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

Overnight, the Ji Bai Research Institute became a sensation, and so did No. 99 Middle School.

Teachers who used to pull strings to transfer to the city's top high school or a provincial key high school are now turning around and asking, "Is No. 99 Middle School hiring? I'd love to go there!"

In the past, when teachers gathered, the teachers from No. 99 Middle School always sat in the far corner and couldn't even get a word in edgewise when toasting.

They didn't even dare to say they were from No. 99 Middle School, for fear of being laughed at by Yang Yin.

Now, at dinner parties, as long as you mention that you're from No. 99 Middle School, you'll immediately be surrounded by people, and even the head of the teaching and research group at a key middle school will take the initiative to offer you cigarettes and strike up a conversation.

The reaction wasn't limited to the education sector; it was even stronger in society at large.

The area around No. 99 Middle School used to be full of old, dilapidated houses that no one wanted. The buildings were old and the layouts were poor. The prices were consistently low in the city center, and the houses would not sell even after being listed for half a year.

As a result, after the news spread to a small circle, the real estate agents' phones were ringing off the hook.

That afternoon, listing prices in the surrounding neighborhoods collectively jumped, with prices per square meter increasing by more than two thousand yuan. Even so, some people made appointments with landlords to view properties overnight, fearing that they would miss out if they were even a step too late.

Even more astute individuals bought two small apartments in the surrounding area outright, confident that the price would double within a year.

The attitude of parents has completely changed.

In the past, people would go to great lengths to get their children into the city's No. 1 High School, sparing no effort to pull strings or pay school selection fees.

Now everyone is asking around: "How will No. 99 Middle School recruit students next year? Will it be based on school district or through exams? Are there any spots available for independent admissions?"

The reasoning is quite practical: "Putting aside whether they can get into a prestigious university, just the name 'Ji Bai' itself—just being exposed to that atmosphere, how could it possibly make a difference?"

In short, Fucheng became completely bustling.

It started with the Ji Bai Research Institute, beginning with ninety-nine species.

……

Meanwhile, public opinion on the global internet is gradually shifting.

In the first few days, there was an overwhelming outcry condemning the hijacking and the Hausen family.

The video of the fight in the cabin was played on major platforms around the world, with views soaring to billions. Netizens from various countries used dozens of languages ​​to hurl insults at the Hausen family, which also slapped the face of the American military.

Suddenly, global public opinion put both China and the United States on the spot.

After all, the crash of two Lightning-35s into the sea is no small matter.

But the fire didn't burn for long.

Those secretly stirring things up obviously didn't dare to go too far, fearing they'd be caught.

Thus, under a tacit understanding between the two countries, the boiling public opinion was gently suppressed by an unseen hand.

The trending topics were replaced by new hot topics, videos were throttled, keywords were demoted, and angry netizens were distracted by more entertaining content.

Since no one is hurt, what's the point of arguing?

Life must go on as usual.

The hijacking incident may have subsided, but that doesn't mean the matter is over.

The truly difficult games are never played out on the surface.

The matter of patent licensing for room-temperature superconductivity has been settled there.

The US has a shrewd plan: fully open up licensing, share globally, and only collect a symbolic patent fee.

To put it bluntly, they want to get a ticket to room-temperature superconductivity at the lowest cost, and cut their own slice of the pie before China's industrial chain has been fully developed.

China's attitude was even simpler: Dream on!

For so many years, you've held us back in terms of lithography machines, chips, and aero engines. Now that we have the rights, why should we just give them to you for free?

Negotiators from both sides engaged in a drawn-out negotiation in a windowless conference room, with each concession made down to several decimal places and each exchange fraught with hidden tension.

They talked round after round, only to reach a stalemate again and again.

As the stalemate dragged on, public opinion abroad shifted again.

"Chinese people are insatiable."

"They've used Ji Bai to control the world, locking the keys to all of humanity's technological progress in their own safe. What is this if not a monopoly?"

"Room-temperature superconductivity is just a gimmick! Existing experimental data has clearly demonstrated that this material is simply impossible to mass-produce!"

"How can we talk about a technological revolution when we can't even achieve mass production?"

"Even if the technology breaks through in the future and mass production is achieved, based on the currently disclosed formula costs, the cost of room temperature superconducting plates is equivalent to five times that of gold."

"My God! You read that right, five times the amount of gold!"

"This is far from being suitable for civilian use; it'll always just be a decorative piece in a lab, a useless piece of junk!"

These arguments seem to be a pre-written script, appearing simultaneously in the comment sections of major technology forums, financial media outlets, and trending topics on social media platforms.

In an instant, room-temperature superconductivity went from being a "beacon of human technology" to an "expensive laboratory toy".

……

In the Oak Estate, Richard Hausen held a whiskey glass, watching the pessimistic comments about superconductivity on the screen, and the corners of his mouth curved into a deeper smile.

He had known all along that those people couldn't do anything to the Hausen family. No matter how fierce the online uproar or how harsh the insults, without concrete evidence, it was all just empty talk.

As for the whistleblower behind the scenes, he has not yet found out who it is, but whoever it is, they obviously dare not reveal their true intentions.

They only dare to engage in underhanded tactics in the shadows, and dare not confront the issue head-on in the sunlight.

This kind of opponent is not worth him wasting a second worrying about.

"Father, shouldn't we retaliate now?"

Richard put down his glass and stared intently at old Hausen behind the desk.

During this period, the Hausen family was forced to keep a low profile for quite some time. Global media were watching them closely, and they were trending on social media every three days. Even the stock prices of the listed companies they controlled fluctuated by several percentage points.

Richard was so frustrated he was about to go crazy.

Now things have changed. Room temperature superconductivity has been labeled as "useless," which is the perfect opportunity for the Hausen family to return to the game.

Old Hausen slowly exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, his cloudy eyes narrowing behind the smoke.

He remained silent for a long while, then placed his cigar on the rim of the ashtray, clasped his hands on the silver-tipped cane bearing the family crest, and slowly nodded.

"Go, my child, if a lion remains silent for too long, the hyenas will think it's dead."

"It's time for the world to remember why the Hausen family has the surname Hausen."

"Yes, Father!"

……

Thus, the Hausen family was forced to step in.

Public opinion has shifted again.

Why hasn't Ji Bai made any public appearances since returning to China? Is he under house arrest by the authorities?

"An 18-year-old genius, who should be standing on the international stage sharing his achievements, has now disappeared without a trace. What is this if not house arrest?"

"We urge China to disclose Ji Bai's current situation! Let this genius speak freely!"

"Room-temperature superconductivity is a treasure belonging to all humankind and should not be monopolized by any one country! We urge the complete liberalization of patents so that scientists worldwide can conduct joint research and benefit the entire world!"

"Technology knows no borders! Hiding superconducting technology is a crime against all humanity!"

"An International Superconductivity Commission should be established to jointly regulate the use of this technology by countries around the world, so that it cannot be used as a political bargaining chip by a few!"

"Bring Ji Bai out!"

"Release patents!"

……