Awakening Elementary School System in University

’So soon?’

Chen Lin was a little surprised. Professor Gu was incredibly efficient.

He was about to reply with a "Thank you for your hard work," but before he could finish typing, Gu Ming’s second message popped up.

[Gu Ming: Do you have time right now? Come to my office.]

Chen Lin stared at the message, a flicker of confusion rising in his mind.

’The paper is already revised. He could have just sent it to me. Why the need to talk in person?’

But he didn’t dwell on it. After all, Professor Gu had done him a huge favor. It was only right to go and thank him in person.

[Chen Lin: Okay, Professor Gu. I’ll be right over.]

He put his phone away and walked briskly out of the Innovation Space Building, heading toward the School of Mathematics building.

...

「Ten minutes later, in Professor Gu Ming’s office.」

"Come in."

Chen Lin knocked. Hearing Gu Ming’s voice from inside, he pushed the door open and walked in.

But the moment he stepped inside, he paused, slightly taken aback.

In the office, besides Professor Gu, an older man he didn’t recognize was sitting on the sofa.

The man looked to be in his fifties or sixties. His hair was salt-and-pepper but meticulously combed, and he appeared exceptionally spry. His eyes were bright and spirited, radiating a wisdom that only comes with age.

He wore a well-worn shirt, slightly faded from washing, and had a warm smile on his face. He looked just like a friendly old man from next door.

’Is he... one of the university’s professors? Or a relative of Professor Gu?’

Chen Lin’s mind raced, and for a moment, he had no idea how he should address the man.

"You’re here. Have a seat." Seeing Chen Lin, Gu Ming immediately stood up with a smile. He gestured toward the older man and made the introduction. "Chen Lin, let me introduce you. This is the Director of our Yannan University Department of Mathematics, Professor Guo Qizhi."

’The Director of the Department of Mathematics?!’

Chen Lin was startled. He instantly dismissed his casual guesses, his expression shifting to one of deep respect as he gave Guo Qizhi a slight bow.

"Hello, Director Guo!"

"Hahaha, no need to be so formal. Sit, please, have a seat." Guo Qizhi chuckled, waving his hand and pointing to the sofa opposite him. His friendly demeanor instantly eased the disparity in their official standing.

Once Chen Lin was seated, Guo Qizhi placed the thermos he was holding on the coffee table. His bright eyes sized Chen Lin up with keen interest, his tone filled with unconcealed admiration.

"Ah, Chen Lin. I’ve heard quite a bit about you, and not just once!"

He held up his fingers, counting off the achievements. "At the modeling competition, you cracked a tough problem right in front of Academician Liang Tianshi, bringing great honor to our Yannan University! Then there was the department transfer exam—five specialized courses, perfect scores on every single one. Even Gu told me that in all his years of teaching, he’s never seen such flawless exams! And then, there’s the thesis you handed in to Gu..."

Here, Guo Qizhi paused, glancing at Gu Ming beside him before continuing with a sigh of admiration. "The quality of that paper is far beyond the level of an undergraduate, or even most doctoral students! Gu told me that if the writing weren’t a little unpolished, he would have thought it was the work of a long-established scholar!"

This torrent of unabashed praise left Chen Lin feeling a bit embarrassed. He could only scratch his head awkwardly and say humbly, "You’re flattering me, Director Guo. I just got lucky."

"Hahaha, once is luck. But when it’s luck every time, that’s called skill!" Guo Qizhi laughed heartily. His tone then shifted, his expression growing more serious. "Gu told me your next research plan is to systematically tackle the major project of ’Manifold Boundary and Hallucination Control in Generative Models.’ And you plan on compiling your final results into a paper for publication in an SCI journal, is that correct?"

"Yes, that’s the plan," Chen Lin nodded, readily admitting it.

’I only ever mentioned this to Professor Gu. Looks like he reported even this to the department director.’

However, what Guo Qizhi said next took Chen Lin by surprise.

"It’s a good idea, but I’d personally advise you to adjust your strategy slightly." Guo Qizhi looked at Chen Lin, his tone gentle but his manner quite serious. "You could first compile some of the interim, yet substantial, findings from your research and submit that as an SCI paper. The main goal is to get your face known in academic circles, to let everyone know who you are."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and continued slowly, "But the newest, most crucial, and most valuable part of your research—don’t be in a rush to publish that. Keep an ace up your sleeve, understand?"

’Keep an ace up my sleeve?’

Chen Lin was completely baffled by this.

’What kind of play was that?’

’From what he understood about academic research, wasn’t the top priority to rush and publish any breakthrough results, for fear of being scooped by someone else?’

’So why was Director Guo advising him to do the exact opposite?’

’What was the point?’

Seemingly sensing the confusion on Chen Lin’s face, Guo Qizhi and Gu Ming exchanged a look, a faint smile visible in each other’s eyes.

Guo Qizhi set down his thermos. A mysterious smile touched his lips as he said slowly, "Gu and I asked you here today for an official purpose. We want to extend a formal invitation to you."

He leaned forward slightly, enunciating each word. "We want to invite you to represent Yannan University at the world-class, high-profile mathematics conference being held at Yanbei University this fall. And, at that conference, we want you to give a thematic report on your latest research findings."

’A world-class mathematics conference!’

Although Chen Lin didn’t know much about the academic world, just hearing the venue—Yanbei University—was enough to tell him that this was an academic conference of the highest caliber and immense importance.

Seeing Chen Lin’s eyes instantly light up, the smile on Guo Qizhi’s face deepened.

"Now do you understand why I told you to keep an ace up your sleeve?"

"Publishing a paper in a journal has a far-reaching impact, but that impact builds too slowly. On the other hand, a single presentation at a top-tier, highly-publicized academic conference, in front of countless leading scholars from home and abroad, can allow you to make a stunning debut in the shortest possible time!"

Guo Qizhi’s tone carried the confidence of a master strategist. "We’re going to use this opportunity to thrust you—and by extension, the Yannan University Department of Mathematics—into the spotlight, right in front of all our peers across the country, all in one go!"

’So that’s why!’

Chen Lin instantly understood the depth of Director Guo’s strategy.

’It was a truly brilliant move!’

His mind raced as he quickly calculated the benefits this opportunity would bring him.

’After all, hadn’t Principal Chang Kai given him a position and funding in the hopes that he would leverage his academic strengths to help Yannan University elevate its reputation, both at home and abroad?’

’Giving a stunning presentation at a top-tier academic conference like this was, without a doubt, the most direct and effective way to do just that!’