The night before the college entrance exam results were released, I redeemed my Peking University ad

Within half a day, many well-informed people received news that Ji Bai was asking for funds everywhere.

It first circulated within university circles, then spread to research groups and academic forums, and finally someone leaked the news online.

It started with a post from an anonymous account, with an extremely clickbait title: "An 18-year-old high school student asks for 100 million; has the math genius gone mad or just gotten carried away?"

The post exaggerated the story of Ji Bai soliciting donations from various universities and asking local governments for money, and even emphasized that "a recent high school graduate, without even a professional title, is asking for 100 million yuan."

The post garnered over 100,000 views in less than half an hour.

Immediately afterwards, several marketing accounts, drawn by the prospect of traffic, flocked to the topic, forwarding and screenshotting it, causing the topic's popularity to snowball.

#Ji Bai's 100 Million Yuan Funding#

#40 Million Yuan Special Funding#

Two terms, deliberately pushed by certain individuals, suddenly appeared on the trending search list.

The comment section under the trending search terms has completely exploded.

"Wait, isn't Ji Bai a mathematician? What research would cost a hundred million? Is it just for buying scratch paper?"

"One hundred million? Why doesn't he just rob a bank? He makes money faster than that!"

"Isn't this too blatant? Asking for money right after the college entrance exam—that's incredibly shameless!"

"I used to really like his songs, but now, looking at them, haha."

"If there's no inside story, I'll eat it!"

"Forty million was approved so easily, but what about the procedures? What about the public announcement? What about the expert review? How can a high school student skip all the procedures and get the money directly?"

"Ji Bai is indeed a genius, I admit he's brilliant at math, but research funding is national property, not his personal ATM."

"That's right, the necessary procedures must be followed, and the required reviews must be conducted! Otherwise, it would be unfair to other researchers!"

"A recent high school graduate, who hasn't even finished his undergraduate studies, dares to ask for 100 million? Does he really think scientific research is child's play?"

"Isn't the Northeast spoiling its kids way too much? Here, small and medium-sized enterprises struggle to get loans of a few hundred thousand yuan, but this high school student just casually asks for forty million yuan?"

"He's figured out the tricks of making money from materials. Since ordinary people can't understand the results anyway, once the money is used up, he just says the experiment failed and that's it."

"He used to boast about being indifferent to fame and fortune, but then he turned around and asked for tens of millions. His public image collapsed faster than anyone else's."

"What kind of persona is this! Before, he was always criticizing everyone and everything, following female streamers who flirted with the wrong side of the story, and even harassing a pop diva. Haven't you guys figured it out yet?"

"Wake up, everyone!"

Whether it's out of jealousy or just for the sake of criticizing, Ji Bai is in the spotlight again.

The royalists, of course, refused to back down and confronted the haters head-on.

"That's ridiculous. When they solved five of the world's greatest unsolved problems, why didn't you say they didn't deserve it? They donated the Millennium Prize money without hesitation, what do they care about a few tens of millions from you?"

"Who says mathematicians can't switch to materials science? Is it hard to understand why Ji Bai's talent deserves a hundred million? You're just a sour grapes who can't stand to see others succeed, aren't you?"

"The funds allocated by the local government through the proper special approval process become inside information in your mouth? You pretended to be silent when the academic cliques colluded to smear us, but now you're jumping out to speak up when people are doing research?"

"So geniuses have to starve and contribute to the world for free to meet your expectations? Applying for funding means you have a problem with your character? What kind of robber logic is that?"

"People in Northeast China spoil their kids, is it any of your business?"

The two sides were arguing fiercely, and bystanders were all watching the drama unfold. The topic's popularity soared, eventually reaching the top of the overall trending search list.

……

Beijing. The backstage lounge of a large fashion event.

Ye Lan had just finished a round of media interviews and returned to the lounge in her high heels. Her assistant, Xiao Zhou, quickly handed her a thermos and her phone.

She took the cup, sipped some warm water, and casually opened Weibo to check the feedback on today's event photos.

Then she saw those eye-catching keywords on the trending topics list.

Ye Lan scrolled through the comments one by one, her brows furrowing more and more as she read.

The comments that said Ji Bai was "shameless," "blatant," and "had something going on" felt like needles pricking her heart.

She remembered the dimly lit, dilapidated living room, the refrigerator containing only cabbage, potatoes, and expired yogurt, and the boy's seemingly relaxed profile as he pointed at the pot of charcoal and said, "This pot is no good."

Those people know nothing!

I don't know what kind of house Ji Bai lives in, I don't know how he got through these three years, and I don't know that there isn't even a piece of meat in his refrigerator.

They just type on their keyboards online, using the most vicious words to speculate about a child they've never even met.

It's just one hundred million, isn't it?

I'm out!

Ye Lan instinctively wanted to dial Ji Bai's number.

My fingers were already on the dial button when the image of that day in Ji Bai's living room suddenly flashed through my mind.

She took out her black card and handed it to him, but Ji Bai didn't take it. He just smiled and said, "Those three songs are also a gift from my brother."

The boy wouldn't take her money.

If she forces the money on him, it will only hurt him.

Ye Lan pursed her moist red lips and dialed another number instead.

"Mother..."

No one in the dressing room could hear exactly what was said.

Only Xu Jing, sitting next to him, listened with a changing expression, from doubt to astonishment, until finally her eyes widened in disbelief.

……

Fucheng, old and dilapidated.

Ji Bai was sprawled on the sofa scrolling through Weibo. Far from being angry, he was grinning from ear to ear.

For no other reason than the shock value that keeps jumping up on the system panel.

After the previous copyright controversy, the level of shock subsided slowly, but now that netizens have heard he wants 100 million yuan in funding, they are completely stunned!

Haters criticized him for his "disgusting behavior," which shocked many.

Bystanders commented, "One hundred million? That's insane!" which heightened the level of shock.

The royalists argued that "the Emperor deserves it," which raised the level of shock!

"How about... we crowdfund online?" Ji Bai stroked his chin, seriously considering the feasibility of this plan.

With his current following of two million fans, if each of them contributes fifty yuan, that's a hundred million yuan.

But crowdfunding is too easily manipulated, and then people will say it's a scam to exploit people.

Or should we wait until the system refreshes tomorrow and specify a funding option?

There are so many good things in the system, maybe we can find an option like "unexpected windfall".

Just as I was making plans, my phone suddenly rang.

It is Principal Wang Jianguo.

As soon as the call connected, Old Wang's excited voice, almost cracking with excitement, rang out: "Ji Bai! I have great news for you!"

"What good news?" Ji Bai moved the phone away a little; Old Wang's voice was really too loud.

"I just received a notification from the district that the Council of Advisors has directly allocated 50 million yuan! It's specifically for you!"

"What?"

This time, Ji Bai was truly shocked and sat up straight on the sofa.

The Council of State?

Which council?

Could it be that council of councilors?