a smiling glance at Hong Qiming, who stood to one side with an awkward smile, then voiced his approval once more.

"Young man... good! Very good!"

"If all the young people of Xia Country were like you, how could Xia Country fail to rise?"