At least that tense, competitive atmosphere had disappeared.
But this was only the first step.
Chen Zhuo was no ordinary student.
Whether it was the set of Discrete Matrices from before, or the homology mapping formula he’d drawn on the scratch paper today, these were real, tangible contributions—the kind that could push national-level key projects forward by a huge step.
If they didn’t offer him corresponding compensation, not only would it dishearten a genius, but it would also go against Keda’s founding principle of placing great importance on talent.
Zhou Qiping stopped and turned to look at Chen Zhuo, who had been standing quietly behind him the whole time.
The boy was still in the same posture, holding the softcover notebook and mechanical pencil.
He just watched them quietly, as if everything that had just happened was merely a movie that had nothing to do with him.
Zhou Qiping nodded to himself in approval.
’That level of composure is even rarer than his lightning-fast mind.’
"Of course."
Zhou Qiping spoke again, his tone changed. It was no longer the sternness of a superior reprimanding his subordinates, but had taken on the pragmatic and serious quality of a work discussion.
He looked at the Alchemist and Li Jianming.
"Rules are rules, but contributions are contributions. Keda will never let those who have performed meritorious service feel wronged, much less take advantage of a student."
Zhou Qiping held up two fingers.
"Since Xiaochen has demonstrated abilities far beyond the ordinary in both physics and mathematics, from this day forward, we will establish a new rule regarding Chen Zhuo’s role in these two national-level projects."
The Alchemist and Li Jianming both looked up at Zhou Qiping.
"From now on."
Zhou Qiping looked at Li Jianming, deliberately slowing his speech.
"Old Li, if your graph theory team hits another impasse you can’t break through, or Old Fang, if your wind tunnel lab runs into calculations you can’t solve..."
"...you can bring your progress data and ’request’ Xiaochen’s participation in a discussion."
Zhou Qiping emphasized the word "request" heavily.
The Alchemist was taken aback for a moment, and the look in Li Jianming’s eyes also changed.
In the university research system, the relationship between an advisor and an undergraduate student is a clear hierarchy: the advisor assigns tasks, and the student carries them out.
But the word Zhou Qiping had just used was "request."
This meant that in the context of these two national-level projects, Chen Zhuo was no longer a low-level undergraduate who could be ordered around at will. Instead, he had become a third party with an independent voice.
Zhou Qiping didn’t give them time to process this, continuing by dropping the real bombshell.
"As long as Chen Zhuo participates in deriving the solution to your core problems and provides a viable path forward..."
Zhou Qiping’s voice echoed in the office, filled with unquestionable resolve.
"...you don’t need to wait for him to choose a major. Pay him the highest tier of remuneration for a specially-appointed research assistant directly from the special funds of your two national-level projects, settled monthly!"
The moment these words were spoken, the Alchemist gasped.
Li Jianming’s eyes also widened in disbelief.
A specially-appointed research assistant.
The highest tier of remuneration.
What did that even mean?
At a university in 2003, the highest tier of remuneration for a national-level project was typically reserved for externally hired senior experts, or for core personnel at the associate professor level who led entire teams working day and night.
Now, with a single sentence, Zhou Qiping had elevated a twelve-year-old sophomore to a compensation level on par with them, the project leaders.
"President, this... will the finance department even approve it?"
The Alchemist asked subconsciously.
It wasn’t that he was stingy with the money; as long as the wind tunnel model could be completed, he’d be willing to throw in his own salary, let alone the highest-tier remuneration.
He was just worried that such an unconventional request would get stuck in the university’s approval process.
"I’ll speak to the finance department. We’ll handle this as a special case."
With a wave of his hand, Zhou Qiping smoothed the path forward.
He looked at the Alchemist, then at Li Jianming.
"But that’s not all."
Zhou Qiping stared at the two of them and stated his final requirement, one word at a time.
"Besides the remuneration, when your projects conclude, or when you compile the results for publication in a top-tier journal, Chen Zhuo’s name cannot be placed in the acknowledgments, nor can it be tucked away in some inconspicuous corner."
"As long as his theoretical support was used, he must be credited as a core contributor with his own byline."
Silence.
If the remuneration was a tangible benefit of cold, hard cash, then this requirement for a separate byline as a core contributor was giving Chen Zhuo the very foundation he needed to establish himself in the academic world.
One of these projects was a top-tier applied physics engineering project in the country, and the other was a national-level conjecture at the forefront of pure mathematics.
To have his name listed as a core author on these two projects was an achievement any scholar could boast about for a lifetime.
Li Jianming and the Alchemist exchanged a glance, and both nodded in unison.
"I have no objections."
Li Jianming was the first to state his position.
He glanced down at the sheet of scratch paper in his hand, now damp with sweat, his tone frank.
"The idea for the homology mapping was his. Without him, this conjecture is a dead end. He deserves the separate byline. As for the remuneration, I’ll have the department start the process for the highest standard as soon as I get back."
"I have no problem with it either."
The Alchemist spoke up immediately after.
"He was the one who single-handedly built the Discrete Matrix for the wind tunnel model. I understand the etiquette on this."
On the matter of attributing academic credit, the two titans demonstrated the magnanimity befitting true scholars.
They yearned for the truth, but they would never usurp the credit that belonged to others.

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