Damn it...
"Ding!"
A news alert jolted Michael out of his reverie.
Normally, during his research sessions, he'd silence such notifications, but lately, he'd hit a major roadblock in his work. Unsure of what to do next, he'd resorted to leaving the message alerts on, finding solace in their distraction.
For scientists, as with artists, inspiration was crucial, but it didn't just strike at will; it was a serendipitous occurrence.
Even with the message alerts activated, there wasn't much news—especially not news of value—for a mecha designer like Michael, whose work was of national importance.
Truth be told, the only valuable tidbit in recent days had been the information about the "genius." Reflecting on it now, Michael could only label that information as "genius," if indeed it proved to be true.
"Speaking of which, the test questions I issued should have reached the 'genius' by now. Why didn't I ask this question that's been nagging at me... Thankfully, I prepared some slightly more challenging questions as well, in case the 'genius' finds the initial set too easy. It wouldn't do to shatter someone's confidence by asking questions that are too basic."
"Those tougher questions should be manageable... if the 'genius' truly possesses genuine talent."
"If he fails to answer even a single question, then we'll see how he fares with the rest. If it's all a sham... well, then he shouldn't be surprised if I'm less than polite about it!"
"But considering there were over fifty questions in total, and it seems everyone else had queries they couldn't fathom, it's possible this 'genius' might take more than a month to respond... I recall setting a one-day time limit..."
With his thoughts drifting back to the screen before him, Michael clicked on the flashing notification—a new message from the system.
"Dear Academician Michael, your test paper has been completed. Please review it promptly..."
The message seized Michael's attention, leaving him momentarily stunned.
"Finished already?"
Michael couldn't help but glance at the time in the lower right corner of his computer screen, wondering if he had spent more than a month in a daze without realizing it.
But the date and time displayed were correct – May 11, 2019, 2:30:30 PM.
"What just happened?"
It took Michael a moment to process.
He had assumed that since the other party breezed through the fifty questions of the preliminary test in five minutes, perhaps... they had finished his questions before the day was out, as if it were no big deal?
But he wasn't sure if others had received their copies yet... Should he finish one copy first and hand in the other? Or were they supposed to be completed together and submitted simultaneously?
With some lingering doubts, Michael clicked on the attachment and glanced at the holographic projection beside him.
His questions could only be completed using holographic projection and were far from simple multiple-choice queries. This was why he initially believed Jack would need at least a day to complete them... Assuming the "personal item" required time was excluded.
From start to finish, Michael had only added that question with a casual attitude... All mecha designers did this, mainly for self-assessment. They didn't face suppression; they were the forefront talents in their respective fields.
Then, Michael was stunned.
He had posed five questions in total, and he had preset answers for the first four questions. Now, they were all marked green, indicating that Jack had answered them perfectly!
What's more, the timestamp in the upper right corner indicated that Jack took less than two minutes to complete the entire test paper!
What kind of concept was two minutes?
It was merely a quick glance at a post... No, it was barely the time it took to read through a single chapter!
Had he really comprehended the questions?
Michael's internal turmoil reached a crescendo, freezing him in place as he fixated on the location of the final question.
A white light spot glowed, signaling that the answer had been submitted and awaited evaluation.
In the hushed office, Michael's gulp echoed loudly, his trembling hand betraying his apprehension.
A sense of disbelief washed over him as he grappled with what seemed like an implausible reality. If this were indeed true, it would shatter his perception of the world!
Nevertheless, he summoned the courage to click on the white light spot.
Instantly, a holographic model materialized before Michael, simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar.
Familiar because it had plagued Michael's thoughts for a month.
Yes, just a moment ago, this very model had been the source of his frustration.
What had troubled Michael was now complete!
Have you ever struggled with a math problem, only to find clarity upon seeing the solution? That's precisely how Michael felt in that moment.
It's not that Michael couldn't understand it at all; otherwise, he wouldn't have posed the question in the first place. But simplicity? If it were simple, it wouldn't have vexed Michael for a month!
Now, alongside his sudden comprehension, Michael was also astonished.
He hadn't expected a question he had added casually, jokingly, and half-heartedly to be effortlessly solved. And in just two minutes, by a twenty-one-year-old who hadn't even attained the title of mecha designer yet!
No, not even two minutes... there were still other questions!
Could someone truly be this exceptional?
"...Check the survelance," Michael managed to utter, though his voice sounded alien to his own ears—hoarse and strained.
"The answer video has been queued," the system responded, and the holographic projection displayed Jack's methodical process of tackling each question with unwavering confidence. Within half a minute, he swiftly identified errors and made corrections, seemingly without even reading the questions!
"Damn it..." Michael muttered under his breath, feeling utterly astounded by Jack's prowess.
....
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