55: Chapter 55 Doraemon Wang Shuo?

"What's wrong?"

"I just finished analyzing the performance of this system in front of my proudest student and reached a conclusion, and you immediately hit me with a set of high-sounding terms. You're doing this on purpose to make me look bad, aren't you... But, well played."

Professor Zeng offered a faint smile; he loved students with such unbridled imaginations.

"Student Wang Shuo, I think I just heard you say something about three-dimensional digital computing?"

"And nanometer digital sensors," Teacher Ding Runan added with certainty.

"Molecular processors?"

"Angular momentum pulse motors."

Watching the two of them, who seemed to have transformed into curious babies, Wang Shuo forced an ugly smile.

"Um... Professor Zeng, Teacher Ding, if I told you these were all fake, just something I dreamed up, would you believe me?"

Both of them shook their heads simultaneously.

"We don't believe you."

Wang Shuo: "..."

Several hours later, when Wang Shuo walked out of the experimental building, he felt his legs going a bit weak. This was normal; anyone who hadn't eaten for two meals and had spent several hours on intense mental activity would feel physically drained.

Wang Shuo turned back and looked at the laboratory on the third floor, where the lights were still on, and couldn't help but shudder.

That old man and that young woman had a truly terrifying desire for knowledge.

They had first confirmed the authenticity of his mutterings without a moment's hesitation, giving him absolutely no chance to explain himself. Then, they had shamelessly pestered him for details about the system's knowledge structure and implementation ideas. Even though Wang Shuo had tried his best to select parts that aligned with current technological levels, it had still lasted for a full four hours.

In the end, Professor Zeng simply waved his hand, called everyone in the lab inside, and blocked the door, calling it "attending a lecture for advanced study." He even spouted things about how "the learned one is the teacher" and that there was no need to distinguish by age.

He was just a lowly freshman; was all this really necessary? Who was the professor here, him or me?

He complained silently to himself, but looking at all the eyes staring at him and recalling what the old professor had said, the words of refusal just wouldn't come out.

Sigh, it was all because he was too soft-hearted; he was so easily swayed by noble sentiments.

What else could he do? He just had to keep talking. If they could actually research something based on what he said, he would just consider it his contribution to building the motherland.

And so, a strange scene appeared in the experimental building.

Six young people and one Middle-aged man were huddled in a circle in a cramped suite, while a much younger young man in the middle was speaking eloquently and incessantly, and to his surprise, the people around him were nodding along.

Wang Shuo hadn't wanted things to turn out like this.

So, after four hours of non-stop talking and after declining Professor Zeng's invitation to join the research group, Wang Shuo fled the experimental building as if he were flying.

He swore that this place was too terrifying; he would rather face the cold-hearted Zero and Chen Xin than ever come back to give another lecture.

Upstairs, Teacher Ding Runan stood by the window, watching Wang Shuo speed away, her teeth slightly clenched.

"Runan, this student of yours... is very interesting," Professor Zeng's voice came with a smile.

"Teacher, he clearly wasn't telling the truth," Teacher Ding Runan said fiercely. "Things like the three-dimensional digital computing design, nanometer digital sensors, processors, and so on—he didn't mention a single one of those important things."

"It's normal that he didn't," Professor Zeng said nonchalantly, his tone gentle. "Everyone has their own secrets, and there's no need for us to probe too deeply. I can understand it as him not having thought it through completely and only having a rough idea; I can also understand it as him having no concrete ideas and just talking off the cuff; I can even interpret it as him bragging. But regardless, today's conversation has been an eye-opener and I've benefited greatly. Many problems I've been thinking about now have some leads. It's just a pity he didn't agree to join my research team."

Professor Zeng shook his head with some regret.

"Teacher, with your status, if he really has value, you could completely force him to join. Why did you..."

Teacher Ding Runan's voice was filled with confusion.

"Everyone has their own interests and freedom; there's no need for us to force him. Wang Shuo already has wings; why should we lock him up?"

Has wings? Teacher Ding Runan opened her mouth, "Are you talking about the system he designed? Is that thing very important?"

Professor Zeng chuckled, "It's more than just important; calling it paramount wouldn't be an exaggeration. Just you wait; this student of yours will soon step into the ranks of the wealthy."

Turning back, Professor Zeng looked at Teacher Ding Runan, who had her mouth wide open in disbelief, and laughed, "Runan, you should look outside as well. Don't always stare at your own little patch of mechanical intelligence. The world is big, and there are many interesting things; you should try to learn about them."

Teacher Ding Runan lowered her head upon hearing this; she had heard such words from her teacher many times, but... if she couldn't even achieve anything in the field of intelligence, which she was most familiar with, how could she spare the mental capacity to learn about other things?

"Knowledge is the most incredible thing in this world. Even if you have learned a lot, when you encounter new knowledge, you will still feel how ignorant you are. I am already old and cannot compare to young people. Sometimes a flash of inspiration from a young person is worth more than my decades of struggle. Runan, you still have a chance. What Wang Shuo said today should add to your thesis; you can continue writing it now."

"Is this really okay?" Teacher Ding Runan raised her head, eyes wide, "He is just a freshman; he hasn't even participated in a decent research project."

"The learned one is the teacher," Professor Zeng looked at the darkening sky outside the window, "His understanding of automation far exceeds that of the students I teach. Just based on what he said today about automation system programming, he is qualified to have his name on your thesis."

"To be honest, it was only after seeing Wang Shuo today that I somewhat believed that the system was a masterpiece created by him. This isn't the kind of insight just anyone can have."

Teacher Ding Runan was somewhat puzzled. She had also heard Wang Shuo's explanation; was it really at that level? Could that kind of thing really be designed and completed by one person? If Wang Shuo could create a system by himself, to what extent must he be proficient in code and architecture?

For a moment, Teacher Ding Runan felt a bit lost. Was the knowledge she had acquired over a dozen years not as good as that of a freshman who had just started college? This freshman hadn't even attended a single complete class!

"Also," Professor Zeng added, "write the thesis according to what Wang Shuo said today, and ask him if you don't understand. After you write it, you don't need my review, and don't submit it to domestic journals; just... submit it to Science."

Teacher Ding Runan snapped back to reality, her eyes widening further. Write it according to what Wang Shuo said? And ask Wang Shuo for advice? And submit directly to Science?

"Teacher, are you so sure this thesis can be published in Science?" Teacher Ding Runan was a bit unconvinced.

"Very sure," Professor Zeng smiled, "If this can't make it into Science, then what use is Science?"

Teacher Ding Runan fell silent.

Science—that was the highest hall that all researchers pursued. Anyone who could publish a paper in Science could be said to be world-renowned.

Wang Shuo... had this strength and qualification?

"Oh, right, Teacher." Teacher Ding Runan suddenly remembered something, took a stack of A4 paper out of her backpack, and handed it to Professor Zeng.

"Take a look at this."

"Oh? You finished writing it so quickly?" Professor Zeng reached out to take it, somewhat surprised. He had only just returned the thesis yesterday; had she finished revising it so quickly?

This competitive young girl.

Professor Zeng offered a faint smile, his gaze falling onto the paper. A page full of scribbled handwriting came into view. This handwriting... didn't seem to be Teacher Ding Runan's, and what was written didn't seem to be a thesis either...

He reached out to pick up the glasses next to him and put them on, and the handwriting on the paper became clearer.

"This is... code?"

Professor Zeng glanced at Teacher Ding Runan standing next to him, and seeing her looking at him with a hint of expectation, he calmed his mind and began to read the code on the paper seriously.

However...

Ten minutes later, Professor Zeng, his expression now very serious, looked up.

"Runan, who gave this to you?"

Teacher Ding Runan, seeing Professor Zeng so serious for the first time, felt a bit nervous, "This is what Wang Shuo promised to give me earlier."

"Do you know what this is?"

"I know, it's a part of the structural code for a node-based self-circulating neural network." Teacher Ding Runan lowered her head, feeling a bit ashamed, "There is some code logic in it that I don't understand, so I came to ask you, Teacher."

To see if that bastard Wang Shuo was just scribbling nonsense to trick her.

Teacher Ding Runan added silently in her heart. If the teacher determined that this thing was complete nonsense, worthless, and just scribbles, then Wang Shuo would be dead.

"Wang Shuo gave it to you? No wonder... no wonder..."

The answer Teacher Ding Runan was expecting did not appear immediately. She just watched quietly as the mentor she admired frowned while flipping through the code papers, occasionally tapping the edge of the desk with his finger, his expression grave.

A moment later, Professor Zeng stood up, briskly picked up his coat, folded the code papers and put them into his coat pocket, and then saw Teacher Ding Runan still standing on the side, his steps pausing.

"Oh, Runan, I need to go to the Dean's office; you go back first."

Without waiting for Teacher Ding Runan to respond, he closed the door and left.

Teacher Ding Runan was completely bewildered. What... what was going on?

...

Wang Shuo ran along the school road, while carefully recalling the content he had spouted off today. It was all about the process of making his system, the difficulties he encountered, and the solutions, and at most, he had talked about some new architectures for the system software. There shouldn't have been anything too excessive. As for things like three-dimensional digital computing, nanometer digital sensors, and so on, these things were, of course, to be blurred; otherwise, even if he had a mouth all over his body, he wouldn't be able to explain it clearly.

His thoughts were flying in his mind, but his feet were moving without pause.

By the time Wang Shuo saw The Figure in front of him, it was already too late.

"Watch out!"

"Ah!"

Two screams rang out at the same time, and two figures fell to the ground simultaneously.

As the one who caused the collision, Wang Shuo didn't care to check his own injuries and hurriedly shouted, "Student, are you okay? It's all my fault; I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

He had just heard it; the person on the other side seemed to be a girl.

"I... I'm okay."

The girl's voice was soft, but it sounded like there was no major problem.

"I'm sorry, really sorry; let me help you up." Wang Shuo stood up, apologizing while helping the girl beside him up.

When the two stood up and the dim streetlights in the distance cast their light onto their faces, the girl suddenly let out a sound of surprise.

"It's you?"

"You know me?" Wang Shuo was a bit surprised. He carefully observed the girl in front of him; she looked vaguely familiar, but he just couldn't remember where he had seen her.

"We've met once," the girl smiled slightly, "but I didn't expect to run into you here, Student Wang Shuo."

The girl emphasized the word "run into."

"Uh, this student... although I'm very sorry, I really can't remember where I've met you." Wang Shuo touched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She had recognized him and even accurately called out his name; she was clearly an acquaintance, but why did he have no impression of her?

"You can't remember?" The girl was stunned for a moment, "Really?"

"Really." Wang Shuo nodded heavily.

"Then you are..." The girl looked around with some confusion.

"I was in a hurry to get back to the dorm and was running a bit fast, and I bumped into you; I'm really sorry."

"You came from the experimental building?" The girl seemed to understand and nodded, "Then it really is a coincidence. Last time we took a taxi, you paid our fare, and I haven't thanked you yet, Student Wang Shuo."

This time it was Wang Shuo's turn to widen his eyes; he suddenly remembered who this person was.

"You are... you are... Qin..."

"Qin Xiaoting," the girl smiled slightly.