I started with a ship full of max-level veterans, and I'm just a complete noob.

The sea breeze whistled across the deck.

Beside him, Chen Zhiyuan looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to name some Ivy League university. Several other returned scholars who hadn't gone far also stopped and pricked up their ears.

Who exactly is the last person on the list who was added at the last minute?

Jiang Ming took a deep breath.

"Mr. Qian," Jiang Ming began, speaking slowly, "It's embarrassing to admit..."

He paused, gritted his teeth, and made a firm decision.

"I studied mechanical engineering, but I didn't learn any real skills at school. My grades were terrible, and I failed several basic courses."

"The reason I returned to China this time was because I couldn't stay in the United States any longer, so I used my connections to get on this ship."

The words fell.

A deathly silence fell over the deck. Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

Chen Zhiyuan's enthusiastic smile froze, stuck at the corner of his mouth. His hand, which was pushing up his glasses, stopped in mid-air, his mouth slightly open, but he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

The other returned students around them exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions turning strange.

"You only returned to China because you couldn't make it in the job market?"

"How could someone fail even basic courses and get on the list of those returning to China?"

A few hushed whispers reached Jiang Ming's ears.

Jiang Ming kept his head down, his toes digging into the soles of his ill-fitting old leather shoes, wishing he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment and crawl into it right there.

That's so damn embarrassing!

Utterly and utterly dead!

In this setting filled with top elites, each with a patriotic ambition, his self-disclosure was like a molting duck mixed in with a flock of swans.

He was prepared to be severely criticized by Qian Xuesen, or even to be kicked out of the circle.

However, the expected ridicule and sarcasm did not materialize.

Qian Xuesen quietly looked at the young man in front of him, whose shoulders were trembling with nervousness.

He didn't frown, nor did he show any disdain.

After a moment, Qian Xuesen nodded slightly.

"There are far better people who can admit their shortcomings than those who are all talk and no action." Qian Xuesen raised his hand and gently patted Jiang Ming's shoulder. "It's better for you to go back to China than to stay there."

Jiang Ming suddenly looked up, completely stunned.

You weren't scolded?

Instead, I got praised?!

Just then.

【Ding! 】

In my mind, the ancient chime of the bell rang out once again.

The Record of Heaven opened in my mind, and a line of shimmering golden characters leaped onto the page.

[The change in trust level with Qian Xuesen: from strangers to acquaintances.]

[Note: The entry standard has not yet been met; continued genuine interaction is required.]

Jiang Ming looked at the line of gold characters, let out a long breath, and his tense back instantly relaxed.

You made the right bet!

For such a worldly-wise tycoon, any elaborate packaging or lie is laughable.

A straightforward and honest approach, this "unavoidable sincerity," is actually the only weapon that can break the deadlock!

The progress bar is moving! Although we're still some distance from officially entering the calligraphic works, we're definitely on the right track!

"Since you're studying mechanical engineering," Qian Xuesen withdrew his hand, his tone still as casual as if he were chatting with someone, "you must have encountered the practical applications of Bernoulli's equation in class, right?"

Jiang Ming's heart skipped a beat.

Here it is! The expert's pop quiz!

He frantically searched his mind for the few pitiful memories of his predecessor.

"Um... I've had some experience with it," Jiang Ming stammered. "Mainly... mainly about the conservation of energy along streamlines when a fluid is incompressible..."

He spoke with extreme lack of confidence, like a primary school student who hadn't memorized the text and was being randomly selected by the teacher for a test.

Qian Xuesen nodded, not interrupting him, and continued, "What if it involves calculating the yield strength of materials under hypersonic conditions?"

Jiang Ming opened his mouth, but his mind went completely blank.

In the memories of the original owner, this class was all about sleeping in the back row, and she didn't even memorize a single formula.

"Mr. Qian, I really don't know how to do this." Jiang Ming honestly lowered his head and admitted defeat. "To be honest, I haven't even mastered the basics of materials mechanics."

Chen Zhiyuan, who was standing next to him, could no longer bear to look at it and silently turned his head to look at the sea.

Jiang Ming thought that Qian Lao would finally be disappointed.

Qian Xuesen simply smiled.

"It doesn't matter if your foundation is weak." Qian Xuesen turned to look at the vast Pacific Ocean. "Go back and study hard. The country is in dire need of rebuilding, and what it lacks most are people who understand technology."

He turned his head and looked at Jiang Ming intently.

"Even if your foundation is weak, as long as you are willing to learn, it's not too late."

As long as you're willing to learn, there's still time.

These seven words were like a heavy hammer, striking Jiang Ming's heart, which had been in a state of self-loathing.

Jiang Ming's nose suddenly sore.

Before he transmigrated, he was a good-for-nothing who had wasted four years of his university life. His teachers gave up on him, his classmates ignored him, and even he despised himself.

No one had ever said to him in such an equal and hopeful tone, "It's not too late."

An unprecedented mix of emotion and guilt welled up from my chest.

"I understand, Mr. Qian." Jiang Ming bit his tongue hard, suppressing the stinging in his eyes.

It was evening.

The cruise ship's loudspeaker announced that dinner was served.

"Brother Jiang, let's go to the restaurant for dinner." Chen Zhiyuan patted Jiang Ming's arm. Although Jiang Ming revealed his poor academic record, Chen Zhiyuan was a kind-hearted person and did not distance himself from him because of it.

"Brother Chen, you go first. I'm a little seasick, I'll enjoy the sea breeze a bit more." Jiang Ming waved his hand.

"Okay, then I'll bring you back two steamed buns." Chen Zhiyuan turned around and followed the crowd toward the restaurant.

The deck quickly emptied.

The setting sun dyed the sea a golden-red hue.

Jiang Ming leaned against the railing alone and immediately summoned the "Record of Human Connections" in his mind.

The bronze-colored register was opened, and the page for "detailed description" was turned.

Jiang Ming's gaze immediately locked onto the core function of "tracing the origins".

[Tracing the lineage: After successful entry, you can trace the person's lineage of teachers and academic peers, and unlock spiritual dialogues with deceased historical figures from ancient and modern times.]

Jiang Ming's breathing began to quicken.

He swallowed hard, quickly reviewing Qian Xuesen's academic background in his mind.

Who was Qian Xuesen's mentor?

Theodore von Kármán! One of the greatest aerospace engineers of the 20th century and one of the founders of modern mechanics!

If we can record Qian Xuesen's information, the system will automatically trace back to unlock Theodore von Kármán!

What about going back further?

Who was Theodore von Kármán's mentor?

Ludwig Prandtl! The father of aerodynamics!

If you keep digging upwards along this line...

The entire theoretical system of modern physics, mechanics, and aerodynamics will be completely opened up in his mind!

Jiang Ming felt his blood boiling.

He was a modern-day dud who failed even advanced mathematics, and a failed overseas student who even failed materials mechanics.

But if he could have these historical scientific giants giving him private lessons anytime, anywhere...

A struggling student's turnaround is not a dream!

If he wants to be worthy of being on the list of those returning to China, if he wants to live a meaningful life in this turbulent era, this is his only chance to turn things around!

"We must register Mr. Qian!" Jiang Ming slammed his hand on the railing. "We must max out his trust level!"

But how do I swipe it?

The system stipulates that it must be based on "genuine trust" and cannot be achieved through flattery or cheating.

How could a student who couldn't even memorize all the formulas expect a master like Qian Xuesen to completely trust him?

Jiang Ming stared at the calm sea, his mind racing.

Since lying is unacceptable, since the "underachiever" persona has already been established, and since Professor Qian just said, "As long as you're willing to learn, it's not too late"...

A crazy, even shameless, idea suddenly took shape in his mind.

Jiang Ming's lips curled into a smile as he stared intently at the sentence on the Tongtian Record: "It is necessary to continuously establish real interaction."

"Now that I've established my 'bad student' persona, can I just grab a notebook...?" Jiang Ming muttered to himself, "and knock on the door of a max-level expert to ask them to tutor me?"