```
This evening, Dean Niu didn’t speak in platitudes as he did during the lecture; instead, he detailed Yingpei’s educational philosophy centered on "interdisciplinary enlightenment." This in itself is a long-term project unlikely to yield earth-shattering results quickly. If, in a few years or even decades, a student realizes that "Yingpei has broadened my horizons," that would be considered successful education.
So, the college wasn’t actually prepared to welcome a prodigy like Li Zheng.
But this incident did indeed make Dean Niu aware of this deficiency, and he decided to undertake reforms on two levels.
The minor reform involved Zhou Xiao personally taking charge of Li Zheng’s research, to plug this gap first.
The major reform was at the faculty level. Dean Niu promised to quickly end the project approval system dominated by a few teachers within the college and to gradually work with mentors from various colleges, connecting with professional tutors based on the students’ project categories for evaluation, transitioning to a committee system as soon as possible.
This was part of Dean Niu’s long-term plan, and Li Zheng’s emergence just happened to provide an opportunity for progress.
Naturally, there were beneficial stimulations, but Dean Niu didn’t shy away from the adverse impacts either.
The Academic Affairs Office had already notified him to prepare for Liu Yuwei’s expulsion, the only question being whether to do so quietly or to publicly announce the expulsion to deter others.
As for Zhang Shandong, it seemed he had gone to take over the teaching job allocated to Zhou Xiao. Dean Niu only mentioned that Li Zheng wouldn’t see him for a long time, and Li Zheng had no intention to inquire further.
However, after Dean Niu left, Zhou Xiao, grateful to Li Zheng and the others, seemed to think that it was Li Zheng’s indirect hints that convinced Dean Niu to firmly swap his position with Zhang Shandong.
Li Zheng could only explain that it was Dean Niu’s fairness at play, as Chang Keqing had incidentally mentioned some facts in the indictment.
Late at night, sneaking back to the dorm and lying in bed after a shower, Li Zheng felt his inner peace was somewhat restored.
The visible order could be left at that.
The score with Hu Haibo, having taken the lead in whistleblowing, could be considered settled.
As for Chu Youhua, give him some time to build more confidence.
Finally, it was time to settle things in peace.
[Barrier Guide Task II · Demon Emperor’s Method]
[Progress of the Task]
[1007/500.]
[Task Completed!]
[Extra 500 Scholastic Wealth awarded.]
[Scholastic Wealth: 2080→2580↑↑↑]
The two-week task was completed in just two days; Chu Youhua deserves much thanks.
Although it’s not the right mindset, Li Zheng can’t help but look forward to more compliant pseudo-bosses like Chu Youhua in this world. Not too many, just three or four more encountered once every month or two would ensure he never has to worry about his Scholastic Wealth.
Before Li Zheng could even begin to fantasize about that pastoral idyll, the next guide appeared.
[Barrier Guide Task III—]
[The First Open Learning]
[Please try to illuminate cutting-edge technology cards through specialized study, explore the existing boundaries of a certain field on your own, and invest Scholastic Wealth into research until a brand-new card is illuminated.]
[Based on your current knowledge, the closest fields to the existing scientific boundaries are as follows:]
[1: Special Compound Synthesis: There are still many extremely difficult-to-synthesize compounds. With the liberating observational power of cryogenic electron microscopy, this field will directly benefit.]
[2: Gene Editing: A hot topic highly dependent on experimental environments. More efficient editing methods are the common pursuit of all life science researchers.]
[3: Superconductivity: A very special "God material" with perfect electrical conductivity, perfect diamagnetism, and quantized flux, but its applications are limited due to the requirement of extremely low temperatures. However, it may be the necessary basic material for humanity to step into the next technological era, so any slight discovery will be pivotal.]
[Since it is open learning, the system does not enforce choosing from the above fields.]
[Similarly, there is no time limit for completion.]
[Task rewards will also change according to the value (learning difficulty) of the card you illuminate.]
[Illuminating a card that consumes more than 1500 Scholastic Wealth: Obtain the top-tier Academic Fortune Skill in that field.]
[Illuminating a card that consumes 1000–1500 Scholastic Wealth: Obtain the sub-tier Academic Fortune Skill in that field.]
[Illuminating a card that consumes 500–1000 Scholastic Wealth: Gain 25 points of Academic Fortune.]
[Illuminating a card that consumes within 500 Scholastic Wealth: Gain 500 Scholastic Wealth.]
Top-tier Academic Fortune Skill?
Li Zheng couldn’t help but open the "Academic Fortune Store."
The highest price listed there is 100, only [Mathematical Brain], [Physics Dreamer], and [Five Subjects Scholar] were sold at that price. As for top-tier skills in mathematics and physics, for other disciplines, the most expensive ones only go up to 50, with [Chemical Meditation] being the top.
In line with the mindset of bleeding them dry, Li Zheng naturally aimed for a big move involving more than 1500 Scholastic Wealth.
Aiming for absolute gain, it now seems necessary to confine this endeavor to mathematics and physics.
There’s no rush for the next project, first to thoroughly learn the thousands of hours of accumulated study time.
```
The thought of diving back into pure studying filled Li Zheng with such excitement that he couldn’t sleep.
Maybe he should just study in his dreams!
...
The next morning, at the cafeteria.
Zhang Xiaoke had lost weight.
Some people just have that kind of springy body, able to slim down whenever they want, but gain it back just as easily after a bit of indulgence.
Her style was always rebellious. In high school, she often dressed like a college student. In college, she ended up dressing like a high schooler. The mischievous smirk and her chunky legs, however, remained unchanged through the ages.
Even though they sat together facing their meals, Zhang Xiaoke barely touched her food.
"Heehee... Master..."
"Oh my, Master, eat slower."
"Has the thesis prize money arrived?"
"Let me tell you a secret, Jiang Qinghua and Du Shitong are in a long-distance relationship now!"
"Liu Xin has joined the military, looks like the navy. Maybe we’ll spot him in a photo on an aircraft carrier in the future."
"Teacher Tang said your photo and exam papers got posted on the school wall, right next to Chen Jingrun, hahaha."
Li Zheng intended to offer study advice, but somehow wound up listening to a flood of gossip instead. By the end, he had finished his meal, while Zhang Xiaoke hadn’t taken a single bite.
"Can’t we finish eating before talking?" Li Zheng said, wiping his mouth.
Zhang Xiaoke glared and responded, "How can I? It’s not every day we meet up, so we have to keep talking."
"I’m not your long-lost father," Li Zheng waved his hand dismissively. "Okay, I’ll talk, and you eat."
"Then you can’t play with your phone. You have to keep talking."
"Got it, got it."
Only when Zhang Xiaoke began eating did Li Zheng start to talk about his life.
"Hmm... I don’t think I have much to say myself, just met some really weird people and studied with them."
"Speaking of which, I’ve been so immersed in studying and socializing lately that I suddenly miss Jingjing."
"We just had a class together a few days ago."
"Since the term started, I’ve probably spoken less to her than I have to you during this breakfast..."
"That’s not okay!" Zhang Xiaoke, mouth full of fried dough stick, looked up. "If you don’t pay her attention, there are plenty of others who will. Aren’t you afraid of her being snatched away?"
"People from the School of Physics?" Li Zheng shrugged. "They’re a bit out of reach. Du Zicheng might be the upper limit. If there were guys of Wu Shu’s caliber, maybe I’d need to watch out."
Zhang Xiaoke slammed the table in anger, "Damn! What universe do you live in where people use studying to compete for a girl?"
"Huh?" Li Zheng looked puzzled, "If not that, then what?"
"Hey, you don’t really think Jingjing fell for you because you’re good at studying, do you?"
"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare," Li Zheng took a serious sip of soy milk. "I admit, looks do play a part."
"Ugh!" Zhang Xiaoke angrily snapped a fried dough stick. "It’s the environment! High school gave you the chance to be together day and night, the tests and studies provided a competitive atmosphere. Because of these, you were able to develop a bond. Now that you’re studying separately, your feelings will fade over time. You can’t let that happen!"
"Faded? It’s not too bad," Li Zheng responded while grabbing his phone. "We still send three or five WeChat messages every week."
"And how many do you send to Shi Yang in a week?"
"About three to five hundred, I guess."
"..."
"..."
Li Zheng’s brows instinctively furrowed.
That did seem a bit worrying.
"Don’t panic... It’s just some technical issues we’re communicating about." Li Zheng took another sip of his soy milk and confidently raised his hand. "By the way, I’ve got a camping trip planned with Yu Jing this weekend. It’s all good."
"At least you have some common sense," Zhang Xiaoke warned while munching on the fried dough stick. "Just a reminder, you need to be well-prepared for this trip, with everything from fun to romantic."
"Hmm... How about the latest IPHO exam papers plus a Morse code love letter?"
"Ahhhh, handmade chocolate and roses would be better than that."
"Why bother with all those flashy yet insubstantial things?"
"You have no idea about women!"
"You have no idea about Jingjing!"
```
"...Damn," Zhang Xiaoke shook her head helplessly and started to sip her porridge. "You can figure it out yourself; I’m done."
"Cough..." Li Zheng, although awesome, also deeply understood Zhang Xiaoke had her reasons, so he relented and said, "Then aside from roses, could you give me some other recommendations?"
"Hmph." After gulping down a few mouthfuls, Zhang Xiaoke finally crossed her arms and began to scold, "I indeed don’t understand Jingjing as well as you do, so I can only give you some universal tactics for dealing with girls... Let me first ask, when was the last time Jingjing said something like ’I like you’ or ’I love you, baby’?"
"Well..." Li Zheng’s head was down as he thought for a long time, becoming increasingly bewildered, "It seems... she never said that."
"Ah..." Zhang Xiaoke painfully clutched her head, "What about the last kiss?"
"Seems like... it was the day Yellow 2 was launched."
"You mean there was only one time?"
"Yeah..."
"What have you two been doing all year?!"
"Focused on studying."
"I can’t, I just can’t!" Zhang Xiaoke slammed down the half-eaten fried dough stick in her hand, "I get it now, the only way you can possibly improve your relationship is by studying together. Dates, couple stuff, it’s all bullshit."
Li Zheng’s eyes widened: "That’s right."
No sooner had he said this than he grabbed his phone again: "I’m going to tell her right now to cancel the camping, let’s find a classroom with a good environment to study in instead."
"Stop! That’s suicide!!"
In the end, under pressure, Zhang Xiaoke grudgingly gave some passable advice.
Li Zheng was also not daring enough to take her advice wholesale, deciding to try it out when the time came.
It was not until Zhang Xiaoke and Li Zheng parted ways in front of an academic building that she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh no, you haven’t tutored me yet."
From a distance, Li Zheng raised his hand and said, "First try to get into the top 10% midterms, don’t call yourself my student if you can’t."
"Top 10%? This is Ji University, master."
"No big deal."
"Uh..." Zhang Xiaoke secretly gritted her teeth, "How about a round?"
"What do you mean ’how about a round’?"
"If I make it into the top 10%, you have to tutor me into the top 1%. Otherwise, you’ll have to study with me every day. If I don’t make the top 10%... then you can punish me."
"Alright..."
"So what’s the punishment going to be?"
"I don’t really want to punish you..."
Follow curr𝒆nt nov𝒆ls on fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com.
"Come on, there has to be something, or else there’s no motivation."
"Then I’ll think of something and tell you later..."
Passersby who overheard them couldn’t help thinking the conversation was quite bizarre.
"Are they... talking about studying?"
"I thought Ji University was supposed to have a studious atmosphere but didn’t expect it to be this intense..."
"Wait, that guy is Li Zheng..."
"No wonder... that makes sense."
For the remaining time that week...
Li Zheng spent it all on studying!
He indeed wanted to invite Lin Yujing to study together.
But the problem was...
GTMD Grandma.
This schedule didn’t even have a gap for evening self-study.
Skipping classes wasn’t impossible, but to skip class to meet up with his girlfriend was something Li Zheng, with his principles, couldn’t bring himself to do.
Was this also within Grandma’s calculating...?
As for having lunch or dinner together, Li Zheng had suggested it, but Lin Yujing put it off, insisting on studying and saying to discuss meeting up on the weekend.
It’s quite normal for students to prioritize their studies.
But after being brainwashed by Zhang Xiaoke, Li Zheng always had an ominous feeling.
This couldn’t go on; he had to at least let her see his handsome face now and then.
```
This weekend, I must turn the tide.
Li Zheng thus proposed to Old Li about borrowing a car.
Old Li straightforwardly said he needed it too, so why not...
Go buy one.
In fact, he and Ning’er had already considered this, and they were waiting for Li Zheng to bring it up himself. But the kid was just too frugal with anything other than buying books. Now, with the excuse of the thesis, they simply encouraged Li Zheng to go ahead and handle it.
After asking Li Yi, he directly transferred 300,000 yuan, no more no less. Any excess would have to be covered by Li Zheng himself, and any savings would be his to keep.
This was tricky, as Li Zheng had no understanding of cars whatsoever.
Therefore, he sought out Tu Yikou, who seemed to have worked in a car factory before.
"I know cars," Tu Yikou said, lying on a self-made deck chair on the balcony and taking a drag on his cigarette. "What’s the budget?"
"That’s not important." Li Zheng pulled over a chair and nodded emphatically. "What’s important is..."
"Performance, I get it."
"It’s not about performance."
"Prestige? That’s perfect."
"Not prestige either."
"Speed? You’re not thinking of getting into street racing, are you?"
"Even less so," Li Zheng patted Tu Yikou. "It’s about safety, my only requirement for the car is safety."
"Ah... that’s really your kind of specification. But with the current road conditions, you don’t need much if you’re not running on the freeway every day."
"Still, we need to be prepared." Li Zheng gestured. "Ideally, it should have bulletproof glass, be only slightly deformed when hit by a big truck, and not explode even if targeted with a Gatling gun..."
"That...," Tu Yikou frowned and stubbed out his cigarette, "Otherwise, I could smuggle an armored vehicle from Russia for you... Other than guzzling fuel, it should be fine, as long as you don’t encounter tanks or airstrikes, there shouldn’t be any problems."
"Oh?" Li Zheng asked seriously, "Can it be licensed?"
"Damn... with that perfect argument, I can’t tell if you’re serious or just being sarcastic." Tu Yikou grabbed Li Zheng’s shoulders. "Friend, if you ever become powerful enough to be at risk of assassination, the state will proactively provide you with a bulletproof armored vehicle. Until then, I could help you modify one, but it’s not legal, freedom also has to be within the bounds of law."
"What a pity, I wanted to make it right with the car purchase." Li Zheng frowned with displeasure. "What about the ones that are generally available, any recommendations?"
"The safest ones you can buy, which have been tested by the Magnesium Country’s highway safety insurance association, would be the ’Highway Tanks’, but..." Tu Yikou pursed his lips, "They are pricey, and besides safety, they have nothing going for them. They’re also very discreet in appearance, so much so that they don’t even compare to those worth just over a hundred thousand yuan... If it were me, with that kind of money, I’d choose a sporty coupe or a badass off-road vehicle, perfect for fun and flirting, the epitome of freedom."
"Tell me the models of those two."
"But I... don’t want to say it, I feel like you’ll actually buy it, and I don’t want you to waste your money like that." Tu Yikou held Li Zheng’s shoulders. "With the same amount of money, buying a cool car would have girls knocking on your window wherever you park it... But those two... girls wouldn’t even recognize them... not just girls, even dogs wouldn’t give them a second glance..."
"Oh? They have that kind of covert functionality?" Li Zheng’s eyes widened with interest. "Do they come in camouflage or military green?"
"..."
...
Sunday, before noon.
An unassuming SUV, seemingly no different from Old Li’s Jeep from ten years ago, slowly pulled up in front of Lin Yujing’s building entrance.
Shen Tinglan and Lin Yujing stood together, only realizing the person they were waiting for had arrived when Li Zheng got out of the car.
Li Zheng waved from a distance before helping Lin Yujing carry her luggage over.
"Your father has good taste," Shen Tinglan examined the unremarkable car and mused, "He really is the solid head of the family..."
"Hm?" Lin Yujing closed the trunk and joined her mother’s side, puzzled by the unfamiliar emblem on the back of the car. "I don’t even recognize this logo, and it’s a leader’s choice?"
"Hey, you don’t understand cars," Shen Tinglan gestured. "This brand is renowned for its safety, and many senior engineers like it, but it’s so understated and has limited promotion here, so the slightly more impetuous people wouldn’t choose it. Men who pick this car place the concept of protecting their family first. My view may sound traditional, but as long as families exist, these concepts won’t change."
"Hm... Big Chap suddenly seems so grand..." Lin Yujing pursed her lips, swayed by the sentiment, "The head of the family’s choice..."
"Hey!" Li Zheng, listening at the side, could barely contain his laughter. "That’s too much praise, Auntie, way too much. Knowing in one’s heart is good enough."
"You too, causing such a big stir as soon as you entered the school, don’t get carried away," Shen Tinglan waved her hand. "Pay attention on the road, I’m somewhat relieved you have your father’s car."
As she opened the car door, she caught the scent of a new car.
"New car?"
"Not new, he still drives the old one, this one was just bought," Li Zheng explained with a smile.
"..." Shen Tinglan was taken aback. "You chose it?"
"Yes," Li Zheng admitted with a blush, raising his hand. "It’s just the natural choice."
Shen Tinglan’s face turned red too, as she looked helplessly at Lin Yujing.
Sorry, my dear, mom has led you astray.