The thesis was completed, and the next step was to publish it. However, as Lin Chen opened the Global Discovery website and was about to log in, he was captivated by a scientific paper featured on the front page.

The author of this paper was “Wei Xiaobao.” Lin Chen harbored some resentment towards this author. If it weren’t for “Wei Xiaobao,” his own prominence in the scientific community would have been even greater these days.

After silently grumbling, Lin Chen looked at the front-page article again. He had an agreement with the website to have his “confession” occupy the front page for at least three days. But now, the website had gone back on their word, taking down his “confession” and prominently displaying “Wei Xiaobao’s” new scientific paper. This made him quite displeased.

With this emotion boiling inside, Lin Chen glanced through the scientific paper. He wanted to see what tricks “Wei Xiaobao” had come up with that warranted the website breaking their agreement to feature his confession.

After ten minutes, he had finished reading the entire scientific paper. The displeasure on Lin Chen’s face gradually turned into astonishment. Although he had used a template for a marine biology scientist, gaining some understanding of other scientific fields in the process, he could clearly see the caliber of “Wei Xiaobao’s” scientific paper. It was strong, exceptionally strong. The level was definitely on par with his own recent work. Undoubtedly, the scientific community would soon be buzzing again because of “Wei Xiaobao’s” paper.

Lin Chen had been competing with “Wei Xiaobao” lately, and now that “Wei Xiaobao” was about to gain more attention, he naturally didn’t want to fall behind. He opened the login interface, ready to upload his newly written paper.

He entered his account and password, clicking login. The prompt: Incorrect account or password. Assuming it was a typo, Lin Chen re-entered his login information. But it was still incorrect. He became slightly annoyed and continued to try, but after five or six attempts, he still couldn’t log in.

Frustrated, Lin Chen thought his account had been hacked, so he lightly slammed the keyboard in aggravation. He immediately went to the website’s appeal page, using his sister Qiu Qianwei’s identity information to apply for a password reset.

After submitting the application, he received a reply in less than ten minutes—the website had no record of Qiu Qianwei’s identity information. Lin Chen didn’t believe it at the time, assuming it was a customer service error that led to the information not being found. He continued to try again. But his application was quickly rejected once more. He didn’t give up and continued to apply. It was still rejected. After several attempts, Lin Chen’s IP was blacklisted. He couldn’t even access the website, let alone contact customer service.

“What kind of idiotic customer service is this? Once I get in touch with your higher-ups, I’ll make sure you’re all fired!” Lin Chen fumed. He was currently a rising star in the scientific community, and the higher-ups of the Global Discovery website favored him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have made an exception to publish his statement.

For a customer service representative to disrespect him was simply courting disaster! Filled with anger, Lin Chen went to an internet cafe at night, changed his IP, and accessed the Global Discovery website again, intending to find another way to contact customer service to resolve the issue.

However, before he could take any action, he was stunned by an announcement on the website. The announcement read: “Lin Xiaobao” and “Wei Xiaobao” are the same person. At the author’s request, all papers under the two pen names will be consolidated under the pen name “Wei Xiaobao.”

Lin Chen was almost driven mad on the spot. This wasn’t just a simple issue of a password change; his account had been hacked, and his achievements had been claimed by someone else!

…

[Ding, the host successfully transferred the protagonist Lin Chen’s achievements to his own name, preventing Lin Chen from showing off his accomplishments, earning 1000 villain points, reducing Lin Chen’s protagonist aura by 50, and increasing the host’s villain aura by 50!]

“What makes you so happy?”

In the mountaintop villa, Qiu Qianwei, freshly out of the shower, noticed Wang Haoran’s expression and couldn’t help but ask with a smile.

“I’m thinking about you dancing for me soon, which naturally makes me happy,” Wang Haoran promptly replied, covering up the truth with a playful retort.

“You want to see me dance? Alright, I’ll go change my clothes,” Qiu Qianwei, wrapped in a towel, was about to pick out something to wear.

“Just like this is fine.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t it okay?”

“Of course it is. I obey your command.”

…

In the research institute.

Ji Shuiyao was engrossed in her research work in the laboratory.

“Deputy Director Ji! Deputy Director Ji!”

A female researcher shouted as she rushed into the lab.

“Silence is required in the lab. Is this your first day?” Ji Shuiyao, disturbed, couldn’t help but reprimand the newcomer.

“Deputy Director Ji, something big has happened. Take a look!” The female researcher took out her phone, opened the Global Discovery website, and showed Ji Shuiyao the announcement.

Curious, Ji Shuiyao looked at it, and her expression turned to one of shock, “Lin Xiaobao and Wei Xiaobao are actually the same person!”

Recently, the pen names Lin Xiaobao and Wei Xiaobao had been publishing groundbreaking papers on Global Discovery, shaking the scientific community. However, since their research directions were distinct, and the pen names were similar, everyone assumed they were different people.

But now, the official merger of the works under these two pen names clearly confirmed that these two identities were indeed one and the same. It’s not unheard of for scientists to research two fields simultaneously, yet it’s rare for someone to excel so overwhelmingly in both.

Such an individual would be a shining star, destined to be immortalized in the annals of science. Comparing oneself to others can truly be discouraging. Ji Shuiyao considered herself a genius, but compared to “Wei Xiaobao,” she felt insignificant.

While Ji Shuiyao was lost in thought, some colleagues from the research institute gathered around, sparking a new round of discussion. This time, Ji Shuiyao didn’t stop the conversation. She was still processing the shock.

After some time, an elegant old man in his 80s, wearing glasses, with a rosy complexion, and leaning on a cane, excitedly entered the laboratory. The surrounding researchers greeted him respectfully, “Hello, Director.”

Ji Shuiyao snapped out of her daze and quickly went to support the elegant old man. “Teacher, take it slow,” Ji Shuiyao gently reminded him, then asked in confusion, “Why did you come all of a sudden?”

The director was old and rarely involved in the research institute’s daily affairs. He wouldn’t have come unless it was something particularly significant.

“You’ve heard, haven’t you?” The director’s face was full of excitement.