Chapter 69 (2/2): Congratulations to our Mr. Zhong

“The red line is the training budget Kuncheng provided; the green line is actual training cost.”

She worked overtime every night, finding ways to reduce model energy consumption.

Du found it hard to believe. “Is this data real?”

After blurting it out, he hurriedly clarified, “President Zhou, I’m not doubting the data’s authenticity.”

“This data isn’t even satisfactory to Zhong Yi and Yan Tinglin; they’re still optimizing the model.”

Zhou Shiyi added, “You don’t know the pressure we’re under. Not only Zhong Yi knows, but Shao Jin An and Yan Tinglin do too.”

“They stayed up all night last night to find the cause of the crash—not just because the progress was behind, but because they worried about the pressure on me and you.”

Du opened his mouth, then was at a loss for words.

He unscrewed his thermos and drank several sips of warm water, calming the stir inside.

Having worked over thirty years, it was rare for anything to move him now.

“I don’t understand the technical details. How did President Zhong achieve a 35% reduction in training cost?”

Zhou Shiyi said, “Many aspects—it’s the result of collaboration between the two teams.”

He gave a simple explanation, knowing Du might not understand the technical terms.

“Yan Tinglin built the unit layer to support Zhong Yi’s dynamic sparse instructions.”

Du still didn’t fully grasp it, but it didn’t stop him from admiring the teams’ skill.

He recalled the first weekly meeting’s disagreements: the chip team couldn’t meet the algorithm team’s huge computing power needs and refused to reserve 20% programmable parts; the algorithm team naturally disagreed.

Yan Tinglin promised Zhong Yi that every problem would be solved.

After more than half a year, the initial conflicts were gradually resolved.

Zhou Shiyi finally spoke of Shao Jin An. “Yes, inviting them was costly, but there’s a reason. Shao Jin An’s simulation environment greatly reduces the cost of real vehicle test data collection.”

After reviewing the data analysis, Du nodded.

He capped his thermos and looked at Zhou Shiyi. “Regarding the Supercharging Network construction, you have my unconditional support.”

Zhou Shiyi smiled rarely at a meeting. “Thank you, Du. That’s the best news lately.”

He could have pushed the supercharging network construction unilaterally but chose to respect Du’s opinion, giving him time to consider.

After all, Du’s contribution to Kuncheng Motors’ current success was significant. They couldn’t hurt a senior’s feelings.

Du had spent the past six months traveling across Europe and America markets. As Zhou Shiyi said, to open overseas markets, building the supercharging network was key.

Zhou Shiyi said, “Then I leave the domestic and overseas supercharging network construction entirely to you.”

Du laughed and sighed, “Looks like retirement’s out of the question.”

“Fifty is still young. No time for retirement.”

Du laughed heartily, enjoying the compliment.

***

After ending the video meeting, Zhou Shiyi finally replied to Zhong Yi: [Just finished a meeting. You’re going back to the debugging center again?]

Zhong Yi didn’t reply.

Zhou Shiyi didn’t go to the lab to disturb them and had dinner plans with Ji Fanxing.

They had originally booked a restaurant downtown, but Ji Fanxing suggested eating in the Jinghe cafeteria since she’d be waiting for Shao Jin An to finish work.

The others were too busy at the lab for a proper meal and just packed a few portions; only the two of them ate in the cafeteria.

Zhou Shiyi mentioned the July wedding in Fengche Village. “I’ve sent you the footage.”

“No problem. It’ll definitely have a cinematic feel!”

“Will Shao Jin An come?”

“Of course, July is his summer vacation.”

Ji Fanxing talked about the best man. “Don’t mention how disappointed Yan Tinglin is that you didn’t invite a best man to your wedding. He wanted to be one but didn’t get the chance.”

Zhou Shiyi said, “No regrets. Let him be Shen Chi’s best man.”

“Shen Chi isn’t having a wedding.”

“Not having one?”

“Yes, I heard that. Zhang Nuoxu doesn’t want one. She says her bridesmaids are too smart—if Shen Chi can’t answer even simple questions during the wedding procession, it’ll be a lifelong psychological shadow.”

Ji Fanxing guessed that was just an excuse.

Shen Chi and Zhang Nuoxu had a grand engagement party; Zhang Nuoxu probably found managing so many people exhausting and didn’t want to hold another event.

“I think a small wedding like yours, with thirty or forty people, is perfect—meaningful and not tiring. When Shao Jin An and I get married, we’ll only invite our closest friends.”

Zhou Shiyi asked, “When will you two get married?”

“We’re still early,” Ji Fanxing smiled, “Just started dating, no rush.”

“Have you completely quit smoking?”

“Of course.”

Ji Fanxing raised her glass to clink with his. “Congratulations on both quitting smoking.”

She suddenly got curious. “Can I see your phone screen?”

“What’s so interesting about it?”

“Just a quick look.”

Zhou Shiyi unlocked it and held it out.

Ji Fanxing didn’t take it but leaned in to glance at the wallpaper—it was still that photo of Zhong Yi she had seen before.

It was as if time had come full circle.

Everything was back to how it had been.

She didn’t dwell on the wallpaper and changed the subject. “Are they testing again tonight?”

Zhou Shiyi locked his phone and placed it on the table. “No tests tonight, tomorrow night.”

But he still didn’t go to the night test the next day.

As the client’s boss, his presence would put invisible pressure on them.

While Zhong Yi prepared for the night test, he visited his in-laws to have dinner with them.

The past two days had been overcast; snow still lay unmelted on the bushes.

[You’re not coming to the debugging center tonight?] Zhong Yi messaged him.

His car arrived at his father-in-law’s yard, and as he got out, he replied, [Not going, something came up.]

Zhong Yi: [Okay, busy then. I’ll call you when testing’s done.]

With no time to think about what he was busy with, she shut off her phone and stood before the big screen, already connected to the Haicheng night testing site.

Haicheng was hot year-round. They chose to test today because of the heavy rain.

This was the first real vehicle test on unlit roads in harsh weather.

The shadow of the system crash two nights ago still lingered. As the car started, everyone in front of the screen held their breath.

The headlights lit up, and the test car slowly drove out of the underground garage. Zhong Yi finally relaxed.

In the pouring rain, the test car turned onto the planned route.

Apart from the lights, all around was endless darkness.

The system issued a warning—an obstacle detected ahead.

Zhong Yi stared at the screen; there was no obstacle—only shadows of trees by the roadside.

Yan Tinglin said, “The rain’s heavy; false positives are unavoidable. It’s okay, we’ll continue optimizing after the test.”

During the hundred-kilometer drive, the test car crossed numerous obstacles.

At the final test, a black sedan overtook from behind.

Due to the heavy rain and poor visibility, the rear car didn’t notice the vehicle ahead and was about to rear-end it.

The test car sensed the danger and sharply swerved right.

With the rear car braking hard, the screech of tires on wet pavement filled the air, and the test car narrowly avoided collision.

The test ended.

The results exceeded expectations.

Overwhelmed with emotion, they hugged each other.

Yan Tinglin said, “Congratulations, President Zhong!”

Zhong Yi smiled. “Same to you!”

She wiped at the corner of her eye.

Tang Nuoyun sighed and wiped her tears.

They had lost count of how many all-nighters and repeated reworks.

Nor how many times the boss’s jazz music had looped.

The test results showed: in extreme weather, the nighttime detection rate exceeded 98.8%, with a false positive rate of 1%.

Almost identical to the data from Shao Jin An’s simulation platform.

Previously, the lab detection rate might have been 98%, but real vehicle tests could drop to 88% or lower.

This time, the error between lab and real tests was nearly zero.

Zhong Yi extended her hand to Shao Jin An. “Professor Shao, it’s going to be even tougher from now on.”

Shao Jin An smiled. “That’s our duty.”

After shaking his hand, Zhong Yi turned to Yan Tinglin.

Yan Tinglin said, “No need to be formal. We’ll be working together for a long time.”

The model hadn’t yet undergone real road tests; detection and false positive rates hadn’t met the standards.

Chip design still required repeated optimization and adjustment before tape-out and mass production.

The road ahead was still long.

But the hardest phase of the project was finally behind them.

After calming herself, Zhong Yi took her phone outside.

The test had lasted nearly two hours.

Zhou Shiyi had already finished dinner with his in-laws and was discussing wedding details for July when his phone vibrated; he answered immediately.

“The test is over?”

“Yeah. Not bad.”

Her voice over the phone was filled with indescribable joy.

Zhou Shiyi smiled. “Congratulations to us, President Zhong.”

Zhong Yi said, “Where are you? I’ll come find you.”

They planned to celebrate properly tonight.

She had no time to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the server room; he hadn’t gone anywhere either, waiting for her downstairs in the car.

Zhou Shiyi said, “I came to see my parents and had dinner with them.”

“You’re at my place?”

“Yeah. You haven’t been back in a while, so I came to check.”

“Thank you.”

“That should be my line.”

Zhong Yi didn’t argue and asked, “Anything good to eat? Bring me some.”

Suddenly, she felt sleepy, tired, and hungry all at once.

Zhou Shiyi said, “Already packed. Dad had the chef make Dingsheng Cake.”

He didn’t linger, took the packed Dingsheng Cake, and drove back to the campus.

Last year on a snowy day when he left his in-laws’ home, he hadn’t seen her and felt some regret.

This year, on a snowy day, she was waiting for him.