Math professor returns to routine

Shen Mumu tossed two cashews at Lu You, then got up and went around to the sofa opposite.

Even after sitting down, I still felt unsatisfied, so I threw away two more.

A cashew nut hits you, bounces off, and lands on the ground, causing no pain or itch.

"Cousin, you're asking about my studies just to mock me, aren't you?"

Seeing Shen Mumu's sullen expression, Lu You couldn't help but think of Tang Wan, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

These women are all pretty much the same when they get angry.

First, use melee attacks, then create distance, and finally use your preferred weapon for ranged attacks.

"How could that be? Is my cousin that kind of person?"

“I think so,” Shen Mumu said with a serious expression.

Lu You was too lazy to explain, so she bent down to pick up the cashews scattered on the ground and threw them into the trash can.

"Actually, setting a difficult and ambitious goal is not a bad thing. For example, my goal is to become the first Chinese Fields Medalist. Even though it is very difficult and almost impossible to achieve, I will still work hard for it."

"What is the Fields Medal? Is it prestigious?" It's no wonder Shen Mumu was ignorant; her interest in mathematics was really limited.

"You can think of it as the Nobel Prize of mathematics."

Shen Mumu was filled with awe.

Aside from literature and peace, the Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology, and medicine are the highest awards in their respective fields.

When she was a child, Shen Mumu also made a grand statement, saying that she would win the Nobel Prize when she grew up and bring glory to the country.

When I finally grew up, I realized that I was just an ordinary mortal, how could I possibly compete with a group of gods?

"Fields Medal, cousin, do you think you have a chance of winning it?"

"It's possible."

Shen Mumu narrowed her eyes, her expression conveying doubt.

Lu You is very capable, she knows that, but she doesn't believe that she's capable enough to compete for the Nobel Prize in mathematics.

Lu You didn't argue. Such things from her past life weren't something she could just casually talk about; if she did, she'd most likely be seen as delusional.

"If you work hard your whole life and always miss out on the Fields Medal, wouldn't you feel that all your efforts have been in vain?" Shen Mumu stared intently at Lu You, her eyes filled with urgency and longing.

Lu You didn't dodge the question, and said frankly, "No. For me, a goal isn't a destination that I have to reach, but rather a signpost that guides me and motivates me to move forward. If I can achieve it, that would be best, but if I can't, the knowledge and achievements I gain along the way will still be worth my efforts and dedication."

Your studies are the same. Aim for a university in the capital, work hard, and if you get in, you'll achieve your goal and everyone will be happy. If you don't get in, what you've learned and the experiences you've had will not be in vain for your hard work.

"Is the process more important than the result?" Shen Mumu frowned slightly, muttering to herself thoughtfully.

"So, cousin, don't be discouraged just because the goal is too far away. Do your best, leave the rest to fate, and just have a clear conscience."

Shen Mumu seemed to have taken Lu You's words to heart, and her spirits improved considerably. The decadent aura emanating from her disappeared, and the two shifted their conversation from studies and daily life to everyday gossip.

"Cousin, was Tang Wan your first love?"

"Cousin, are you lusting after Tang Wan at first sight?"

"Cousin, what are the most unacceptable shortcomings of Sister Tang Wan?"

"Cousin, how much dowry are you planning to give when you marry Tang Wan?"

Shen Mumu caught Lu You and bombarded her with questions.

Lu You was able to answer the first few questions, but the tone gradually went astray, and the questions became increasingly sensitive.

Lu You hadn't forgotten that Shen Mumu had been in contact with Tang Wan in private. If Shen Mumu overheard some of their conversations and relayed them to Tang Wan, who knows how distorted they might have become.

Lu You simply kept quiet and didn't answer some of the sensitive questions.

Anyway, Shen Mumu isn't an elder, just a little cousin, what can she do to him?

The two hadn't been talking for long when three adults walked in.

Shen Pingkuo took his seat at the head of the table, skillfully boiling water and making tea, while also inquiring about Lu You's recent university life.

This includes, but is not limited to, major, academic performance, personal relationships, and future plans.

Shen Pingkuo asked these questions not because he wanted to know for himself, but because he wanted Wang Zhili to have a more comprehensive understanding of Lu You.

Although the two acted as if they knew each other before the meal, it should only be at the level of acquaintance. It would be good to deepen their relationship further.

Lu You understood Shen Pingkuo's good intentions and answered his questions in detail.

During the conversation, Wang Zhili would occasionally chime in with a few words about mathematics.

Shen Mumu listened with great interest while munching on cashews.

She couldn't understand the professional content, but her grades and emotional expression were still acceptable.

This conversation lasted for two hours.

Wang Zhili glanced at the clock on the wall, slapped his thigh, and stood up. "It's getting late. I have things to do, so let's stop here!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Pingkuo also checked the time.

It's past 3:40, which is indeed quite late.

"Okay, I'll drive you there."

Lu You spoke up at the opportune moment: "Academician Wang, are you going back to the university?"

"Yes." Wang Zhili nodded.

“I also drove here, you can ride in my car!” After saying that, Lu You turned to Shen Pingkuo, “Uncle, I’ll take Academician Wang back, it’s not necessary for you to make the trip.”

Wang Zhili and Shen Pingkuo exchanged a glance and joked, "Little guy, are you any good at driving? My old arms and legs can't take this kind of strain."

"Don't worry!" Lu You smiled confidently, "I'm an experienced driver, it'll be fine!"

……

Saying goodbye to Shen Pingkuo and his family of three.

Lu You got into the driver's seat, placed a bright silver thermos on the passenger seat, and then turned to look back.

"Hold on tight, Academician Wang?"

Wang Zhili sat in the back passenger seat, fastened his seatbelt, and said, "Okay, let's go!"

The car weaved through the narrow lanes and soon entered the main road, merging with the flow of traffic.

No one spoke inside the car; only the sound of the wheels rolling over the asphalt road echoed.

“Little guy, you’re Old Shen’s nephew, why didn’t you tell me beforehand?” Wang Zhili suddenly said.

Lu You held the steering wheel firmly and chuckled, "You didn't ask!"

"You won't tell me if I don't ask?"

"Why don't you ask me?"

The two exchanged a knowing smile, and the dull and awkward atmosphere instantly became relaxed and pleasant.

"How is your new thesis progressing? Have you encountered any difficulties?" Wang Zhili asked kindly.

"It's alright, progressing steadily, no difficulties for now." There are indeed difficulties, but Lu You adheres to the principle of self-reliance and will never trouble others with problems that can be solved by himself.

“If you have any difficulties, go to Xiao Liang. If he can’t handle it, come to me. If I’m not around, visit other academicians and professors and ask them for advice. Don’t be shy. You have to be thick-skinned if you’re doing academic work. Get your ideas from all sides. Sometimes, if you’ve been thinking about a problem for a long time and still can’t solve it, give it to someone else and they might see through it at a glance,” Wang Zhili said earnestly.

“I know, Academician Wang.”

Lu You was an experienced person, so he understood the reasoning Wang Zhili was talking about. However, his current job was to transfer the scientific research results of his own life and those of his predecessors, so he didn't need anyone else's help.

As for copying instead of innovating, it's not that Lu You didn't want to, but rather that he couldn't innovate without copying.

Scientific research is like building a house, where you stack one floor on top of another. If the previous floor is not built well, the next floor cannot be built.

Wang Zhili couldn't read Lu You's mind, so he naturally didn't know his true thoughts. He just thought that Lu You was young and impetuous and would turn back after hitting a wall.

Have you considered who you might choose as your doctoral supervisor?

Based on Lu You's demonstrated talent and ability, Wang Zhili didn't think he would have any other option besides pursuing a direct PhD.

"Academician Wang, I'm only a freshman, isn't it a bit too early for you to be thinking about doctoral supervisors?"

"Good morning?" Wang Zhili snorted unhappily. "Too late! With your current level and age, it would be more reasonable for you to be pursuing a doctorate! I really don't understand what you were doing before, insisting on completing three years of high school before coming to university."

"I just followed the rules and honestly finished three years of high school. Is that considered slacking off?"

"If you have the ability to improve but don't, what are you doing but just coasting along?"

Lu You felt a pang of guilt; Wang Zhili had gotten everything right.

"Didn't you say during dinner earlier that if you could do it all over again, you would definitely finish three years of high school, fully experience your youth, and then go to university?"

"How can that be the same? Jack Ma says he doesn't love money, but that's only because he's really rich. I'm not in a hurry to pursue my studies because I've already achieved a certain level of academic success, do you understand?"

Then I've also learned something!
Unfortunately, Lu You could only keep it to herself.

Seeing that Lu You remained silent, Wang Zhili assumed that he had listened to his words, and changed his tone to fierce, saying, "It's alright, it's not too late to catch up now. You should hurry up, and I'll give you another push. Take graduate-level courses in your second year, graduate early in your third year and transfer to a PhD program. With your abilities, getting your degree within two years shouldn't be a problem."

According to Wang Zhili, Lu You calculated that he should have been 23 years old when he graduated with his doctorate.

23, PhD, sounds terrifying, but in the brilliant field of mathematics, it's nothing special.

"This... isn't quite against the rules, is it?"

"It's no big deal!" Wang Zhili leaned back in his chair and said indifferently, "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If there's no rule that fits your criteria, then just add it in!"

So crazy!

However, when Lu You thought about Wang Zhili's identity and status, she felt it made perfect sense.

If someone becomes an academician and still lacks the ability to set rules, that's unacceptable.

"Will this cause you any trouble?"

"No trouble at all!" Wang Zhili grinned, like a cunning old fox. "As long as you ask me to be your doctoral supervisor, you can skip classes every day without any problem!"

Good guy!
No wonder he talked so much and made such grand promises; that's what he was waiting for!

"Didn't you retire from the business and stop taking on students?"

Lu You had learned about Wang Zhili's resume beforehand. Although he worked at Capital University, he was more of a figurehead of the university and a leader of the research team, and had not been engaged in teaching for a long time.

The last time we recruited students was five years ago.

"Who said I don't recruit students? I just haven't recruited any yet, not that I don't want to," Wang Zhili corrected seriously.

"Is there a difference between not confessing and not confessing?" Lu You asked, puzzled.

"The reason I didn't recruit students was subjective; I didn't intend to recruit any. But the reason I didn't recruit students was objective; there were external factors that prevented me from doing so."

Alright, the right of interpretation belongs to the individual.

Lu You turned the steering wheel, making the car make a turn.

"If I ask you to be my doctoral supervisor, what will happen to Professor Xiao?"

Wang Zhili frowned slightly and asked, "You made an appointment with Xiao Liang?"

"That's not true."

Even without prior arrangement, Lu You felt that Xiao Liang was his doctoral supervisor's first choice.

The reason is simple: Xiao Liang is the professor Lu You knows best among all the professors, and they share the same research direction.

"What's the point of talking if we haven't made an appointment?" Wang Zhili's brows relaxed. "Just find me to be your doctoral supervisor, and I'll guarantee you a stipend, a thesis, and projects—you'll be employed right after graduation."

Wang Zhili's promises were very tempting, but Lu You didn't care much about them.

Lu You can obtain the guarantee that Wang Zhili gave her on her own.

"What about Professor Xiao..."

“If he has a problem, tell him to come to me and I’ll talk to him personally.”

Lu You said no more.

Master and disciple vying for students—that's something else entirely. (End of Chapter)