Chapter 101 Competition
After spending a few days shamelessly being with Lin Yan, I deeply experienced what "distance creates beauty" means.
It’s not that I don’t miss him, but... someone’s energy level is really a bit too high!
The variety of "strategic reserve materials" at home is so rich that you can hold a small expo.
For the sake of my poor old waist and buttocks, and in order not to let down my academic enthusiasm that I had finally ignited (mainly the former), I decisively raised the banner of "academics first".
It just so happened that I had recently made a small breakthrough in game script development, and my thoughts were flowing smoothly. Although Lin Yan's eyes were as resentful as a big dog whose bones were taken away, seeing that I was really in high spirits, he could only transfer his energy, which had nowhere to go, to helping me look up literature, sort out logic, and even discuss code optimization.
I went to talk to my supervisor about the project progress that day and also tried to get some feedback.
The mentor gave earnest advice: "Chen Rui, if you want to pursue entrepreneurship or in-depth research in the future, it's best to finish a small paper in advance. This will reduce the pressure later and free up your time to work on more practical things."
My heart skipped a beat, and the fear of being dominated by my graduation project during my undergraduate studies suddenly emerged in my mind.
What is coming will eventually come!
A new round of academic mountains is coming!
Of course, I know that some students will choose to "outsource" to external institutions to "polish" or even "do it for them."
But I thought that this paper is closely related to my own research direction. Writing it carefully will definitely help me sort out my ideas and lay a solid foundation.
You have to fill the hole you dug yourself, even if you cry, right?
When Lin Yan found out, he immediately transformed into a "military advisor" and suggested, "Baby, why don't you talk to your advisor about your ideas? Tell him or her about your future plans for game script development or entrepreneurship. If your advisor knows your plans, they might be able to give you more targeted advice on topic selection and research direction, helping you lock in your goals as quickly as possible."
I was scratching my head, feeling incredibly embarrassed. "No, no, no! We haven't even started anything yet! If I go tell my advisor now, 'Teacher, I want to start a business,' will they think I'm overambitious and unrealistic?"
I know myself too well. Unlike Lin Yan, a "quasi-entrepreneur" who already has achievements, clear goals, and is about to set sail, my "career ambition" is more like an ideal bubble based on interest. It is beautiful, but once it is burst, there may be nothing left.
"Is this just... the daydream of an academic idealist?"
Lin Yan looked at my tangled expression, ruffled my hair with a smile: "Ruirui, don't underestimate yourself. Interest is the best teacher and the strongest driving force. But..."
He changed the subject, "Since you think it's too early to tell now, then proceed at your own pace. Yanyi works hard, lays a solid foundation, and the thesis will come naturally."
Okay, you have to jump into the hole you dug yourself!
I rolled up my sleeves and was about to turn into an academic laborer and work hard when Fang Qing came rushing over again.
"Chen Rui! Help!" She rushed to my desk with an expression as if the sky was falling.
"What's wrong, Miss Fang?" I didn't even raise my eyelids and continued to stare at the documents on the screen.
"Senior Brother Gu has accepted a competition! It's incredibly valuable! But it requires a team of at least three! And he's already found me as a teammate!"
Fang Qing clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, "Ruirui! Good Ruirui! Please help us sisters! Your coding skills are absolutely amazing!"
I was speechless for a moment, putting down the mouse and squinting at her. "Fang Qing, isn't this the perfect time for you two to have some time together, to warm up your relationship, to fight side by side, and to cultivate your revolutionary friendship? Why did you have to drag me into this?"
Fang Qing immediately waved her hands and said righteously, "You're overthinking it! Other teams start with three or four people, and their efficiency is high because of the division of labor and collaboration! With just him and me, our progress will definitely be slow as a turtle! What a disgrace it would be if I fell behind and didn't win the award!"
The reason sounds reasonable.
I held my forehead and sighed: "Sister, I'm not a peerless master, and my progress may not be rapid! Besides,"
I deliberately dragged out my tone, looking at her mischievously, "Call me over. Your Senior Brother Gu...wouldn't he be jealous? I can't take the responsibility of affecting the progress of your relationship."
When Fang Qing mentioned Senior Brother Gu, her face flushed instantly. Her eyes began to wander and her voice trailed off. "Well... well... we were just having a normal academic exchange... he, he wouldn't be that stingy, right?"
After their last date, the relationship between her and Senior Brother Gu had indeed become more ambiguous, but Fang Qing was a typical person who would become shyer and more evasive the more she liked someone. She now wished that all their interactions would be confined to academic discussions.
Seeing her act like an ostrich, I feel so disappointed in her.
"Hey, Chen Rui! Just come and help me! If it really doesn't work..."
Her eyes lit up, as if she had come up with a brilliant idea. "Call in that great guy from your family! Lin Yan! With him here, our team will take off immediately! We'll win so many awards!"
"What? Call Lin Yan?!" I almost choked on my own saliva, "Fang Qing, are you serious?" I couldn't even imagine that scene!
Senior Brother Gu is already a big shot in his professional field, and with Lin Yan, who has rich practical experience and a mind that works faster than a computer... Fang Qing and I can probably only be responsible for shouting "666" and serving tea and water?
This lineup is a dimensionality reduction attack when it comes to competition!
But...if you think about it carefully, it doesn't seem impossible?
The main thing is... Lin Yan is really amazing!
My filter is estimated to be eight hundred meters thick.
"Okay, okay," I compromised helplessly, "I'll go back and talk to Lin Yan, but he's been very busy lately and may not be available, so don't get your hopes up."
"Ahhh! Ruirui, I knew you were the best! I love you so much!"
Fang Qing's expression changed immediately and she rushed over to give me a bear hug.
I quickly dodged and said in disgust, "Go away! How dare you act like that in front of Senior Brother Gu? Why are you being so rude in front of me? Go at him if you have the guts!"
"...Chen Rui! Just wait!"
Fang Qing felt that I had hit her sore spot, and she stomped her feet in anger and ran away.
When I got home in the evening, I mentioned Fang Qing’s “teaming invitation” to Lin Yan.
Lin Yan was leaning on the sofa reading some information. He raised his eyebrows when he heard this: "Competition? Senior Brother Gu is leading the team?"
He pondered for a moment and said, "It's not impossible. But I've been very busy lately, so I may only be able to put my name on the team, or help out at key points. The main force still depends on you. It would be difficult for me to follow up the whole process." His tone was very serious.
"Lin Yan, you are too modest!"
I immediately retorted, "I think you're our secret weapon! The ultimate weapon!
My filter continues to thicken.
Lin Yan was amused by me. He put down the information and reached out to pull me into his arms. "Baby, aren't you judging me too highly? Senior Brother Gu is your direct senior after all. He has deep expertise in his field and is very experienced. How can I compare to him?"
"Of course we can't compete!" I nestled in his arms, counting on my fingers. "Didn't you win the 'Geek Cup' when you were an undergraduate and competed alone? You completely destroyed your opponent, leaving the judges stunned. That kind of fighting ability is unmatched!"
"Wife," Lin Yan said, feeling both amused and helpless, pinching my face. "Your adjective... makes me sound like a cold-blooded killer. How can it be so exaggerated?"
He paused, tightened his arms, and rested his chin on the top of my head. His voice was a little lazy and subtly sour, "On the contrary, it was someone...who invited you and you softened your heart and agreed?"
Alarm bells rang in my heart: Here it comes!
This guy is secretly jealous again! And the targets are Senior Brother Gu and Fang Qing!
"Part of it is to help Fang Qing," I confessed honestly, "and part of it is... I'm just a little curious. Don't you think Fang Qing and Senior Brother Gu are so stuck in their ways? They're obviously interested in each other, but they still have to use a third wheel to buffer it?"
Lin Yan chuckled softly, his chest trembling slightly. He touched my hair, his tone filled with helplessness and doting: "Ruirui, do you think everyone is like you, without any defense against other people's kindness and approach?"
"I wasn't on guard?" I raised my head and looked at him unconvinced.
"Yeah," he looked at me seriously, "When we first got together, were you really not afraid that I would cheat on you? Weren't you afraid that I might get something from you?"
I was stunned for a moment, thinking carefully... it seemed... I had never thought about this question?
At that time, I just felt that he was very good to me, very caring, and very attractive to me, and then... I fell into it without knowing why.
"Oh, right!" I realized it later and widened my eyes. "Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit suspicious! But..."
I looked at his handsome face so close to me and said confidently, "You were really good to me back then! And I did have feelings for you, and I didn't want to disappoint you."
Lin Yan looked at me honestly and a little ignorantly, and his eyes instantly softened like melting spring water.
He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. His voice was low and contented: "This is rare, Ruirui. Purely trusting your feelings and bravely accepting them... Fortunately, you didn't push me away at that time."
He said this so gently that the atmosphere instantly became a little sticky.
I was keenly aware of the changes in his body and the warmth in his eyes. I quickly slipped out of his arms like a loach and rushed to the computer desk. "Ah! That! I suddenly remembered! I haven't finished reading the paper I was supposed to read today! It's very important!"
I hurriedly turned on the computer and pretended to stare at the screen intently.
Lin Yan followed me silently like a ghost, hugged me from behind, and sprayed his warm breath on my earlobe. His voice was low and hoarse with temptation: "Baby, you can read the literature later... The condoms I bought today are strawberry flavored..."
My face suddenly turned red! This pervert!
"What does it have to do with me!" I stiffened my neck and pretended to be calm, "That thing is not for eating!"
"You can eat it..." He chuckled meaningfully, and his fingers stroked my lips ambiguously.
"Get out of here, you pervert!" I jumped away as if I'd been scalded, pointing at him and accusing him, "Whose strawberry-flavored thing is this big? Are you trying to choke me to death?"
"Wife..." Someone started to act like a spoiled child, looking at me with wet eyes, like a big aggrieved dog.
I raised my hands with a firm will (my heart was actually beating like a drum): "Stop! Acting like a spoiled child is useless! I just did it yesterday! Let's take a break today! Your health is important! Your studies come first!" I uttered the four-word mantra.
Lin Yan: “…”
Looking at his frustrated and helpless look, I felt secretly happy.
Humph, I finally got a victory this time! The dignity of academia will be protected by me, Chen Rui!
Of course... this firm will to "guard" was finally completely defeated one dark and windy night (not really) when inspiration was exhausted (excuse) when someone took out the box of pink and tender "strawberry-flavored strategic materials" that exuded a suspiciously sweet fragrance.
The specific process of appreciating it...well, it’s not something that can be told to outsiders.
All I can say is that practice makes perfect. Some things are really... not meant to be eaten!
But someone's ability to develop new uses for something is truly...amazing.
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