I’m Really a Superstar

The group of people were dumbfounded.

Zhang Ye strolled up. “Who’s looking for me?”

President Fu looked at Fellow Chi. “Old Chi, what’s going on here?”

Fellow Chi said, “The project you all were talking about was basically handled by Professor Zhang Ye.”

“What?” General Li was stunned.

President Fu and the group of people behind him were also dumbfounded.

Zhang Ye?

He did what?

How is that possible!

There’s absolutely no link at all!

Many of those who were here knew that Old Chi’s research institute had only loaned Zhang Ye out of prison because they wanted to overcome a problem with the design of a mathematical algorithm. They also knew very well what Zhang Ye’s skill in mathematics was like. In the entire Chinese field of mathematics, there shouldn’t be anyone who was better at math than Zhang Ye. This was something that everyone agreed on. But this aircraft engine research project was a completely different matter. It was two entirely different concepts.

Dynamics ¹ .

Mechanical engineering.

And even materials science.

None of those had anything to do with mathematics!

President Fu said in surprise, “Oh, Professor Little Zhang, you even about know this subject?”

Zhang Ye smiled. “I’m not bad, I guess? I know a little.”

Ten minutes later.

In a large conference room at the research institute.

Zhang Ye was standing behind a podium and speaking confidently, “What are the difficulties faced in our nation’s aircraft engine manufacturing process? One of them is the main bearings component, a key part of an aircraft engine. A military aircraft engine requires the bearings to have a durability lifespan of 3,000 hours and above, while a civilian aircraft engine requires an even higher standard at up to 10,000 hours. Not only does it have to rotate at high speeds of over tens of thousands of revolutions per minute, it also has to tolerate various forms of stress and compression forces, friction, as well as ultra-high temperatures. In addition, for general structural parts, it must remain safe to use even when there are slight cracks—this is known in the industry as damage tolerance levels. But for key transmission parts such as the aircraft engine’s main bearings, no damage tolerance is allowed at all. Cracks and other forms of damage are not allowed to occur in the process of usage. Therefore, that is the first difficulty we’re stuck at. We have completed aircraft engine designs, but questions remain on them as their rate of failure is too high, being at least ten times greater than what other models are known for. This clearly makes them impractical for use in actual combat.”

President Fu said from the audience, “Right, this is a technical difficulty we’ve been trying to tackle.”

But Zhang Ye said, “Actually, there’s no need to tackle it. I can tell you that we already have the technical capabilities to achieve it. Our current scientific technology is fully capable of achieving it.”

On the blackboard, he wrote and drew.

Zhang Ye was giving his speech on a stage, while a bunch of experts and professors who specialized in dynamics and mechanical engineering were listening in the audience.

A mathematician giving them a lesson in their field of specialization made everyone feel a little strange. However, it was also a lesson that left them very surprised.

For two full hours.

Everyone raised their questions while Zhang Ye answered them.

At the end of the meeting, excited looks were on everyone’s faces.

President Fu grabbed Zhang Ye’s hands and said, “Professor Zhang, you’re a genius! You’re really a genius! It is truly our country’s blessing to have a scientist like you!”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “President Fu, please don’t put me on a pedestal. Just tell me, are we going ahead with this project?”

“Of course! Of course we are!” President Fu said, “I have come here on the instructions of the higher-ups. I’ll immediately go and seek their approval to let you handle this project. All of the design, research, and testing will be wholly in your care. You’ll be given all the authority on this matter. Furthermore, we will also have you assume command for the project to design the new generation fighters. After all, the aircraft and its engine’s design process will have to be unified.”

General Li immediately asked, “Professor Zhang, what do you need?”

Zhang Ye said, “Money, manpower, and facilities.”

President Fu agreed without even thinking. “Alright, that won’t be a problem. We will assign however many people you need and approve however much funding you require. For the facilities you want access to, we will do our best to get whatever we have for you as long as you ask for it!” With a pause, he said in seriousness, “But we also have one request. It has been so many years, so it’s about time we fulfill our nation’s dream for an aircraft engine. The country and its citizens have been waiting far too long for this to happen!”

Zhang Ye smiled. “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

President Fu turned around and instructed, “Old Chi, Old Zhou, the two of you are to cooperate closely with Professor Little Zhang. We must get this project successfully completed no matter what, even if it means giving our lives to it!”

Fellow Zhou smiled and said, “Alright, we will give our fullest support to Professor Little Zhang.”

Chi Xue said with a laugh, “Well, alright, looks like Professor Zhang has become our new boss.”

Zhang Ye phonily said, “Hai, what boss? This is all for the people.”

President Fu suddenly asked, “Old Chi, what title does Professor Zhang have at your institute?”

Fellow Chi shook his head. “What title can he have? We even had to borrow him secretly, so it’s not like we can arrange for him to take a role here, can we?”

President Fu said, “That won’t do. Since Professor Zhang will lead the project as the project lead, he’ll need to have a title. We can’t let him assume command as a civilian, right?”

Zhang Ye corrected, “I’m not even considered a civilian now. I am just a prisoner.”

Everyone rolled their eyes.

President Fu looked at him. “Professor Zhang, are you interested in taking a role with our Chinese Academy of Sciences?”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “What role?”

President Fu said with a smile, “Just a basic position as a research fellow.”

Everyone broke into a sweat.

A basic position?

How could a Chinese Academy of Sciences research fellow be considered as a basic position?

That was the highest title granted to a scientist!

But Zhang Ye asked, “Are there any benefits to that?”

President Fu said in amusement, “What kind of benefits are you looking at?”

Zhang Ye said, “Something like one or two months of home visit per year?”

President Fu laughed and said, “There isn’t something like that. Your status with us is a special one, and this project is also classified as top secret, so it’s impossible for us to allow you to go home. That’s definitely out of the question. However, there are still a lot of benefits that you will enjoy. If you accept the appointment, you will become the youngest ever research fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences since its establishment, as well as the youngest superstar scientist in history. When your sentence is complete, we will also give you the necessary recognition in public. I know that your mind is not on scientific research and that you still care more about the entertainment industry. So all the more that you should join our Chinese Academy of Sciences family. There are many titles in the entertainment circle, like being the best actor or actress, the king of singers, and so on and so forth. But even with all the titles that they’ve got, they would never be able to land the title of being a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Sciences all their lives. You are the only person who could achieve that.”

President Fu was quite artful in the way he dealt with people. Their Chinese Academy of Sciences had already tried to invite Zhang Ye to join them on more than one occasion. But their invitations to him were all turned down, and he showed no interest in joining them at all. Therefore, this time, President Fu put it to him in a different way. Their Chinese Academy of Sciences really needed a research fellow like Zhang Ye. Be it his achievements in mathematics, or his knowledge in physics, they were all irreplaceable.

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Since you put it that way, I really can’t seem to find an excuse to reject you.”

President Fu said, “Alright then, we’ll get you to fill out an application form and approve it in a later meeting.”

Zhang Ye said, “Thanks.”

However, the researchers around them all sighed when they heard.

An elite, world-class mathematician!

An expert who was even proficient in dynamics!

One of the youngest elite scientists in China, even the entire world!

Yet his mind did not rest on research? Wasn’t this too great of a waste! If anyone had just a bit of your talent, they would surely be able to walk all the way til the end on the path of scientific research. How great of an achievement and glory would that be? But you? Why would you be so single-mindedly focused on only making it in the entertainment industry?

Two days later.

The appointment was passed.

Zhang Ye was officially inducted as a research fellow ( Division of Mathematics and Physics ² ) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhang Ye had officially taken command as the manager of the Chinese aircraft engine project, as the assistant chief designer of the new generation fighter (unnamed) project, as well as a host of other appointments.

The manpower issue was resolved.

The funding arrived.

The facilities were in place.

This was going to be a tough battle!

And it was a tough battle that had to be won!

Zhang Ye was very eager and excited. He was going to give 110% to fight this battle!

Old Wu.

My daughter.

Wait for me. This bro will be able to go back home once I pull off this job!

The entertainment circle.

My old friends.

Wait for me. When this bro gets out, let’s again take on the world together!