72: Chapter 72 Return to Z Province

The black sedan drove smoothly along the highway back to Zhejiang, the scenery outside the window receding rapidly into a blur of green.

It was quiet inside the car, with only the faint sound of the air conditioning.

Chen Youhua leaned back in the soft rear seat, resting with his eyes closed. A hint of fatigue from the long journey showed between his brows, but the corners of his mouth were habitually turned up slightly, as if he were thinking of something interesting.

Suddenly, a sharp "ding" from the phone in his pocket broke the silence.

He lazily fished out his phone, the screen's light illuminating his well-defined profile.

A news push notification headline caught his eye.

"...With the help of the enlightenment engine, domestic high-end seals finally break the monopoly!"

Seeing the word "enlightenment," the touch of nonchalance in Chen Youhua's eyes vanished instantly, like a pebble dropped into a lake, creating a ripple.

He clicked on the news and browsed through it quickly.

The news wasn't long, but it clearly outlined how a company named Renfang Technology, on the brink of bankruptcy, relied on years of accumulated real data and desperate courage. With the help of Qiming Industrial AI's computing power, they finally overcame the high-end seal material problem that had plagued the industry for years.

"Heh..."

Chen Youhua let out a low chuckle—not a hearty laugh, but one filled with a bit of surprise, a bit of relief, and a bit of realization that things were as expected.

He curled his fingers and gently tapped the arm of Academician Zheng, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him.

"Old Zheng, look at this."

He handed the phone over, the news headline on the screen being particularly striking.

Academician Zheng opened his eyes, took the phone with some confusion, adjusted his reading glasses, and leaned in to read the screen carefully.

His eyes moved across the text. His brow first furrowed habitually, as if scrutinizing the rigor of the data, then slowly smoothed out, finally turning into a long, heavy sigh of emotion:

"It hasn't been easy... It really hasn't been easy."

Academician Zheng took off his glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and looked out at the fields and villages flying by.

"For our country to have come this far from nothing, isn't it because of these 'foolish' companies that stick to their principles, are willing to invest heavily, and are single-mindedly focused on getting things done? Without this solid struggle, no matter how good enlightenment is, it's just a castle in the air."

His tone was full of the deep understanding and respect that the older generation of researchers had for industry.

Chen Youhua nodded in deep agreement, the smile on his lips deepening.

He took back his phone, his fingertips unconsciously sliding across the screen as if savoring the aftertaste of the news.

"By the way."

Academician Zheng seemed to remember something. He turned his head and looked at Chen Youhua with the concern of an elder.

"I say, kid, so many old friends in Kyoto wanted you to stay and catch up. Why are you in such a hurry to get back? Are you really that homesick?" he teased deliberately.

Hearing this, Chen Youhua waved his hand.

"Sigh, I've had enough fun. I've been playing at home for a year already, and staying in Kyoto is boring! I plan to go back and start a project!"

His tone was light, with a hint of impatient excitement.

"A project?"

Upon hearing this, Academician Zheng's professional instincts immediately kicked in. His back straightened a bit, and the eyes behind his lenses sparkled with inquiry.

"What project? Tell me! Is it an optimization related to enlightenment? Or a new algorithm?"

"Hmm..."

Chen Youhua deliberately drew out his tone, keeping him in suspense, before slowly uttering two words.

"In the field of biology."

"Biology?!"

Academician Zheng's voice instantly rose an octave. The expectation on his face deflated like a punctured balloon, replaced by a thick, undisguised frustration and massive confusion.

"Chen Youhua! Why are you obsessed with biology again?! Is the circuitry in your brain tied in a knot with biological proteins that can't be undone?!"

He was practically beating his chest and stomping his feet.

"Instead of staying at the peak of the AI field, you insist on diving into the old forest of molecular cells?"

Facing Academician Zheng's roar, Chen Youhua was not only unbothered but laughed very happily. He sank comfortably back into his seat and said in a matter-of-fact yet somewhat annoying tone:

"Of course I have to! Old Zheng, you don't know my original intention for creating enlightenment. It's because I hit a wall with that tough nut of biology back then that I thought of creating a super helper to crack it for me."

He spread his hands, looking innocent.

"Now that I have the helper, of course I have to go back and continue gnawing on my bone! This is called staying true to one's original intention!"

"You!..."

Academician Zheng was so choked by this twisted logic that his eyes rolled. He almost couldn't catch his breath. He pointed a finger at him for a while before finally squeezing out a sentence.

"Fine, fine, fine, you and your twisted logic! Then tell me, where do you plan to research your precious biology? You can't just crouch at home and look at ants with a microscope."

"Do you want me to help you coordinate and build a top-tier biology lab? Equipment, venue, funding—it's all on me!"

"No, no, no!"

Hearing this, Chen Youhua waved his hands repeatedly, shaking his head like a rattle.

"Please don't! It would be too much trouble and a waste! I feel bad just thinking about the funding!"

His eyes darted around, and a sly smile appeared.

"Old Zheng, just help me get a custom personal version of enlightenment with higher permissions and plenty of computing resources."

"As for the lab... there's one ready-made!"

"Isn't the Z University Biology Building standing right there? I'll go back to my alma mater and borrow some space."

"Oh right, I also need to go to Teacher Zhang and poach a few capable people."

"The enlightenment personal terminal is no problem, leave it to me!"

Academician Zheng patted his chest in guarantee, but then he leaned in closer, his face wearing a flattering, almost fawning smile that was completely inconsistent with his status as an Academician, and lowered his voice.

"So... Youhua, how about... this old man works as your assistant?"

"Pouring tea, handing over test tubes—I promise not to cause trouble! I just want to see what kind of earth-shattering thing you'll stir up this time..."

"Pfft..."

Chen Youhua really couldn't hold it in this time and burst out laughing.

He looked this highly respected titan of information engineering up and down, imagining him in a white lab coat, clumsily holding a Pipette, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"My great Academician Zheng! Please spare me! You, a founding father of information engineering, humbling yourself to be an assistant to a biological amateur like me?"

"Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock? You should just keep a good eye on your darling enlightenment! That's your real son!"

Academician Zheng's old face turned red at his words, and he muttered,

"So ungrateful."

He sat back resentfully, pretending to look at the scenery outside.

Chen Youhua looked at his profile, the smile on his lips deepening.

Outside the car window, the road signs for the Zhejiang border flashed by. He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. In his mind, he began to outline the look of the Z University lab and the upcoming struggle with the fascinating and complex code of life.

Hmm, I need to call Teacher Zhang first to get on his good side... poaching people requires strategy... As for this aggrieved Academician Zheng beside me?

Chen Youhua silently added in his heart: I wish the boss a fortune!