Chapter 658: Extra 9

"While both your teams bear some responsibility, I'm not blind.
Weeks ago, I also had a vague feeling that the data was off, and I was like a headless fly trying to find the root cause.
But that young man..."
Zhou Yi recalled the scene from the meeting, unable to contain his astonishment.
"He only glanced at it!
Just that one glance, and he pierced through the surface of everything, pointing straight to the essence!"
That's what's most terrifying.
You must understand, this is a chaotic field filled with unproven new technologies and complex formulas as incomprehensible as celestial scripture.
Even in the presentation slides, Zhou Yi had key details deliberately concealed.
Yet, even with such a severe lack of information, that young man still pieced together the truth from just a few fragmented clues.
This is a "miracle" that those so-called genius experts couldn't achieve even after weeks of working overtime!
What does this mean?
It's like calculating the workings of the entire Milky Way galaxy from the trajectory of a single shooting star in a pitch-black night sky!
This is beyond "excellent"—this is…
A prodigy!
"Everyone outside says he's a one-in-a-million genius. I initially thought it was a cult of personality, just shameless hype because of his father."
Zhou Yi shook his head, a hint of awe in his voice.
"Now it seems, damn it, even that's a bit of an understatement!
You know, with just that scrap-like amount of content released today, trying to reverse-engineer the variable relationships—the computational load is simply beyond the human brain's capacity!
How did he manage to do that…?"
Zhou Yi fell into deep thought.
But then he thought, there are indeed monsters called "geniuses" in this world, born to defy common sense.
While the Gaia Research Center is overflowing with child prodigies praised since childhood and academic superstars guaranteed admission—a veritable breeding ground for geniuses—
there are still different levels of geniuses.
Some geniuses can reach their peak within the rules, but Su Yun is here to define the rules!
If everyone here at Gaia is a genius, then Su Yun is practically a god!
“You all understand the crisis we face right now.”
Zhou Yi’s voice deepened as he looked at everyone.
The current crisis is also a crisis for humanity.
If even these elites, who represent the collective wisdom of all humanity, cannot solve it, then humanity can only sit and wait for its demise.
“Remember around 2020?
Back then, the media worldwide were boasting, confidently proclaiming that by 2040, the ‘technological singularity’ would arrive!
At that time, there would be a technological explosion, and no field in the world would be unconquerable by humanity.”
Those present all wore expressions of nostalgia.
That was the last golden age of human technology.
The AI ​​frenzy that began in 2020 was once a dazzling beacon illuminating the future.
People thought it was the dawn of a great transformation for humanity, that it would solve all incurable diseases, that it would reverse the climate, and even fantasize about conquering the ultimate demon of "death" by 2050!
But reality delivered a resounding slap to all of humanity.
Current science and technology have hit a wall of despair called "stagnation."
It's like reaching the level cap in a game; no matter how many monsters you grind, the experience bar remains stubbornly unchanged.
The so-called "technological singularity" has become a mirage, visible but intangible.
Although various flashy new technologies have been introduced to repair the Earth, everyone knows perfectly well—
this is nothing more than giving a terminally ill patient morphine, simply delaying the inevitable.
Once upon a time, countless prophets asserted that the day the singularity arrives, AI will transform into an omniscient and omnipotent god, marking humanity's ascension.
But now, pessimism is rampant—that singularity may never come.
Zhou Yi's gaze pierced through the window, looking into the distance.
"Like the cycle of history, Newton appeared, Edison appeared, Einstein appeared…
Whenever humanity is lost, a 'barrier breaker' always emerges to ignite a scientific revolution!"
"Does Director believe… that young man named Su Yun is that 'savior'?"
"It's too early to draw conclusions."
Zhou Yi shook his head, then his eyes sharpened.
"But if he is a true dragon, I will definitely give him 'wings' and send him soaring to the heavens!"
For some reason, memories of the past suddenly surfaced in Zhou Yi's mind.
Back then, Chairman Su also parachuted in with the label of "royal relative."
At that time, he saw Su Yun's astonishing investment talent and unhesitatingly gave him unlimited power and resources—
It was those "wings" that forged the glory of the Fanghuan Empire today!
Years later, Chairman Su visited him three times, specifically requesting to rehire him, now retired, for the position of director of the Gaia Research Center…
Could it be all for this moment?
Zhou Yi suddenly felt as if he had become a key NPC in the torrent of history…
This is…
Could this be…
The cycle of fate?!
***
“What did you say?”
Fanghuan Group headquarters, in the chairman's office.
Upon hearing the secretary's report, Su Hao's usually impassive face displayed an extremely rare, exaggerated expression of “Are you kidding me?”
"You mean... Su Yun is the team leader?"
"Yes, Chairman.
It's said that on his first day, Director Zhou Yi specially selected elites from various departments to form a brand new team just for the young master."
"That's outrageous! Starting like this on the very first day? What exactly is he responsible for?"
"It's understood that he's responsible for 'monitoring' all the ongoing projects in each team. And..."
The secretary paused, then dropped an even more astonishing piece of news,
"Director Zhou Yi also gave the young master 'unlimited approval.' If the young master wants to work on any new project, it can be initiated at any time, with a green light all the way and no budget limit."
Su Hao raised an eyebrow: "So, he has the privilege of directly requesting an unlimited budget from the group headquarters?"
"Theoretically, yes, Chairman."
Su Hao rubbed his temples and sighed deeply.
As expected...
Even someone as known for his integrity as Zhou Yi, at this crucial moment, still has to defer to my wishes.
After all, this isn't just anyone; it's my own son.
Those below him would do anything to curry favor with me, even shred the rules and feed them to the dogs!
Sigh, that's only human nature. This kind of outrageous, unconventional promotion is most likely a product of this mentality.
"Do you think... we should intervene?" the secretary asked cautiously.
"..."
At this moment, Su Hao's thoughts drifted back to the distant past, as if he had traveled through time and seen himself back then.
Was Huang Fengwen, Brother Huang, feeling the same complex emotions I have now?
Back then, Manager Zhou Yi inexplicably appreciated him, instantly promoting a newbie like me three levels and throwing tens of millions of yuan at me to invest like trash.
If I were Brother Huang, seeing my subordinates messing around like that, I would have stopped them immediately and given Zhou Yi a thorough dressing-down.
But Brother Huang didn't.
Even knowing that the money might be lost, even knowing it might make him a laughingstock in the industry, he still chose that silent, unwavering trust.
Even if I did lose all the money in the end, Brother Huang probably already had his comforting words ready, even prepared to clean up my mess.
'Looking back, Brother Huang and Manager Zhou's magnanimity back then was truly awe-inspiring!'
That profound debt of gratitude for their mentorship is something I can probably never repay in this lifetime.
And now, the baton of history has been passed to him...
“Never mind him for now, let him be.”
Su Hao paused, a decisive glint in his eyes.
“Also, if Su Yun sends any budget requests, no matter how small, approve them all. No need to consult me ​​again.”
“Yes, understood. I will pass it on immediately.”
Su Hao made this decision not only out of doting on his son, but also because he trusted Zhou Yi, who had made this seemingly audacious decision.
Su Hao knew his old boss, Zhou Yi.
Iron-fisted and impartial, judging only by ability, not by connections, never flattering, possessing an unyielding pride that refused to bow to the powerful, his bones harder than diamond!
Su Hao didn't believe such a person would suddenly undergo a genetic mutation, becoming obsequious because of some “crown prince” status.
He couldn't possibly have elevated Su Yun to such a high position simply to curry favor.
If he did, it could only mean one thing—
My Su Yun truly possesses the ability! Just like Zhou Yi's mindless appreciation of him back then!
Su Hao's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes gleaming with a light filtered through his fatherly love.
Moreover, Su Hao trusted his intuition.
It was the intuition of a father, and the intuition of a ruler of an era!
That intuition had told him countless times:
This child was born to change the world!
'Although I sit on the throne now—
One day, he will surpass me, becoming a truly great leader who guides all humanity towards the light!'