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Chapter 37: If There's Any Issues, Look for the Professor (2)

"I just remembered, you should be graduating this year. Did you take the postgraduate entrance exam?" The respected expert asked right away, inquiring about Tang Rui's postgraduate plans.

The expert's direct question left Tang Rui surprised. "I'm preparing for it. I've been reviewing for half a year now," Tang Rui replied, resolutely.

"Alright, I'll wait for you. Now, tell me, what troubles you, and how can I help?" the academician offered his assistance.

"Thank you, Professor Yu. The thing is..." Tang Rui briefly recounted the recent events without trying to absolve hicmself, just presenting the situation as it was.

Professor Yu listened attentively, raising an eyebrow in response.

Wow.

Tang Rui had built a drone capable of supersonic cruising, stealth, and even getting close to fighter jets during aerial refueling.

"Can't you upload the photos and videos you took to the internet?"

"No, even during the shoot, I had to pixelate them."

"Did you construct the entire drone yourself?"

"Yes, the entire drone. I spent four years assembling it, and I finished it only after graduating this year."

"Explain to me the thought process behind the algorithm."

"Professor Yu, it's like this. The image algorithm is based on..."

Through the phone, Professor Yu listened to Tang Rui's explanation of the algorithm's thought process, asking occasional questions. Tang Rui responded smoothly.

Not to mention a single algorithm, Tang Rui could probably build an entire drone by himself. This subconscious learning device was truly remarkable.

Tang Rui responded fluently.

Not to mention a single algorithm, he could probably build an entire drone by himself.

This subconscious learning device was truly impressive.

Soon, the vehicle parked in front of the office building of the confidentiality department.

"Um... Professor Yu, I've arrived at the confidentiality department, and I'm about to go in."

"Alright, is there someone next to you? Let them take the call."

"Sure."

Tang Rui handed the phone to the colonel beside him.

"Who is it?"

"My professor."

The colonel frowned but still answered the call.

"Hello, I am Guo Jijun from the Informationized Troops of the Eastern Theater Command... Hello, sir... U-u-understood... Goodbye, sir."

After hanging up the phone, the colonel's gaze toward Tang Rui became unusually complex.

After returning the phone to Tang Rui, he immediately gave orders to the driver.

"You stay here and guard the vehicle. No one is allowed to approach the car or touch the drone."

"Yes, I will ensure the task is completed," the driver replied crisply, standing at attention.

The colonel nodded and turned to look at Tang Rui and Li Shuyao.

"Follow me," the colonel said, leading them into the office building.

They were taken to a conference room and asked to wait for the personnel from the confidentiality department.

The colonel went to inform them about the situation.

Soon, the personnel from the confidentiality department arrived at the conference room.

It was unclear what Professor Yu and the colonel had discussed, but the personnel from the confidentiality department didn't give them a hard time or cause any trouble.

Following the standard confidentiality procedures, they began the process.

The first step was to check Tang Rui's information.

Li Shuyao's information was also investigated.

Both of them were not worried about this investigation.

Tang Rui had no issues to worry about.

As for Li Shuyao, her university was Beijing Electronic Science and Technology Institute, and her major was information security.

This major at her university was generally quota-based.

To study this major, the first step was to pass the political review.

Even with high scores, it wouldn't guarantee acceptance.

If she didn't pass the political review, she wouldn't be able to get in.

So, both of them were not worried about these issues.

Their identities were not a problem.

Next was checking their foreign-related information and bank transactions.

Then, the 300 million transfer from Huawei was discovered.

But there was absolutely no need to worry about that money from Huawei.

No matter how they investigated, that money had no issues.

During the process, Professor Yu called him again to inquire about the image algorithm he had sold to Huawei.

He directly explained that it was a simplified version of the image algorithm, only used to enhance the image quality of smartphone photos and improve the image recognition rate for smart driving.

After understanding the situation, Professor Yu hung up the phone.

Two hours later, Professor Yu called again.

"Professor Yu."

"Yes, Little Tang, we have preliminarily verified your algorithm, and it is of great help to our satellite remote sensing mapping. Do you have any thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Rui didn't have any thoughts at all. Since he had already provided the image algorithm, he had no intention of taking it back.

He immediately expressed his willingness to submit the algorithm.

"No need to submit it. The country won't take personal belongings. So, for your algorithm, the country will compensate you. The monetary reward won't be much, and you should be aware of that. But the decision from above is that you don't have to pay taxes on the money you received from selling it to Huawei."

"As for other compensations, I am considering having you pursue a direct Ph.D. at the National Defense University. How do you feel about that?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Rui was dumbfounded.

He didn't really care about the tax exemption or anything, as making money was still quite easy for him.

But the issue was the direct Ph.D.

He had just graduated and had earned a substantial amount of money. He was planning to enjoy himself, but now he was being asked to go back to school.

Earlier, when he mentioned preparing for the postgraduate entrance examination, it was just a casual remark.

So, this direct Ph.D. program...

To be honest… He really didn't want to do it.

But since Professor Yu asked, he couldn't just refuse outright.

"Professor Yu, um... I'm planning to start a company, and I've already received product orders... Originally, I wanted to take the postgraduate entrance exam, but I was looking for a less demanding university like National Defense University..."

Tang Rui organized his thoughts, trying to explain his difficulties as much as possible.

It wasn't that he didn't want to pursue further studies; it was just that reality didn't allow him to do so.

"All those things you mentioned are minor issues. With your current level, studying is actually not that important. If you come for the direct Ph.D., you don't have to be at the university every day. As long as you can handle your research project well and produce results, everything else is a minor concern."

When someone like Professor Yu said that, what else could he say?

Moreover, refusing to go wouldn't just be a matter of not giving Professor Yu face; it would also be a matter of disrespecting the entire military.

"Since you said so, I don't have a problem with it."

"Good. Fill out the necessary paperwork later, and come to the university in mid-December."

"Alright, no problem. Thank you, Professor Yu."

Tang Rui hung up and looked out the window with a complex expression.

"What's wrong?" Li Shuyao noticed Tang Rui's expression and asked in confusion.

Aren't things settled now? Why the troubled look?

"It's nothing. I might have to go back to school again."

"Go back to school?"

"Yeah, I'm going to National Defense University for a combined master's and Ph.D. program."

Li Shuyao glanced at him and looked slightly disdainful.

After all this fuss, it's just about that?

She thought something serious had happened.

It turned out he was just showing off. Ugh!

In the afternoon, around four o'clock, Tang Rui left the military area with his car, accompanied by Li Shuyao and his drone.

The investigation was clear.

With a professor backing him up, and the videos taken by the drone all deleted, there was no reason to keep him any longer. Should they invite him for dinner or what?