Chapter 202: A Precedent Cannot Be Set
"Really? I think so too. Captain Fang, is it safe to leave my bike here at the factory?"
Fu Mingxue asked.
After all, she’d spent a lot of time on the modifications.
"Don’t worry. As long as it’s inside the factory grounds, it’s safe."
’Once you leave the factory, though, all bets are off.’
"Alright, thanks."
Fu Mingxue hopped on her bike and rode off.
This time, Captain Fang got a clear look. Her bike could go surprisingly fast without her even having to pedal.
Another guard from the security department remarked, "Captain Fang, it looks like her bike’s been modified. That’s incredible!"
"Who are we talking about here? She’s brilliant. Modifying something like that is a piece of cake for her. Now, get back to your patrol."
When Fu Mingxue went to park her bike, she noticed that Xu Ming happened to be there too.
He had clearly arrived a moment before her.
Xu Ming saw her, too.
"Morning, Group Leader Fu."
Fu Mingxue was in a pretty good mood, so she greeted him back. "Morning."
Today, however, Xu Ming’s attention wasn’t on her. It was fixed on her modified bicycle.
He already knew Fu Mingxue had been tinkering with something.
And as of last night, he knew exactly what it was.
So here he was, bright and early—he had intentionally arrived ahead of time to wait for her.
"So this is the modified bike? Can I give it a try?"
His eyes were full of eager anticipation.
Fu Mingxue shut him down flatly. "No."
’She didn’t want anyone else riding something she’d ridden.’
Xu Ming hadn’t expected to be rejected. His eyes filled with disappointment. "Oh. Why not?"
"No reason. I’ll give you a demonstration, that’s it. Watch closely."
She twisted a device on the handlebars. "See this? This starts it. And this is the light—you just press here."
"Alright, demonstration’s over."
Fu Mingxue quickly locked up the bike.
Xu Ming: ...?
’He hadn’t even gotten a good look.’
’Why was Group Leader Fu so stingy?’
Unfortunately for him, Fu Mingxue paid him no mind and walked away.
’If she spent even a few more minutes with him here, who knew what kind of bizarre gossip would start spreading through the factory!’
The workday was as busy as ever. After all, there was a lot of data to verify on the new engine.
She just hadn’t expected Director Geng to come looking for her.
"Little Fu, how did the bike modification turn out?"
"It’s finished. It can reach a speed of twenty-five."
"Twenty-five? That fast?" Director Geng was shocked.
He hadn’t asked for details last time.
’He’d assumed it would be just a little faster than pedaling, at most.’
’The main benefit was just that it would be less work.’
He really hadn’t expected it to be that much faster.
"Oh, it’s alright. Twenty-five kilometers an hour isn’t that fast."
’In a later era, electric bikes could easily go forty-five or even sixty.’
Director Geng: ...?
’And that’s not fast?’
"In that case, can I try out the bike?"
Fu Mingxue: ...?
’Seriously? One after another...’
"The battery’s low. I have just enough charge to get home tonight."
"That’s no problem. You can just charge it a bit this evening. Besides, I just want to try it out."
Director Geng had never in his life seen a bicycle fitted with a motor.
So, he was dying to try it, especially after Fu Mingxue had just mentioned it could reach a speed of twenty-five.
Fu Mingxue saw there was no getting out of this.
So she took out the key. "I’ll go with you."
’She had to keep an eye on things. If he broke it, who was going to pay for the repairs?’
"Alright," Director Geng readily agreed.
However, when they got to the bike parking area, Fu Mingxue didn’t give him the key.
"Director Geng, it’s better if you just watch. I’ll ride it."
Seeing that Director Geng was about to open his mouth, she quickly cut him off. "My bike is the only one of its kind in the entire factory. Everyone’s curious. Letting you ride it wouldn’t be a big deal on its own, but what about everyone else? Do I lend it to them or not?"
"So, I’m not going to set a precedent. I’m not letting anyone borrow it for a ride."
Director Geng: ...?