Chapter 45 Testing

Late at night, after an hour-long subway ride, Wan Xia dragged her exhausted body and finally crossed the threshold of her rented apartment.

Sliding her feet into slippers, she was just about to collapse onto the sofa to soothe her tense nerves when her phone screen lit up at an inopportune moment, displaying a message from her client.

Wan Xia's heart tightened instantly. She subconsciously took a deep breath, trying hard to calm the ripples in her chest.

After reading the message sent by Li Ping'an, she repeatedly warned herself deep down:

No getting emotional, absolutely no getting emotional!

This was merely the first version of the design drawings, so it was completely normal for the client to propose revisions. Stay steady, she had to stay steady.

Taking another deep breath, she typed the brief reply "Okay" on the screen.

Then, she limply tossed the phone aside.

In her mind, she could already imagine everyone else wailing in despair.

Wan Xia shook her head helplessly, silently praying that Li Ping'an wouldn't be too picky and wouldn't drag this out for a dozen revisions.

Otherwise, it would really run her ragged and cost her her "old life."

Time flowed on, and the next day's sunshine was as bright as ever.

In the afternoon, after finishing his class, Li Ping'an hurried in quick steps toward the innovation and entrepreneurship incubation base.

Pushing open the door to Room 201, he arrived just in time before everyone had dispersed.

Seeing that some people had already begun packing their things and were preparing to leave, Li Ping'an quickly strode forward and rubbed his hands together.

His face was plastered with a sincere smile as he said in a clear voice:

"Senior brothers and sisters, graduation is right around the corner, and after this parting, who knows when we will meet again?

So tonight, dinner is on me. Let's all eat together to bring a successful and complete close to this unforgettable time."

Li Ping'an paused for a moment, then continued: "As the saying goes, encounters are forged by fate. That we could all work together in this small space, striving and fighting for our dreams, is all due to fate."

"I won't say too many sentimental words; it's all in the drinks.

Here, I promise you all that when you graduate with your master's degrees in the future, if you still wish to return to the company, I, Li Ping'an, will welcome you with open arms. The company's doors will always remain open for everyone!"

"Of course, the salary and benefits offered at that time will definitely satisfy you all and won't let you down!"

After the gathering ended and he returned to school, Li Ping'an deliberately kept Zhang Ting behind alone.

Under Zhang Ting's gaze filled with confusion, Li Ping'an slowly spoke: "Zhang Ting, later when you go back, please inform everyone that they won't need to come to work starting tomorrow.

With graduation right around the corner, everyone should relax for a good period and fully enjoy these final campus days.

Once you start your master's studies, you won't have this kind of leisure and freedom anymore. Staying up late working overtime for experiments and writing papers will become the norm."

Speaking up to this point, he paused slightly, thought for a moment, and slowly added:

"Also, tell everyone that an extra month of internship allowance will be distributed to each person, just as a token of the company's appreciation for everyone's hard work during this period."

Hearing this, Zhang Ting nodded, "Okay!"

Getting an extra bit of money was not something to refuse.

As for after graduating with a master's degree in the future...

Who could tell what the future would hold?

The next day.

Friday.

Having no classes in the afternoon, Li Ping'an ate a quick lunch and rushed over to the incubation base at the earliest opportunity, eager to test the guide dog.

Looking at the locked door of Room 201, Li Ping'an felt a momentary sense of unfamiliarity.

Taking out the key to unlock the door, he found that everyone was already gone inside, and even the desks had been cleaned up neatly.

It was evident that when everyone left, they had made a special effort to tidy up.

On one of the desks, a single key had been left behind.

Li Ping'an stood frozen in place for a long while before muttering to himself: "It's time to find a general manager for the company, rent a proper space, and recruit some formal employees."

Rent an office space to work in Beijing?

Li Ping'an felt it was unnecessary.

Since the company would definitely be located in Luzhou in the future, he might as well set up the office base directly over there now.

Besides, the rent there was much cheaper than in Beijing.

Temporarily casting these thoughts aside, Li Ping'an closed the door to Room 201. Just like when he had first received the key from the counselor, he entered the workshop alone and began working by himself.

Turning on the guide dog's power switch, he bound the guide dog with facial data and voiceprints, and the guide dog began its self-diagnostic check.

A dozen seconds later, the self-diagnosed guide dog synchronized the pet elf's data via the network.

The next moment, the voice of the pet elf, which belonged exclusively to Li Ping'an's mobile phone, came out through the guide dog's speaker.

There was no emotionless mechanical voice; instead, there was the cute voice of the pet elf acting spoiled.

"Master, is there anything Xiaofang can help you with?"

"I want to go to the restroom."

"Xiaofang is scanning the surrounding environment..."

"Oh dear, it seems there are no restrooms visible nearby."

"Searching for the nearest public restroom via navigation."

"The nearest public restroom has been found for you, navigation has been activated for you."

"Master, please hold onto Xiaofang and set off together with Xiaofang~~~"

Li Ping'an was not surprised by the guide dog's performance.

Pulling the retractable leash above the guide dog, Li Ping'an slowly spoke: "Let's go."

"We're setting off, a warm reminder from Xiaofang: please remember to lock the door."

At the entrance of Room 201, after closing the door, the first challenge greeted the guide dog—the stairs!

The most expensive component on the guide dog's entire body, the radar, immediately scanned the surrounding situation and began modeling.

"Stairs ahead, please watch your step."

As soon as the words fell, the guide dog extended its four mechanical limbs and stepped steadily onto the first stair step.

"Master, I am currently on the steps, please take one step forward."

Through the camera, the guide dog could observe all of Li Ping'an's dynamic data at any time.

For a normal person, the guide dog spoke a bit too much.

Yet for a blind person who truly needed it, this wasn't being talkative; rather, it was using language to help the blind person construct the surrounding environment in their own mind.

To make the test more realistic, Li Ping'an blindfolded his eyes with a pre-prepared cloth strip.

Following the guide dog's prompt, he took a step forward.

From the second floor to the first floor, fewer than thirty steps, yet Li Ping'an spent several minutes.

It wasn't because the guide dog's reminders were insufficient, but because Li Ping'an, who had never experienced the loss of light, knew there was a railing beside the stairs, and with every step he took, his heart lacked a sense of security.

He constantly felt like he would misstep and fall in the next second.

During this process, Li Ping'an even couldn't help opening his eyes several times to confirm he hadn't missed a step before continuing with the next stride.

Li Ping'an could not imagine what the world of a blind person was truly like.

A talkative guide dog, coupled with a single leash.

Li Ping'an's peculiar behavior easily attracted the attention of his fellow students.

Yet everyone tacitly chose not to disturb him.

PS: Thanks to A Chengcheng for the tipping support.