A New Mission!

Seeing the baffled look on Professor Zhou's face, the principal explained, "Here's what happened. The university's academic committee held a special meeting to discuss a development plan for Qi Hao."

Everyone present was stunned. Qi Hao's abilities in his field were indeed impressive, but under normal circumstances, the academic committee would never have acted so quickly.

Who was spearheading this?

The principal?

"After reading Qi Hao's paper, a professor assessed that his abilities in mathematical modeling and algorithm analysis were already on par with those of a graduate student. Having him enter the China Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling would be using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken. It would waste his time and give him no real challenge."

Professor Zhou deeply regretted not taking Old Wang's advice and accepting Qi Hao back then. Otherwise, their modeling team would surely have won first prize in the national contest this time.

And now such a promising talent had flown right out of his hands!

All Professor Zhou could do was stand there and stew.

"So what did they suggest?" Old Hu asked curiously.

"They suggested that Qi Hao enter the Microsoft Imagine Cup," the principal answered.

The people in the office exchanged varied looks.

Old Wang was pleased. "I fully support that plan. Qi Hao's abilities really are better suited to that stage."

Professor Zhou frowned slightly. The Microsoft Imagine Cup was a truly international competition, more than a notch or two harder than the national modeling contest.

Not many people in their college even dared to enter.

Qi Hao had been listening in a fog. He knew nothing about these competitions, so he asked honestly, "What level of competition is this Microsoft Imagine Cup...?"

Old Wang took over and explained, "The Microsoft Imagine Cup, known in English as the Imagine Cup, is a global technology competition for university students hosted by Microsoft Corporation. Its global finals are held in a different country each year."

"What sets it apart is that, unlike modeling contests, it doesn't just test mathematical modeling. It assesses a team's technological innovation, engineering implementation, business logic, and presentation skills as a whole."

"Simply put, the national modeling contest gives you a problem, and you just have to solve it using mathematical methods. The Mathematical Contest in Modeling is a bit more international, but it's still essentially about modeling. The whole competition takes place online, and it's usually Chinese students who take part."

"Some people have complained that the Mathematical Contest in Modeling is just Chinese people paying to compete among themselves for the sake of a nice-sounding title."

"The Microsoft Imagine Cup is different. It's very formal, and the judges are mostly Microsoft executives, top scholars, industry leaders, and the like."

"Once contestants form teams, they need to come up with an idea that can help the world, build it with real code, and finally give a business pitch in English before the judges. In terms of difficulty, the Imagine Cup overall is harder than the national and Mathematical Contest in Modeling combined."

After listening, Qi Hao frowned slightly.

He still hadn't finished the system's reading task. He had to work through the mathematics books in his hands systematically before he could unlock the proof of the Jacobian Conjecture.

On top of that, final exams were coming up soon. He couldn't afford to take any of the university-wide exams lightly, whether advanced mathematics, linear algebra, or English. It wasn't that he was afraid of failing; he wanted good grades.

A study god had ambitions, after all.

If he didn't score high on his finals and leave the study scum gazing up at him in awe, how could he call himself a study god?

If he added the Microsoft Imagine Cup to that, then according to Old Wang, he would have to prepare for the competition, form a team, write code, make a PowerPoint, practice presenting in English... Just thinking about the workload gave him a headache.

"Principal, teachers," Qi Hao said after weighing his words, "I understand the university is making these arrangements for my own good, but... I really am a little busy lately. On the one hand, I want to read more and build a solid foundation. On the other, final exams are coming up soon, and I'm afraid I won't have enough time. How about... I think it over some more?"

The office fell quiet for a moment.

Old Wang glanced at the principal, who nodded slightly. Old Wang smiled and said at a leisurely pace, "Qi Hao, do you know how much prize money the global champion team gets at the Microsoft Imagine Cup?"

Qi Hao shook his head.

"One hundred thousand US dollars," Old Wang said slowly and deliberately.

"One... one hundred thousand US dollars?" Qi Hao repeated in disbelief.

"That's right."

One hundred thousand US dollars converted to 680,000 yuan in their currency!

Six hundred and eighty thousand!

Qi Hao swallowed silently.

Including the hard-earned money he had made tutoring the Fang Household off campus some time ago, he had just over 7,000 yuan in his bank account.

That 7,000-plus yuan was everything he had.

And the prize for the Microsoft Imagine Cup's overall champion team was 680,000 yuan!

Old Wang watched Qi Hao's expression change, the smile at the corners of his mouth growing wider. He didn't rush him, giving Qi Hao plenty of time to think.

"Of course, that's the prize for the overall champion team. The Imagine Cup also has several tracks: software design, embedded development, game design, digital media, and so on."

"Each track has a separate prize for its champion. The runners-up and third-place finishers in each track, and even the award winners in the regional competitions, all receive corresponding prize money. In other words, as long as you place in a track, a prize of tens of thousands of US dollars is guaranteed," Old Wang added.

Qi Hao's eyes were already beginning to shine.

Even if he couldn't win the overall championship, he could still win other prizes.

A prize of tens of thousands of yuan was no small amount either.

Working hard for a while in exchange for tens of thousands didn't seem like a bad deal!

Qi Hao immediately said with a perfectly serious expression, "Teachers, I just thought it over carefully. Time is actually like water in a sponge: if you squeeze it, there's always some to be found. I can spend more time reviewing for finals at night, and I can use spare moments to read. As for the Imagine Cup, I think I can give it a try!"

The principal watched Qi Hao's expression and was secretly amused.

The kid had looked so troubled just now, but the moment he heard the prize amount, his eyes lit up. He was like a different person.

He had become enthusiastic too.

Old Wang laughed and scolded him, "You rascal, you looked so troubled just now, but the moment you heard about the prize money, you suddenly had time. I reckon all you have eyes for is Chairman Mao!"

Qi Hao chuckled and didn't argue.

His family wasn't well-off to begin with. If he could win the prize money, he could send some home.

Take a gamble, and a bicycle might turn into a motorcycle.

The opportunity was rare, so he might as well give it a try.

"Then it's settled. Qi Hao, since you've decided to enter, you'll need to focus on preparing for the Imagine Cup from here on out."

"As the undisputed pinnacle of global university technology competitions today, the Microsoft Imagine Cup attracts elite students from universities in more than a hundred countries every year. If you make it to the global finals, you won't just face the encirclement of established domestic engineering powerhouses like Tsinghua and Peking Universities and Jiaotong University. You'll also come face-to-face with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford, and others on the finals stage."

"So the university will provide you with resources. Old Wang will be your faculty adviser, and the Experimental College for Exceptional Talents will also send people to help you. Registration, team formation, technical support-the university will help coordinate everything. You just need to focus on the competition itself."

There would even be resources to support him. Qi Hao immediately gave his thanks. "Thank you, Principal, and thank you, teachers. I'll give it my all!"

Just then, a voice only Qi Hao could hear sounded in his ear.

[At the International Mathematical Olympiad, the great Soviet youth swept the field in undisputed fashion. In almost every edition, members of their team took home gold medals, thrashing the United States!]

[And now, on a stage orchestrated by a technology giant of American imperialism and dominated by big capitalists, use your wisdom and iron will to deliver them a heavy blow!]

[Comrade, show them your absolute strength and make them tremble before the red storm!]

[Mission triggered: Take first place in an international competition reeking of capitalism!]

[Mission completion requirement: Defeat every United States team in the competition!]

[Mission rewards:

1. Subject experience points (the exact amount will be determined based on the quality of completion)

2. Random treasure chests ×2

3. Mysterious reward ×1]

[Mission deadline: The closing day of the international competition]

[Note: Comrade, keep it up! For the development of red scientific research, charge fearlessly forward!]

Could the international competition the system meant be the Microsoft Imagine Cup?

It even wanted him to defeat every United States team and take first place.

Did that mean he had to win the global championship?!

The principal had just said that people from many top universities would be taking part in the Microsoft Imagine Cup.

Winning the global championship in an international contest where immortals fought and demons danced wildly would be no easy feat.

Looking at the glaring rewards in the mission panel and then at the completely empty list of alternative missions, Qi Hao understood that he had no choice at all.

Since this is the only mission available right now, I'll take it. I'd like to see what the mysterious reward is, Qi Hao thought, decisively accepting the mission.

"Qi Hao," the principal said again, bringing the distracted Qi Hao back to reality, "there's something else I need to tell you. The CEO of Huaji will be coming to the university on business in a couple of days. He specifically let us know that he'd like to discuss some details of your paper with you in person when he comes."

"When would be convenient for you?"