American comic: From Beijing with Love, starting with a mutant.

Stephen Chow reached out and pointed to the docking cross-section diagram.

"To put it bluntly, this is like trying to align two extremely expensive, extremely heavy, and extremely fragile pieces of pork on the seabed?"

Director Chen's eyelid twitched: "Immersed pipes aren't pork."

"Hey, the structural logic is the same!"

"The key to good pork belly cutting is whether the skin, fat, and lean layers are aligned. The same applies to submerged pipes; the waterstop, joints, foundation layer, and load-bearing surfaces must all be aligned."

Director Chen opened his mouth. He wanted to refute it, but then he realized that the words were crude yet inexplicably true.

"Now that we have Xiao Luo, she can stabilize the pipe with a simple gesture."

"But here's the problem." He held up one finger: "Little Luo isn't a crane."

He then extended a second one: "Her body is more fragile than my Armani suit now."

Polaris said coldly, "Can you please stop comparing me to your shabby suit?"

"That's war-damaged property," Stephen Chow corrected. "It has great commemorative value."

Director Wang lifted his right leg slightly.

Stephen Chow continued to get to the point: "So my opinion is that we can't let her go to the front line immediately."

Director Chen frowned: "The project's window of opportunity..."

"There's no use rushing during the window of opportunity."

Stephen Chow interrupted him: "You need an expert, not a disposable battery. You'll drain her dry today, she'll be in the medical ward tomorrow, and the day after you'll be crying over the strait?"

Director Chen fell silent.

"I'll give you a solution."

"The first stage is the recuperation and observation period."

"We can hold the test at the simulated experimental site in Jiuquan instead of going to sea for now. Xiao Luo will undergo no more than two hours of training each day, mainly focusing on controlling small-scale models."

"Phase Two: Remote Technical Consultant Period"

"Your research institute created models of the immersed tunnel structure, interfaces, and steel reinforcement frame, and had her participate in the design review. She provided feedback based on her understanding of the process."

"The third phase is short-term on-site support. We'll go to the beach once she's physically fit."

"It's not about letting her spend the whole day on the barge exposed to the sea breeze, but about choosing the most critical docking window and completing the magnetic field-assisted placement within two hours."

"After finishing our work and returning to shore to rest, we cannot arrange banquets, we cannot arrange for leaders to take turns to visit us, and we certainly cannot put up banners that say things like 'Comrades of the North Star are fighting the Qiongzhou Strait'."

Director Chen was stunned.

Director Wang also squinted.

This kid usually talks a lot of nonsense, but when his plan comes out, it actually makes sense.

Stephen Chow looked at the North Star: "What do you think?"

Polaris did not answer, but walked to the drawing and looked down at the strait.

She never imagined that one day her abilities would be connected with the sea.

It wasn't about fighting, escaping, or killing.

Create a road that crosses the seabed, allowing people to travel by car from one side to the other.

Let the steel sink into the sea, but it won't kill anyone.

Let those lines become real roads.

North Star whispered, "What if I lose control?"

Director Chen paused for a moment, and Director Wang also looked at Zhou Xingxing.

Stephen Chow laughed and said, "Then I'll just stand here."

The North Star looked at him.

"You're really out of control. I'll first scrape all the metal lumps on the barge into scrap metal to prevent you from grabbing things randomly. Then I'll call Director Wang to apply for workers' compensation."

Director Wang, his face dark, asked, "Why is it me again in the end?"

"Because you are the leader! The responsibility is great and the honor is immense!"

Director Chen frowned: "Isn't this a bit too frivolous?"

"This is no joke." Zhou Xingxing's smile faded. "Director Chen, I don't want her to be put into another cage right after she's been released from one."

"If you need her help, you can."

"But there must be three conditions."

He held up his finger.

"First, she did so voluntarily and had the right to suspend it."

"Second, those who fail the medical and psychological assessments are not allowed to go to the site."

"Third, wages, allowances, leave, accommodation, confidentiality level, and work injury insurance are all essential."

"There is a fourth point."

Director Wang suddenly spoke up.

Director Chen looked over.

Director Wang said slowly, "The personnel will be under the unified management of Bureau 749. The research institute needs cooperation, so we will follow the formal secondment process. We have already arranged with the rocket base that the personnel will be transferred there, so don't think about bypassing us and taking them away directly."

Director Chen raised an eyebrow: "You don't trust me?"

Director Wang smiled.

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I trust the system."

Stephen Chow nodded in agreement: "Yes, the system is more reliable than men. Especially middle-aged men, the thinner their hair, the more likely they are to make decisions on a whim."

Director Chen touched his hairline.

Director Wang also subconsciously touched it.

The two of them glared at Stephen Chow at the same time.

Stephen Chow looked at the ceiling: "The lights are nice today."

The atmosphere eased a bit.

Director Chen gave a helpless wry smile: "Fine. I accept these three clauses, plus Director Wang's supplementary clauses."

"Initially, we'll conduct model verification at the joint experimental field. If the medical team deems it acceptable, we'll arrange for you to conduct a short-term inspection at the coastal base."

"You can refuse if you don't want to."

The North Star remained silent for a long time.

Then she asked, "How much is the salary?"

Director Chen was taken aback.

Stephen Chow slapped his thigh: "Good question!"

His face was full of satisfaction, as if he had seen his students finally learn the multiplication table.

"That's right! The first thing to ask when starting work isn't about ideals or mission, but about salary. This shows that Comrade Xiao Luo has already developed a basic sense of self-protection as a modern worker!"

Director Wang rubbed his forehead.

Director Chen was stumped by the question.

He thought for a moment and said, "According to the treatment of specially appointed experts for national key projects, the basic salary, project allowance, confidentiality allowance, and on-site allowance will be calculated separately."

Stephen Chow immediately followed up with, "Is there any subsidy for offshore operations?"

"have."

Is there a high-temperature allowance?

"It's available on-site in the South."

Are there any leave options for mental health treatment?

Director Chen looked at Director Wang.

"It's a must."

Are there any special protections for female employees?

Director Chen's face went blank: "Yes."

Are there any apartments for specialists?

"have."

Is there a cafeteria?

"have."

How many dishes and soups does the cafeteria offer?

Director Chen, having reached his limit, exclaimed, "Comrade Ling Lingqi! This is a key national project, not a heartless foreman!"

Zhou Xingxing nodded: "I was just confirming the basic rights of the employees. You should have said earlier that you weren't unscrupulous; why are you making such a fuss?"

Polaris watched him and Director Chen go back and forth, a genuine smile appearing in his eyes.

"I can give it a try."

Director Chen's face lit up with joy.

"Just trying it out."

"Of course," Director Chen nodded, "It's in the experimental phase."

The North Star looks at Stephen Chow.

"You have to be there."

Stephen Chow paused for a moment, then patted his chest.

"Don't worry, I have a strong sense of professional ethics. I accompany employees throughout their trial period and also supervise the cafeteria's food standards."

Director Wang said coldly, "You're just trying to freeload off me, aren't you?"

"Director, you can't say that," Zhou Xingxing said seriously. "I'm talking about cross-departmental talent support and collaboration."

Director Chen suddenly took out another document.

"Now that a preliminary agreement has been reached, I have a temporary advisory agreement for the joint research institute here."

Stephen Chow narrowed his eyes.

"Let me see it."