Xue Jiao sat down beside them. Xu Jing didn’t approve, but since Zheng Jia Kun had already agreed, she said nothing.

However, in her heart, she believed Xue Jiao couldn’t be of any help.

If these calculations were so simple that anyone could do them, what were they sitting here for?

Couldn’t they just program a computer to do it?

These calculus calculations had to be done alongside creating diagrams.

Xue Jiao hadn’t studied advanced mathematics or analytical geometry yet. How could she possibly know how to calculate?

Xu Jing shook her head and stopped paying attention to her.

She and Zheng Jia Kun had to finish all the calculations, and they needed to send the data to the graduate students’ office today.

The task was challenging—these complex and intricate calculations consumed considerable time and energy.

Zheng Jia Kun was very fast. Xu Jing knew he would be the main force tonight, while she would just be assisting.

“Senior Sister, I think the division of work and collaboration like the other seniors did today is prone to problems. And since our paces differ, let’s each calculate everything once. This way we can cross-check the data. We’ll verify every five calculations, which should minimize errors,” Zheng Jia Kun pushed his glasses up, speaking seriously.

Xu Jing’s face reddened, and she stammered, “I’ll be slower than you…”

Cross-checking every five calculations… she definitely couldn’t keep up with this calculating monster’s speed!

She was well aware of how terrifying Zheng Jia Kun could be.

“It’s fine. After you finish calculating, you can use your data to check mine,” Zheng Jia Kun paused, “The same goes for Gu Xue Jiao.”

“Won’t that take a long time?” Xu Jing asked.

Zheng Jia Kun sighed helplessly, “We have no choice. We must get results today; they’ll be needed tomorrow.”

Having said that, he lowered his head and started calculating first.

Seeing that Zheng Jia Kun had already begun, Xu Jing hurriedly lowered her head and started calculating as well.

If it were someone else with a similar pace, they could collaborate. However, Zheng Jia Kun’s speed was on another level entirely. Xu Jing couldn’t keep up with him, so this was the only way…

Xue Jiao didn’t rush to start writing. She first looked through everything.

Actually, Xue Jiao knew exactly how to do these calculations. She had observed when the senior brothers and sisters were calculating earlier.

But Xue Jiao didn’t rush to begin. She opened an analytical geometry textbook, turned to several pages, and carefully read through them again.

Xu Jing happened to look up and saw Xue Jiao reading a book, her frown deepening.

She’s still needing to look at books!

Does this person think university-level mathematics is like elementary school math?!

Xu Jing shook her head and continued calculating.

There was too much to calculate; she didn’t dare waste a single second. She didn’t want Zheng Jia Kun to wait for her for too long.

Xue Jiao didn’t know about Xu Jing’s thoughts after that glance, but even if she did, she wouldn’t have cared.

She had encountered geometry-related concepts in her sophomore year when preparing for math competitions. By drawing parallels, even if the applications were different, the fundamental principles remained the same. Moreover, during the past few days of video calls with Lin Zhi Hua, she had deliberately discussed with him topics related to what they were calculating.

Xue Jiao didn’t immediately start calculating, first to be more certain, and second to clarify things she didn’t fully understand before proceeding.

Ten minutes later, Xue Jiao closed the book and began writing.

Beside her, Zheng Jia Kun had already completed calculations for three time periods, while Xu Jing had just finished the first one. She was feeling anxious.

But her gaze involuntarily shifted to Xue Jiao again—had she started calculating?

Xue Jiao’s speed was very fast. Her pen, like Zheng Jia Kun’s, barely paused, and she had drawn some geometric shapes on the white paper beside her.

Her lips moved slightly.

Xu Jing’s pupils contracted slightly—she was doing mental calculations!

She must be calculating randomly! She won’t get the right answers!

Xu Jing told herself this, seeing that Zheng Jia Kun was already in the fourth period. She hurriedly lowered her head and continued with her calculations.

Half an hour later, Xu Jing finished the fourth period and looked up.

Across from her, on the table next to Zheng Jia Kun, ten entries had been filled! Beside him lay ten sheets of calculated data.

Xu Jing gave him an admiring look, then glanced at Xue Jiao beside him…

Seven?!

How is that possible?!

Xu Jing looked over in disbelief, instinctively craning her neck. Was she calculating randomly?!

Xu Jing’s mouth slightly opened, and she simply stood up, watching as Xue Jiao’s left hand pointed to one piece of data after another, her right hand drawing diagrams, her mouth silently opening and closing, and then, writing down the data for the eighth period.

“Gu Xue Jiao! You’re this fast?!” Xu Jing couldn’t believe it, nor did she want to.

Xue Jiao was concentrating on her calculations and looked up in confusion, “Huh?”

“How can you possibly be this fast!” Xu Jing reached out her hand, “Let me see your data table.”

Xue Jiao handed over her completed table. Xu Jing looked at the first four entries in shock…

They were correct…

“Let me see,” Zheng Jia Kun took the table from Xu Jing’s rigid hands.

He looked it over, his brows relaxing, “All correct.”

Zheng Jia Kun paused, then dragged his chair next to Xue Jiao and said, “Gu Xue Jiao, let’s work together.”

“Hmm?” Xue Jiao was momentarily puzzled.

“I’ll calculate the eleventh period. You’ll start the twelfth period slightly after me, then give me the twelfth-period data so I can calculate the thirteenth. We’ll connect more quickly this way.”

Xue Jiao understood. Each period had four data points, and each data point was needed for the next period. Once Zheng Jia Kun calculated the first data point, Xue Jiao would use it to calculate the first data point for the next period. By the time he had the second data point, Xue Jiao would be ready to use it.

When he started the thirteenth period, Xue Jiao would have completed all the data for the twelfth period, and she could continue with the fourteenth period.

This was the most efficient arrangement of time, but…

It required that both people’s speeds could keep up with each other!

“Good, let’s start,” Xue Jiao nodded.

Xu Jing’s mouth opened wider, her face filled with shock.

“Then I…”

“Your speed can’t keep up. Gu Xue Jiao and I can handle it,” Zheng Jia Kun said too bluntly.

Xu Jing: “…”

Her face flushed red.

Zheng Jia Kun had already lowered his head and started working. Xue Jiao also lowered her head and followed along, not getting distracted. She wanted to go home early, so it was better to finish calculating quickly.

Xu Jing didn’t believe Xue Jiao could do it. After all, she hadn’t even taken university-level mathematics courses yet!

But what Zheng Jia Kun said couldn’t possibly be false. Moreover… she had already calculated seven time periods.

And… she had calculated everything correctly…

Now the two were collaborating because Xue Jiao’s speed could keep up with Zheng Jia Kun’s.

Xu Jing stiffly watched the two. Both were calculating at an astonishing pace, without any hesitation.

Zheng Jia Kun finished calculating a data point and announced, “3.6.”

“Mmm,” Xue Jiao nodded and began drawing a diagram.

Xu Jing stared blankly. She had originally thought that Zheng Jia Kun was the only “freak” she would encounter in her life. Now, such a “freak”…

Another one had appeared!

She sat bewildered, watching them.

One used his left hand to point at data and his right hand to draw diagrams, doing mental calculations.

The other used her left hand to point at data and her right hand to draw diagrams, calculating aloud.

Both worked at an incredible pace. Xue Jiao… had kept up with Zheng Jia Kun’s calculation speed…

Xu Jing glanced at her calculation pad on her right, messy with workings and the few data sheets beside it, gradually sinking into silence.

At nine in the evening, Zheng Jia Kun put down his pen, “Are you done?”

Xue Jiao didn’t turn her head, still working at the same pace.

After a moment, she stopped writing, “Done.”

Zheng Jia Kun took the table placed between them, which contained two different handwritings, and examined it carefully.

Soon, his brows relaxed, and his face showed relief, “We’re good.”

Xue Jiao moved her stiff back and smiled, “That’s great!”

“You’re very strong, Gu Xue Jiao,” Zheng Jia Kun said.

Xue Jiao shook her head and replied just as seriously, “I’m just good at calculations. Senior Brother is strong in all aspects.”

Zheng Jia Kun didn’t say anything more. Noticing Xu Jing beside them, his voice was slightly surprised—

“Senior Sister, why haven’t you left yet?”

Xu Jing: “…”

She didn’t know why she had stayed to watch their collaborative calculations…

Xu Jing could barely speak; she was left only with shock.

Her voice was somewhat dry and weak, “You are both amazing…”

After witnessing the entire calculation process, she was truly stunned.

“I’m going to the office. Goodbye,” Zheng Jia Kun said to both of them and walked away.

“Senior Sister, I’m going home too.”

Xue Jiao picked up her book and quickly went to get her bag. It was already nine o’clock; Cheng Shuo and Li Si Tong were probably worried.

Besides… it was time for her video call with Lin Zhi Hua. She needed to hurry and send him a message to let him know, so he wouldn’t be waiting.

Even though he said he wasn’t busy, Xue Jiao didn’t want to waste his time unnecessarily.

Hmm… the tutoring should stop after these few days. She could study the rest on her own.

Xue Jiao was a bit anxious and quickly left the office.

Xu Jing: “…”

What had she said today?

That Gu Xue Jiao couldn’t do it?

She now realized…

It was she who couldn’t do it.

Someone who could win first prize in mathematics competitions and be specially recruited by Professor Tan into the office…

Indeed couldn’t be a normal person!

In the evening, after Xue Jiao returned home and had dinner, she went back to her room.

[Lin Zhi Hua: Are we discussing today?]

Xue Jiao did indeed have a few questions, so her eyes lit up, and she immediately replied—

[Do you have time?]

Soon, a video call came in. Xue Jiao quickly answered.

Lin Zhi Hua’s smiling face appeared. His mood seemed quite good, “I’m not busy lately. I don’t need to work overtime in the evenings. It’s only at the end of the year that I get busy.”

“Being a boss is quite nice…” Xue Jiao sighed.

Lin Zhi Hua asked with a half-smile, “Then would you like to be a boss?”

Xue Jiao shook her head vigorously, “No, I’d rather just study mathematics properly. By the way, Lin Zhi Hua, today I helped calculate some data in the office. When I was drawing the diagrams, I suddenly felt it was familiar, a bit like… like…”

She was somewhat confused and couldn’t remember what it reminded her of for the moment.

Inspiration is often fleeting; she couldn’t recall it now.

“If you can’t remember, it’s fine. You’ll remember it elsewhere later,” Lin Zhi Hua said.

Xue Jiao nodded, put away her bag, and took out paper and a pen.

“By the way, today’s calculation was fundamentally very similar to a problem you gave me in my sophomore year, though the difficulty level is ten times higher now. But when using calculus to calculate, it’s not difficult anymore. Indeed, the more you learn, the easier it becomes to solve problems that once took pages to work out.”

Lin Zhi Hua chuckled softly, “Of course. That’s why they say learning is boundless. Things you could solve before, there’s no reason you can’t solve them when you encounter better methods.”

“That’s true,” Xue Jiao nodded in agreement. “By the way, I encountered another problem today…”

The two began their discussion.

Downstairs, Cheng Shuo looked at Li Si Tong seriously and slowly opened his mouth—

“I suspect Jiaojiao is dating someone.”

Li Si Tong almost spat out a mouthful of water, her face filled with shock. She asked urgently, “What?! With whom?”

Cheng Shuo’s face remained serious, “Lin Zhi Hua.”

“Impossible!” Li Si Tong reflexively rejected the idea, not believing it.

“Why is it impossible?” Cheng Shuo’s brows were tightly knitted as he looked at Li Si Tong.

Li Si Tong opened her mouth and said, “Lin Zhi Hua is afraid of women…”

“Look at him. Does he seem like there’s an issue? Does he seem afraid of Jiaojiao? That day on the plane, they were so close!” Cheng Shuo looked exasperated.

With Li Si Tong and Xue Jiao’s emotional intelligence, even if a wolf came to their home and carried away the child, they would still think it was a sheep!

As he thought about this, Cheng Shuo’s pupils suddenly contracted—

“They knew each other before!!”

“Hmm?”

“During Xue Jiao’s sophomore year annual meeting, I said that Lin Zhi Hua isn’t able to interact with women, so how could he shake hands with Jiaojiao? It turns out he had his sights set on her back then!!” Cheng Shuo pounded his chest in frustration, blaming himself for not noticing!

The wolf had been beside them for two years, and he had only just realized!

“Lin Zhi Hua must have feelings for Jiaojiao!”

“Huh? How are you so sure?” Li Si Tong still didn’t quite believe it.

It was just that Lin Zhi Hua and Xue Jiao…

They were two completely unrelated people!

“Jiaojiao has been video-calling someone every night. Today she came home so late, hardly ate anything, and hurried upstairs. She must be video-calling Lin Zhi Hua!” Cheng Shuo was extremely serious.

“What?”

“Si Tong, I don’t know what they’re talking about, but while they’re still on the video call, I’m going upstairs to stop them!”

Li Si Tong blinked, “Catching them in the act?”

Cheng Shuo: “……”

Li Si Tong probably knew she had used the wrong phrase, so she scratched her head, “I don’t think Jiaojiao and Lin Zhi Hua are possible. It’s just that Jiaojiao saved him, so they have a connection…”

“I trust a man’s instinct,” Cheng Shuo said decisively.

“Shall we go upstairs and see?” Li Si Tong suggested tentatively.

“Let’s go!” Cheng Shuo, filled with anger, led Li Si Tong upstairs to “catch them in the act.”

Xue Jiao’s bedroom door was closed.

Li Si Tong opened her mouth, silently saying, “The door is closed…”

Cheng Shuo reached out and tried the door; it wasn’t locked.

“You open it,” Cheng Shuo whispered.

“Hmm?” Li Si Tong was momentarily confused, then understood.

After all, Cheng Shuo was a man. She would open the door first to make sure Xue Jiao wasn’t changing clothes or something, then they could go in together.

She understood and pushed the door open.

From inside, Lin Zhi Hua’s voice was clear—

“Jiaojiao, your interpretation of Euler’s equation is correct. Although it’s different from the textbook’s approach, it’s more concise.”

Xue Jiao was holding a pen, her face serious.

Li Si Tong: “…”

Cheng Shuo: “…”

Xue Jiao felt the gaze behind her and turned around, slightly startled.

“Dad, Mom?”

Cheng Shuo’s face also appeared. He and Li Si Tong smiled awkwardly.

“Do you need something?” Xue Jiao continued to ask curiously.

Cheng Shuo opened his mouth, but in the end, only smiled and said, “Don’t… study too late… go to bed early…”

“Okay.”

“Then we won’t disturb you. Goodbye.” Cheng Shuo closed the door and pulled Li Si Tong away.

Inside the room, Xue Jiao turned back with a puzzled face, “What are my parents doing…”

She was very curious and confused.

In the video, Lin Zhi Hua had an expression of understanding but did not speak out.

What were they doing?

It wasn’t anything good!

Outside the door.

Li Si Tong pouted, “See? Jiaojiao and Lin Zhi Hua are innocent. Why are you suspecting this and that?”

“What do you mean I’m suspecting this and that?” Cheng Shuo’s eyes widened.

Then, he couldn’t help but sigh dejectedly.

“Ah, Jiaojiao’s emotional intelligence inherited yours. Innocent? A man like Lin Zhi Hua, whose every second is worth a fortune, wasting time tutoring Jiaojiao every night—only you and Jiaojiao, with your level of emotional intelligence, would believe that!”

“Huh?” Li Si Tong looked completely confused. “But didn’t Jiaojiao save Lin Zhi Hua, and aren’t they good friends? What’s wrong with helping each other?”

Cheng Shuo covered his face, “If he didn’t have intentions toward Jiaojiao if someone else had saved him, someone like Lin Zhi Hua would have repaid the debt long ago! Friends? I don’t believe it.”

“Then what should we do?” After long years together, Li Si Tong instinctively trusted Cheng Shuo.

Cheng Shuo gritted his teeth, “I’ll arrange to talk with Lin Zhi Hua! Jiaojiao doesn’t seem to have that intention yet. We must stop Lin Zhi Hua’s plot!”

Li Si Tong looked bewildered, “…Oh.”

After a moment, she added, “But Jiaojiao has already graduated from high school and is about to go to college. She couldn’t date early before, but there’s nothing wrong with her dating now.”

Cheng Shuo: “…”

He gritted his teeth, “Anyway, it can’t be Lin Zhi Hua!”

Lin Zhi Hua’s power and cunning were too deep. If Xue Jiao were with him, Cheng Shuo felt he might find it hard to support her if she were unhappy or hurt.

So, Cheng Shuo arranged to meet with Lin Zhi Hua.

The time was set for the next afternoon.

Lin Zhi Hua agreed.

At noon that day, Lin Zhi Hua changed into a new suit and tidied his hair.

“Boss…” Tan Qi couldn’t help but speak up. He wasn’t as composed as Chen Yan and couldn’t quite control his emotions.

“Hmm?”

“Which boss are you going to meet?” He had spent so much time getting ready; who could the other person be?

Lin Zhi Hua looked in the mirror. His attire was appropriate, mature but not old-fashioned, without a single flaw.

He raised an eyebrow, a smile on his lips, “My future father-in-law.”

Tan Qi: “…” ????

What?

He doubted he had heard correctly.

Lin Zhi Hua didn’t say anything more. Even though Tan Qi looked shocked, he didn’t dare ask further.

At this moment, Chen Yan returned.

“Boss, everything is prepared.”

Tan Qi was surprised to see the man following Chen Yan—it was the renowned lawyer, Attorney Zhou.

Meeting a father-in-law…

Why bring a lawyer?!

Lin Zhi Hua checked the time and chuckled, “Let’s go. I shouldn’t keep my esteemed father-in-law waiting.”

Having said that, he walked away.

Attorney Zhou immediately followed with his briefcase.

Tan Qi grabbed Chen Yan, “Secretary Chen, Secretary Chen! Is the boss going to meet his father-in-law? Why bring a lawyer? Quick, give me some inside information!”

Chen Yan frowned expressionlessly and gently brushed off his hand, only saying, “Tan Qi, you’d better be as quiet as a chicken today. If you ruin the boss’s important matters, you—”

As he spoke, he drew his hand across his throat.

This was a rare moment of playfulness from Chen Yan, but it frightened Tan Qi.

Chen Yan walked away, and Tan Qi quickly followed obediently.

Sometimes, arriving early doesn’t necessarily show that one has a presence.

For instance, today, Cheng Shuo planned to arrive early so that when Lin Zhi Hua came, he could mock him.

So, he brought Li Si Tong and arrived half an hour early.

However, when they reached the door, someone was already standing there—Lin Zhi Hua’s assistant, Tan Qi.

Pushing the door open, there were three more people inside.

“Uncle Cheng, you’re here,” Lin Zhi Hua smiled and stood up, pulling out a chair.

The sharp retort Cheng Shuo had prepared stuck in his throat.

“Oh my, no need to be so polite,” Li Si Tong was already smiling.

Cheng Shuo tugged at her, and she quickly restrained her smile.

As they sat down, Chen Yan respectfully brought tea, and Lin Zhi Hua personally poured for Cheng Shuo and Li Si Tong.

Cheng Shuo felt even more stifled…

“Why did you bring so many people? To fight?” He couldn’t help but nitpick.

Lin Zhi Hua wasn’t angry and smiled, “They’re just here to witness what I say today.”

“Witness what?”

“What I’m going to say today,” Lin Zhi Hua still smiled slightly.

Cheng Shuo stared at him and, after a moment, snorted coldly, “Fine, I’ll be direct. Stay away from Jiaojiao. You two aren’t suitable.”

“Why aren’t we suitable?” Lin Zhi Hua asked.

“You’re too old!”

“Uncle Cheng, I’m twenty-seven this year.” Twenty-seven wasn’t really that old…

“But you’re nine years older than Jiaojiao!” Cheng Shuo glared.

Lin Zhi Hua looked at the tea in front of him, his eyes gradually deepening—

“Isn’t it good that I’m older than her? The hardships she will experience in her lifetime, I’ve already gone through. The unknown path ahead, I’ve already walked. In the days to come, I’ll protect her through life’s rough journey, clearing thorns from her path, gently reminding her when she goes astray, shielding her when she hits walls, saving her from harm.”

He looked up, his eyes sincere, “I’m only nine years older than her.”

“Jiaojiao should find someone of a similar age, someone with common goals, not someone unattainable,” Cheng Shuo’s voice became sharp.

Lin Zhi Hua maintained his serious demeanor, “But I’m not unattainable. No matter how high I stand, I’m willing to come down for her.”

He paused, mentioning someone he had always been reluctant to mention, “Being of similar age isn’t necessarily a good thing. Yi Tian Yu sat beside Jiaojiao for two years, and even though Jiaojiao had feelings for him, she still rejected him. People of similar age bring Jiaojiao immature burdens. Though Jiaojiao is petite, her heart is like a soaring eagle. Her thoughts are mature and rational. I’m willing to accompany her in flight; others can’t.”

Lin Zhi Hua had always known where Yi Tian Yu failed. He was grateful that when he met Jiaojiao, he was already his most mature self.

Cheng Shuo was stunned; he didn’t know Xue Jiao had rejected Yi Tian Yu…

After a moment, he stammered, “But you… you…”

His face reddened, unable to speak.

“Yes?”

Cheng Shuo held back and blurted out, “Your body!”

Lin Zhi Hua’s lips twitched slightly, “My body is fine. Chen Yan.”

He called Chen Yan’s name, and the latter respectfully took out several papers.

Lin Zhi Hua took them, placed them on the table, and pushed them forward.

“These are my physical examination reports, all of them. I’m very healthy.”

“But the rumors…” Li Si Tong interjected.

Lin Zhi Hua’s lips moved slightly, thinking of Xue Jiao, and the smile on his face changed—

“That’s because I hadn’t met someone I wanted to be close to. As for rumors… why bother with them?”

Li Si Tong had a look of sudden realization.

All these years, Lin Zhi Hua had never explained himself, just avoided women, leading to rumors becoming increasingly terrifying.

Cheng Shuo looked at Lin Zhi Hua. As a man, he knew the sincerity of the person opposite him, but as a father, he still wanted to find fault.

After struggling for a while, Cheng Shuo said—

“But after Jiaojiao is with you, I can’t guarantee her future. Your power is too great; I can’t back her up!”

He preferred Jiaojiao to find an ordinary man. That way, he could always support her.

If it were Lin Zhi Hua, dealing with them would be too easy. He wouldn’t even be able to provide Jiaojiao with support and help.

Lin Zhi Hua smiled, his biggest smile so far today—

“Uncle Cheng, in the future, the person who will back up Jiaojiao is me.”

Cheng Shuo was stunned.

Lin Zhi Hua continued, “If you don’t believe me, look at this. Attorney Zhou.”

“Certainly!” Attorney Zhou stood up and took out a stack of documents.

He produced the first one, “After Mr. Lin Zhi Hua and Ms. Gu Xue Jiao get married, all the real estate under his name, valued at 1.1 billion yuan, including other immovable properties, will be transferred to Ms. Gu Xue Jiao’s name.”

He took out the second document, “All assets under Mr. Lin Zhi Hua’s name, including the Lin Corporation and others, will jointly belong to both spouses.”

He took out the third document, “Mr. Lin Zhi Hua promises that if he wrongs Ms. Gu Xue Jiao, such as by committing infidelity, he will leave with nothing.”