The press conference was in an uproar.
The audience sitting in front of their TVs, computers, and mobile phones watching the live broadcast of the press conference were also shocked when they heard the news that Lu Zhou would go to Mars in person.
Going to Mars in person?!
What is going on?!
"Academician Lu is going to Mars in person?"
"F * ck me, no way? He's really going?! "
"Absolutely … Academician Lu is probably joking, right? Although he's not that old, going to Mars is a bit too much. In my impression, only professional astronauts can adapt to life there. "
"No, God Lu, I beg you, just stay on Earth, okay?"
The discussion on Weibo had completely exploded.
The popularity of the topic was like a rocket, rising rapidly, surpassing the trending terms such as "Mars landing press conference".
It was the same on Twitter and Facebook, as well as YouTube and Power Station, which were broadcasting the live broadcast of the press conference. People expressed their shock in the comments section of the video and the bullet screen to express their disbelief about the news.
Although some people had speculated before that Lu Zhou's name would not be on the list that had not been released, in fact, most of these speculations were in a joking tone.
No one thought that Lu Zhou really planned to go to Mars by himself.
No one thought that the relevant departments would actually agree to his "willful" decision.
At the press conference, the noise almost overturned the ceiling of the No. 1 conference hall. The heated atmosphere made the entire press conference impossible to continue.
The staff desperately tried to maintain order at the scene, but the reporters at the scene were shocked by this explosive news. One by one, they burst out with 120% or even 200% enthusiasm, rushing in the direction of the podium.
"Professor Lu Zhou, is this a last-minute decision? Or have you been preparing for a long time! "
"Astronauts without professional training going to Mars, will they become a burden for frontline scientific researchers?"
"Have you considered the danger of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations? If they show aggressive behavior after seeing you, how do you plan to protect your own life? "
"I heard that you are engaged. Have you considered the feelings of your other half?"
"Will you return to Earth to get married? Or do you plan to have a wedding on an alien planet on Mars? "
Faced with the flood of microphones and questions, even Lu Zhou, who had seen many big scenes, felt his scalp tingle for a moment.
It is impossible to answer all the questions.
By the time the reporters finished asking all the questions, the second half of the press conference would have to be held in the evening.
Lu Zhou winked at the secretary standing next to Director Li, hinting him to take over his position. The secretary immediately understood Lu Zhou's meaning. After whispering a few words to Director Li, he quickly walked to the backstage lounge.
Seeing this, Lu Zhou cleared his throat and gestured for the reporters to be quiet.
Seeing that the situation was slightly under control, he took the opportunity to raise his voice and said loudly.
"Space travel itself is nothing to be afraid of. You don't have to worry about me."
"Even ordinary people with no foundation at all and average physical fitness can go to space to work and live after receiving simple training. This is not much more difficult than getting a driver's license. In fact, I only received less than a month of training. "
"I will prove this with my own actions."
"Next, let's invite our press spokesperson to announce the complete list of people for the Mars landing plan …"
After saying this, Lu Zhou retreated to the backstage lounge under the surprised and covetous gazes of the reporters. Director Li's secretary smoothly took over his position and pushed the press conference to the next stage.
The situation at the press conference was under control.
The reporters at the scene also calmed down one after another.
But everyone knew in their hearts that the heat caused by the news announced by Lu Zhou would not die down until the launch mission began.
Some people thought that his decision was too hasty, while others thought that this was a selfless scholar who made a choice between his own fate and the fate of mankind.
Some people said that this was a show to pave the way for his future political career. Some people even thought that Academician Lu was just angered by the reporter at the scene. In the end, he would definitely not really go.
When the time came, the leaders of the Mars landing office or the China National Space Administration would chase after Xiao He under the moon. Maybe Xiao He would find a way out.
Time passed day by day. Just when people were debating whether Academician Lu would take the risk to go to Mars personally, the day of departure finally arrived.
Looking at the live broadcast of the launch site, many people were surprised to find that Academician Lu seemed to be serious this time …
…
Jinling launch site.
The avant-garde Starlight stopped steadily in the middle of the runway.
One side of the runway was full of people.
Some of them were staff of the launch site, some were relatives and friends of colonists and researchers who were about to go to Mars and Guanghan City, and some were invited or volunteered to come here to see off the heroes of human civilization.
The atmosphere at the scene was extraordinarily quiet.
As if they were worried that the sadness in their hearts would spread to others, people quietly hugged their relatives and friends and exchanged blessings with each other.
Luo Wenxuan, who was already the chairman of the ILHCRC, looked at Lu Zhou with a heavy expression.
"I never thought that one day you would go so far."
Lu Zhou smiled and hugged his old friend. After that, he patted him on the shoulder.
"It's only tens of millions of kilometers, it's not that far."
Luo Wenxuan took a deep breath and looked at him solemnly.
"Take care!"
"Yeah."
A look was often enough for men to communicate with each other.
Saying too much would make one seem pretentious.
Walking away from Luo Wenxuan, Lu Zhou continued to look at the assistants and students who came to see him off. He looked at them and smiled.
"I'm ashamed to say this. You guys chose the number theory course because of me, but unfortunately, I couldn't help you much. I didn't even have much class time. At this moment, the only thing I can give you all is a blessing. "
Lu Zhou looked at Li Mo, who was standing among the students. He was the IMO champion that he poached from Yan University.
"Your mathematics talent is good, but talent alone is not enough. Perseverance is the cornerstone of the mathematics building. The former may only determine whether the road in front of you is smooth, but the latter is the root of how far you can go … Keep it up, there will be a place for you in the mathematics world in the future. If you have any questions, go find Professor Perelman. He looks like a loner, but he's surprisingly easy to communicate with. Even if it's a simple question, he will explain it to you in detail. You can ask him when I'm not here. "
"Professor …"
"Okay, if you're going to say something cheesy, please let me go."
Lu Zhou looked at Ji Mo's moved eyes and patted him on the shoulder. He then looked at Han Mengqi, who came to see him off.
When he looked at her, she was also staring at him.
"… Master."
She stared at Lu Zhou for a long time. In the end, she didn't want to say "brother-in-law". Instead, she spoke with a complicated mood.
However, the moment Ji Mo heard this, he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
What the hell?!
Isn't it bad to call him Master?
Why does it sound like I'm calling him Master?
Lu Zhou was used to being called Master, so he didn't have much of a reaction. He just smiled and spoke.
"You're also a talented student. I still remember the first time I taught you mathematics. You couldn't even solve an elliptic equation. However, in just two or three months, you've picked up all the content that you missed out on."
"I didn't expect you to embark on the academic path, but you proved yourself with your actions that you are indeed a scientist. It's not easy, 99% of people can't do it.
"I don't have anything else to guide you in terms of academics. You are a girl with your own opinions. Follow the path that you have chosen and keep moving forward."
Lu Zhou gave her an encouraging look. He then gave the same look to all of his students. He then walked next to his fiancée, Chen Yushan.
Chen Yushan's lips trembled as she looked at Lu Zhou.
Although the two of them sat on the rooftop balcony and chatted late into the night, they still felt that there was more to say.
She didn't know where to start.
Lu Zhou looked at her pretty face and went silent for a while. In the end, he didn't say anything. He closed his eyes and kissed her lips.
"I still have a lot … so much that I want to say to you, and I believe you do too. But I'm afraid time doesn't allow me to do that.
"But it's only been half a year.
"It's the same to say those things after I come back."
"Mhmm …" Her eyes swayed gently, like ripples on the surface of a lake. She stared at Lu Zhou for a long time before she said in a choked voice, "Me too … I still have a lifetime of things to say to you."
Lu Zhou gently pushed her bangs aside and took one last look at her. He then took the cabin helmet from the staff next to him and put it on.
He put his index and middle fingers together and made a salute gesture to the people who came to see him off. Lu Zhou resisted the urge to look back and strode toward the boarding ramp.
The hatch closed.
The ground crew began to evacuate the nearby crowd.
Blue plasma sprayed, igniting the air and melting the cement. The scorching hot air raged like the horn of an expedition. Together with the pairs of eyes that carried blessings and expectations, they pushed the silver-white bird forward, forward, and finally disappeared into the horizon.
Han Mengqi, who was staring at the clouds in the sky, whispered to herself.
"I feel like … Master went to a very far place."
"…"
Perhaps it was the telepathic connection between sisters, Chen Yushan also had a strong premonition in her heart. However, she couldn't say "yes" no matter what.
The throbbing in her heart stopped her, making her feel a slight tingling in her chest.
Chen Yushan gently clenched her right hand into a fist in front of her left chest as she silently prayed in her heart.
"You must be safe."
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