Chapter 9

Lu Jun

Wu Wei maintained an expression of calmness on his face, still uttering the same phrase: "Is that so?"

"Are you used to falling?" Wu Wei paused for a moment, and the hand gripping her arm tightened: "Did you injure your leg before?"

Then someone replied: "Not yet, we have just arrived."

"It's over," Wu Wei said, gazing into her eyes, which were large almond-shaped eyes with double eyelids, slightly puffy from staying up all night. He also stood up, "Go back to sleep. I just saw you were about to doze off. We can talk about it tomorrow."

Wu Wei released Lu Jun and, using the beam of the flashlight, surveyed the crowd. Although the light was not very bright, it was still clear who was present and who was not. Without much thought, he asked: "Is the backup generator ready?"

In engineering, the greatest concern is the interruption of industrial power supply. Once a power outage occurs, it signifies that no work can be carried out. Therefore, generally speaking, before establishing a construction plan, it is essential to first consider the method of grid connection and the safety and reliability of the power supply lines. This is a fundamental requirement that must be prioritized, and it is imperative that no significant errors occur.

After a few brief words, all ten or so people present took their leave. As the scattered lights faded away, silence and the night descended all at once, and the room immediately returned to a state of utter quiet. Wu Wei stood in place for a moment before heading to the office next to the main power distribution room. He dialed the number for the Gralam power station, but it never connected, as if all the numbers had malfunctioned. Occasionally, he managed to get through once or twice, but no one answered. Wu Wei felt a sinking feeling; how could there be no one on duty at the power station?

It was a complex sleepless night. Qian Dahua and several technicians from the power group returned after twenty minutes to explain the situation of the backup generator, indicating that its operation was satisfactory. Half an hour later, others gradually reported their inspection results via radio, with similar content: no violations of operation, no tripping incidents, and no abnormalities in the lines. The large equipment was functioning normally, and there were no short circuits, among other things. All were professionally trained individuals, speaking concisely, showcasing the team's high efficiency. After ruling out all possible faults, the answer to the problem became apparent: considering the strange inability to dial the power station's phone, the issue could only be on the power station's side.

Wu Wei, after a brief contemplation and surveying the crowd, instructed: "Liu Gong, take two people to check the distribution boxes at all levels to see if there are any tripped circuits; Li Rui, you and your team go inspect the transformers and the incoming lines on both the left and right banks; the rest of you should go to the construction site to tally which machines were operating before the power outage; and, Lu Jun, you go to the broadcasting room to announce the situation to everyone. If anyone notices any anomalies, any unusual circumstances must be reported directly to me."

At the other end of the room, Lu Jun's voice was heard: "A temporary power outage has occurred at the construction site. Everyone, please remain calm, check the machines and equipment in your hands, and maintain the power-off state. Especially for large machinery ... ... "

Oh—" Lu Jun felt that the things in front of her were becoming clearer little by little. She looked up and saw the testing ground and dozens of faint beams of flashlight light. She had never felt that the light of a flashlight could possess such power

Is there a power outage?

By the time everything came to a temporary halt, the night was already well advanced. Lu Jun continuously broadcasted messages, gradually finding it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open, resorting to pinching her hand to stay alert; Wu Wei, after putting down the phone for the last time, caught a glimpse of her left hand, which was propping up her chin and had turned red from the pinching. He was momentarily taken aback and called her by her full name.

Noticing that Wu Wei had slowed down his pace again, she thought for a moment and asked, "Mr. Wu, you seem quite adept at navigating this bumpy mountain road; I can barely see the ground beneath my feet."

A young man named Li Rui was the first to arrive, and he promptly began to relay all the known circumstances: "Yes, the residential area is experiencing a power outage, and the factory is also without power. I just received a call from the inspection team, and they are also without electricity. General Manager Wu, as far as I remember, this is the first time we have encountered such a large-scale power outage."

Lu Jun relaxed completely and collapsed onto the bench.

No response was received

Wu Wei planned her words and said as she walked away: "Let's go together. Everyone is rushing to the power room now."

The broadcast was very loud, and the final phrase "Thank you for your hard work" left a long echo in the mountains. As the last faint sound faded away, the lights in the room flickered gently, resembling the fluttering of a butterfly eager to take flight, alternating between light and darkness several times before finally illuminating.

Wu Wei recalled her manner of walking and the unfortunate incident of her last fall, her brows slightly furrowing: "You are not skilled at walking. I remember the last time you fell was during the day"

In the overwhelming silence, Lu Jun suddenly realized what he had just been speculating about. It was merely a moment of inspiration, and his brain began to operate at high speed, unmatched by any machine. Countless details surfaced. Wu Wei had never been one to talk about his own matters; despite their long acquaintance and numerous opportunities for conversation, he had never taken the initiative to discuss his own affairs. Not once. A tremendous wave of regret surged forth, flooding his mind, accompanied by a rush of boiling blood throughout his body. Wu Wei had never been one to talk about his own matters; despite their long acquaintance and numerous opportunities for conversation, he had never taken the initiative to discuss his own affairs. Not once. A tremendous wave of regret surged forth, flooding his mind, accompanied by a rush of boiling blood throughout his body.

Indeed, indeed, Lu Jun was counting on his fingers like a child, responding in an incredibly natural and smooth tone, "You have no idea how much I admire you. You are so intelligent, with an exceptional memory and top-notch professional standards; your knowledge in electronics, water resources, and construction is simply interconnected, truly there is nothing you do not know. Moreover, your English is so fluent it sounds like your mother tongue. I heard you have only been in Pakistan for half a year, yet your command of Urdu is already remarkable... Well, I won't mention these anymore. With your handsome appearance, you attract attention wherever you go, surpassing even those celebrities, and you could easily star in a movie."

Fortunately, they had already arrived at the dormitory area. She dared not look at Wu Wei anymore, focusing intently on the scattered lights by her feet. With great difficulty, she managed to say "good night," and then, abandoning all pretense, she fled in a most undignified manner.

"Habit becomes second nature," Wu Wei casually replied, "After walking the mountain paths for over a decade, it has been cultivated no matter what."

Is this the first time? Can the phone still be used

"You should go to sleep," he said

His thoughts are intricate, and so is the moon. Restlessly wandering among the clouds, the windowsill alternates between light and darkness, with a glow like white frost appearing and disappearing.

In the future, pay attention. If anything happens, just tell me. You need to be aware of some dangerous places that you should avoid. Wu Wei began, "Once you sprain your ankle, there will be a second time; if your leg is injured, there will be aftereffects. A leg injury is not a trivial matter"

Wu Wei reached out to turn off the light, and the two of them left the office together

Lu Jun did not expect that he still remembered his last embarrassing appearance. After a moment of surprise, he said: "I am used to falling. It doesn't bother me anymore."

Following his gaze and looking around, there was indeed not a glimmer of light in sight. Lu Jun felt uneasy and said, "I will go check the distribution room to see if there has been a tripping or if the load has caused the circuit to burn out. Mr. Wu, you—"

Is that so? I was not aware of it

The situation of the power outage was not overlooked; although the measures taken are not foolproof, everything that could be done has been done. Two independent power sources have been connected, so if one experiences an overload and fails, there is a backup. However, in this case, it is evident that both sources have encountered issues, which is concerning

What is the reason for your inspection

Ah, we have arrived

Lu Jun smiled apologetically: "I have never stayed up this late before. General Manager Wu, you seem quite energetic."

In a very plain tone, devoid of resentment or dissatisfaction, addressing matters straightforwardly and handling affairs with professionalism. However, Lu Jun detected a hint of indescribable helplessness in Hetushucomcom. The drowsiness, having been somewhat alleviated by the cold wind, was countered by an increasing sense of confusion and lack of clarity in her mind. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Wu Wei's shoulder as he leaned closer, observing his impeccable profile. Her thoughts slipped beyond her control, prompting her to pose a question she had not truly wished to know the answer to: "Then why are you enduring this hardship here? With your capabilities, you could do anything and not have to suffer in such an unfamiliar place."

Wu Wei looked at her with a slightly different gaze, one that reflected a sense of complete relaxation after tension, embodying purity and innocence. She was naturally sweet in appearance, which uplifted the spirits of those who beheld her. Wu Wei turned to look at the construction site by the river from the window, which remained shrouded in darkness; however, a faint light emerged from the residential area on the other side.

I am not sleepy," Lu Jun shook her head, "I am also here waiting for news.

Lu Jun smiled and nodded repeatedly, saying: "Why would I lie? This is how I truly feel. With your excellent qualifications and so many better options available, yet you are still doing this job, there must be other reasons. Well, I shouldn't put it that way; a more appropriate way to say it would be that you are pursuing something, or perhaps trying to achieve certain goals, or even avoiding some issues?"

It is rare for the sound to be amplified to such an extent, yet still so clear and pleasant, without any impurities. Wu Wei left the office and went to the adjacent broadcasting station. Lu Jun held a loudspeaker, leaned out of the window, and spoke loudly; after finishing in Chinese, he switched to English and repeated it, remarkably fluent.

This line is not a single one for the telephone

Old Qian took two people over; it hasn't been used for a long time, so it will probably need to be warmed up for a while

The voice was very low, and Lu Jun immediately sat up straight,努力地 blinked her eyes: "What? Is there any new development?"

The electrical room is located in a small chamber at the testing site. When they arrived, the engineers and technical staff were each holding a flashlight, blocking the entrance. Upon seeing Wu Weilai, the crowd immediately gathered around and collectively let out a sigh of relief

One cannot afford to be lacking in spirit. In one's position, one must fulfill one's duties; receiving this salary entails performing the work. With the burden on one's shoulders, one must carry it to the end

It is unexpected that his thoughts are so meticulous, and he immediately discovered the reason. Lu Jun was astonished, paused for a moment, and then replied lightly, "I had a fracture in my ankle once. Well, it's not a big deal; after all, in our line of work, who hasn't fallen before"

It was so dark that one could hardly see their feet. The road stretched for about five to six hundred meters, littered with rubble and debris. Wu Wei walked very quickly, almost jogging; Lu Jun hurried to catch up with him, stumbling as she walked unevenly, several times stepping on stones or sinking into low spots, nearly tripping. Each time, Wu Wei would grab her, and in the end, he simply did not dare to let go, holding onto her arm tightly while slowing down.

Once or twice might be excusable, but after stumbling nearly three or four times, Lu Jun felt truly embarrassed and stammered an explanation: "I am just not good at walking at night, ha, how embarrassing." While saying this, he was relieved that the darkness and strong winds of the night concealed her flushed and awkward face.

I originally intended to say "there is no need," but seeing the stubbornness in her eyes, I ultimately refrained from speaking. A nod would suffice as my agreement

Lu Jun took quite a while to adapt to the reality of the power outage and the palpable darkness that rendered one unable to see one's own hand. After a moment, the cold moonlight reappeared, slightly alleviating the inky blackness of the night; Wu Wei looked around, and although his expression could not be clearly seen, his voice made one feel a tightening and tingling in the heart: "It seems that this is not an ordinary power outage, but a large-scale blackout."

After she finished speaking, Wu Wei took the loudspeaker from her and added a few words: "If there are no questions, please return to your rest. The backup generator is being prepared. Any matters can be discussed tomorrow. Lastly, thank you all for your hard work."