Li Dong handed the phone to Old Yang.
"Teacher Yang, it’s Director Zheng."
Old Yang nodded.
"Answer it. Let’s hear what he has to say."
Li Dong pressed the answer button and put the call on speaker.
As soon as the call connected, Zheng Hua’s voice came through, clearly excited.
"Hello? Li Dong!"
"Director Lin from Huaxuan Technology just called me! He specifically asked for your private contact information!"
"He didn’t tell me the specifics, but it must be because you got first place in the semi-finals!"
Listening to Zheng Hua’s excited voice, Li Dong’s expression remained perfectly calm.
"I know, Teacher Zheng."
He held the phone, not hanging up, but waiting quietly.
He was waiting.
Waiting for Zheng Hua, or rather, the school, to give him an explanation for how Jiangcheng Second Middle School "stole" his first-place title.
Even a single, helpless complaint would have sufficed.
However, Zheng Hua on the other end of the line was completely oblivious to Li Dong’s unusual mood. His mind was entirely focused on "Director Lin."
Zheng Hua continued to ramble on, giving instructions.
"Li Dong, listen to me. When Director Lin calls you later, you must have a proper attitude! Be polite! Understand?"
"You must be humble when you speak..."
Li Dong listened in silence, letting out a long sigh in his heart.
Li Dong was truly disappointed in Seventh Middle School and in Zheng Hua.
"Okay, I understand, Teacher Zheng. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up now."
Before Zheng Hua could ramble on any further, Li Dong decisively pressed the end call button.
The bedroom fell silent once more.
Old Yang, who had been listening to the entire call, reached out and patted Li Dong on the back.
"Don’t take it to heart," Old Yang said softly.
"Director Zheng... he’s been at Seventh Middle School for so many years, he’s never experienced anything like this."
"He hasn’t seen much of the world. Deep down, he thinks we’re a cut below everyone else, which is why he reacts this way. You can’t entirely blame him."
Li Dong nodded.
"I understand, Teacher Yang."
The two of them spoke as they opened the bedroom door and walked toward the living room.
Just as they reached the living room, before Li Dong could even sit down, the phone in his hand vibrated again.
The screen displayed an unknown number. The location tag read: Shanghai.
Li Dong and Old Yang exchanged a glance. They knew the main event had arrived.
In the living room, Liu Limin was still trying to persuade Li Qin.
"Li Dong’s mother, if Li Dong goes down the path of scientific research in the future, when he gets into university, into a research institute, he’ll look around and see that all the senior students are from our Sixth Middle School. Do you know how much help that will be for him..."
Although Li Qin didn’t quite understand, it all sounded very impressive.
Just as Liu Limin was about to continue his persuasion, Li Dong answered the call.
The Li family’s living room wasn’t large, so even though the phone wasn’t on speaker, the voice on the other end was still clearly audible in the relatively quiet room.
"Hello, is this student Li Dong?"
A middle-aged man’s voice came from the phone.
The man’s self-introduction was crisp and direct.
"This is Lin Wei from Huaxuan Technology."
A sense of "my name is my best business card" confidence washed over them.
Li Dong’s tone was neither servile nor overbearing.
"Hello, Director Lin. This is Li Dong."
Lin Wei on the other end clearly appreciated Li Dong’s professional style. He didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.
"Student Li Dong, I’m calling you today about the ’dual-beam laser interference maskless lithography’ solution you wrote for the final question on the semi-final exam."
"Your approach is brilliant. It precisely addresses a major cost-optimization pain point our R&D team is currently facing while trying to expose certain periodic micro- and nanostructures."
The moment Lin Wei’s voice faded, Liu Limin’s ears perked up.
Li Qin also looked at her son, completely bewildered.
The voice on the other end of the line continued.
"We’ve run preliminary optical simulations and have verified the feasibility of your solution."
"Therefore, on behalf of Huaxuan Technology, I would like to sign a patent transfer agreement with you."
"As a buyout fee for this foundational physics concept, Huaxuan Technology is willing to pay you two million RMB."
The mention of two million cast a strange atmosphere over the living room.
Liu Limin was dumbfounded.
’Two million?!’
’What on earth is worth two million?!’
Li Qin was so scared her hand trembled.
’This has to be a scam call, right? Who just calls someone up and offers them two million?!’
Seeing this, Old Yang made a hushing gesture at the two of them.
And at this moment, Li Dong...
The "I am a top-tier academic prodigy" mindset that Old Yang had just helped him build in the bedroom...
...instantly crumbled to dust before the two words "two million"!
Li Dong’s hand holding the phone was even trembling slightly.
Meanwhile, Lin Wei’s voice continued on the other end of the line.
"Student Li Dong, don’t think this price is too high, and don’t think it’s too low."
"Your idea is genius-level, but to actually implement it and turn it into an industrial-grade machine, Huaxuan will need to invest tens of millions, or even over a hundred million, in trial and error and solving hardware compatibility issues."
"Moreover, your solution isn’t a silver bullet; it can only be used for specific manufacturing processes."
"So, two million as a buyout fee for the initial, raw concept is a very fair market price."
Lin Wei paused, then presented the final choice.
"We can pay you this money in one of two ways."
"First, we can process it as personal service income or a patent transfer. After deducting personal income tax, we’ll deposit it directly into your private bank account."
"Second, if you aspire to pursue a career in scientific research in the future, we can, in the company’s name, establish a personal dedicated start-up research fund for you in the same amount."
Now, it wasn’t just Li Dong; even Liu Limin, listening from the side, was baffled.
’Is there any fundamental difference between getting the cash directly and having it as a research fund?’
But Old Yang was someone who had actually been in the academic world!
He knew exactly how valuable the second option was!
Old Yang immediately covered the phone’s microphone.
"Tell him you need to think about it, and hang up first!"
Li Dong’s mind was a complete blank right now; he could only do as Old Yang said.
"Director... Director Lin, hello. This is all very sudden. I... I need to think about it first. Can I get back to you later?"
"Of course." Lin Wei’s light chuckle came through the phone.
"This is a decision that requires careful consideration. Take down my number; this is my personal cell."
"We’ll see each other in Shanghai for the finals. Besides this agreement, there are other things I’d like to discuss with you in person."
"Talk to you then. Goodbye."
With that, Lin Wei hung up.
BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...
The dial tone echoed in the quiet living room.
The first person to break the silence was Li Qin.
"Xiao... Xiaodong, what on earth is going on?"
Old Yang spoke up immediately.
"Sister Li, the person who just called was the R&D director of Huaxuan Technology, the sponsor of the Huaxuan Cup."
"Li Dong helped their company solve a major problem."
"That two million is the transfer fee for Li Dong’s scientific achievement!"
After hearing this, Li Qin, though still finding it incredible, let out a sigh of relief.
’As long as it’s not illegal, it’s fine.’
Old Yang paid no more mind to Li Qin and Liu Limin’s shocked expressions and turned to Li Dong.
"Li Dong, for this money, I suggest you choose the start-up research fund!"
Li Dong was only just now starting to come to his senses.
He looked at Old Yang, somewhat confused.
"But Teacher Yang... why not just take the cash?"
"Even after taxes, it’d still be over a million in cash! If I take the money and want to do research after I get into university, can’t I just spend my own money? Why leave it on their company’s books?"
Hearing this, Old Yang didn’t laugh at Li Dong for being naive.
Because any ordinary person, when faced with the temptation of millions in cash, would have the immediate reaction to secure the money.
But Old Yang knew this was a class barrier.
"Li Dong, you’re oversimplifying things."
Old Yang explained in a serious, heartfelt tone.
"If you take the money, your transaction with Huaxuan Technology is over."
"But if you choose the start-up research fund, that money follows you, the person!"
"It represents a personal endorsement from Huaxuan Technology, a national-level semiconductor giant!"
Old Yang grew more and more excited as he spoke.
"Believe it or not, when you get into a top university in the future, even Qingbei, and you want to apply for a lab, or your project advisor is holding you back because of funding..."
"All you have to do is slam this ’Huaxuan Technology Personal Research Fund’ agreement on the table!"
"The entire department leadership will look at you in a new light! Because you have an industry giant backing you!"
"The value of these intangible benefits is far beyond what two million can measure!"
Old Yang’s words not only served as a wake-up call for Li Dong but also made the seated Liu Limin feel as if he had just awoken from a dream.
The way Liu Limin looked at Li Dong changed completely.
’This isn’t some fledgling that hasn’t taken flight yet.’
’This is clearly an eagle that’s already soaring.’
’This is bad!’
If Li Dong were just a competition winner, his fame might be limited to Jiangcheng.
But now, once word gets out that Huaxuan Technology is throwing two million at a high school student’s research fund...
...the nature of the situation would be completely different.
Rongcheng Seventh Middle School, Shude Middle School, Shishi Middle School...
What could Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School possibly use to compete with them?!
’No! I absolutely can’t wait! I have to lock this down today!’
Liu Limin stood up, forcing a smile.
"Li Dong’s mother, Teacher Yang, student Li Dong..."
"Um... you all go ahead and chat."
"I... I just remembered something very urgent at school. I have to step out and make a phone call to report it right away!"
With that, Liu Limin pushed open the door and walked out.

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