90: Chapter 90 Wang Shuo? On what grounds?

As they spoke, Teacher Ding Runan had already reached the last person.

"Professor Liu Feiting, a PhD graduate, is currently a master's supervisor and associate professor in our school, as well as the deputy leader of the project group."

Standing at the back, Zhou Peng glanced at the person Teacher Ding Runan was introducing. She was a young woman dressed in a sleek, capable casual suit. With her ear-length short hair and soft features, she looked exactly like a friendly older sister next door.

This was an associate professor?

An associate professor under thirty?

After Teacher Ding Runan finished her introduction, Professor Liu Feiting smiled slightly and said, "Hello everyone, my name is Professor Liu Feiting."

"Professor Liu..." Du Juan raised her hand and asked curiously, "You look so young. May I ask how old you are this year?"

"Of course." Professor Liu Feiting pursed her thin lips, revealing two small dimples, and smiled. "I was born in ninety-five, so I'm twenty-five this year."

Twenty-five?

Everyone gasped in amazement, their eyes drifting toward Teacher Ding Runan, who was standing nearby. If they remembered correctly, someone else seemed to be twenty-five as well?

Teacher Ding Runan ignored their gazes.

"Then, Professor Liu," Du Juan spoke up again, "can we call you big sister?"

"Of course," Professor Liu Feiting smiled slightly. "I hope you can forget about my title as an associate professor. If treating me as an older sister helps you get into the zone faster, then I'd be more than happy to join you in that role."

She was so gentle.

Du Juan's face flushed with excitement. It turned out that university professors could be so warm and approachable. But on second thought... their counselor was actually quite nice too, except for being a little fierce...

Stealing a glance at Teacher Ding Runan's expression, which was as blank as ever, Du Juan let out a sigh of relief.

"Alright, now that you've met everyone, I will briefly introduce the research goals of this project group,"

Teacher Ding Runan said calmly.

"The sole reason this project group was established is the emergence of the source code you have in your hands. This code will allow us to study the core of mechanical intelligence more deeply, and even truly construct our very own—Artificial Intelligence!"

"The provider of the code has already agreed to this research plan and will personally lead this project. All research steps and matters in our group must receive the lead mentor's approval. In this regard, even Professor Liu is no exception."

Professor Liu Feiting nodded to show she understood.

The reason she had proactively applied to join this newly established research group was to meet the provider of this mysterious code. It wasn't to satisfy her curiosity, but to understand the principles behind this magical code. If possible, she wanted to ask the author why they had written the code this way.

Thinking of this, she felt rather fortunate. If Professor Zeng hadn't happened to step out, and she hadn't accidentally seen this code on his desk, she wouldn't have known that someone was studying Artificial Intelligence in such an incredible way, let alone that they had already produced working code.

From certain perspectives, she was no different from the underclassmen looking up at her with envious eyes; she was also here to learn.

The difference was that she believed she had a sufficient reserve of knowledge, and she had even more confidence in her talent for learning.

"In addition, as your counselor, I will supervise your participation in the research process throughout. If you have any good ideas or thoughts, you can talk to me at any time. Do you understand?"

As her gaze swept over them, the freshmen lowered their heads one after another. This sight brought a hint of a smile to the faces of the official team members nearby.

Ah, the life of youth.

"Are there any other questions?"

"Teacher," Du Juan raised her hand, but shrank back instinctively upon seeing Teacher Ding Runan's cold gaze. She asked, "When will the lead mentor arrive? We gathered a lot of questions yesterday that we want to ask him."

The students nodded in unison. If they didn't show initiative now, when would they? Even Zhou Peng nodded his head vigorously, as if he really had a stomach full of questions waiting to be asked.

The official team members nearby also pricked up their ears, and Professor Liu Feiting's eyes lit up even more. Regardless of their reasons for joining this team, they were all extremely curious about the mysterious mentor who could establish an independent research project with just a few lines of code. This was especially true for the goal-oriented Professor Liu Feiting. If it weren't for the fact that Professor Zeng was hard to ask directly, and Teacher Ding Runan kept her lips sealed tight, she probably would have rushed straight to the mysterious mentor's house by now.

Teacher Ding Runan frowned slightly and looked down at the time. It was already 7:58 AM, just two minutes away from eight o'clock. She looked up at the doorway, which was completely empty. This made Teacher Ding Runan's frown deepen. If her WeiChat messages hadn't clearly shown that she had specified eight o'clock, she would have thought she had told him the wrong time.

Wang Shuo, if you dare to be late, I'll...

Thinking about it, Teacher Ding Runan realized with a start that she didn't seem to have any leverage over Wang Shuo. Her greatest authority was managing students, but was Wang Shuo... really a student?

Had anyone ever seen a student who hadn't shown his face for two months since the start of the semester? What kind of student transformed into a mentor before formal classes even began? What kind of student could get the entire school to eagerly set up a new research project with just a random piece of code?

Teacher Ding Runan could not forget Professor Zeng's expression when he saw the code. The transition of emotions from casual to dazed, shocked, disbelieving, and thoughtful was vividly displayed on his face.

Teacher Ding Runan had never expected that the usually serious Professor Zeng would one day turn into a walking meme.

Following that was rapid verification and rigorous reasoning, and then, reporting to the university. She didn't know what Professor Zeng had said, but the university, which was usually highly inefficient with project approvals, moved incredibly fast this time. In just two days, they came up with the entire plan and fully adopted Professor Zeng's suggestion, directly making an exception to hire Wang Shuo as a lecturer.

Whenever she thought of this, Teacher Ding Runan found it unbelievable. It was truly... a massive joke. If word of this got out, other universities would surely laugh their heads off.

But the words Professor Zeng said next were still deeply engraved in Teacher Ding Runan's mind.

"Knowledge is about knowing first, then understanding; research is about researching first, then investigating. If you think someone who proposed the core code for a logical algorithm can only be a freshman, then I, Old Zeng, have thin skin. I would feel unworthy of my professorship and would have to resign, re-entering our school as a freshman."

"On the path of scientific research, the one who masters it is the teacher. I admit I couldn't write this code, nor can I fully analyze its logic. Before this code, even I can only seek guidance from the freshman you speak of. So, by merely giving away a lecturer position in advance, we stand to gain a ten-fold or hundred-fold return. Would you make such a deal?"

The university answered this question through its actions. They would make the deal, and they would go all the way.

Want a position? Granted! Want funding? Approved! Want personnel? Allocated! Whatever was wanted was given, with a green light all the way. Thus, without realizing it, Wang Shuo had assumed office, becoming a newly registered... freshman and postgraduate lecturer.

And the university's sole requirement for this research group was that they must produce eye-catching results.

Her thoughts drifting, Teacher Ding Runan didn't answer the students' questions and looked at the time once more.

7:59 AM.

Teacher Ding Runan let out a breath, tossing her wild thoughts to the back of her mind. She pulled out her phone and unlocked it. Just as she placed her finger on a certain name, a sudden noise came from the doorway. She turned her head and saw a fairly handsome, clean-cut face appear at the door, peering curiously into the classroom before speaking.

"So many people! Teacher Ding, I'm not late, am I?"

As soon as his voice rang out, it instantly drew the attention of everyone else in the classroom.

"Wang Shuo?" Zhou Peng's suppressed whisper sounded beside him. "What is he doing here?"

Li Yao frowned slightly.

"Isn't that the academic slacker from your class? I heard your homeroom teacher didn't even let him take the exams this time. How does he still dare to show up?"

Li Yao knew who was speaking just by the voice. He said with some annoyance, "Cao Wen, talk about him if you want, but don't keep saying 'our class' this and 'our class' that. Our class is no worse than your Class Three!"

"Haha, I'm just saying. Don't take it seriously. Actually, speaking of your class, your grades are pretty good. Only Xiao Juan is better than you; everyone else is trash."

Is this praising me or putting me down?

Li Yao turned his head, about to say something, when he heard Teacher Ding Runan speak calmly. He immediately shut his mouth and turned his gaze back to the front.

"You've arrived just in time. Come in."

Teacher Ding Runan put away her phone unobtrusively.

"You weren't here when I was introducing the other team members just now, so I won't repeat the introductions. Here, take this."

Saying that, Teacher Ding Runan handed the folder she had been holding to Wang Shuo.

Wang Shuo reached out and took it, looking completely baffled.

"He actually dares to take it? Ha..." Cao Wen's voice sounded in Li Yao's ear again, filled with schadenfreude. "I think your homeroom teacher seems to have a huge issue with this Wang Shuo. She's going to snap at him any second, right?"

Li Yao frowned again.

"This is the roster of all personnel. Take it and verify their identities yourself."

Cao Wen chuckled again. "Your homeroom teacher's method is pretty good—she didn't even bother introducing him. Haha. Well, he's lucky just to be in the group, and since he arrived so late, he can't expect equal treatment, right?"

Li Yao looked back and, sure enough, saw Cao Wen looking smug.

"Also, there are some materials at the back. Take a look at them yourself. These are Professor Zeng's overall planning suggestions for this project."

"Poor guy..."

Something's not right.

Ignoring Cao Wen's mumbling, Li Yao frowned and looked around. He saw all the official team members looking straight ahead with serious expressions. Professor Liu Feiting also seemed to have realized something and was observing with great interest. Even Du Juan, not far away, was knitting her small brows as if in deep thought.

"What's going on?" Zhou Peng nudged Li Yao gently. "Look at those official team members. They're so serious."

"What else could it be? They're obviously startled by the slacker from your class. Haha, I've never seen such an amusing classmate. His expression is just too cute, haha."

Suppressing the urge to argue back, Li Yao directed his gaze toward Teacher Ding Runan once more.

He saw Wang Shuo shyly flip through the roster in his hand, then turn his gaze to one of the official team members, grinning. "So your name is Senior Zhao Feipeng. Nice to meet you, nice to meet you."

Then he turned his gaze to the next person.

"Hello, Senior. You're here too. Let me see... Senior, your name is Shen Hui. Nice to meet you, nice to meet you..."

"Hello, Senior. Your name is..."

Li Yao slowly froze, Zhou Peng was dumbfounded, and Cao Wen gradually fell silent. They watched in a daze as Wang Shuo greeted every single official team member one by one, finally arriving in front of Professor Liu Feiting.

"Hello, Senior Sister. Your name is... uh... Professor?"

Seeing Wang Shuo finally show a hint of surprise, Li Yao, Zhou Peng, and the others let out a collective sigh of relief. If Wang Shuo really knew even the last professor, they would truly begin to question their reality.

"Hello, I am Professor Liu Feiting. You can just ignore the associate professor title." Professor Liu Feiting smiled slightly and extended her hand, her fair fingers opening one by one.

Wang Shuo dazed for a moment, thinking this professor didn't seem to put on any airs. He then extended his hand as well, gently shaking Professor Liu Feiting's hand.

"Hello, Professor Liu. My name is Wang Shuo."

"Wang Shuo, right? I see." Professor Liu Feiting pursed her lips. "No need to be so polite, just call me Sister Liu. I'll have a lot to learn from you in the future."

"Not at all, not at all." Wang Shuo rubbed his head shyly, sensing that Professor Liu Feiting seemed to already know something.

Meanwhile, the surrounding freshmen stared blankly as Wang Shuo and an associate professor flattered each other. Was this... still the same dazed Wang Shuo who had been labeled the absolute worst of the academic slackers?

"Alright." Teacher Ding Runan interrupted their pleasantries, looked around, and said seriously, "Some of you probably know Wang Shuo. Let me formally introduce him to everyone. Wang Shuo, a freshman of the Class of 2018. Due to his outstanding academic performance, the university has made an exception to hire him as a postgraduate lecturer."

As she said this, Teacher Ding Runan inexplicably felt her face warm up. Even the students below who were familiar with Wang Shuo looked utterly incredulous.

"At the same time, Wang Shuo also proposed a new logical core architecture and completed part of the work. Therefore, he..." Teacher Ding Runan looked calmly at everyone. She could already anticipate the scene that would unfold after she said these words: "...is the lead mentor of this research group!"

Before she could even finish her sentence, the scene rapidly spiraled out of control.

The crowd of freshmen fell silent for a second, and then an uproar erupted.

"What?!"

"How is that possible?!"

"Wang Shuo is that mysterious lead mentor?!"

"Teacher didn't make a mistake, did she?"

Cao Wen's face was flushed red as he shouted, "I don't believe it! Teacher Ding, please don't deceive us with this kind of joke. We want to see the real lead mentor! We want to see Professor Zeng!"

His words quickly resonated with the people around him.

"We want to see Professor Zeng!"

"See Professor Zeng!"

"Professor Zeng!"

"Professor Zeng!"

"Quiet!" Teacher Ding Runan shouted, startling Wang Shuo who was standing next to her. He hadn't expected such a small, slender body like Teacher Ding's to burst forth with such immense power.

The students' voices quieted down slightly.

"This is a decision made by the university committee! The official document has already been issued. If you have any doubts, look it up yourselves!"

Teacher Ding Runan's face was frosty.

"But! If you dare to cause trouble here and refuse to comply with the university's decision, Professor Zeng and I will definitely deal with you severely!"

The students instantly quieted down. Severe punishment meant getting a disciplinary demerit on their record, and no one wanted to get a demerit for no reason. Besides, they also noticed that none of the official team members standing to the side spoke up; instead, they all had expressions that said, "Just as expected." This made the students feel even more uneasy.

Could it be... what Teacher Ding said was true?

The legendary, heavy-weight professor was actually... Wang Shuo? On what... grounds?