1. Identity suspense: The gradual revelations, from “academic paper author” to painter Nian Qi to hacker Zero to scientist, keep readers curious;
2. Foreshadowing through details: Things like the original edition of Quantum Physics and secretly repairing the stage set late at night lay the groundwork for later identity reveals;
3. Contrast: Her double life as an ordinary high school senior and a top expert heightens the dramatic tension;
4. Interwoven emotional thread: Lu Chenzhou’s shift from bystander to protector creates a subtle thread that echoes the theme.
Possible directions to develop later: a family backstory, such as a dispute over the scientific legacy of Su Nian’s parents, and a hidden motive for why she chose to return to an ordinary life, which would make the characters more three-dimensional.
During preparations for the campus arts festival, the class runs into a design problem with the props for its play. Su Nian sneaks over the wall into the art room in the middle of the night. By morning, everyone discovers that she has finished all the scenery: a starry backdrop in a style reminiscent of Monet, with brushwork so professional it leaves them astonished. In an even more dramatic turn, the director of the city art museum happens to see a photo and pays her a personal visit. He excitedly takes Su Nian’s hand. “‘Nian Qi,’ your solo exhibition opens next week. I had no idea you were still in high school!”
Chapter Four: A Third Identity in the Online World
Before one problem is resolved, another arises. A post suddenly appears on the school forum, revealing that the IP address of “Zero,” the champion of a major hacking competition, points to the school. While everyone guesses it must be the president of the computer club, Su Nian quietly logs into an encrypted server and repairs the school’s voting system, which has been attacked. The backend logs show that her methods match Zero’s signature techniques exactly. Lu Sichen, who has been keeping an eye on her in secret, intercepts the information
