Jiang Ge was currently in the third year of his PhD program. His family circumstances could be considered modest even by Port Platinum standards, but his academic performance was outstanding he won scholarships every year. To earn some extra money in his spare time, he took on ghostwriting assignments online, and it was precisely this opportunity that led him to meet Lu Feiyang.
Yan Yuchuan and Jiang Ge agreed to meet at a café downstairs from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. In their brief conversation, Yan Yuchuan could sense that Jiang Ge was a man of few words but simple and sincere, harboring an earnest and pure passion for science.
“Junior Lu showed me this project, and I took it on the spot. Partly because he was paying generously, and partly because the project itself was genuinely interesting,” Jiang Ge said, fidgeting with his glasses as he spoke, betraying his nervousness. “However, Professor Xu told me that Junior Lu has withdrawn from the project.”
Yan Yuchuan frowned. “When did this happen?”
“Just this morning. Professor Xu explained the situation to me, then gave me your number and asked me to get in touch with you.”
This morning.
Yan Yuchuan thought of Ming Rao’s visit the previous night and had a general idea of what had happened, but he still hadn’t expected Ming Rao to work with such efficiency resolving the problem overnight.
Beyond his surprise, a trace of bitterness crept into his heart. So the predicaments that had been enough to corner him were, in the eyes of those high and mighty, nothing more than child’s play, hardly worth a second thought.
“Professor Xu said Junior Lu withdrew because the semester started and he had classes to attend, leaving no time to juggle a practical project. But…” Jiang Ge pursed his lips, deciding to stop beating around the bush. “Actually, I know this project was originally yours. My research focus is brain-computer interfaces, which happens to be exactly the technical support I can provide. I think we’d make great partners.”
Yan Yuchuan said, “Then Professor Xu probably also told you that I’m not an official participant.”
Jiang Ge nodded. “I’ve thought about it. You could actually join as an external scientific advisor.”
Although the Innovation Camp allowed participants to freely form teams during their stay, the background screening for team members was extremely strict. It was expressly prohibited for any non-official participant to appear among the company’s founders, hold initial shares, or participate in company decisions under any legitimate title. This restriction would remain in effect from the company’s incubation all the way through its initial public offering.
This meant that, aside from providing necessary technical support, a scientific advisor could not be involved in any major company matters.
Yan Yuchuan refused without hesitation. “I’m sorry, but that’s not something I’ll consider.”
A visible look of astonishment flashed across Jiang Ge’s face he was almost stunned into silence. But soon enough, he nodded. Clearly, he wasn’t the type to fight tooth and nail for what he wanted.
Seeing Jiang Ge open his mouth several times only to hold back, Yan Yuchuan took the initiative and asked instead, “Who’s on your team right now?”
“Besides me, there’s another PhD student who specializes in algorithms.”
“How’s your progress?”
Jiang Ge’s expression dimmed, but he still told the truth. “There’s a technical bottleneck that we won’t be able to overcome in the short term with our current capabilities.”
Yan Yuchuan understood immediately. “Is it the EEG signal part?”
Jiang Ge nodded, then added, “I read your technical principle summary. The technology used in that section you didn’t seem to explain it very clearly.”
Yan Yuchuan said, “That’s because it involves a patented technology.”
Jiang Ge was silent for a moment. “Honestly, if you’re unwilling to join, I’ll respect your decision. But I still feel I should remind you if this technical barrier can’t be broken through, then this project won’t work out for you either.”
“Don’t worry,” Yan Yuchuan said calmly. “The patent for this technology is in my hands.”
Jiang Ge’s eyes widened slightly as realization dawned.
He had assumed that joining as a scientific advisor was the best possible outcome for someone outside the camp, and that by extending this olive branch, Yan Yuchuan would readily accept. He never expected him to refuse outright without even a moment’s consideration.
Now he understood. Because Yan Yuchuan held a trump card in his hand, he naturally wouldn’t be willing to give up his power.
Jiang Ge asked, “So would you be willing to share it with us?”
“Of course I would,” Yan Yuchuan said with a smile. “But the project has to be led by me.”
Jiang Ge scratched his head awkwardly. “Alright, I shouldn’t have asked.”
Seeing the embarrassment on his face, Yan Yuchuan added, “I’m sorry, but that technology is very important to me. Even with my most trusted partner, I’m afraid I wouldn’t share it lightly.”
Jiang Ge nodded understandingly and asked one final question. “Are you sure there’s no way to get official participant status? To be honest, I don’t want to compete with you. If possible, I really hope we could be partners.”
“So do I. But I’m sorry.”
Yan Yuchuan’s words came from the heart. Though their exchange had been brief, he could already foresee that working with someone so candid and straightforward would be a very pleasant experience.
He had realized early on that the underlying technology Jiang Ge mentioned was precisely the key to making memory-editing surgery feasible at the current level of technical development. That was why, as early as his sophomore year in college, he had already filed the patent application for it. Even if he would later collaborate with others on research and development, he had to ensure that ownership of that technology remained firmly in his own hands.
Earlier, he hadn’t been able to gauge Jiang Ge’s capabilities, but after this meeting, he was temporarily put at ease.
At the very least, he now knew that Jiang Ge’s team was completely stumped by that underlying technology, which was essentially like kicking the ball back into his own half of the field.
The worst-case scenario was simply that Jiang Ge couldn’t solve the technical problem, while Yan Yuchuan failed to raise the necessary funds, resulting in mutual destruction where neither could push the project forward.
But if both sides could get what they wanted.
Yan Yuchuan promptly cut off that fantasy.
He was well aware that after all the twists and turns at Platinum Harbor, his chances of becoming an official member of the Innovation Camp had become all but impossible.
No matter how beautiful the imagination, it was nothing more than a fleeting dream.
Yan Yuchuan ran into Lu Feiyang again at the graduation ceremony for the theoretical phase of the Innovation Camp.
There was still a week before summer vacation ended. Student members were about to return to school, and some members who no longer planned to continue their projects could choose to receive their completion certificates and leave at this point.
Those who were confident in turning their ideas into reality, however, would begin looking for mentors and building teams to prepare for the next phase of laboratory research and validation.
After the ceremony ended, Yan Yuchuan had just stepped out of the auditorium when he spotted a flashy sports car parked in the shade of a tree.
He instinctively took a detour, but Lu Feiyang spotted him first and sauntered over with a grin. “What’s the matter, scared of me?”
Yan Yuchuan wasn’t actually afraid of him. It was just that after this period of cooling down and reflection, he admitted that he had acted impulsively before and didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes.
His project was progressing well now. Even though he still wasn’t an official member, Xu Pingxin appreciated him and was willing to help him privately that was already more than he could have hoped for, and he didn’t want to stir up any more trouble.
“You need something?” Yan Yuchuan turned around, his face expressionless.
Lu Feiyang held a cigarette between his fingers, flicked off the ash, and laughed flippantly. “Honestly, you’ve got some real skills hacking into my family’s system like that. With a brain like yours, it’s kind of a waste to use it for legitimate purposes.”
Yan Yuchuan replied without changing his expression, “As long as the brain is being used, it can’t be called a waste.”
Lu Feiyang chuckled and took a step closer. Yan Yuchuan instinctively clenched his fists, his body visibly tensing up.
Lu Feiyang noticed his reaction. “What are you afraid of? Relax, I’m not going to cause you any more trouble.”
Yan Yuchuan’s gaze remained wary. “Then thank you.”
Lu Feiyang lowered his voice meaningfully. “After all, no matter how domineering I am, I wouldn’t touch a brother’s man.”
Yan Yuchuan’s brows furrowed. Lu Feiyang’s smile grew even more cunning. “I really misjudged you, Yan Yuchuan. I never thought that with such an upright look on your face, you’d be so flexible even willing to sell yourself like that.”
“…”
Seeing that Yan Yuchuan still looked completely baffled, Lu Feiyang continued on his own. “Still playing dumb with me? I really didn’t see it coming. That kid Ming Rao, always so quiet, never had anyone around him in all the years I’ve known him. I thought he didn’t have those worldly desires. Never expected his tastes to be so heavy. The rest of us just mess around with girls, but him.”
With that, Lu Feiyang leaned in close to Yan Yuchuan’s ear, his expression practically lecherous, “he actually keeps a man.”
Yan Yuchuan’s eyes went wide.
Keeps a man?
Ming Rao?
His face turned ashen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lu Feiyang’s lips curled upward, wearing a smug look of someone who saw through everything. “Don’t worry, I never make things hard for my brothers. I won’t spill your secret. After all, if you’re willing to sell yourself like that, you’re truly a ruthless one. Just go ahead and be your scientist in peace, I won’t hold a grudge against you anymore.”
Even after Lu Feiyang’s sports car sped off into the distance, Yan Yuchuan remained mired in shock.
What on earth was all that? He absolutely could not associate himself with any of those words.
Yan Yuchuan did his best to calm down and methodically walked through the entire situation from start to finish. Finally, he gradually pieced together the full picture.
Lu Feiyang, despite being a scoundrel, adhered to a simple code of street honor. Ming Rao had lied, claiming that Yan Yuchuan was now someone he kept, and Lu Feiyang, out of respect for his friend, could gracefully back off without losing face.
After all, Lu Feiyang had no real interest in doing research, and he certainly didn’t want his father to find out his project had been stolen. With that convenient excuse handed to him, he took the way out readily enough.
Since Ming Rao had visited his shabby apartment building that time, he had never shown up again, nor had he ever mentioned any sordid arrangement with Yan Yuchuan. So all of this must have been a story Ming Rao fabricated to fool Lu Feiyang.
Thinking about it, given how frail and delicate Ming Rao looked, there was no way he could have done something like that.
Yan Yuchuan’s heart finally settled back into his chest with relief.
All his efforts and persistence had never been about money. He could give every cent he earned from his business to repay the Lin family for raising him, but what he truly wanted, what had carried him through every fall and every rise was nothing more than a little recognition and respect.
Yan Yuchuan couldn’t imagine selling his dignity for money; that would be a complete inversion of his priorities. Even having someone make such a demand of him was, in itself, a blatant trampling and humiliation let alone actually agreeing to it.