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

Within the system's simulated space, the Kunpeng-class large aircraft carrier lay quietly at rest.

The ship's hull lines flowed smoothly like mountains, its deck as wide as a plain, and the entire aircraft carrier gleamed with a cold metallic sheen under simulated sunlight. Lin Feng stood before the virtual control console, his fingertips tracing every parameter on the holographic projection: 120,000 tons full-load displacement, electromagnetic catapult system, all-electric propulsion, integrated stealth design…

"It's done."

He took a deep breath, and finally let go of the smile on his face.

Over the past few months, he has conducted tens of thousands of simulations in this virtual space—structural strength testing, power system optimization, and simulation of carrier-based aircraft take-off and landing procedures… Every failure and every adjustment was for the perfect presentation at this moment.

The Kunpeng, a maritime behemoth that is at least 5-10 years ahead of its time, has finally been completed in theory.

The next step is to turn the virtual into reality.

Lin Feng exited the system space, and the room lights came back into view.

He stretched his stiff neck and sat back down at his desk.

On the computer screen, countless folders were neatly arranged hierarchically. Titles like "Ship Structure Theory," "Detailed Explanation of New Propulsion Systems," "Core Technologies of Electromagnetic Catapults," and "Formulation of Stealth Coating Materials"... behind each filename lies a breakthrough capable of shaking the very foundations of a nation's naval system.

Three days.

He spent three full days transforming the theoretical knowledge he acquired from the system into understandable and verifiable technical documentation. The basic parts were detailed down to the derivation of each formula, while the core parts retained key thresholds and process parameters.

By the time the last file was saved, dawn was approaching.

Lin Feng took out the specially made black USB flash drive from the drawer—it was palm-sized, with a titanium alloy casing, and contained multiple encryption layers and a physical self-destruct mechanism. This was a special storage device issued by the state to researchers with the highest level of security.

He plugged in the interface and started transmitting.

The progress bar moves slowly, 1%...5%...15%...

Just as the data transmission reached 73%, the phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

The screen displays: Unknown number.

Lin Feng frowned. This phone number was his private number; fewer than ten people knew it.

He picked up his phone and answered the call.

"Excuse me, are you Lin Feng?"

A young woman's voice came through, visibly tired and with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Who are you?" Lin Feng did not admit it directly.

"I'm Shen Moran's assistant, Xiaoxiao." The other person paused, then lowered their voice, "Could you... come to Beijing? To see her one last time."

The last time?

Lin Feng's fingers suddenly tightened.

"What's wrong, senior?" His voice suddenly turned serious, and he spoke faster. "Explain yourself clearly."

Suppressed sobs came from the other end of the phone, but were quickly stopped: "She won't let you know the details... but I know she wants to see you. Lin Feng, please, come over."

Lin Feng glanced at the progress bar on the computer screen: 89%.

Without any hesitation, he replied: "The address."

"Beijing Hospital, seventh floor of the inpatient department, special care ward." Xiao Xiao spoke quickly, as if grasping at a straw, "Just come up when you get here."

"I'll get there as soon as possible."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng's brows were furrowed.

"Brother Zhao." Lin Feng pushed open the office door.

Zhao Weiguo, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately stood up, keenly noticing that something was wrong with his expression: "Mr. Lin?"

"Get ready, we're heading to the capital immediately, it's an emergency." Lin Feng spoke very quickly, "The fastest way possible."

"Understood." Zhao Weiguo didn't ask a single question and turned around to take out his secure phone.

Fifteen minutes later, a black sedan drove out of the Harbin Institute of Technology campus and headed straight for Harbin Airport.

In the car, Lin Feng finally waited until the USB drive transfer was complete: 100%. He pulled out the USB drive and carefully checked the encryption indicator light—a solid green light indicated that the data was intact and had not been subjected to any unauthorized read attempts.

He carefully kept it close to his body.

The information, originally planned to be reported through confidential channels, will now have to be brought to Beijing in person. That's fine, it'll be a good opportunity to hand it over to Professor Chen in person; some core technologies require explanation in person.

"The tickets are all arranged." In the co-pilot's seat, Zhao Weiguo turned around and reported, "We'll take off in two hours, using a special channel. A car will pick us up from Beijing."

"Faster." Lin Feng looked at the night sky rushing past the window.

Airport procedures were streamlined to the extreme. They were given a special passage, passed through without inspection, and even had an airport official personally guide them up the gangway. Only one hour and forty minutes had passed since they received that phone call when the plane doors closed.

With engines roaring, the plane soared into the night sky.

Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed, but he didn't rest.

During the three-hour flight, he repeatedly reviewed the possible scenarios. Serious illness? Accident? Or... injury? ICU, last moments together—these keywords pointed to something far more serious than a common ailment.

It was raining in Beijing when the plane landed.

The drizzling autumn rain made the night even heavier. A black SUV without license plates was already waiting at the edge of the helipad. The driver was a young man with a stern face. When he saw Lin Feng and his companion, he simply nodded and opened the car door.

"Go to the hospital in Beijing, as fast as you can." Lin Feng got into the car.

Forty minutes later, the hospital's stark white lights came into view.

Lin Feng pushed open the car door and, without even waiting for Zhao Weiguo to open the umbrella, strode into the inpatient building. Every second of the elevator's slow ascent felt exceptionally long.

The seventh floor is the special care ward area.

The corridor was eerily quiet, the air thick with the smell of disinfectant and a sense of oppression. He went to the room number Xiaoxiao had given him and pushed open the door—

The hospital bed was empty, and the bedding was neatly arranged.

unmanned.

Lin Feng immediately dialed Xiao Xiao's number, the ringtone faintly echoing in the empty corridor.

"We're in the operating room." Xiaoxiao's voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible. "You...you come here. Third floor, east operating area."

operating room.

These three words pierced Lin Feng's chest like an icicle.

He turned and rushed towards the stairs, not even waiting for the elevator. Zhao Weiguo followed closely behind, their footsteps echoing hurriedly in the stairwell.

Third floor, east side surgical area.

At the end of the long corridor, a red "Operating" sign was lit, like an eye gazing into the darkness.

Three people were standing under the light sign.

On the far left is a young woman, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a business suit, but the clothes are wrinkled beyond recognition. Her face is streaked with tears, her eyes are red and swollen, and she is clutching a cell phone tightly in her hand—it's Xiaoxiao.

In the middle was a middle-aged couple. The man wore a dark jacket, his temples were gray, and his back was ramrod straight, but upon closer inspection, one could see that his body was trembling slightly. The woman nestled beside him, her face as pale as paper, her eyes staring blankly at the operating room door, as if her entire soul had been ripped away.

Hearing footsteps, the three turned around.