King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

When Zhang Wei returned home, he was still unable to calm down for a long time.

I wanted to talk to He Fan, but he was already asleep.

There was a bowl of wontons left for him on the coffee table in the living room…

I quickly ate a few bites, then went back to my room and lay down on the bed without washing up…

He took a Casio digital watch out of under his pillow.

I pressed the small button protruding from the side of the watch, and the glowing light immediately lit up.

The time displayed on the LCD screen is 12:50 PM New York time.

What is Qin Shunan doing at this very moment?

Could she guess that she is tossing and turning in bed right now?

After a while, Zhang Wei tucked the digital watch back under his pillow and closed his eyes…

Logically speaking, He Fan and Zhang Wei shouldn't have much interaction.

The two were classmates in the Computer Science Department of Tsinghua University.

One was born and raised in Beijing into a family of diplomats.

One of them is a rural child from a remote mountainous area in southern Anhui.

During their freshman year, the two never spoke a word to each other.

Because of Qin Shunan, He Fan and Zhang Wei hit it off.

According to He Fan, he and Zhang Wei were brothers-in-law at first, and later their relationship developed into that of brothers.

At that time, there were 36 boys in the class and only 6 girls. The number of boys was far more than the number of girls, which was outrageous.

In this situation, the boys would naturally not be willing to remain in the outrageous stage.

From the very first day of their freshman year, the boys put their skills to use and plunged into the battle for survival under the law of the jungle.

He Fan and Zhang Wei's first face-to-face conversation took place at the entrance of the girls' dormitory.

The first day of the first semester of my sophomore year.

Zhang Wei was carrying six empty thermos bottles when he walked out of the girls' dormitory and ran into He Fan, who was carrying two lunchboxes.

He Fan glanced at the thermos in Zhang Wei's hand, frowned, and stopped him: "Hey, stop! Who are you?"

Zhang Wei was taken aback for a moment, then answered truthfully, "My surname is Zhang, my name is Zhang Wei, I'm in the same class as you, and I sit in the last row."

He Fan looked him up and down: "So you're Zhang Wei. I vaguely remember you. Tell me, what were you doing with Zhan Yiling's thermos?"

Zhang Wei answered truthfully again: "I came to get water for Qin Shunan, and when I saw that all six thermos flasks were empty, I just filled them all up."

Hearing Zhang Wei say this, He Fan laughed.

Zhang Wei continued, "I know you. You're short, you sit in the second row. Qin Shunan mentioned you to me. Your name is He Fan, right?"

He Fan immediately held the lunchbox high and waved it in front of Zhang Wei: "That's right! I brought steamed buns to Zhan Yiling. I waited in line for ages, and this is the first batch."

"Since you helped Zhan Yiling get hot water, I'll give Qin Shunan a few steamed buns in return, it's only fair."

"Qin Shunan and Zhan Yiling were classmates in high school and were as close as sisters. From now on, we're brothers-in-law..."

By the second semester of their sophomore year, the two girls from Beijing among the six beauties in the class had settled down and each found their own partners.

He Fan won Zhan Yiling's heart, while Qin Shunan's boyfriend was Zhang Wei.

The boys who were pursuing Qin Shunan hated He Fan with a vengeance, regarding him as an enemy.

It is said that He Fan created opportunities for Qin Shunan and Zhang Wei to get rid of interference and brought them together as a couple.

Otherwise, Zhang Wei, that country bumpkin and bookworm, would have no chance at all.

Behind their backs, everyone cursed He Fan, saying he was "eating what's in his bowl while selling what's in the pot."

This situation forced He Fan to the point that, starting from the first semester of his junior year, he couldn't even stay in the student dormitory and had to live at home.

When they graduated from university, He Fan and Zhan Yiling left Tiangong, while Zhang Wei naturally stayed at Tiangong.

When Zhang Wei was going through the procedures to leave school, he was at a loss about housing.

He Fan said to him, "Come stay at my house!"

"However, I cannot enter or touch my parents' bedroom or their study!"

Zhang Wei was moved to tears!

Zhan Yiling was unhappy!

He Fan and Zhang Wei started living and eating together, which seriously affected her and He Fan's life as a couple.

She couldn't help but feel jealous and resentful: "Are you two still brothers-in-law? How come Qin Shunan and I are acting like sisters-in-law instead..."

The day before Zhang Wei officially started his job, He Fan and Zhan Yiling dragged him to Xidan Department Store.

After much persuasion, I spent 200 yuan to pick out a suit for him.

Of that, 180 yuan was paid by He Fan.

This broke Zhang Wei's heart!

The only luxury items Zhang Wei owns, besides this suit, are his Casio digital watch.

That was a gift Qin Shunan had taken out of the money her parents had raised to exchange for US dollars before she went abroad, a little over two hundred yuan, to buy for Zhang Wei.

After finishing her junior year, Qin Shunan went to New York University to study.

Before this, no one expected her to leave so soon, including herself.

That year, the Eagle's embassy was issuing visas like crazy. They'd sign off on every single one they saw, even with their eyes closed.

Qin Shunan's parents suggested she try her luck at the British embassy. Unexpectedly, it worked out on her first try.

The following days were filled with a flurry of activity and chaos.

During that time, Zhang Wei followed Qin Shunan around, running errands and taking care of everything.

As they ran, they realized they had actually reached the international departure lounge of Beijing Capital International Airport.

It wasn't until the moment they were about to part ways that they realized that during their two-year relationship, they hadn't mentioned a single word about their future together.

Before parting, Qin Shunan took out an exquisite box, took out the digital watch from it, and personally put it on Zhang Wei's wrist.

Zhang Wei glanced at it and was immediately stunned!

I couldn't help but ask, "This thing must have cost a lot of money, right?!"

When Qin Shunan told him the price, Zhang Wei was filled with surprise and immediately felt so distressed that he scratched his head and cheeks!

I feel bad for the money, but even more so for Qin Shunan!

That day, the airport terminal was bustling with people.

Qin Shunan and Zhang Wei stood by the wall, looking at the clocks hanging on it that displayed the time of major cities around the world.

Qin Shunan checked the clock, set the time on the digital watch to New York time, and handed it to Zhang Wei.

"Remember, don't change the time on the watch. Just leave it off by twelve hours."

"Until this watch matches the local time, it means we're together again."

Qin Shunan's voice was somewhat low.

Zhang Wei took the watch and immediately understood the full meaning behind Qin Shunan's words.

This is Qin Shunan's promise and expectation regarding their relationship.

Just as Qin Shunan was about to enter the international security checkpoint, Zhang Wei racked his brains, wanting to say something like a vow of eternal love to her.

However, after racking his brains, what he finally said was a highly technical question:

How is daylight saving time adjusted? Do the UK and China switch to daylight saving time on the same day?

Qin Shunan was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but laugh.

She looked at Zhang Wei, her eyes filled with tenderness and love: "I'll tell you how to adjust it later."

Zhang Wei nodded, looking at Qin Shunan with a heart full of reluctance.

"Alright, I have to go now. Take care of yourself, I'll be waiting for you in the UK."

Qin Shunan just left like that…