In a metal-sheathed room spanning more than two hundred square meters, a giant control screen covered one wall. Rows of desks with computers stood in the middle.
A team of thirty-six experts was working hard to crack the candy wrapped in a sweet-colored wrapper.
With so little sleep lately, everyone looked exhausted. Their skin was dry and slack, and more than half of them had scalps that reflected the overhead lights.
After Liu Yichong swiped his card and entered, he headed straight for a woman with a ponytail seated in the front row, closest to the main control screen, as if he were there to deliver a death sentence.
"Sister Qiao, Old Chen asked me to check on your progress. He said you've already spent two days on this. He also mentioned the supercomputer."
Liu Yichong hesitated, then continued, "Sister Qiao, you already know this, but the institute's supercomputer can't be dedicated to you indefinitely. Other projects need it for massive data calculations, and tomorrow it's due for routine maintenance."
"The Logistics Department has been complaining, too. The electricity bill from running the supercomputer at full capacity for just these past two days has already exceeded this week's budget."
Everyone present heard Liu Yichong loud and clear. They were furious, but he was only stating the facts, leaving them no grounds to argue.
Qiao Shumin rubbed her temples and finally let out a sigh.
"Everyone, stop. There's no point in continuing to brute-force it."
"Unless we understand how the author's encryption algorithm works, there's no guarantee we'll crack it in a week—or even in a year."
After Qiao Shumin spoke, everyone fell silent. No matter how they looked at the cheerful candy on the big screen, it seemed to be silently mocking them all.
Liu Yichong opened his mouth. He'd only come to hurry them along—he hadn't meant for them to give up altogether!
"Sister Qiao, this..." Liu Yichong looked troubled.
"Just tell Old Chen that the software's encryption algorithm is as powerful as the Attitude Balance Algorithm he mentioned. It's also a brand-new encryption algorithm that's never been seen before."
Liu Yichong looked astonished and nodded.
"Understood."
"If possible, we'd like to meet the ruthless genius who loves designing utterly insane algorithms."
After Liu Yichong left, Qiao Shumin didn't bother maintaining her ladylike image. She slammed her fist down on the keyboard.
"Damn it, what a mess."
Meanwhile, Liu Yichong returned to the lab and quietly reported the situation to Academician Chen Xihe. The smile on Chen Xihe's face vanished at once.
When Chen Xihe heard that the encryption algorithm Mo Jingchun had used was as powerful as the Attitude Balance Algorithm, he felt that it made sense they hadn't cracked it.
Chen Xihe couldn't help but smile wryly. No wonder the little guy had looked so confident back then. He'd dug a pit and waited for the old man to fall right into it.
It seemed he needed to talk with Mo Jingchun about working together on a dedicated optimization of the Attitude Balance Algorithm.
Two days later, testing on the multicore project confirmed that the Attitude Balance Algorithm Mo Jingchun had designed was, on average, 0.63 times more efficient than the existing algorithm.
On the third day, Chen Xihe returned to the university from the institute. A lieutenant colonel and a formidable woman in a black suit came back with him.
Of course, Mo Jingchun, sitting attentively in class, had no idea that someone was already waiting for him at his apartment building.
Ring, ring—
The bell rang, and the students scattered. Yang Xiaoyu saw that Mo Jingchun hadn't left yet and walked over, clutching her textbook.
Mo Jingchun looked up at the class monitor, puzzled. "What's up, Monitor? Did you need something?"
Yang Xiaoyu asked quietly, "Mo Jingchun, why haven't you given me your application yet?"
"Application? What application? I don't know what you're talking about." Mo Jingchun looked bewildered.
"The Student Grant!"
Mo Jingchun paused, then finally understood.
"Monitor, I never planned to apply. Of course I don't have an application."
"Hey, why not apply? It's several thousand yuan."
Yang Xiaoyu pressed a hand to her mouth, then explained, "That's not what I meant. I just..."
Mo Jingchun smiled and cut her off.
"Monitor, thanks for looking out for me. I really don't need the money while I'm in college. Otherwise, I'd have gone out to find a part-time job on Saturdays and Sundays."
"I'm heading back now. I need to make formula for Candy."
Watching Mo Jingchun walk away, Yang Xiaoyu stamped her foot.
Mo Jingchun had pulled out the big guns right away. How was she, as class monitor, supposed to explain this to the counselor and the other students?
Everyone knew Mo Jingchun's circumstances. If the others got grants and he was the only one who didn't, what would the students think?
Anyone would immediately suspect there was something fishy going on.
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she got. Yang Xiaoyu stamped her foot in frustration.
"This is so annoying! So annoying!"
Academician Chen Xihe still hadn't returned, and Mo Jingchun had nearly forgotten about the whole thing. He couldn't help it—he wasn't a computer, or Nezha. He didn't have three heads and six arms, and he couldn't run multiple threads at once.
Just taking care of the little one used up most of his energy. Add his daily studies and rewriting code, and Mo Jingchun had no spare time to wonder why Chen Xihe still hadn't come back to see him.
When he returned to the apartment building and stepped out of the elevator, Mo Jingchun was surprised to see that the door to Academician Chen Xihe's apartment was open.
Curiosity got the better of him. Before he even took out his key, he leaned out with his little sister Candy in his arms and peeked into Chen Xihe's living room.
He would've been better off not looking. His expression changed, and he nearly blurted out a choice curse.
Um, did I just see something I shouldn't have? There's a soldier in there—and he looks like an officer. I wonder what rank he is.
Though Mo Jingchun had only taken a quick glance, the soldier inside, whose senses were sharp, and the formidable woman in the black suit both turned toward the door at almost the same time.
Seeing their change in expression, Chen Xihe also looked toward the doorway.
Chen Xihe waved to Mo Jingchun, who was holding Candy, and said with a smile:
"Xiao Chun, come on in. We've been waiting for you."
Mo Jingchun walked into the living room, fidgeting like a shy young woman on her wedding day.
Qin Yuzhu, dressed in a black suit, kindly poured Mo Jingchun a cup of tea and set it in front of him with a warm smile.
Before coming over, they had already looked through the files on Mo Jingchun and his little sister, Candy. Naturally, those included a photo of Mo Jingchun.
The funny thing was that Mo Jingchun's little sister was named Candy, and the software program that had kept Qiao Shumin and the others awake for days also looked like candy.
"Xiao Chun, come here. Let me introduce you."
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Zhang Aijun."
Zhang Aijun stood and saluted Mo Jingchun. Startled, Mo Jingchun hurriedly stood up too.
"Hello, Zhang Aijun."
Before you continue