Top Student at Their Peak

As for the guidance-related data, it's simply considered the result given by the collaborating mathematics team.

It's not that I meant to hide anything, mainly because I didn't discuss this collaboration with anyone. In fact, I feel that the research institute's environment is a bit more complicated than that of universities.

Especially now that the research institute is operating like a company, and since he hasn't been here long, many things are not for him to decide unilaterally.

Like the allocation of project funds.

Many people misunderstand the research field, thinking that as the project leader, you can freely allocate the project's funds. But the reality is far less ideal.

Whether it's a major project, a foundation project, or a horizontal project, the money is first transferred to the account of the affiliated unit. Then, a sub-account is created from the unit's account.

The crux is that, even to use the funds from one's project group, it requires a leader's signature. For matters like hiring an external consultant, who knows when the review will be completed.

It's not like telling the leader that Qiao Yu's methodology has already succeeded with competitors will get approval.

Even if Qiao Yu fails to provide effective guidance, consultant fees are not required, but getting approval still requires various studies.

For those eager to get things done, waiting for the leader to research and then approve it would be too late.

Especially the chemistry institute, backed by the Academy of Sciences, doesn't use its own mathematicians but hires an outsider, and a sixteen-year-old at that.

Even if Qiao Yu is not a typical teenager, having already proven himself at the International Algebraic Geometry Conference, praised by many Fields Medalists, and performed brilliantly at the Mathematics Annual Conference.

But at least, Qiao Yu hasn't made any significant contributions in the field of applied mathematics.

As for Yanbei University's lab solving problems with his method? Well, could it be a coincidence?

Moreover, Qiao Yu is from Yanbei University, and his mentor is Tian Yanzhen. Who knows if there's some trickery involved?

Maybe even Ma Botao got deceived by the cunning people of Yanbei! This possibility isn't just existent; it's quite high.

Not to mention that the opposing lab is indeed a competitor! In any case, Ma Botao knows that if this matter is taken back for discussion, there will be no results for several months.

So, in a sense, he acted on his own initiative. He has this confidence because the agreement states that if Qiao Yu's data analysis can't effectively guide the lab's processes, there's no need to pay any fees, and there's nothing to lose.

Of course, this also leads to the fact that, in strict terms, the agreement he signed with Qiao Yu in Zhang Zuolin's lab isn't very formal.

After all, it lacks an official seal and is just a private signature and a thumbprint. So theoretically, if he denies the account, there's no problem.

However, Ma Botao could see that when Zhang Zuolin was pushing for this agreement to be signed, he couldn't wait for him to deny it in the end, so he could step in and pay the money...

And would do it very honorably.

"Ah, I really didn't expect Ma Botao to be such a shameless person. At that time, I vouched for him, so I'll cover this consultant fee!"

Thinking of this, Ma Botao felt suffocated. There's no way around it—Zhang Zuolin is famously well-off in the circle.

Some people truly seized the right moment, fittingly catching the pulse of the era and stepping up when the state encouraged university professors to start businesses.

Not only getting policy support but also conveniently benefiting from intellectual property gains. However, it should be said that those who dared to act without hesitation then were bold.

After all, everyone feared that if the policy suddenly changed, they wouldn't reap market benefits and might even lose their iron rice bowl in universities.

Well, in any case, having results now is certainly good news. Only figuring out how to settle with Qiao Yu requires some thought.

After thinking for a moment in the office, Ma Botao picked up the phone, found Luo Jingren's name in the contacts, and dialed.

The call quickly connected, but before Ma Botao could speak, the other side started talking first.

"Professor Ma, here to push us again? Honestly, it's not like we're delaying things on purpose. It's just that the data from your lab is truly insufficient. We couldn't analyze much from it. Plus, several project groups have been busy recently. We're already working overtime to analyze it."

Hearing this, Ma Botao instinctively smiled and said, "No, Professor Luo, you've misunderstood. This time I'm not pushing you. Here's the situation.

As you know, the client for our project is quite anxious. Considering that your side is busy, we've hired a consultant externally to help us with data analysis.

The good news is that results have already been achieved. So, I specifically called to let you know; please don't trouble yourselves with our matters. Prioritize other brother project groups."

After Ma Botao finished speaking, the other party seemed dumbfounded, uttering no words for a moment, then spoke in a surprised tone.

"Professor Ma, you hired an external consultant? And achieved results? Are you sure? Could useful insights really be drawn from the data you provided? You aren't being fooled, are you?"

Ma Botao laughed and replied, "Professor Luo, rest assured. They help us analyze first, and we only pay after the project is completed. The first batch of data analysis results has already been reported back to us.