Chapter 593: The First Interview as World's Richest (2)
The Girlfriend Named 'Secret'
Before Luke could even answer, the World's Richest Person's mystery girlfriend instantly became the focus of every major news platform. The number of people watching the live stream continued to climb: five million... six million... seven million. It only began to slow down upon hitting eight million.
The studio audience craned their necks, practically putting their ears on the stage. Anderson's smile was knowing, radiating a confident certainty.
Interviews are interactive. Some questions you just can't refuse.
"Alright, I'll tell you," Luke shrugged. In the gaze of millions of expectant eyes, he spoke. "Her name is Secret."
Boo!
A wave of boos and groans swept through the audience.
Linda, Carol, and the others looked disappointed, mixed with a hint of relief, but mostly annoyance.
Anderson pressed him. "You truly aren't going to say her name?"
"I already did. Her name is Secret."
"How long do you plan to keep this secret?"
"We'll see!"
Anderson shook his head, choosing not to press the issue further, and moved to a new topic.
"Mr. Shaw, I looked into your background and found something very interesting: you haven't attended school."
"That's right."
"Not for a single day?"
"Not for a single day."
Anderson sat up straight, bearing down like a shark smelling blood. "Is the reason you achieved such remarkable success at 21 because you spent the time other people spent in school doing something else?"
"No, the two are not directly related."
"I don't think so, and I believe the audience watching at home feels the same way. The young World's Richest Person has never been to school. There must be a connection."
Luke shook his head. "I didn't go to school for only one reason: I didn't need to."
"Why didn't you need to?"
"Because I'm a genius."
Anderson: "..."
"You finally said it! I've been waiting for that."
"Because it's the truth," Luke laughed. "I have a unique talent for learning. Knowledge that takes other children ten days to master, I can learn in half a day. You can't expect a child who had mastered advanced mathematics and nuclear physics at the age of ten to sit through middle school education. That's just a waste of time."
"Do you think other children should follow your example?"
"No, it depends on the situation. The era has changed. There are many ways to acquire knowledge, and school is just one of them."
"I hear something in your words." Anderson leaned forward, asking the most crucial question. "It sounds like you are dissatisfied with the current education system."
"Not dissatisfied. I am extremely dissatisfied. I believe the current education system is outdated and even violates the very essence of education."
Oh!
Anderson's expression sharpened. He hadn't expected Luke to make such a bold statement in this setting—though it was exactly what he'd hoped for.
"Can you tell me the specific reasons? Why do you believe the education system is outdated? Is this view based on your personal experience or other fields?"
Luke replied, "I am an exception; I cannot be considered a regular parameter. But the success of ShowMe proves my point."
"The reason ShowMe has reached its current scale—aside from objective factors like luck, opportunity, planning, and hard work—is most importantly because we have a group of extremely brilliant engineers."
"I think you must have heard the stories about the ShowMe tech department."
Anderson nodded. "I hear you have a lot of high school students there."
"Not just high schoolers. Some haven't even finished middle school. By academic standards, they'd be considered elementary school students."
Anderson smiled. "Could I interpret this as you employing child labor?"
"Child labor that possesses top-tier computer skills and is worth over ten million dollars... you could interpret it that way."
Both men laughed. Anderson shifted his posture and continued the discussion.
"ShowMe's job postings caused quite a stir two years ago. Many universities openly boycotted you, claiming your actions were undermining the U.S. talent pipeline."
"Their concern is understandable, especially since the bar I set is so high."
Too high?
Anderson found that amusing. "If I recall correctly, among all tech companies in the U.S., you are the only one that doesn't have an education requirement."
"Yes, no education requirement, but there are requirements for professional knowledge and professional quality. They are very high—ridiculously high. For example, 90% of computer science graduates from Ivy League universities do not meet our requirements. That's why our tech department is always short-handed."
Luke drew a horizontal line in the air. "My management philosophy is quality over quantity. Therefore, the job posting set a very high professional standard. Only those who cross that line are qualified to join the tech department."
"Are there no other conditions?"
"Yes. No lazy people and no racists. Everything else is irrelevant."
Anderson took a deep breath. "Mr. Shaw, your idea is truly incredible. If someone who meets your professional standards hasn't even finished elementary school, you would still hire them?"
"Why wouldn't I? Don't forget, I haven't even attended kindergarten."
Anderson: "..."
Luke continued, "This is why I'm dissatisfied with the current education system. Different people have different understandings of education, but the essence is common: it is to impart knowledge. Knowledge should be primary, and education secondary. The current situation is reversed: elementary education, middle school education, university education. Only by completing the corresponding education can you receive the corresponding academic degree. This is wrong. Completely wrong."
"Take the 'monsters' in the ShowMe tech department. Many of them can't even write the simplest chemical equation, but that doesn't stop them from being top-tier computer experts. They built an unimaginably strong defense system that ensures the data of over a billion users is not leaked. Without them, ShowMe couldn't have achieved this scale in just four years."
"How would you evaluate these people?"
Anderson was uncharacteristically silent, stroking his chin in thought.
The audience watching on their computers also began to ponder the implications. The "monsters" in the ShowMe tech department excitedly clenched their fists, their faces flushed. The feeling of being acknowledged was indescribable.
Luke was not just their boss; he was their god.
After a long pause, Anderson did not change his initial stance.
"What you've stated are exceptions. They don't prove anything."
Luke smiled. "I am only stating facts; I have no intention of proving anything. With the popularization of the internet, the ways to acquire knowledge are increasing. Correspondingly, the number of geniuses held back by academic requirements will also rise sharply. They should not suffer differential treatment because of a degree. You cannot judge a person just by their packaging, especially regarding specialized knowledge. Only by a deep understanding are you qualified to draw a conclusion."
"This is my view: Education should not be graded; knowledge should be graded."
Anderson was left speechless. A sense of admiration even rose in his heart. The 21-year-old World's Richest Person truly is extraordinary.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause erupted in the studio. Everyone stood up to applaud Luke.
The internet was in a frenzy. Everyone watching the live stream was giving him a thumbs-up.
Education should not be graded; knowledge should be graded.
This sentence hit a nerve with many people, resonating deeply.
From this moment on, Luke's public image underwent a fundamental change. He transformed from the rumored playboy and mobster's son into a god in the eyes of the public.
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