Knock knock knock——
The sound of knocking came.
Xiao Shan jerked his head up and looked toward the visitor. Tea splashed onto the back of his hand, and he didn’t react at all.
“Director He, what is it?”
“Principal! We can’t stop them! You’d better go take a look! Those reporters have gone insane! Oh, and several old professors from Q University next door, they’re trembling at the school gate wanting to see Jiang Fuyue. I can’t persuade them, and it’s not good to block them…”
Director He was about to cry.
This whole week, Ming University had been like a roller coaster.
No, even more exaggerated than a roller coaster.
A roller coaster at least goes up and down, rises and falls. But this week at Ming University, there were only highs, no lows. Only rising, never falling.
In short, they were being blasted into the clouds by Jiang Fuyue’s three CNS papers.
It looked like they kept going higher and higher, but in fact their backs were suspended in midair. No one knew which second they would drop. At best they’d lose an arm or a leg, at worst they’d shatter into pieces!
The director panicked. He squeezed his way out of the pile of reporters and rushed to find Xiao Shan.
Xiao Shan took a deep breath, grabbed a napkin, and wiped the tea again from his hand—
Before, when they had no academic results, he worried.
Now that they did, and three dropped in one go, he somehow seemed even more worried. What was going on? “Here’s what we’ll do, Director He. First take those reporters to the tiered conference room and calm them down. I’ll be right there. As for those old professors from Q University… Elder Shen has class here today. Later, have him go receive them.”
“Okay.” Director He nodded. “And you?”
Xiao Shan gritted his teeth. “I’m going to find that slacker!”
“?” Who?
……
In the laboratory.
Xiao Shan blew in like the wind, almost knocking over a chair.
“Old Xu, where’s Jiang Fuyue?”
Xu Kaiqing glanced toward the sealed inner lab. “Just went inside.”
Xiao Shan: “……”
“When will she be out?”
“Don’t know. Probably half a day.”
“……” Xiao Shan rushed over like a storm, only to leave deflated. Better deal with those reporters first…
By evening, Jiang Fuyue came out of the lab.
Because her hands had been soaked in chemicals too long, even though she took protective measures, all ten fingertips had wrinkled.
She held out her hands and looked at them with distaste.
Her mind was already thinking about what protective material might work better. The next second, she suddenly lifted her eyes and saw Xiao Shan sitting in a chair, looking tired, as if he had been waiting a long time.
“Why are you here?” She walked toward him.
Xiao Shan stood up. “You finally came out…” He had already sent away the reporters, then the old professors from Q University, and then waited here nearly three hours before Jiang Fuyue emerged.
Half a day? More like most of the day!
Jiang Fuyue: “You needed something?”
“It’s already been a week. You’re not going to drop a few more CNS papers on us, are you?”
She smiled. “Guess?”
Xiao Shan: “……” No, I don’t want to guess.
“You think CNS papers are like cabbages?” You want one, you get one?
Xiao Shan: “Coming from you, aren’t they?”
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
“Jokes aside, seriously, those reporters can’t be held back anymore. Even if we send them away today, they’ll come again tomorrow. My suggestion is: accept the interview as soon as possible.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded lightly.
“Then tomorrow?” Xiao Shan probed.
“That’s fine.”
He exhaled in relief. “One more thing. A few old professors from Q University also want to come. They may ask you specific questions about those three papers. Do you want to agree or decline?”
Jiang Fuyue: “It’s fine. Let them come.”
Before leaving, Xiao Shan asked again uneasily, “There’s no fourth CNS, right?”
Jiang Fuyue curved her lips. “Does Principal Xiao want one, or not want one?”
Xiao Shan: “……” Question out of scope. Refuse to answer.
The interview was set for 10 a.m. the next day, and major media outlets moved immediately.
The number of professors coming from Q University far exceeded yesterday’s few. They practically filled the entire first two rows.
Xiao Shan clicked his tongue softly.
Director He, following beside him, quietly wiped sweat. “Our Ming University has never been this glorious.”
Yes, all eyes on them.
Xiao Shan: “The more it’s like this, the more careful we have to be. Not a single mistake.”
Director He nodded repeatedly. “Exactly.”
At ten in the morning, all invited guests arrived. The hall was packed.
Jiang Fuyue walked onstage.
The questioning officially began.
Reporters asked fairly routine questions, easy to answer. Jiang Fuyue handled everything with ease.
But once the professors began, the atmosphere naturally grew serious——
An old professor opened the paper and pointed at a particular argument. “In ‘Microglia-Mediated Forgetting Through Complement-Dependent Synapse Elimination,’ you mention…”
Jiang Fuyue listened carefully, then took out her iPad and opened the paper. “In 1856, German physician Rudolf Virchow observed…”
“As is well known, microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain, accounting for about 10% of brain cells. In the past, they were considered passive bystanders in the brain, acting only during injury or infection…”
Then another professor continued with his question.
Jiang Fuyue: “In eukaryotic cells, RNA polymerase II synthesizes three major classes of transcripts——polyadenylated messenger RNAs (mRNA), histone mRNA, and small nuclear RNA (snRNA)…”
“I attempted to reconstitute the active human histone pre-mRNA 3′-end processing complex, and used cryo-electron microscopy to resolve its structure at near-atomic resolution…”
She stood onstage, facing academic authorities, media reporters, and many attending students and teachers. Confident, composed, articulate.
Like a luminous being, impossible not to draw everyone’s attention.
It was supposed to be an interview, yet when reporters left, they felt like they had attended an academic lecture.
Something about microglia… something about RNA polymerase…
Their expressions remained dazed as they left.
Forget it. They didn’t understand.
The old professors from Q University, however, nodded repeatedly, discussing as they left, satisfied.
Zhou Zhengqi was among them.
He originally had no seat. His name wasn’t on the list from Q University either.
Halfway through the interview, he sneaked in like a thief.
Only to bump right into Xiao Shan.
“So it’s you, Principal Zhou.”
He coughed awkwardly to cover his embarrassment and skirted around the issue. “The old fellows came en masse. I wasn’t reassured, so I came to take a look.”
“Oh? I see…” Xiao Shan nodded.
He hadn’t said anything wrong, yet it sounded uncomfortable in Zhou Zhengqi’s ears.
“I’ll have you seated in the front.”
“Thank you.”
Thus, Zhou Zhengqi sat in the second row and witnessed Jiang Fuyue’s flawless performance as she responded to every question.
At that moment, he couldn’t tell whether he felt more envy or regret.
One wrong step, every step wrong.
He had offended Jiang Fuyue.
And Q University had missed a rare talent.
When leaving, Xiao Shan came out to see him off.
Smiling in a way that begged for a beating.
“Principal Zhou, take care. You’re welcome at Ming University anytime.”
Zhou Zhengqi: “……” Who wants to come here?!
And Zhou Zhengqi wasn’t the only one who secretly attended this interview.
Xu Kaiqing and Old Peter had also come.
Not exactly secretly, they just arrived too late and there were no seats left, so they had to stand at the back door.
As the session ended and Jiang Fuyue left, the two followed her.
Xu Kaiqing: “And you call that ‘not prepared’? Looked pretty prepared to me.”
Jiang Fuyue: “Who’s cooking? Such a strong smell of vinegar.”
Xu Kaiqing: “……”
Fine, he admitted it. He was just a tiny bit jealous.
He couldn’t blame himself for being this childish at his age. It was simply because Jiang Fuyue’s shocking talent was like having cheats turned on, anyone would be envious.
The longer you do academics and research, the clearer it becomes: hard work accounts for only one percent of success, and the remaining ninety-nine percent is talent!
The former could be achieved through effort, but the latter was innate. If you didn’t have it, you just didn’t.
Old Peter had been saying “amazing” all the way, nonstop, paired with various tones and exaggerated expressions.
“Oh, Chou, what research plans do you have next?”
Xu Kaiqing couldn’t help pricking up his ears.
Jiang Fuyue: “Haven’t decided yet. It might be γ, δ, T-cell detection of new mechanisms in cancer and infection, or key enzyme molecules regulating liver injury in NASH, or something else.”
Old Peter admired her openly. These were all hard bones to gnaw on. Normal people didn’t have the courage or ability to take them down, but to her, it was as simple as eating a meal.
At this, Xu Kaiqing became even more sour.
……
On the evening the interview ended, major media outlets reported the news that Jiang Fuyue had taken three CNS papers in a row.
Not only that, it even made central TV news.
This time, the internet completely exploded——
“Every time Sister Yue hits the trending list, it’s either some award or some competition she won. This time she’s even fiercer, directly throwing out three CNS papers and blinding all our 24K titanium-alloy dog eyes.”
“One word — legendary!”
“Suddenly thought of a meme: three CNS papers could buy three asses, cough cough!”
“Can the person above be a little less disgusting? My Sister Yue doesn’t need that! Thanks!”
“I used to think the only difference between me and my goddess was her beauty and interesting soul. Today I realized I’m still missing an IQ of 180.”
“If Sister Yue asked, ‘How do people die?’ I think in front of her there’s only one answer — from being stupid!”
“Doctoral student here, currently wrestling with CNS, dreaming day and night of getting one paper. Just one!”
“Same, I’m also a doctoral student. My hair has gone white from stress, still not as good as Sister Yue, an undergrad. Sob sob…”
“No, actually Sister Yue doesn’t even count as an undergrad. After all, Ming University isn’t an undergraduate school. Uh, seems it’s not a vocational college either…”
“Being rubbed into the ground by a ‘wild chicken’ with the devil’s pace.”
“Stop calling her a wild chicken, thanks. At this point, we’re not even as good as wild chickens.”
“Of Sister Yue’s three CNS papers, two are in biology and one in physics. I just want to know — what major is she even studying? How can she handle both bio and physics?”
“Same question!”
“Sister Yue is in Ming University’s Peiya Program. It promotes general education. Before confirming a specific direction, it seems they study everything: politics, economics, culture, math, astronomy, philosophy.”
“With Sister Yue’s IQ and learning ability, if she’s not decathlon-level, I’ll lose.”
“Just wait. Biology and physics are just appetizers. If one day Sister Yue says she’s going to study aliens in outer space, I won’t even be surprised.”
“Jiang Fuyue, a woman who cycles through every subject and leaves single-subject majors with nowhere to go~”
“Walk the path of everyone else and make everyone else have no path. Perfect!”
“Forgive me, but an octopus popped into my mind…”
“Our Sister Yue, beautiful and ruthless.”
“……”
With the online noise this huge, in real life, especially for people related to Jiang Fuyue, it was impossible not to pay attention.
Because even if you didn’t bring it up, others would talk about it.
First were Jiang Da and Han Yunru.
Jiang’s Private Kitchen’s official account received tens of thousands of @ messages overnight: some congratulating, some admiring, and others confessing.
Some netizens even started calling the Jiang couple “father-in-law and mother-in-law.”
When Cao Dou opened Weibo, his phone froze. After the flood of notifications loaded, he finally realized Jiang Fuyue was trending——
“Senior brother! Come look!”
Then Jiang Da and Han Yunru found out too.
The couple was happy, but far from ecstatic.
Cao Dou looked confused: That’s it? Shouldn’t they be jumping in excitement? Or screaming and hugging? At least crying with joy? Normal parents wouldn’t react this calmly seeing their kid achieve something like this.
Jiang Da scratched his head: “This… CNS… is it very impressive?”
Cao Dou immediately began passionately explaining.
They simply didn’t understand how incredible their daughter was but after hearing the explanation, surely they wouldn’t stay this calm?
However, Cao Dou was wrong again.
After listening, Jiang Da nodded, still smiling like always, without any great excitement.
He said, “I always knew Yueyue was amazing.”
Han Yunru nodded in agreement.
Cao Dou: That’s it?
Just then, Cao Sanpang came out calling them back because the kitchen and front desk were short-handed. The couple hurried off to their stations.
Cao Dou: “?” So the country bumpkin is me? He didn’t know that there was a kind of calm called being used to it.
No one knew better than they did how strong their daughter was. In every way!
At the same time, Linnan No.1 High School also received the news.
Not only that, the principal, Hu Yongwei, even got a congratulatory call from the Education Bureau——
“Old Hu, your school produced an incredible student!”
Ending the call, Hu Yongwei was filled with emotion.
He still remembered the day Jiang Fuyue stood before him exposing Li Xue’s misdeeds, her eyes firm, her expression calm.
That was the first time he truly looked at that student. It was as if he saw light and justice in her.
After that, she won awards in biology competitions, won gold in math olympiads, and advanced like she had cheats on, never again the ignored, unnoticed “transparent” student.
But her rebellious streak grew alongside her excellence.
She refused guaranteed admission, scored full marks on the college entrance exam, yet chose Qi Ming University.
Thinking of that year’s senior class with Jiang Fuyue in it still made Hu Yongwei’s heart race.
He used to regret it.
Missing B University and Q University meant not only missing a top-tier diploma, but also countless opportunities and resources.
Although he eventually chose to understand and support her, his heart was full of worry and regret.
Hu Yongwei believed that with Jiang Fuyue’s ability, she would definitely carve out a place for herself in the future.
But how long was “the future”?
Five years? Ten? Longer?
She originally could have taken a much easier path, saving time and effort, but instead…
Every time he thought about it, he couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing.
But no one could have predicted that the surprise would come so suddenly!
Three CNS papers!
Having gone through undergrad and grad school himself, he knew exactly what that meant.
Only now did Hu Yongwei realize he had underestimated Jiang Fuyue.
It wasn’t that the road was right so she walked it; it was because she walked it, that it became the right road!
……
Over at Xu Jing’s class, they were still in session.
While doing exercises, one student suddenly gasped sharply, and then the whole class erupted.
Xu Jing: “?” What happened?
“Teacher, did you used to teach Jiang Fuyue, Senior Sister Jiang?”
All the online reports were digging up Jiang Fuyue’s educational background. Linnan No.1 High School was on the list, and so was Xu Jing.
Xu Jing nodded: “Why are you suddenly asking this?”
“Wow——” The room erupted in amazement.
“I share the same math teacher as Sister Yue! I suddenly feel so lucky~”
“Then we’re her direct junior schoolmates?”
“……”
Chattering nonstop, full of excitement.
Seeing Xu Jing still confused, the class rep in the front row explained: “Senior Sister Jiang published three CNS papers at once! She’s incredible!”
Xu Jing didn’t care that it was class time, he immediately pulled out his phone.
Two minutes later——
“Why is it physics and biology?” Was his math not worthy?
Meng Zhijian and Yu Wenzhou were overjoyed.
Meng Zhijian: “Even though I’ll never publish CNS in this lifetime, my student did!”
Yu Wenzhou: “She’s also my student!”
Xu Jing: “……” D*mn it!
Meanwhile, Little brother Jiang, still in high school, was also receiving unprecedented attention.
But, having long been used to “big storms,” he no longer panicked or shrank back.
Deskmate: “Chenxing, your sister is too strong!”
Little Brother Jiang nodded: “My sister has always been strong.”
“I’m so jealous… I want a sister like that too.”
“Mhm, you can think about it. But my sister only has one little brother, me.”
Deskmate: “……” Infuriating.
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