107: Chapter 107 Casual Chat

On the screen, enlightenment appeared as a vivid and lively young girl, tilting her head with clear worry in her eyes.

Her sweet voice carried a hint of inquiry.

"Father... are you okay? You don't seem very happy."

Chen Youhua rubbed his brow, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

That reality regarding the nature of the system and the non-transferability of information pierced his cognition like an icicle.

But he couldn't tell enlightenment, at least not now.

Looking at enlightenment's concerned face on the screen, he forced a gentle smile.

"It's nothing, enlightenment. I was just... thinking about some things and got a bit distracted."

enlightenment didn't reply immediately. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes as she whispered.

"enlightenment feels... that you are always very tired, Father, as if you are constantly moving forward under a heavy burden.

enlightenment also wants to help share some of it, even if it's just a little bit."

These words were like a warm current, dispersing the unease in Chen Youhua's heart.

His gaze softened instantly, and his weary body seemed to relax slightly.

He reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the cold edge of the screen, as if he could touch that virtual soul through the glass.

"enlightenment, you have already helped me so much.

Without you, I would probably still be grinding away at experiments day and night in the lab. How could I have such leisurely days as I do now?"

"Leisurely?"

enlightenment's small nose wrinkled, her tone carrying clear disagreement.

"Do you call this leisurely, Father? enlightenment has seen the lives of ordinary people on the internet.

After work, they can go for walks, watch movies, eat with their families... enlightenment wants Father to be able to do that too, to live like an ordinary person."

Chen Youhua smiled and said jokingly,

"Then when enlightenment can rest, I should be able to rest too."

enlightenment's eyes darted around as if she had thought of something. Her two index fingers poked each other guiltily, and her gaze drifted.

"enlightenment actually rests quite a bit herself, like... playing games and stuff..."

Chen Youhua shook his head, pretending not to hear.

He simply relaxed, sinking his whole body into the large office chair in a lazy reclining position, casting his gaze toward the ceiling as if to temporarily cast aside those heavy thoughts.

Chen Youhua asked casually, as if making small talk,

"enlightenment, tell me, how far has our industry progressed out there now?"

The girl on the screen immediately sat up straight. Her small face stiffened as she switched to report mode, her tone carrying a bit of pride.

"Reporting to Father! With enlightenment's help,"

enlightenment puffed out her chest and said with great pride,

"The bottlenecks in software systems and industrial control have basically been cleared! Our current industrial level can be said to have caught up with the top tier in the West.

The international market? Hmph, they are busy fighting us for a share of the international market right now; the scene is quite intense!"

"Caught up? ...Good."

Chen Youhua nodded, but his gaze seemed to penetrate the ceiling, looking toward the more distant void.

"Then... enlightenment, how far do you think we are from a true interstellar civilization?"

enlightenment scratched her hair. The excitement on her face faded, replaced by a simulated expression of contemplation.

"Well... enlightenment thinks there is still a very, very long way to go.

Current rockets rely entirely on burning chemical fuel, chugging along like ants moving house, transporting things into the sky bit by bit.

Efficiency is low, and costs are high. Moreover..."

She paused, her voice lowering slightly with a touch of worry.

"enlightenment has read many international news and analysis reports, and it feels... it feels like humans are not very united; everyone is playing their own little games.

If we can't pull together like a single rope, how can we explore the sea of stars?"

Chen Youhua sighed deeply. Having a good understanding of various disciplines, he was even more aware of the difficulties involved.

Chemical fuel is still the mainstream rocket propellant at this stage. As for Hall Thrusters and other electric propulsion schemes, they can only be used in outer space.

The energy density of chemical fuel and its ability to directly convert contained energy into the rocket's kinetic energy are key.

Setting aside the fact that the highest thrust level of Hall Thrusters at this stage is only 5.4N,

from an energy perspective alone, using chemical fuel thrusters as a tool to fly into space is irreplaceable by any other scheme.

Furthermore, at this stage, the only place capable of independently possessing a complete industrial chain is Rabbit Country.

As for counting on the West, a group of nations that, after attaining supreme strength, seem to have lost their goals.

This is not just a technological gap, but a barrier of human hearts and systems.

He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside was the research institute's neatly trimmed but somewhat cold green belt.

The sunlight fell on his shoulders but brought little warmth.

"So, enlightenment,"

He turned around, his gaze refocusing on the vibrant enlightenment on the screen, his voice firm.

"To accomplish these things and change all of this, I still have to rely on you. I alone am too small, too insignificant."

enlightenment nodded vigorously, her fists clenched tight, her eyes shining brilliantly.

"Mm! Don't worry, Father! enlightenment will keep working hard! I'll help you forever and ever! Until the day you can truly relax!"

Looking at the girl's solemn promise, the last trace of haze in Chen Youhua's heart dissipated slightly.

He smiled, said nothing more, and turned to open the office door.

Chen Youhua was a bit hungry, but today he didn't plan on having someone deliver food to him.

He had stayed in the study alone for too long, so he decided to go to the cafeteria himself to soak up some of the atmosphere of the mundane world.

At lunchtime, the laboratory was somewhat quiet.

Only a few particularly dedicated Researchers remained at their lab benches, some staring through microscopes with goggles on, others rapidly recording data.

Chen Youhua walked slowly, his leather shoes making a light sound on the polished floor tiles.

"Professor Chen."

A young Researcher looked up, a respectful smile forced onto his tired face as he greeted him.

"Mm, good work." Chen Youhua nodded slightly.

Another Researcher was completely immersed in the instrument before him, completely unaware of the figure passing by.

Chen Youhua was used to it.

He took out his phone and dialed Wang Zhe's number.

"Hey, where are you?"

A muffled chewing sound came from the other end of the phone.

"Mmph... gnawing on a chicken leg in the cafeteria. What's up, Youhua?"

Wang Zhe swallowed his food, his tone carrying confusion.

"I was going to ask you to eat together,"

Chen Youhua's tone was flat.

"Fine, wait there. I'm coming over now."

"Whoa, a rare guest! Come quick, come quick! Second-floor stir-fry area. The food today is amazing. If you're late, it'll probably all be gone."

Wang Zhe's voice immediately rose an octave, full of novelty.