Chapter Summaries

Zhou Huaide’s team broke Beautiful Country’s controlled nuclear fusion record, holding the reaction stable for more than seventy seconds. As the chief watched the test continue, he noticed Jiang Fan at the main control console and was astonished by how young he looked.

• A technician reported that Zhou Huaide’s fusion reaction had remained stable for six seconds, and the chief anxiously watched it surpass ten seconds and break the world record.
• The researchers at the Northern Base celebrated as the fusion reaction continued, while Zhou Huaide credited Jiang Fan for helping make the breakthrough possible.
• Jiang Fan monitored the readings and worried that rising magnetic ring temperatures and omitted construction procedures might limit how long the device could operate.
• The reaction remained stable for fifty seconds, leaving the chief and other officials stunned and imagining future applications for the technology.
• The chief learned the test had reached seventy seconds, asked to enlarge the control-room footage, and spotted Jiang Fan at the console.

Jiang Fan and the researchers kept the fusion reaction stable for 100 seconds, fulfilling their agreement with the chief, and it continued running for 118 seconds. The chief ordered the achievement kept secret ahead of the World Military Competition and told Zhang Honglei to bring the former Northern Base researchers back immediately.

• As the magnetic ring material overheated, Jiang Fan lowered the confinement device's power and adjusted the settings until the fusion reaction reached 100 stable seconds.
• The control room celebrated as Zhou Huaide thanked and embraced Jiang Fan, while the chief and officials watched the successful test.
• The chief saw the reaction continue to 118 seconds, then ordered everyone in the conference room to surrender their phones and sign confidentiality agreements.
• The chief contacted Zhang Honglei and ordered him to recall all researchers formerly assigned to the Northern Base.

Dragon Country’s leaders rewarded Jiang Fan for his role in the Northern Base’s successful fusion experiment, while Mayor Deng arrived at Happiness Residential Complex to honor someone’s second-class merit. Old Wang’s wife mistakenly believed the mayor had come for her son and introduced herself as Wang Gang’s mother.

• After the Northern Base maintained stable nuclear fusion for 118 seconds, Dragon Country’s leaders kept the news secret, expanded support for the research, and decided to apply fusion to fighter jets.
• Zhou Huaide rejected his own first-class merit and reported Jiang Fan’s contributions, prompting the leaders to award Jiang Fan a professorship, second-class merit, five million in cash, the rank of lieutenant colonel, and Level One confidentiality protection.
• At Happiness Residential Complex, residents praised Jiang Fan, while Old Wang’s wife boasted that her son had earned third-class merit.
• Mayor Deng received instructions and brought a waist-drum troupe to the complex to congratulate someone on second-class merit.
• Old Wang’s wife assumed the honor was for her son, Wang Gang, and stepped forward to tell Mayor Deng she was Wang Gang’s mother.

Old Wang's wife mistook Mayor Deng's visit for an award ceremony for her son, then learned he was headed to Jiang Fan's home. As Jiang Fan's parents discussed his university offers, Old Li arrived to tell them the mayor was bringing a red booklet, and Jiang Fan revealed the visit was to present him with a second-class merit.

• Old Wang's wife repeatedly told Mayor Deng that she was Wang Gang's mother and tried to direct him to Building Six, but learned he was seeking Jiang Fan in Building Three.
• Embarrassed, Old Wang's wife fled as neighbors followed Mayor Deng's procession to discover whose family was receiving an award.
• Jiang Jingguo and Li Guiqin discussed Jiang Fan's many university admission offers, with Li Xiu'e recommending Huaqing University because Chu Ruoxi had been accepted there.
• Old Li hurried to Jiang Fan's home and told his parents that the mayor was arriving with a red booklet.
• Jiang Fan told his parents that Mayor Deng had come to present him with a second-class merit.

Jiang Fan’s parents learned that he had earned a second-class merit for developing solar photovoltaic panel materials, and the mayor held a neighborhood celebration in his honor. After choosing Dragon University of Science and Technology’s admission letter, Jiang Fan received a system reward that taught him all mathematical knowledge currently mastered on Blue Star.

• Jiang Fan told Li Guiqin and Jiang Jingguo that his solar photovoltaic panel work had earned him a second-class merit.
• Mayor Deng presented Jiang Fan’s medal and certificate before the neighbors, while Jiang Jingguo proudly handed out cigarettes.
• Mayor Deng gave gold badges to the children after they said they wanted to become scientists and contribute to Dragon Country.
• Jiang Fan chose the admission letter from Dragon University of Science and Technology, completing his system mission.
• Jiang Fan accepted the system’s reward and absorbed all mathematical knowledge currently mastered on Blue Star.

Old Wang's wife showed off her son Wang Gang's beautiful university-student girlfriend, Xiaoqian, while mocking Jiang Fan as unlikely to find a wife. Her taunts collapsed when Chu Ruoxi arrived to see Jiang Fan and walked away with him, leaving Old Wang's wife humiliated again.

• Old Wang's wife celebrated Wang Gang's girlfriend, Xiaoqian, and boasted that her son was a better match than Jiang Fan.
• Old Wang's wife criticized Jiang Fan for being quiet and claimed he would struggle to find a pretty wife.
• Chu Ruoxi passed the pavilion, stunning the neighbors with her beauty, then entered Building Three.
• Old Wang's wife resumed mocking Jiang Fan before Chu Ruoxi emerged from Building Three with him.
• Jiang Fan and Chu Ruoxi greeted the neighbors together, and Old Wang's wife hurried home, deciding to stay inside for half a month.

Jiang Fan told Chu Ruoxi he had chosen Dragon University of Science and Technology, and she teased him about measuring its distance from Huaqing University so he could visit her. After revealing she was the WeChat user Little Wildcat, Chu Ruoxi agreed to Jiang Fan’s supposed confession, leaving him stunned.

• Jiang Fan told Chu Ruoxi he planned to attend Dragon University of Science and Technology and explained that it was a short walk from Huaqing University.
• Chu Ruoxi teased Jiang Fan about measuring the distance because he wanted to visit her, and he admitted the idea embarrassed him.
• Chu Ruoxi asked Jiang Fan about Qiao Yifei, and he explained their brief acquaintance while leaving out the system.
• Chu Ruoxi challenged Jiang Fan to catch her before she would reveal how she knew Qiao Yifei, then told him she was Little Wildcat.
• Jiang Fan realized he had once told Little Wildcat that Chu Ruoxi was his girlfriend, and Chu Ruoxi said she agreed.

Jiang Fan registered at Dragon University of Science and Technology, accepted Elder Long as his teacher, and agreed to assist with a mecha project after choosing to study space science. The system rewarded him with future combat mecha blueprints and then assigned him a math challenge whose prize was future fighter jet blueprints.

• Jiang Fan accompanied Chu Ruoxi around Huaqing University, helped her settle into her dorm, and shared lunch with her before returning to Dragon University of Science and Technology.
• Elder Long welcomed Jiang Fan, arranged his apartment, and asked him to become his student; Jiang Fan accepted.
• Jiang Fan chose space science as his major, and Elder Long invited him to assist with a mecha project instead of attending military training.
• Jiang Fan accepted Elder Long's invitation and received combat mecha blueprints from the system.
• Jiang Fan found a crowd gathered for the university's Freshman Math Challenge, and the system offered future fighter jet blueprints if he took first place.

Jiang Fan entered Dragon University of Science and Technology’s freshman challenge and solved the first problem in just 56 seconds. His performance stunned the audience and caught the attention of Qiao Yifei, who took an interest in him.

• Jiang Fan registered for the nine-problem challenge and learned that a single unsolved problem would eliminate a contestant.
• Qiao Yifei and her friends watched the challenge and joked about her habit of pursuing handsome freshmen.
• Jiang Fan drew a problem in Zone One and solved it in 56 seconds.
• The senior checked Jiang Fan’s answer and confirmed it was completely correct.
• The audience marveled at Jiang Fan’s speed, and Qiao Yifei became interested in him.

Jiang Fan considered the notoriously difficult third challenge question and then solved it in just over five minutes, stunning the students watching. His answer awaited verification, leaving open whether he would become the third person to clear the Death Question.

• Qiao Yifei recognized Jiang Fan on the broadcast and recalled how his nanometer measurement advice had helped her win an award at Huaqing University.
• Jiang Fan finished the first two questions in 1 minute and 3 seconds, far ahead of the other freshman.
• Jiang Fan moved on to the Death Question as the students learned that only two people had solved it in nearly thirty years.
• Jiang Fan studied the third question before writing a complete solution without pausing or correcting himself.
• Jiang Fan told the senior student he was done after 5 minutes and 21 seconds, leaving the watching students stunned.