Li Dong was stunned for a long time. He was wondering if he had come out ahead or at a loss with this file transfer.
You couldn’t say he got nothing out of it. The fake mission from the group chat had become real, and he could now help Fields fulfill his wish.
But to say he’d come out ahead...
He didn’t gain any experience, and there were no red envelopes...
"Sigh..."
’Looks like upgrading my permissions still has to be done through chemistry.’
Li Dong sighed and went to sleep with mixed feelings.
「The next morning.」
Li Dong had just grabbed two buns from the cafeteria and was heading to the School of Chemistry.
He wanted to ask the elderly Ms. Zhang Lufang if there was any news about joining her research group.
But just as he reached the entrance of the School of Chemistry, his phone rang.
It was Liu Ruochuan.
"Kid, where are you?"
Li Dong paused.
"Over by the School of Chemistry."
The other end of the line went silent.
Liu Ruochuan wasn’t exactly angry, but hadn’t he told this kid yesterday that they were giving out money today? Why was he still running around?
"Come to the principal’s office first."
Only then did it click for Li Dong.
’Holy crap, I was so focused on upgrading my permissions that I completely forgot about this.’
He quickly said.
"Teacher Liu, I’ll be right there."
Twenty minutes later, Li Dong stood at the door of the principal’s office.
He knocked on the door.
A voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Pushing the door open, Li Dong discovered the office was quite crowded.
Principal Gong, Tian Gang, and Liu Ruochuan were there.
There were also three other people sitting on the sofa, none of whom he recognized.
Li Dong first greeted each of them in turn.
Then, he also greeted the three strangers with a "Hello, teachers."
Principal Gong smiled and waved him over.
"Ah, Li Dong, have a seat. Don’t be formal."
Li Dong sat down on the sofa next to Liu Ruochuan.
As soon as he sat down, Principal Gong began to speak.
"Li Dong, Teacher Liu probably gave you a general idea yesterday, so I won’t bother with any more pleasantries today."
"First, on behalf of the leadership, faculty, and students of Yan University, I want to thank you for your achievements at our school this past year."
"Your accomplishments have brought Yan University not only honor, but have also helped us take several steps forward that we haven’t been able to in decades."
Li Dong didn’t offer any false modesty, simply nodding.
The current situation was indeed one where the university should be thanking him. After all, he wasn’t riding the university’s coattails; the university was riding his.
"Since you’re willing to stay at Yan University..." Principal Gong’s tone grew slightly more serious as he said this.
"We at Yan University will certainly provide our utmost support and preferential policies for our own students."
Li Dong nodded.
"Thank you, Principal."
Principal Gong picked up a document from his desk.
"Regarding your recent academic achievements, I had a meeting with the rest of the leadership team, and we all agreed that you should be given a substantial reward."
At this, Principal Gong smiled.
"This sum of money is truly insignificant compared to your achievements, but it’s the largest amount the university can approve right now."
"Two million, tax-free. It’s from the special award fund for outstanding and innovative talent."
Li Dong nodded calmly, while subtly steadying his trembling hand.
Principal Gong actually noticed, but he didn’t say anything, just smiled.
"From now on, the university will open a special fast track for you. As long as you’re working on a research project..."
"The Principal’s Office will add a special marker to your applications, processing them through a joint channel: the ’Project 985 Construction Fund’ plus the ’Principal’s Special Fund’."
"For projects under ten million, they will, in principle, be given priority approval."
"For anything over ten million, the university will take the lead in applying for special funding on your behalf."
Li Dong’s hand trembled again.
’This is completely different from what Huaxuan offered.’
’Huaxuan promised a lot, but I haven’t seen a single cent yet.’
’The consulting fee won’t come until the end of the year, and the one-hundred-million-yuan reward is waiting for the project to be implemented, and there’s been no news on that at all...’
’But this sum from the university... two million, already approved by the finance department. As soon as I give them an account number, it’ll be transferred directly.’
’And research funding under ten million, endorsed by the Principal’s Office... this means as long as I ask for it, the money will arrive almost instantly. No one would dare to hold up these funds.’
Li Dong took a deep breath, his expression remaining calm.
But inside, he was thinking:
’Stop trying to be "calm" and just nod your head already!’
So, he nodded very seriously.
"I will follow the university’s arrangements."
Principal Gong smiled in satisfaction, then continued.
"Li Dong, the university has decided to confer upon you an honorary doctorate from Yan University at your undergraduate commencement ceremony this June."
Li Dong was taken aback. "Huh? Me? An honorary doctorate?"
He subconsciously wanted to ask.
’I haven’t even gotten my bachelor’s degree yet, and you’re already...?’
Liu Ruochuan leaned over and added in a low voice.
"Kid, an honorary doctorate is an honor, not an academic degree."
"It’s a symbolic recognition the university bestows upon individuals who have made significant contributions to academia or society."
"It can’t be used as a substitute for a Ph.D."
Only then did Li Dong understand.
Principal Gong nodded.
"At the same time, we will also name you a ’Distinguished Alumnus’."
Being a Distinguished Alumnus at Yan University actually came with many hidden benefits.
For example, if Li Dong wanted to organize any inter-departmental academic conferences or joint laboratories in the future, the university administration would fast-track everything from venue and equipment to administrative approval.
Furthermore, in some external collaboration projects, the university would have him appear by default as a ’Yan University Representative,’ which would directly help his bargaining power in future external negotiations.
But upon hearing this, what Li Dong was thinking was...
’Does this mean... my picture is going up on the wall? On the wall of Yan University, one of the top two institutions in all of Huaxia?’
What he didn’t know was that his picture had already been hung on several walls.
His portrait was already displayed in the hallways of the academic buildings at both Jiangcheng Seventh Middle School and Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School.
Principal Gong, naturally unaware of Li Dong’s thoughts, continued.
"As for your doctoral training plan after you graduate with your bachelor’s degree..."
"We’ve also discussed this. Your Teacher Liu’s idea is to set up a training program for you based on an academic committee system."
"Basically, it means any professor at the university can be considered your nominal advisor, as long as you’re willing to consult them."
"You can knock on any of their office doors at any time with any question, as long as it doesn’t involve commercial secrets."
"The university will select a rotating steering committee of about fifteen people from all related departments: Mathematics, Physics, Information Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Biology."
"This committee will hold a regular meeting every two months to hear your progress report, and the professors on the committee will provide you with guidance."
"You don’t have to choose a thesis topic, nor will you be tied down to a specific field like a regular Ph.D. student."
"You choose the direction, and we’ll provide the people to support you."
"We’re calling this the ’Special Talent Development Program’ publicly. As for how it actually runs, you’ll be the focus, with the university in a supporting role. What do you think?"
Li Dong listened intently.
He felt this was exactly what he needed most.
He didn’t need others to guide him on the specific methods of learning, but he did need direction.
The ones who understood the various fields best were the veteran professors, the leaders in their disciplines.
What he wanted was their "experience."
The committee system meant he could pick and choose from every professor’s toolbox as if he were browsing a supermarket, without getting entangled in the factional politics of any single mentor.
This was just too perfect.
Li Dong didn’t hesitate for a moment.
"I accept. Thank you, Principal."
Principal Gong nodded with a broad smile.
Then he took a sip of his tea.
’Shuimu, oh Shuimu.’
’With a student like this, how can you possibly compete with my Yan University?’

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