I am Really a Superstar

Everyone was pointing at Zhang Ye while whispering.

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why are Elder Liu, Elder Han, and so many others avoiding him?”

“I suppose Zhang Ye has offended people again?”

“Then we oughta stay away from him as well.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

No one dared to come within 10 meters of Zhang Ye.

Xin Ya asked in confusion, “Why do you know so many scientists?”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Am I not allowed to have a few friends?”

“Friends?” Xin Ya was floored. “Are you really so respectable now?”

Everyone is avoiding you!

Everyone is ignoring you!

And you can still say that they’re your friends?

Zhang Ye waved to her. “I’ll go and get seated.”

“See ya.” Xin Ya also went to the back to look for her seat. They weren’t going the same way as she was in the sixteenth row, which was really far from Zhang Ye’s first-row seat.

In the front row.

Zhang Ye found his seat and sat down heavily.

Seated beside him was Lü Yi, a young research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. When he saw Zhang Ye sit down beside him, Lü Yi said in a respectful manner, “Fellow Zhang, long time no see.”

Zhang Ye asked, “You’ve been nominated as well?”

Lü Yi laughed in derision. “I’m just here as part of the crowd. Even if the Highest Science and Technology Award does get awarded this time, there are only those few people who are expected to win it. We all know who they are.”

“That’s right.” Chi Xue came over and sat down beside Zhang Ye as the two chatted. “Little Lü and I are just here to join in the fun. But as for you, you really do stand a chance of winning.”

Zhang Ye waved it off. “Me? Come on, I’ve offended so many people in the scientific community.”

Upon hearing this, Chi Xue and Lü Yi both gave wry smiles.

Yeah, that’s right, who had he not offended in the scientific community? Sometimes, they really had to take their hats off to Zhang Ye for his troublemaking abilities.

Before he went to jail, Zhang Ye had debuted in the entertainment industry four years ago. But in that four-year timespan, how many incidents had taken place? How much trouble did he cause? Even the most veteran entertainment reporters would probably need a while before they could recount all of it. From fighting and scolding to instigating and causing trouble, there were countless examples of such incidents. And after he was sent to prison, Zhang Ye had spent a full four years in the science and technology field. Based on this fellow’s character and temper, it would be a wonder if he didn’t cause a lot of trouble during this time!

…

At Yao Jiancai’s house.

“Dad, it’s the awards ceremony today, right?”

“Yes, it’s the State Science and Technology Prizes Awards Ceremony.”

“My Uncle Zhang has been nominated as well.”

“It should be starting soon?”

“It’s a pity there won’t be a live broadcast. Let’s wait for the results to be announced.”

…

Dong Shanshan’s house.

Four of their old classmates were here today.

“Shanshan, are there any updates yet?”

“The awards presentation should be starting soon.”

“What’s the point of watching for updates? Don’t tell me you guys expect Zhang’er to go on stage for an award?”

“Yeah, what kind of an occasion is this? What kinds of awards are they giving out? I doubt that he can even get a consolation contribution award. The Dale’s Conjecture he solved was five years ago.”

…

On Weibo.

“Someone’s posted a photo.”

“I think it’s about to begin.”

“Do you guys think that a celebrity scientist can get on the domestic celebrity rankings?”

“Of course there’s a chance. The popularity rankings are based on one’s popularity, after all.”

“I have a feeling that there will be some heavyweight celebrity scientists emerging in the future. They could even reach the C-list. The trends nowadays are in the field of scientific and technological development.”

…

At the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

“I hope the Highest Science and Technology Award will be given to a research fellow of our Chinese Academy of Engineering.”

“Of the veteran research fellows at our academy, only Fellow Qi and Fellow Meng have the greatest hope of winning it.”

“Yeah, those two veteran fellows have made significant contributions this year.”

“Has the ceremony started yet?”

“It should be starting soon.”

…

At the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

“Fellow Sun has a chance.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“We can only say that there’s a chance. There are too many variables.”

“We’ll see who the commission ends up selecting.”

“Even basing it on qualifications, achievements, and academics, it’s still very difficult to make a choice.”

…

Everyone watched intently.

The media blew up.

China’s leaders also arrived at the Great Hall at this time.

The huge auditorium hushed up. Then continuous applause was given to them.

One person.

Five people.

Ten people.

There were people from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The China National Space Administration ¹ .

The Central Military Commission ² .

The leaders gradually entered and got seated.

Soon after, a leader from the Ministry of Science and Technology ³ went onstage and gave a speech with a microphone for more than 10 minutes. Afterwards, the awards presentation was announced.

The atmosphere at the venue turned serious.

Xin Ya took a deep breath.

Chi Xue kept her eyes on the stage.

Lü Yi got quite nervous.

Countless people had their eyes on the podium.

The first science and technology prize to be announced was: The State Natural Science Award.

At the podium, a leader announced, “I hereby announce the scientists who will be awarded the State Natural Science Award are—” He lowered his head and read out from the winner’s list, “—Zhang Heng, Li Xicheng, and Yu Lei!”

Applause erupted.

The three people stood up in surprise and shock. Without an exception, the three were scientists above the age of 50. The oldest one was Li Xicheng, who was 72 years old. When he heard the announcement, tears streamed down his old face. He had been waiting for this moment for God knew how long.

Several of Li Xicheng’s students were also tearing up.

“Teacher!”

“Congratulations, Teacher!”

“You’ve finally won it!”

“This is great! This is really great!”

The three of them went up onstage to receive their award and give an acceptance speech.

Zhang Heng held the microphone and said, “Thank you, thank you.”

Then he passed the microphone to the next person. Li Xicheng also said, “Thank you for the trust that the Party and the people have placed in me and for giving me an affirmation of our efforts.”

The speech was very short.

Zhang Ye was somewhat unused to this. “Their acceptance speech is so short?”

Chi Xue said in a speechless manner, “Do you think this is like an awards ceremony in showbiz? All of the winners here today have spent their entire lives on research. Did you expect that they would be as eloquent in speech as you?”

Zhang Ye said, “True. But the speech is very concise and to the point, so that’s pretty good.”

The next award was announced.

At the podium, the leader announced, “The winners of the State Technological Invention Award are—”

Zhang Ye held a little bit of hope for winning this award.

Will I win it?

Will this bro get a chance to go up onstage?

The leader announced loudly, “Han Cheng and Bai Xiaoyan!”

Zhang Ye gave a smile in his head and conceded.

Bai Xiaoyan covered her mouth in excitement and started crying.

Han Cheng was in disbelief as well as he sat there dumbfoundedly. He couldn’t react until his research institute’s colleague who was sitting beside him offered his congratulations in surprise. It was only then that he rushed up onto the stage.

The other awards were announced.

In the end, there were even prizes given out for different classifications of projects.

Electrical studies.

Medical studies.

Engineering studies.

And so on.

…

In the back row.

Xin Ya was chatting with the people beside her.

“Fellow Meng has won the State Science and Technology Progress Award.”

“That means to say he won’t be getting the Highest Science and Technology Award.”

“Yeah, I thought Fellow Meng stood the best chance of winning that too.”

“Elder Qi has won the Engineering Studies Award. That should be considered one of the consolation prizes, right?”

“The veteran fellows who were the favorites to win it are all out of the running?”

“Why did it end up like this?”

“Then who will the Highest Science and Technology Award go to?”

“There are still a few veteran fellows who have a chance of getting it.”

Xin Ya and the others analyzed this for a long time but couldn’t come to any credible conclusions.

…

In the front row.

Lü Yi gasped. “It’s time for the last award!”

Chi Xue was also holding her breath. “It’s time!”

Zhang Ye looked at the stage. “But there’s no one at the podium.”

At the next moment, they saw it. The leader who had been on stage announcing the winners had stepped down from the podium. Then, from the audience, someone slowly stood up before walking onto the stage with a smile.

The people around were already starting to whisper.

“It’s the president!”

“The president is going to give out the award?”

“That means there will finally be a winner for this year’s Highest Science and Technology Award!”

“Who will it go to?”

“Who will the winner be?”

At the podium, the president adjusted the microphone.

Everyone in the audience had quieted as they looked at the stage with wide eyes.

The president opened the winner’s envelope and spoke in a stately pace. He smiled and said, “Next, I will be announcing the winner of the Highest Science and Technology Award.” With a pause, he read out, “The research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Engineering—

The audience blew up.

Everyone started exchanging whispers.

“The Chinese Academy of Engineering?”

“It’s someone from the Chinese Academy of Engineering!”

“Who though?”

“Is it Fellow Liu?”

The president continued, “—and the Chinese Academy of Sciences—”

Everyone was stunned.

Xin Ya was also taken aback.

“A research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Engineering? And the Chinese Academy of Sciences?”

“Holy shit!”

“A fellow of the Two Academies ⁴ ?”

“There aren’t many Two Academies fellows!”

“Yeah, the Two Academies fellows who are still alive can be counted on one hand!”

“So who is it?”

Everyone started looking around in curious amazement.

The president looked into the crowd and read a name that nobody could believe!

“—Zhang Ye!”