novelsite Chapter 35 Seeds
Chapter 35 Seeds
As the morning light pierced the clouds over Berlin, Wang Zhengyang was already standing in front of the Longyuan vehicle, his palm pressed against the last armor plate installed the night before.
The 0.48% mechanical affinity circulated smoothly within his body, as naturally as a second circulatory system. He closed his eyes, his consciousness spreading outwards like a spiderweb—
Within a five-meter radius, the condition of all metal objects was clearly imprinted in his mind: the severely worn wrench in Chen Yishang's toolbox had only one-third of its lifespan remaining;
The crane hook has two tiny cracks inside, yet it can still be used safely for about thirty more times; even the worn threads of the fallen screw next to my feet are clearly visible.
This ability to perceive depth only began to manifest in my previous life after my superpowers reached 0.5%. In this life, the progress has been significantly accelerated.
The morning's renovation progressed faster than expected. Li Ruijun's team demonstrated exceptional professionalism; the six mechanics worked seamlessly together, with welding, assembly, and debugging proceeding smoothly. By lunchtime, the reinforcement of the chassis's main load-bearing points had been successfully completed on schedule.
In the makeshift canteen, Li Xiaowei showcased her amazing culinary skills. Simple ingredients—potatoes, onions, carrots, and a few pieces of chicken—were transformed into a fragrant stew in her hands. A steamer of white rice sat nearby, along with a small bowl of stir-fried vegetables.
"Try it!" Li Xiaowei served rice to everyone, her eyes sparkling. "I added extra ginger to warm you up. Everyone sweats a lot from working, so you need to replenish your energy."
Wang Zhengyang took the bowl of rice and tasted the stew. It was indeed delicious, cooked to perfection, and seasoned evenly. Even more remarkable was the way it had managed to bring out the warmth of a home-cooked meal under limited conditions.
"Delicious!" a young mechanic from Chen Yishang's team couldn't help but exclaim. "Much better than the cafeteria food!"
"That's right!" Li Xiaowei proudly raised her chin. "I often cook at home. When my brother's factory is busy, I'm in charge of the workers' meals."
Li Ruijun shook his head with a smile: "This girl just loves to show off."
The atmosphere in the cafeteria was much more relaxed. Everyone sat together eating, chatting about work progress, and occasionally cracking jokes. This team atmosphere was something Wang Zhengyang deliberately created—building trust and understanding among team members before the apocalypse was more important than anything else.
Wang Zhengyang ate quickly but carefully. The physical enhancement brought by his superpower increased his metabolic efficiency by at least 30%. He could absorb more nutrients from the same food and convert them into more sustained energy. After this meal, the physical strength he had used up in the morning was rapidly restored.
He noticed Lin Luo'er sitting diagonally across from him, eating her meal in small bites, occasionally glancing up at him before quickly looking down again. That hesitant, almost unspoken expression stirred something within Wang Zhengyang.
In the apocalypse of his previous life, he had almost forgotten the subtle emotional interactions between people. All relationships were reduced to the necessities of survival, and all communication revolved around resource allocation and security. Emotions became a luxury, and tenderness a weakness.
But this life... might be different.
After lunch, Wang Zhengyang pulled Li Ruijun aside and asked, "Can you guarantee the progress this afternoon?"
"It's not a big problem." Li Ruijun took a sip of water. "But Dr. Wang, there's something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"While we were working, Lao Zhao said he saw a car parked outside the wall for a while," Li Ruijun said in a low voice. "It was a black Mercedes, and the license plate was hard to make out. The people in the car didn't get out; they were just standing there watching."
Wang Zhengyang's eyes narrowed: "When did this happen?"
"It was around 10:30. It stopped for about 20 minutes and then drove away," Li Ruijun said. "Old Zhao said that the car didn't look like an ordinary passing car; it seemed like it was...observing."
Observation. This word sent a shiver down Wang Zhengyang's spine. Two days had passed since Zhang Yiqiang's warehouse burned down; judging by that guy's modus operandi, an investigation should have already begun. Although his scheme had drawn suspicion towards the Iron Hand Gang, Zhang Yiqiang, having survived in the underground arms market for so many years, was no fool.
"Understood." Wang Zhengyang's expression remained unchanged. "You all focus on your work. I'll handle the external matters. Remember, no matter what you see that seems unusual, don't act rashly. Tell me immediately."
"Understood." Li Ruijun nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Dr. Wang, if it really is those people... I mean, if they really are here to cause trouble, and you need help, my brothers and I..."
"Not for now," Wang Zhengyang interrupted him. "Your best efforts in completing the renovations will be the greatest help you can give. I'll handle the rest."
These words were spoken calmly, but Li Ruijun sensed their weight. He looked into Wang Zhengyang's eyes, eyes that were unfathomable and possessed a reassuring composure.
"Understood." Li Ruijun nodded and turned back to continue his work.
Wang Zhengyang stood still, his gaze sweeping over the marshalling yard's perimeter wall. A black Mercedes… Zhang Yiqiang did indeed have several Mercedes-Benzes under his command, used to transport "important clients." If they really were his men, it meant the investigation had begun, but the target hadn't yet been identified.
This was expected. Wang Zhengyang turned and walked to the front of the Longyuan vehicle, placed his palm on the armor plate, and closed his eyes.
Mechanical affinity was fully activated, and consciousness focused within a five-meter radius, carefully sensing every metallic object around. The barbed wire fence, the railway tracks, the parked tool carts, the keys and tools on everyone's person…
No abnormalities were found. There were none within a five-meter radius.
But Wang Zhengyang knew this was just the beginning. Zhang Yiqiang, having suffered such a great loss, would never let it go. In the coming days, the investigation would deepen, and the pressure would mount.
The Longyuan must be modified before the other side discovers the truth, and then leave Berlin.
Time is running out.
"Xiaowei, help me hold this." Lin Luoer knelt on the ground, holding a stainless steel valve in her hands, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
Li Xiaowei quickly squatted down to help. The two girls worked together to install the valve in its designated position, and Lin Luoer began to tighten the fixing bolts. Her movements were very focused, her lips slightly pursed, her eyes fixed on every turn of the bolts.
"Luo'er, you look so beautiful when you're working hard," Li Xiaowei suddenly said with a smile.
Lin Luo'er blushed: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm serious!" Li Xiaowei's eyes curved into crescents. "And I've noticed that Dr. Wang's gaze towards you is different too."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Lin Luo'er's hand trembled, and the bolt almost slipped off. She quickly steadied herself, but her heart inexplicably skipped a few beats.
These past few days, she had indeed sensed a subtle change in Wang Zhengyang's attitude towards her. The occasional gentleness he showed, the unintentional concern, and the thoughtfulness with which he helped her clean the glue off her hands yesterday... these details were like seeds, quietly sprouting in her heart.
But she dared not think too much about it. The project was so urgent, and time was so tight; how could she have the mind to consider such things? Besides, how could someone like Dr. Wang—calm, rational, and unfathomable—possess any special feelings for her?
"I'm serious," Li Xiaowei said in a low voice. "Look, Dr. Wang is looking this way again."
Lin Luo'er subconsciously looked up and met Wang Zhengyang's gaze. He was standing at the door of the carriage, seemingly having just finished inspecting the progress of the chassis modification. His gaze swept over the installation inside the carriage and lingered on her face for half a second.
That half-second was very brief, but Lin Luo'er clearly saw that Dr. Wang's eyes held attention, approval, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Wang Zhengyang walked in and squatted down next to Lin Luoer to inspect the newly installed valve: "Has the sealing test been done?"
"Not yet," Lin Luo'er stammered. "We're going to test it all at once once the entire piping system is connected."
"Test this valve separately first." Wang Zhengyang reached out and gently turned the valve stem. "There's a slight sticking here, which means there was a slight misalignment during assembly. Take it apart and readjust it."
His fingers accidentally brushed against the back of Lin Luo'er's hand. The sensation made Lin Luo'er's heart skip a beat—Dr. Wang's fingers were steady, at a comfortable temperature, and had a few thin calluses.
"I'll take it apart," she said softly.
"Let's do it together." Wang Zhengyang had already picked up his tools. "You hold the valve body, and I'll tighten the bolts."
The two worked together seamlessly. Lin Luo'er held the valve, while Wang Zhengyang skillfully removed the fixing bolts, adjusted the position of the gaskets, and then reinstalled it. The whole process took less than three minutes, but the two were very close, so close that Lin Luo'er could smell the faint metallic and oily odor on him and feel the rhythm of his breathing.
"All done." Wang Zhengyang tightened the last bolt and turned the valve stem again—this time it was incredibly smooth. "Remember this feeling. When assembling precision parts, the feel is very important. Even a slight deviation will cause problems in long-term operation."
"Mm." Lin Luo'er nodded, her eyes fixed on Wang Zhengyang's focused profile. The morning light slanted in through the car window, casting shadows on his face and outlining his strong features.
At that moment, she suddenly realized that Dr. Wang was actually... quite handsome.
It's not the conventional kind of handsome, but a quiet, understated, and powerful kind of good looks. Just like the systems he designs—unassuming, yet every detail is precise and reliable.
"Let's get back to work." Wang Zhengyang stood up and walked to the other side of the carriage to check the installation of the cultivation racks.
Lin Luo'er watched his retreating figure, took a deep breath, and suppressed the jumbled thoughts in her mind. Now was not the time to think about these things.
But some seeds, once planted, will grow on their own.