Chapter Summaries

Wang Yiying helped The Speaker publish Yan Xiao’s abridged manuscript, while Li Mu’s plan to offer separate long and short editions was abandoned. As the Gaokao began, Yan Xiao finished his first exam early and was mistaken by a reporter for a student protesting with a blank paper.

• Wang Yiying commissioned an abridged manuscript from Yan Xiao, and The Speaker’s paired long and short versions boosted sales.
• Li Mu tried to launch separate long-form and short-form editions, but abandoned the reform after writers struggled to adapt their articles.
• Yan Xiao signed up for every Gaokao subject, and Guan Zhiyuan moved into his home and drank the spiked milk Yan Xiao called lucky milk.
• Yan Xiao and Guan Zhiyuan went to their exam sites, and Yan Xiao completed his Chinese paper in under an hour before waiting until early submission was allowed.
• Yan Xiao left the exam site and told a reporter he could not move up even one place by checking his answers, leading her to mistake him for a student who had handed in a blank paper.

Yan Xiao dealt with a reporter who tried to bait him into a scandal, then returned home after finishing his English exam early and played Glory of Kings. He locked in Yao for a high-ranked match, realized his teammates were match fixers, and volunteered to jungle as the game began.

• Yan Xiao rejected the reporter’s questions and criticized her for using her television station to prove her worth.
• The reporter filmed Yan Xiao after his English exam and planned to use the footage to ruin his reputation.
• Yan Xiao returned home and heard Guan Zhiyuan say he had done better than expected on the Chinese and English exams.
• Yan Xiao received a message from Tianzu Health Care about a professional team owner, enabled friend requests, and entered a Glory of Kings match.
• Yan Xiao recognized that his team’s lineup and draft suggested match fixing, then switched to Smite and offered to jungle.

After the Gaokao, Yan Xiao declined a professional gaming offer and learned about Jida University's summer camp and its programming competition. He joined the competition with Lin Fangxin as his only teammate, then shut himself in to prepare for it.

• After a difficult game, Yan Xiao accepted his opponent's friend request but declined an invitation to compete professionally.
• When the Gaokao ended, Yan Xiao returned home and found Guan Zhiyuan there, who said he thought he could get into a 102 university.
• Lin Fangxin invited Yan Xiao to dinner and told him about Jida University's summer camp and its programming competition, which offered over two million in prize money.
• After Lin Fangxin explained the competition, Yan Xiao agreed to join and insisted that their team have only the two of them.
• Yan Xiao ordered food, locked himself in his room to prepare for the GT Summer Modeling Competition, and told Guan Zhiyuan not to disturb him.

Yan Xiao finished studying programming, mathematics, and physics before preparing to promote his product at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences conference. He arrived at Jida University with Lin Fangxin to register for summer camp, where he checked the posted information but found neither the detailed itinerary nor the prize money.

• Yan Xiao studied programming languages, advanced mathematics, and physics through the system's study plan.
• Zhao Xiaolei invited Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin to the conference, and Yan Xiao agreed to give a presentation and asked Lin Fangxin to help prepare it.
• Guan Houyi told Yan Xiao that about seven patents had been approved, and they agreed to seek a manufacturer and arrange a product booth at the conference.
• Zhao Xiaolei told Yan Xiao that the innovation project qualified for a free twelve-square-meter booth at three consecutive conferences.
• Yan Xiao met Lin Fangxin at Jida University and checked the summer camp displays, but they lacked the details and prize information he wanted.

Yan Xiao considered buying a car after Zhang Youqiang pitched him an auto loan, but he exposed the hidden costs of financing and rejected the offer. He left Zhang Youqiang with the revelation that he already had a car but no driver's license.

• Zhang Youqiang approached Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin at the university and handed them flyers for car loans.
• Zhang Youqiang promoted zero-down financing, and Yan Xiao began considering buying a car and learning to drive.
• Yan Xiao rejected Zhang Youqiang's claim that financing was a better deal and calculated the costs of buying a car outright versus taking a loan.
• Yan Xiao pointed out the loan's inflated insurance premiums, financial service fee, and lack of a car discount.
• Yan Xiao told Zhang Youqiang he did not need a car because he already had one and simply did not have a license.

Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin registered for the Summer Camp and accepted a difficult mathematical modeling problem to try to waive their fees. Yan Xiao devised a method that indicated at least 33 UAVs were needed, while Ma Guoguo doubted they could solve it as they continued working into the evening.

• Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin registered for the Summer Camp, and Ma Guoguo assumed they were unqualified, well-off students.
• Lin Fangxin asked why other students were taking a test, and Ma Guoguo explained that solving it could waive their fees and earn them strong teammates.
• Yan Xiao requested a problem so they could save the registration money, and Ma Guoguo gave them a graduate-level modeling problem to make things difficult.
• Yan Xiao modeled the false-target trajectory and calculated that at least 33 UAVs were needed, while Lin Fangxin struggled to follow his reasoning.
• At five thirty, Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin were still working, and Ma Guoguo privately thought the organizers would pay them to compete if they solved the problem.

Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin submitted their modeling solution, which Ma Guoguo sent to Professor Wang for assessment. Wang Xin judged Yan Xiao’s work outstanding and his modeling ability above the graduate level, leaving Ma Guoguo stunned by how badly she had underestimated him.

• Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin handed their paper to Ma Guoguo and asked whether a correct solution would qualify them for a registration-fee refund.
• Ma Guoguo told them the paper would be assessed by her supervisor and promised to contact them within two days if it checked out.
• Ma Guoguo brought Yan Xiao’s paper to Wang Xin, explaining that Yan Xiao had written the solution himself while Lin Fangxin occasionally asked questions.
• Wang Xin examined the work for nearly an hour and a half, then concluded that Yan Xiao’s solution was outstanding and better than the approach he had initially considered.
• Wang Xin noted that Yan Xiao had used the recently published Inheritance Algorithm and judged his modeling ability to be above the graduate level, leaving Ma Guoguo speechless.

After Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin received their refund, Ma Guoguo shared their solution to the modeling problem, which impressed judges and was copied by several competition teams. A week later, Yan Xiao got the highest Gaokao score in Ji City, and a video of him handing in his exams early went viral.

• Ma Guoguo refunded Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin, then asked how they had solved the problem, and Yan Xiao dismissed it as easy.
• Ma Guoguo posted Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin's solution on Moments, where Zhang Yu praised it and a judge shared it with the judges' group.
• The judges admired the solution, learned that two high school students had produced it, and warned Ma Guoguo to delete her post because it exposed this year's competition problem.
• Several teams later submitted Yan Xiao's answer to the modeling competition.
• Yan Xiao placed first in Ji City when the Gaokao results were released, and a video of him handing in every exam early went viral.

After Yan Xiao’s admission and exam results drew public attention, he avoided interviews and delegated his speech at the agricultural science forum to Lin Fangxin. He chose to license the Black Light Insect-Killing System through state-owned enterprises and proposed a farmer support team, leaving Guan Houyi to seek official backing.

• Yan Xiao refused reporters’ interview requests despite their repeated calls to his friends.
• Yan Xiao attended the agricultural science forum at Jiuhua Villa, while Lin Fangxin delivered his speech and he went to the hot springs.
• Guan Houyi told Yan Xiao that state-owned enterprises offered sales royalties and Tianfeng Agricultural Equipment offered thirty million yuan per year to buy the patent rights for two years.
• Yan Xiao chose the state-owned enterprises because their distribution networks could reach more farmers and the buyout offer undervalued the patent.
• Yan Xiao proposed using part of the sales revenue to create a support team that would guide farmers in using the Black Light Insect-Killing System.
• Guan Houyi agreed and went to the Organizing Committee’s Secretary-General to seek official backing for the team.

Lin Fangxin panicked before giving her first speech to an audience of over a thousand and asked Yan Xiao for help. He tried to reassure her by pointing out that the agricultural experts in the audience were weaker than them in physics and mathematics, but her nerves remained.

• Lin Fangxin slipped out of the venue and messaged Yan Xiao that she was too nervous to speak.
• Yan Xiao met Lin Fangxin at the entrance and teased her for being late.
• Lin Fangxin asked Yan Xiao to give the speech in her place, but he refused.
• Yan Xiao explained that Lin Fangxin was nervous because she believed the audience was better than her.
• Yan Xiao argued that the agricultural experts were less knowledgeable about physics and mathematics, but Lin Fangxin remained nervous.

Lin Fangxin delivered a successful presentation on the Black Light insect-trapping system and answered questions from the audience. When a reporter asked about patents and profits, Yan Xiao took the microphone and said they had applied for a patent and that any partnership would have to benefit farmers.

• Lin Fangxin overcame her nervousness with Yan Xiao's encouragement and gave a presentation using simple slides.
• An elderly woman asked how Yan Xiao discovered the Black Light's insect-killing effectiveness, and Lin Fangxin described his childhood observations and later experiments.
• Lin Fangxin answered technical questions about using the system against mixed pest infestations and explained its environmental benefits.
• A reporter asked whether the team had applied for a patent, would donate it, and how they would use any profits.
• Yan Xiao answered that they had applied for a patent and had a prospective partner, but any cooperation had to benefit farmers.

After Yan Xiao agreed to let Zhao Zimo join his Summer Camp team in exchange for three million, Guan Zhiyuan told him that university admissions had become so chaotic he might miss the application deadline and have to repeat a year.

• Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin left the Summer Camp event, ate hot pot, and received a message from an unfamiliar number claiming to be a student's parent.
• Zhao Xin found Yan Xiao outside his residential complex and offered him three million for Zhao Zimo to join Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin's team.
• Yan Xiao accepted Zhao Xin's offer, and Zhao Xin said his secretary would arrange the updated registration form.
• Yan Xiao told Lin Fangxin that Zhao Zimo would join the team, then found Guan Zhiyuan waiting at home.
• Guan Zhiyuan explained that university admissions officers were pressuring him while his father delayed his decision, leaving him close to missing the application deadline.

Guan Zhiyuan chose to apply to Jida University for business, while Yan Xiao prepared to leave for Summer Camp with Lin Fangxin. On the flight, Zhao Zimo upgraded their seats and asked Yan Xiao how to study well, and Yan Xiao claimed he had once been just like him.

• Guan Zhiyuan decided to apply to Jida University for business after discussing his plans with Yan Xiao.
• Yan Xiao discovered that patents vanished from the Patent Mall once others developed them, then prepared to leave for Summer Camp with Lin Fangxin.
• Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin traveled to the airport before dawn and boarded their early flight with the group.
• A flight attendant told Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin that Zhao Zimo had upgraded their seats, and they joined him in first class.
• Zhao Zimo asked Yan Xiao for study advice, and Yan Xiao told him he used to dread studying too.

Yan Xiao, Lin Fangxin, and Zhao Zimo traveled to New York for a competition, where Yan Xiao helped Zhao Zimo understand sets and the three settled into their hotel. After going out to explore the shopping district, they met a young man who explained that Chinese was required throughout his nine years of compulsory education.

• Yan Xiao used an example about pretty girls to teach Zhao Zimo about sets, then said he had once pictured grilled skewers while studying.
• Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin slept on the flight while Zhao Zimo got a blanket of his own, and the three later played games until they landed.
• The group checked into a hotel in New York, where Yan Xiao arranged to share a room with Zhao Zimo and Lin Fangxin took a separate room.
• Yan Xiao and Lin Fangxin met Zhao Zimo in the lobby, and the three took a cab to New York City's shopping district.
• Yan Xiao asked a young man outside a Chinese sportswear store why his Chinese was so good, and the man said Chinese was a required course during compulsory education.

Yan Xiao joined a Glory of Kings fan event after meeting team operations manager Lu Dehua, and a backstage mix-up set him up to face the hotheaded Jiang Xiaoming. The match was about to begin, with Yan Xiao’s current-season statistics making him appear far weaker than his past record.

• Yan Xiao met Lu Dehua, who recognized him through Guan Zhiyuan and invited him to compete for an account with every skin unlocked.
• Lu Dehua arranged for Yan Xiao to participate, but Jiang Xiaoming argued with the staff after being moved down the lineup.
• A phone call and a mix-up at the entrances led Yan Xiao and Jiang Xiaoming to appear as viewers facing each other.
• Lu Dehua chose to let the two viewers compete, and the host announced that the winner could challenge a professional for two fully unlocked accounts and a development-camp opportunity.
• Jiang Xiaoming prepared to crush Yan Xiao, whose displayed current-season statistics hid his previous season’s top ranking and national rankings for every hero.

Yan Xiao defeated Lu Dehua in their first duel by outplaying him around the river fish, then agreed to a rematch after the host offered a cash prize. Lu Dehua chose the newly released Dongfang Jing for the next match, convinced he could win.

• The host let Yan Xiao and Lu Dehua choose their heroes, and Lu Dehua picked Bailixuance while Yan Xiao accepted any matchup.
• Yan Xiao abandoned part of the first minion wave to hook and kill Lu Dehua, then collected the minion gold and secured the river fish.
• Lu Dehua tried to adjust his farming strategy, but Yan Xiao anticipated his movements and defeated him after he charged in and gave up another kill.
• Yan Xiao took down Lu Dehua's tower and won the match, while Lu Dehua protested and demanded a rematch.
• Yan Xiao agreed to play again after the host secured a fifty-thousand cash prize, and Lu Dehua chose Dongfang Jing, a Hero released less than two days earlier.

Yan Xiao agreed to duel Lu Dehua using Dongfang Jing, a Hero he had never played, and studied the skill descriptions before the match. After eight minutes of careful farming and efficient movement, he led Lu Dehua by nearly 800 gold without a major clash, and a professional jungler predicted the match was effectively decided.

• Yan Xiao accepted the duel with Dongfang Jing and declined the host’s offer to practice in the training camp.
• Yan Xiao read Dongfang Jing’s skills during the selection countdown, chose Smite, and entered the game with bruiser Runes.
• The commentators and spectators questioned Yan Xiao’s unfamiliarity with Dongfang Jing and his defensive Runes, while Lin Fangxin remained confident in him.
• Yan Xiao and Lu Dehua farmed without a proper clash, but Yan Xiao built a lead of almost 800 gold by moving efficiently.
• A professional jungler praised Yan Xiao’s macro play and said he believed the match had little suspense left.

Yan Xiao defeated Lu Dehua and a pro team captain in a gaming competition, while the team manager persuaded Lu Dehua to try the youth training program. After accepting an invitation to share his tactics sometime, Yan Xiao left with Lin Fangxin and Zhao Zimo to see a movie.

• Yan Xiao beat Lu Dehua twice, and the humbled player agreed to try the team's youth training program after the manager encouraged him.
• The pro players chose their captain to challenge Yan Xiao in a marksman duel.
• Yan Xiao dominated the captain and won the match in eight minutes, but declined the captain's offer to join the team.
• Yan Xiao agreed to explain his techniques and tactics when he had time, then collected three cards at the brief award ceremony.
• Yan Xiao left the venue with Lin Fangxin and Zhao Zimo, and Zhao Zimo offered to buy movie tickets.

Yan Xiao and the students visited Peppercorn University of Technology, where they learned they would take part in a practice competition against the Eagland team. Yan Xiao lost interest when he heard there was no prize money, while Lin Fangxin was eager to compete against Eagland’s celebrated Linda.

• Yan Xiao woke up late and joined Zhao Zimo and the others for their visit to Peppercorn University of Technology.
• After the campus tour, the group leader announced a practice competition involving their three schools and the visiting Eagland team.
• Yan Xiao asked whether the practice competition offered prize money, and the group leader told him it did not.
• Yan Xiao gave up on the competition, but Lin Fangxin said she wanted to face Linda, a top Eagland contender hailed as a once-in-a-century genius.

Yan Xiao accompanied Lin Fangxin to an international mathematical modeling contest, where she planned to compete against Linda on her own. After reviewing the five problems, Lin Fangxin used Yan Xiao’s method to choose one, while Yan Xiao settled in as if he were about to fall asleep.

• Yan Xiao supported Lin Fangxin’s wish to compete as the group traveled to the basketball arena hosting the contest.
• An instructor announced that the teams had five hours to model and solve one of five problems without producing a program.
• Yan Xiao quickly formed an approach to all five problems, while Lin Fangxin studied them carefully and Zhao Zimo struggled to read the English.
• Lin Fangxin ignored Yan Xiao’s apparent attempt to fall asleep because he had promised she would take center stage and beat Linda.
• Lin Fangxin used Yan Xiao’s method to decide which problem to choose.