I Have Decided to Go Look for My Father

Eighty projects made it into the first round.

During the open competition portion, each team had a total of 15 minutes for their demonstration. There would be no breaks in between and no extra time allocated for set up.

As such, there were two display areas on the left and right center of the venue. Those with odd numbers would head to the right side and even numbers to the left. After the first group on the right side was done, the following group on the left would start. So on and so forth.

The time that their previous team were presenting their project was the amount of the that the following team had in preparation, set up, and making their final adjustments.

Gu Xi took a photo of the venue and took another look at the messages in the Battle at the Summit of Tianchuang.

There was no messages in the group right now. Gu Xi was just about to text and asked about the whereabouts of the others when she heard a chime and a new message popped out.

[AAA]: I’ve checked out the venue as well as our wait area. I’ll send a photo when I get home.

[AAA]: I’ve also checked out the equipment on stage. They look fine. We have all the proper connectors and I have marked them all down as well.

Having said that, [AAA] shared a photo.

Subtext: You don’t need to check it out anymore. Just go home.

[Lin]: Where you at?

He think he was right earlier and that it was Sheng Xiuyan that he saw, but he had lost him after he had run after him.

[AAA]: I have something else that needed taken care of. Will see you later.

[Lin]: ?

Brother 3A did not say anything else after that, as though he truly had something else to take care of.

Over on this side, Gu Xi had already followed the crowd onto the stage.

As the purpose was to provide a complete demonstration platform for the teams, with the exception of the usual monitor and equipment for displaying PPT that Gu Xi were familiar with, there was also a huge console. It looked a lot like the one that [AAA] had posted in the group and much more complicated than the ones that she had seen in school in the past.

Gu Xi had wanted to study them more thoroughly, unfortunately, there were too many people there at this time so each individual had only very little time to get familiarized with the equipment. Gu Xi had no choice but did what [AAA] had done – took a picture of it for the time being.

Gu Xi, too, posted her photo to the chatgroup.

The one that [AAA] posted was from the left area and Gu Xi, the right.

All in all, the consoles for both sides were very similar with the exception of maybe the way that they were arranged.

Gu Yanlin lifted his brows when he saw the two photos.

[Lin]: A’right. Looks like you two got it covered. I’ll take off then.

He needed to look through the two consoles after he got home and do some final tuning to their prototype.

Seeing the responses from the other two, Gu Xi was a bit surprised.

That it?

[X]: So we won’t be meeting up today then?

[AAA] still did not respond. Lin, on the other hand, expressed casually: We can meet tomorrow during the event.

The three-people team had never met once. Their project was already 20% completed and they had yet to meet each other face to face. That, in an of itself, was odd.

Welp, another day or so wasn’t going to make much difference.

[X]: Alright then.

Gu Xi replied. Then, looking at the two mini ice-cream-cakes in her hand, she was a little disappointed.

She even brought gifts with her for her two teammates.

***

Gu Xi got up very early the next day for her competition.

Early in the morning, Gu Xi had been looking at Gu Shao with hope in her eyes.

Gu Shao found that comical and rubbed Gu Xi on her head while he made her a promise, “I need to take care of some stuff first. Then I will head over.”

“Really?!” Gu Xi’s eyes lit up.

“Yes,” replied Gu Shao.

Gu Xi’s eyes curved when she heard Gu Shao’s response and she was elated. “Then don’t forget to come, okay? It’s Hall #7 of CYC Center and we are in Area C2.”

Having said that, Gu Xi seemed to still be worried that Gu Shao would not be able to find the place and send the address to his phone in great details.

Looking at the text from Gu Xi, with lots of brackets telling him where to go, Gu Shao chuckled to himself: He was the one who picked the venue, of course he could navigate around it.

That, however, he did not tell Gu Xi.

“Good luck on your competition,” said Gu Shao as he patted Gu Xi on her head.

“Okay.” Gu Xi had a little bit of guilt. She felt that she was just the one tagging along in a competition of this caliber.