Cen Huaian’s dedication to his studies was unmatched.

He not only studied diligently in class but also took the initiative to seek out his professors with questions from his self-study.

His professor was both surprised and impressed.

“You’ve been studying our major’s courses on your own?” the professor asked.

Cen Huaian nodded. “After I was accepted, I borrowed first-year textbooks from a senior.”

The professor’s surprise deepened. “And you’ve finished them already? It’s been less than three months!”

Knowing how complex their course material was, the professor was astonished.

Many students struggled to grasp the content even with guided lectures, let alone through self-study.

As the professor probed further, he realized that Cen Huaian not only had mastered the first-year material but had also gone beyond that.

His astonishment gradually turned into delight.

A genius, and a genius in our semiconductor department!

“I’m currently working on a project,” the professor said, “come help out when you have time.”

With that, he handed Cen Huaian a pass granting him unrestricted access to the professor’s lab.

“Thank you, professor,” Cen Huaian responded, a wave of excitement rising within him.

He had heard from upperclassmen about the professor’s projects and had read the professor’s published papers, discovering that his research aligned perfectly with Cen Huaian’s own interests.

Cen Huaian hadn’t expected to be invited to participate so quickly.

His original plan was to slowly gain the professor’s attention, demonstrate his capabilities, and eventually request to join the lab.

But now, the opportunity had fallen into his lap after just a few questions.

What Cen Huaian didn’t know was that the professor’s lab had recently gone through a purge.

A student had attempted to steal the professor’s experimental data.

Though the attempt had been caught before it succeeded, the incident had led to a reevaluation of the lab’s members.

Several individuals were removed, and the professor was now in need of trustworthy students.

The professor had already noticed Cen Huaian, and after gathering information on his character and family background, he found Cen Huaian to be a perfect fit—intelligent, diligent, and from a good, reliable family.

He was initially worried that, despite Cen Huaian’s potential, being only a first-year student meant he wouldn’t have enough knowledge to join the lab yet.

But after just a few questions, the professor realized Cen Huaian’s abilities far exceeded those of a typical freshman.

To secure this talent before other professors could snatch him up, the professor swiftly granted him access to the lab.

The next day, after class, Cen Huaian went to the lab for the first time.

None of the older students paid him any attention.

They were all too busy with their own tasks to care about a new face.

But this didn’t bother Cen Huaian.

He observed the failed experimental products on the table, carefully examining each one.

The professor soon approached and asked, “Can you tell what went wrong?”

Cen Huaian looked at the professor. “Can I examine them more closely?”

“Go ahead.”

The professor handed him the appropriate tools, as these failed products couldn’t be touched directly.

Cen Huaian inspected them one by one, explaining the reasons for their failures based on his observations.

As he spoke, the professor’s expression grew increasingly serious.

Gradually, the other students—his seniors—stopped what they were doing and gathered around to listen.

Cen Huaian pointed out temperature inconsistencies, incorrect material ratios, and other issues.

His detailed analysis impressed everyone.

To correctly diagnose failures in semiconductor experiments required not only sharp observation skills but also a deep understanding of the processes involved.

There were countless potential causes of failure, and only someone with an exceptional memory could recall them all.

When Cen Huaian finished his analysis, one student clapped, and soon the others followed suit.

“Professor, where did you find someone with such an incredible memory?” one of the students asked.

The professor, knowing that Cen Huaian’s talents extended beyond just memory, smiled mysteriously. “He’s more than just that. Cen Huaian, come with me.”

Since the lab was short-staffed, Cen Huaian was immediately put to work, taking on tasks left by the expelled student.

Despite his newness, he quickly adapted.

The professor, however, didn’t have much time to teach him personally.

Cen Huaian wasn’t a graduate student or PhD candidate, so the professor assigned a senior to mentor him.

The senior was quiet and unassuming, someone Cen Huaian hadn’t even noticed before the professor called his name.

But the senior was kind and patient, thoroughly teaching everything the professor had instructed.

Whenever the senior didn’t know something, he would scratch his head with a sheepish smile and say, “I don’t know this one either. The professor never taught me that.”

Cen Huai’an said, “It’s fine, I’ll figure it out myself, thanks, senior.”

Just then, a tall, skinny guy with a scholarly look walked by and overheard their conversation.

He sneered and said, “Li Honest, you’re teaching everything to the junior. Aren’t you afraid that once the professor likes him, he’ll take your place?”

Li Shi, used to being mocked, wasn’t bothered and smiled kindly, “If that happens, it’s because I’m not good enough. The professor’s already been very nice to me and doesn’t mind that I’m a bit slow.”

The scholarly guy laughed even louder. “At least you’re self-aware. I also think our professor is too kind, taking in any random stray. Some can’t even use basic lab equipment. I don’t know if they’re here to help or just to make trouble.”

He glanced arrogantly at Cen Huai’an and Li Shi as he spoke.

Cen Huai’an calmly replied, “Senior, I think you’re right. There are some people in the lab who really shouldn’t be here.”

“You!” The scholarly guy was about to get physical when a girl standing nearby quickly pulled him back. “You’re causing trouble in the lab again,” she said.

The girl smiled apologetically at Cen Huai’an, “Don’t mind him, junior. Wang Lafei talks like that to everyone in the lab.”

Cen Huai’an frowned slightly, looked at Wang Lafei, then turned to the girl and said, “Even if you don’t care, I do.”

With that, Cen Huai’an went back to his work, not wanting to waste any more time on them.

After this incident, no one in the lab cooperated with Cen Huai’an, nor did anyone offer help.

Every time Li Shi tried to assist him, someone else would call him away.

Cen Huai’an knew exactly what they were up to, but he didn’t care.

If he didn’t know how to do something, he would look it up or ask the professor.

After trying a few times, he figured out how to use the equipment on his own.

Cen Huai’an also stayed in touch with the senior from the 774 factory who had given him a tour of Jinghua.

Sometimes, he would invite the senior to dinner to ask questions about their field.

Even though the others in the lab ignored him, Cen Huai’an still completed his tasks perfectly.

Coincidentally, Wang Lafei also went to report his work to the professor that day.

As the professor looked over his project, his brows furrowed more and more.

“After all this time, this is all you’ve done? This is worthless, a total waste! It’s an eyesore just to look at!”

The professor’s scolding was loud and harsh.

Wang Lafei stood there, his head hanging low, no longer looking as proud as before.

Cen Huai’an silently watched the whole thing, deliberately.

When the professor saw Cen Huai’an’s project, his expression shifted from anger to joy. “Now look at what your junior has done! You can’t even match a first-year student. If you bring me another piece of garbage like this, you won’t be staying in my lab.”

“I understand, professor,” Wang Lafei said, and as he left the lab, he glanced back at Cen Huai’an.

Their eyes met, and Wang Lafei’s gaze was full of resentment.

Cen Huai’an lowered his eyes, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

The next day, as soon as Cen Huai’an arrived at the lab, Li Shi rushed over with a secretive look on his face. “Junior, guess what? Yesterday, Wang Lafei had a really bad fall in the lab. He broke his leg and even lost two teeth!”

Li Shi grimaced as if he could feel the pain himself.

“Where did he fall?” Cen Huai’an asked.

“Here,” Li Shi pointed out the spot.

Then he casually added, “It’s pretty close to your work area, junior.”

Cen Huai’an showed no surprise. “If it weren’t close, he probably wouldn’t have fallen.”

Li Shi looked puzzled, but Cen Huai’an didn’t bother explaining.

The truth was, the night before, Cen Huai’an had set up a small trap near his workspace.

If someone approached without bad intentions, nothing would happen.

But if they tried to tamper with his equipment or sabotage his work, the trap would be triggered, causing the person to fall—just like what happened to Wang Lafei.

When Cen Huai’an saw the look on Wang Lafei’s face the other day, he knew trouble was coming.

Of course, he had been prepared.

After that, Cen Huai’an’s work in the lab went smoothly.

While the seniors and others didn’t help him, they also stopped trying to make things harder for him.

Thanks to his performance, Cen Huai’an’s work became more central to the lab’s research.

He developed his own ideas for studying semiconductor chips.

It was unfortunate that China’s semiconductor industry had started late and faced many setbacks, which hindered its progress.

Cen Huai’an’s school life was busy and fulfilling, and Bangzi was just as occupied.

Meanwhile, Zhang Lu’s situation was different from theirs.

For starters, her military training was much tougher.

The new students were trained to the same standards as new recruits, which was exhausting.

But Zhang Lu didn’t mind at all.

She thrived on physical challenges, and the more intense the training, the more energized she became.

Like Cen Huai’an, she also caught the attention of the instructors.

However, unlike him, Zhang Lu wasn’t as strategic.

She was like a sharp blade that needed a sheath and a skilled hand to wield it.