Top Student at Their Peak

The fortune-teller said that our research project is about to enter a crucial stage, and if there's someone in the team who's too cowardly to even confess to a woman, the project is doomed to fail.

So, pick one! Confess, at least there's a 50% chance of getting rejected or accepted. If you don't confess, you'll be kicked out of the project group, and then you can do whatever you like!

Qiao Yu, full of confidence, sent a long message out.

"Huh? Wait, little junior brother, are there still fortune-tellers in Beijing? What kind of act is this! I'm in Jinzhou, how am I supposed to confess? Maybe wait until tomorrow?"

"Nonsense, can't you confess on WeChat or make a phone call? I don't care, there must be a result today. If there's no result, you'll be kicked out of the project group tomorrow, we can't let you ruin the feng shui of our group!

I'm telling you, I'm serious! My inbox is full of people wanting to join our project group! You better think carefully! And don't try to fool me, I'll ask Zhang Xiao! "

Qiao Xi glanced at Qiao Yu, who was smiling like a fool after texting on WeChat, and instinctively reached out to pinch his ear.

One thing that Qiao Yu did that she couldn't tolerate was his odd sense of humor. To put it more precisely, he especially liked gloating.

I don't know who he takes after, he gets happier watching others embarrass themselves than making money.

"Ouch... Stop pulling, this time it's a good thing, really a good thing. That Zhang Xiao actually likes Senior Brother Chen!"

"If they like each other, what are you so happy about?"

"Senior Brother Chen doesn't dare to confess, so I gave him endless courage!"

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of your Senior Brother Chen, now get to work. You're so young and idle every day, only know how to boss others around, making them so busy, don't you feel guilty?"

Qiao Yu honestly stood up, not understanding why he should feel guilty, because he had indeed helped Senior Brother Chen a lot.

But he knew better than to argue with his mom who seemed ready to lose her temper; he wouldn't gain anything from it anyway.

...

Chen Zhuoyang certainly wasn't foolish.

In fact, anyone who can get into a top-notch university for a Ph.D. in mathematics surely has an IQ way above the average human level.

Even if he felt depressed, it was under the unique environment of the Yanbei International Mathematics Research Center.

Actually, after coming to Jinzhou University, he regained a lot of his confidence. It wasn't just because of Qiao Yu's paper, but also from attending other professors' lectures, and interactions with the teaching and research group, he felt that the people he usually encountered really weren't...

A lot of the research people do and the papers they write aren't even better than his.

So he truly felt something different from Qiao Yu's urging.

Therefore, after Qiao Yu stopped responding to him on WeChat, Chen Zhuoyang quickly figured something out.

Then he took out his phone and booked a high-speed train ticket to Beijing.

Even though it was during the Spring Festival travel rush, Jinzhou was so close to Beijing, tickets were always available. If he really couldn't get one, he planned to take a taxi to Beijing.

Luckily, he managed to grab a ticket at a very suitable time, then showered and headed straight to Beijing.

On the way, Chen Zhuoyang had thought it through, even if it wasn't what he guessed, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

Qiao Yu had already found a reason for him, not confessing was not an option! Otherwise, being kicked out of the project group would be terribly unfortunate.

By the time he reached Yanbei University, it was already past two in the afternoon. Chen Zhuoyang went directly to the dorm building where he last dropped off Zhang Xiao and took out his phone, first opening WeChat...

After thinking for a moment, he felt it's a bit late to send a WeChat now, so he simply made a voice call instead.

"Hello."

Hearing the crisp voice on the other end, Chen Zhuoyang felt a surge of excitement, then took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "Um... junior sister, I'm at Yanbei University, right outside your dorm, can you come out now? I have something to tell you in person."

The other side straightforwardly replied, "No!"

Chen Zhuoyang was stunned...

It seemed completely different from what he had expected...

So, instinctively, he asked, "Why?"

"Because I'm not at the dorm now! If you really have something important to tell me, could you please come to the Zhihua Building? I'll be down there waiting for you in a bit, see you at the entrance."

"Oh, okay, I'll be right over. See you in a bit."

Chen Zhuoyang replied, then hung up the phone, rented a little yellow bike from outside the dorm, and hurried over to Zhihua Building, where he found Zhang Xiao already waiting for him downstairs.

"What's the matter, Senior Brother Chen, why so urgent?" Zhang Xiao asked.

"Uh..."

Chen Zhuoyang masked his nervousness with seriousness and said earnestly, "It's a very important matter, um... I've discovered that I like you. Can we maybe get to know each other better?"

Zhang Xiao looked at Chen Zhuoyang with a straight face, speechlessly, and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother Chen, is this a confession?"

Chen Zhuoyang was taken aback, "Um... I suppose it counts, right?"

Zhang Xiao couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Pff... Haha... Sorry, I wasn't intending to laugh, it's just your expression... Senior Brother Chen, you're really humorous."

"Uh..."

"Did you come all the way from Jinzhou?"

"Yeah!"

"Have you eaten?"

"Haven't had the chance yet."

"Then let's go, I'll treat you to a meal first, to celebrate your successful confession today!"

"Ah... did I hear wrong? Did it really succeed?"

"Well... how about we add a trial period?"

"No need, no need, I was just kidding, let's go eat first. I'll treat you..."

"I said today is to celebrate your successful confession, you can treat me next time."

"Oh..."