Ji Yanzhi's pupils trembled violently.
In barely half a minute, he had been taken on a roller-coaster ride. Hearing about the L3 Chip Algorithm had sent him skidding around a sharp turn; hearing Ji Ting's thoughts had plunged him into a vertical dive.
...Fabricated data?
Did Dai Xiangqiang have a death wish? How dare he lie to me about something like this?!
While Ji Yanzhi's fury was practically setting his hair on fire, Ji Ting was calmly thinking things through.
No one understood better than he did what falsified data meant. It meant all the research team's hard work and funding had gone down the drain. But often, the more damaging consequence was that taking the wrong path could leave them forever missing the right one.
Whatever else was at stake, Ji Ting himself could not tolerate such behavior. But there was still a problem standing in his way.
[Even if I tried to warn Ji Yanzhi, he definitely wouldn't believe me.]
As Ji Ting thought this, he instinctively raised his eyes to glance at Ji Yanzhi.
Unexpectedly, he looked straight into Ji Yanzhi's deep, dark eyes. Their gazes met, and this time, neither looked away.
Ji Yanzhi took a deep breath, then stiffly adjusted his expression and gave Ji Ting a meaningful look.
Ji Ting instantly understood: [Ji Yanzhi's glaring even harder than usual.]
Ji Yanzhi suddenly choked. When did I glare at him? That was clearly a look of approval!
As the two stared at each other, the dining table fell utterly silent. Dai Xiangqiang, who had been swaggering just a second earlier, was now left hanging like a slab of air-dried pork.
His shrewd little eyes darted furtively back and forth. Seeing that Ji Yanzhi still showed no intention of speaking, he began to grow uneasy.
This isn't right. The L3 Chip Algorithm is exactly what Ji Yanzhi wants most right now. How could he not ask me to stay?
Has he already discovered something?
Impossible. Impossible. Dai Xiangqiang kept reassuring himself, but the anxiety in his chest only grew.
Just then, Ji Ting curled his fingers and exhaled. [I'd better handle this myself.]
"Director Dai."
His sudden interjection made Dai Xiangqiang flinch. "H-huh?"
Ji Yanzhi raised an eyebrow, watching with interest to see how Ji Ting would handle it himself.
"That L3 Chip Algorithm you just mentioned, um..." Ji Ting recalled the original owner's expressions and did his best to look utterly empty-headed. "What's L3?"
In fact, the moment Dai Xiangqiang mentioned it, Ji Ting had understood what he was using to threaten Ji Yanzhi.
SAE divided driving automation into six levels, from L0 to L5. Automakers both abroad and at home were currently still at the L2 driver-assistance stage. Only technology that reached L3 could be considered high-level automated driving.
That made L3 a crucial dividing line in the field, with the coordination between chips and algorithms an indispensable tool for crossing it.
Dai Xiangqiang's mind was in turmoil. How could he have the patience to give him a lesson? "You don't need to know any of that."
He waved impatiently, then turned to Ji Yanzhi. "President Ji, you've kept using the project's progress to shut me down, but now the laboratory under me has already produced it. If this is still your attitude, I'll have no choice but to report it to the Board of Directors."
Ji Yanzhi leaned back in his chair, an inscrutable smile touching his lips. "Don't be so impatient, Director Dai. Ji Ting is going to be my right-hand man someday. Why not answer his questions first?"
The spit he had hurled to disgust someone else had blown right back into his own face. Dai Xiangqiang's cheek twitched, and his chest ached with frustration.
"Simply put, L3 is..."
He explained it to Ji Ting through practically gritted teeth. Ji Ting listened with a frown, acting as though he only half understood. "Then for such powerful technology, one chip surely wouldn't be enough, right? Which part is the chip you made for?"
At this question, Dai Xiangqiang suddenly lifted his chin slightly, as though he had gained another bargaining chip. "The perception module."
Then, as though he had come prepared, he launched into an explanation that ranged from algorithm architecture design to large-model-driven processing. Every point was backed by solid experimental data, and for a while, even Ji Yanzhi was drawn in.
Ji Yanzhi kept considering the possibilities in this area, while Ji Ting's mind wandered.
Within the first two minutes, he had known that everything Dai Xiangqiang was describing consisted of theoretical data that had never been put into practice. The advanced perception module he described would require at least five layers of redundancy in its algorithms. But if the former had truly been achieved technically, the large model's AI algorithms would already have reached L4. Why remain stuck at L3?
But he also knew that since Dai Xiangqiang dared to make these claims, he must have prepared experimental data whose flaws would not be easily uncovered.
So when the other man paused to drink some water after talking himself dry, Ji Ting suddenly turned and said, "Big brother, since this chip algorithm is so impressive, why don't you approve more funding for Director Dai's department?"
Dai Xiangqiang nearly choked on his water in excitement. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Yanzhi calmly beat him to it again. "But there's only so much research funding each quarter. Although I also think Director Dai deserves enormous credit, we still owe the other laboratories an explanation."
Ji Ting paused in surprise. [Why is Ji Yanzhi acting a little strange today?]
He had just been trying to figure out how to turn his previous remark around and take it a step further. Unexpectedly, the other man had played along and handed him the perfect opening.
Hearing that thought, Ji Yanzhi sneered inwardly.
He was calling me big brother a moment ago, but now it's Ji Yanzhi this and Ji Yanzhi that again.
Ji Ting did not notice his expression and pretended to rack his brains. "Then... then apply for a patent on this technology right away. With official government documents backing it up, the others probably won't have anything to say."
The corners of Ji Yanzhi's mouth threatened to rise again, but he nodded with a perfectly serious expression. "That's a good idea."
Dai Xiangqiang, however, went rigid the moment he heard this.
The Board of Directors only cared about results, not the process, but patent applications required substantive examination. Even if he managed to deceive everyone and secure the patent, once his fabricated data was discovered later, he could go to prison.
Dai Xiangqiang's heart was practically pounding in his throat. He swallowed with difficulty. "President Ji, I think we should put this aside for now. After all, the laboratory..."
Ji Yanzhi interrupted him disapprovingly. "The Board of Directors meeting is next week. Isn't that exactly why you're in such a hurry?"
At that, his smile suddenly vanished, and an unnervingly grave note entered his voice. "Don't worry. I remember pretty much everything you just said. Have the application materials ready before Monday, and I'll send someone to submit them to the Intellectual Property Office immediately."
Waves of cold washed over Dai Xiangqiang, and his hands and feet were going numb. "I-I'll go back and..."
"Since you want to head back, Director Dai, I'll see you out myself."
Ji Yanzhi stood. As he walked out, he suddenly turned to Ji Ting and said, "Starting tomorrow, you'll resume your remedial lessons."
Ji Ting's eyes flew wide, and he froze on the spot.
[H-how could he repay kindness with cruelty?]
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