blogombal Chapter 45: Dawn
Chapter 45: Dawn
The New Year's Day holiday has just ended, and the mornings in Suzhou are bitterly cold.
When Yu Chen and Nie Xiguang entered the laboratory, the tips of their noses were a little red from the cold.
Hua Xiangyang and several team members were already there, huddled in front of a computer, staring at the curves on the screen.
"Yu Gong, Xi Guang, good morning!" Hua Xiangyang waved without looking up. "Come and see, the equipment didn't stop running during the New Year's Eve period, the data was constantly running, and it's running very well!"
Yu Chen took off his coat and quickly went over.
The decay curves on the screen, representing different batches of samples, gradually decreased in almost parallel lines, their steady trend reassuring.
Their stacked batteries stabilized.
"It's basically done." Hua Xiangyang stood up and rubbed his face. His eyes were bloodshot, but he was full of energy. "We've overcome the hurdle of stability."
A few relaxed exhales echoed in the laboratory.
Two months of non-stop work was worth it.
The report was quickly submitted to the general manager's office.
Zhang Tianhua had just returned from a business trip and hadn't even had a chance to sit down when he received the news and rushed to Shengyuan's headquarters to report the good news.
Soon, the once quiet research and development building suddenly became lively.
First, a small high-level delegation from the Shengyuan Group headquarters quietly arrived, led by Chen Liming.
They didn't attract much attention and went straight into the core area of the laboratory.
Yu Chen and Hua Xiangyang showed them the latest samples, the complete data chain, and the stability test results with no degradation for hundreds of hours.
Wearing white gloves, Chen Liming examined the sample surface inch by inch with a high-powered magnifying glass and asked several extremely tricky questions about the process details.
Yu Chen answered them one by one, and even pointed out a possible measurement error in an international standard they were referencing.
Chen Liming listened without saying anything, but simply took off his glasses and wiped them. Then he nodded to his assistant beside him.
The assistant immediately took the phone and went outside.
That afternoon, the lights in Lin Yusen's office stayed on very late.
Following this, several influential industry media outlets and consulting firms, as if by prior arrangement, published articles on "breakthroughs in next-generation photovoltaic technology".
The article did not name names directly, but used phrases such as "a photovoltaic company in Suzhou", "tandem technology", and "efficiency exceeding 29%".
This has sparked considerable discussion within their industry circles.
Yu Chen's name appeared for the first time in conversations among some senior figures, portraying him as a "technology pioneer."
The real shock came three days later with a temporary motion passed by the board of directors of Shengyuan Group.
The message was sent to Yu Chen by Lin Yusen.
He remained calm, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes.
"The board of directors has decided to increase the special support funds for the 'Chenguang' tandem battery project from the original 30 million to 200 million." Lin Yusen said succinctly, "The first installment of 50 million will arrive within a week. The project team will have the autonomy to decide on the use of the funds within the budget framework, and only needs to report to General Manager Zhang."
Nie Xiguang, standing to the side, gasped in shock. Two hundred million!
This is not just about money; it's a resounding vote of confidence from Sheng Yuan and her father.
Yu Chen was also taken aback. "What are the conditions?"
This was different from the financial investment he had anticipated.
Lin Yusen looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, "There are two conditions."
"First, Shengyuan's subsidiary, Jiekai Energy, hopes to obtain priority cooperation authorization for the technology; specific business terms will be discussed later."
"Secondly, you need to sign a non-compete agreement." Lin Yusen pointed to a line on the draft: "The agreement includes compensation."
"The Group agrees to use your personal company, 'Chenxi Technology Consulting,' as equity investment, representing a 5% stake in the asset package corresponding to the new business unit."
Yu Chen looked in the direction he was pointing.
The terms are clearly stated.
This 5% equity stake is entitled to "full anti-dilution protection".
This means that no matter how much investment is brought in in the future, this 5% percentage will remain unchanged.
Once the technology is mass-produced and profitable, this percentage can be increased further.
"This was decided jointly by Chairman Sheng and Chairman Nie," Lin Yusen added, explaining why he had been silent for two months after Yu Chen rejected Sheng Xingjie. "Your Chenxi Consulting needs to be renamed and merged into the new structure and new business unit. You take the lead, and you arrange the other people in charge of engineering, management, and technology."
From project leader to head of a business unit that operates independently with substantial funds.
This is quite a leap.
Yu Chen didn't hesitate for long. "Okay, I'll do it."
The corridor was unusually quiet when I left Lin Yusen's office.
But Yu Chen could sense that people were peeking into the offices he passed.
The news spread faster than the wind.
Back in the lab, before he could even speak, Hua Xiangyang looked at him expectantly, and everyone else stopped what they were doing.
"It's settled," Yu Chen said, his voice clear in the quiet laboratory. "The group will invest 200 million yuan, and the project will be established as an independent business unit called 'Chenguang Battery Business Unit.' I will be in charge for the time being, and Huagong, your responsibilities will be quite significant as well."
There was a two-second silence, and then a loud "boom" erupted in the lab.
Hua Xiangyang hugged the young engineer next to him and laughed heartily.
Several people rushed over and patted Yu Chen on the shoulder, asking him all sorts of questions about the details.
Nie Xiguang stood at the door, his eyes slightly warming as he looked at Yu Chen, who was surrounded by people in the center.
That was the joy of being extremely proud of him.
"You guys choose the place tonight, it's on me," Yu Chen raised his voice, cutting through the noise, "Let's celebrate and thank you all!"
An even louder cheer erupted.
[Ding! A major leap forward has been detected in the host's business line: the leading technology has received strategic-level capital backing, and the host has independently taken charge of the R&D unit.]
[Achievement Point Reward: +5000 points.]
Current achievement points balance: 6350 points.
[Special Reward Unlocked: Integrated Perception.]
[Note: All methods lead to the same goal. There are potential connections between the skills the host has mastered. This ability will help you perceive the commonalities between different knowledge domains, improving your learning and innovation efficiency.]
[Current effect: A slight price discount is available when purchasing new knowledge related to existing skills from the system shop.]
The system notification sounded in my mind, bringing a strange sense of clarity.
Yu Chen suddenly felt that his abilities in photovoltaic technology, technical judgment, and information organization were vaguely connected, and his perspective on problems had become more nuanced.
This new capability has come at just the right time.
That evening, everyone in the project team, along with a few colleagues from other departments who had helped out, went out for dinner together.
The location was chosen by Hua Xiangyang; it was an old restaurant serving local Shanghai cuisine, with three large tables set up in the private room.
The atmosphere was so hot it felt like the roof could be blown off.
Everyone took turns toasting, calling out "General Manager Yu" and "General Manager Hua," and talking about the hardships of the past few months and their future ambitions.
Yu Chen drank quite a bit, but his mind remained unusually clear.
Nie Xiguang sat next to him and watched him being forced to drink alcohol, then quietly switched the juice in her glass with his.
After a few rounds of drinks, the noise subsided a bit.
Taking advantage of the lively conversation, Nie Xiguang gently nudged Yu Chen's arm and whispered, "Are you really going to rename and merge your 'Chenxi Technical Consulting'?"
"Yes, it's necessary for the procedures." Yu Chen nodded. "From now on, it will be called 'Chenguang Technology Co., Ltd.' and will be the technology shareholding entity under the business unit."
"Oh..." Nie Xiguang seemed thoughtful, took out her phone and swiped a few times, then suddenly looked up at him with bright eyes and a sly smile on her lips, "Hey, Yu Chen, I checked... your 'Chenxi Technical Consulting' was registered in June 2011."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice, and said with a smile, "Back then, we weren't close yet, were we? You know, registering a company with 'Dawn' in its name so early on... were you prescient, already planning to 'scam' a girl with 'Dawn' in her name?"
Yu Chen was stunned for a moment, looking at her face so close to his with a mischievous smile, and his ears suddenly felt hot.
He recalled that summer when he had just bound himself to the system, had nothing, and registered a company out of a bit of recklessness and hope.
"It was purely coincidental." He looked away, took a sip of water with feigned composure, and said, "At that time, I thought that a name should have some meaning of hope. The character 'Xi' was too sparse, while 'Xi' was much better."
"Really?" Nie Xiguang drawled, clearly not believing, and laughed even more happily. "Then it seems my character 'Xi' is quite good."
Someone at the table called out to Yu Chen, and he turned around to respond.
Looking at his slightly reddened earlobes, Nie Xiguang felt as if a feather had gently brushed against her heart, making her feel soft and warm.
Regardless, she was happy that her name could be linked to the symbol that marked the beginning of Yu Chen's career in this way.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Zhuang Xu and Chris also saw the relevant industry news.
Zhuang Xu stared at the headline on the computer screen, "Shengyuan makes a heavy bet on layered technology, and a young inventor emerges," and remained silent for a long time.
The last vestige of his sense of superiority vanished completely in the face of this series of solid achievements and recognition from investors.
Although Yu Chen's path started from a different point, it is leading him at an astonishing speed to a height that he may have to look up to.
He closed the webpage and forced himself to focus on the valuation model of another company at hand.
Chris then sent the news link directly to Lin Yusen, adding, "It seems Mr. Lin has gained even more leverage. Would you mind discussing the subsequent financing schedule sometime?"
Looking at Yu Chen's calm profile in the news photo, she thought to herself that Zhuang Xu's persistent recommendation back then was indeed insightful.
Lin Yusen, who was able to quickly give Yu Chen such significant recognition and bind him to her, impressed her even more with his decisiveness and skill.
This duo is getting more and more interesting.
It was late at night, and the celebration was over.
Yu Chen and Nie Xiguang took a taxi back.
The car was well-heated, and Nie Xiguang eventually couldn't resist the commotion from the lab group and drank some alcohol.
I feel a little dizzy right now, so I'm leaning on Yu Chen's shoulder.
"Are you happy?" Nie Xiguang asked groggily.
"I'm happy." Yu Chen looked out the window at the dazzling city lights and put his arm around her. "But the pressure is also greater."
"I know." Nie Xiguang nuzzled his shoulder. "But it's okay, we're all here."
Her voice trailed off; she had fallen asleep.
Yu Chen looked down at her peaceful sleeping face, and the excitement in his heart gradually subsided, turning into a heavy sense of responsibility and an unprecedentedly clear goal.
Equity, capital, reputation... these are all bargaining chips, weapons, and shackles.
The road ahead is no longer just about tackling technical challenges in the laboratory, but about leading a team, operating a business unit, and turning the blueprint on paper into real products and commercial success under the watchful eyes of capital, the market, and the industry.
The challenge has only just begun.
However, the immediate priority is to resolve the issue of Nie Xiguang clinging tightly to him.
-
When the car arrived at the apartment building, Yu Chen paid the fare and gently woke Nie Xiguang.
Nie Xiguang mumbled an "Mmm" in her sleep, but instead hugged him even tighter, muttering that she was cold.
Yu Chen had no choice but to half-carry, half-help her out of the car. Nie Xiguang's legs went weak, and she leaned against him.
The two walked into the building, arm in arm. Once inside the elevator, in the cramped space, she pressed herself even closer. Yu Chen could feel her warmth and the softness of her body.
His throat was a little dry, and he said in a low voice, "Xiguang, relax a little, we're almost home."
Nie Xiguang answered with her eyes closed, "No." She even rubbed her face against his chest.
The elevator arrived at their floor. Yu Chen put his arm around her and led her to the door, struggling slightly to pull out her keys—because her arm was still wrapped around his waist. He opened the door, and the two went inside.
The living room was pitch black, with only a faint light coming in from the window. Yu Chen closed the door behind him, leaned against it, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He tried to remove Nie Xiguang's hand from his body, but she held on tightly.
Yu Chen softened her voice and said, "Xi Guang, we're home. Come down first, let's sit on the sofa, okay?"
Nie Xiguang seemed to have taken it a little to heart, loosening her grip slightly, but still clinging to him. She looked up at him with hazy eyes, her cheeks flushed, her gaze filled with dependence.
Yu Chen said, "Yes, I'm here." He took the opportunity to help her stand up.
Then her legs gave way again, and she fell forward. Yu Chen quickly reached out to catch her, and the two stumbled for a moment before he regained his balance by bracing his back against the wall of the entryway.
Now, Nie Xiguang practically threw herself into his arms, tilting her head back so her lips were very close to his chin. In the darkness, their breathing was clearly audible. The faint scent of alcohol mingled with her own fragrance.
Yu Chen's body tensed, and a surge of heat rose uncontrollably within him. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He put his arm around her waist and led her towards the bathroom. Nie Xiguang followed unsteadily, her hand still clutching his clothes.
Once inside the bathroom, the light was turned on. The bright light made Nie Xiguang squint. Yu Chen helped her lean against the sink and used a hot towel to wipe her face.
The warm towel felt comfortable. Nie Xiguang tilted her head back, revealing her neck and collarbone. Under the light, her skin was fair with a rosy glow, and her lips were very red.
Yu Chen's gaze swept over her lips, then quickly shifted away. He fed her some warm water.
After drinking the water, Nie Xiguang seemed sleepy again and leaned against Yu Chen.
Yu Chen helped her up and said, "You should rest. Can you change into your pajamas yourself?"
His response was a mumbled murmur and a closer embrace.
Yu Chen knew she couldn't change it herself. He helped her into her bedroom and sat her down on the edge of the bed.
"Xiguang, loosen your grip for a moment, I'll get you your pajamas." He tried to pry her hands off his neck.
Nie Xiguang relaxed, but her body swayed and she fell onto her bed, causing him to stumble as well. Yu Chen frantically tried to steady himself, almost falling on top of her.
She lay on the bed, her hair disheveled and her clothes a little messy. She felt cold, curled up, and unconsciously grabbed Yu Chen's clothes again.
Yu Chen looked at her, completely unsuspecting on the bed, sweat beading on his forehead. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his gaze clear.
He gently pried her hands off his clothes and covered her with the blanket first. Then he went to her wardrobe and found her pajamas.
Next, Yu Chen treated her like a fragile piece of porcelain, avoiding looking at her as much as possible, and quickly helped her change into her pajamas. His fingertips occasionally touched her warm skin, each time making his heart tighten.
After changing into his pajamas, Nie Xiguang snuggled into the blanket and fell into a deep sleep.
Yu Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. He stood by the bed, looked at her quietly for a while, then leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
He whispered, "Goodnight, dawn."
Then, he turned off the main bedroom light, leaving only a dim nightlight, and quietly left her room, closing the door behind him.
He returned to his room, grabbed a change of clothes, and took a long, cold shower to calm himself down completely.
Back in his room, he lay down on the bed.
In the darkness, the room was quiet, but he could almost hear her even breathing from the next room.
His heart softened, and he smiled helplessly, a mixture of tenderness and a touch of unease.
Perhaps one day in the future, there will no longer be this closed door between them.
But definitely not tonight.
After all, there's still plenty of time.