Super God-Level Top Student

Qiao Ze looked at Li Jiangao in surprise.

In recent times, his mentor, Li, had seldom made such affectionate gestures.

Li Jiangao spoke up, "No need to hide it anymore. Let's reveal the two hidden watermarks as well."

"Hmm?" Qiao Ze was somewhat perplexed.

Li Jian spoke earnestly, "Trust me, once you do this, no one will covet your work when you publish any future papers. You won't need to consider how to incorporate this kind of watermark when writing papers. The most they can do is hold up the paper review process. But after all, you've made a name for yourself now. Journal editors will take the initiative to select more suitable reviewers for you.

You've reached the point where merely having your name as the corresponding author ensures that no journal editor would dare underestimate you. I believe that in time, even letters of recommendation written by you will be acknowledged."

However, there was something Li Jiangao didn't say.

If Qiao Ze were to release the real watermarks, at least half of the mathematicians worldwide would think the kid was mocking their intelligence.

But Li Jiangao didn't see anything wrong with that.

After all, the kid truly had the credentials.

Qiao Ze thought for a moment, then nodded.

"There are four other papers that also have watermarks. Should I announce them when they are published?"

Li Jiangao shrugged and said, "No need for that. You know, the search for the watermark game has almost become a global craze lately. Those other four papers will just provide some fun for everyone. By the time you publish the fifth or sixth paper, the game will gradually become something people only think about when they get the occasional urge.

If they can't find it, they won't assume it's not there; they'll just think you've hidden it even deeper. After all, mathematicians aren't as idle as imagined."

"You're saying I'm pretty famous now?" Qiao Ze thought for a moment before suddenly asking.

Li Jiangao was momentarily stunned, as it wasn't like Qiao Ze to ask such a question, but he still nodded and said, "Yes, you are definitely famous, at least in the mathematical community. But do you want to be famous?"

Qiao Ze shook his head and answered, "It's about something else, fame might help with it."

"What is it?"

"You'll know later. If there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."
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Li Jiangao nodded blankly, "Alright, go ahead."

Watching Qiao Ze stand up and head straight into the studio inside, Li Jian felt emotional inside: Ah, kids grow up and don't discuss everything with you anymore, but that's also good, it's probably just a side effect of growing up, right?

After sighing, Li Jiangao picked up his phone and began clarifying things in various groups: "I just asked Qiao Ze. Everyone knows about the first paper, but as for the second one, all the watermarks found publicly online have been intentionally placed by Qiao Ze for you to find. The real watermarks are actually in two other places. Do you want me to reveal them now?"

He typed this message, selected a few groups, and sent it out directly.

It was better to settle this matter early to avoid being bombarded with private messages and direct tags every day. He was busy and needed to study.

When he sent the message out, several group admins saw it and immediately started tagging everyone.

Subsequently, as expected, several groups exploded at the same time.

"What does that mean? A second-layer watermark?"

"Focus on the important part, no one has found it."

"Just reveal it, what are we waiting for? I've been searching so much I'm nearly blind."

"I mean, Professor Li, how exactly do you teach this student? How lowly do you think of our mathematical community? One watermark isn't enough, he actually hid two?"

"The point isn't how many there are, it's how strong your brain has to be to integrate two different watermarks into a paper?"

"So, three next time?"

"Stop wasting words, just reveal it, I'm so tired!"

"Jian Gao, please hurry up, stop teasing us. This game isn't fun at all anymore!"

...

Watching all sorts of snark in the group, Li Jiangao laughed.

He indeed felt it was time to end this farce.

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He simply opened the screen recording software, repeated Qiao Ze's demonstration, and then sent the video directly to the group.

"Feel free to share it, but remember to leave a message that this was independently researched by our student Qiao Ze. That's all I ask. If you can't do that, don't @ me next time. I'll just close the group and if you private message me, I'll have nothing to tell you."

"I..."

"Amazing, this time he went straight for the Caesar cipher!"

"Got it, I'll share it on Facebook right away, let's see if those guys still have the nerve to say that the watermark has been completely cracked!"

"Exactly, exactly, this mockery is definitely maxed out. Don't worry, Jian Gao, we'll definitely promote your student well."

"Haha, indeed, they all thought they had cracked everything, but who would have thought there was a second layer!"

"Yeah, seeing those people on Facebook so smug about having deciphered all the watermarks, I was so irritated, but now it's good! @Professor Luo, hurry up and post it on Facebook to help Qiao Ze to slap them in the face!"

"Don't just rely on Luo, everyone should post it, let's all help Qiao Ze slap them in the face."

"Let's go!"

"Li, can I propose something to you? I currently have five PhD students under me, all quite outstanding. How about I trade them for your Qiao Ze? What do you think?"

"Haha, Yu, keep dreaming. Whether your five PhD candidates will graduate is unknown, while Jian Gao's student publishes two top journals a month and can watermark to boot, easily taking a group of PhDs to new heights. Who would trade with you? Get lost, better to go watch the excitement on Facebook."

...

Li Jiangao casually glanced at the things these people were discussing, then put down his phone and picked up the paper Qiao Ze had prepared for him.

He couldn't be bothered with them.

He didn't want to associate with those people who had no future.

He had to work hard, because having a student like his own mentor was truly something different.

...

Meanwhile, after Qiao Ze entered the workspace and sat thinking for a moment, he looked up and asked, "Chen Yiwen, is the library open during holidays?"

Before the confused Chen Yiwen could respond, Tan Jingrong immediately said, "It's open, but the working hours are shorter than usual, generally from 8 AM to 11 AM and from 1 PM to 5 PM, and both the study area and the large reading room are closed."

"Oh. Chen Yiwen, can you help me borrow some books on chip design, the basic principles, and processes of manufacturing?" Qiao Ze instructed.

"Huh? Qiao Ze, no way? Are you going to learn how to make chips?" Chen Yiwen immediately stood up, asking subconsciously.

What suddenly came to mind was the very firm statement Qiao Ze had made earlier, "Rewrite the rules."

Qiao Ze frowned; he felt this guy might have misunderstood something.

"I'm not going to learn how to make chips, nor am I going to waste too much time on a direction where the technology is already mature. I just want to flip through some books when I'm resting my brain," Qiao Ze said.

He didn't bother to explain his overall plan to Chen Yiwen.

Because Qiao Ze felt that Chen Yiwen's thought process had already started to deviate from the most basic logic of reality.

If casually reading a few books would enable him to make chips, he would truly have transcended human boundaries.

"Uh... okay then, I'm off to borrow the books." Chen Yiwen bent over and rushed out.

He didn't quite believe what Qiao Ze had just said, yet he also thought that speculating Qiao Ze was going to make chips was indeed far-fetched.

Once Chen Yiwen had left, Qiao Ze turned to Tan Jingrong and said, "Tan, help me look online for the latest technical patents related to chips and highly-cited papers on chip manufacturing. Find as many as you can, I need them."

"Sure, I'll start looking now." Tan Jingrong nodded, not concerned with the reason.

He remembered the words Li had entrusted to him, to do more work in the group, talk less, and keep a low profile.

Experience had already shown that as long as he did all the things Qiao Ze asked him to do, he would not miss out on any benefits.

Even if he was curious, after all, he would know everything soon enough, so why rush?

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