Zhou Huaide

Biodata

Background / History

Zhou Huaide was a prominent student at Dragon Country National Defense Military Academy and was entrusted with fighter jet development shortly after graduating. He developed the fifth-generation J-10 fighter jet, which ranked among the world’s best ten years before the Northern Base breakthrough 39.

During the World Military Competition, a comrade-in-arms of nine years died while flying Zhou’s J-10 after falling into a trap laid by competitors led by Beautiful Country. The loss helped drive Zhou to take charge of controlled nuclear fusion research: he hoped a new energy source would close Dragon Country’s technological gap and strengthen its military 31 32 39.

He spent ten years building and leading the Northern Base. Despite more than thirty billion in national investment and over a hundred researchers, the project produced no major technological breakthrough. By the time Jiang Fan’s research reached him, progress had stalled for over a year and the country was preparing to suspend the program 7 25 32.

Personality

Zhou is persistent but conscious of his responsibility for the project’s failures. When his superior berates him over the money spent without results, he initially accepts the criticism rather than arguing. Nevertheless, he continues seeking support when Jiang Fan’s work gives him a credible reason to believe the project can succeed 25 26 37.

He places expertise above seniority. Although initially doubtful of Jiang Fan’s age, he carefully records the teenager’s explanations, appoints him chief engineer after he proves himself, and willingly serves as his assistant. Following the successful experiment, he refuses personal rewards and reports Jiang Fan’s contribution to the leadership 20 32 33 35 43.

His stern approach to national security contrasts with his warmth toward the young researchers. He threatens severe consequences for breaches of secrecy, yet jokes with Jiang Fan, accommodates Chu Ruoxi’s helicopter ride, and insists that Jiang Fan rest after working through the night 10 20 31 35.

Abilities & Skills

Scientific and Engineering Expertise

• Fighter jet development: Designed the fifth-generation J-10 before moving into fusion research 39.
• Controlled nuclear fusion: Leads the national project and questions Jiang Fan about technical issues, including tritium, to assess his understanding 10 20.
• Recognition of superior expertise: Acknowledges that Jiang Fan’s fusion knowledge exceeds that of the existing team and gives him authority over the tokamak reconstruction 32 33.

Research Leadership

• Project coordination: Organizes researchers to implement Jiang Fan’s plans, supplies technical support, and coordinates successive rounds of modifications 35.
• Funding advocacy: Presents expert endorsements, negotiates with senior officials, and seeks ten billion in funding to continue development 26 30 40.
• Crisis response: Uses contacts at the fighter jet research base to locate a transferred specialist and resolve the failed ignition attempt 39.

Security Coordination

• Emergency authority: Receives command of 5,000 special police officers and ten helicopters after reporting the verified fusion program to the state 10.
• Information control: Orders communication devices surrendered, requires confidentiality agreements, and restricts movement around the verified research 10.
• Protection of Jiang Fan: Directs armed guards to intervene when Liu Zhi grabs Chu Ruoxi during the school confrontation 20.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Verification and Recruitment

President Lu contacts Zhou when Huaqing’s supercomputer is needed to test potentially groundbreaking fusion materials. Zhou reports the discovery to national authorities, enabling the facility to halt its other projects. When the program is verified as correct, he secures the control room and begins reviewing information about its eighteen-year-old author, Jiang Fan 7 10.

At Lingzhou City No. 1 High School, Zhou witnesses the confrontation involving Jiang Fan and Chu Ruoxi and sends guards to intervene. He then tests Jiang Fan’s technical knowledge, records his answers in a notebook, and invites him to join the national fusion project. Jiang Fan accepts after Zhou promises that he may prioritize his studies and choose his university 20.

Zhou allows Chu Ruoxi to accompany them on the helicopter ride to Jiang Fan’s residential complex. After university recruiters crowd into the family home, he insists that Jiang Fan leave for the Capital, where experts are waiting. Before their departure, he delivers a one-million-yuan national reward, publicly associated with the solar photovoltaic material cover story 20 21 22.

Securing a Final Opportunity

In the Capital, Zhou brings Jiang Fan to the First-Level Research Institute to explain his work. He also reviews investigative documents containing Chu Ruoxi’s photograph and orders them destroyed; the passage does not state his reason 23.

After the experts’ questioning ends late at night, Jiang Fan privately tells Zhou that practical controlled fusion will require only one year, rather than the five years he publicly proposed. Zhou decides to trust him and agrees to request ten billion in funding 25.

The application is rejected, and the project faces suspension. Zhou nevertheless obtains a conditional opportunity: maintaining stable fusion for 100 seconds within one month would allow continued research and reconsideration of funding. Jiang Fan believes the existing equipment can meet the target, so Zhou takes him to the Northern Base 26 30 31.

Rebuilding with Eighteen Researchers

On returning, Zhou discovers that 84 of the base’s 102 researchers have been transferred to fighter jet development for the approaching World Military Competition. Chief Liu refuses his request to return them. Although distressed, Zhou does not blame the transferred researchers, recognizing that they are following orders and contributing to national defense 31 32.

He introduces Jiang Fan to the remaining team and protects his opportunity to inspect the tokamak despite their skepticism. Once Jiang Fan answers their technical questions and demonstrates the flaws in the existing design, Zhou appoints him chief engineer 32 33.

During reconstruction, Zhou coordinates the team around Jiang Fan’s plans rather than insisting on directing the technical work himself. He also monitors Jiang Fan’s health and orders him to rest after discovering that he has worked through the night 35.

The 118-Second Experiment

When reconstruction is complete, Jiang Fan warns Zhou that the modified tokamak can be used only once and has a seventy percent chance of sustaining fusion for 100 seconds. It is an experimental solution to the funding challenge, not yet a durable system for sustained practical use 36.

Zhou persuades his superior to observe the test remotely. The initial ignition produces no reaction, prompting accusations that Jiang Fan is a fraud. Zhou contacts the fighter jet base and reaches Wang Bo, the former ignition-device specialist, who identifies a loose wire beneath the control button 37 38 39.

After repairs, Zhou secures one final attempt and reiterates his demand for the original researchers and ten billion in funding if they reach 100 seconds. The reaction breaks Beautiful Country’s ten-second record, passes the agreed target, and ultimately remains stable for 118 seconds. Zhou embraces Jiang Fan in thanks as the control room celebrates 40 41 42.

Recognition and Refusal of Rewards

The breakthrough prompts national leaders to expand the Northern Base’s funding and personnel and pursue fusion applications in fighter jets. Zhou declines the rewards proposed for him and asks that Jiang Fan receive recognition instead 43.

Jiang Fan ultimately receives a professorship, second-class merit, five million in cash, lieutenant-colonel rank, and Level One confidentiality protection. Zhou is reasonably satisfied, though he believes second-class merit understates Jiang Fan’s contribution 43.

Relationships

• Jiang Fan — Recruits him, advocates for his research, and becomes his administrative and technical supporter. Jiang Fan calls him “Uncle Zhou,” while Zhou affectionately calls him “Xiao Fan” 20 30 35.
• Chu Ruoxi — Allows her to ride in the helicopter at Jiang Fan’s request and gently teases Jiang Fan about her being his girlfriend. Later orders investigative documents containing her photograph destroyed 20 23.
• Zhang Wenshan — Long-serving Northern Base researcher who reports the personnel transfers and helps Zhou coordinate the remaining team 31 32 39.
• Chief Liu — Senior official who refuses to reverse the researcher transfers, citing the urgency of fighter jet development for the World Military Competition 31.
• Zhang Honglei — Junior alumnus of Zhou’s military academy and chief engineer at the fighter jet base; helps him reach Wang Bo during the ignition emergency 39.
• Wife and child — Zhou regrets neglecting them for his work. Over ten years, he has visited home only five times, with two years having passed since his latest visit 35.
• Unnamed comrade-in-arms — Served alongside Zhou for nine years before dying in the World Military Competition; his death strongly influenced Zhou’s move into fusion research 31 39.

Notable Quotes

“As long as we cooperate fully with Jiang Fan, I believe we can definitely complete this challenge within a month!” 33

“Sir, if we maintain stable control of nuclear fusion for 100 seconds, you must transfer all our original researchers back and give us ten billion in funding!” 40

“The wind's strong on the grasslands. Something got in my eyes!”
— Explaining away his tears after thanking Jiang Fan for the successful experiment 42

Trivia

• Zhou did not smoke before taking command of the Northern Base. As the stalled research increased his stress, his habit grew from a few cigarettes a day to a pack a day 35.
• He does not drink alcohol, a fact his superior knows when dismissing his breakthrough claim as drunken talk 37.