An Ning stood on the platform without saying a single word, yet the quiet murmurs from the audience below came to a halt.

The vast conference room was utterly silent.

All eyes were fixed on An Ning. Down below, those watching and waiting couldn’t help but feel a sense of tension.

Yet An Ning, on the platform, was surprisingly relaxed.

’Finally, it’s my turn.’

’I’ve waited for so long.’

’I’m so sleepy from waiting, but it would be too awkward to actually fall asleep.’

At this moment, An Ning’s only thought was: ’Get this over with and go home.’

’I’m feeling a little homesick.’

Though her mind continued to wander, An Ning smoothly unrolled the blueprint in her hands, securing it to the blackboard with two long wooden strips.

TAP TAP TAP

An Ning knocked on the blackboard a few times with one finger and said, "This could be made magnetic. It would be much more convenient."

She said it casually, not giving it much thought.

By now the blueprint was fully unrolled, and An Ning began her explanation.

"This first diagram is of the engine."

"But I don’t think an engine alone is enough. We need the accompanying production technology."

"So this notebook contains the preliminary design for a production line. Everyone can pass it around and take a look."

An Ning casually handed a cheap, unremarkable, plain-paper notebook to Director Zhao, who was standing nearest to her.

Director Zhao took it and quickly flipped through the pages.

"Today’s meeting is hereby concluded. Xiao Hu, arrange for everyone to exit in an orderly manner."

"Comrade An Ning, please stay behind."

Director Zhao was decisive, terminating the meeting on the spot. But when he saw the star of the show was also about to leave, he immediately called out to stop her.

An Ning didn’t understand why, but she obediently remained on the platform.

Director Hu reacted quickly. An Ning’s blueprints were simply too advanced.

These were peaceful times, but there were always hidden dangers and dangerous people.

No one in the room was a fool. The key, they realized, must be the notebook An Ning had passed over. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

They were curious. What exactly was in that notebook?

And those engine schematics—why couldn’t they understand them?

Ming Jun had been wracked with regret, wondering how he could possibly salvage the situation. But the moment Director Zhao spoke, he knew he had lost.

Yet he didn’t even understand how.

Ming Jun rose with a self-mocking smile and followed the crowd.

On the platform, An Ning seemed to have a natural halo.

’Everything she said... it must all be true, right?’

’No matter how many people praised her, she could accept it all with perfect composure.’

’So it wasn’t arrogance after all, but confidence born from real strength.’

Ming Jun was itching with curiosity; he wanted to stay.

He wanted to know what An Ning’s design was, to understand the blueprints on the platform that he couldn’t quite decipher.

And what about that production line technology? What was it?

Ming Jun wanted to at least understand his defeat, but unfortunately, he wouldn’t get the chance.

He was like a kindergartener trying to compete with a high schooler on an exam.

He had been so arrogant and full of himself, only for her to wipe the floor with him with a single finger.

The gap between them was so vast he couldn’t even see the other side.

The conference room doors opened, and the people inside filed out, looking back reluctantly. They lingered at the entrance, unwilling to depart just yet.

But with a loud CLANG, the doors were slammed shut.

Inside the conference room, only two people remained.

An Ning and Director Zhao.

Director Zhao looked at An Ning, who had already sat down on the steps of the platform, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Are you tired from all that drawing?"

An Ning shook her head.

"Bored. And a little sleepy."

Her blunt honesty made Director Zhao relax as well.

He had met countless people in his time and knew exactly how to interact with different personalities.

He followed An Ning’s example and sat down on the steps as well, the notebook she’d given him in his hands.

"Would you mind explaining it to me?"

"Will you be able to understand?"

An Ning’s question held no hidden meaning; she simply wanted to confirm that the person opposite her could understand. She didn’t want to waste her time.

Director Zhao didn’t take offense. He said frankly, "Don’t worry, I’ll understand. If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have sent everyone else away."

"Why did they have to leave?"

This was something An Ning didn’t quite understand.

The way Director Zhao looked at An Ning was like that of an elder gazing upon a younger member of his own family.

The family’s favorite, at that.

"An Ning, you’re brilliant. Your talent for design and technology is truly exceptional."

"You must know that we need technology like this, but we don’t have the time to develop it ourselves, so we have to purchase it from abroad."

An Ning nodded. Director Jin and Factory Director Zhang from the provincial office had said as much before.

"But do you realize that the peace you see around you isn’t as peaceful as it seems?"

"Many talented individuals, or rather, the advanced technologies they create, are coveted by all. So when some people can’t obtain them, they might try to destroy them—and the creators along with them."

"In fact, I was negligent today. We’d best not have public meetings like this in the future."

Director Zhao was already beginning to feel regret. He had believed An Ning was brilliant, but he had no idea she was *this* brilliant.

Sitting on the steps, An Ning understood what Director Zhao was saying.

"I’m a very good fighter, don’t worry. You should be more worried about anyone who comes looking for trouble with me."

The heavy atmosphere was instantly shattered by An Ning’s single sentence.

Looking at An Ning so seriously declare her fighting prowess, Director Zhao said placatingly, "Alright, alright, you’re a good fighter."

An Ning’s brows knitted together slightly. ’He doesn’t believe me.’

She was no longer the same An Ning who had just arrived on Ancient Earth. Having been influenced by a group of exceptionally sharp people, she was learning at an incredible pace.

An Ning stressed, "I’m being serious. My technical designs might be impressive, but fighting is what I’m actually best at. No one in my village could ever beat me."

An Ning’s explanation would have been better left unsaid.

"Alright, I believe you. Now, let’s take a look at this engine blueprint. For some reason, I can’t quite make sense of it."

Director Zhao tilted his head back, looking at the design hanging on the blackboard with a puzzled expression.

An Ning turned to glance at it, and a flicker of realization crossed her eyes.

"Heh, it’s upside down."

An Ning stood up sheepishly, took the blueprint down, and spread it on the lectern—this time, right-side up.

Director Zhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. However, the moment he saw the blueprint properly, all other feelings vanished.

He was serious and completely focused.

"This part here—"

"This part uses a..."

Their voices rose and fell in a steady rhythm, one asking questions, the other answering.

When An Ning had finished explaining most of the engine’s design, a deeply shaken Director Zhao asked, "Are you saying that removing any single component will cause the entire assembly to fail, making it impossible to repair?"

"It’s not completely irreparable, but a repaired engine would have significantly degraded performance. It’s just a small anti-theft measure."

An Ning looked down, completely oblivious to the weight of her words.

She took another notebook from her bag and handed it to him. "This is for manufacturing the components. It details every single part of the engine."

"Without good components, even the best design is impossible to build."