A treasure trove found without seeking. If the energy circulation system, the recharging system, and the storage system could be integrated, and then combined with Duzai's Ren-dimension metal, the inherent flaws in the mech's power plates would cease to be an issue.

From here, we split into two groups. Ziye, Tang Wan, and Xiao Hei would be responsible for researching the three-in-one power plate system, while An Junlie, Xiao Cheng, Xie Er, and Xiao Bai would focus on determining the most cost-effective ratio of Ren-dimension metal to common metals, and testing for an optimal result that requires no Ren-dimension metal at all.

The supply of Ren-dimension metal was too scarce; using too much would prevent mass production of the power plates. Once the assignments were finalized, Little Sprout flapped its tiny wings and zipped over, landing on Duzai's head.

Ziye asked, "Aren't you coming to help?" Little Sprout made a face at her. "I don't want to be with you guys.

Duzai and I are a team. I need to study its dad's proportions." Ziye walked over, picked it up, and said, "Don't try to fool me.

I know you know things about Ren-dimension metal." Before synthesizing the first Ren-dimension alloy mech, Ziye had considered artificially synthesizing Ren-dimension metal herself. However, her own capabilities were limited.

She had entrusted the task to the Pervert, who wasn't particularly knowledgeable in the field. Iron Hand was knowledgeable but didn't understand Duzai's specific characteristics, and the three of them hadn't had the concentrated time needed to sit down and study it together, so the project had stalled.

Later, upon encountering the splendid and formidable husband of Little Sprout from the Tubal Galaxy, Ziye was almost certain on the spot that Little Sprout itself was composed of Ren-dimension metal, and perhaps no one was more intimately familiar with its structure. Little Sprout huffed and turned its face away.

"I'm unhappy, and I don't want to tell you." Ziye didn't press the issue, placing it back on Duzai's head. "You two have fun.

I'm going to get to work." Little Sprout was momentarily stunned by her compliance, freezing, then looking up at Ziye. Ziye gave no sign of noticing and turned to leave.

Little Sprout felt an inexplicable sense of dread. Too embarrassed to immediately backtrack, it deliberately flew over and circled near her.

Ziye reached out, tapped its forehead lightly, "Not focused," and returned it to Duzai's side before heading to the lab. This time, Little Sprout was utterly bewildered.

It nudged Duzai. "Hey, son, does Ziye Mama dislike me now?" Duzai looked up blankly.

"Jiji? Jiji ji~" Little Sprout smacked it with a wing.

"Jiji my foot." Ziye, Tang Wan, and Xiao Hei worked together on the power plate system. Aside from Ziye, both Tang Wan and Xiao Hei were only moderately skilled at systems work.

After a few attempts, Tang Wan dejectedly gave up. "How about this, Little Yezi, you handle this one.

I'll go do something else." Ziye stopped her. "No running off.

Mech mechanics must understand systems. Once you chose this major, you have no choice." Tang Wan sullenly pounded the table.

"Brother Tang Wen tricked me." Ziye chuckled mischievously. "Too late to regret it now." Honestly, seeing someone else get tricked by Tang Wen brought her a fair bit of pleasure.

Tang Wen had tricked her quite badly in the past. Xiao Hei was more diligent, determinedly learning piece by piece and building it bit by bit.

After a year out in space, he deeply felt the vast difference between space technology and the technology on the Garbage Planet. Their limited abilities barely qualified them as novices in space.

He didn't know why Ziye had chosen them. But since he had been chosen, all he could do was put forth his greatest effort to stay by her side and help her achieve her goals.

Creating a system consumed an immense amount of energy. One wrong step could mean scrapping everything and starting over.

So, the three of them proceeded cautiously throughout the process, checking, re-checking, and only moving to the next step once everything was confirmed correct. The progress was slow, but steady.

When they encountered something they didn't understand, Ziye emailed Tang Wen for guidance. Tang Wen didn't solve the problem for her, merely replying, "Go find Mr.

Bronan. He will teach you." Ziye pouted at the email.

She was his sister, yet she was still being set up. Mr.

Bronan? Was there someone by that name at Lings University?

Ziye checked the university's official website, searching among the faculty directory. Sure enough, he wasn't listed.

Undeterred, she searched the administrative staff, and finally found him: a library custodian. Library custodians had been sinecures for a millennium, spending their days leisurely reading in the library.

The Lings Library was entirely managed by intelligent robots, leaving the custodians with painfully little to do. Ziye found Bronan's personnel file and asked Tang Wan, "Do you know him?" Tang Wan glanced over and shook his head.

"No." Ziye frowned briefly. "Then Tang Wen meant for us to solve the problem by looking up books, not relying on him directly?" Tang Wan nodded.

"It's possible. Brother Tang Wen is such a pain in the neck." Ziye pondered for a moment, then, taking a brand-new robot with her, went directly to the Lings University Library Management Office to find the man.

Bronan was not in the office. Ziye learned from an attendant that Bronan preferred reading in the quietest parts of the library and had fixed spots, essentially treating himself as a student.

Ziye tracked him down and finally found him tucked away in a rounded corner of the library. The windows were clean and bright, the sheer curtains translucent.

Bronan Bran-nan sat with his back partially to the window, deeply engrossed in a book on his light-screen. His beard was white, he wore reading glasses, and his attire was classically casual, lending him the air of a scholar.

Ziye gently tapped the windowpane. Bronan turned, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

"You must be Tang Wen's sister. He mentioned you.

Please, sit here." Ziye was somewhat taken aback, then casually resigned herself to the situation. Tang Wen hadn't sent her to look up books; it was because Bronan possessed expertise in the relevant field.

She recalled Bronan’s resume: over eighty years old, past retirement age, having worked at the library for over three decades. If he had studied systems, he had likely read every piece of documentation in the entire library.

Such a person was formidable. Ziye remembered the robot she had brought along and felt a bit awkward.

She had intended to gift him the robot, hoping that if he liked it, he might recommend it to the library, potentially making the Lings Library a client of the Sprout Group... Now, offering a bribe to a scholar felt like an insult to science itself.

Ziye obediently sat in the chair before him, activated two synchronized light screens, pushed one toward Bronan, pushed aside her chaotic thoughts, and formally sought clarification. Bronan proved even more professionally incisive than she had imagined.

Every statement struck the crucial point, and several conceptual hurdles she thought insurmountable were cleared away with a few words from him. Ziye grew increasingly awestruck as he resolved every single issue.

By the time he was finished, she was dumbfounded, feeling at that moment that he might as well be the embodiment of Tang Shan. In Ziye’s eyes, Tang Shan was omnipotent.

The man before her, Bronan, possessed a level of expertise that might rival Tang Shan’s. Ziye was slightly surprised that such a profoundly knowledgeable person would serve as a library custodian, but she had no time to dwell on it.

Following his guidance, she reorganized her thought process and corrected all the erroneous parts. An entire afternoon slipped by in a flash.

Ziye completed a section of work, looked up, and found Bronan exactly as he had been when she arrived—sitting quietly, reading his book, serene and detached. Ziye saved her data, folded away the light screen, and stood up.

"Thank you, Teacher Bu." Bronan put down his light screen and smiled gently. "It's nothing.

Before Tang Wen left the school, he entrusted you to me, saying you were his only student. Yet, you didn't come to the school for a whole year.

In truth, I failed Tang Wen's trust." Ziye was stunned. "That happened?" Bronan nodded.

"If you have questions in the future, you can always come here and ask me." Ziye was overjoyed. "Thank you, Teacher." Bronan pointed at the F-series robot standing three feet behind her and chuckled.

"This little thing, was it meant as a gift for me?" Ziye quickly confirmed. "Yes, thank you for your instruction." Bronan laughed softly.

"Tang Wen guessed correctly again. Ah, he won another book from me." Ziye: "..." Well, she had underestimated Tang Wen.

He was an absolute scoundrel, no explanation needed! Returning to the small building, dinner was ready, and everyone else had also returned.

Ziye was still thinking about Mr. Bronan, composing an email on her light screen while waiting for the robot to serve the soup.

It was inappropriate to use hyper-communication during dinner, but sending an email was acceptable. Before she finished the email, a hand reached out and closed the light screen.

Ziye knew it was An Junlie the moment she saw the hand. She glared at him.

"I'll be done in a second." An Junlie refused to yield. "Eat properly." Ziye opened her mouth, about to shout, but An Junlie was quick, deftly picking up a piece of meat and putting it into her mouth.

"This is Jihu meat brought back from Silver Talisman Star. It tastes excellent, try it carefully." Ziye: "..." The Jihu meat was indeed good.

There were five men at the table—Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, Xiao Cheng, Xie Er, and An Junlie—all carnivores. Dining with them required quick reflexes, or else they would finish everything in a whirlwind, consuming all available food.

During this period, the eating speed of the three girls—Ziye, Tang Wan, and Ling Yin—had improved like a rocket. Considering An Junlie had reminded her to compete for food later, she decided not to hold his turning off her screen against him for now.

An Junlie kept handing Ziye pieces of meat while he ate, quickly piling her bowl high. This made Tang Wan’s eyes turn green with envy.

"I want meat too. But I can't grab any..." Ziye, with meat in her mouth, mumbled, "Starting tomorrow, let's eat separately.

The three of us at one table, the five of you at another." Xiao Bai jumped up happily. "Great!

That way we can eat more!" Xie Er cast him a disdainful glance. "Idiot.

Do you think that if we eat separately, they won't finish their food and we won't have enough?" Xiao Cheng immediately grasped the situation. "I have no objection.

Ziye, can I sit with your table?" While they were talking, Xiao Hei vigorously piled meat into his own bowl. An Junlie lightly tapped the table.

"We will continue to eat together. But you all need to eat slower.

Otherwise, when you eat out, people will say, 'Is the Wolf's Den poor? Why do all of you look like starving ghosts?'" That single comment shattered the spirits of the four men.

-RS