Zhang Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhang Yuan (张远)
Alias(es)	“Academic god” 32
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Earth Era interstellar-colonization project; Deep Space Foundation supporter
Occupation/Role	Astronaut; space mechanical engineering graduate; spaceship maintenance worker
Status	Departed Earth aboard the space elevator for the Earth Era mission 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Zhang Yuan grew up in Donghua City as the son of Zhang Qiming, a renowned mathematician, engineer, and lead designer of the Earth Era spacecraft control system. Although he received an excellent education and graduated from Z University with strong grades, he considered himself ordinary compared with his father. He originally trained in space mechanical engineering and qualified as an astronaut after overcoming one-in-a-thousand selection odds. 3 8 19 20

Thirty days before departure, Zhang Yuan followed Green Elf’s psychological-counseling memo by climbing a mountain to watch the sunset. He regarded the Earth Era voyage as a one-way journey and wanted to leave Earth without regrets. 1

Before leaving, he arranged to donate his inherited property and monetary assets to the Deep Space Foundation, with the donation becoming effective two years later. His father had similarly advised him that knowledge mattered more than inheritance if he chose the Earth Era mission. 3

Zhang Yuan’s father left him a preserved intelligence-enhancement serum and a tablet containing advanced scientific material. After injecting the serum, Zhang Yuan developed exceptional concentration, accelerated learning ability, and a powerful drive to study. He began rebuilding his mathematical foundation and working through his father’s research notes. 3 4 11 12

At Xisha University, Zhang Yuan met Professor Wang Zhong, his father’s mentor. Wang initially suspected that Zhang Yuan sought preferential treatment, but Zhang Yuan’s near-perfect mathematics examination proved his ability. Wang subsequently agreed to write him a recommendation letter. 20 21 22 23

Using his father’s research as a foundation, Zhang Yuan developed a paper on high-degree-of-freedom robotic motion control. The work was judged highly innovative and recommended for submission to Modern Science. His research attracted five major corporations, which formed Genesis Technology Co., Ltd.; Zhang Yuan received 10% fixed equity but rejected lucrative employment offers to remain committed to the Earth Era mission. 26 42 44 45

He accepted the Galaxy Award on behalf of his late father, then donated the entire 10-million-yuan prize to the Deep Space Foundation. His public defense of space development and education over simple material aid drew widespread attention online. 35 36 37

On the morning of departure, Zhang Yuan left Han Ziyue a farewell note, cleaned his dormitory, passed registration and medical checks with Li Zhendong, and boarded the space elevator, leaving Earth behind. 50

Appearance

Zhang Yuan is a young man described by acquaintances and observers as handsome. His appearance attracts attention at the Galaxy Award ceremony and later on the Xisha University campus. 2 34 38

• Has good romantic prospects but deliberately suppressed them while pursuing his astronaut ambition. 2
• Appears younger and less accomplished than his actual academic ability initially suggests to Professor Wang Zhong. 22
• Keeps his dormitory clean and orderly and pays close attention to personal hygiene. 42

Personality

Zhang Yuan is ambitious, disciplined, and deeply committed to becoming a pioneer of humanity’s next civilization. He accepts the Earth Era mission as a permanent departure rather than an adventure with a return route. 1 38

His intelligence enhancement intensifies an already strong work ethic into near-workaholism. He derives genuine pleasure from difficult mathematics, repeatedly chooses research over leisure, and influences Ye Kaifu and Li Zhendong to study harder through example. 5 12 17 29

Despite his accomplishments, Zhang Yuan is often socially awkward and blunt. He can be embarrassed by romance, uncomfortable with public attention, and overly literal when speaking with Han Ziyue. He nevertheless has a mischievous side, particularly when teasing Wang Lili, Xu Yunjing, and Li Zhendong. 1 38 43

He is generous but pragmatic. Zhang Yuan donates his inheritance and award money because he has no intention of returning to live on Earth, yet he argues that long-term technological development and education offer more durable solutions than direct aid alone. 3 36 37

Abilities & Skills

Enhanced Intellect

After using the serum left by his father, Zhang Yuan experiences a dramatic improvement in focus, reasoning, and learning speed. 3 4

• Studies difficult material continuously for hours without distraction. 4
• Progresses from rusty mental arithmetic to exceptional calculation speed within a single night. 5 6
• Solves advanced mathematics examination questions with correct but unconventional methods, earning 99 points from Wang Zhong. 22
• Understands and explains advanced concepts involving group theory, topology, quaternions, and high-degree-of-freedom kinematics. 26 27 44
• Still recognizes the limits of his foundation and cannot independently recreate every insight contained in his father’s work. 12 26

Robotics and Motion-Control Research

Zhang Yuan specializes in the mathematical and algorithmic side of robotic motion control, particularly full-body motion mapping and powered-exoskeleton applications. 26

• Identifies weaknesses in Ye Kaifu’s mechanical-arm control program and proposes improvements. 25 26
• Recommends quaternion-based rotational calculations for robotic-arm modeling. 27
• Writes an influential foundational paper on robotic motion control, supporting later research by multiple professors. 40 42
• Outlines seven follow-up research directions during negotiations with academics and corporate representatives. 44
• Shares ideas freely because the engineering workload exceeds what he can complete alone. 44

Space Mechanical Engineering

Zhang Yuan holds a bachelor’s degree in space mechanical engineering and initially serves as a low-level maintenance worker for the Earth Era project. 7 8

• Understands the practical constraints of maintaining a multithousand-year spacecraft. 40
• Explains that the ship uses robust, low-frequency military-grade silicon chips and carries replacement components rather than relying on repairs to personal electronics. 40
• Participated in robotics competitions during university, though his hands-on ability prevented him from winning major prizes. 25

Public Speaking

Zhang Yuan demonstrates unexpected composure and clarity while speaking publicly at the Galaxy Award event. 36

• Explains the distinction between the Deep Space Foundation’s donations and the broader economic value generated by aerospace development. 36
• Advocates education and technological development as sustainable responses to poverty. 36
• Remains calm amid viral praise, criticism, and speculation after donating his award money. 37

Equipment / Items

• Intelligence-enhancement serum — A preserved injection left by his father; it dramatically improves Zhang Yuan’s cognitive abilities. 3 4
• Father’s tablet and research archive — Contains advanced scientific articles and personal notes, including material on robotic motion mapping. 3 12 26
• Mechanical hard drives — Used to copy and pack his father’s materials for the Earth Era journey. 17
• Genesis Technology Co., Ltd. shares — Zhang Yuan receives 10% fixed equity after the company is established around his research. 45

Relationships

• Zhang Qiming — Father; a celebrated mathematician and engineer whose research, expectations, and posthumous gifts profoundly shape Zhang Yuan’s path. 3 19 35 42
• Li Zhendong — Close friend and fellow astronaut; they tease one another constantly but share the Earth Era mission and motivate each other academically. 1 13 17 46 50
• Professor Wang Zhong — Zhang Qiming’s mentor and Zhang Yuan’s academic elder; initially skeptical, then becomes a supporter of Zhang Yuan’s research and future. 20 22 23 34
• Ye Kaifu — Roommate and fellow Earth Era passenger; an eighth-level machinist who becomes Zhang Yuan’s study partner and seeks his technical guidance. 25 27 29 33
• Wang Lili — Senior student and professor’s assistant; alternates between teasing, competing with, and assisting Zhang Yuan academically. 32 40 43
• Xu Yunjing — Wang Zhong’s graduate student; helps connect Zhang Yuan with the Galaxy Award ceremony and shares a playful dynamic with him. 21 32 38
• Han Ziyue — Younger sister of Zhang Yuan’s former girlfriend, Han Jing; reconnects with Zhang Yuan at Xisha University and becomes emotionally attached to him before his departure. 38 43 49 50
• Angelica — Reporter from the Lan Kingdom’s Humanist Association; initially rebuffed by Zhang Yuan, later publicly questions him at the Galaxy Award event. 23 35 36

Major Arcs

Preparation for Departure

Zhang Yuan spends his final month on Earth completing psychological-counseling tasks, visiting relatives and friends, organizing his inheritance, and committing himself to the one-way Earth Era journey. 1 3 7 17

Intelligence Enhancement and Self-Education

After receiving his father’s serum and research materials, Zhang Yuan pursues mathematics and scientific study with exceptional intensity, turning his former insecurity into confidence in his intellectual potential. 3 4 6 11

Xisha University Research

At Xisha University, Zhang Yuan earns Wang Zhong’s recognition, befriends Ye Kaifu, develops robotic motion-control research, and establishes himself as an unusually capable undergraduate. 22 25 27 32 42

Galaxy Award and Public Attention

Zhang Yuan receives the Galaxy Award on behalf of his father, donates its 10-million-yuan prize, and becomes a public figure after defending the Deep Space Foundation’s long-term vision. 35 36 37

Departure from Earth

Despite financial opportunities and emotional ties on Earth, Zhang Yuan refuses to abandon the Earth Era mission. He says goodbye to Han Ziyue and leaves the planet with Li Zhendong. 45 48 50

Notable Quotes

“Things that feel annoying or troublesome now might become beautiful memories later.” 1

“Only by becoming stronger can I evolve from a monkey into a human.” 17

“As long as we bake this cake well, it can support hundreds of billions, or even trillions of people!” 36

“I know, but I won’t change.” 43

Trivia

• Zhang Yuan’s original work rank is second-grade, while Ye Kaifu begins at eighth-grade due to his machinist qualification. 33
• He received a 99 on Wang Zhong’s mathematics examination and jokingly reserved the final point to avoid becoming arrogant. 22
• Zhang Yuan dislikes social-media celebrity culture and would rather study than cultivate public fame. 38
• He can cook, clean, and handle household chores, habits developed partly because his father was untidy. 42