Lin Feng sat at his desk, staring at his notebook with a serious expression.
"How could I have forgotten?" He thought.
He flipped to a new page and began writing.
Apart from companies and stocks, there were other means of investment. One of which was people.
There were some individuals who started out as nothing and went on to become massive players in the future. One such person was the class monitor of Business Administration Class 01.
Yu Shen.
Lin Feng's pen paused as the memories resurfaced.
Yu Shen's story was legendary - the kind that got told and retold in business schools and tech conferences for decades.
It began during university. While others were still figuring out their majors, Yu Shen was already developing AI algorithms for stock trading. By his junior year, he had dropped out entirely to focus on quantitative investing.
He founded Tianji Capital - a quantitative hedge fund that pioneered the use of artificial intelligence in trading strategies. The fund grew at a staggering pace. By late 2024, it managed over 20 billion dollars in assets, earning Yu Shen the title of one of China's "Four Heavenly Kings of Quantitative Finance."
But he didn't stop there.
Noticing the AI boom in the West - specifically the rise of large language models - Yu Shen grew intrigued. In early 2025, he established an AI research laboratory called Truth Seeker. Its stated mission was ambitious: to achieve Artificial General Intelligence.
However, unlike Western companies with their closed-source models and proprietary systems, Yu Shen had a different philosophy. He believed in openness, he believed this power should belong to everyone, not just the huge companies.
With over five thousand GPUs and a billion yuan in initial investment, Truth Seeker Labs got to work.
By late 2025, they released their first usable model - Truth Seeker V1.
It was the first open-weight model that could truly compete with flagship models from major Western companies.
The release turned the tech world upside down overnight. Stock markets trembled. The GPU market plunged on speculation that the AI bubble was about to burst.
While others scrambled to react, Yu Shen moved decisively. He purchased massive quantities of GPUs while prices were depressed.
But cost savings weren't his only motivation. He had a bad feeling about what was coming.
His instincts proved correct.
Shortly after, the United States imposed restrictions on GPU sales to China. Thanks to his foresight, Truth Seeker Labs had already stockpiled enough hardware to continue operations unimpeded.
For the next year, Truth Seeker went quiet. No new releases. No announcements. Competitors began to relax, assuming the threat had passed.
They were wrong.
In late 2026, Truth Seeker returned with a vengeance.
They released Truth Seeker V3 and introduced an entirely new product - Truth Teller V1.
Truth Seeker V3 was leagues beyond anything the Western flagships could offer. Once again, they claimed the top spot.
But Truth Teller was something different entirely. It wasn't like normal models - it was more of a framework. A system that allowed anyone to build and customize their own large language models with ease.
From that point on, Truth Seeker Labs continued pushing toward AGI, releasing all their research to the public as they went. Open source. Open weights. Open science.
By 2040 - the year Lin Feng passed away - AGI still hadn't been achieved. At least, not publicly.
But the general consensus was clear: if anyone could do it, it would be Truth Seeker.
And Yu Shen himself had become one of the richest people in the world.
Lin Feng set down his pen and stared at the notes he had written.
All of that... started here.
…
Lin Feng's gaze lingered on Yu Shen as his thoughts drifted.
Investing in people is different from investing in stocks.
With stocks, you analyzed data, identified opportunities, and dumped money in. Simple. Mechanical. The stocks didn't care who you were or what you wanted.
But people?
People had their own interests. Their own plans. Their own ambitions. You couldn't just throw money at someone and expect them to accept it. They had to want what you were offering. They had to trust you.
He needed to figure out a way to get close to Yu Shen.
Lin Feng watched as the teacher called on Yu Shen to answer a question. The young man stood, adjusted his glasses, and responded calmly.
I need to be more proactive from now on.
His expression grew serious.
And not just Yu Shen.
He needed to start building connections with others like him. This Hangzhou alone - in the future - would produce countless talents. Specifically in the tech industry. Entrepreneurs, innovators, visionaries who would reshape the world.
He had to get a piece of that pie. No matter what.
Beside him, Su Yue glanced over.
Lin Feng had been staring at that person ever since class started.
Could it be...
Her eyes widened slightly.
Is he... that kind of person?
She began shaking her head vigorously, as if trying to dislodge the thought.
No, no. That can't be right.
Lin Feng noticed her strange movements from the corner of his eye.
What's up with her?
Before he could ask, the teacher's voice cut through his thoughts.
"And so, the fundamental principles of binary…"
He glanced at the clock.
Mid-sentence, he slammed his book shut.
"Would you look at that. Time's up."
The students blinked in surprise at the abrupt ending.
"Have a good day, everyone," he said, already gathering his things. Then his gaze landed on Sun Xiao. "And don't be late next time."
With that, he walked out.
"That teacher is really strange," Chen Ming muttered, turning to Lin Feng. "He even stopped mid-sentence when the time hit the dot."
But Lin Feng didn't respond.
He was already on his feet, rushing toward the door.
"Class monitor! Wait!"
Yu Shen paused at the entrance and turned around.
Chen Ming watched the scene with a puzzled expression.
What's up with the boss today?
Beside him, Su Yue's face was unreadable.
Could her guess really be true?