Chapter 16: Compression Algorithm (Rolling Around, Begging for Recommendations and Favorites)

When he opened his eyes, it was already nine in the morning.

The gentle young woman was nestled in Lu Yu’s arms, both of them sleeping soundly on the sofa beneath a light blanket. Thankfully, the heating was turned up high enough to keep away the chill. The lady in traditional attire was nowhere to be seen—she was likely resting in the bedroom.

Lu Yu twisted his neck, sore from sleep, then rose quietly to wash up. He found a set of clothes bought the previous day and dressed before settling into the study to organize the files on his computer.

Aside from the algorithm he had sold to Ali, there was a trove of other work—results from his recent research and study. Though each was a small achievement in itself, together they amounted to something significant.

It was no exaggeration to say that if all these achievements were released, the technology of Blue Star’s Internet would make great leaps forward and find new paths for development. Yet, unlike the algorithm, these results couldn’t easily be converted into cash. Most were programming methods and ideas he had distilled from technological literature, along with small applications he’d developed using those methods.

But methods and ideas can’t be patented, let alone monetized. So Lu Yu had no intention of releasing them.

Besides, he didn’t have the right channels. He couldn’t possibly go door to door, pitching them to every Internet company, could he? Such thankless, strenuous work was not his style. And as for posting them on tech forums, Lu Yu admitted he wasn’t so selfless—not yet ready to burn himself up for the good of all humanity, to offer up his knowledge for the benefit of the world.

Unless he someday managed to create artificial intelligence, only then might these materials be made public.

For now, he encrypted and organized the files. As he continued to deepen his understanding of technological knowledge, he believed these results would find their use in time. Even if they were not needed for developing AI immediately, they would surely be valuable once AI became a reality.

After all, Lu Yu knew that even if he unlocked more advanced technological knowledge in the future, it would be impossible to create something like Jarvis—a super AI—in a short span of time. Developing even a basic AI would be challenge enough.

Climbing the ladder of technology required more than imagination; it demanded steady, practical progress, step by step.

That lost civilization, too, had only reached its heights after countless ages of exploration and research. Lu Yu could not hope to achieve such greatness overnight.

It was much like his own country, which had struggled for decades to catch up with the West, starting from poverty and weakness. Even now, they were still constrained in many ways, still lagging significantly in cutting-edge fields.

If closing the gap with the West was so difficult, how much harder would it be to catch up with a technological civilization that had evolved over countless eons? Even with access to advanced knowledge, Blue Star’s technology simply could not realize it. The gulf was too wide.

Lu Yu’s path, then, could only be to use patent licensing or outright technology transfers to strengthen Blue Star’s basic technologies, incrementally driving progress. It wasn’t a matter of releasing some earth-shattering new product to dominate the world.

He certainly possessed earth-shattering knowledge—and plenty of it.

But the crux of the problem was that Blue Star’s factories simply could not manufacture such things! It was like handing an ancient blacksmith the complete blueprints for a space shuttle—even if he could understand them, what then? Was he to hammer it out piece by piece with his tools?

Basic science and industry always determine the ultimate heights of technology.

Thus, as he worked to improve foundational science and industry, Lu Yu needed to keep studying the technological knowledge in his mind, deepening his mastery. Only then could he gradually bring those marvels to fruition on Blue Star. Otherwise, those miracles would remain as unattainable as a flower in the water or the moon in a mirror.

He would never be able to glimpse the other wonders of the universe.

Speaking of wonders, one soon appeared.

The young lady in traditional attire had already risen. After washing and dressing, she emerged from the bedroom in a long, ancient-style winter skirt—white, embroidered with orchids: simple, elegant, her hair pinned up with a delicate hairpin that swayed as she moved.

After spending a few days together, both young women had noticed Lu Yu’s preference for subtle makeup, so she wore only the lightest touch. She stepped up behind Lu Yu, leaning her chin on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around him, peering at his computer screen.

“What are you working on?”

Lu Yu’s fingers flew over the keyboard as he coded a new compression algorithm. If it proved successful, it would have a profound impact on Blue Star’s Internet. He had devised it by studying the Internet-related sections of his beginner-level technological materials, extrapolating from what he’d learned there.

By his calculations, the algorithm could compress data by up to a factor of ten—meaning what previously required 10GB could now fit into just 1GB. Of course, this was only his expectation; whether it would live up to the ideal remained to be proven, and only after completion and testing would he know for certain.

The precise compression ratio wasn’t the most important thing—it was whether the process was truly lossless. Otherwise, the value of the algorithm would be greatly diminished.

Though untested, Lu Yu felt at least eighty percent confident in its success. After all, the Internet concepts and methodologies in his beginner-level materials far surpassed anything on Blue Star.

Even if he hadn’t fully mastered those advanced concepts, he could still imitate them to some extent. It was like a novice swordsman catching a glimpse of a master’s technique—not able to grasp its essence, perhaps, but able to mimic the form.

After finishing his current section of code, Lu Yu paused. This was not a task to be rushed in a day or two.

He saved his work, then took the lady’s delicate hand and said, “Something interesting.”

She gave a soft hum, and he drew her in front of him, studying her from head to toe. She did not blush or shy away, but spun around twice with playful grace, asking,

“What do you think?”

Lu Yu stroked his chin. “You make my heart flutter.”

She burst into laughter, giving him a coquettish look.

Noting the time—just past noon—Lu Yu said, “Let’s go have lunch. I have a meeting at two.”

She nodded, pausing at the mirror to tidy her dress and hair before following him out the door.

Lu Yu slung his laptop over his shoulder, took her hand, and together they took the elevator down to the hotel restaurant, choosing a table by the window.

While waiting for their food, she took out her phone for selfies, then had Lu Yu help her find the best angle for some full-body shots. Only once satisfied did she put her phone away.

After their meal and a light soup, they lingered a while longer before heading to the reserved meeting room.

A hotel staff member brought in a pot of tea and quietly left.

Lu Yu took a seat, opened his laptop, and handed the spare to the young lady. “Watch a show if you like. Have some fun while you wait.”

She nodded, settling nearby and turning on a drama, keeping the volume low.

Lu Yu launched his coding software and resumed work, his fingers tapping out a rapid rhythm as he focused on his algorithm.

Time passed quickly.

At one-forty, the first interviewee arrived—a middle-aged man around forty, dressed in formal business attire, following the hotel staff into the room.

Lu Yu glanced up and gestured to a seat. “Have a seat. There should be two more joining us. Help yourself to tea if you’d like.”

The man nodded, poured himself some tea, and waited quietly.

Lu Yu continued working, barely distracted.

When the young lady noticed someone had arrived, she muted her video and observed the newcomer with curiosity.

Soon, two more people arrived. After they’d all helped themselves to tea and taken their seats, Lu Yu saved his work, closed his laptop, and leaned back in his chair, surveying the trio.

The first to arrive was Liu Shichang, forty-one, with experience at two major companies. He had risen from an ordinary employee to department head and then vice president, working in Yangcheng. By his résumé, he seemed steady and reliable, if not particularly outstanding.

The next two were a man and a woman: Deng Qiang, thirty-six, and Zhou Jing, thirty-two. Both had impressive records.

Lu Yu drummed his fingers on the table, waiting a moment before saying, “My name is Lu Yu. I’m also the company’s legal representative. Judging from your résumés, each of you is quite experienced, especially Zhou Jing.”

He recited their résumés in detail, then concluded, “All three of you meet my requirements. I have just one final question.”

“Our company is very small—just established, in fact. Why do you want to join us?”