Chapter Ninety-Six: I Have a Bold Idea!

Tang Fei waved his hand and said, "Everyone, come closer, take a good look, don't be shy."

"From today on, we are classmates. I brought this thing over because I want to study and discuss it with all of you. How does that saying go? Sharing joy is better than enjoying it alone; individual progress is not as good as collective improvement. Wouldn't you agree?"

Invited by Tang Fei’s enthusiasm, the students swarmed forward, pointing and gesturing at the mechanical snake head.

"The eyes are its scanners, and the back is the control motherboard. Wow, this motherboard must be quite high-end. A single board like this could probably fetch a decent price."

"We need to crack open the skull to find the chip inside. Is the chip damaged?"

"Take it apart and see! Take it apart! This is the work of a high-level mechanic; when else would we get such a rare opportunity?"

—

"I don't just want you to have the opportunity to see it; I want you to have the opportunity to handle it," Tang Fei said. "Come on, let’s all work together to dismantle this mechanical snake head. Let’s see what kind of construction is inside."

"Tang Fei, are you really okay with this?"

"Yeah, what if we break it? You know, the craftsmanship of a high-level mechanic is extremely delicate and precise. One wrong move and it could be ruined."

"If you took it to a professional shop, you might get it done for a fee. If you let us tear it apart, this snake head might just be gone for good."

"Tang Fei, you won’t make us pay for it if we break it, will you?"

—

"It’s fine. Someone gave this snake head to me," Tang Fei said with a grand, bold air. "My friend originally gave me the whole snake, but it was too large, and I couldn't carry the whole thing over."

Tang Fei stepped aside, allowing the students to surround the mechanical snake to observe and discuss it at close range.

Meanwhile, he intentionally ducked to the back of the crowd, encouraging everyone to dismantle the snake while secretly measuring their feet.

The size is wrong!

The size is wrong!

Oh, what brand are those shoes? They look pretty cool...

Tang Fei wasn’t truly being generous by offering such a precious mechanical snake as teaching material.

In reality, he had wanted to dismantle it last night, but he was afraid that once taken apart, he wouldn't be able to put it back together—just like that life pod from Phoenix.

So, he specifically brought it to school today to invite everyone to take it apart.

If someone broke it, they would be the one to pay. Not that he was looking for money—though if someone insisted on paying, that would be fine too.

If they couldn't afford to pay, they would have to find a teacher from the Mechanical Engineering Department or an expert to help fix and reassemble it. That way, he could learn a trick or two from that teacher or expert.

Learning is about finding every possible way to create opportunities for oneself.

Additionally, he wanted to use this to "beat the grass and startle the snake."

He had been hunted by a mechanical snake inside the school, and his primary suspect was someone from the Mechanical Engineering Department.

But he had just enrolled and hadn't even attended a full day of classes yet—who could hold such deep animosity toward him?

He wanted to observe the expressions and reactions of the faculty and students as they dismantled the snake head.

Artists are very protective of their work. Just as writers dislike others editing their drafts and painters dislike others "adding feet to a snake" on their masterpieces, a mechanic certainly wouldn't like others dismembering their creations.

Unfortunately, there were no results yet.

However, the news of Tang Fei bringing a snake head to school to be dismantled would soon spread throughout the campus, reaching the ears of those who had ulterior motives.

And how would they respond to that?

Tang Fei didn't like the kind of scumbag who hits and runs; he wanted to lure them out and give them a sound beating.

"Once we’ve thoroughly studied the snake head, I’ll bring over the snake body. I’m not bragging, but this snake is definitely the work of a master. Once you see its internal structure, you’ll understand what true seamless craftsmanship and divine workmanship are."

Tang Fei walked up to Lu Siyu, extended a sincere invitation, and said with a smile, "Class monitor, aren't you going to take a look?"

—

Lu Siyu didn't even look up. She was manipulating two mechanical arms to rapidly assemble a mechanical tiger, her voice cold as she said, "Why should I take a look?"

Her hands moved frequently, the motions fluid and elegant. The two mechanical arms were even more agile and swift, moving so fast they were dazzling.

In the blink of an eye, a majestic white mechanical tiger stood before them.

It was imposing and lifelike.

Tang Fei felt a sense of danger radiating from the white giant tiger, as if it could pounce and devour someone at any moment.

Tang Fei was momentarily stunned, forgetting to answer Lu Siyu's question.

Is this the technique of a mechanic? Is this the creation of a mechanic? Is this the work of a top-tier mechanic?

One had to admit, girls who study mechanics are the most charming.

Even though her long hair was draped loose and a large metal protective mask covered most of her face, Tang Fei thought she looked incredibly cool.

She wasn't just a mechanic; she was an artist, wasn't she?

Tang Fei now understood why his little wooden bird always crashed after flying a short distance—it was too ashamed.

It had chosen to commit self-immolation without hesitation.

Lu Siyu was looking down at her work with admiration.

She had entered a strange state, as if she were soaring above the clouds, rolling in a pile of cotton, or floating naked in the ocean.

Relaxed, joyful, satisfied.

Every time a work was presented before her, the sense of happiness she felt was unparalleled.

Nothing could replace it.

All the failures, pain, and hardships she had encountered in the early stages vanished into thin air in this instant.

"This is my work."

She looked proud.

"I am a god."

She said to herself in her heart.

"Yes, I am a god."

She said it firmly to herself once more.

This time, she spoke the words aloud.

"Yes, you are a god." Tang Fei looked at Lu Siyu, offering heartfelt praise. "I never imagined that a student could create such a work. It’s truly amazing, truly amazing."

Tang Fei looked at Lu Siyu with burning eyes and asked, "Does what you are able to do mean that we might have a chance too?"

"Not at all." Lu Siyu glanced at Tang Fei with annoyance. She didn't want to be disturbed while admiring her work; in fact, she wished the whole world would stop noticing her existence.

"I started assembling wood when I was one, began putting together machines at three, made my first drivable mechanical car at five, and could assemble large vehicles by eight."

Tang Fei nodded, looked at Lu Siyu, and said, "Are you trying to say... you're a genius?"

"Yes," Lu Siyu nodded and said, "I am."

"What a coincidence, so am I," Tang Fei said.

"..."

Lu Siyu didn't want to talk to Tang Fei anymore.

For a clueless freshman to say something like that, she thought he was either crazy or a fool.

Based on that pathetic little bird he made?

—

"It's true." Tang Fei explained earnestly, "Someone actually told me that I’m a mechanical genius. It’s a pity that I used to be in the Old Lands, where I had no conditions to systematically study mechanical knowledge, nor did I have so many materials and tools. He said that as long as I was given a chance, I could become the most dazzling existence in this field."

Lu Siyu finally turned to face Tang Fei, looked into his eyes, and asked, "Then, who was it that told you such hypocritical words?"

"Hehehe, an old man. He looked very unreliable, but he knew quite a lot of things."

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know." Tang Fei shook his head and sighed softly, "He’s in the Old Lands. Maybe he’s in the small courtyard of our home, or perhaps at the home of some old flame... Someone like him, he’ll definitely live well, right?"

When they were together, they were full of disdain for each other, but once apart, he mentioned him over and over again.

Little Fatty would say, "Brother, I miss Godfather."

Tang Fei would tap Little Fatty on the head, but he was too embarrassed to say, "I miss him too."

Lu Siyu’s expression became peculiar as she looked at Tang Fei and asked, "Why did you come back?"

"What?" Tang Fei looked at Lu Siyu in confusion, "Come back? Back to where? This is our first time here..."

Lu Siyu refused to speak to Tang Fei any longer. She took off the protective mask on her face, tossed it onto the workbench, and turned to walk out of the classroom.

Tang Fei watched her back, deep in thought.

Her legs were long and slender, and her feet were small.

It wasn't her.

If it wasn't her, then who was it?

"Wait..."

A flash of inspiration struck Tang Fei's mind, and he suddenly felt that things were becoming complicated and interesting.

"Lu Siyu has the surname Lu. The old man also has the surname Lu, and he even has a flashy name called Lu Yu."

"Could they know each other? If they don't, why was Lu Siyu’s expression a bit strange when she mentioned the old man?"

"She said, 'Why did you come back?' Clearly, she wasn't referring to herself or Little Fatty, because he and Little Fatty had never been to New Star."

"So, does 'you' refer to the old man? What kind of relationship do she and the old man have?"

"Could it be that the old man went to the Old Lands from New Star? With such good conditions on New Star, why would he stay there and run off to a godforsaken place like the Old Lands?"

"Is he a wanted criminal? Yes, that’s very likely."

Last time, when the Undying Army went to Hate Mountain to bring Phoenix home, others might not have noticed, as all eyes were on the star-disk descending from the sky.

But the corner of Tang Fei's eye had caught something: the moment the star-disk appeared, the old man, who had been performing on stage, fled like a startled rabbit.

Fearing the police, fearing encountering acquaintances from New Star—wasn't that the behavior of someone feeling guilty after committing a crime?

What kind of crime did the old man commit back then?

It must have been something very, very serious, right? Otherwise, how could he have needed to flee to the Wasteland? That place was far more miserable than sitting in a prison on New Star.

Connecting this to Lu Siyu’s strange expression just now, a bold idea suddenly formed in Tang Fei's mind.

If you don't understand, ask.

Tang Fei quickly chased after her.