Chapter 32.2
Within five minutes, Qi Yan found the answer from the Roentgen Foundation’s intranet.
“After our successful submission, the Roentgen Foundation did receive it, but at ten o’clock the next morning, our submitted work was deleted.”
Ye Pei tapped her fingers around her hairline. “Can you identify who deleted it?”
“The person who deleted it has administrator privileges.” Qi Yan entered a string of commands, delving into the surveillance system of the Roentgen Foundation’s office area, and found the video footage of the person who deleted their submission.
Ye Pei looked at the person in the video. “I know this person. He’s the executive director of the Roentgen Foundation. His photo is in the front row on the official Roentgen page.”
She frowned, her gaze sharp. “So it was the executive director of the Roentgen Foundation who deleted our submitted work, yet when we inquired, they accused us of not submitting it? Huh, talk about shifting blame and evading responsibility.”
Mondrian looked at the video footage. “Why do you think they deleted our work?”
“We were in their way.” Ye Pei wasn’t naive. She had always trusted the Roentgen Award, but she analyzed, “Everyone can see the difference in quality. If we had entered the selection process, even if they didn’t give us first place, they would have to give us second. Otherwise, their touted fairness and impartiality would be a joke. So the best solution was to simply delete our submitted work without anyone noticing.”
If it weren’t for Qi Yan’s insistence, perhaps this matter would have blown over smoothly.
Mondrian: “We’ve seen the winning works, and their quality is fine.”
Ye Pei fretted again. “Yes, indeed, they are all fine.”
Lu Fenghan, who had been observing silently, said, “Isn’t it strange that if everything is fine, it becomes the biggest issue?”
Ye Pei turned to him. “What do you mean?”
“Since the people behind the scenes clearly wanted to kick you out, it indicates that the prize you would have received is the one they wanted. Therefore, we can tentatively conclude that it’s one team for the first prize and two teams for the second prize.”
Seeing both nodding, Lu Fenghan continued, “Furthermore, why are the people behind the scenes so confident that once they remove you, they’ll secure the first or second prize? Even Professor Fu was certain that without a dark horse, you would get first place.”
Seeing Mondrian deep in thought, Lu Fenghan pressed on, “Because the people behind the scenes are sure that their submitted work will definitely win, and the quality of their work won’t be questioned.”
He stopped there. “Eliminating competitors, ensuring victory, avoiding scrutiny—the person behind this is very cautious.”
Ye Pei suddenly looked up. “So—”
On the evening of October 21st, the sky in Leto had not yet darkened.
In the Riche Music Hall, Jiang Qi, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, was being led by Jiang Yunyue to greet and chat with people.
Jiang Yunyue draped a handmade solid-color shawl, her elegantly simple dress accentuating her graceful figure, exuding an air of refinement cultivated by wealth and the passage of time.
After exchanging greetings, Jiang Yunyue led Jiang Qi into the venue. “Look, what’s meant to be yours will always be yours. Whether it’s the Roentgen first prize or the Qi family’s asset.”
Jiang Qi struggled to conceal his excitement, but due to his young age, his control over his emotions was still lacking, evident at a glance.
Jiang Yunyue didn’t blame him, just gently reminded, “Follow what Mom said, and you won’t go wrong, okay?”
“Yes!” Jiang Qi held onto Jiang Yunyue’s arm, elated. “Dad isn’t in Leto, but the gift he promised me is already at home.”
He asked again, “Mom, what about those guys on my team?”
Jiang Yunyue lifted her eyes, then timely advised Jiang Qi, “There wasn’t much to begin with, so give it all to them, let them remember your kindness.”
Jiang Qi remained silent.
Jiang Yunyue already knew without asking. “Are you thinking about sending them away from Leto directly, or perhaps even out of the Central Region?”
Jiang Qi didn’t respond, simply nodding silently.
“You,” Jiang Yunyue was patient, explaining in detail, “They promised to cooperate with us because they either want to work in the Qi family’s industries in the future or seek a good path for themselves. They definitely won’t talk about this incident to others, so you need to keep them close. They might even become allies in the future. If you send them away, they might hold a grudge against you and cause trouble. Some people are like that. You need to keep them in your hand to stay safe.”
After listening, Jiang Qi realized he had been too narrow-minded. He quickly assured her and asked, “Mom, after this incident, will Qi Yan really humble himself and come home for dinner?”
“What do you think?” Jiang Yunyue’s speech was steady, showing no hint of emotion. “After this incident, he’ll naturally understand that having power and backing is always beneficial. Standing alone is precarious. People look out for themselves. He’s not stupid. He’ll know what’s best for him.”
Lin Zhi’s son?
He was currently being trampled under her son’s feet.
Jiang Qi couldn’t hide his smile. “When he comes back, can I ask him to pour me some water?”
It would be quite amusing to see someone like Qi Yan serving tea and water with a restrained expression.
“You’re still such a child.” Jiang Yunyue chuckled. “Once or twice is fine, just don’t let your father catch you.”
Jiang Qi nodded obediently. “Got it!”
At seven in the evening, the award ceremony officially began.
The holographic images refreshed the dome’s decoration. After the speech from the executive director of the Roentgen Foundation, a representative of the Roentgen Award jury took the stage to introduce the winners and their achievements.
Jiang Qi heard his name mentioned by the representative, echoing through the ears of everyone present.
This must be what it feels like to stand on the pinnacle of honor, right?
Everyone praised him, acknowledged him, greeted him with smiles, and showered him with approval.
Nervously adjusting his collar, Jiang Qi smiled, silently reciting the acceptance speech prepared for him by Jiang Yunyue.
Starting from the third prize, winners one by one went up to the stage to receive their awards, accompanied by rounds of applause. Finally, after the representative introduced the work that won the first prize, thunderous applause erupted in the venue. Jiang Qi breathed a sigh of relief and walked up to the stage with his teammates.
An elderly man with gray hair handed them the Roentgen Award trophies one by one.
Under the silent gaze of the entire audience, Jiang Qi held the trophy and stood in the center of the stage, representing the entire team to deliver the acceptance speech.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you—”
Just then, someone in the audience made a “halt” gesture towards him.
Jiang Qi paused mid-speech, exchanging a puzzled glance with his teammates, none of them understanding what was happening.
The venue gradually filled with low murmurs.
Half a minute later, the door on one side of the audience opened, and a tall middle-aged woman walked in. Jiang Qi followed the gaze of the crowd and felt his smile freeze on his face. Following behind that woman were Qi Yan, Ye Pei, and Mondrian.
What were they doing here?
Jiang Qi’s eyelids twitched, but he maintained his smile, reassuring himself that their presence wouldn’t change the outcome. Besides, did they not realize the nature of this event? Their attire was too casual, clearly unfit for such an occasion.
He glanced in the direction of Jiang Yunyue, repeatedly reminding himself that there was no need to be afraid.
The middle-aged woman at the forefront stepped onto the stage, connecting her personal terminal to the sound system, amplifying her voice for everyone to hear.
“Good evening, everyone. I am Irene Jorio, a member of the Academic Arbitration Committee. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am compelled to interrupt the proceedings of this award ceremony.” Irene looked at the five individuals holding trophies, then turned her gaze to Qi Yan and the others in the audience. “Ye Pei, Qi Yan, and Mondrian, second-year students of Turan Academy, have filed an academic inquiry with the Arbitration Committee, challenging the academic integrity of the first prize winner of the Roentgen Award. The Committee has approved their request.”
After a few silent seconds, the venue erupted in a commotion.
Given the Alliance’s emphasis on scientific research and its strict penalties for academic fraud, the Academic Arbitration Committee was established to handle disputes related to academic matters.
Now, Irene announced that the Committee had approved the academic inquiry, indicating that there might be some issue with the recipient of the first prize.
Jiang Yunyue’s lips still wore a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Jiang Qi on stage was already breaking out in a cold sweat.
The Academic Arbitration Committee? How could Qi Yan dare!
Meanwhile, Irene stepped aside, and Qi Yan, Ye Pei, and Mondrian stepped onto the stage.
Before going on stage, Ye Pei whispered, “This award ceremony is being broadcasted on the Starnet, right? Oh no, the entire Alliance is about to see my dark circles and dry skin. This will definitely be the black history of Miss Ye Pei’s life!”
In search of evidence to validate their suspicions, the three of them had worked tirelessly since the 18th, day and night, until this afternoon. After confirming the evidence, they rushed to the Academic Arbitration Committee, got their application approved, and then hurried to the awards ceremony venue.
They had barely made it.
Stepping onto the stage and connecting their personal terminals to the sound system, Ye Pei didn’t waste any time with pleasantries. “We believe that the work you submitted is suspected of academic fraud.”
Stanley, a fourth-year student on the same team as Jiang Qi, sneered, “Questioning others’ academic integrity, if you can’t produce concrete evidence, you could be charged with defamation. Think carefully before you speak.”
Ye Pei felt like she was about to die from staying up all night, but even if she really died, she would peel off these people’s thick skins before she went.
Qi Yan, standing in the middle, spoke up, getting straight to the point. “The source architecture of the work you submitted involves parallel computing and real-time processing. First question, why were three fixed values set for the built-in formula responsible for PAPO?”
Stanley scoffed, “Do you even know what academic inquiry is, or do you think it’s just a simple game? This question is too easy. The reason PAPO’s built-in formula sets three fixed values is because if two of those fixed values were changed to random introduction values, it would cause matrix chaos.”
Qi Yan paid no attention to his sarcasm and asked the second question, “Why would two random introduction values cause matrix chaos?”
Stanley grew impatient. “Are you done yet? When all three values are fixed, it ensures that each task in the matrix has the same computational load. When the proportion of tasks with consistent computational load exceeds ninety-five percent, the actual acceleration can exceed twentyfold.”
After answering, he deliberately taunted, “You’re still in your second year, right? Do you want your seniors to teach you what a task matrix is?”
Jiang Qi joined the others in laughter.
Qi Yan remained unfazed, continuing amidst their laughter, “The third question, how was the second fixed value, SE=81.927, calculated?”
Jiang Qi’s smile gradually faded in Stanley’s silence.
Stanley didn’t respond.
Qi Yan looked at Jiang Qi, “The report submitted indicates that you were responsible for the data section. Can you explain how the second fixed value, SE=81.927, was calculated?”
Jiang Qi had no idea what Qi Yan was talking about!
The content of the submitted work was too difficult for him. He couldn’t even manage to read through it once because he simply couldn’t understand it.
His lack of concern stemmed from the fact that the actual architect of the work had explained every detail thoroughly, ensuring that Stanley and the others understood everything clearly.
He couldn’t understand why Stanley was dropping the ball here.
There was already some murmuring among the audience. Irene remained serious from start to finish, her gaze sharp.
At this moment, Jiang Qi’s heart pounded like a drum, each beat thudding against his eardrums. Eeven his breathing became stifled.
He felt as though he saw everyone’s eyes in the room piercing through him, each person silently mocking him!
Without receiving an answer, Qi Yan continued his questioning, “The fourth question, how was the third fixed value, PE=0.7691, calculated?”
Cold sweat trickled down Stanley’s temples.
He didn’t calculate this at all. How would he know why the original architect chose this number? Moreover, after submitting the results, all they needed to do was wait to receive their award. Who would delve into how this number was calculated?
As Stanley remained silent, the chatter in the room gradually grew louder, to the point where the jury had to request “quiet.”
Qi Yan showed no arrogance or mockery. His expression remained as calm as ever. “The fifth question, under parallel computation, the completed task matrix waits for the remaining unfinished task matrix to finish computation, thus, the final calculation speed depends on the last completed task matrix, correct?”
Stanley’s fingers trembled, his throat dry as he replied, “Yes.”
Qi Yan continued, “So…”
Stanley clenched his fists tightly, even feeling a sense of dread about what Qi Yan would say next.
“Could you please explain why, at this point, you introduced the Appleton formula as the processing benchmark?”
Stanley’s brain was in a state of extreme tension. He vaguely remembered hearing the term “Appleton formula,” so he nodded laboriously. “Yes.”
Qi Yan: “Why use the Appleton formula here instead of the Herman formula as the processing benchmark?”
“The Herman formula?”
Beads of sweat dotted Stanley’s forehead as he repeated the unfamiliar term “Herman formula” several times. Finally, he gritted his teeth in frustration. “I have no idea what the Herman formula is!”
Qi Yan pointed out calmly, “You don’t know? But the alias for the Appleton formula is the Herman formula.”
Stanley’s expression froze.
Jiang Qi: “You’re playing with words! Not knowing the alias of a formula doesn’t prove anything!”
Qi Yan: “Then can any of you explain why the Appleton formula was introduced here as the processing benchmark?”
Silence filled the room.
One minute later, Qi Yan spoke again, “I asked about the three fixed values set by the PAPO built-in formula and the introduction of the Appleton formula, which are the core points of your submitted work’s architecture, but none of you could answer the relevant questions.”
He turned to Irene and said, “I believe there is no need to continue this academic inquiry.”
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Thanks for the chapter!