Chapter 63

After the new cafeteria at the Longyin Research Institute opened, the team's quality of life saw a leap in improvement.

The rich, savory red-braised pork and the tender, smooth steamed fish.

Completely replaced the previous three meals a day of instant noodles, with their seasoning packets mixed with that industrial-feeling aroma.

It became the new background flavor of the "Insect Workshop."

Along with it, even the volume of Wang Hao and Li Yang's arguments over missile fuel ratios.

Seemed to have become a few decibels louder because their nutrition had caught up.

Just as everything was flourishing and everyone was buried in their own "specialized breakthroughs," Chen Guang suddenly received a phone call.

At the time, he was hunched over an optical platform, carefully adjusting the final reflective lens of the "Bee Sting" micro-laser.

His phone vibrated in his pocket; he glanced at the caller ID—it was his university counselor.

He walked to a relatively quiet corner to answer.

"Chen Guang," the counselor's voice carried a hint of routine concern, along with a trace of imperceptible anxiety.

"What time do you think it is? How is your graduation project coming along?"

"Have you settled on a topic? Have you contacted a supervisor?"

"Let me tell you, the school is being extremely strict this year; delaying graduation is no joke..."

Chen Guang listened to the nagging on the other end of the line, his expression unchanged.

Once the counselor paused, he spoke calmly, his tone like he was stating an objective fact:

"Teacher, I am working on a national-level classified project. As for the graduation project, we may need to handle this special situation in a special way."

The other end of the line went silent instantly.

A full five seconds passed before the counselor's voice sounded again.

The pitch had risen significantly, carrying disbelief:

"Cl... classified project? Chen Guang, are you alright?"

"Have you run into some kind of trouble? The school can help you coordinate; please don't do anything rash..."

Chen Guang pushed up his glasses, remaining calm:

"It's true. The project cannot be disclosed; the unit is the Longyin Institute of Advanced Technology."

"My work involves laser technology research and development, and there are confidentiality requirements."

There was another silence on the counselor's end, followed by a tone that turned serious:

"Chen Guang, wait there. I need to report this to the college leadership."

After saying that, they hung up the phone in a hurry.

Chen Guang put down his phone, showing no emotional fluctuation, and went back to adjusting his laser.

To him, this was just a situation that needed to be explained; once resolved, it was fine.

However, things did not end so simply.

A few days later, Chen Guang received another call; this time, the number displayed was the college office.

After connecting, a voice with a bureaucratic tone, sounding like some vice dean, came through:

"Is this student Chen Guang? I am Vice Dean Liu from the college."

The other party's tone was still amiable, but it carried a condescending sense of probing.

"I heard from your counselor that you are currently participating in a... very important project?"

"Yes, leader."

"Oh? Which unit is it at? What is the specific direction of the work?"

"Our college is very supportive of students participating in practical projects, you know."

"Perhaps we could even cooperate; could you invite experts from your side to come to the college for exchange and learning?"

The other party's words were full of probing.

Chen Guang keenly sensed that something was wrong.

Being told it was a classified project and still asking to go over for exchange and learning? This intent to probe for details was a bit too obvious.

He immediately became vigilant, his tone remaining steady, but his wording became more cautious:

"Leader, the specific content of the project falls under confidentiality and is not convenient to disclose."

"As for the exchange and learning, I need to request instructions from my superiors."

After hanging up, Chen Guang thought about it and felt he couldn't handle this himself.

So he went to find Feng Yan and told him the whole situation about the calls from the counselor and the vice dean.

As soon as Feng Yan heard it, his eyebrows shot up, his inner monologue:

'Good grief, poaching from the national team?'

'And exchange and learning? I'm afraid they just want to probe our bottom line!'

He patted Chen Guang on the shoulder:

"Guangzi, don't worry. You handled it very well; your security awareness is top-notch!"

"Don't worry about this anymore; I'll handle it."

Feng Yan turned around and went straight to the institute's superior department to report the situation.

The superior department's reaction was extremely swift and forceful.

That same afternoon, a phone call with rigorous wording and an unquestionable tone.

Was placed directly to the office of the university leadership at Yunchuan University.

"Thank you for your school's cultivation of student Chen Guang."

"The project Comrade Chen Guang is currently participating in involves core national interests and has a high security classification."

"According to relevant regulations, all his affairs while at school."

"Including graduation review, will be handled uniformly by us in conjunction with relevant departments through special talent channels."

"Your school does not need to inquire further, nor may you use any reason to probe for project information or require him to return to school."

"Please understand and cooperate."

The call was brief and to the point, yet the amount of information was immense.

The university leader who received the call broke out in a cold sweat on the spot.

They promised repeatedly to cooperate and never cause trouble for the state.

The news soon reached the ears of that Vice Dean Liu.

He had originally been calculating that if he could get on this line, he might be able to scrape up some project funding or academic capital.

At this moment, it all turned into terror.

Only then did he realize that Chen Guang, who usually did research all by himself at school every day.

Quiet, unassuming, and even a bit inconspicuous.

What kind of power was actually standing behind him.

What he didn't expect even more was that a few days later, personnel from the Discipline Inspection Commission and the national security department came directly to the college.

Citing "suspected illegal contact with classified personnel and potential academic misconduct and benefit transfer issues," they took him away to assist in the investigation.

This investigation really did uncover quite a few problems.

Including long-term suppression of promising young teachers, withholding student project funds, and even secretly transferring some internal school research results to overseas institutions.

These are stories for another time.

As for Chen Guang, it was calm and peaceful.

About a week later, he received an unexpected call.

The caller ID was the president's office of Yunchuan University.

"Is this student Chen Guang? Hello, hello!" The president's voice was enthusiastic to the point of being humble.

"First of all, congratulations!"

"In view of your outstanding contributions to a national-level key project, after deliberation by the school's special talent evaluation committee."

"And reporting to the superior education department for approval, your graduation project has been specially approved to pass, and your grade is rated as excellent!"

"At the same time, the school has decided to award you this year's special contribution scholarship!"

Chen Guang: "... Thank you, President."

"In addition, your graduation certificate and degree certificate."

"We have already mailed them directly to the address of the Longyin Research Institute where you are located, through the dedicated channel provided by the superior department."

"You should receive them soon. Please keep an eye out for them!"

The president's tone carried a sense of relieved ingratiation:

"Also, student Chen Guang, the school has conducted research."

"We hope to invite you to serve as our honorary alumnus; I wonder what you think?"

"Additionally, the school's graduate and doctoral quotas for relevant majors are reserved for you at any time."

"As long as you have time, just hanging your name as a supervisor is fine!"

Chen Guang put down the phone and found Feng Yan, his tone as calm and waveless as ever:

"Brother Feng, the school side is handled."

"Graduation project specially approved to pass, excellent grade, and there's a scholarship."

"The graduation certificate and degree certificate will be mailed directly here."

Feng Yan was drinking water and nearly choked, his inner monologue:

'Holy crap! Free shipping to your door?! This efficiency, this treatment, is way better than when I ran my legs off handling graduation procedures back in the day!'

He suppressed a laugh and asked: "Anything else?"

Chen Guang pushed up his glasses and added:

"Yeah. The school also said they want to invite me to be an honorary alumnus, and they'll keep graduate and doctoral quotas for me in the future; just hanging my name is fine."

Feng Yan finally couldn't hold it in and burst into loud laughter, patting Chen Guang's shoulder hard:

"Not bad, Guangzi! The way you submitted your graduation project is arguably the most hardcore in history!"

"Honorary alumnus! Awesome!"

At this moment, Wang Hao leaned over and asked curiously:

"What's up, Brother Feng? Did Guangzi win the lottery?"

Feng Yan explained the situation, and Wang Hao's eyes went round.

Looking at Chen Guang, it was as if he were looking at a monster: "Holy crap! Guangzi!"

"You just... graduated directly?"

"Certificates shipped for free? And an honorary alumnus?"

"The way you submitted your 'Mosquito Exterminator' graduation project is just too impressive!"

Even Li Yang, who was polishing parts nearby, looked up and glanced at Chen Guang.

He rarely spoke, saying: "Pretty good."

Zhao Gong was listening from the side, slowly taking a sip of tea, and commented:

"When you have the ability, what you deserve will naturally come. Crooked paths don't last long."

Facing everyone's teasing and praise, Chen Guang still had no expression on his face.

He just adjusted his glasses and turned back toward his optical platform.

He muttered softly to himself, not knowing if he was speaking to others or to himself:

"Yeah, resolved. Can focus on the laser now."