In the laboratory.

Watching Professor Jiang's excited figure hurriedly departing, Qian Lele blinked her eyes somewhat puzzled, but didn't think too much about it.

Just as she was about to refocus on her work.

"Buzz—" Her phone on the table vibrated once.

[Ding Yao: "(/

0

)/ Lele! I'm back at school today! Are you busy right now? Want to have lunch together?"]

Seeing this message.

Qian Lele quickly replied: "Sure! I should be free around 11:30, I'll call you then."

[Ding Yao: "Okay~ See you later! Mwah~"]

Putting down her phone, Qian Lele's serious face revealed a lighthearted smile.

Ding Yao was one year ahead of her and would be a senior in the Art School after the semester started.

Since that grand birthday party during summer vacation.

Ding Yao, who majored in music performance, had entered a well-known entertainment company in the Imperial Capital through family connections for an internship, beginning to pursue her future star dreams.

Calculating carefully, Qian Lele hadn't seen her best friend for almost three months.

She actually missed her a lot deep down.

There were many things she wanted to tell her.

Immediately, Qian Lele stood up.

She went over to the four graduate students who were gathered together discussing something.

She patted one of the female students on the shoulder and said softly: "Senior Shanshan, I'm having lunch with a classmate today, so no need to order food for me."

After joining this research group, there was an additional benefit - they provided lunch.

This perk only appeared after cooperating with [Yuntong Zhicui], apparently specially provided by them for the project team.

For the extremely frugal Qian Lele.

Saving over ten yuan on lunch money every day was one of her biggest "small happinesses" recently.

"Mm, okay." Wang Shanshan made an OK gesture, then immediately rejoined the heated discussion.

Qian Lele didn't leave immediately, but stood nearby, quietly listening.

"I attended a lecture last week about 'The Impact of AI Large Models on the Programming Industry'. If we front-end visual developers don't quickly transition to the intersection of algorithms and AI, we'll be eliminated too."

"It's too difficult. Look at our lab's computing equipment - they're still GTX graphics cards from four or five years ago. Even running small models makes you want to die from the lag."

"Sigh, if only we could join research groups at top-tier universities like Tsinghua and Peking. I heard they directly collaborate with large tech companies, with no shortage of equipment, data, or funding. Here... we don't even have decent corporate collaboration interfaces."

"Alright Shanshan, stop daydreaming? Professor Jiang managing to secure this [Yuntong Zhicui] project for us is already pretty amazing. Be content."

"Hey, Lele, you're a junior this year, next year you'll be taking graduate entrance exams. With your grades, you could actually try for Top 10 universities. Have any targets in mind?" Senior Shanshan asked concerned.

"Not yet..." Qian Lele shook her head.

Her heart, which had just been leaping with excitement about meeting her friend, gradually sank.

She felt deep anxiety.

With the emergence of AI large models like ChatGPT-4 and Lime 3.0.

Programming had now entered the era of AI assistance.

Following Tang Song's recommendation, she had also started trying to use Lime 3.0 to write front-end pages. The astonishing efficiency and code quality deeply shocked her.

She felt that the code written by AI was much better than what she painstakingly came up with.

The algorithms were also more concise and elegant.

Just as the seniors were discussing.

By the time their class graduated, the entire programming field might undergo earth-shaking changes.

Low-end coders might all be replaced by AI.

For Qian Lele, this was an imminent survival crisis.

If possible, she actually didn't want to pursue graduate studies.

Because that would waste three whole precious years of money-making time.

But given the current situation.

Without further education, it would be extremely difficult to truly access cutting-edge technologies like AI that could change the future.

Even a strong laboratory like Professor Jiang's, although they obtained considerable research funding through the [Yuntong Zhicui] project.

Still couldn't make a dent in the bottomless investment required for AI development.

At most, they could just add a few latest computing graphics cards.

Right at this moment.

The laboratory's wooden door was pushed open with a "bang" sound.

Slightly hurried high heel sounds tapped "click-clack-click" on the floor tiles.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the sound.

They saw Professor Jiang Yourong walking in quickly, her face flushed.

"Clap-clap—"

Clear clapping sounds rang out.

"Everyone stop what you're doing for now!" Jiang Yourong's voice trembled slightly from extreme excitement. "I have something to share with everyone in advance!"

Qian Lele, who was about to leave, abruptly stopped in her tracks and also stood still.

All the students in the laboratory curiously focused their gazes on their advisor.

They had never seen Professor Jiang show such radiance before.

As everyone knew, this young associate professor was always "Buddha-like":

Gentle, non-competitive, with loose project requirements - students secretly called her "Bodhisattva Jiang".

But now, her entire being seemed to be glowing.

Jiang Yourong looked around at these students, her gaze burning as if trying hard to restrain the joy in her heart.

She took a deep breath and said slowly:

Jiang Yourong looked around at these students, her gaze burning as if she was trying hard to contain the joy within her.

"Our research group... has successfully been selected for the core university cooperation list of the [Xuanji Optical World] project!"

Everyone in the laboratory froze, almost thinking they had misheard.

[Xuanji Optical World]?

Tang Yi Precision's [Xuanji Optical World]?!

How was this possible?

"We will work together with teams from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and University of Science and Technology of China to deeply participate in the co-construction of the 'Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Science Joint Laboratory'."

"This means—"

Jiang Yourong's voice began to rise uncontrollably.

"Starting next month, we will receive 3 to 5 million yuan in continuous annual research funding support from [Xuanji Optical World]! We will also receive the world's most advanced AI computing clusters and most complete data interfaces provided by them!"

"Buzz—"

The entire laboratory fell deathly silent.

Even the hum of the fans seemed to have been cut off.

Almost everyone simultaneously looked up, eyes wide.

What?! On par with Tsinghua and Peking University?!

Millions in research funding?!

Top-tier computing clusters?!

This was like a fantasy!

Qian Lele felt her heartbeat was so fast she could barely control it.

Although she had just joined the research group, she had heard the seniors discussing cutting-edge tech companies in China.

Among them was the recently trending [Xuanji Optical World], a "next-generation interaction platform" jointly created by Tang Yi Precision and Qingning Technology.

And Professor Jiang said they would participate in it, together with the top universities.

A few seconds later.

Wang Shanshan was the first to regain her composure, her voice trembling: "Professor Jiang... are you serious? You're not... not joking with us, are you?"

Others also looked over one after another.

Jiang Yourong straightened her back, her full chest heaving, "Of course it's true. The invitation email has already been sent to my mailbox, the officially stamped kind."

"This..."

"Holy shit! How is this possible?"

"We actually got... a project of this level?!"

Looking at these completely shocked students.

Jiang Yourong smiled slightly, cleared her throat lightly, "It shouldn't be too unexpected. You probably don't know, partly because I've been too low-key. Actually, I used to work at Smile Holdings, serving as Director Jin's work assistant."

"Boom—"

Instantly, everyone's minds exploded like torpedoes.

They stared dumbfounded at their advisor.

They had all been following Professor Jiang for over a year, never imagining that their Buddha-like advisor could be connected to the legendary Jin Meixiao, and as a former assistant at that?!

Jiang Yourong watched this scene, feeling thoroughly exhilarated.

She had finally released the excitement pent up inside her.

That "suppressed sense of pride" now bubbled out freely like foam.

Who could understand her feelings right now?

Director Jin, your Jiang Yourong is back!

...

When Qian Lele walked out of the Computer Science building, her whole being was still in an excited, emotionally stirred state.

The winter wind brushed past her cheeks, but she didn't feel cold at all.

Her mind kept echoing the words Professor Jiang had just announced.

It felt like a dream.

If all this became reality, then the projects she would participate in next.

Would no longer be obscure "data labeling" work.

But research that could truly connect with cutting-edge science.

This meant her resume, qualifications, and even future career choices would undergo earth-shaking changes because of this.

Thinking of this, her heart surged with excitement, and her steps unconsciously quickened.

When she reached the front of the Art School building.

From afar, she saw that familiar figure.

Ding Yao was standing under a ginkgo tree, idly kicking fallen leaves.

Now she was already an entertainment company intern.

Her clothing and style were more like a "budding artist," exceptionally refined.

Looking at her, Qian Lele couldn't help but feel a small trace of envy.

She also liked pretty clothes, delicious food, and shopping.

It's just that her world was still too narrow.

But she believed that someday.

Through her own efforts, she could reach that level too.

"Lele! Over here!" Ding Yao saw her and excitedly waved.

"Yaoyao!"

Qian Lele walked faster and faster, finally breaking into a run.

The two girls who hadn't seen each other for a long time warmly embraced.

Chatting excitedly.

"By the way, where should we eat? Anything you'd like?"

"I'm treating today!" Qian Lele pulled her arm, smiling with curved eyes. "There's a new mala xiangguo place across from school with tons of ingredients, super delicious!"

Looking at Qian Lele's sparkling, expectant eyes.

Ding Yao smiled and agreed: "Okay, then we'll go with your choice."

The two crossed the somewhat desolate campus in early winter and arrived at that "Tomorrow Xiangguo Restaurant."

Steam filled the air, the stimulating aroma of spices whetting appetites.

Qian Lele didn't hold back when ordering.

Cured meat, tripe, fatty beef, pork belly - she added them all.

She also proactively took two bottles of Ding Yao's favorite juice.

After weighing everything, the total came to 126 yuan.

She didn't hesitate at all, directly scanning to pay.

After sitting down in the booth.

Ding Yao looked her friend up and down, her eyes full of surprise.

"What are you looking at?" Qian Lele felt somewhat embarrassed under her gaze.

"You seem completely different - your skin looks better, your eyes are brighter." Ding Yao smiled and pointed at the receipt stuck to the table edge. "And all this - you wouldn't have been so free-spending before."

"I was too poor before." Qian Lele laughed softly. "You know, I have a stable job now, making quite a bit every month."

"Haha, that's great."

Soon, the steaming hot mala xiangguo was served.

The two ate while chatting.

Qian Lele also learned about Ding Yao's recent detailed situation.

She studied music performance and, through family connections, entered [Yuehua Entertainment] as a "trainee assistant."

Usually following artist teams to events, doing stage control, coordinating backstage equipment.

While also managing her own vocal training.

Sounded glamorous, but was actually quite tough.

Listening, Qian Lele's eyes showed both admiration and pity.

But she knew this good friend of hers came from a very well-off family.

Even if she couldn't become a star, she could go back and inherit the family business.

"Keep it up Yaoyao, I believe you can definitely do it!" she encouraged seriously.

"Thanks for the good wishes." Ding Yao smiled and clinked her drink bottle with Qian Lele's, then couldn't help but gossip: "By the way, how are things with your 'male god'?"

Qian Lele's face flushed "whoosh" red, "Nothing's going on."

"What does 'nothing's going on' mean?" Ding Yao raised an eyebrow. "You don't say anything on WeChat either, keeping it all mysterious."

Qian Lele hesitated for a moment, then said quietly: "He's now... my brother."

"Brother?!"

"Mm... I recognized him as my brother. He's helped me so much and takes good care of me. That front-end development part-time job I have now was arranged by him."

"Okay..." Ding Yao sighed, "What a pity, such a handsome male god - what a waste to just be a brother."

Although she had only met him once, her impression of Tang Song was extremely deep.

Even now interning in the Imperial Capital entertainment industry, having seen many so-called "god-tier" idols.

She rarely saw men as outstanding as Tang Song in both appearance and presence.

But she also knew that a man like Tang Song definitely wouldn't lack women around him.

For this simple Cinderella, having a powerful "brother" as backup was actually a good choice now.

The two fell silent for a few seconds.

Ding Yao seemed to suddenly remember something and said: "By the way, are you free tonight?"

"Uh... yeah, why?"

"You know my dad works as a plastic surgeon at Provincial People's Hospital, right? He recently took on a long-term side job as a training consultant at a chain of light medical aesthetics clinics. Back and forth, he got to know two shareholders of that institution."

"One of them is a female shareholder about our age with huge connections, knows high-level resources at [Tang Entertainment]."

"My internship is ending soon, so I'm thinking if there's any chance to make connections."

"Tonight, she's hosting a party at her private club."

"My dad shamelessly got me a temporary membership trial card."

Her eyes sparkled, her speech speeding up.

"That club is super high-end, not only with free premium SPA and beauty treatments to experience, but also endless delicious food! I thought I'd try my luck. Even if I can't make connections, I can still see how the other half lives and get some free top-tier club services! Come with me!"

Hearing this, Qian Lele hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed as if bewitched.

Ever since that time dancing with Tang Song at the livehouse in the film base.

And later mustering the courage to hug him.

It felt like a barrier in her heart had opened, and she also longed to continue upward, to see a broader world.

She no longer refused Ding Yao's kindness out of fear of being looked down upon.

Moreover, the explosive news Professor Jiang just brought also filled her with unprecedented anticipation and confidence about the future.

She was an optimistic, upward-striving person. As long as there was hope in life, clear goals.

She no longer refused Ding Yao's kindness out of fear of being looked down upon.