Professor Tan had always held great expectations for his student, Gu Xue Jiao.

Even back during the competition, he had noticed this somewhat gifted and extremely hardworking student.

And this student had never disappointed him. She was diligent and persistent, with her direction. Even when no one supported her participation in physics projects, she went ahead because of her passion.

With a sense of determination and a love for what she did, it became easier to go the distance.

Afterward, Professor Tan explained all the projects he had worked on over the past year, introducing each one to Xue Jiao. He also outlined his upcoming plans to see if any interested her.

Xue Jiao thought for a moment and replied: “Umm… Professor Tan, can I follow you for the next year?”

She blinked playfully: “Don’t worry, I’m a very good assistant!”

Professor Tan was stunned for a moment, remained silent briefly, then responded: “No matter what, I will always have various miscellaneous tasks and lectures to give. You also have your classes. Following me… isn’t the most efficient approach.”

Xue Jiao’s current situation was indeed somewhat troublesome. If she were to work on Professor Tan’s projects, it was clear she wasn’t very willing. She had done plenty of projects already and now hoped to continue learning.

Following Professor Tan and shuttling between various projects and research for learning would be somewhat better than doing a single project.

But the problem Professor Tan mentioned did exist.

Xue Jiao frowned slightly: “I don’t want to do projects and research for now. I’d rather learn more things and gain more experience…”

Professor Tan suddenly looked up as if he had thought of something: “Wait a little longer. Rest well for a few days, and I’ll take you to meet my teacher this weekend to see if we can find a good arrangement for you.”

Xue Jiao was surprised, understanding that Professor Tan was acting in her best interest, and immediately expressed her gratitude: “Thank you, Professor…”

She had no regrets about choosing Tsinghua’s Mathematics Department, where she had always wanted to study under Professor Tan Zhongying.

This professor supported her no matter how inconceivable her decisions might seem to others. Professor Tan had always been supportive.

This “thank you” was the most sincere.

Professor Tan just smiled: “When you young people do well, all of us old folks are happy.”

Xue Jiao looked at him with a smile, her eyes full of gratitude, but soon that gratitude transformed into determination.

She would not disappoint Professor Tan’s expectations!

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can go about your business. I don’t need your help here for now.”

“Okay, goodbye, Professor Tan.” Xue Jiao stood up, cleaned the cup she had used on the table, and then turned to leave.

Professor Tan tapped his fingers on the paper on the desk and slowly stood up.

With such a capable and steadily progressing student, how could he not go “chat” with his old rival, Professor Liu?

As for how many cups would remain in Professor Liu’s office after their conversation, that was beyond Professor Tan’s concern.

——

The sensation caused by this paper had not yet subsided when Chu Sheng notified Xue Jiao to participate in an interview.

This interview was officially organized. Zhang Han and everyone else had to attend, and the interview location was set at their small laboratory.

This small lab had witnessed their hard work over the past year and was also where they had made their name.

Since the end of the previous semester’s finals, they hadn’t met all together again.

Xue Jiao, Chu Sheng, and Zheng Jiakun were from the same school and would see each other once or twice a week, but Zhang Han and Yang Zhan hadn’t been seen again.

It was a rare opportunity to bring all these busy people together.

Just like when they were conducting experiments, the three from the same school arrived first, but Zhang Han and Yang Zhan, who used to arrive together, came separately this time.

Zhang Han arrived first, and Yang Zhan came much later.

Xue Jiao looked curiously at Zhang Han and Yang Zhan, feeling that something wasn’t quite right, but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

Looking at Zheng Jiakun and Chu Sheng, neither had any particular reaction.

Unable to figure out what was wrong, Xue Jiao simply put it out of her mind and waited for the interview.

She hadn’t done many interviews and didn’t speak much. Her gaze fixed on one spot and gradually became unfocused.

Zhang Han also didn’t talk much and daydreamed like Xue Jiao. Yang Zhan, on the other hand, was at ease, and clearly knowing that the others didn’t want to talk much, he smiled and helped them handle the reporter’s questions.

The reporter was a seemingly easygoing middle-aged man. His questions were all straightforward, and his attitude was polite.

To be honest, this reporter had interviewed countless scientific talents and found that these “scientists” almost all shared one trait—they were conversation killers.

For example—

“Student Zhang Han, how did Student Yang Zhan convince you to participate in this project?”

Zhang Han: “He didn’t convince me.”

Reporter: “…Then why did you join this undergraduate project that no one initially believed in?”

Zhang Han frowned: “The project was good.”

Reporter: “…Alright, I understand.”

He decided to try asking someone else: “Student Gu Xue Jiao, you’re from the Mathematics Department?”

This girl looked soft and gentle, like a fairy. Surely she would answer him properly!

Xue Jiao: “Mm-hmm.”

Reporter: “What made you choose to participate in this project? As a sophomore, did you encounter any difficulties working on a Physics Department project?”

Xue Jiao: “I liked the project. There were many difficulties.”

The reporter’s eyes lit up. Finally, there was something worth writing about!

“What were they?”

Xue Jiao’s attitude was serious and proper: “The first difficulty was with the geomagnetic levitation aspect. At that time, we… The second was when the magnetic fields overlapped, we… The third difficulty was…”

Reporter: “…” What is she talking about???

Xue Jiao spoke earnestly for more than ten minutes before finishing, then looked at the reporter, waiting for his next question.

The reporter was silent for a moment, swallowed: “…Haha, that was… challenging…”

Chu Sheng sat upright and interjected: “Science is never easy. No matter how difficult, we must overcome. What we faced is nothing special.”

Reporter: “…Right.”

When the interview ended and the reporter left with a stiff smile, Chu Sheng scratched his head: “Um… we still haven’t had our celebration dinner. Are you all free for lunch?”

Zhang Han, who had been lost in thought, immediately replied: “I have other plans, so I won’t be joining.”

After saying this, she stood up and walked out.

Yang Zhan’s foot instinctively moved, but he stopped and didn’t follow her, his expression very dejected.

Naturally, the celebration dinner didn’t happen. Xue Jiao looked confusedly in the direction Zhang Han had left, then at Yang Zhan, completely puzzled.

At lunch, Xue Jiao told Lin Zhi Hua about this while eating.

Lin Zhi Hua: “…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Xue Jiao asked, puzzled by his silence.

Lin Zhi Hua sighed helplessly and lightly tapped her forehead: “It’s not easy for me to keep up with you…”

“Huh?”

Lin Zhi Hua shook his head and explained: “Yang Zhan likes Zhang Han, and Zhang Han likes Yang Zhan too, but she’s avoiding him.”

“What?” Xue Jiao was shocked.

Lin Zhi Hua held his forehead: “Jiaojiao, ever since you started your scientific research work, I feel like your already precarious emotional intelligence has been in a free fall…”

Xue Jiao: “…”

Lin Zhi Hua laughed lightly and poured her a bowl of soup: “But it’s also a good thing. People have limited mental capacity. High emotional intelligence comes from careful observation and thoughtful speech. If you focus your mind on study and work, then having low emotional intelligence is fine. Just always remember one thing—Xue Jiao loves Lin Zhi Hua.”

Young people sometimes feel their memory is declining, and it’s true—memory can decline even in youth, but perhaps not as severely as they imagine.

It’s just that the degree of attention has decreased, with mental energy dispersed to other areas.

Moreover, things long unused become rusty and forgotten.

This applies to memory, and emotional intelligence as well…

Xue Jiao blushed and glared at him.

Just as Lin Zhi Hua was about to say something more, Xue Jiao’s phone rang. She picked it up, looked at it, and her eyes widened.

“Oh?”

Xue Jiao hurriedly stood up, grabbing her coat while explaining: “Zhi Hua, you continue eating. I’m full. Senior Zhang Han is looking for me, so I’m going to meet her.”

“Wait, let me drive you—”

But Xue Jiao had already left his office, her voice trailing behind: “No need, I’ll just ask Tan Qi to send someone to take me.”

Lin Zhi Hua looked at her half-finished bowl of soup and shook his head resignedly.

Zhang Han was waiting for Xue Jiao at a Starbucks outside the school. By the time she arrived, Zhang Han had probably been waiting for over twenty minutes. This “madwoman” who valued time like life itself rarely sat in one place daydreaming and wasting time.

“Senior, sorry to keep you waiting,” Xue Jiao said as she sat down across from her, taking off her coat.

Only then did Zhang Han seem to come back to herself, shaking her head: “It’s fine.”

She paused, then added: “I asked to see you… for no particular reason.”

Xue Jiao: “…”

“Senior, that doesn’t sound like nothing’s wrong,” Xue Jiao said with amusement in her voice.

Zhang Han hurriedly said: “Really, it’s nothing. Um… you don’t need to call me Senior. You’re my only friend. Just call me Zhang Han.”

Xue Jiao nodded, not standing on ceremony: “Alright, Zhang Han.”

Some people’s energies align, and they hit it off almost from the first meeting.

The two of them were both the type who were very busy and preferred to spend time enriching themselves rather than socializing.

“Let me treat you to a cup of coffee, and then I’ll send you back afterward,” Zhang Han said softly, forcing a smile.

Seeing her furrowed brow, Xue Jiao tentatively said: “Zhang Han… are you troubled because of Yang Zhan?”

Zhang Han was startled, her eyes widening in disbelief: “You know?!”

Xue Jiao: “…” No, I don’t know. Lin Zhi Hua knows.

She thought for a moment, then asked: “Is it Yang Zhan’s feelings for you that are troubling you?”

Zhang Han’s expression instantly turned terrified. This icy senior was quite shocked: “Y-y-you… you know?!”

Xue Jiao rubbed her chin, looking inscrutable: “Zhang Han, you like Senior Yang Zhan too, don’t you…”

Zhang Han abruptly stood up, as if pricked by something, stammering: “X-X-Xue Jiao, don’t say such things…”

Xue Jiao sat up straight, looking mysterious: “Senior, I’m not making things up. Your expression told me!”

She wasn’t wrong—Zhang Han’s expression had told her—

Everything Lin Zhi Hua said was damn right.

Zhang Han sat back down, thought for a moment, and moved her chair closer to Xue Jiao.

She lowered her voice: “Jiaojiao, you’re so smart, with such high emotional intelligence…”

Zhang Han’s voice was full of admiration, her face showing reverence.

Xue Jiao: “…”

Being looked at this way by her formidable senior made Xue Jiao feel extremely guilty.

But… perhaps this would make Senior Zhang Han more at ease.

So, Xue Jiao nodded: “Senior Zhang Han, why are you avoiding Senior Yang Zhan? If you have any troubles, tell me, and I’ll think of a solution for you!”

Zhang Han looked somewhat embarrassed, but thinking that Xue Jiao had such high emotional intelligence and was so “smart,” she thought perhaps Xue Jiao might have a solution.

“Well… Yang Zhan says he likes me, but he… he’s so young…”

Zhang Han was four years older than Yang Zhan. In this era, although older woman-younger man relationships were no longer unusual, some people still cared about it to some extent.

“That’s not so bad. Age difference doesn’t matter…”

“He’s four years younger than me, and I’ve already decided to dedicate my life to science. Romantic feelings are very time-consuming.” Thinking of this, Zhang Han frowned. “Look, recently I’ve been so preoccupied with these matters that I can’t even work properly!”

Xue Jiao was stunned for a moment, but before she could speak, Zhang Han eagerly grabbed her hands: “Xue Jiao, teach me how to stop worrying, how to not be troubled by emotions?”

Zhang Han’s gaze was earnest. She was hoping Xue Jiao could use her “high emotional intelligence” to help solve her troubles.

Xue Jiao returned Zhang Han’s gaze seriously, and under her expectant look, said—

“Senior Zhang Han, did you not know… my boyfriend is nine years older than me?”