The First Warble of a Young Phoenix (Continued Further)

Just as Chen Jingzhi's impatience was about to reach its peak, Lu Ruoxi spoke.

Her voice was soft, yet strikingly clear.

"Professor Chen, I think attempting to prove its 'non-existence' might be leading us down the wrong path."

That single sentence made Chen Jingzhi abruptly straighten in his seat, his sharp gaze instantly locking onto her.

"Oh? Do elaborate."

Instead of resorting to complex formulas, she proposed a revolutionary idea through a nearly philosophical line of reasoning.

"We don’t need to prove it doesn’t exist—we should define the 'new rules' for its existence. Its mathematical model perhaps shouldn’t be built on traditional manifolds..."

As Lu Ruoxi spoke, the study fell into dead silence.

The disdain and skepticism on Chen Jingzhi’s face had completely vanished, replaced by shock, disbelief, and the exhilaration of discovering a priceless gem.

He suddenly stood from his chair, strode over to Lu Ruoxi, and snatched the pen from her hand, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Quantized space... Yes! Yes! How did I not think of this?! I’ve been trying to solve it within a continuous framework, forgetting that mathematics itself is a matter of definition! We can redefine the rules! Girl, keep going! What properties do you think this transition function should have?"

For the next two hours, the study became a world belonging solely to the two of them.

One asked, the other answered.

One proposed wild conjectures, the other refined them with rigorous logic.

Lu Chenyuan quietly stepped aside, a pleased smile on his face.

Su Yang, meanwhile, was utterly dumbfounded.

Though Su Yang was a genius in his own right, compared to Lu Ruoxi in mathematics, he might as well have been an amateur.

But he understood the look of rapture and exhilaration on Professor Chen’s face.

He knew—Lu Ruoxi had once again used her brilliance to conquer an unimaginably formidable figure.

As he watched the girl standing confidently before the whiteboard, radiating intelligence, Su Yang no longer felt inferior. Instead, an unprecedented sense of pride swelled in his chest.

This was the girl he admired.

She was born to stand in places like this, conversing with the greatest minds.

Finally, Chen Jingzhi stopped. He stared at the dense symbols and sketches covering the whiteboard and let out a long exhale.

Turning around, he announced in a steady voice:

"Girl, starting today, you are my final disciple. Forget those undergraduate courses—I’ll personally design your study plan. The mathematics department at Jingzhou University will grant you unrestricted access to all its labs, libraries, and databases."

Then he turned to Lu Chenyuan, his expression a mix of gratitude and something almost like envy:

"You brat... this time, you’ve brought me an absolute treasure. If you’d had even half her focus back then, maybe by now you’d have..."

"Grandfather Chen, I’m just an ordinary man," Lu Chenyuan replied with a faint smile.

"And she—she was born for mathematics."

"Exactly!" Chen Jingzhi nodded emphatically, his gaze brimming with admiration as he looked at Lu Ruoxi.

"You are uncut jade, a rare gem! Stay with me, and I promise—within ten years, your name will resonate throughout the global mathematics community!"

Stepping out of the courtyard, the sunlight in Jingzhou seemed especially radiant.

Lu Ruoxi still felt dazed, as if she had just awoken from a fantastical dream.

"How do you feel?" Lu Chenyuan’s voice pulled her back to reality.

"It’s... unbelievable," she murmured, staring at her hands.

"I never imagined that thinking about mathematics could be so... exhilarating."

"This is only the beginning," Lu Chenyuan said, his eyes serious and profound.

"Ruoxi, Professor Chen can guide you to the pinnacle of academia. But I want to offer you another path."

He stopped walking and faced her directly.

"One of my core future projects will be artificial intelligence. And the foundation of strong AI lies in algorithms—in mathematics. I need a chief scientist, a visionary who can construct the most fundamental, unshakable mathematical framework for my AI empire."

"I want that person to be you."

"I won’t interfere with your academic pursuits. On the contrary, I’ll provide unlimited funding, the finest team, and complete freedom. I want you to apply the theories Professor Chen teaches you to reality—to create something that can truly change the world."

"I’m inviting you to be my partner. Not now, but in the future—whenever you feel ready."

Lu Chenyuan’s words struck Lu Ruoxi like a thunderclap.

Chief scientist? AI empire? Partner?

These concepts felt too distant, too grand for a girl who had just entered university.

But in Lu Chenyuan’s eyes, she saw unwavering trust and expectation.

He wasn’t spinning fantasies—he was sketching a tangible blueprint for her future.

A path that would allow her to transform her talent into unparalleled power.

In the end, a person must rely on themselves.

That had always been her creed.

And what Lu Chenyuan laid before her was a stairway to the summit—one where she could ascend through her own strength.

After a long silence, she gave a firm nod.

"I accept your invitation." She didn’t say, "I’ll wait until I’m ready." She accepted the offer outright.

Because from this moment onward, her studies and research had gained a clearer direction—and a grander purpose.

A trace of satisfaction flickered across Lu Chenyuan’s usually impassive face.

He knew the earliest piece he had placed on the board had now found her destined position.

She would no longer be the love-struck heroine from the original story, shackled by emotional turmoil and blinded by vengeance.

Instead, she would grow into a true queen—one who reshaped the world with her intellect.

Turning, he glanced at Su Yang, who had been silently trailing behind them.

"Su Yang."

"Ah! Mr. Lu!" Su Yang startled to attention.

Lu Chenyuan’s tone was calm but carried undeniable authority. "Ruoxi’s path will take her high—and far. If you want to keep standing beside her, passion alone won’t be enough."

"And I believe your talent in computer science is second to none."

"My projects will need your skills as well."

Hearing Lu Chenyuan’s acknowledgment, Su Yang nodded vigorously. "I understand! Mr. Lu, I... I’ll work hard!"

A young man’s sincerity deserved to be met with kindness.

All Lu Chenyuan could do was point the way.

How far Su Yang traveled depended entirely on himself.

With business concluded, Lu Chenyuan was about to leave when Lu Ruoxi called out to him.

"Mr. Lu... that photo in the family quarters—who is it?"

Lu Chenyuan looked at her, a ripple of emotion crossing his composed expression.

"That person... is my grandmother."

When Lu Ruoxi heard the word "grandmother," many pieces of the puzzle suddenly fell into place. She was about to say something when Lu Chenyuan stopped her.

"Ruoxi, it's not the right time yet. You'll have your answers soon. For now, focus on what's in front of you."

After seeing the two young people off, Lu Chenyuan got into his car, his expression returning to its usual calm composure.

Zhang Qi glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Everything went smoothly, Mr. Lu."

"Mm," Lu Chenyuan responded, his gaze fixed on the cityscape flashing past the window.

Lu Ruoxi's role in this plan was now secured.

His interactions with Mo Qingli were also progressing favorably.

Everything seemed to be moving in the best possible direction.

Yet, Lu Chenyuan felt no sense of relief.

He knew better than anyone the storm that lurked beneath this deceptively tranquil surface.