Zebra．Franklin

A zebra with a passion for all things mechanical, his head constantly filled with new ideas and designs. Overhearing him talking to himself, you assumed that he was making a time bomb. You interrupted him in a panic, only to find that it was nothing more than a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Franklin showed his natural creativity from a young age. At just five years old, he could repair broken appliances, and by the time he was 10, he had already patented several inventions. Some years later, the young Franklin was noticed by a professor and given exceptional admission to a prestigious university to further his studies. This keen-eyed professor was none other than the famous inventor Edwin the Mole.

Franklin studied hard, and soon finished all of his courses. He even completed a new invention in his spare time. Professor Edwin told him that it was an outstanding invention and hoped that he would optimize the design. He said that he would help Franklin find investors, and that he would hate to see such a world-changing invention stuck on the drawing board.

However, after a few weeks, Professor Edwin came and told Franklin that despite his strong words of recommendation, no investors were willing to take a gamble on an unknown young inventor. Franklin was deeply disappointed, but the professor had a solution. He proposed that Franklin could temporarily transfer the patent to him, as his reputation would certainly win the trust of investors. Then, when the product becomes a success, he would return the patent. Out of trust in the professor and the strong desire to prove himself, Franklin accepted the offer.

Just as Professor Edwin said, the invention won investment and the product was successfully launched a year later. Franklin was thrilled by the popularity of the product and felt an immense sense of accomplishment and pride. A few days later, he visited the professor to discuss the return of the patent. The professor told Franklin that he had already talked it over with the investor, but he had refused due to the fear that it would affect sales. However, he promised Franklin that he would continue trying to convince the investor.

A week, a month, a year went by. Every time Franklin went to ask, the answer was no, and Professor Edwin was growing ever more impatient. On his final visit, the professor did not even open the door and called Franklin a fool who was incapable of seeing the big picture. But Franklin was not a fool; he finally understood what the professor was up to. Right from the beginning, the professor's solution was in fact a despicable plan to cheat Franklin out of the patent, all while Franklin so admired him as a teacher.

The next day, Franklin came to visit again, but this time he did not mention the return of the patent. Instead, he brought the "prototype" of a new invention. Professor Edwin was overjoyed to see the "fool" back at his door. He greeted Franklin warmly and tried out the "brainwave amplifier" for himself...

Crackle! An overload of electricity surged out of the device. From then on, the renowned professor, educator, inventor, and entrepreneur had the mental age of a three-year-old — two years less than the five years of age that Franklin had intended in his design. It seemed that the "prototype" still had some kinks to iron out.