Chapter 85: Born at the Right Time

On the campus of Yanhuang University in the imperial capital, it was the golden autumn. The sun shone brightly, lush trees cast long shadows, and on a quiet, secluded lawn, Li Fu, Zhao Dongye, Qian Jin, and Wang Wanli gathered once again.

"Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, we're graduating and about to say goodbye to our college days. I barely had the chance to truly savor it before it slipped away," Qian Jin said, gazing wistfully at everything around him. He recalled every detail of the past four years in university, all seeming as if it happened just yesterday, and now the moment of parting had already arrived. Inevitably, his heart was filled with melancholy.

"Yes! Time goes by too fast. Everything feels as if it happened only yesterday, but now, our classmates are all about to go their separate ways," Wang Wanli agreed, nodding as he looked at the cloudless sky, then at the autumn-laden campus, watching the younger students laughing and chatting, still enjoying the blissful time of youth.

The reason the four had gathered back at Yanhuang University was, of course, to attend the graduation celebration. With employment in mind, the final term of senior year was particularly short, with no classes—students only needed to complete their thesis defense to graduate.

Graduation was scheduled as early as possible so that students had more time to adapt to their new jobs. By the second half of senior year, fourth-year students were rarely seen on campus; most were already busy carving out their own futures.

As graduates of the nation’s top university, Yanhuang, their options were plentiful. Most chose to study abroad; about half opted to stay in the country for further degrees, pursuing master’s or doctoral studies. Only a few chose to enter the workforce directly.

For those with their future already settled, some had already reported to their new positions, while others were enjoying a leisurely break, traveling and relaxing. Thus, fourth-year students were a rare sight on campus.

Only during the final thesis defense, the graduation celebration, and the last gatherings did everyone reunite and reappear on campus.

"So, what are your plans for the future?" Zhao Dongye asked, smiling, with no trace of sadness. He was always looking forward, never backward.

"I plan to step down from managing the company. I think Qian Jin is more suited to handling its operations in the future," Zhao Dongye replied after a pause, making a surprising announcement—he was going to step down from the management of Kingsman Agrochemicals and hand the position of general manager to Qian Jin.

"Dongye, what's going on? Hasn't the company been running smoothly and growing steadily under your management? Why step down all of a sudden?" Li Fu frowned, puzzled. To him, Kingsman Agrochemicals was a significant asset, almost a mint with quarterly profits in the tens of billions. With such a promising future, Zhao Dongye’s decision to step down seemed odd, especially since, unlike Li Fu, he didn’t have other businesses to run.

"Indeed. The company is doing so well right now—why step down at such a time?" Wang Wanli echoed, equally perplexed.

"You aren’t planning to go solo like Li Fu, are you? Surely you’re not a prodigy like him, mastering all things tech-related?" Qian Jin interjected, pulling a face, clearly reluctant to take on the responsibility. "Besides, if I run the company, it might go down under my watch. I don't have your leadership skills."

"You’ll manage just fine. Li Fu has his own ventures and won’t be coming back, so you’re the best choice," Zhao Dongye assured him. "As for me, I’m going into politics."

He smiled, confident in his judgment of others. While Li Fu had become enigmatic to him, Qian Jin he understood well. Despite his seemingly carefree manner, Qian Jin was fundamentally decent, hiding his true talents behind a facade of nonchalance. He'd earned his place at Yanhuang University on merit, and over four years, Zhao Dongye had come to see that beneath it all, Qian Jin was determined to surpass his father and was mature in his dealings with others. He was well-liked, without a trace of the arrogance or prejudice of the privileged, and always willing to help less fortunate classmates.

"Politics?" Wang Wanli exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes. I’m an only child, the eldest grandson of the third generation in the Zhao family. I must continue our family’s influence in politics. Besides, it’s always been my personal ambition. To live life fully is to enjoy beauty and power, to leave a name in history worthy of having lived," Zhao Dongye answered solemnly, his ambition fully revealed for the first time, allowing his friends to truly see the scion of a prominent family in the imperial capital.

Zhao Dongye had always seemed approachable, able to get along with anyone, skilled at networking, mature beyond his years, and free of the arrogance common among the privileged. He was a true gentleman. Yet now, the ambition and aura he displayed made him seem a future ruler of nations, traits he had always kept hidden deep within.

Li Fu nodded. The Zhao family, rivaling the strength of the Wangyun clan, wielded immense power in politics, the military, and the economy—one of the most formidable families in the country. As the eldest grandson, with so few males in his generation, Zhao Dongye was the family’s hope. Though Kingsman Agrochemicals was thriving, it paled in significance beside the family’s destiny; a political career was only natural.

Li Fu had no objection to Zhao Dongye’s plans for the company. Qian Jin was fully up to the task. As for Wang Wanli, Li Fu didn't have as much confidence in him; compared to Zhao Dongye and Qian Jin, he still had a ways to go.

"Haha, looks like our dorm will produce another great figure in history! Just thinking about it is thrilling," Qian Jin joked, grinning, unsurprised by Zhao Dongye’s choice and full of confidence in his future political career.

"Get out of here!" Zhao Dongye laughed, waving him off. "Don’t jinx it before it even starts. But I’ll definitely need my brothers’ help in the future—especially you, Li Fu. I might need some investment one day, so don’t play it cool and aloof then."

"Of the four of us, I think Li Fu has the most limitless future. He’s already an academician and Nobel laureate—his name’s already in history. Who knows what heights he’ll reach?" Zhao Dongye smiled, burying his ambition once more and shifting the topic to Li Fu, unable to help but feel genuine awe. A year ago, Li Fu had seemed like just another ordinary student, but his astonishing achievements since then made him increasingly unfathomable.

Wang Wanli and Qian Jin glanced at Li Fu as well. He now carried so many honors—so many articles and reports had been written about him—yet the three of them knew him better than anyone. He had been utterly unremarkable, and then, suddenly, he soared, full of impossibility.

"If you ever need investment, just say the word. I’ll most likely devote myself to scientific research. Technology is advancing so rapidly that humanity may soon enter the interstellar era—and it’s very likely that we, China, will lead this new age of exploration, filled with endless opportunities and possibilities. The universe is where humanity’s future truly lies," Li Fu replied, smiling. His words seemed almost out of place, but he had meant to say them. After four years of friendship, both Zhao Dongye and Qian Jin had looked out for him; this was his way of giving them a hint in advance.

"Interstellar era?" the three others exclaimed in unison.

"Yes, the interstellar era is coming soon," Li Fu nodded, his eyes gazing into the blue sky, as if he could see the distant cosmos beyond—a look deep and faraway.

The three fell silent, pondering the meaning behind Li Fu’s words. If anyone else had said such things, they would have dismissed it outright. But coming from Li Fu—a man of miracles, a world-class scientist—every word carried weight.

"It seems a new era is about to dawn! Haha, we’re truly living in the right time. To accomplish something in such an age would surely make one's name echo through history!" Zhao Dongye exclaimed, after a moment’s thought, his face alight with excitement.