Once Peng Mingzhu and Xiao Qiqiang were done with their conversation about who to bring over and what to bring over, the team of scientists that were originally out for lunch came back. Since they knew that their boss would be having a meeting with their temporary boss, they all ate very fast in order to meet with her too.
After all, even when she was in China, they still had a hard time trying to meet up with her. Now that they were divided by two parallel worlds, meeting her would be much harder. Naturally, they would take up every chance that they could get in order to advance the future of their team.
"Madam," an elderly scientist called out after he heard the conversation between Peng Mingzhu and Xiao Qiqiang settle.
"What is it?" Peng Mingzhu responded seriously, losing the ounce of relaxation that she held in her voice when she previously talked to Xiao Qiqiang.
"Are there any errors with the technologies?" the elderly scientist asked respectfully.
"The technologies are working appropriately like planned," Peng Mingzhu answered, her tone showing obvious praise to the team. "However, we can definitely make improvements to them."
"For example?" the elderly scientist questioned as he got out a notepad to write down her answers.
"For example, adding in a camera somewhere so that we could facetime. Currently, only I can see your guys' faces, but you guys can't see mine," Peng Mingzhu started listing improvements that could be made to the devices.
"I see. We'll start working on that immediately then," the elderly scientist soon proposed with a serious face.
"Is there anything else that you guys need? Considering how you guys are bunched up together in a single room for the first time in years," Peng Mingzhu joked with laughter in her voice.
"Ma'am, we'd like you to collect data on the plants in that world," a middle-aged scientist answered her question.
"Hm… Plants? Alright, I'll take pictures of them and also grab samples so that when I come back, you guys can take a look at them," Peng Mingzhu instantly agreed since she herself also loved plants. "Okay, with that out of the way, is there anything else before I leave?"
Peng Mingzhu knew that there was no way the team would allow her to leave without a bunch of requests, so she stayed connected to the call while everyone else discussed thoroughly what was more important and what was not.
Soon, a large bout of discussion ensued and Peng Mingzhu was unwilling to wait for the debates to end, so she made a hurried decision.
"Nevermind using your voices to tell me," Peng Mingzhu spoke out loudly through the speaker, a sigh escaping and allowing the team to hear. "Just send an email to me and I'll try to get them to you guys when I have time."
"Yes, ma'am," the entire team agreed at the same time, sounding almost military like.
"Qiang-gege, before I leave, I have to discuss another issue with you," Peng Mingzhu stated with the most serious voice since they started the call.
"What is it?" Xiao Qiqiang asked her with his full attention.
"There is someone here who knows where I'm from and does not find it strange. Rather, he says that he's met me before. Though, I don't seem to have any memories of him," Peng Mingzhu started out. "He wants to know if it is fine for him to meet you."
"Who is he?" Xiao Qiqiang seriously asked since this was not a question he could just recklessly answer.
"He is the second prince of the Wei Empire, Wei Kangnuan," Peng Mingzhu answered consistently. "He's suggested that we use his power and knowledge. However, I did not want to agree to him without consulting you first."
Xiao Qiqiang sighed deeply before saying, "Xiao Nai, this decision, I do not have the right to help you. This project, the majority of the research was started and founded by you - including many of the prototypes and designs when building the portal and the devices. You can make the decision yourself; whether you want him to integrate himself with you or not."
Peng Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, "Actually, even before he asked, I already wanted him to meet you guys. However, I was afraid that he would find me weird and strange, so I didn't tell him anything. I didn't think that he would suggest offering himself up to me even before I asked."
"Ah Nai…" Xiao Qiqiang called out worriedly.
"What is it?" Peng Mingzhu responded with a confused tone on her end.
"This prince… why is he willing to help you?" Xiao Qiqiang asked her straightforwardly.
Hearing his question, Peng Mingzhu immediately became embarrassed and blushingly answered, "You'll know the answer yourself when you come."
"You're not going to answer now?" Xiao Qiqiang asked, also confused at her answer now.
Peng Mingzhu coughed to cover up her embarrassment and said, "You'll find the answer for yourself when you come. I-I need to leave now. Talk to you later, Qiang-gege."
Right after Peng Mingzhu said her goodbyes, she instantly ended the call without allowing the other side to respond.
At the moment, her heart was beating too fast and her face was too red for her to think rationally.
At this moment, all she wanted to do was to douse herself in a cold shower and pretend that she did not just think back on the confessions that Wei Kangnuan has made.
Of course, as a naturally calm person though, her redness soon subsided and her racing heart soon came to slow to a normal beat. With her body back to normal, she finally headed out her room towards the kitchen to cook something for lunch.
At the kitchen of the inn, Peng Mingzhu decided to make a bit more food than normal since she was cooking a portion for two people: chicken chop suey, chinese noodle soup, cashew chicken, and beef and broccoli.
Aside from preparing the rice, she also prepared some longjing tea to wash up the strong tastes of the food since she did not like to eat bland or weak foods.
Once she was done cooking and preparing everything, she had a worker help her carry the food while she went to ask Manager Bai which private room was Wei Kangnuan shown. After he told her the room, she finally walked up the stairs to the third floor to meet the man who was so eagerly currently waiting for her.
*Knock knock knock knock knock*
[A/N: I used my hands to see how many times I normally knock on my door. Apparently, my natural count is 5 times. You guys, 2-3 times is a lie, but it's beautiful. ^_^]
"Who is it?" Wei Kangnuan called out not an overbearing voice, but at the same time not too respectful.
Not answering him first, Peng Mingzhu opened the door and immediately gestured for the worker to bring the food in, "It's me."
"I waited so long for you…" Wei Kangnuan instantly pouted with puppy eyes the moment that Peng Mingzhu spoke up.
"Lying is a sin," Peng Mingzhu cold heartedly knocked down his actions and words.
"Ah Nai, what did you cook for me?" Wei Kangnuan soon became distracted when the plates of food were placed on the table and the smell invaded his nose.
"Chicken chop suey, chinese noodle soup, cashew chicken, and beef and broccoli with rice," Peng Mingzhu answered in a single breath. "I also prepared some longjing tea for you."
"I do not seem to have tried these dishes before," Wei Kangnuan commented, when he saw the beauty of the dishes.
"You haven't?" Peng Mingzhu asked with a cute tilt of her head. "Hm… I'm surprised, but at the same time I'm not."
"Why so?" Wei Kangnuan questioned with a curious face.
"Well, you're a prince and most of these foods aren't necessarily something an imperial chef would make," Peng Mingzhu answered as she started placing some chicken chop suey on her bowl of rice. "However, they're quite good, and since you're out on military activities, I thought you'd get to try these dishes somewhere."
"Nope," Wei Kangnuan shook his head with a happy smile. "It is my first time eating these."
"Why are you smiling so happily?" Peng Mingzhu questioned, giving him a strange stare and a raise of her brow.
"Because I am glad that the person who I am trying these for the first time with is you," Wei Kangnuan answered with no shame and no hesitation.
Embarrassed at his sudden romantic words, Peng Mingzhu turned her head to avoid his sweet gaze. Trying to find a topic to switch to, she suddenly remembered that she was supposed to tell Wei Kangnuan about her meeting.
"Oh right, didn't you say that you could help me and my people?" Peng Mingzhu asked as soon as she thought up a topic to switch to.
"Yes," Wei Kangnuan slowly spoke with a grin also slowly forming on his lips.
Wanting to cover up her embarrassment from seeing his grin, Peng Mingzhu coughed once and cleared up her throat to say, "Well, we've all agreed, so next time when we have a meeting, I'll invite you in. However, you have to keep everything a secret. Also, you must know one thing: the only reason why I'm willing to grant you access to such a secret thing is because you know about where I come from. Otherwise, I'd definitely reject your request to help us."
"Okay," Wei Kangnuan replied as a soft smile came onto his face, making Peng Mingzhu blush even more as she tried to avoid his overly sweet eyes.