Super God-Level Top Student

"Huh?"

The answer was something neither of them had anticipated, and for a moment, they didn't know what to say.

Sitting next to Qiao Ze, Su Mucheng also leaned in curiously and glanced at Qiao's screen, then asked, "Qiao, why are you writing a self-recommendation letter?"

Qiao Ze explained, "This year, Li is applying for the National Natural Science Foundation's Outstanding Youth Project, and the school will champion it; getting past the preliminary review shouldn't be a problem. But I checked the selection process, and after the preliminary review, they will publicize the research topics and hold a project review and defense meeting."

"Huh... so what?"

Su Mucheng already looked as though she understood, but Zhang Zhou still hadn't caught on and stared blankly at Qiao Ze.

Qiao Ze lifted his head, gave Zhang Zhou a look, and patiently explained again, "The experts for the project review and defense are selected from an expert pool. Although our university has many professors in the pool, most are concentrated in the engineering colleges.

At our School of Mathematics, especially in Group Theory research, there are no experts in the selection expert pool, which is unfavorable for Li's bid for Jieqing."

This time everyone caught on, and Zhang Zhou and Gu Zhengliang were already gaping at Qiao Ze, their mouths half open in amazement.

What a magical train of thought!

Li is applying for Jieqing, so you want to be part of the expert panel responsible for reviewing the projects?

Isn't this a bit too much?

If Qiao Ze's self-recommendation were actually accepted into the expert pool, it would truly be a once-in-a-millennium topic.

It would almost be the stuff of legends!

Imagine, in the review meeting for the Jieqing math project, amidst a crowd of old men, there's one eighteen-year-old face, who in theory only has a high school diploma—possibly reviewing the project of his future mentor.

Zhang Zhou even doubted whether Li, during his defense, could keep from laughing out loud if it actually happened.

"Um... Qiao Ze, don't you think your idea is a bit unrealistic?" Zhang Zhou muttered.

"I think there's a chance. I've studied the lists of experts reviewing Youth Talent, Jieqing, Yangtze, and young mathematician scientists over the years. Some of their achievements are not as good as mine, so I'll self-nominate first. If I'm selected, I can definitely help Li," Qiao Ze said nonchalantly.

Su Mucheng pouted, glared at the chatty Zhang Zhou, and voiced her concern, "Qiao, there's another problem. I think you being part of the expert panel is fine, but your relationship with Li is out there; they can't let a student review their mentor, right? Although I don't quite understand the review process, isn't there supposed to be conflict of interest avoidance?"

With that single point, Su Mucheng left Zhang Zhou and Gu Zhengliang speechless.

What level of trust would one need to think there's no issue with Qiao Ze joining the review panel?

Then Qiao Ze actually replied seriously, "It's not a big deal. In theory, I am still just an ordinary undergraduate and haven't formally enrolled as Li's graduate student, so our relationship doesn't have much impact. In previous years, there have been instances of experts from the same university and research institutes taking part in the review.

Moreover, the project Li is applying for was consulted on with my help, and I am absolutely qualified to review it. Currently, in the field of Group Theory causal decoupling, the Qunzhi Framework is the most outstanding, and both the framework and related algorithms were developed by me. Even if, like you said, I can't review Li's project, just being in the expert panel can help Li.

The big shots like to do equivalent exchanges."

After hearing Qiao Ze's words, Su Mucheng nodded vigorously and said, "Right, Qiao, you're the best! So get on with writing that self-recommendation letter."

Having said that, Su Mucheng glared again at Zhang Zhou and Gu Zhengliang sitting across from her and said, "Qiao is going to do important work now. The two of you, play with your own stuff and don't disturb Qiao!"

Zhang Zhou and Gu Zhengliang exchanged speechless looks.

Alright, the future lady boss was naturally not someone to offend.

But holding back a million inner "WTFs" was too uncomfortable. It wasn't a good time to continue discussing, so Gu Zhengliang smartly took out his phone and started a private chat.

"Holy crap, this is insane! I suspect if God Qiao really gets selected for the panel, when the review committee votes, who would dare to cast a vote against Li's project? Our God Qiao might go on a killing spree. He might even go online and scrutinize those experts' papers, just like he did with Zhao."

Clearly, the email Qiao Ze sent to Zhao Guangyao last semester had a significant impact on Gu Zhengliang, as it was still fresh in his memory.

"My thoughts are a little different from yours. You think God Qiao can wait to be admitted to the panel of experts? In my opinion, given God Qiao's personality and efficiency, he probably started planning this from the day Professor Li submitted the application. He might have already reviewed papers from every mathematician and researcher in the reviewer database.

In case they won't let God Qiao into the expert panel, he'll start sending emails to those experts for some heart-to-heart chats."

Zhang Zhou quickly replied on WeChat.

"Damn, now that you mention it, that really might be a possibility! Does that mean we're definitely in for some excitement next? Does the school know about this?"

"I'm sure they don't. Do you think God Qiao is the type of person who'd discuss his plans with the school before doing something? I bet right now, only a few of us are aware of this. Even Chen Yiwen doesn't know, otherwise, with his personality, he would have started showing off in front of us a long time ago!"

"So we need to keep it a secret, too! If Qiao gets selected, it's all good, but if he doesn't and we've leaked the news in advance, God Qiao probably won't care, but that crazy woman Mu Cheng, who knows, she might tear us apart."

"Exactly, we must keep it a secret! Especially from the big mouth Chen Yiwen."

...

At this moment, the big mouth Zhang Zhou was talking about was with a clueless little freshman, being very attentive.

The little freshman was named Deng Tingting, petite and cute, with delicate features. Of course, what was most important was that she happened to fit Chen Yiwen's aesthetic preference perfectly, so naturally, he was especially enthusiastic: "Junior sister, where's your luggage? Shall I help you carry it to the dormitory first to get settled?"

"No need, senior brother, my luggage is over there with my dad." Deng Tingting pointed at a middle-aged man near the entrance of the gymnasium.

"No problem, I'll walk you and your dad over to the dormitory, then accompany you to get your student card. You might not know, but our School of Mathematics provides one-on-one service for welcoming freshmen, right, Minister Zhang?" Chen Yiwen glanced back at the promotion minister of the student union from his college, who was a junior.

The two people who were drafted for welcoming the newcomers were both old hands at the School of Mathematics.

They could both see right through what Chen Yiwen was aiming at.

But neither had any intention of exposing him.

There was no helping it, given that Chen Yiwen was really the celebrated figure in the college, a talent who had more than one appearance in top international publications as only a sophomore.

No matter if he had pulled strings to get there or not, his achievements were on display for all to see.

They might need to ask Chen Yiwen for f avors sometime in the future, and these were the sort of relationships they needed to maintain.

"Yeah, yes, you go ahead Chen Yi, no rush, Luo Chao will take your place shortly."

"Alright, junior sister, let's go. I'll also take the opportunity to show you around the campus."

"Thank you, senior brother."

"Don't mention it, just add me on WeChat later. If you're unfamiliar with anything about the school, you can ask me directly. We've all been freshmen before, so it's right to help each other out."

"Oh, by the way, senior brother, why do we have to take the class placement test twice? I just saw in the freshman group chat that you guys only had to take it once before."
Experience new stories on empire

"Ah, you've asked the right person. Let me tell you, in the whole college, no, the entire school, less than ten people know about this, and I'm one of them. But it's a long story, which started with our lab leader attending the freshman welcome event yesterday. The other two protagonists should be two freshmen from the Materials Science College.

It's quite an interesting story; I'll tell you more after we get you settled in the dormitory and come down to handle the card."

"Oh, okay, senior brother, you're amazing."

"Heh... hey, uncle, hello, I'm the senior who's helping the freshmen complete their registration procedures one-on-one. My name is Chen Yiwen, a sophomore."

"Oh, then thank you, Chen."

"No problem, uncle, I'll take you to the dormitory right now."