His colleague had sent him all the information, merely intending to emphasize the importance of their project; the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) had only approved three medical projects this time, and theirs was one of them.

His colleague had no idea that he had just listened to the presentation for one of those very projects.

The experts quieted down once more, while the students farther back watched the situation with curiosity; even Guo Weiya on stage looked somewhat perplexed.

The expert who had just read the message hadn't spoken loudly, so only the nearby doctors and experts heard him. Others hadn't clearly caught what he said or understood what was happening, with only a few nearby teachers and students catching the words.

They, too, were now deeply astonished. The approval of this project by the CAS was proof enough of everything. Every day across the nation, countless projects are submitted, very few reach the CAS, and even fewer are approved by them.

A project approved by the CAS not only represented honor but also signified robust research funding. Talented individuals eager for opportunities would flock to them; they would never have to worry about research resources again.

For a moment, many turned back with complex expressions tinged with envy, glancing at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang had just stated that he was the lead investigator for this project. Considering who gets to lead such a specialized project, Zhang Yang's future trajectory was entirely predictable.

"So, this project is actually real!"

Wang Yong murmured under his breath. His voice was low, but many around him heard it, and several nodded in agreement.

If the project had been approved by the CAS, how could it be fake?

Some people began to look up towards Guo Weiya, whose presentation had paused.

Guo Weiya’s earlier skepticism now seemed entirely baseless, and his claim of having heard of similar research sounded like pure nonsense.

If it were fraudulent, it could never have escaped the scrutiny of the CAS. Since the CAS had officially approved the project, it sufficiently demonstrated that the research had excellent prospects and had already achieved certain preliminary results.

"That's right, this project must be real!"

Another expert nodded firmly, emphasizing his statement.

His voice wasn't loud, but all the other experts heard it, and now they all processed the information, turning their attention towards Guo Weiya on stage.

If the project was genuine, then Guo Weiya had been lying. No wonder he had stuttered and spouted nonsense when questioned earlier.

He intentionally lied to slander another person, almost leading them all into wrongly accusing someone—what malicious intent.

"Young man, I'd like to ask, who was that American friend you mentioned earlier? Where do they work or study? Are they truly researching a similar topic there?"

A straightforward expert physician suddenly turned around and directly addressed Guo Weiya on stage.

His tone was far from polite. Guo Weiya stiffened slightly, feeling a surge of annoyance, though he kept it from showing on his face.

"Professor, this doesn't seem to fall under the scope of my presentation. Furthermore, this is the presentation time; could you please wait until I finish speaking before asking questions?"

Guo Weiya's demeanor was outwardly composed—this was because he hadn't heard what the experts had been discussing. If he had, his expression would likely be different.

"If you refuse to answer, I refuse to continue listening to your presentation, or rather, I choose to withdraw!"

The blunt expert glared at Guo Weiya and spoke slowly. He was now convinced that Guo Weiya had been attempting to frame Zhang Yang—a sinister individual.

He naturally refused to continue listening to the presentation of a sinister person; he would feel insulted by it.

"Me too. If he doesn't answer that question, I will exit this event!"

Another expert physician standing next to the first one spoke up in support. He, too, was known for his direct nature and a strong aversion to villainy.

Academics with real knowledge often possessed peculiar temperaments.

"Me too!"

"Me as well!"

Two more experts stood up, and this time Wang Yong was among them.

He and Zhang Yang had finally connected, and Zhang Yang's performance today had utterly exceeded his expectations. His own cautious scheming began to shift at this moment.

Naturally, he would support Zhang Yang now.

Following the two of them, five or six more stood up. Soon, all the expert physicians were on their feet, collectively demanding that Guo Weiya answer the previous question, threatening to walk out en masse otherwise.

The leaders from Tongji Medical School standing nearby panicked, rushing over to placate the assembled experts.

These experts represented their respective hospitals, and they were all mid-to-upper management within those institutions. Offending them meant simultaneously offending dozens of hospitals.

More than that, representatives from both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health were present. If these bodies formed any negative opinions, it would spell absolute disaster for the school.

Some people began discreetly inquiring about what exactly had transpired.

Guo Weiya, standing on stage, was utterly aghast. He hadn't anticipated such an intense reaction from that first expert, nor did he expect these seasoned professionals to unite and pressure him, a mere student.

At this moment, he had no idea what appropriate response he could offer.

In a short while, the people from Tongji Medical School finally grasped the situation. Upon learning that the project Zhang Yang had just presented was among those newly approved by the CAS, they too were stunned into silence.

They were fully aware of what a CAS project signified.

At this point, they couldn't help but look toward Zhu Daoqi from Changjing University with a touch of jealousy. Having such an outstanding student was enough to make their entire college proud for a long time.

Then they recalled Zhang Yang's earlier, seemingly joking remark.

If this project succeeded, the nomination list for the Nobel Prize in Medicine would feature one more Chinese name.

This was no longer just a joke; it might very well become reality. The project's approval meant the research held immense promise, and the CAS was willing to support it. With such substantial backing, their research efforts would be smoother, and the probability of success would be very high.

If it truly succeeded, Zhang Yang would inevitably be nominated for the Nobel Prize.

Even if it was just a nomination and not the final award, it would still be an enormous honor, especially since Zhang Yang was so young. Achieving this level of success now foreshadowed what brilliant accomplishments lay ahead.

No one could rule out the possibility that Zhang Yang might one day secure the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

If that happened, Changjing University would gain even greater prestige, and its medical school would become instantly renowned. Cultivating a Nobel laureate would be more than enough justification.

In such a scenario, it was entirely possible that the Changjing University School of Medicine could surpass their own institution. A Nobel Prize—no one of Chinese nationality had yet received one in this field. While there had been laureates of Chinese descent in later years, that was far in the future, and none were in medicine.

"Students, teachers, please settle down. I will explain the reason!"

After consulting with the leadership of Tongji Medical School, the expert physicians decided to step forward to clarify matters. Wang Yong was designated to deliver the explanation.

Wang Yong stood up, holding a microphone so that everyone in the small auditorium could hear his words.

"Professor Huang from Beijing just received a message—it was the pager from earlier. A few minutes ago, the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced eight specialized research projects. Three of these eight are in the field of medicine, and one of them is exactly the project Zhang Yang just discussed: 'Improvement and Cure for Multiple * Asthmatic Type!'"

Wang Yong said only this one sentence before lowering the microphone.

This was his explanation—simple, yet it omitted why they had pressured Guo Weiya on stage to answer the question. But the numerous students below were first stunned, then filled with sheer awe.

The project had been approved. Everything Zhang Yang had said was true—he was truly leading such a massive undertaking?

As fellow students, they were already thrilled just to participate in minor research projects, yet Zhang Yang was presiding over something of this magnitude. This gap was almost unimaginable to them.

Moreover, now that the project was approved, the level of secrecy surrounding it would decrease. They might learn many details, apart from the core content itself. This essentially meant Zhang Yang was now becoming famous.

If the project succeeded, Zhang Yang’s fame would only grow larger.

"It's really, truly approved!"

Zhu Daoqi's eyes were fixed, the muscles in his face twitching unnaturally. His feelings at this moment were the most complex.

On one hand, he was elated that Zhang Yang's project had passed the CAS review. On the other, he deeply regretted that the project was not based at their university.

If such a crucial project had been researched at their school and yielded results, it would have brought immense benefits to the entire university.

It was a pity now that the Third Institute had snatched the lead. Those detestable people at the Third Institute had kept this hidden for so long, pulling Zhang Yang over to help them create such a significant stir. If they had known earlier, they absolutely would not have let the Third Institute get ahead.

However, dwelling on that was useless now. The project had been approved and was fated to belong to the Third Institute; they couldn't snatch it back even if they tried.

Shi Yan and Zhao Qiang wore complex expressions as well.

The feeling of reporting a project was entirely different from the feeling of hearing one had been officially approved.

It was like a friend telling you they were going to start a company projected to earn ten million yuan annually. Even if the company actually launched, you might not feel much. But once they genuinely earned ten million, your feeling would naturally change.

Saying something and achieving it were two different concepts.

When Zhang Yang previously mentioned reporting the project, it had already delivered a considerable shock. Hearing now that it was formally approved amplified that shock even more.

For a student, being involved in any CAS-approved project was a source of immense pride. Leading such a project was something they couldn't even dare to imagine.

And Zhang Yang had achieved something they hadn't dared to dream of.

Slowly, the crowd recovered from the shock of the news. Those who regained their senses often turned their gaze back towards the stage.

They finally understood why the experts had asked such pointed questions and collectively used the threat of withdrawal to force Guo Weiya to explain his previous statement.

With the project already approved, the truth of who was genuine and who was false was crystal clear. To then resort to slander based on a perceived contradiction—that demonstrated a severely lacking moral character.

Forget the experts; even these students now felt unwilling to continue listening to Guo Weiya's presentation. No matter how well he spoke, his poor character made listening to him feel shameful.