Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

Within the system simulation space, time flows silently like sand in an hourglass.

Lin Feng's consciousness was engaged in a silent battle with the raging, twisted "genetic fog." Every possible gene repair path required thousands of simulations, and each failure meant more data accumulation, but also meant that the outside world was losing time. One hour outside was equivalent to ten hours of fierce fighting inside.

The outside world at this moment can no longer be described by the word "chaos".

The zombie virus is sweeping across the globe at an unprecedented speed. Infections are no longer growing linearly, but rather exponentially. A metropolis of millions can go from sporadic cases to complete chaos in just 72 hours. Transportation networks have become the virus's highways, and panic is the perfect catalyst.

Countries are "changing color" on the map.

The first to fall were small countries and regions with weak infrastructure and insufficient government control. When limited armed forces were overwhelmed by hordes of zombies, and when the last safe zones were breached from both inside and outside, the country was brutally painted in deep red, a symbol of destruction, on the map of human civilization. The last things to emerge on social media were often desperate cries for help, chaotic gunfire, and then... permanent silence.

Even major powers are struggling.

Several states in the free world have declared a state of "de facto doom," clashes have broken out between the National Guard and the military, thick smoke has billowed over some cities, and gunfire has continued throughout the night. The Schengen Area in Europe has become a complete joke, with countries closing their borders, and even extreme incidents have occurred where armies have opened fire on refugees attempting to cross the border (who may include infected individuals). International order and humanitarianism are as fragile as paper in the face of this existential crisis.

Although China decisively closed its borders and launched a nationwide vaccination campaign, the information wall could not completely block access. Through the remaining satellite networks, cross-border communications, and some risky video footage transmitted back, the people were able to glimpse the hellish scenes outside the country.

News channels broadcast global pandemic updates 24/7, their screens filled with images of ruins, smoke, and horrifying, staggering figures. On the internet, unverified but shocking videos circulated wildly: entire cities fleeing, military lines collapsing, survivor bases falling…

Fear, like an invisible yet deadly virus, began to spread throughout Chinese society.

"It's over... an entire small country is gone! Millions of people!"

"Those zombies are terrifyingly strong, they feel no pain, and only hitting their heads can stop them... Can we really hold them off? The border is so long..."

"Is vaccination really safe? What if the virus mutates? Things are happening abroad; how long can we remain unaffected?"

Pessimistic, anxious, and questioning voices permeated the streets and online forums. Panic buying erupted again in supermarkets, despite repeated assurances from the government that supplies were plentiful. Residents of some border cities began migrating inland. A sense of impending doom gripped the hearts of many.

The atmosphere in the top-floor conference room was as heavy as iron.

On the large screen, one side displays a real-time updated global pandemic map, with the scarlet area continuously expanding; the other side shows a domestic public opinion analysis, where the curve representing the fear index is climbing steeply.

"Fear is human nature," a leader said solemnly. "The whole world is falling, and it's normal for our people to feel afraid. It shows that they have feelings for their homeland. It's better to guide than to suppress. Simply blocking information will only exacerbate suspicion."

"Yes," another chimed in. "The public lacks confidence because they don't know what our trump cards are, or what kind of strength this country has accumulated and what kind of people it has cultivated over the years to deal with various extreme situations."

All eyes turned to one name—Lin Feng.

"Comrade Lin Feng's identity and contributions have been concealed for over a decade for the sake of national security and project confidentiality," Old Li said slowly, his voice steady and powerful. "But now, the time has come for the people to know. They need a banner, they need reassurance. They need to know who has led this nation through technological barriers time and time again, who has always been able to come up with solutions at critical moments, and who... is currently fighting to completely end this disaster."

"It's time for the peerless strategist to step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight."

The resolution was quickly formed. This was a well-thought-out strategic decision with a clear purpose: to boost morale, build consensus, demonstrate strength, and tell the entire nation that China has sufficient confidence and capability to protect everyone on this land.

The following day, at 7:00 PM.

All television channels, mainstream online platforms, and outdoor screens simultaneously interrupted their original programming to broadcast a special press conference.

The venue was solemn and dignified, with the bright national flag and emblem as a backdrop. Seated at the podium were not only the usual spokespersons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the National Health Commission, but also several heavyweight figures who rarely appear in the media.

Hundreds of millions of viewers across the country held their breath in suspense.

The press conference had no lengthy opening remarks. Mr. Chen was the first to stand up, his gaze sharp and direct, looking directly at the camera:

"Fellow countrymen, as we stand here today, the first thing we must tell you frankly is that we are facing an unprecedented biological disaster sweeping the globe. The situation abroad is even more severe than what you can see. Fear is the common emotion of all humankind at this moment."

He abruptly changed the subject, his voice rising sharply and becoming powerful:

"But what I want to tell you today is not fear, but confidence! It is the confidence and strength of our Chinese nation to face all challenges!"

The large screen lit up and began playing a meticulously produced but never-before-seen documentary short film.

The scene opens with a vast, azure sea, where a colossal steel warship cuts through the waves, its carrier-based aircraft roaring into the sky—the subtitles appear: [Kunpeng Strategic Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier, my country's first domestically designed and built supercarrier.]

Immediately following was a sharp formation of fighter jets slicing through the sky: [The Vermilion Bird 6th Generation Stealth Fighter, comprehensively leading the era.]

Then came the Nuwa Fusion Reactor that illuminated the city, the Hua Tuo medicine that cured terminal illnesses, the Azure Dragon gene serum that transformed people, the Fuxi space fighter that soared through the sky, and the Kuafu system that controlled the universe…

A series of national strategic achievements and groundbreaking breakthroughs that once shocked the world, yet whose true leaders remained unknown, are presented in a timeline format. Occasionally, glimpses of laboratories or engineering sites flash through the footage, with a young and focused figure, though blurred, appearing throughout.

At the end of the short film, the image freezes on a clear photograph.

That was the magnificent sight of the Xuanyuan Space Carrier deploying its solar panels in geosynchronous orbit; the silver-gray hull against the backdrop of the azure planet was breathtakingly beautiful. [The Xuanyuan Space Carrier: Humanity's first starship capable of deep space travel.]

The narration was deep and powerful: "From the ocean to the sky, from the sky to the stars, from life and health to the energy revolution... who is it that is paving the way for our nation and creating the future?"

The screen changes, and a clear ID photo appears in the center of the screen.

Young, handsome, with clear and determined eyes.

Below the photo, a line of large, eye-catching text reads:

Lin Feng – Honorary Academician for Life of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recipient of the State Supreme Science and Technology Award, and chief designer of multiple major national science and technology projects.

Old Chen's voice rang out again, filled with pride and respect:

"Now, I formally introduce Comrade Lin Feng to everyone! This national hero has dedicated himself to the country for over a decade in anonymity! All the aforementioned scientific and technological achievements that have changed the fate of the nation and propelled human progress were led or spearheaded by him!"

"He is not yet forty years old this year."

The entire nation fell silent for a moment, then erupted in uncontrollable gasps.

Old Chen continued, "Right now, as the zombie virus ravages the globe and panic spreads, Comrade Lin Feng is in the nation's most secure laboratory, leading a top-notch team to tackle the most critical technological challenges. His goal is not simply defense, but—to completely cure the infected and eradicate this virus from its very roots!"

"Fellow countrymen!" Old Chen raised his arm. "We have the decisiveness to close our borders, the Azure Dragon barrier of herd immunity, the Great Wall of Steel guarding our borders, and even more importantly, unparalleled patriots like Lin Feng solving the fundamental problems! This is the source of our Chinese confidence!"

"Please have faith in our country, faith in our scientists, and faith in our own strength! Fear cannot defeat disaster, but unity, trust, and technology can!"

The press conference has ended, but the storm has only just begun.

Lin Feng's name, deeds, and contributions swept across every corner of China like a fierce whirlwind. All doubts, fears, and pessimism were swept away and replaced at this moment by a more powerful emotion—

It was awe, pride, boiling blood, and a rekindled, unwavering confidence!

"My God! Lin Feng! He's not even forty years old? He's the one who developed all those major national projects?!"

"No wonder the country is so calm! With such a national hero, what is there to fear?"

"We've become so powerful without even realizing it! The Azure Dragon Potion can protect us, and Academician Lin Feng is developing an antidote... What do we have to fear from zombies now!"

"The nation has not abandoned anyone! We have the brightest minds fighting!"

The online public opinion shifted instantly. Slogans like "Trust Academician Lin Feng," "Trust the nation," and "China will prevail!" flooded social media. The panic buying subsided, and people cooperated more orderly with vaccination and epidemic prevention measures. Residents of border cities no longer panicked and evacuated, knowing that behind them was a powerful motherland capable and determined to protect them.

At this moment, the invisible "Great Wall of People's Hearts" is firmly built together with the tangible national border and biological immune barrier.

Deep within the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lin Feng was completely unaware of all this.

He has just identified a potential key gene repair node in the system simulation.