Super God-Level Top Student

In fact, Li Jian Gao thought Qiao Ze was quite adorable when he wasn't speaking.

At the very least, he wouldn't bombard him with words while he was trying to think.

"Your situation is indeed a bit risky. So when we go in, you should show as much respect as possible to a professor named Zhang Chunlei. He is a professor at the School of Mathematics at Jiangcheng University, as well as a doctoral supervisor, and a Yangtze River Scholar. His influence at Jiang University is much greater than mine, and he has extensive connections in academic circles."

Li Jian Gao advised meticulously.

Qiao Ze was somewhat puzzled and asked, "What is a Yangtze River Scholar?"

Li Jian Gao explained patiently, "It is a title for talents selected by the national 'Ten Thousand Talents Plan.' You can understand it as a kind of honorary title. In short, it's very impressive. Moreover, Jiang University is in the city next to Xingcheng, close to home. Especially, the School of Mathematics at Jiang University is actually stronger than the School of Mathematics at Xilin University.

They have academicians leading their faculty.

Although both are 985 universities, comparatively speaking, Jiang University is stronger in the liberal arts, whereas Xilin University also has academicians, but mainly concentrated in the field of engineering. The quality of pure liberal arts education, in fact, cannot compare to that of Jiang University."

"Are academicians very impressive?"

"At least domestically, it is the highest honor in academia. Well, if you can become a Yangtze River Scholar before the age of forty, and choose a good platform, later on, you might have the chance to become an academician."

After thinking for a moment, Qiao Ze asked, "Then why don't you strive to become a Yangtze River Scholar and then go to Jiang University as a professor, and from there become an academician?"

Li Jian Gao couldn't help but smile wryly again.

He discovered that after meeting this young man today, he had smiled wryly more times than he had during all the years at Xilin University of Technology.

Extremely intelligent, yet incredibly naïve at heart.

If this child follows a righteous path, he will certainly become a pillar of the nation.

If led astray, he would surely be a scourge to the industry.

"It's not that I don't want to go, but they have to want me too! The requirements for teaching at Jiang University are very high, not to mention the criteria for becoming a Yangtze River Scholar are even higher. You don't understand all this yet. In short, if you hit it off with that Professor Zhang, getting into Jiang University would be a mere word away."

Qiao Ze shook his head and said, "I won't go to Jiang University; I want to go to Xilin University of Technology."

"This..."

In the face of Li Jian Gao's doubtful look, Qiao Ze stated succinctly, "Unless Jiang University wants you as a professor."

Upon hearing this, Li Jian Gao wasn't sure whether to feel relieved, happy, or worried.

Had this child... made up his mind about him?

"Forget it, let's not talk about this now. When you go back, compare Xilin University of Technology with Jiang University online. Oh, and don't mention solving the mass gap hypothesis later. It will make people think you're overly presumptuous. First impressions are very important. As for the rest, just be yourself," advised Li Jian Gao.

"I still haven't figured out a few key points. I won't talk about it to others before resolving those issues; you are the exception," Qiao Ze said, biting his lip.

Li Jian Gao also felt he was overthinking it; with this child's innocence, he really didn't need to instruct him so much. Perhaps this was just concern spurring chaos.

"Let's go in, then. I'll teach you something else: always be punctual for scheduled times. It's also an important aspect of interpersonal relations. Everyone's time is precious."

Qiao Ze silently nodded.

...

When Li Jian Gao led Qiao Ze into the private room arranged by Zhang Chunlei, a group of professors was already comfortably seated around the tea set, chatting with great interest.

Of course, they had already reserved seats for Li Jian Gao and Qiao Ze in advance.

Perhaps considering that Qiao Ze would be coming, the professors had not called for the tea master from the tea room. Instead, Zhang Chunlei himself took charge, sitting at the head of the table, washing and pouring tea.

"Li, you finally arrived! They were just saying you might have gotten stuck in the elevator. This must be the talented kid you mentioned, right? Come, take a seat, let's have tea together," greeted Zhang Chunlei warmly as the two walked into the room.

Actually, at this moment, the attention of most professors in the private room was on Qiao Ze.

All of them were involved in higher education, so of course they knew that no professor would be willing to take care of someone else's child for a few days unless they had a very good relationship or the child had an exceptional mathematical talent. After all, it involved responsibility.

These days, getting promoted to a senior position in a university, especially in a science and engineering discipline, was an arduous journey, and they truly cherished their reputation.

If some trivial matter affected their future promotion or even led to dismissal from the school, the loss would be huge.

So curiosity was inevitable.

Of course, knowing that Qiao Ze might have some psychological issues, the professors' attention wasn't that obvious.

They were still greeting Li Jian Gao with their mouths, but casting brief glances at Qiao Ze from the corners of their eyes...

Well, this kid seemed somewhat dull.

"Sorry for being late. Let me start with an apology. By the way, let me introduce you to everyone, this is Qiao Ze, the kid with the high mathematical talent I just mentioned to you all. Just to declare, I found him first, so don't you all compete with me," Li Jian Gao made a joke with a deeper meaning.

"Haha... Look at what you're saying. We're not admissions officers, we don't deal with admissions. Today we are just drinking tea, not discussing these matters. Come on, let's drink tea first, Qiao Ze, sit down too, sit with the uncles and have a chat, and you'll get familiar with everyone," Zhang Chunlei laughed heartily,

"This is the Professor Zhang from Jiang University that I just mentioned, call him Professor Zhang," Li Jian Gao took the opportunity to introduce to Qiao Ze.

Qiao Ze, seated next to Li Jian Gao, nodded at Zhang Chunlei and called out, somewhat woodenly, "Professor Zhang."

"Are you a high school senior?" Zhang Chunlei asked casually while washing cups for the two newcomers.

"Yes."

"Don't you have classes today, Wednesday?"

Qiao Ze replied seriously, "My mom got me a sick leave. The teacher also thinks I'm sick, but I might indeed be mentally ill."

"Ah..."

Everyone was momentarily taken aback; the conversational opener was quite bold, and it took a second for their brains to catch up.

"Haha, the doctor said he has Asperger's syndrome, and he remembered it," Li Jian Gao spoke up to smoothen the situation.

"That's the genius disease! Kid, do you know that Newton had this disorder too?" someone immediately followed up.

"Oh..." Qiao Ze responded nonchalantly, then looked at Zhang Chunlei and asked directly, "Why were you able to become a Yangtze River Scholar?"

Li Jian Gao felt sweat forming on his forehead... he began to regret telling the kid too much just now.

Forget it, let the kid be!

Zhang Chunlei looked at Li Jian Gao with a wry smile but didn't take offense. Instead, he casually explained, "Because I chose a research-focused subject, which was recognized by the Yangtze River Scholar review panel, and a sum of money was allocated from a special fund to support my research. Then, after the research yielded results and the jury recognized them, I became a Yangtze River Scholar."

"Oh, so what subject did you choose? Was it difficult?" Qiao Ze continued to inquire.

"Well, I can't really say if it's difficult or not, but even if I told you, you wouldn't understand," Zhang Chunlei said with a mix of laughter and helplessness.

"How do you know I won't understand if you don't tell me? Although I might be mentally ill, I know quite a lot about mathematics," Qiao Ze said earnestly.

At that, all the professors in the private room began to laugh.

This was probably the fearlessness of the inexperienced.

Someone teasingly asked, "Do you understand Group Theory? Most of us here study Group Theory."

Qiao Ze answered even more seriously, "I do understand some of it."

Hearing Qiao Ze's words, the room suddenly went quiet.

Zhang Chunlei looked at Li Jian Gao, whose expression seemed unchanged, and suddenly showed interest, "Well then, I'll ask you a Group Theory question. If you can solve it right here, I'll tell you about my chosen topic, how's that?"

Qiao Ze nodded, "It's a deal! If I can't do it, I won't ask about it anymore."