Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 3：Checking the Scores

Time flowed like a river, days and nights passing in the blink of an eye.
The long-awaited day of exam results had finally arrived.
At noon, 12:00 PM, many people eagerly sat by their computers, waiting for the moment they could check their scores.
Jiang Fan was equally excited. Though he was confident in his performance, there remained the possibility of an error made by the examiners while grading.
The seconds ticked away slowly. Jiang Fan sat at the computer, his parents standing beside him, both equally nervous, glancing at the clock every so often, hoping their son would score well.
Jiang Fan's father, Jiang Jingguo, held a cup of goji berry tea, sipping it occasionally. Since childhood, Jiang Fan had always been his pride. Although his son's grades had taken a sharp decline in the past year, Jiang Jingguo believed in him. He was sure his son could pull through.
Li Guiqin, his mother, anxiously grasped his arm, silently praying that their son would achieve the results they so desperately wished for.
The shock from Jiang Fan's earlier breakdown still lingered in her heart, and she was afraid that another failure might cause him to slip into despair.
The clock struck 11:59. Just one more minute, then they would be able to check the results. But those 60 seconds stretched on like an eternity, each passing second only deepening their anxiety.
Jiang Fan and his parents kept their eyes locked on the second hand, mentally counting down.
3
2
1
Ding!
The clock chimed the hour.
Jiang Fan took a deep breath, clicked to refresh the webpage, and the page immediately prompted him for his admission ticket number and ID number.
His long fingers moved with grace, swiftly typing in the numbers.
Then, he clicked the mouse to select the query option.
Click!
The sound of the mouse click echoed, and both Jiang Jingguo and Li Guiqin felt their hearts race in unison.
The webpage loaded, but the results didn't appear immediately. Instead, a small spinning circle appeared in the center of the screen, rotating endlessly.
"What kind of website is this?" Jiang Jingguo muttered irritably, losing his patience.
Li Guiqin shot him a scolding glance but quickly returned her attention to the screen, unwilling to miss even a second of their son's score.
The circle spun for what seemed like an eternity before finally disappearing. Then, the screen displayed Jiang Fan's results:
Chinese: 60
Mathematics: 60
English: 60
Comprehensive Science: 120
Total: 300
Jiang Jingguo and Li Guiqin were stunned. Their hearts sank as they saw the score, and a chill spread through their chests. It seemed that their son had been ensnared by this curse even in the college entrance exams.
Just then, a voice echoed in Jiang Fan's mind.
Ding!
"Congratulations, host, you have successfully passed the Technology System's test. System binding and activation are in progress..."
Jiang Fan's body trembled with excitement, his heart leaping with joy. Finally! It's finally happening!
All of his hard work over the past year had not been in vain.
Once the system was fully activated, he was certain that he would become the greatest scientific researcher in Longguo.
But just as Jiang Fan began to dream of his future, Jiang Jingguo sighed deeply.
Sigh!
Li Guiqin quickly tugged at his arm, signaling for him to keep his thoughts to himself. Jiang Fan had barely recovered from his breakdown, and they didn't want him to hear any more negativity.
Jiang Jingguo understood and placed a hand on his son's shoulder, speaking with deep sincerity.
"Son, it's alright. Even if we start over, we'll be fine."
Jiang Fan didn't respond, as another sound echoed in his mind.
Ding:
"System binding successful! You have received the Newcomer's Gift Pack!"
Jiang Fan's heart swelled with pride and excitement. Haha... it's finally here!
"Open the Newcomer's Gift Pack!"
Ding:
"Newcomer's Gift Pack opened. Congratulations, host, you have received the principle formula for controllable nuclear fusion!"
Jiang Fan was stunned. He never expected the system to be so powerful, rewarding him with the formula for controllable nuclear fusion.
He knew a little about nuclear fusion.
Controllable nuclear fusion, as the name suggests, refers to a process where lighter atomic nuclei fuse together to release energy. It's the same principle behind hydrogen bombs. The power released from such explosions is immense, but the energy is uncontrollable.
However, the controllable fusion granted by the system allows the fusion process to maintain a stable temperature, releasing vast amounts of energy.
It was well-known that human beings primarily relied on non-renewable energy sources like oil and coal. One day, these resources would run out.
Controllable nuclear fusion offered clear advantages:

It releases more energy than nuclear fission.Its fuel supply is abundant and virtually endless.It produces no pollution.
Thus, controllable nuclear fusion is the perfect substitute for traditional energy sources.
Throughout history, every breakthrough in energy technology has led to significant advancements in science and technology.
Jiang Fan was certain that once controllable nuclear fusion was achieved, developing spacecraft and flying saucers would no longer be a dream.
He clenched his fist, looking at the formula for controllable nuclear fusion in his mind. This is it! This is amazing!
"Fantastic! Hahaha..."
Jiang Jingguo and Li Guiqin were taken aback by the ecstatic expression on their son's face. Had he really gone mad again?
Li Guiqin, unable to hold back her tears, wiped her eyes.
"Son, maybe... maybe we should forget about school. As long as we're all safe and sound, that's enough."
Jiang Fan saw his mother's tear-filled face and immediately understood her fear. She must have thought he was spiraling again. He quickly wiped away his excitement and tried to reassure her.
"Mom, don't worry. I'm fine."
Li Guiqin, relieved to hear her son's calm voice, asked cautiously, "Are you really okay?"
"Yes! I'm a bit hungry. Mom, could you make me something to eat?"
"Of course, of course! I'll make it right away!"
Li Guiqin rushed into the kitchen, her heart lightened. As long as her son was in good spirits, whether or not he went to university no longer mattered.
"It's good to know you're alright."
Jiang Jingguo patted his son's shoulder, though he couldn't hide the look of disappointment in his eyes. Jiang Fan knew he had no choice but to push through if he wanted to activate the system.
In the past year, his parents had sacrificed so much for him, enduring ridicule from others.
Just as Jiang Fan felt a pang of guilt for his parents, a new voice sounded in his mind.
Ding:
"Mission issued: Obtain admission to Longke University!"
"Mission reward: Super Mathematical Theory of Blue Star!"
"Failure carries no punishment!"
Jiang Fan froze.
The system wanted him to get admitted to Longke University?
But his score was only 300 points! With such a low score, not even an average college would accept him, let alone Longke University, the top research university in Longguo.
What could he do now?
Jiang Fan knew that as a researcher, only by entering a top-tier research university could he gain the resources needed to succeed.
Although the system was a powerful tool, he still needed the right environment for research. After all, the formula for controllable nuclear fusion was just the beginning. To bring it to life, massive resources would be required.