12: Chapter 12, "Rampaging Imagination," is the most lethal!

A massive tilt!

These words, when dropped, carried more weight than all the previous buildup combined.

Every researcher in the lab, including the most senior veterans who had seen countless grand scenes, froze in place, motionless.

The way they looked at Lin Yuan had completely changed.

It was no longer suspicion, disdain, or simple curiosity.

It was a gaze mixed with awe and bewilderment, the kind one has when looking up at an existence beyond the scope of understanding.

Just a second ago, their eyes were still full of scrutiny, viewing Lin Yuan as nothing more than a "lucky junior."

In their eyes, Lin Yuan had merely stumbled upon this long-forgotten light source technology route by chance while digging through dusty old papers.

Deep in their hearts, the pride inherent to top scholars made them feel they were by no means inferior to this young man.

But now, the Academy's attitude explained everything!

The highest level of freedom!

This meant that in Xia Country's top research institute, Lin Yuan could operate without being constrained by anyone.

This was already a privilege of fairy-tale proportions.

And the following sentence—"all resources of the Academy will also be heavily tilted toward him personally"—completely overturned everyone's understanding.

Toward him personally?

Not toward the Third Research Institute, not toward the Photolithography Machine project team, but toward Lin Yuan personally?!

What did this mean?

It meant that in the eyes of the Xia Academy of Sciences' top brass, the value of the name Lin Yuan had already surpassed their entire project team!

Countless complex gazes converged on Lin Yuan once more, their emotions rapidly shifting from shock to deep reflection.

A thought emerged in everyone's mind and began to grow wildly.

There was only one truth behind why the Academy dared to place such a heavy bet—

The "Steady-state Micro-focused Light Source" Lin Yuan had just proposed was definitely not just a concept on paper!

He must have more detailed and solid theoretical evidence in his hands, and might even have already completed preliminary simulation verifications!

That's it!

It must be so!

Otherwise, how could Dean Chen issue such an outrageous directive?

Their brains worked frantically, connecting the previous inconsistencies at high speed and constructing a perfect logical loop for themselves.

[Current Total Confidence Level: 7.8%!]

As the confidence level surged again, Lin Yuan's heart stirred slightly, yet his face remained as calm and composed as ever.

He knew very well that sometimes silence was more powerful than any words.

These highly intelligent researchers were best at finding and constructing the most rigorous and self-consistent logical explanations for any phenomena they couldn't understand.

Often, he didn't even need to say much; they would fill in the blanks themselves, turning every unreasonable detail into the most logical explanation, one even more convincing than the truth itself.

Wei Jiancheng stared at Lin Yuan for a long time, his furrowed face shifting through various expressions.

Finally, he turned to look at Luo Yang and spoke.

"Alright, I understand."

"On my behalf, thank Dean Chen."

Luo Yang nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his face; he had achieved his goals for today, even far exceeding expectations.

"Then I won't disturb you further, Director Wei. I'll take my leave."

After saying that, he gave Lin Yuan a nod and turned to leave the laboratory decisively.

With Luo Yang's departure, the atmosphere in the lab became even more subtle.

Wei Jiancheng looked at Lin Yuan, a very complex emotion squeezed onto his perpetually frozen face.

"Comrade Lin Yuan, I've dealt with Old Chen for decades, and I've never seen him so concerned about anyone."

"It seems you really are extraordinary!"

Lin Yuan maintained his smile and responded calmly.

"It's just that the Dean thinks highly of me."

Wei Jiancheng waved his hand, his impatient streak returning, but this time it was directed at these polite formalities.

"Enough!"

"Stop with the empty talk."

"Whether you're a mule or a horse, you have to take it out for a walk to see!"

"Come on, I'll take you to handle your onboarding procedures first!"

He didn't wait for Lin Yuan's reply and turned to walk out of the lab, his vigorous and resolute style identical to when he was driving people away earlier.

Lin Yuan gave a slight nod to the researchers casting friendly glances his way and followed him.

...

On the other side, the black sedan Luo Yang was in had already smoothly driven out of the gates of the Third Research Institute.

Upon returning to the Xia Academy of Sciences, he didn't go straight back to his office but went directly to the main building and knocked on Dean Chen's office door again.

Inside the office, Chen Jingshan was still sitting behind his wide desk, wearing reading glasses and reviewing a document.

Hearing the knock, he didn't even look up.

"Come in."

Luo Yang pushed the door open, walked quietly to the desk, and stood still.

"Dean."

Chen Jingshan put down his pen, took off his reading glasses, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his temples.

"Is everything settled?"

"It's settled."

Luo Yang answered respectfully, pausing as if organizing his words.

Chen Jingshan raised his eyes and glanced at him.

"Looking at your expression, the process wasn't very smooth?"

A bitter smile appeared on Luo Yang's face as he organized his thoughts and reported everything that had just happened in the Third Research Institute's lab in detail.

From how Wei Jiancheng was fuming with rage and vehemently opposing it...

...to how Lin Yuan pressed on step by step, using a series of logical questions to dismantle the other's momentum...

...and finally, how Lin Yuan dropped that brand-new technical concept like a thunderclap, suppressing the entire room in one go.

He didn't speak fast, but the content was breathtaking.

Chen Jingshan listened quietly, his refined face showing no major changes from start to finish.

He didn't speak immediately but slowly stood up from his chair and walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the quiet courtyard outside.

Luo Yang's report confirmed a certain suspicion in his heart.

Throwing Lin Yuan directly into the Third Research Institute—the place with the most pressure—was an unspoken test in itself.

He wanted to see how this young man, whom Elder Long held in such high regard, would perform when facing the toughest nut to crack and the most explosive tempers in Xia Country's scientific research community.

Would he shrink back?

Would he be reckless?

Or would he be marginalized by that group of arrogant geniuses, unable to move an inch?

He had imagined many possibilities, but this was the only one he hadn't expected.

Not only was Lin Yuan not crushed, but he also directly took charge, seizing the lifeblood of the entire institute with a "new" theory.

This was no longer just "passing the test."

This was proving just how visionary Elder Long's unconventional promotion really was.

After a long time, Chen Jingshan finally spoke, his voice betraying little emotion.

"Thank you for your hard work, Little Luo. You can go back to your business now."

"Yes, Dean."

Luo Yang responded respectfully, turned to exit the office, and gently closed the door behind him.

Silence returned to the large office once more.

Chen Jingshan stood alone by the window with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of the Third Research Institute.

He remembered the short but heavy sentence Elder Long had said over the phone.

"Old Chen, this young man concerns the fate of the nation."

At the time, although he had chosen to believe and cooperate unconditionally, he inevitably had doubts in his heart.

But now, that final trace of doubt had completely vanished.

A light breeze blew, rustling the leaves outside and casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Chen Jingshan withdrew his gaze and sat back down behind his desk, but he didn't pick up the documents again.

He just sat there quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop.

A moment later, he murmured softly.

"Steady-state Micro-focused Light Source, is it?"