Chapter 336 - 260: Meeting Xiang Wentian Again

Chapter 336: Chapter 260: Meeting Xiang Wentian Again

The rest of the process went much more smoothly.

The third award recipient was an undergraduate from the School of Materials.

A fourth-year student, she had been accepted into the university’s graduate program.

During her undergraduate studies, she had already published a paper as the first author in a Q2 SCI journal.

While she couldn’t compare to the two prodigies before her, it was still an outstanding achievement for an undergraduate.

Chen Lin wrote for her:

"Absorb broadly and distill the essence; accumulate deeply to unleash your potential. May you find your own sea of stars in the field of materials science! —Chen Lin"

The fourth award recipient was a master’s student from the School of Economics.

He had won a gold medal in the national "Challenge Cup" entrepreneurship competition.

His startup project was an AI-based robo-advisor platform.

Although still in its early stages, it had already secured angel funding.

Chen Lin was quite impressed by this student.

He was the only award winner today who hadn’t tried to "pledge allegiance" to Chen Lin.

After receiving his certificate and autograph, he simply said a polite, "Thank you, Professor Chen," and walked off the stage crisply.

He didn’t ask for a photo, didn’t ask to add him on WeChat, and certainly didn’t ask to become his disciple.

Instead, before leaving, he gave Chen Lin a meaningful look and said:

"Professor Chen, if our company needs any mathematical consulting in the future, can we contact Yanhai?"

Chen Lin was taken aback for a moment, then he broke into a smile.

’This guy...’

’He’s a real talent.’

"Of course."

He nodded.

"For business collaborations, you can send an email to our company’s business inquiry address."

"Alright, thank you, Professor Chen."

The student flashed a business-like smile, then strode coolly off the stage.

Watching him go, Chen Lin felt a strange sense of admiration.

’Neither servile nor overbearing, and with a clear goal.’

’A person like that will definitely accomplish great things in the future.’

The fifth, the sixth, the seventh...

The award recipients came up to the stage one after another.

...

Each award winner had their own brilliant story.

As Chen Lin presented the awards, he mused to himself:

’Yannan University truly lives up to its name as one of the country’s top institutions.’

’It’s brimming with talent, full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.’

’These young people are all future pillars of the nation.’

’And being able to witness their moment of glory was a privilege.’

Chen Lin felt his two years in the literature department hadn’t been a waste. He earnestly wrote a message of blessing for each recipient—

Some were quotes from classical poetry, others were phrases he came up with on the spot.

In any case, every sentence was heartfelt and sincere.

...

11:30 AM.

The award ceremony was drawing to a close.

After the last award winner left the stage, the host announced:

"This concludes the 2026 Outstanding Figures Award Ceremony!"

"Let’s give another round of thunderous applause to thank our award-presenting Guests for coming!"

The audience erupted in thunderous applause.

Many students gazed at Chen Lin on the stage, their eyes filled with admiration and yearning.

Because of Chen Lin’s presence, today’s event was destined to become an unforgettable day in many people’s memories.

After the ceremony ended, Principal Chang Kai invited Chen Lin to a celebration banquet.

"Professor Chen, don’t leave just yet."

Chang Kai said with a broad smile:

"Let’s have a simple meal together."

"Today’s award-winning students and the leaders from several of the university’s schools will all be there."

"Think of it as a chance to chat and build some rapport."

Chen Lin thought about it but politely declined.

"Principal Chang, thank you for your kind offer."

He said sincerely:

"But I have something to attend to this afternoon, so I won’t be able to stay for the meal."

To be honest, he really wasn’t comfortable with that kind of social drinking setting.

A group of people sitting together, clinking glasses, making small talk...

Just thinking about it was exhausting.

Seeing that Chen Lin was firm, Chang Kai didn’t insist.

"Alright, then. We’ll find another chance next time."

He clapped Chen Lin on the shoulder.

"Professor Chen, you’re the apple of our university’s eye."

"If you need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to ask."

"The university will give you its full support."

"Thank you, Principal Chang."

Chen Lin smiled and nodded.

After leaving the auditorium, he didn’t head straight back to his company.

Instead, he took a slow walk around the campus.

The winter sun felt warm on his skin.

The ginkgo trees along the path had long since lost their leaves, leaving only bare branches.

But in a few more months, they would bud, bloom, and bear fruit again.

Just like those young students—they might be callow now, but given time, they would all grow into towering trees.

Chen Lin sat down on a bench, watching the students come and go, feeling exceptionally calm.

’This is what a university is all about.’

’A place full of hope and possibilities.’

He had spent two muddle-headed years here.

And it was here that he encountered the system that changed his life.

Now, he stood at a completely new height.

But every time he returned, he could always recapture that feeling of purity.

"Time to go."

Chen Lin stood up from the bench and brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes.

’Time to get to business.’

...

「Monday, January 12.」

Yuxi, Yunnan Province.

This time, Chen Lin didn’t take the high-speed rail.

Under Fu Yangqing’s arrangement, he flew directly from Jinmen to Kunming.

After landing, Assistant Hang was already waiting for him at the airport.

"Professor Chen."

Hang came forward to greet him, a perfectly measured smile on his face.

"The car is ready. Please follow me."

Chen Lin nodded and followed Hang out of the airport terminal.

A black business van was parked at the exit of the VIP channel.

The windows were tinted with dark privacy film, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.

Once in the car, Chen Lin watched the scenery rapidly recede through the window.

Winter in Yunnan Province was indeed much warmer than in the north.

Even though it was January, there was still green vegetation along the roadside.

The sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue.

The sun was bright but not blinding.

About an hour later, the car turned onto a secluded mountain road.

The road was flanked by dense woods, and a few birds could occasionally be seen flitting past the branches.

The air was so fresh it felt like it had been filtered.

"We’re almost there,"

Hang said softly.

An unremarkable building came into view.

If one hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, it would be hard to imagine what kind of heavyweight figure resided in this ordinary-looking sanatorium.

The car stopped at the foot of the hill.

Chen Lin opened the car door and got out.

Hang did not follow.

"Professor Chen, Elder Xiang is waiting for you inside."

He said respectfully,

"You can go in by yourself."

Chen Lin nodded and walked up the familiar stone-paved path, one step at a time.

He had walked this path once before.

The last time he came was three months ago.

It was late autumn back then.

And now, although it was winter, Yuxi’s climate was pleasant, and the surrounding scenery lacked the bleakness of a northern winter.

Instead, it held a certain evergreen vitality.

A few minutes later, Chen Lin arrived at the entrance of the familiar sanatorium.

He pushed open the door, walked through the corridor, and stopped in front of Xiang Wentian’s suite.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

Chen Lin knocked gently on the door.

"Come in."

A voice, aged but serene, came from inside.

Chen Lin pushed the door open and entered.

What greeted him was a simple and elegant reception room.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the waters of Fuxian Lake shimmered, glinting with specks of gold under the sun.

And by the window.

An old man with graying hair sat in a wheelchair, quietly gazing at the lake view outside.

Hearing the door, he slowly turned his head.

The moment he saw Chen Lin, a glimmer flashed in his eyes.

It was a glimmer of kindness and approval.

And something else... something Chen Lin couldn’t quite put his finger on.

"You’re here."

Xiang Wentian’s voice was soft, but peaceful.

"Elder Xiang."

Chen Lin walked over quickly and sat on the sofa opposite Xiang Wentian.

Then, he carefully observed the old man before him.

One look, and his heart sank.

Xiang Wentian’s condition...

It was clearly worse than it had been two months ago.

Two months ago, although the old man had been terminally ill, he was still in relatively good spirits.

He had spoken with a resonant voice, and his eyes had been full of life.

But now,

his face was sallow, his skin hung loosely, and his cheekbones protruded sharply.

His already thin frame was now so gaunt he looked like a bag of bones.

Although his eyes were still somewhat bright, they were sunken, his eyelids drooped, and they revealed an indescribable weariness.

His breathing had also grown fainter.

You almost had to press your ear close to hear it.

"Elder Xiang..."

Chen Lin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he didn’t know what to say.

"Elder Xiang, how... how is your health?"

He finally managed to ask this one feeble question.

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Xiang Wentian’s lips.

The smile was serene, without a trace of fear or sorrow.

As if he were talking about someone else.

"There’s not much time left."

he said softly.

His tone was as casual as if he were commenting on the fine weather.

"The doctors say a few months at most."

"It would be a miracle if I make it to the second half of the year."

When Chen Lin heard this, it felt like something was caught in his throat.

For a moment, he had no idea how to respond.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Silence spread through the air.

Outside, ripples spread across the surface of Fuxian Lake.

Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on the floor.

Xiang Wentian looked at Chen Lin’s troubled expression and shook his head with a smile.

"You don’t need to console me."

His voice was faint, but his tone carried a sense of nonchalant acceptance.

"’Since ancient times, few have lived to seventy.’ I’ve already lived for more than eighty years."

"I’ve pretty much done everything I set out to do."

"If I have any regrets, it’s that some projects couldn’t be completed under my watch..."

"But..."

His gaze fell upon Chen Lin, his eyes full of kindness.

"With young people like you around, I can rest easy."

Chen Lin’s nose tingled at these words.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions.

"Elder Xiang..."

"You’ve met with ’that person’."

Xiang Wentian suddenly spoke, cutting Chen Lin off.

Chen Lin paused for a second, then nodded.

He knew who Elder Xiang was talking about.

"He contacted me."

Xiang Wentian said slowly,

"He thinks very highly of you."

"And he is very much looking forward to the greater contributions you will make to the country in the future."

Chen Lin was silent for a moment, then nodded seriously.

"I will."

His tone was firm.

"I will not fail to live up to the expectations of my predecessors."

Xiang Wentian smiled with satisfaction.

Then, his gaze grew distant, as if reminiscing.

"The first time you came to see me..."

he said slowly,

"I knew you were a diamond in the rough."

"And everything that followed proved my judgment was correct."

He looked at Chen Lin, his eyes filled with gratification.

"The mathematical problem for the hypersonic aircraft—you solved it in an hour."

"The solid-state battery project—your model helped them screen for the optimal additive."

"And for controllable nuclear fusion, your algorithmic framework moved the engineering reactor’s design schedule ahead by two or three years..."