I’m Really a Superstar

In the visitation room.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

The scene that unfolded in front of him was totally different from what Fellow Zhou had imagined before he arrived. He thought that Zhang Ye would have a tough time in prison, huddling together with a bunch of other people, with not enough to eat, not enough to keep warm, suffering from mental torture, and still having to go through hard labor for rehabilitation. Fellow Zhou thought that as long as he extended an invitation to Zhang Ye, he would definitely agree to it. What normal person would be willing to stay in prison?

But in fact?

He had a single cell all to himself!

He could roam around freely within the prison!

He could smoke and drink as he liked, and he didn’t need to perform any hard labor!

Fellow Zhou had even prepared what to say beforehand. However, he did not have a chance to say any of it!

Zhang Ye said, “Why don’t the two of you head back? I’m doing pretty well here, and all I want is to keep a low profile and have some peace. I don’t wish to be involved in anything else.”

Fellow Zhou said bitterly, “Professor Little Zhang, the country really needs you. You’re the only person in the entire country who can produce the algorithm, so why don’t you—”

Zhang Ye waved it off. “Please don’t address me as Professor Zhang. I’ve already stepped down from my roles at Peking University and Media College, so I’m no longer a professor. I’m just an idler right now, a prisoner.” He stood up. “Well then, the chow hall will be closing soon, so I’ll be off to have breakfast. I can’t help you with what you want, so please go back. I can’t get out of here, so I won’t be seeing the two of you off,” he said as he made his way out.

Mathematics?

Algorithms?

He was not the least bit interested in any of that.

Fellow Zhou was getting a little anxious.

Zhang Ye had already reached out to open the door.

At this moment, Chi Xue spoke up, “What if it could reduce your sentence?”

Zhang Ye’s hand froze. He turned around, stunned. “Reduce it by how much?”

Chi Xue looked at him. “Whatever the maximum is allowed by the government. A year? Two years? The Chinese Academy of Sciences can apply for the reduction on your behalf and push for it to go through with all that we have!”

Zhang Ye rolled his eyes. “Damn, why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Chi Xue gasped, “Huh?”

Zhang Ye said righteously, “Could I refuse to help at a time when my country needs me the most? I can’t! For something that will affect our country and its people, how could I, Zhang Ye, possibly refuse to help? It’s just an algorithm that you need, isn’t it? How difficult could that be? I’ll go back to my cell and pack my things. When do we leave? Quickly get someone to pick me up!”

Fellow Zhou nearly fainted!

What?!

Kid, you didn’t speak like this a minute ago!

Chi Xue said, “So you’re agreed?”

Zhang Ye said, “Of course. When the country is in trouble, everyone has a role to play.”

Only then did Fellow Zhou heave a sigh of relief. “OK, I’ll immediately inform the higher-ups to arrange for it.”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll be waiting for your news then.”

This fellow then happily marched off to breakfast.

A sentence reduction!

Only an idiot would refuse that!

After he left, both of the people in the room gave bitter laughs.

Chi Xue laughed and said, “So? He’s worthy of his reputation, isn’t he?”

Fellow Zhou said with a sigh, “Yes, that temper of his is indeed real. If I didn’t know about Professor Little Zhang’s background and just spoke with him in normal circumstances, I really wouldn’t feel like he has any great ability.”

Chi Xue smiled and said, “Professor Zhang is quite different from us traditional academics and researchers. However, his skill is not written on his face.”

Fellow Zhou said worriedly, “We’ll still have to see whether Professor Little Zhang can create this algorithm or not. If even he is unable to do it—Hai, actually, I’m not exactly that confident that he can do it either.”

Chi Xue said, “Let’s just let Professor Zhang have a shot at it.”

Fellow Zhou looked in the direction Zhang Ye had headed off toward. “Hopefully, the help that we came to seek can turn the tides.”

…

The next day.

In the morning.

The prison received a document from the higher-ups related to Zhang Ye’s transfer from the prison. The document was passed very urgently and hastily. It was stamped with the seal of the highest administrative authority. Furthermore, the transfer was to be carried out the same day the document was received. The prison he would be transferred to wasn’t specified in the document.

Many prison guards came over to bid farewell to Zhang Ye.

“Teacher Zhang, why are you leaving so soon?”

“Yeah, you’ve only been here a few days.”

“Hai, I can’t bear to see you go.”

“Why don’t you stay a day or two longer? I won’t be able to get up from bed now that you won’t be singing us a few verses of ‘Tears Behind Prison Bars’ each morning.”

“Which prison will you be transferred to? We don’t know a lot of people, but we’re familiar with the people in the prison system. We can inform them ahead of time so that they take care of you.”

Everyone was sad to see him leave.

Zhang Ye was quite touched. “Thanks! I thank you all for your care these past few days.”

Only the prison warden was slightly better informed, but even he did not know much. He thought that it might have something to do with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ research fellows that came over yesterday, but that was still a guess. He didn’t want to jump into conclusions about such matters. “Alright, the people who are here to pick him up have arrived. It’s not like we won’t get to see him again in the future. When Teacher Zhang completes his sentence and is released, he still has to treat us to a round of drinks. When the time comes, we won’t have to coop up in here to chat and can enjoy ourselves at a better place outside the walls.”

Zhang Ye laughed and said, “That’s for sure. I’ll treat everyone to enough drinks to last us for three whole days and nights!”

“Sure!”

“See you on the outside!”

“This is a place of misfortune, so we won’t wish for your return!”

They hugged.

They said their farewells.

After being handcuffed, Zhang Ye strode off and left.

Outside a vehicle to escort the prisoner. There wasn’t anything too special about it.

When Zhang Ye got into the car, he reached up and waved goodbye to the prison guards. After the vehicle exited out of the main gate, the escorting guards beside Zhang Ye took out a key to uncuff Zhang Ye. Then, without saying a word, they looked forward again. Four people were in the car, and none of them said anything.

The car drove for over an hour until it reached a military airbase.

The four of them alighted from the car. In the distance, a helicopter was standing by.

A group of people was waiting across from them. The two groups of people came together to complete some formalities and paperwork.

Eventually, a young man who was dressed in a military uniform came up to Zhang Ye and gave him a military salute. He spoke articulately, “Teacher Zhang, my name is Zhou Xiaohe. From today onwards, I will be the guard responsible for ensuring your safety. You can look for me if there’s anything that you need.”

Zhang Ye understood the situation completely. “Can I go home?”

Zhou Xiaohe was taken aback. He said, “No.”

Zhang Ye said, “Can I call my family?”

Zhou Xiaohe was taken aback again. “No.”

Zhang Ye rolled his eyes. “Then what is the use of looking for you?”

Zhou Xiaohe was speechless.

Zhang Ye understood. Yes, some of the very important research fellows at the Chinese Academy of Sciences would also be paired with a guard to ensure their safety during critical periods. But this guard assigned to him was clearly not for that purpose. The research institute that he was going to was a military zone and would have military protection, so he would never be in any danger. Putting it nicely, this person was a guard assigned to ensure his safety. But frankly, it just meant that Zhang Ye’s freedom was still going to be limited. This guard was probably going to keep a watch on Zhang Ye for all 24 hours of the day to ensure that he wouldn’t get close to a computer or communicate with the outside world, as well as making sure he wouldn’t escape.

It was obvious that Zhou Xiaohe was an elite of the Central Security Bureau ¹ . He even seemed to be carrying arms.

However, Zhang Ye thought to himself, If this bro wishes to escape, not even ten of you with ten of your guns would be able to stop me!

What a joke!

Besides, why would I escape?

This bro is aiming for a sentence reduction—I mean, I’m here for the sake of research!