The Galaxy Award

The moment Zhang Yuan finished his explanation, Wang Lili opened her mouth, then swallowed the lecture she had been preparing.

She secretly rolled her eyes and replied, "You answered that very well, classmate... Please sit down."

So this was the legendary top student. People like him were the worst. They could understand everything without studying, and they even set a bad example for the rest of the class.

Ye Kaifu's admiration for him had already returned. He wasn't surprised anymore; he seemed almost numb to it.

"Just as expected of a god. Sleeping doesn't change the essence of a strong person..."

Strong people had the right to sleep.

He felt deeply ashamed of his jealousy.

The rest of the class passed peacefully enough. Zhang Yuan didn't doze off again, but simply let his mind wander, his gaze seemingly fixed on some distant void.

The teacher didn't call on anyone else. She simply droned on through the rest of the lecture, and then class was over.

"Ding-a-ling!" The bell rang.

Wang Lili assigned a few exercises for after class and indicated that everyone could leave.

Everyone was even more eager to go. What a blow to her confidence.

"Come on, let's head back too."

After a short nap, Zhang Yuan was refreshed and wanted to return to the dorm to keep grinding away at his paper.

Ye Kaifu reluctantly packed up his notes and asked Zhang Yuan, "Mathematical physics equations are so hard. Is there some general framework that would make them easier to understand?"

Zhang Yuan thought for a moment. "A framework? You mean an approach to solving the problems? This course doesn't actually have that many complicated concepts."

"Solving homogeneous partial differential equations is the easiest part. You just use separation of variables and follow the four-step method..."

"Then, for the definite-solution problems involving nonhomogeneous general equations, you introduce a new function, or use something like the method of variation of parameters. You treat the nonhomogeneous problem as a homogeneous one, then use a Fourier series expansion to create a new set of definite-solution conditions, and solve it that way..."

"Then, for handling nonhomogeneous boundary conditions, you convert them into homogeneous boundary conditions, which turns the problem into solving a nonhomogeneous general equation..."

"Stop!"

Ye Kaifu nearly burst into tears and couldn't help shouting.

When he realized there were no shortcuts to the whole process of studying, he could only mutter to himself:

Terrifying!

After packing up, the two of them prepared to leave.

"Zhang Yuan, wait!"

Just then, Zhang Yuan heard a woman's voice calling him from behind. He turned around and saw Xu Yunjing, a graduate student under Professor Wang Zhong.

"Senior Sister, are you sitting in on this class too?"

"Yeah... I'm planning to switch to mechanical engineering when I start my PhD, so I'm learning a little about it now. That'll make changing fields easier later."

Zhang Yuan asked curiously, "You're switching to engineering? You're studying math now, aren't you? Won't Professor Wang be upset?"

"No, no... He should respect my decision."

Xu Yunjing thought, I'm not some genius student. Why would I take the miserable route of pure mathematics? It's hard work, and it doesn't pay. Why make life difficult for myself?

"...So this is your... junior? You have such a strange way of addressing each other." Another pair of bright, darting eyes turned toward them. It was the substitute teacher, Wang Lili.

"Yeah, let me introduce you." Xu Yunjing smiled. "This is Wang Lili, a good friend of mine. She's working on her master's under Professor Lin of the School of Mechanical Engineering."

"Hello, Senior Sister!"

"This little junior seems pretty shy. He was fooling around in class and sleeping, and I caught him red-handed." Wang Lili laughed.

She lowered her voice slightly. "Though he did solve that problem in an instant."

Zhang Yuan looked a little embarrassed. "I'm really sorry, Senior Sister. I was tired from working on my paper, so I accidentally fell asleep. I didn't do it on purpose."

"You're so young, and you're already writing a paper? What's it about?"

"Using geometric group theory and topological analysis to study robot motion..."

At the mention of the topic, Wang Lili was at a loss for words. "Are kids these days all this freakishly talented? Group theory, topology... I'm still struggling to get a paper published. I'd be happy with a third- or fourth-tier journal."

Watching them chat and turn into senior and junior this, senior and junior that, Ye Kaifu rolled his eyes from the sidelines and lost all interest in being a third wheel.

He angrily called out, "Zhang Yuan, I'm going to the library. Bye!"

"Bye!"

Ye Kaifu turned away with a carefree smile, though he was cursing inwardly. That saying about "living to study" had to be a lie.

He'd picked up with such a beautiful senior in no time. That kind of skill made him a role model for all of us.

If Zhang Yuan was flirting, then he could flirt too. Maybe he'd run into someone at the library?

There wasn't much of the break left. He couldn't keep living such a miserable life.

After they chatted for a while, Zhang Yuan asked, "Senior Sister, what did you need me for?"

Xu Yunjing slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot. I really do have something."

Only the three of them were left in the classroom now. Xu Yunjing rummaged through her little bag.

She took out an invitation and handed it to Zhang Yuan. "In a week, there'll be a Galaxy Award ceremony in the grand auditorium at Xisha University. It's being held to commemorate the successful construction of the Earth Era. You have an important award to accept, so don't forget."

An award?

Zhang Yuan jolted. He hadn't done anything, had he? He hadn't even finished writing his paper. He was just an ordinary spaceship worker. What award could he get? Why him?

"How could it possibly be my turn?"

"It's your father's award. Don't flatter yourself!"

"Oh!"

Zhang Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Since it was his father's award, he didn't think he could refuse.

Xu Yunjing made an exaggerated gesture. "It's the legendary first prize of the Galaxy Award, with a ten-million-yuan cash prize! You're your father's only immediate family member. It's not unreasonable for you to accept it on his behalf, is it?"

"The Earth Era is about to set off, so all this ceremonial stuff has to be taken care of. There'll also be a fundraising event afterward to get rich people to donate. That's the really important part."

"The foundation is short on money. Not a few billion, but thousands or even tens of thousands of billions! We might as well fleece those businesspeople for whatever we can."

"All right, all right. I understand."

Still, it wasn't just ceremonial stuff. The honor was one his father deserved!

Zhang Yuan thought about how he'd already donated everything he owned, so he didn't feel any qualms about it. He might as well go.

He asked, "Will I have to give a speech or anything?"

Xu Yunjing smiled. "You just have to go up and accept the award. Who's going to pay attention to a little student like you? Don't flatter yourself! You're not the person being honored, just accepting it on his behalf. The reporters won't give you a hard time."

"They might ask you to say a few words of thanks—to the government, the foundation, the judging committee, and so on. It's simple. You won't have to deal with the fundraising afterward either. We'll take care of it."

"That's good." Zhang Yuan hated those tedious ceremonies. If he had to give a long speech, he'd have to write it out in advance. He'd rather use that time to keep grinding away at his paper.

"Don't forget. I'll remind you again when the time comes."

"I know, I know."

After they finished talking, Zhang Yuan said goodbye to the two giggling senior sisters who wanted to tease him, then went off alone to think about his paper.