Chapter 303 - 234: An Important Meeting

Chapter 303: Chapter 234: An Important Meeting

The man in the mirror had sharp brows and bright eyes. He had a composed demeanor, yet it was pierced by the sharp edge unique to a young man, showing not a single trace of the naivety of the Ivory Tower.

This morning, he was going to meet a very important person.

So important that even though Chen Lin now had a net worth of over a hundred million and could casually converse with the world’s top mathematicians, he still felt a flutter of nervousness.

He couldn’t help but take a deep breath to calm himself.

Nine a.m. sharp.

A knock came at the door, right on time.

Qin Feng was dressed in the same inconspicuous jacket, but there were clearly a few more security personnel behind him than yesterday, and their gazes were even sharper.

"Professor Chen, are you ready?" Qin Feng asked, a flash of admiration in his eyes as he looked at the refreshed Chen Lin.

"I’m ready." Chen Lin nodded, adjusting his cuffs.

"Then let’s go."

...

After they had driven for some time, the hustle and bustle outside the car window seemed to vanish, replaced by a tranquility so profound and solemn it commanded respect.

Chen Lin sat in the back seat, his back unconsciously straightening.

The car finally stopped in front of a small, two-story building.

"Professor Chen, if you please."

Qin Feng opened the car door for Chen Lin.

After passing through several strict security checks, Chen Lin followed a uniformed staff member into the small building.

As soon as he stepped inside, the faint scent of ink and tea washed over him.

The room’s furnishings were simple: a few sofas, a coffee table, and several calligraphy scrolls and paintings on the walls. It was not the luxurious setting Chen Lin had imagined; instead, it exuded a sense of simple, profound dignity.

Chen Lin saw an elderly man.

Although time had left its mark on his face, his spirit seemed remarkably vigorous. His eyes were gentle yet profound, and the composed aura he exuded made him appear much younger than his actual age.

Seeing Chen Lin enter the room, the old man set down the documents in his hand. A kind smile spread across his face as he stood, took two steps forward, and extended his right hand.

"Professor Chen, welcome."

Chen Lin hurriedly took two steps forward and, extending both of his hands, respectfully clasped the elderly man’s hand.

"Hello, sir!" A rare hint of nervousness crept into Chen Lin’s voice.

"Please, have a seat. Don’t be so formal."

The old man smiled and gestured for Chen Lin to sit, then took a seat on the sofa opposite him.

A staff member quickly brought over two cups of hot tea.

The old man looked at Chen Lin, who was sitting ramrod straight, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

"It’s true what they say: heroes emerge from the young. I’ve seen you many times in videos and photos, but meeting you in person, I find you’re even younger than I imagined."

"Thank you for the contributions you’ve made to Huaxia recently."

The old man’s tone grew more solemn as he recalled,

"The breakthrough in large-model AI algorithms, the solution to the bottleneck in thermal protection materials for hypersonic vehicles, and the good news that arrived just a few days ago—two major advancements in solid-state batteries."

"Every single one is a remarkable achievement."

At this, the old man paused, his gaze profound as he looked at Chen Lin.

"Academician Xiang Wentian wrote me a personal letter two days ago."

Hearing the name "Xiang Wentian," Chen Lin’s heart stirred. The image of that frail yet resolute old man lying in a hospital bed surfaced in his mind again.

The old man said slowly, "In his letter, he said you are a ’Pillar of the State.’"

"And I believe you are fully worthy of those four words."

Pillar of the State!

Those four words carried an immense weight.

Chen Lin felt his heart pound in his chest as a wave of heat surged through him.

He quickly leaned forward and said, humbled and apprehensive,

"You praise me too highly, sir, truly. I’ve just been lucky and have a bit of a talent for math, so I’ve only done my part. Compared to the many seniors who have dedicated most of their lives to the country, I still fall far short."

"Humility is a virtue, but don’t be overly modest."

The old man let out a hearty laugh and waved his hand dismissively.

After the simple pleasantries, the atmosphere in the room relaxed considerably.

The old man took a sip of his tea, then looked at Chen Lin and asked in a casual, familiar tone,

"Chen, do you have any thoughts on the future of technological development for our country, or even for the world? Or, to put it another way, what direction do you think we should move in next?"

This was a monumental question.

An expert or scholar well-versed in the ways of officialdom would have probably launched into a long, eloquent speech, quoting classics and citing precedents, expounding on everything from macroeconomics to geopolitics.

But Chen Lin was not one of them.

He thought for a moment, scratched his head, and said very honestly,

"Sir, to be honest, I don’t really pay much attention to those big-picture directions."

"I’m just a mathematician. I usually spend my time thinking about how to solve problems and work out equations. Or how to make money with my company, and how my employees can live a good life without having to work overtime."

Hearing such a blunt and honest answer, Qin Feng, who was standing to the side, felt his eyelid twitch.

’Professor Chen... he really isn’t afraid to speak his mind, is he?’

However, the old man wasn’t displeased. On the contrary, he was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Excellent!"

The old man pointed at Chen Lin, his eyes full of admiration. "I love your pragmatic attitude. There aren’t many young people today who are this frank, who don’t just speak in platitudes and empty talk."

After his laughter subsided, the old man’s expression gradually grew serious.

"Since you don’t pay attention to such things, let me tell you about something."