Shocking! The young educated youth had just arrived and was already clashing with spies.

Chapter 683 Please take better care of yourselves, this old man!

Zhou Yichen raised an eyebrow, watching the little girl stride out with a smile in his eyes, as if she were about to head to a battlefield.

It's hard not to marvel at how rare Chu Xin is. She usually acts so maturely that she doesn't seem like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl at all. Many times, people around her forget her actual age because of her decisive and shrewd way of doing things.

Her childish yet somewhat mischievous demeanor made Zhou Yichen want to reach out and ruffle her black hair.

Inside a private room upstairs in a state-run restaurant.

Four people sat at the small round table.

Ge Shaoting remained expressionless, deeply wondering what had gotten into him that he had somehow ended up here in such a muddled way.

Jia Zhenyan, with an awkward smile, chatted with Huo Baohua, occasionally taking sips of water as he was very thirsty from talking so much.

Chu Yunting, who said he was tired and didn't want to say anything, was idly tracing the wood grain on the dining table with his eyes.

After looking around and around, twisting and turning for a while, his eyes started to swirl like mosquito coils.

Ah... I'm so sleepy.

Huo Baohua was the most energetic one, but he felt like there were nails poking him in the buttocks, making him want to stand up and leave immediately.

But the thought of not having seen Chu Xin yet forced him to suppress his anxiety. He answered Jia Zhenyan's questions haphazardly, his whole being exuding an aura of "I'm so annoyed, I want to lose my temper but I have to endure it."

His eyes kept glancing towards the door of the private room, hoping that Chu Xin would appear in his sight immediately.

Then, as his disappointment subsided, he met Jia Zhenyan's gaze, whose expression mirrored his own. He turned away angrily and continued listening to Jia's rambling on.

When Zhou Yichen pushed open the door, this strangely atmospheric scene was what he saw.

Before he could speak, Huo Baohua suddenly stood up, his eyes shining so brightly they could blind someone, and asked urgently, "Where is she?"

With a knowing smile, Zhou Yichen stepped into the doorway, revealing Chu Xin to everyone.

Jia Zhenyan almost cried tears of joy. It had finally arrived; his mouth was dry from talking so much.

Huo Baohua strode over, reached out and grasped Chu Xin's hands, shaking them vigorously. "Comrade Chu, you've finally arrived! Come in quickly!"

Chu Xin skillfully pulled her hand away and said frankly, "Old comrade, don't get so excited. Any other female comrade would be frightened by you."

Huo Baohua waved his hand dismissively, and compliments flowed effortlessly from his lips.

"No, no, I've inquired about everything about you. I know you're a heroine, unconventional and not bound by any feudal ideas!"

Chu Xin glanced meaningfully at Chu Yunting, who seemed completely unashamed but actually quite proud. Then, she happened to catch a glimpse of Jia Zhenyan's somewhat embarrassed expression and realized that it was these two gossipy people who had been talking about her.

Without saying a word, she stepped into the private room and casually found a seat.

Huo Baohua quickly sat down next to her, looking ready to have a long chat at any time.

Zhou Yichen readily agreed and sat down on the other side, only to find that there was nothing on the table except for tea and two plates of fruit.

Chu Xin frowned as she looked at the empty table. Huo Baohua was about to speak when she interrupted him, "Didn't we say we were going to eat? Where's the food?"

Uh……

Huo Baohua was also very direct, saying, "Let's talk first, there's no rush to eat."

Chu Xin looked at him like he was an idiot, and shoved her watch in front of him. "You think I came all this way just to talk to you?"

Huo Baohua immediately frowned. "You're late."

"Ha!" This remark made Chu Xin laugh in anger. "So you're not going to give us food? Old comrade, you're being too harsh!"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Zhou Yichen pulled Chu Xin aside and put his other hand in front of Huo Baohua to calm him down. "Everyone, don't be so impatient. Chief Engineer Huo, it is indeed lunchtime. Chu Xin and I have work to do. You must be hungry waiting here. We can eat first and then talk."

"That's right, Uncle. Look, we've been starving with you all this time. It's really not right not to feed you."

Chu Yunting also spoke in a pitiful tone, and even rubbed his stomach to indicate that he was really hungry.

Huo Baohua was furious. What was wrong with these young people? How could they be so unprofessional?

Think of those veteran researchers, which one of them hasn't worked on their technology on an empty stomach? Even those who developed stomach problems from hunger wouldn't leave the front lines despite minor injuries, so why couldn't they stand it if they just ate one meal a little later?

Huo Tianci really wanted to use his excellent work ethic to teach these young people a lesson, but when he thought about his family's situation, he swallowed his words.

He thought for a moment and then awkwardly gave Zhou Yichen an order, "Go and have someone prepare the dishes, they've all been ordered."

After saying that, he put on a stern face and looked at Chu Yunting and Jia Zhenyan, "You two really got off easy, you kept this old man away all morning!"

As for the unfamiliar Ge Shaoting, he seemed not to have seen him at all from beginning to end.

Zhou Yichen readily agreed and went out to arrange the meal, leaving the others in the room to compete with each other.

Before the meal was officially served, Chu Xin was bombarded with questions by Huo Baohua, ranging from mechanical innovation to weapon material research and development concepts, to the development plans for new weapons and the foresight of sustainable development, and so on.

Chu Xin even suspected that he had borrowed his time; was it really necessary for him to rush and say so much in one breath?

Her stomach, which had been growling with hunger, suddenly stopped feeling so hungry after that long string of questions.

"If you're really in a hurry, we can reschedule. There's no need to rush like this."

She was afraid that once the food was served, she would be bombarded with technical jargon and questions the moment she picked up a bite.

I can't imagine what those delicious dishes would taste like after being "processed" like that.

Even someone with an iron stomach would experience indigestion.

Huo Baohua shook his head and said seriously, "The food hasn't been served yet, so let's have a brief chat first."

Chu Xin's brow twitched, and her eyes showed a hint of annoyance. "There's more time after dinner!"

She was still hungry and had no time to talk about these things.

...Huo Baohua also became quite popular.

He grumbled angrily, "How can you be so unprofessional? Don't you know that this is the most difficult time for China right now?"

Chu Yunting was displeased. "You're right, China is difficult, but what does that have to do with my sister? It's not difficult if she talks to you a few more times."

Jia Zhenyan smiled wryly. Wasn't this just another argument?

"Let me say this, Chief Engineer Huo, we're really not in a hurry. Chu Xin is still young, you should take better care of her."

Huo Baohua was furious, so this is not the time for you to praise her bravery, competence, and superb martial arts skills.

Please take better care of her. Such a capable person doesn't need his care. Please show more concern for this old man!