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Chapter 692 Ding Yao's Invitation

In the laboratory.

Watching Professor Jiang's excited figure hurriedly leave, Qian Lele blinked in confusion, but didn't think much of it.

Just as she was about to get back to work.

"Buzz buzz buzz—" The phone on the table vibrated.

Ding Yao: "(>ω<) Lele! I'm back at school today! Are you busy now? Let's have lunch together!"

Saw this message.

Qian Lele quickly replied, "Okay, I should be free around 11:30. I'll call you then."

Ding Yao: "Okay~ See you later! Mwah~"

Putting down her phone, Qian Lele's serious face broke into a lighthearted smile.

Ding Yao is a year ahead of her and will be a senior in the School of Arts after the start of the semester.

Ever since that grand birthday party during summer vacation.

Ding Yao, a music performance major, used her family connections to get an internship at a well-known entertainment company in Beijing, where she began to work hard for her future dream of becoming a star.

If you think about it carefully, Qian Lele hasn't seen her best friend for almost three months.

I actually miss her a lot.

There are so many things I want to say to her.

Immediately, Qian Lele stood up.

I approached the four graduate students who were gathered together discussing something.

He patted one of the girls on the shoulder and said softly, "Senior Shanshan, I've made plans to have lunch with my classmates, so you don't need to order food for me."

Joining this experimental group has an additional benefit: lunch is provided.

This benefit was introduced after the collaboration with [Yuntong Zhicui] was established; it's said that it was specially provided to the project team by them.

For Qian Lele, who is extremely frugal.

Saving herself more than ten yuan a day on lunch is one of her biggest little joys lately.

"Okay, sure." Wang Shanshan gave an OK sign and immediately joined the lively discussion.

Qian Lele did not leave immediately, but stood aside and listened quietly.

“I attended a lecture last week about ‘the impact of large AI models on the programming industry.’ If we front-end vision engineers don’t quickly switch to the intersection of algorithms and AI, we’ll be left behind.”

"It's too difficult. Look at the computing equipment in our lab, it's still using GTX graphics cards from four or five years ago. It's so laggy that it's unbearable to run a small model."

"Sigh, if only I could get into the research group of top professors at Tsinghua or Peking University. I heard that they directly cooperate with large technology companies there, and they have no shortage of equipment, data, or funding. Here... we don't even have a decent corporate cooperation interface."

"Alright, Shanshan, stop daydreaming. Professor Jiang has already done an amazing job by helping us secure the [Yuntong Essence] project. Be content."

...

"Hey Lele, you're a junior this year, and you'll be taking the postgraduate entrance exam next year. It'll be soon. With your grades, you could actually try for a Top 10 university. Do you have a goal yet?" Senior Shanshan asked with concern.

"Not yet..." Qian Lele shook her head.

The heart that had just been leaping with joy at the prospect of seeing a close friend gradually sank.

I felt a deep sense of anxiety.

With the emergence of large-scale AI models such as ChatGPT-4 and Lime 3.0.

Programming has now entered the era of AI assistance.

On Tang Song's recommendation, she also began to try using Lime 3.0 to write front-end pages, and the amazing efficiency and code quality deeply impressed her.

She felt that the code written by AI was much better than the code she could come up with herself, even after racking her brains.

The algorithm is also more concise and elegant.

Just like the upperclassmen discussed.

By the time their class graduates, the entire programming field may undergo a dramatic transformation.

In the future, low-level programmers may be replaced by AI.

For Qian Lele, this was an imminent survival crisis.

If possible, she actually doesn't want to pursue a master's degree.

Because that would waste three precious years of her earning time.

But given the current situation...

Without further education, it's incredibly difficult to truly access AI, a cutting-edge technology that can change the future.

Even Professor Jiang's laboratory, which is as strong as it is, received a considerable amount of research funding because of the "Yuntong Essence" project.

However, it is still a drop in the ocean compared to the bottomless pit of investment required for AI research and development.

At most, we'll just add a few more of the latest high-performance graphics cards.

At this moment.

The laboratory's wooden door was pushed open with a bang.

The slightly hurried sound of high heels clicked on the floor tiles.

Everyone instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

Then they saw Professor Jiang Yourong, her face flushed, walking in quickly.

"Clap--"

A crisp clapping sound rang out.

"Everyone, please stop what you're doing for a moment!" Jiang Yourong's voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement. "I have something to tell you all in advance!"

Qian Lele, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped and stood still.

All the students in the lab were curiously focused on their advisor.

They had never seen Professor Jiang show such a look before.

As is well known, this young associate professor has always been "Buddhist-like":
She was gentle and unassuming, and her assignments were relaxed and her requirements were not high. The students secretly called her "Bodhisattva Jiang".

But now, she seems to be glowing.

Jiang Yourong looked around at the group of students, her gaze burning, as if she was trying her best to suppress her inner joy.

She took a deep breath and said slowly:

"Just now, I received a formal invitation."

"Our research team... has been successfully selected for the core university cooperation list of the [Xuanji Light Realm] project!"

Everyone in the lab was stunned, almost thinking they had misheard.

【Xuanji Light Realm】?
The [Xuanji Light Realm] from Tangyi Precision?!

How can this be?

"We will work closely with teams from Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the University of Science and Technology of China to participate in the joint construction of the 'Joint Laboratory for Human-Computer Interaction and Cognitive Science'."

"This means—"

Jiang Yourong's voice began to rise uncontrollably.

"Starting next month, we will receive three to five million in continuous research funding annually from [Xuanji Light Realm]! We will also receive the world's most advanced AI computing power cluster and the most complete data interfaces from them!"

"Om-"

The entire laboratory was deathly silent.

Even the hum of the fan seemed to have been cut off.

Almost everyone looked up at the same time, their eyes wide.

What?! Ranked alongside Tsinghua, Peking University, and the University of Science and Technology of China?!
Millions in research funding?!
A top-tier computing cluster?!

This is simply a fantasy!

Qian Lele felt her heart pounding so fast she could barely control it.

Although she had just joined the research group, she had already heard her seniors talk about cutting-edge technology companies in China.

Among them is the recently popular [Xuanji Light Realm], a "next-generation interactive platform" jointly created by Tangyi Precision and Qingning Technology.

Professor Jiang, however, said that they would get involved, working with the top universities.

After a few seconds.

Wang Shanshan was the first to come to her senses, her voice trembling: "Teacher Jiang... are you serious? You're not... you're not joking with us, are you?"

The others also looked over.

Jiang Yourong straightened her back, her full breasts heaving. "Of course it's true. The invitation email has already been sent to my inbox, the official kind with a stamp."

"this…"

Holy crap! How is this possible?

"We actually landed...a project of this caliber?!"

...

Looking at this group of students who were completely out of control.

Jiang Yourong smiled slightly and coughed lightly, "It's not entirely unexpected. You might not know, but it's because I'm too low-key. Actually, I used to work at Smile Holdings, as Director Jin's assistant." "Boom—"

In an instant, it was as if a torpedo had exploded in everyone's minds.

He stared blankly at his mentor.

They had been working with Professor Jiang for over a year, and they never imagined that their laid-back mentor would be involved with the legendary Kim Mi-so, and even her former assistant?!

Jiang Yourong felt a surge of joy as she watched this scene.

She finally released the excitement that had been building up inside her.

That "suppressed sense of pride" was now bubbling out like bubbles.

Who understands how she feels right now?
Director Kim, I, Jiang Yourong, am back!

……

When Qian Lele walked out of the computer science building, she was still in a state of excited euphoria.

The winter wind brushed against her cheeks, but she felt no cold at all.

The words that Teacher Jiang had just announced kept echoing in my mind.

It feels like a dream.

If all of this comes to fruition, then what will her next project be?

It will no longer be the kind of obscure "data labeling".

Rather, it is research that truly aligns with cutting-edge scientific research.

This means that her resume, qualifications, and even future career choices will undergo tremendous changes.

Thinking of this, she felt a surge of emotion and quickened her pace unconsciously.

When we arrived at the art college building...

From afar, I could see that familiar figure.

Ding Yao was standing under the ginkgo tree, kicking at the fallen leaves listlessly.

Now, she is an intern at an entertainment company.

Her clothes and appearance now resemble those of a "quasi-celebrity," and she looks exceptionally refined.

Qian Lele looked at her, and couldn't help but feel a little envious.

She also likes pretty clothes, delicious food, and shopping.

However, her world is still too narrow.

But she believes that one day...

You can get to that point by relying on your own two hands.

"Lele! Over here!" Ding Yao saw her and waved excitedly.

"Yao Yao!"

Qian Lele walked faster and faster, and finally started running.

Two girls who hadn't seen each other for a long time embraced each other warmly.

They chattered away.

"By the way, where should we eat? Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"It's my treat today!" Qian Lele grabbed her arm, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "A new spicy hot pot restaurant just opened across from the school, they have tons of ingredients, and it's so delicious!"

Looking into Qian Lele's bright, expectant eyes.

Ding Yao smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

The two walked through the slightly desolate campus in early winter and arrived at the "Tomorrow's Hot Pot Restaurant".

The steaming heat and the aroma of spices whetted one's appetite.

Qian Lele was ruthless when ordering food.

Add a whole bunch of things: cured pork, tripe, fatty beef, and pork belly.

He then took two bottles of Ding Yao's favorite juice.

The final weighing totaled 126 yuan.

Without hesitation, she scanned the code to pay.

After sitting down in the booth.

Ding Yao looked her friend up and down, her eyes full of surprise.

"What are you looking at?" Qian Lele felt a little embarrassed by the stares.

"You seem like a completely different person. Your skin is better, and your eyes are brighter." Ding Yao smiled and pointed to the list pasted on the table. "And these, you used to be reluctant to part with them."

“I was too poor before,” Qian Lele said with a low laugh. “You know, I have a stable job now and I earn quite a bit every month.”

"Haha, that's great."

Soon, the steaming hot pot of spicy stir-fry was served.

The two of them chatted while eating.

Qian Lele also learned about Ding Yao's recent situation in detail.

She studied music performance and, through family connections, got a job as a "trainee assistant" at Yuehua Entertainment.

Normally, I have to follow the artist's team to various events, manage the venue, and coordinate backstage equipment.

They also have to take care of their vocal training.

It sounds glamorous, but it's actually quite tough.

As Qian Lele listened, her eyes held both admiration and pity.

However, she knew that her good friend came from a very well-off family.

Even if they don't become stars, they can still go back and inherit the family business.

"Go for it, Yao Yao! I believe you can do it!" she encouraged earnestly.

"Thanks for your kind words." Ding Yao smiled and clinked her drink bottles with her, then couldn't help but ask gossipy, "By the way, how are things going between you and your 'male god'?"

Qian Lele's face flushed red. "Nothing happened."

"What do you mean by 'nothing much'?" Ding Yao raised an eyebrow. "You didn't say anything on WeChat, making it all so mysterious."

Qian Lele hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "He is now... my brother."

"elder brother?!"

"Um... I consider him my older brother. He has helped me a lot and taken good care of me. My current part-time job as a front-end developer was arranged by him."

“Okay…” Ding Yao sighed, “What a pity, such a handsome god, it’s such a waste to have him as an older brother.”

Although she had only met Tang and Song once, she was deeply impressed by them.

Even now, as an intern in the entertainment industry in Beijing, I've seen quite a few so-called "god-like" idols.

She rarely saw another man as outstanding as Tang Song, both in appearance and presence.

But she also knew that a man like Tang Song would never lack women.

For this naive Cinderella, having a powerful "brother" as a backer is a good choice.

The two remained silent for a few seconds.

Ding Yao seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "By the way, are you free tonight?"

"Uh...yes, what's wrong?"

"My dad works as a plastic surgeon at the Provincial People's Hospital. Recently, he took on a long-term part-time job as a training consultant at a chain of light medical aesthetic institutions. Over time, he got to know two of the institution's shareholders."

There was a female shareholder who was about our age, and she had a powerful background; she knew high-level resources at [Tangzong Entertainment].

My internship is about to end, and I'm wondering if there's a chance to connect with someone.

Tonight, the other party is going to throw a party at her private club.

My dad, shamelessly, managed to get me a temporary membership trial card.

Her eyes sparkled, and she spoke faster.

"That club is so high-end! Not only do they offer free luxury spa and beauty treatments, but they also have an endless variety of delicious food! I'm thinking of trying my luck. Even if I don't get a connection, I can still broaden my horizons and enjoy the club's top-notch services for free! Let's go together!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Lele hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed as if possessed.

Since the last time I danced with Tang Song at the livehouse in the film and television base.

Later, she mustered up the courage to hug him.

It was as if a barrier had been opened in her heart, and she longed to continue upward and see a wider world.

She no longer rejected Ding Yao's kindness out of fear of being looked down upon.

Moreover, the exciting news that Teacher Jiang just brought has filled her with unprecedented anticipation and confidence for the future.

She is an optimistic and positive person, as long as there is hope in life and clear goals.

She will definitely forge ahead!

(End of this chapter)