Employees of NetDragon Corporation’s public relations department, from interns to department heads, each and every one of them suddenly received phone calls, forcing them to turn around and return to the office for overtime work.
Countless netizens who had assumed he would apologize and back down eagerly clicked on the video.
In the video, Lin You sat properly before the camera in a white dress shirt. Judging by his demeanor alone, one might mistake him for a sincere and introverted model student.
But that model student was long gone.
Thus, his opening remarks were razor-sharp: “Some say I know nothing and am undermining, quote, ‘the innovation drive of domestic tech enterprises,’ unquote, warning me not to cause trouble unless I can create something better.”
“Despite knowing jack shit about technology, they feel entitled to demand that others learn refrigeration before criticizing a fridge. Such people are either malicious or mentally deficient.”
“But I’m a compassionate person. To accommodate those with mental deficiencies, I’ll educate them—free of charge!”
“Incidentally, I’ll also teach NetDragon what truly epoch-making human-computer interaction technology looks like, so they might have some frame of reference next time they spout nonsense at a press conference.”
“See you in a week.”
Unsurprisingly, the internet exploded.
Lin You was already at the eye of the online storm. Now, netizens watched as this college dropout suddenly made grandiose claims about achieving a world-leading technological breakthrough—akin to an amateur scientist declaring they’d unified algebra and geometry, with proof to follow in a week.
It was beyond absurd. No one believed he could pull it off.
“Attention-seeking lunatic! Is he out of his mind?!”
“Probably a suicidal depressive.”
“Global scientists researching for 10 years = me working for a week.”
“The 2031 Turing Award is locked in early! Congratulations to Lin for simultaneously winning computing’s highest honor and Donghua University’s Model Student Award! /s”
“Call the psych ward. For admission fees, he can sell his own brains—if anyone’s desperate enough to buy them, that is.”
Of course, the internet was diverse. Supporters existed, but their voices were drowned in the tsunami of ridicule.
Yet Lin You had no time for either praise or scorn. He was busy eating.
The food had been delivered by the property management at his request, citing “tenant safety concerns.”
Chopsticks in hand, Lin You ate while watching the self-optimizing code on his screen. The sight lifted his spirits, making the meal even more enjoyable.
Far better entertainment than any TV show.
Between bites, he pondered how far to take this project.
Pure Artificial Intelligence alone wouldn’t be impactful—his hardware was too rudimentary, and his predecessor’s limited funds meant no high-end equipment to showcase AI’s full potential. At best, people would dismiss it as advanced simulated intelligence.
Besides, he had no intention of openly releasing AI technology.
Thus, the neural interface device had to be the centerpiece.
NetDragon’s press conference had featured a clunky helmet that translated brainwaves into cursor movements—slow, imprecise, and limited to basic operations due to signal noise.
It was one-way only: brainwaves to electrical signals to computer. No feedback loop.
But Lin You’s version? The complete brainwave parsing and translation technology in his mind was generations ahead. It could not only interpret brainwaves into computer commands but also convert electrical signals into neural impulses the brain could understand—like telepathy, achieving magical effects.
No hand controls needed. Just think, and the computer responds.
Lose a game then, and you couldn’t blame “clumsy hands”—only a “clumsy brain”!
Left to conventional progress, this technology would take about as long as viable nuclear fusion—”another 50 years.”
For Lin You? Child’s play. The complete Brain-Compatible Instruction Set for Humans was already in his mind. Just a matter of implementation.
Once his AI finished self-optimizing, he wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.
His only obstacle? Poverty.
Modifying off-the-shelf equipment could achieve what normally required millions in R&D for mere thousands—astonishingly cost-effective! Yet his entire savings amounted to 7,800 yuan.
“Troublesome.” Lin You’s appetite waned. “Where to get the gear?”
“”
His vibrating phone revealed a class group chat. One Zhao Li was making noise:
“Lin You, do you realize you’re smearing our university’s reputation?”
“Is admitting a mistake so hard? Must you stubbornly embarrass yourself? You might not care, but your classmates do—soon we’ll hesitate to admit we attend the same school. Take that video down before you disgrace us further.”
Audacity. Lin You grabbed his wireless keyboard to connect to the phone.
Petty provocateurs deserved proper keyboard justice. The phone’s tiny screen cramped his style.
Before he could type, another classmate interjected: “Zhao Li, how can you say that? Wasn’t it your video that started this? Now you’re adding insult to injury?”
Lin You nodded approvingly. This one had a bright future.
Make way. The Keyboard Immortal approaches. Beware the lethal keystrokes.
Lin You’s fingers flew across the keys.
“Smearing the school? Does speaking truth smear the school? Respecting research and technology smears the school? Being honest smears the school?”
“You’re the disgrace—backstabbing classmates, scheming against peers, groveling to authority, showing zero academic integrity! And NetDragon isn’t even real authority! Yet you can’t stand straight—morally bankrupt and spineless! Professional sycophant, aren’t you?”
The group chat fell silent under this barrage. Even the hovering class advisor froze mid-type.
Zhao Li, visibly furious, spluttered: “Nonsense! Who’s spineless? Who backstabs?”
Lin You sighed. Amateur.
But it didn’t slow his keystrokes.
“You, Zhao Li! Instigator, class unity saboteur, architect of cyberbullying, ever-ready to kick someone down. You’re the rat turd in our communal pot, Zhao Li.”
“Fuck you!” In his dorm, Zhao Li gripped his phone until his knuckles whitened, seething but wordless.
Victory in arguments relied on momentum—why loud aunties won with mere repetition. Students, with their thinner skins and preference for passive-aggression, stood no chance against Lin You’s direct assault.
The advisor, most worldly present, recovered first: “Enough. No arguments in class groups. Students, don’t worry—Lin You’s video won’t affect Donghua University’s century-old reputation. That’s exaggerated.”
“Lin You, since you posted this, I assume you have technical improvements to share?”
To the advisor, Lin You had always been exemplary. While brain-control tech hadn’t seen major breakthroughs, incremental updates existed. Some application optimizations from Lin You were plausible.
As for youthful hyperbole? Encouragement outweighed criticism.
“Right, some minor improvements.” Roughly equivalent to a caveman’s bone evolving into a spaceship.
“Let me know if you need help. For issues beyond me, I’ll connect you with professors.”
Lin You hesitated. “I lack equipment…”
“I’ll handle it.” The message came from Zhu Cixia. “This trouble stems partly from me. While I’ve been powerless to help until now, equipment is within my means.”
Lin You chuckled. Indeed, Princess Cixia was involved—not just via her fans boosting the controversial video, but also because Zhao Li had nursed a crush on her since she transferred for a dual degree. Her polite distance toward him contrasted with her frequent conversations with Lin You, fueling Zhao Li’s resentment.
Amused, Lin You replied: “Much obliged, Cixia. Let’s discuss privately.”
“Argh!” In his dorm, Zhao Li hurled his phone groundward with a roar. “peng” Components scattered.
But that was Zhao Li’s problem. Princess Cixia was already messaging Lin You:
“What equipment do you need? I’ll arrange immediate delivery.”
Lin You hesitated at the screen. Borrowing from an acquaintance felt awkward.
Finally, he compiled a prioritized shopping list by cost-performance and sent it:
“Market prices are unclear. Budget is 7,000 yuan—just purchase down the list until funds run out.”
His estimate suggested 7,000 yuan might scrape together a barebones version. A full virtual reality showcase was impossible, but it should suffice for the coming week’s demonstration.
“Wait!” Lin You corrected himself. “Not ‘barebones’—this is the Youth Edition!”
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