… Mathematics.
Su Wanli walked back toward the classroom, rubbing her chin thoughtfully with her palm.
Discussing some difficult math problems with the old professor during class—could that really be considered a sensational event?
She briefly imagined the scene afterward: Meng Wange standing at the podium, writing down a bunch of messy mathematical formulas, while the Math Teacher excitedly engaged her in discussions full of content that neither he nor the other students could understand…
Hiss, somehow it felt more embarrassing than admirable…
[Are you suggesting that the students of Class Three might not understand what the protagonist and the professor are discussing, so no matter how profound the research content is, it won’t be enough to cause a sensation?]
Something like that. To put it simply, it’s like playing a lute to an ox, or speaking ice language to an insect when talking about Meng Wange.
[…. The System does not quite understand your analogy, but that’s not important. In fact, compared to the students’ reactions, the professor’s response is the main reason this event became a sensation.]
[The Math Teacher of Class Three, Year Two is Professor Zhang Benying, a nationally recognized research talent. He has published more than a dozen papers in international mathematics journals and has participated in countless research projects. He is considered one of the top-tier, highly paid faculty at Baiying Academy.]
[Currently, Professor Zhang is essentially semi-retired, but he still devotes all his spare time to studying difficult math problems. Because of this, being able to research alongside him and provide some insights makes Meng Wange truly shine.]
… So that’s it. The professor himself is quite formidable.
Meng Wange, so young, can already discuss top-level problems with him and even offer her own thoughts and insights. Even if she can’t ultimately help the professor, that alone is enough to astonish people.
Then it’s simple. When class starts, just find a way to get Meng Wange to mention the math problems she’s been researching. The old professor will definitely get excited and enthusiastically discuss them with her, making my own sensation easy to pull off!
Having decided what to do, Su Wanli whistled cheerfully and pushed open the classroom door.
Meng Wange, the tall girl with brown hair, was not sitting in her own seat. Instead, she stood silently by Su Wanli’s desk, staring out the window.
A slightly open window let in a cold breeze that gently lifted Meng Wange’s long hair. Combined with her solitary figure, it gave off a somewhat lonely vibe.
For some reason, Su Wanli felt a faint pang of guilt.
… Come to think of it, if Meng Wange wasn’t around, I’d at least still have the three little brothers arranged by the System with me. But Meng Wange has no one else besides me.
It was like earlier today, when she was standing alone downstairs. Even though people passed by and there was noise all around, their chatter had nothing to do with her. Moments like that could indeed feel oppressively lonely.
Forget it. Next time I need to consult the little brothers about something, I won’t leave Meng Wange alone in the classroom. I’ll just send her little notes with instructions.
Su Wanli sighed silently and walked back to her own desk, softly clearing her throat at Meng Wange’s back.
“Meng Wange, why are you standing next to my desk?”
“Miss Wanli, welcome back.”
Meng Wange turned around upon hearing her called, smiling gently and nodding before pulling out Su Wanli’s chair.
“I was organizing the textbooks you used last class, as well as the materials needed for the upcoming math lesson.”
After explaining, she glanced at the clock hanging over the blackboard.
“You only went out for about four minutes and twenty seconds during the break, which is shorter than before. Is there something you needed to get back early for?”
… Huh, is she really this meticulous? She even remembers exactly how long I was gone?
Su Wanli scratched her forehead, sat down, and rested her left cheek on her right knee.
“Of course not. There’s nothing urgent at this school that I need to handle. But actually, I do have something to ask you.”
Clearing her throat, Su Wanli looked Meng Wange in the eyes.
“Meng Wange, do you know what the century’s greatest problem in mathematics is?”
“The century’s greatest problem?”
Surprised by Su Wanli’s unexpected question, Meng Wange frowned and placed her hand in front of her lips, pondering.
“If you mean some conjectures or hypotheses proposed by mathematicians that remain unsolved, I’ve read about and learned some of them. Are you trying to exercise your thinking skills by pondering such problems?”
“Of course not. I couldn’t care less about math problems. Just asking randomly.”
Su Wanli yawned and waved a hand at Meng Wange.
“Anyway, as long as you know, I’m going to take another nap. Don’t disturb me.”
“Alright.”
Meng Wange didn’t question her further but obediently nodded. She then pulled a warm notebook from her arms.
“Miss Wanli, this is an updated version of a new exercise book I prepared. When you’re feeling rested, you can try to review the contents more thoroughly. It should help with tomorrow’s test.”
“Fine, just put it on the desk and go away. Don’t disturb my nap.”
Sending Meng Wange off to one side, Su Wanli lazily flopped over the desk and stretched her arms.
Since Meng Wange said “understand,” that means she definitely knows more than just “understand.” Like the System said, she really is skilled in math.
Then it’s simple. When class starts, even if it’s sudden, I have to pull that old professor into a chat with Meng Wange on the subject.
As for the new exercise book Meng Wange just handed over…
Sigh, no matter how much I ignore it, studying is a real System task. If I can’t even score better than the average in class, then my nightmare is about to become reality…
Study, I can study. I’ll take the attitude of finishing an entire semester’s professional courses in a week like I did back then.
Since Class Three is full of slackers at this level, I refuse to believe they’ll fail!
Just as Su Wanli finally made up her mind to pick up the exercise book and browse through it, the class bell rang.
“Ah, um, everyone—”
However, the voice coming from the front of the classroom wasn’t the hoarse, wind-tunnel-like rasp of the Math Teacher, but a gentle female voice.
Su Wanli looked up in confusion. Standing on the podium wasn’t the impressive Professor Zhang Benying but the homeroom teacher of Class Three, the woman nicknamed “Miss Flower.”
She glanced around the classroom with a serious expression.
“Professor Zhang is feeling unwell today, so this lesson will be self-study. Everyone can freely review or preview as they like.”
“Yay! No class!”
“Just self-study, so don’t be too loud and disturb the other classes.”
After restoring some order, Miss Flower shook her head and walked out the door, leaving only the noisy classroom and…
Su Wanli, who had turned into a statue.