The protagonist, Tong He, was finally forced back to school by his parents. His mother sat by the window, and Tong He had no choice but to agree to return to school, planning to escape on the way.
Unfortunately, his parents watched him very closely, giving him no opportunity to escape. Coupled with reporters following him everywhere and even police officers maintaining order, Tong He despaired, realizing escape was impossible.
Ultimately, Tong He found himself back at his school.
Coincidentally, the school was holding a general student assembly. All students were gathered on the sports field, with school leaders seated on the rostrum.
Please don't misunderstand; Tong He wasn't so important that the entire student body had to convene for him.
The assembly was held because it was the school's 100th anniversary. On this day in 1902, construction began on the first building of Shanghai University of Science and Technology.
One hundred years! What a significant day. Even though most universities in Shanghai had already started their summer break before July, Shanghai University of Science and Technology had postponed its holiday until July 10th.
Tong He's return to the school assembly, surrounded by many people, drew strange looks from the students who were about to officially start their holidays.
"Who is this person, a big leader? With so many people following him!" a student asked curiously.
"You don't even recognize him? That's Tong He!"
"Oh, the guy from the third year who said this school isn't worth attending, causing so much buzz around our school? It's him!" The students finally realized.
"Tsk, I thought this guy was all that. Turns out he still had to come back obediently for his graduation certificate?"
"Yeah, he probably just got a temporary fever. After a few weeks in the real world, he must have been thoroughly beaten down and is finally being good."
"Do you think the school will let him off this time? He spoke so arrogantly and has been absent for nearly a month."
"Who knows? Theoretically, it's not enough for expulsion, but the news has been quite heated lately, and it's also the centennial celebration. The school will probably just lecture him and give him a demerit at most!"
"Demerit? I think this time it'll be upgraded to probation!" The students' words reached Tong He's ears word for word. Tong He felt utterly humiliated. He lowered his head, not wanting anyone to see his face.
"I might as well hide in the base for ten years until everyone forgets, and then I'll come out!" Tong He thought to himself.
Meanwhile, on the rostrum, the school leaders were delighted to learn of Tong He's arrival. This Tong He had troubled them immensely recently. So many reporters had hounded them for interviews, questioning the school's disciplinary actions, putting the school in a very passive position. All the school leaders had been under immense pressure, especially the director of academic affairs who had issued the punishment, whose few strands of hair had nearly all fallen out.
"Today, we'll let this guy properly understand the school's rules!" the school leaders thought to themselves. In fact, the school had already finalized the disciplinary action.
Expulsion was impossible, given the media attention. However, probation was unavoidable, which was the second most severe punishment in university, just below expulsion.
University disciplinary actions were graded from minor to major: warning, serious warning, demerit, probation, and finally, expulsion.
Since expulsion was out of the question, upgrading from a demerit to probation was the minimum penalty. However, a simple probation wouldn't fully satisfy the school leaders.
As Tong He had been skipping classes for these past few weeks and missed all his final exams, he received zero scores for all his courses. Therefore, it was very reasonable and normal for the school leaders to give him an additional penalty of repeating a year.
While normally he would have been given a chance to retake the exams, directly failing him a year had no procedural errors.
"Oh, major news! Jiangnan Group has suddenly held a press conference, saying they are establishing an academic award to heavily reward scientific researchers!" Just then, a school leader on the rostrum received a phone call, and astonishing news spread among all the school leaders.
***
"Mr. Huang He, you say you are establishing a dedicated academic award. Is this true?" On the morning of July 10th, in a large conference room, a press conference was being held.
The conference room was vast and open-plan, capable of accommodating four to five hundred people at once.
Yet, even such a large conference room was packed to the brim. Countless reporters held microphones, eager to thrust them into Huang He's mouth.
About five days prior, after that fire incident, Chairman Huang He, who had maintained a low profile, and his Jiangnan Group had suddenly sent an invitation letter to all major media outlets nationwide.
The invitation stated that Jiangnan Group would hold a very important press conference and hoped that the invited media would attend.
Initially, only over 100 invitation letters were sent out, inviting over 100 major media outlets across the country. However, more than 300 media outlets showed up, all pointing their cameras and equipment at the press conference venue.
It was understandable. Although Huang He was still the focus of national media attention, the more low-key and silent he was, the more curious many media outlets became.
So, when Jiangnan Group suddenly issued this invitation, explicitly stating that Chairman Huang He would personally attend and preside over the press conference, all the domestic media erupted.
Those who received invitations attended proudly, but many media outlets that did not receive invitations shamelessly sent reporters to the venue.
At first, security guards tried to stop the media without invitations. However, when the number of uninvited media arrived, and considering that any mistreatment of these media could lead to negative publicity for the group, Huang He ordered them to be invited in.
Fortunately, the conference room booked in advance was sufficiently large, and no non-media guests were invited. Therefore, despite the large number of media present, all chairs were moved, and everyone could be accommodated.
Soon, to the anticipation of over 300 media outlets, led by Chairman Huang He, more than ten guests on the rostrum took their seats. The host then began introducing the guests.
Some astute media members keenly noticed that besides Chairman Huang He, there were no other business figures among the guests attending the press conference.
Instead, the guests were renowned national scientific giants, leaders from Shanghai in charge of scientific research, and even a vice-mayor was present.
"Could this press conference be related to scientific research and administrative matters?" Many people began to speculate, but until Huang He spoke, no one knew what the event was about.
Unfortunately, there was a string of official platitudes, with several important leaders speaking first. However, the reporters were accustomed to these formalities and listened with smiles. Only after the speeches concluded did it finally come to Huang He's turn to speak.
"Esteemed guests!" Huang He began. "I know there has been a lot of media attention focused on me recently. However, I have only done a few small things, and they are truly not worthy of such kindness. I am deeply grateful for all of this."
"These past few days, I have been contemplating how, since society has treated me, Huang He, so kindly, and the people have bestowed upon me such great wealth, I should repay these beloved compatriots."
"At the same time, because the fire occurred at an internet cafe, and many media outlets are now discussing the impact of games and internet cafes on students, I am also very concerned about this matter."
"However, I understand a fundamental principle: it is better to guide than to block. Instead of trying to prevent children from playing games, it is better to guide them to love learning. After considering these factors, I have decided to establish a goal and rewards to encourage all compatriots across China to strive in learning and scientific research, contributing to the modernization of our country."
"Therefore, today, I solemnly announce to everyone that I, Huang He, will personally contribute my personal income to establish a brand new academic award named the Huang He Award."
"This year marks the first installment. In each installment, we will select recipients for the Huang He Literature Award, Huang He Physics Award, Huang He Chemistry Award, Huang He Biology and Medicine Award, Huang He Industry and Mathematics Award, and the Huang He Personage Award!"
"We will compile all relevant Chinese national discoveries and scientific research achievements from the past 100 years and select the most outstanding achievements to present with the annual awards."
"However, our award selection has strict criteria; it's not just for anyone outstanding. Therefore, there might be a year where we believe no one has met the selection standards, and no awards are given!" Huang He said with a smile.
"As for the reward standard, I personally prefer simplicity, so each award will be temporarily set at ten million Renminbi."
"Next, we have a question-and-answer session. I welcome all reporters to ask their questions!"