The room, filled with a metallic texture and covering more than 200 square meters, had walls lined with a central control screen. In the middle were rows of desks equipped with computers.

A team of thirty-six experts was diligently trying to decrypt that piece of candy wrapped in sugar paper.

Lacking sleep for an extended period, everyone appeared fatigued; their skin was loose and dry. More than half of them had shiny scalps under the lights.

After swiping his card to enter, Liu Yichong, like a harbinger of doom, walked directly to a woman with a ponytail in the front row of the central control screen.

"Qiao, Elder Chen asked me to check on your progress. Elder Chen said you've already spent two days and also mentioned the supercomputer."

Liu Yichong hesitated for a moment before saying slowly, "Qiao, I don't need to tell you that the supercomputer at the institute can't be used by you indefinitely. Other projects also need the supercomputer for large-scale data calculations, and tomorrow is the scheduled maintenance time for the supercomputer."

"The logistics department is also complaining. Because of the supercomputer's saturation operation these past two days, the electricity costs alone have exceeded the week's budget."

Everyone present heard Liu Yichong's words clearly. They were angry, yet they couldn't refute him, as he was merely stating facts.

Qiao Shumin massaged her temples and finally sighed.

"Everyone, stop. Continuing with brute force decryption is meaningless."

"Unless we understand the encryption algorithm's principle, there's no way we'll decrypt it within a week, let alone a year."

After Qiao Shumin spoke, everyone fell silent. The festive candy on the big screen seemed to silently mock everyone.

Liu Yichong opened his mouth. He had only come to give them a nudge; he hadn't intended to make everyone give up directly!

"Qiao, what about this?" Liu Yichong's face showed difficulty.

"Just tell Elder Chen that this software's encryption algorithm is as powerful as the balance algorithm Elder Chen mentioned, and it's a new encryption algorithm never seen before."

Liu Yichong's face looked surprised as he nodded in astonishment.

"Okay."

"If possible, we'd like to meet the guy who's passionate (insane) about designing algorithms."

After Liu Yichong left, Qiao Shumin, disregarding her ladylike image, slammed the keyboard hard.

"Damn it, what a mess."

Meanwhile, back in the laboratory, Liu Yichong quietly relayed the situation into Academician Chen Xihuo's ear, causing Chen Xihuo's smile to freeze.

When Chen Xihuo heard that the encryption algorithm Mo Jingchun used was as powerful as the balance algorithm, he felt it was only right that they hadn't cracked it yet.

Chen Xihuo couldn't help but smile bitterly; no wonder that young guy was so confident at the time. It turns out he had already dug a pit, waiting for this old man to fall into it.

It seems necessary to discuss cooperation with that young Mo Jingchun for special optimization of the balance algorithm.

Two days later, after multi-core project testing, Mo Jingchun's designed balance algorithm proved to be 0.63 times more efficient on average than the existing algorithms.

On the third day, Chen Xihuo returned to the school from the institute, along with a major and a female powerhouse in a black suit.

Of course, Mo Jingchun, who was listening attentively in class, was unaware that someone was already waiting for him in the dormitory building.

Ding ding ding~

As the bell signaling the end of class rang, students dispersed in a rush. Yang Xiaoyu walked over to Mo Jingchun, who hadn't left yet, clutching her textbooks.

Mo Jingchun looked up at Class President Yang Xiaoyu with confusion and asked, "What's up, President? Is something wrong?"

Yang Xiaoyu asked in a low voice, "Mo Jingchun, why haven't you submitted your application form to me yet?"

"Application form? I don't know what you're talking about," Mo Jingchun looked bewildered.

"It's for the scholarship."

Mo Jingchun paused before he realized what she meant.

"President, I'm not planning to apply for it. That's why there's no application form."

"Oh, c'mon, why not apply? It's worth several thousand yuan."

Yang Xiaoyu patted her mouth and explained, "That's not what I mean; I just..."

Mo Jingchun smiled and interrupted Yang Xiaoyu's words.

"President, thank you for your concern. I'm honestly not short of money during my college years. Otherwise, I'd have started a part-time job on weekends by now."

"I have to go now, need to go home and make milk for Candy."

Watching Mo Jingchun's departing figure, Yang Xiaoyu stamped her foot in frustration.

Starting with such a big move right away makes it difficult for her to explain to the counselor and other students.

Everyone knew Mo Jingchun's situation, and when others received scholarships but not Mo Jingchun, what would people think?

The first reaction anyone would have is that there's an inside story.

The more Yang Xiaoyu thought about it, the more annoyed she became, stamping her feet in anger.

"So frustrating, so frustrating!"

Academician Chen Xihuo had never returned, and Mo Jingchun almost forgot there was such an issue. There's nothing to be done—Mo Jingchun isn't a computer, nor is he Nezha with three heads and six arms, nor can he run multithreaded.

Just taking care of the little one has consumed most of his energy. Coupled with daily studies and rewriting code, Mo Jingchun has no extra energy to think about why Chen Xihuo hasn't come looking for him.

Returning to his dormitory building, as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, Mo Jingchun was surprised to find Academician Chen Xihuo's door open.

Driven by curiosity, even before taking out his keys to open his own door, Mo Jingchun peeked into Chen Xihuo's living room while holding his sister Candy.

What he saw shocked Mo Jingchun, and a national curse almost slipped out of his mouth.

Emm, did he see something he shouldn't have? There's a military person there, and it seems like an officer, though he's not sure what rank.

Although it was just a quick glance, the sensitive military personnel and the woman in the black suit inside noticed him almost simultaneously and looked toward the entrance.

Seeing their change in expression, Chen Xihuo also glanced over at the door.

Chen Xihuo waved at Mo Jingchun, who was holding Candy, and said with a smile:

"Xiaochun, come in; we're just waiting for you."

Mo Jingchun, hesitant as an unmarried maiden, walked into the living room, awkwardly.

The woman in the black suit, Qin Yuzhu, proactively poured a cup of tea for Mo Jingchun, with a warm smile as she placed the cup in front of him.

Before coming, they had gone through the profile of Mo Jingchun and his sister Candy, including Mo Jingchun's photo.

Interestingly, Mo Jingchun's sister is called Candy, and it was a software program with a candy exterior that kept Qiao Shumin and her team awake for several nights.

"Xiaochun, let me introduce you."

"This is Major Zhang Aijun."

Zhang Aijun stood up and saluted Mo Jingchun, startling him to stand up hurriedly.

"Hello, Zhang Aijun."

PS: Thanks to Liang Cha's tips. °˖✧︎◝︎(⁰▿︎⁰)◜︎✧︎˖°

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.