Chapter 270 - 207: Ceremony and Interview

Chapter 270: Chapter 207: Ceremony and Interview

Chen Lin wore a slightly unnatural smile. He clearly wasn’t used to this kind of event.

To be honest, he really wasn’t a fan of these kinds of formalities.

But he had no choice. When Principal Chang Kai had called him yesterday, the implication was clear—

This ceremony wasn’t just for Chen Lin; it was for Yannan University.

’We want to use your recent fame to do some promotion for the university. It’s good for student recruitment and for raising our status in the academic world.’

Chen Lin thought it over and agreed.

After all, Yannan University had been very good to him.

From their initial investment in Yanhai Company to their subsequent support on various matters, Principal Chang Kai and Dean Zhuang had granted nearly every request Chen Lin had made.

So, helping the university with publicity was something Chen Lin had agreed to with Principal Chang Kai from the start. It was, in a way, his repayment to the university.

At 9:50 AM, the ceremony officially began.

First, Principal Chang Kai gave a speech.

He stood, picked up the microphone from the table, and with a beaming smile, said in a resonant voice:

"Good morning, faculty, students, and friends from the media!"

"Today, we are here to hold a special appointment ceremony."

"What makes this ceremony special is that the professor we are about to appoint is only twenty years old—the youngest professor in the history of Yannan University!"

As Chang Kai said this, a round of applause immediately erupted from the audience.

Chang Kai nodded in satisfaction and continued:

"I trust this young man is no stranger to any of you."

"He is none other than—Chen Lin!"

"In the past few months, Chen Lin has made one stunning achievement after another in the field of mathematics, all at a breathtaking pace."

"From publishing a paper in JAMS, to helping resolve the technical bottleneck in solid-state batteries, to demonstrating a new AI algorithm live at the International Congress of Mathematicians..."

"Every single one of these achievements is enough to leave any of his peers in the dust!"

Chang Kai’s voice grew more and more impassioned as he spoke.

"And today, with the approval of the Ministry of Education, we at Yannan University are officially appointing Chen Lin as a professor in the Department of Mathematics!"

"This is not just a recognition of Chen Lin’s personal achievements, but an affirmation of Yannan University’s philosophy on cultivating talent!"

"Here at Yannan University, we’ve never been afraid to break the mold to foster talent!"

"As long as you have genuine talent and ability, as long as you can contribute to our nation and society, we dare to give you the opportunity and the platform!"

Chang Kai’s rousing speech was met with increasingly fervent applause from the audience.

Several reporters from the state media in the front row raised their cameras and began snapping photos furiously of Chang Kai and Chen Lin on stage.

After Chang Kai finished his speech, it was Dean Zhuang’s turn to speak on behalf of the School of Mathematics.

Dean Zhuang’s remarks were much briefer. He mainly expressed his welcome to Chen Lin for joining the School of Mathematics and his high hopes for his future.

Following that, Director Guo Qizhi also said a few words.

Finally, Principal Chang Kai picked up a red certificate folder from the side and solemnly handed it to Chen Lin.

"Chen Lin, congratulations. You are now officially a professor in the Department of Mathematics at Yannan University!" Principal Chang Kai said with a smile.

Chen Lin took the certificate folder and opened it to look inside.

Inside was a letter of appointment with gold-foil lettering. It read:

[This letter hereby appoints Chen Lin as a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Yannan University for a term of five years.

Yannan University

November 24, 2025]

Chen Lin closed the certificate folder and bowed to the audience.

"Thank you to the university leadership for your trust and support. I will continue to work hard and strive to produce more results, to bring honor to Yannan University!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another wave of enthusiastic applause swept through the audience.

With that, the appointment ceremony was officially over.

However, there was one more part to the event—the media interview.

Principal Chang Kai motioned for Chen Lin to take a seat beside the lectern, then turned to the reporters in the audience and said:

"Alright, next is the media Q&A session."

"Reporters, if you have a question, please raise your hand."

The moment he finished speaking, several hands immediately shot up in the audience.

Chang Kai called on a middle-aged man in a business suit who looked like a state media reporter.

"Please, ask your question."

The reporter immediately stood, picked up a microphone, and began with a brief self-introduction:

"Hello, Professor Chen Lin. I’m a reporter with the *Jinmen Daily*."

"My first question is, what were your primary considerations when you decided to accept the professorship at Yannan University?"

Hearing this question, Chen Lin couldn’t help but scoff internally.

’Duh. Of course it’s because I took the university’s investment money and now I have to keep my end of the bargain!’

Of course, he couldn’t possibly say that out loud.

Chen Lin put on a polite smile and replied in a very formal, official tone:

"First, I have a very deep affection for Yannan University."

"I spent more than two years of my university life here, and I have many wonderful memories."

"Second, I want to extend my special thanks to the university leadership for their trust and strong support."

"The university has given me a great deal of help and support throughout my academic journey."

"So, when the university offered to appoint me as a professor, I accepted with almost no hesitation."

"I hope to remain at Yannan University and contribute what I can to the university’s continued growth and success."

In the audience, Principal Chang Kai’s smile grew even brighter as he listened.

The reporter nodded, satisfied, and then posed his second question: