Ren Zhouyuan stared out the window for the entire trip, making it impossible for Leonid to start a conversation. After two hours on the road, they finally arrived at their destination. Both men sighed with relief as they got off the bus.
They each took their room keys and headed to their rooms. As Ren Zhouyuan reached his door, he was shocked to find that he and Leonid were assigned to the same room.
Leonid had anticipated Ron’s arrangement but feigned surprise. He opened the door and gestured for Ren Zhouyuan to enter first.
Feeling awkward, Ren Zhouyuan stepped inside and noticed the room had two separate beds. Although he was somewhat relieved it wasn’t a single bed, he was still far from happy about sharing a room with Leonid.
Leonid placed his luggage on one bed, sensing Ren Zhouyuan’s discomfort from the start. They hadn’t exchanged a word since entering the room, which left Leonid feeling a bit down.
After quickly organizing his belongings, Leonid stood up and asked, “Would you like to go out and take a look around?”
Ren Zhouyuan paused his busywork, looked up at him, and nodded.
The trip was organized as a site inspection of their soon-to-be-opened makerspace base. The hotel they stayed in was part of the facility, which was a large area owned by the company.
The base was about 80% complete, with numerous large technological devices. Compared to this, the equipment An An used in his classes seemed like child’s play.
Due to his previous work on papers, Ren Zhouyuan knew quite a bit about makerspaces. Seeing the equipment in person piqued his interest, and he momentarily forgot his awkwardness as he delved into his research.
Leonid watched Ren Zhouyuan’s reactions, feeling relieved to see him more relaxed. He guided Ren Zhouyuan through the space, showing him the larger equipment that piqued his interest.
The workers setting up the equipment were mostly Chinese and didn’t speak Russian. Leonid led Ren Zhouyuan to one of the robots, asking the worker about the progress.
The worker didn’t understand and looked to a colleague for help. Ren Zhouyuan ended up translating, learning more about the equipment and becoming more curious, engaging with each worker he encountered.
Sometimes, Leonid explained the purpose of various devices. He was well-versed in the field, knowing as much as the professors teaching the courses. When he didn’t know something, he listened intently to the installation workers, translating for Leonid.
Ren Zhouyuan’s genuine interest in the field stemmed initially from work, then from An An’s interests, and finally from his desire to understand what Leonid’s work entailed. The more he learned, the more fascinated he became.
Leonid’s explanations covered things Ren Zhouyuan hadn’t encountered in his research. He knew the operating principles of each piece of equipment and shared stories of foreign inventors and their creations, which only heightened Ren Zhouyuan’s interest.
By the end of the morning, their relationship had significantly improved. Ren Zhouyuan’s impression of Leonid changed. He had always thought of Leonid as cold and reserved, speaking only when necessary. But spending time with him revealed Leonid’s humorous and knowledgeable side, earning admiration.
Seizing the moment, Ren Zhouyuan asked a question that had puzzled him for a long time. “I’ve always been curious about Vichy’s business model. Your courses are priced so low, yet the equipment and faculty are world-class. These devices are incredibly expensive. How do you make money?”
Leonid found it amusing that someone as refined as Ren Zhouyuan would ask such a mundane question, finding the contrast unexpectedly charming. He smiled and tapped his temple with his finger, saying, “We make money with this.”
“Huh?” Ren Zhouyuan was confused.
Leonid led him to the drone section, handing him one of the drones being tested. “Do you know this drone? It’s the fastest in the world. Its creator founded a drone company at 18 and first encountered drones at 11.”
Ren Zhouyuan, knowing An An loved drones, was somewhat familiar.
Leonid shared more stories about inventions ranging from robots to drones, cars, and smaller innovations, most conceived by teenagers and brought to life by scientists.
Ren Zhouyuan began to grasp Leonid’s point but wasn’t sure.
Leonid took a VR headset, placed it on Ren Zhouyuan, and turned on the device, displaying an image of the human brain. Using a stylus, he dissected the brain model piece by piece.
“People generally believe that memory formation begins around 3.5 years old. At 5 or 6, children experience their first intellectual growth spurt. By 16, the brain is almost fully developed, reaching its peak around 20 before starting to decline.”
Leonid stood behind Ren Zhouyuan, his large frame enveloping him.
“We’ve found that children aged 5 to 18 are at their best in terms of creativity, imagination, and hands-on ability. They can think of things adults can’t. By providing them a platform, we can turn their ideas into reality.” He lowered his voice, making Ren Zhouyuan’s ears tingle. “We’re not just selling courses; we’re in the business of brains.”
Ren Zhouyuan stood there, speechless and amazed.
He had never thought about the human brain as a commodity. Indeed, the brain is invaluable, especially a child’s boundless imagination. Leonid’s business was transforming those ideas into tangible products.
Leonid removed the VR headset, casually patting Ren Zhouyuan’s back and motioning for him to continue exploring.
By the end of the day, Ren Zhouyuan felt his worldview had been turned upside down. Not only had his perspective on Vichy changed, but also on Leonid.
What Leonid was doing was significant, both for the company and the world.
As a businessman, Leonid aimed to turn children’s ideas into patents for profit. But there was no denying that transforming ideas into reality was crucial for societal progress.
It was no wonder top scientists stayed in this small place, teaching courses that outsiders saw as play. Vichy’s development had earned recognition from global authorities.
Returning to the hotel, the morning’s awkwardness had mostly dissipated. Ren Zhouyuan felt that what Leonid shared would be beneficial for his future writings. Taking advantage of the good start, he pestered Leonid for more insights into the company’s operations.
Leonid was more than happy to share. In his mind, Ren Zhouyuan was already his partner—it was only a matter of time. He answered Ren Zhouyuan’s questions extensively, seeing him unconsciously draw closer, which pleased him immensely.
Remembering Ron’s advice, Leonid subtly mentioned his views on child education, watching Ren Zhouyuan’s reactions. Satisfied with the effect, he continued the topic.
He wanted to ask about Ren Ju’an but feared ruining the good atmosphere. He decided to hold back.
Their conversation was undoubtedly enjoyable. Ren Zhouyuan never thought he’d have a day where he could chat freely with Leonid on equal footing.
Leonid was not only a good boss but, judging by his forward-thinking education ideas, perhaps an excellent educator.
Ren Zhouyuan even wondered if Leonid, sharing An An’s interests, might make a good father if he knew about An An.
But the thought was quickly squashed. He glanced at Leonid, sighing inwardly.
No matter how good this man was, if it ever came to a fight over An An, he wouldn’t back down!
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