The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

Afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting dappled patterns of light on the research group's workstations.

Professor Li Jing's research group has its own separate office with about a dozen workstations.

Professor Li Jing currently has six graduate students and five doctoral students, plus Shen Qingyao, a senior undergraduate, making a total of 12 students.

There is no clocking-in system in the office, but tasks assigned by the professors need to be completed, so at this moment only a few doctoral students are in the office.

Shen Qingyao had just finished recording a set of error data from an emotion recognition model when a message popped up on her phone from Professor Li Jing: "Qingyao, come to my office for a moment."

"Okay, mentor."

When she knocked on the office door, Li Jing was frowning at a document.

The documents spread out on the table had the Yunyi AI logo printed on their edges, and the names of three or four university professors' research groups were listed next to them.

Clearly, they are one of the many potential partners that CloudWing AI has been in talks with.

"Qingyao, sit down." Li Jing took off her glasses and pointed to the chair opposite her. "Yunyi AI's 'Heart's Sunshine' project is a key horizontal research project that their company launched this year."

"Our research group is also on the list of collaborators. Tomorrow, you'll come with me to the headquarters of Yunyi AI for initial discussions."

Shen Qingyao's fingers tightened slightly around the pen, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Okay, mentor, is there anything I need to do in advance?"

I'm just an undergraduate student. Why should I take myself to such an important project? There are plenty of experienced senior students in the research group.

Professor Li Jing pushed a technical white paper over, her eyes filled with certainty. "Take this document back and take a look to understand the situation of this project."

"Okay, mentor." Shen Qingyao took the documents.

"Every morning at 10:00, we gather in the lobby of Yunyi AI headquarters."

"Okay, mentor." Shen Qingyao stood up. "I'll go out now."

"Hmm." Li Jing said, "Qingyao, don't be too nervous. The gap between our strength and that of other research groups is not that big. Whether we can win depends on luck."

"Uh-huh."

The cicadas outside the window gradually faded away. Shen Qingyao flipped through the white paper, her fingertips tracing the words "Clinical Application Module Software Development".

Meng Jiangyu had no social engagements that evening and got home around 6 p.m.

When Meng Jiangyu arrived home, Shen Qingyao was sitting on the sofa using her computer to learn about the development history of Yunyi AI.

"Baby, I'm home."

"Mmm." Shen Qingyao stared intently at the computer screen.

Meng Jiangyu took a sip of water and walked towards the sofa. "Are you that busy?"

"My advisor asked me to go with her every morning to discuss cooperation with Yunyi AI." There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "But I'm just an undergraduate student. I'm afraid I'll mess things up in these situations."

Meng Jiangyu's voice was deep and gentle: "The first meeting for school-enterprise cooperation is just preliminary communication to understand the company's needs, so you only need to take good notes."

He paused, then chuckled, "Relax. Talking about cooperation isn't about currying favor; it's about equal technological collaboration."

Shen Qingyao leaned against the sofa cushions, the evening breeze carrying the fragrance of gardenias from the balcony.

She bit her lip. "Ayu, I'm just an undergraduate student. Why don't you think my advisor takes experienced senior students with him?"

"Do you want me to tell the truth or a lie?" Meng Jiangyu put down his water glass, sat on the sofa, and casually draped his arm over the back of the sofa behind Shen Qingyao.

"You're teasing me again. Of course it's the truth."

"Because HanHai is the largest shareholder of Yunyi, as long as you participate, your research group will definitely get this project."

Shen Qingyao was somewhat shocked. "Is this a coincidence?"

"No," Meng Jiangyu told her, "Li Jing knows that we have a close relationship."

"How did she know?" Shen Qingyao was shocked.

"I had Jason put in a good word with her beforehand, and asked her to take care of you."

"So I was able to join her research group not because I'm good enough, but because of you."

"She was originally going to choose you, but someone else used their connections to push you out, so I had Jason handle it."

"So she didn't choose me for her own benefit, but later she chose me again for her own benefit." Shen Qingyao couldn't believe that her usually gentle and refined mentor would actually bow down for personal gain.

"What did you give her that made her heart flutter?" Shen Qingyao asked, hugging the doll.

"Five million in research funding."

"So now she's using me to get the Yunyi AI project again." Shen Qingyao said sadly.

"Honey, your mentor is human too. No human being would bow down for a meager living."

"In a sense, your mentor didn't do anything wrong. My relationship with her was also a collaboration," Meng Jiangyu reassured Shen Qingyao. "She gained fame and fortune, and she also paved the way for your future."

"If I were her, I would do the same," Meng Jiangyu advised Shen Qingyao.

"Indeed, cooperation and mutual benefit are great," Shen Qingyao replied. "I always thought all academic researchers were upright and honest scholars, but I never expected the reality to be like this."

Meng Jiangyu hugged Shen Qingyao and said, "Baby, these are all stereotypes from inspirational TV dramas. Real researchers also need to socialize, and scientific research is very expensive."

"However, you can be whoever you envision, because I'm willing to pay for all your research."

"Wouldn't that be unfair to other research groups?" Shen Qingyao asked.

Meng Jiangyu laughed heartily, "Baby, you're too naive. There's no such thing as absolute fairness in this world."

"What you need to do is seize every opportunity to strengthen yourself, because only the strong have the right to make the rules."

"When you are successful, you should help others; when you are unsuccessful, you should cultivate your own virtue," Shen Qingyao replied.

"My darling is so smart." Meng Jiangyu kissed Shen Qingyao. "Don't be shy tomorrow. My little girl is always amazing."

"Mmm," Shen Qingyao responded obediently.

As night fell, Zhang Ma prepared dinner, and Meng Jiangyu led Shen Qingyao to the restaurant for dinner.

-

When the elevator doors opened, Mr. Chen, the project manager of Yunyi AI, was already standing at the door waiting.

He was dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, with a perfectly measured smile on his face. His gaze fell on Professor Li Jing, and he politely extended his hand to shake hers: "Professor Li, I have long admired your name. It is truly an honor for Yunyi to have you here today."

Li Jing shook his hand, exchanged a few polite words with a smile, and then the group walked towards the conference room.

Mr. Chen had received prior information that Professor Li Jing's team from Peking University was already selected for the project, so he naturally gave them a warm welcome.

The group took their seats in the conference room. Shen Qingyao sat next to Professor Li Jing, and General Manager Chen arranged for someone to introduce the project details.

Shen Qingyao carefully recorded the client's requirements.

Li Jing knew from President Chen's enthusiastic manner that the project was a sure thing.

In Li Jing's eyes now, Shen Qingyao is a walking god of wealth.

At noon, the founder personally hosted a banquet for Li Jing, fearing that Li Jing might feel slighted and offend the investors.