Chapter 306 - 236: Science and Technology Awards Conference

Chapter 306: Chapter 236: Science and Technology Awards Conference

It was noon by the time he emerged from the quaint, antique-style building.

The winter sun spilled onto the red walls, casting a warm glow.

Chen Lin stood at the foot of the steps and took a deep breath of the Imperial Capital’s crisp, dry air before looking up.

The sky was a brilliant, cloudless blue, save for a few wisps of white lazily adorning the horizon. Occasionally, a pigeon or two would fly past with a whistle.

Glancing back at the tightly shut door behind him, Chen Lin felt a weight settle on his shoulders.

It was the weight of a monumental task and the heavy expectations of an old man.

But he didn’t feel crushed by it.

On the contrary, he felt as if his bones had become lighter, and a heroic ambition he had never known before surged through his chest.

...

The next day, Wednesday, December 24th.

Chen Lin had a quiet day.

Aside from reviewing the code for the new algorithm architecture in his room, his only other task was to meet with Wang.

Wang was a staffer from the Ministry of Science and Technology, temporarily assigned to the awards ceremony organizing committee, and was also Chen Lin’s designated liaison.

The young man wore glasses and had a gentle, scholarly air about him. He was very meticulous.

He held a schedule and went over the details for the next day with Chen Lin again and again.

"Professor Chen, entry tomorrow is at 9:30 AM. However, considering security checks and crowd flow, I suggest you arrive at the East Gate of the Great Hall before nine o’clock."

"Your seat is on the first floor of the main auditorium, Row 5, Seat 15. It’s a very prominent spot, so a lot of media cameras will be panning across the area. As for your attire..."

After glancing at the perfectly pressed suit Chen Lin had hanging on a rack, Wang swallowed the rest of his sentence and said with a smile,

"It looks like you’re already well-prepared."

"Alright, I’ll see you at nine tomorrow morning, then." Chen Lin saw Wang out with a smile.

...

December 25th.

For the scientific researchers of Huaxia, this day was the grandest event of the year.

While internationally, names like the Nobel Prize and the Fields Medal might seem more illustrious, for the scholars who had toiled away in Huaxia’s domestic research community, today’s "National Science and Technology Award Conference" was the true hallowed hall.

Here, not only could one receive the nation’s highest honors, but one could also meet the top figures who normally existed only in textbooks and news reports.

Here, every handshake and every pleasantry could mean project funding for the next few years, collaborative opportunities, or even a turning point in one’s academic career.

Thus, even though the official entry time was 9:30 AM, the entrance to the Great Hall had been bustling with traffic since seven in the morning.

When Chen Lin arrived at the East Gate plaza, it was precisely 8:55 AM.

"Professor Chen, over here!"

Wang, who had been waiting for some time, hurried over to greet Chen Lin as he got out of the car.

But his expression held a trace of unconcealable anxiety and apology.

"Professor Chen, I am so sorry! I should have reminded you yesterday to come even earlier..."

"What’s wrong?" Chen Lin asked, puzzled. "Didn’t you say nine? I’m five minutes early."

Wang wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave a wry smile.

"You’ll see once you get inside..."

Chen Lin straightened his suit, ascended the high steps, passed between the solemn colonnades, and entered the North Hall of the Great Hall.

The moment he stepped inside, a huge wave of sound washed over him.

Chen Lin froze for a moment.

The spacious and brightly lit North Hall was already a sea of people.

As far as the eye could see, there was a sea of brilliant minds—some with silver hair, others with shining, bald heads.

Countless academicians, professors, chief engineers, and experts were gathered in small groups.

Some were engaged in heated discussions about the latest academic developments, some were chatting amiably about personal matters, and others were seizing the opportunity to recommend their star students to the titans of their fields.

The air was thick with a mixture of excitement, anticipation, restraint, and the unique social buzz of a high-society gathering.

Most people had arrived one, two, or even three hours in advance.

In comparison, Chen Lin, who had arrived only half an hour beforehand, seemed like a complete anomaly.

"Ah, it was my inexperience, my mistake," Wang said in a low voice, reproaching himself as he cleared a path for Chen Lin. "This is your first time attending. I should have known to remind you. People usually come very early to these kinds of events..."

’Wang was kicking himself.’

He looked at Chen Lin’s ridiculously young face. ’Even if his academic achievements are god-like, he must be a total novice when it comes to social etiquette.’

’He missed the golden two-hour window for socializing. Who knows how many opportunities to expand his network he’s lost.’

However, Chen Lin merely swept a casual glance over the crowd, his face showing not a hint of regret. On the contrary, he looked completely relaxed and cheerful.

"It’s fine. I think this is the perfect time to arrive."

Chen Lin smiled.

’He genuinely didn’t mind.’

He didn’t need to vie for professional titles, nor was he short on research funding (if he wanted it, money was just a number). He certainly didn’t need to go around begging to land projects.

"Come on, let’s go in."

Chen Lin took long strides and headed into the main auditorium.

He wanted to keep a low profile, but his reputation wouldn’t allow it.

When the young man—dressed in a tailored, custom-fit suit, with a posture as straight as a pine tree, and a face handsome enough to be a pop idol—appeared amidst this crowd of scholars whose average age was over fifty...

The stylistic contrast was simply too stark.

A hush fell over the area of the noisy hall that Chen Lin was walking through.

Immediately, countless gazes were drawn to him from all directions.

"Is that... Chen Lin?"

"I think it really is him! He’s even more handsome than in the videos!"

"The Chen Lin who solved the mathematical bottleneck for solid-state batteries? He’s so young?"

"I heard he’s only a junior in college? My god, the PhD student I’m advising is seven years older than him and is still struggling with his dissertation..."

The murmurs spread like ripples through the crowd.

"Well now, Chen Lin! What took you so long?"

A familiar voice called out.

The crowd automatically parted, and Academician Liang Tianshi came striding over, his face beaming.

He had a powerful presence about him today.

Seeing a familiar face, Chen Lin breathed a sigh of relief. He hurried forward to greet him with an embarrassed smile.

"Elder Liang, please don’t tease me. This is my first time at a conference like this. I thought arriving half an hour early counted as being early. I had no idea all you seniors were so dedicated."

Liang Tianshi let out a hearty laugh and clapped Chen Lin warmly on the shoulder.

"Alright, as long as you’re here. Come on, I’ll introduce you to someone."

Without another word, Liang Tianshi took Chen Lin by the arm and led him toward the center of the hall.

A few elderly gentlemen with extraordinary presence stood there, an invisible cordon forming around them. They were clearly the most high-ranking group in the entire hall.

Liang Tianshi led Chen Lin to one of the elderly men.

This gentleman had graying hair, combed immaculately. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and though his face was gaunt, his eyes were exceptionally bright.

"Old Chen, come, let me introduce you."

Liang Tianshi pointed at Chen Lin, his tone dripping with pride:

"This is the Chen Lin I’ve told you about countless times."

Then he turned to Chen Lin and made a formal introduction.

"Chen Lin, this is Academician Chen Quan."

"A dual academician of the Science Academy and the Academy of Engineering. He’s a titan in the fields of solid-state ionics and energy materials, and the leading figure in our country’s energy sector."

"You could say that the research and development of lithium-ion batteries in our country, as well as the current industrial strategy for new energy, were all guided by Academician Chen himself."

Hearing this string of titles, Chen Lin was filled with awe.

’A dual academician!’

’The prestige that carries... He’s practically a living national treasure.’

’Besides, Chen Lin knew perfectly well that the solid-state battery project he’d worked on could only have gotten off the ground with the backing of a powerhouse like him.’

"Academician Chen, it’s an honor to meet you!"

Chen Lin quickly extended both hands and leaned forward slightly, a gesture of utmost respect.

Chen Quan turned and looked at Chen Lin with a warm, chuckling smile.

His gaze was gentle, as if he were looking at a junior member of his own family, yet deep within his eyes lay a wisdom that seemed to pierce through everything.

"So, you’re Chen Lin..."

Chen Quan reached out, grasped Chen Lin’s hand firmly, and looked him up and down before remarking with a sigh,

"I’ve heard a great deal about you for some time now. I just never had the chance to meet you in person."

"I’ve been keeping a close eye on that joint solid-state battery project between Yannan and the Science and Technology University. I’d ask Tang Xuebing for updates from time to time. Your contribution, especially that mathematical screening model, was nothing short of a stroke of genius."

"Without you, our country’s efforts to industrialize solid-state batteries would have been set back by at least three to five years!"

This was high praise indeed.

Those nearby who were eavesdropping were all secretly astounded.

Chen Lin remained humble. "You’re too kind, Academician Chen. I just did a little bit of mathematical work. The real hard work was done by Professor Tang and the others on the front lines, running the experiments. Compared to you, I still have much to learn."

"Hahahaha!"

At this, Chen Quan turned to Liang Tianshi, pointed at Chen Lin, and laughed.

"Old Liang, you were right about him."

"This young man is like a graceful youth straight out of an ancient classic—as gentle as jade, a true and humble gentleman."

With that, the old academician shook his head in self-deprecation.

"Not like me. If I’d achieved so much when I was his age, my ego would have been through the roof. I wouldn’t have paid anyone any mind, and I would’ve been arrogant beyond belief!"

The circle of dignitaries around them all joined in the laughter.