“Don’t tell me it’s some shabby mud hut?” Zhou Zhengqi said with a teasing tone, turning to ask Xu Kaiqing, “You going?”
Xu Kaiqing carefully tucked the invitation letter away, and at Zhou Zhengqi’s words, shot him a sidelong glance. “Of course. What, you’re not?”
“I wasn’t planning to. There’s so much going on at the university. But since they’ve already sent over an invitation, it wouldn’t look good not to go. In that case, I might as well make the trip.”
Go see what kind of mess Jiang Fuyue is making and how she plans to clean it up!
These kids nowadays all think they can ride the wind and waves, but at the end of the day, what they really need is a good lesson.
Only when they hit a wall and take a hard fall will they finally learn pain!
“…Old Xu, don’t you agree?”
Xu Kaiqing only smiled without answering.
…
The day of the unveiling was blazing hot.
Inside the venue, however, the air conditioning was cranked to the max.
Although Ming University was widely known as a “diploma mill,” its educational level, faculty strength, and academic reputation far lagging behind neighboring Q University, there was one area where it completely outshone its rival—
The campus environment.
The fusion of Chinese and Western architecture bore both the marks of Huaxia culture and a sense of open modernity. The Western simplicity and elegance could be seen in every detail.
Even during summer vacation, cleaning staff swept the campus daily, keeping the grounds spotless and fresh.
The plane trees lining the roads were carefully tended, and the greenery across the campus was neatly pruned and arranged.
This was Zhou Zhengqi’s first time setting foot in Ming University.
He hadn’t expected that this so-called notorious diploma mill would actually look like this.
He refused to admit that the environment was good, and only said regretfully, “New, yes but it lacks historical depth.”
Still, he couldn’t help thinking to himself: No wonder our students always sneak over here to eat…
Xu Kaiqing didn’t bother responding.
Following the signs, the two of them entered the hall and immediately realized the scene was far grander than they had imagined.
The tiered auditorium was packed. Just the media section alone took up two full rows, cameras lined neatly in front, all aimed at the stage.
Reporters wore press badges and gripped their microphones, ready for action.
Zhou Zhengqi swept a glance over them and silently whistled—several major mainstream outlets were present. Though surprised, his face showed no reaction.
He and Xu Kaiqing found their seats marked with nameplates. Not bad, front row, center. That was practically the C position, wasn’t it?
Two minutes later, another group walked in.
When Zhou looked up and saw them, his eyes widened—
Qin Libin, Yan Zhenfeng, Sun Qun?!
Those were Q University people!
What were they doing here?!
And why were they all smiling so brightly?
Qin Libin clicked his tongue. “Tsk, tsk… Jiang Fuyue’s impressive. She hasn’t even started university yet and already has her own lab.”
Yan Zhenfeng sounded genuinely envious. “This level of plot armor, she’s basically a novel’s female lead.”
Sun Qun adjusted the wig on his head and, lowering his voice, asked, “What novel are you reading this time? Got a recommendation?”
“Ahem—After Rebirth, I Am the White Moonlight of All The Big Brothers, by Yu Ren. I’m telling you, it’s amazing!”
“Strong female lead?”
“Yup~”
“Stronger than Jiang Fuyue?”
Yan Zhenfeng thought for a moment. “About the same.”
“Heh, my type!”
“Then remember to support the official version—leave comments and send tips!”
Sun Qun curled his lip. “Do you need to remind me?”
Qin Libin gave him a look of disgust. Two grown men reading romance novels? Pathetic.
Still… he quietly memorized the book’s title. A heroine like Jiang Fuyue, huh?
Ahem. Sounds interesting…
“Principal Zhou? Professor Xu?” Sun Qun suddenly greeted.
Yan Zhenfeng and Qin Libin followed his gaze and quickly stood up to say hello.
“Professor, Principal Zhou, did Jiang Fuyue invite you too?”
Xu Kaiqing nodded.
Zhou Zhengqi cleared his throat and, as if casually, asked, “You all know Jiang Fuyue?”
Yan Zhenfeng said, “Of course. We were team leaders at last year’s IPhO. Jiang Fuyue was the biggest dark horse: perfect score, gold medal, plus the special award.”
“…Oh.”
“?” Why did Principal Zhou sound a little… muffled?
The three sat down next to him, and since the event hadn’t started yet and Jiang Fuyue hadn’t appeared, Sun Qun took out his phone to look up that novel.
Qin Libin leaned over to sneak a peek, thankfully Sun Qun’s font was large enough to read. He ended up reading two chapters over his shoulder, then silently took out his own phone…
Soon, another group arrived.
Zhou turned his head to glance over, just a glance, and froze again.
Yuan Bentao, Li Zhao, Xiang Pengyi, He Longchang—coming in together, chatting and laughing.
When they spotted him, they paused briefly.
“Principal Zhou, Professor Xu, you’re here too?”
“Jiang Fuyue really is something,” one of them said. “Even managed to invite these two big names.”
Zhou once again “casually” asked, “You all know Jiang Fuyue?”
Yuan Bentao nodded. “This year’s IMO, Li and I led the team.”
“And Professors Xiang and He?”
Xiang Pengyi replied, “We’re in charge of CMO training.”
“…” Was she trying to collect all of Q University’s math and physics departments in one go?!
Before long, another group came in, and Zhou’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
Thankfully, this time, they weren’t from Q University.
Still… they looked a bit familiar.
Then he saw Qin Libin stand up with a smile and greet them. “Professor He, Professor Wang, Professor Li—long time no see.”
After a round of greetings, Qin sat back down.
Zhou seized the chance to ask, “Who are they?”
“You don’t remember? Dean and Vice Dean of B University’s Computer Science Department, plus a professor from the Information Faculty. They gave a joint lecture at our school before, you were there too.”
Ah, that’s why they looked familiar!
“But what’s their connection to Jiang Fuyue?”
“Last year’s IOI—they were the coaches. Jiang Fuyue won gold.”
Zhou Zhengqi: “!”
Good grief—B University’s fallen too?
At 9:50, ten minutes before the unveiling, Jiang Fuyue walked in with old Peter, chatting as they came.
Peter looked elated, his tone effusive. “Oh! What a fascinating idea, you never fail to surprise me. Thank you for the invitation. I will give it serious thought.”
He opened his arms and gave her a polite, gentlemanly air-hug before taking a seat next to Xu Kaiqing.
“Cough! What are you doing here?”
Peter replied, “Because I have an invitation, of course. Oh, Xu, why ask such a foolish question? That’s not like you.”
Xu’s mouth twitched violently. He held it in.
“What were you and Jiang Fuyue talking about just now?”
Peter’s expression turned mysterious. He raised a finger to his lips. “That’s a secret!”
Xu Kaiqing: “…” His fists clenched.
What he didn’t realize was that the moment Peter Drucker appeared in the hall, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Before today, this world-renowned physicist was known to have cordial relations only with Xu Kaiqing and practically no interaction with any other peers.
Years ago, Zhou Zhengqi had tried to recruit him as an honorary professor for Q University, making several trips to California in person yet never even managed to meet him.
If not an appointment, at least a guest lecture, right?
Also rejected.
B University had made the same attempt, with the same result.
Since then, the academic community circulated the saying: “Drucker keeps people at arm’s length, he only acknowledges Xu Kaiqing.”
Neither of the two ever denied it, and over time, everyone believed it to be true.
Until just now when they saw Peter chatting and laughing with Jiang Fuyue.
So… he didn’t come for Xu Kaiqing’s sake?
He came for her?
The wave of revelations left Zhou Zhengqi reeling.
Just who was this Jiang Fuyue?
Xu called her a “friend,” reclusive Peter Drucker appeared to back her up, and Q University and B University professors alike were tripping over themselves to attend…
….
At 10:00 sharp, the unveiling ceremony officially began.
As president of Ming University, Xiao Shan took the stage to give a speech, then personally unveiled the aluminum plaque bearing six bold characters—
“Jiang Fuyue Laboratory.”
The lab was thus formally established.
Ten minutes later, its first research achievement was announced to the public—
“On the J-Equation and Deformation of the Supercritical Hermitian Yang–Mills Equation”
published in the latest issue of the world-renowned journal Advances in Mathematics.
In the editor’s commentary, the paper was described as:
“A groundbreaking discovery. Under stable conditions, it provides solutions to the J-equation proposed independently by Chen Xuxiong and Donaldson, as well as the deformation of the supercritical Hermitian Yang–Mills equation introduced by Yau and others, building a bridge between the Hermitian Yang–Mills and Kähler–Einstein equations.”
The hall fell into absolute silence—so quiet that the only sound was the soft click of a camera shutter from the front row.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat was in complete chaos.
The moment Jiang Fuyue finished speaking, the comment section exploded—
【Sister Yue yyds! (Forever Goddess Yue!)】
【Even at Ming University, my Sister Yue still shines bright—tremble, all you haters who mocked her before!】
【Come out and take your beating, thanks.】
【After seeing Sister Yue, I realize I’m just a placeholder in this world.】
【And ashamed even to be that placeholder.】
【Can someone explain what Mathematical Advances is?】
【Mathematical Advances is one of the world’s top journals in mathematics, on par with Journal of the American Mathematical Society, Acta Mathematica, and Annals of Mathematics. How hard is it for a domestic grad student to get published there? Let’s put it this way: if you publish even one paper, graduation is guaranteed; if there aren’t other outstanding contenders that year, “Excellent Graduate” is basically in the bag. That’s how badass it is.】
【As a math grad teetering on the edge of delayed graduation, I’m so jealous I’m mutating. Why don’t I have a paper in Mathematical Advances?】
【Male, 1.8m tall, good body, decent face, gentle personality, has abs, can cook, not asking for much—just want Sister Yue to guide me through an SCI paper. In return, I can devote my body and soul~】
【Duck cage warning! (meaning: get this flirt outta here!)】
【I suspect your goal isn’t SCI but seducing Sister Yue.】
【Male, 1.9m, strong waist, long legs, V-shaped torso…】
【Male, 1.75m, acrobat, flexible, easy to push down…】
【Me…】
【Uh, sorry to interrupt, folks, we’re getting off topic. All ducks disperse! Let’s continue with the rainbow farts~】
【I’ll start: Sister Yue is supreme!】
【I’m the denominator in this world, Sister Yue is the only numerator!】
【Successfully experiencing the unevenness of the world.】
【It’s fine, I’m just here to make Sister Yue look even better~】
【No wonder my mom says sometimes the gap between people is greater than the gap between people and dogs.】
【Ming University, please treat my Goddess Yue well—she deserves it!】
【I’m tired of saying the word “excellent.”】
【Honestly, I can’t even understand the title of her paper.】
【Same here—only name I recognize is Yang Zhenning [smile].】
【Writing a book called The Life of a Slacker Among 1.4 Billion Chinese People, gifting it to myself.】
【Then I’ll write The Life of a Poop Machine.】
【As a third-year student whose only skill is eating, I silently let my tears fall into my lunchbox.】
【Suddenly, Ming University feels cuter—because my Sister Yue’s there.】
【Can’t bear to call Ming University a “chicken school” anymore. After all, how could a woman as strong as Sister Yue belong to a chicken school?!】
【Please let Ming University instantly become a tiger, thanks.】
【Come on, Ming Cubs! Since the Goddess Yue chose you, don’t drop the ball!】
【Let’s goooo, little Ming!~】
Sometimes, you start liking something you used to hate for no special reason—
just because you love the person connected to it.
Because of Jiang Fuyue, even Ming University suddenly looked more “refined and elegant.”
Xiao Shan stared at the flood of positive comments and encouragement in the livestream chat, and his eyes suddenly grew hot.
During his months as president, he had seen countless attacks: online, on TV, and from clickbait media accounts smearing Ming University, tearing down what was once a proud and prestigious school.
He had tried to explain, but one person’s voice was too small. It was all in vain.
He had felt discouraged, even defeated, but never thought of giving up.
And now, finally, he saw hope!
“President! Our official account’s followers are up! Look—”
Xiao Shan took the phone. The follower count had shot up from under ten thousand to over a hundred thousand. The pinned post’s comments had jumped from a few dozen to over a thousand, and the likes had grown by hundreds of times.
The assistant’s voice trembled, lips quivering: “D-does this mean we’re…popular now?”
“Yes!” Xiao Shan replied firmly. “Good work.”
He patted the assistant’s shoulder.
The assistant nearly cried. After enduring so much discrimination, Ming University could finally hold its head high again!
And all because of the woman on that stage.
Xiao Shan’s gaze burned.
Sensing something, Jiang Fuyue turned her head.
Their eyes met. He nodded slightly and made an “OK” gesture—
meaning: everything’s going smoothly, all according to plan.
Yes—today’s inauguration ceremony might look like a simple announcement of a new lab, but in truth, it was also the first step in changing public perception!
…..
Meanwhile, the scene below the stage was just as lively.
Yuan Bentao reacted first: “Old Li! You see that? She really did it!”
Li Zhao’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Yes. She did.”
They had witnessed the birth of this paper’s prototype at the IMO competition—how it had stunned the exam committee and secured the gold medal and special award without dispute.
Back then, Jiang Fuyue had said she’d organize the derivation process into a formal paper and submit it to Mathematical Advances.
Yuan Bentao thought she was just talking big or at least that it would take a long time to actually happen. Yet now, the results were right before them.
Xiang Pengyi: “That speed is insane.”
He Longchang: “No ordinary person could pull that off.”
How long had it been since the IMO ended?
Less than half a year.
And in that time, Jiang Fuyue had achieved what many could not in ten years.
It was effort but also genius.
And genius is something mysterious and unattainable.
Xu Kaiqing led the applause; old Peter lifted his hands almost simultaneously.
Soon, thunderous applause filled the hall.
Yan Zhenfeng clapped until his hands went numb, old eyes gleaming with tears—more excited than if it were his own research being recognized.
Qin Libin clapped while staring at the big screen. “Do you even understand any of that?” he asked.
Uh—
Yan Zhenfeng: “…Not really.”
Sun Qun’s palms were already red, but he kept clapping as hard as he could. “We’re physicists; we don’t have to understand it. We just need to know it’s damn amazing.”
Qin Libin: “…Fair point.”
Meanwhile, the three professors from B University were just coming back to their senses—
“Math and physics both have papers now. Does that mean it’s our turn next, for informatics?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised. After all, she’s Jiang Fuyue.”
For her, there’s no such thing as impossible, only unimaginable.
Zhou Zhengqi, on the other hand, was completely dumbstruck.
The moment Jiang Fuyue announced her latest paper, he froze, unable to believe his eyes.
She actually published one?
But she just graduated high school! She hasn’t even started university!
How was that possible?
And when he looked over at Xu Kaiqing and old Peter, neither of them seemed surprised at all.
Yuan Bentao and Li Zhao were excited, yes, but not shocked, just filled with admiration and pride.
Which made him the odd one out.
But seriously, no one told him high schoolers could publish in Mathematical Advances!
Even after the ceremony ended and they moved on to the lab tour, Zhou Zhengqi still hadn’t recovered from his shock.
Led by Jiang Fuyue, the group marched grandly toward the next destination.
If the earlier ceremony was just an appetizer, then the tour ahead was the true main course—
The lab might have been officially inaugurated, but what did it actually look like? How was it laid out?
No one knew.
“Old Peter, why are you so excited today?” Xu Kaiqing asked suddenly.
Peter halted mid-step, pulled his foot back, and said lightly, though his eyes still gleamed with excitement, “Excited? I don’t think so.”
He spread his hands and shrugged.
Xu Kaiqing gave him a doubtful look.
But Peter’s heart was filled with anticipation.
Chou had said that every lab in the new research building would be built to the same specifications as this one.
Chou: “…You’re the first person I’ve invited.”
Peter: “What about Xu?”
Chou: “I haven’t told him yet.”
And from that moment, Peter had been like a man injected with pure adrenaline.
That feeling of “I have it, and others don’t”? Absolutely exhilarating.
Xu Kaiqing: “?” This guy’s acting weird.
Peter flashed him a bright smile.
Goosebumps crawled up Old Xu’s arms; he quietly stepped back.
Peter: “?”
Meanwhile, Yuan Bentao and Li Zhao were also filled with anticipation.
Yuan Bentao: “I heard this is an interdisciplinary lab? I’m dying of curiosity.”
Li Zhao glanced around. “You think anyone here isn’t curious?”
Yuan looked—everyone’s necks were craning forward like giraffes, eager to see.
Even their own president was no exception.
Elsewhere, Yan Zhenfeng, Qin Libin, and Sun Qun were having their own discussion.
Sun Qun: “…These are just rumors, but Jiang Fuyue probably built this lab because Q University refused to lend her the A3 research area.”
Qin Libin clicked his tongue. “Classic her—couldn’t borrow it, so she built her own. But still…”
“But what?”
“The timeframe’s too short. She probably couldn’t get much done. Of course we should support her, but let’s not expect too much.”
He suspected the lab was just a pretext—her real goal was announcing the paper publicly for the media.
And now that they were heading for the lab visit, the media had all been dismissed.
They didn’t know that was because Jiang Fuyue herself had insisted the media stay out.
Which, unintentionally, caused this misunderstanding.
Yan Zhenfeng nodded. “Understandable. It’s been too short a time. Let’s not act too surprised later—remember, keep our expressions in check.”
Both men nodded solemnly. “Got it.”
As for Zhou Zhengqi—
Before he came to his senses, he was walking in a daze. After he did, he calmed down bit by bit.
Especially after hearing Qin Libin say, “She probably couldn’t build anything meaningful… don’t expect too much,” his steps steadied.
Right. How could she have built a real lab in such a short time?
It was probably all for show—just a flashy way to present her paper. Too young, playing these little tricks with everyone.
“We’re here.”
Jiang Fuyue stopped walking. Everyone looked up—
And in the next second, their eyes widened in shock.
