NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58: Chapter 57: Hurry up and Graduate
The boys in dormitory 408 were clearly a bit too excited at this moment.
The big shot who had already performed countless miracles in the dormitory, he was praising them, wasn't he?
He must be praising them, right?
Really, at this moment, all three were so moved that they were on the verge of tears!
Without experiencing the constant self-doubt about their intelligence and negating themselves over a short span of two to three days, one simply cannot understand the sense of relief in their hearts right now.
Turns out, we're actually not that dumb!
We're even a little smarter than the PhD students in the school!
This is the power of authority!
When the three roommates subconsciously began to worship Qiao Ze as an omnipotent deity, they truly believed what Qiao Ze said.
But in fact, this was the truth.
Those who could get into a 985 university and be top of their class in the School of Mathematics were, of course, not really dumb.
They were just momentarily defeated by an intelligence they simply couldn't comprehend.
In other words...
They just had a mental breakdown!
But fortunately, at this moment, the unexpected appearance of Zhang Liwei allowed Qiao Ze to pull his three friends back from the verge of a total breakdown.
It restored the boys' confidence once again.
They might not be able to surpass Qiao, but could they really not outdo the average PhD student at the school?
...
"Qiao, tell us, what's the real difference between an ordinary person and a dumb person in your eyes?"
"They're all people."
Qiao Ze was puzzled; it turns out that not-so-dumb people can ask dumb questions too. After thinking for a bit and realizing that his roommates were in a good mood today, he patiently explained, "For example, Gu, you're an ordinary person. The last time you brought me a problem, all I had to do was outline a plan for solving it, and you could understand."
"If someone is just ordinarily dumb, it means even if they are given the approach, they still won't get it. The dumbest kind are those who don't know how to solve it but think the problem is wrong. These types of dumb people often believe that everything they see is how the world should be."
Really, after hearing this, Gu Zhengliang felt for the first time that being called an ordinary person was a great compliment.
"No way, you've never felt like everyone below you is nothing but pigs and dogs?" Zhang Zhou asked curiously.
Hearing this, Qiao Ze seriously rebuked, "Li once said, 'Dumb people have dignity too! Everyone is equal.' Don't talk about those dumb people like that. Although they might be a bit dumb and don't understand a lot, you can't negate their existence on a genetic level."
"Oh... I got it. You're absolutely right, Qiao! We must treat dumb people kindly, right?"
"So Qiao, if we don't understand something about math in the future, we can just ask you directly, and you won't look down on us for being dumb, right?" Chen Yiwen finally spoke up.
"As long as it's not a boring question, you can find me anytime I'm in the dormitory," Qiao Ze nodded.
After all, solving their problems by providing an approach wouldn't take much time.
And seeing the atmosphere in the dorm gradually returning to normal, Qiao Ze even felt a touch of genuine happiness from the bottom of his heart.
The feeling of being surrounded by ordinary people was far more uplifting to his mood than dealing with fools every day.
University life was indeed wonderful.
At least everyone could understand what he was saying. Unlike in high school and before, when few people were willing to listen to him finish his sentences.
...
Elsewhere, Zhang Liwei had already returned to his dormitory.
He meticulously reviewed the paper annotated by Qiao Ze, and then sadly realized that maybe, possibly, perhaps... he truly wasn't suited for this topic.
If Qiao Ze knew what Zhang Liwei was thinking at this moment, he would probably think this guy still had some shrewdness.
Zhang Liwei indeed had some shrewdness.
After silently sighing to himself, he directly called his advisor Zhao Guangyao.
"Hello, boss, I just went to see that Qiao Ze you told me about, and he gave me some advice."
"Hmm, okay, should I come over now?"
"Yes, I'll be there in about twenty minutes."
After hanging up the phone, Zhang Liwei reluctantly stepped out of the dormitory again.
His advisor had asked him to come directly to his house to report the situation.
He couldn't possibly refuse, could he?
...
Li Jian Gao was quite surprised to receive a call from Su Mucheng.
"Hey, Su, what's up?"
"Professor Li, hello. It's like this, my dad happens to be on a business trip to Xilin to see me, and he wants to invite Qiao Ze for a meal, but you know Qiao Ze has a strong personality, so I wanted to ask if you'd be available tomorrow noon? Could you possibly find the time to join us for a meal?"
Listening to the soft and adorable voice on the phone, Li Jiangao felt quite strange.
He could tell that Su Mucheng had thoughts about Qiao Ze.
What Qiao Ze felt about Su Mucheng, Li Jiangao couldn't tell, nor could he empathize.
But at least Li Jiangao was certain that Qiao Ze didn't dislike Su Mucheng.
Then the problem arose...
If Su Mucheng was bringing her boyfriend to meet her parents, what was he doing going there?
But considering Qiao Ze's social skills and speaking level...
Li Jiangao thought that perhaps he really should go.
Yes, in case Qiao Ze got into a fight with Su Mucheng's dad, he feared a delicate girl like her couldn't hold them back on her own...
So after hesitating for a moment, Li Jiangao asked, "Have you asked Qiao Ze yet? Did he agree?"
"Not yet, I thought I'd first see when you're available, then talk to Qiao Ze once we've settled on a time. You know, Qiao Ze's time for thinking through issues is very precious."
Li Jiangao was speechless.
So the way of speaking is contagious, huh?
Has this girl been around Qiao Ze so long that she's become so eloquent as well?
Is she implying that his time isn't precious?
But on second thought, his time wasn't indeed as precious as Qiao Ze's.
"I... okay, tomorrow just happens to be the weekend, I don't have anything all day. If Qiao Ze agrees, just message me the time and address on WeChat, I'll be sure to show up on time."
"Thank you so much, Professor Li, you're really kind. Well, I'm going to hang up now, I'll go ask Qiao Ze when he's free! Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Li Jiangao hung up the phone with a bitter smile...
Damn...
He didn't even know where his future father-in-law was hiding!
...
In Zhao Guangyao's study, the glaring incandescent light was slightly irritating to Zhang Liwei's eyes, but thankfully, it was just him and his mentor there.
At least he wasn't being observed like an animal on display.
At that moment, Zhao Guangyao was looking at the paper Qiao Ze had helped Zhang Liwei to review.
After a while, Zhao Guangyao let out a sigh...
Then closed the paper.
"What did he say?"
"He said I'm not quite suitable for non-commutative geometry, and suggested that I switch fields."
Zhao Guangyao looked up at Zhang Liwei and, after a moment of silence, asked, "Did he say anything else?"
"He's not very talkative... Oh, he figured out I'm your student. Said my paper shows a thought process quite similar to yours..."
"Ahem, ahem..." Zhao Guangyao couldn't help coughing twice and pursed his lips, asking, "Forget it, did you record it?"
Zhang Liwei hurriedly nodded.
Then he took out his phone and passed it over...
"My name is Wang..."
"... Student, doctor is just a colloquial term, the full title is actually Doctoral Candidate..."
"... Was he always emphasizing the importance of tools to you?"
"... If you want to achieve innovative results, don't stick to conventions... If you don't have that ability, then work on perfecting others' work..."
...
When the noise came up, Zhao Guangyao silently turned off the recording.
After pondering for a moment, he looked up at Zhang Liwei and said gently, "Then take the advice and change your topic. This time I'll help you choose, just graduate earlier and find a job... You're not really cut out for research. Also, send me that recording now, and then delete it from your end."
"Okay, boss!"
"Right, leave that paper here as well. You can go now."
"Okay, boss!"