Super God-Level Top Student

But it was really hard for an average person to get enough feedback from Qiao Ze.

Unless the conversation deeply delved into academic matters.

But this led to another problem, even Liu Chenfeng, the most knowledgeable in the research group, found it difficult to keep up with Qiao Ze's pace of thought on academic issues.

The constant jumping in space, the changing of geometric meanings, often left him confused after not too long.

What made Liu Chenfeng doubt his life choices the most was that Qiao Ze seemed to have a certain misunderstanding about him.

The guy actually subconsciously thought that he had read and understood all those papers he downloaded...

This resulted in moments during their discussions when Qiao Ze would skip some proof processes and jump to conclusions and the next steps, leaving him bewildered. And when he pointed this out during Qiao Ze's reasoning and asked questions, he would be met with Qiao Ze's surprised and strange looks...

"This was proven in the XXX paper you downloaded just yesterday, didn't you understand it after reading it once?"

What could Liu Chenfeng say?

He didn't even know who decided that one could completely understand a paper in just one reading...

This led to him becoming hesitant to point out any theoretical proof processes that were skipped when discussing issues with Qiao Ze again.

A male doctoral student's dignity can't always be trampled by hurtful looks, right?

As a result, the timeline for discussing issues started to stretch indefinitely, as he needed a long time to review the papers and digest the parts that Qiao Ze ruthlessly skipped.

And so, the research group became even quieter and more oppressive.

But everything was completely different when Su Mucheng came back.

"Qiao Ze, I'm telling you, my mom initially wanted to come with me because she wanted to see what you're really like. But then, when booking tickets, the shop she usually follows invited a bunch of designers for some fashion event. Sigh, I always thought my dad was unreliable, but actually, when I think about it, the most unreliable person in my family is my mom, don't you agree?"

"Hmm."

"And also, my mom said she wants to take you to Linhai during the winter break, to personally cook her secret Dongpo pork for you. But just so you know, I'm aware that every time before I go home, she has the chef prepare most of the dishes, then pretends to be busy in the kitchen. By the time I walk in, she acts as if she just finished cooking. I just don't have the heart to call her out.

But if she really did cook, I wouldn't dare to take a bite. I even doubt if she can tell the difference between sugar and salt."

"Oh."

"But I can cook. This summer, when I went back, I specifically learned how to make Xingcheng cuisine from a chef. When I get a chance, I'll show you my skills."

"Good."

"By the way, my dad came this time to start a company in Xilin. He's already agreed with Youwei, who has begun moving the main research part of the Group Wisdom project to the Xilin Research Institute here. They say he has transferred hundreds of engineers already."

"Oh."

"Hey, it's already past nine, wasn't Li supposed to come around this time? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

"No hurry."

...

Really, just the occasional sounds from the research group were enough to make everyone feel a lot more relaxed.

To make an inappropriate comparison.

Without Su Mucheng by his side, Qiao Ze gave them the impression of being a completely emotionless machine.

Chen Yiwen once complained to Tan Jingrong and Liu Chenfeng that if there was a wall separation and a Turing test was conducted—if Qiao Ze were to act in his true colors and converse with someone—that he would most likely be mistaken by the testers for a machine.

But once Su Mucheng arrived, at least Qiao Ze would show some expressions on his face.
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Even if it was just a frown, a twitch of the mouth, or a simple response to those random topics, at least he revealed the emotional fluctuations that people should have.

At the very least, it made them, the onlookers, feel a tiny bit of warmth and humanity.

That in itself could move them to tears.

Of course, it would be even better if it weren't so nauseating.

"Huh? How come the research group doesn't have any fruit? Do you guys just drink water every day? Ah... I'll restock the snacks and fruit tomorrow."

"No need, we're moving to another location the day after tomorrow."

"That's not okay either, fruit is something you should eat every day. Qiao, look at you, your skin has gotten all dry recently."

...

"Everyone is still here so late, you've all worked hard. Huh, Mu Cheng, you're back too? When did you get back?"

When Li Jiangao walked into the research group, he saw everyone sitting in front of their computers, busy with their own tasks, only Su Mucheng was sitting next to Qiao Ze, chatting with him.

"Uncle Li, I just got back today. Huh, who is this sister?"

Su Mucheng, who was the first to see the blonde, blue-eyed foreign girl following Li Jiangao, stood up to greet her and then asked curiously.

"Oh, let me introduce her to you all. Her name is Hanna Ravenstahl, she's a doctoral student from the University of Innsbruck in Austria, specializing in quantum computing. She's here to study at our school for a year, so she will be a fellow student. Let's all help each other, and get Hanna integrated into the learning atmosphere of the School of Mathematics as soon as possible."

With a simple introduction from Li Jiangao, while others had yet to react, Chen Yiwen's eyes lit up.

Wasn't this a coincidence?

Today, Qiao Ze had just made an example, mentioning a foreign student appearing before him who fit his aesthetic preferences, and now she really appeared?

Although she's a doctoral student and certainly not young, Chen Yiwen thought that these were not issues; what was key was that this European girl's looks and figure were very much in line with his taste, enough to test him.

An excited Chen Yiwen couldn't help but volunteer enthusiastically, "Professor Li, they all have their own things to do, I'm the most free here. I can show Hanna around and help her get acquainted with life here."

Li Jiangao looked at Chen Yiwen in surprise. He had made a polite offer, but why was this kid so eager?

However, being a kind person, he instinctively looked at Hanna and, seeing the girl's puzzled eyes, briefly explained in English what Chen Yiwen had just said, before speaking to Chen Yiwen, "Hanna's Chinese is not very good yet, so she can only do simple everyday communication."

"Ah?" Chen Yiwen was a bit stunned. What situation was this? A spy who doesn't speak Chinese? Had the requirements for spies become so low?

Qiao Ze glanced at Chen Yiwen silently and then looked directly at Hanna, asking in English, "Are you a spy?"

"Ah?"

"Hm?"

Li Jiangao and Hanna were both stunned...

It was mainly because the word "spy" really isn't used much in daily life; it's even quite unfamiliar, and Li Jiangao hadn't immediately thought of its meaning.

"No, I'm not..." Hanna said with an innocent face.

Finally recovering, Li Jiangao remembered what "spy" meant and looked at Qiao Ze and Chen Yiwen with a complicated expression...

Qiao Ze watched Hanna for two seconds, then glanced at Chen Yiwen and said, "You're overthinking it. She's not one, or at least she's not professional."

"Cough cough..." Chen Yiwen coughed strategically twice to cover up his disappointment.

It was a pity; after all, Hanna's figure and appearance made him feel nearly certain that he wouldn't be able to resist the test. He didn't even mind that the doctoral student was definitely older than him.

Really, for that instant, Chen Yiwen had even experienced in advance the agonizing yet noble sentiment of reluctantly betraying someone close to him, a sentiment that could move him to tears.

"Haha, Professor Li, Qiao and Chen Yiwen were just joking with Hanna, um, just a joke." Su Mucheng, not quite sure what kind of code they were speaking in, still took the initiative to relieve the awkwardness.

"Yes, yes, yes, just a joke." Chen Yiwen hastily agreed.

Li Jiangao had already sensed that something had probably happened in the research group today and gave Qiao Ze a puzzled look.

Qiao Ze in return gave Li Jiangao a calm and composed look.