The thing that frustrated the little girl didnt happen.

At night, she lay in bed awake, struggling to fall asleep. She decided to take the initiative and message Chen Yushan. They made plans to watch a movie tomorrow.

Lu Zhou, on the other hand, didnt have any plans for Christmas. Like usual, he sat in his office and did what he was supposed to do.

Back when he was living in Princeton, he used to celebrate Christmas, but he stopped that tradition ever since he returned back to China.

However, that might be because he didnt have anyone to celebrate with.

Most of these foreign festivals were treated as another Valentines Day. People who didnt have a significant other generally stayed inside.

However, he suddenly saw a movie ticket appear in front of him.

Wanna watch a movie together?

Lu Zhou looked up and saw Luo Wenxuan with the ticket in his hand. Luo Wenxuan had a smile on his face, as if he was suggesting something.

Lu Zhou paused for a second.

I feel like hes trying to

Tell me to say no?

Lu Zhou spoke with a hint of uncertainty.

Im not free?

Ah, youre not free? I even bought two tickets, I wanted to go with you. Luo Wenxuan scratched his head and looked around the office for Assistant Kong. He said, So unfortunate

Lu Zhou:

I cant take this anymore

Im going to puke.

Its not like this guy is 15 years old, why is he being so cringed? Even Im embarrassed for him.

Assistant Kong, who was sitting near the window, didnt react at all. She didnt even notice what was going on. Luo Wenxuan was about to give up when Assistant Lin happened to walk in.

Midnight showing? Lin Yuxiang said while she read the ticket. She looked at Luo Wenxuan suspiciously and said, Youre asking Professor Lu to watch a movie at midnight?

Two guys watching a movie at midnight, its not even the premiere

Lu Zhou, who was drinking tea, nearly spat out his tea.

Jesus Christ, this guy is a savage!

Midnight showing on the first date?

Luo Wenxuan, who was standing by Lu Zhous desk, quickly began to explain.

No, um The midnight showing is cheaper.

However, his explanation wasnt believable.

Not to mention this explanation didnt make sense.

A scientific research professor with tens of millions in research funding, cared about a movie ticket price?

Forget about it!

Assistant Lin recalled that Luo Wenxuan always came to Professor Lus office without any intentions. At most, he would drink some tea.

Maybe Luo Wenxuan is interested in Professor Lu?

Luo Wenxuan regretted speaking the moment the words left his mouth.

However, it was too late.

He noticed that a few people in the office began looking at him.

Assistant Kongs reaction hurt him the most. Her look of surprise was like an arrow that pierced through his heart.

Nothing is wrong with swinging the other way, but Im not that kind of person!

Lin Yuxiang said, You spent all that money decorating your office, but you cant spend a little more on a movie ticket?

Luo Wenxuan:

He didnt want to say anything.

When Lin Yuxiang saw that Professor Luo went silent, she suddenly smiled.

How about this, Ill buy the tickets off you, Ill go watch the movie with Professor Lu.

Luo Wenxuan just wanted to clarify the situation, so he immediately responded, Sure! No problem!

Han Mengqi: ?!!!

Lu Zhou looked around the office and coughed.

You guys havent asked me yet.

Lin Yuxiangs eyes were shining with anticipation as she looked at Lu Zhou. Her hands were held together in front of her chest.

Um

Lu Zhou: Dont have time, not going.

Lin Yuxiang:

Kong Jie, who was sitting near the window, laughed out loud.

That laugh blew away the awkwardness in the room.

The office finally quieted down. Luo Wenxuan stood frozen in front of Lu Zhous desk. Lu Zhou looked at him and shook his head.

This guy

Should just give up

Lu Zhou wasnt going to watch the movie.

Much less a midnight showing.

Other than mathematics, there was nothing he would stay up to 12 oclock in the morning for. Maybe other than physics.

Lu Zhou kept working until sunset. Most of the people in his office had left since then. Lu Zhou stretched his back and stood up.

The moment he stood up, he received a WeChat call.

He glanced at his phone and picked up the video call from Xiao Tong.

The moment the call was connected, he saw that familiar face on his phone.

Brother! I miss you!

Xiao Tong was in her pajamas, and she excitedly put her phone in front of her face.

They hadnt seen each other in over a year.

She looked a little skinner, but other than that, she looked exactly the same.

Lu Zhou looked at his sister through his phone and smiled.

If you miss me, just look into the mirror. We dont look alike, but we do come from the same genes.

Xiao Tong: Yeah, but I have better genes!

Lu Zhou smiled and didnt say anything.

There wasnt any point arguing with her. Lu Zhou knew well in his heart who had better genetics.

So, why are you suddenly calling me?

Xiao Tong paused for a second. She then put on a pouty face.

Brother, its New Years Eve soon.

Yeah.

I want a present!

No problem Lu Zhou smiled and said, Go on, what do you want, nothing too expensive.

Haha, okay then, Ill send you my wish list.

Suddenly, Lu Zhou saw a notification on his phone. Xiao Ais text message popped up.

[Master, you have mail. ~()]

How long is her wish list?

Long enough to send it through email I guess

However, Lu Zhou wasnt worried. Forget about clothes or purses, he could easily buy her a house or two without putting a dent in his bank account.

Lu Zhou clicked the email and saw the email title.

However, the second he saw the attachment in the email, he froze.

[Study on the Impact of Welfare Policies on Macroeconomics Based on the Bewley Model]

He had heard a little bit about the Bewley model before. When he was in Princeton, a Nobel laureate in economics told him about it. Apparently, it was one of the hardest and most quantitative economics concepts.

Using Fortran 90 to run a Krusell & Smith Bewley model could easily take hours. Designing the mathematical model could often take years.

Compared to these macroeconomic models, the mathematical modeling competition seemed like a childs play, easy.

However, Lu Zhou didnt know a lot about Bewleys model at all. After all, most of his friends at Princeton were in the pure mathematics field, and they werent interested in money.

At most, they were interested in spending money

Lu Zhou suddenly realized what was going on. He looked at his phone and said impatiently, Do your own homework!

F*ck sake!

Asking a Fields Medal medalist to write a masters student homework, what a joke!

But brother!

Lu Zhou said, Dont pout, it wont work.

Xiao Tong frowned and said, This is too difficult, Im not a mathematics major I didnt know I was going to be assigned such a difficult research project, just help me please.

Lu Zhou didnt believe her. He shook his head and replied, How hard can a masters thesis be.

Look at the attachment! Youll see how hard it is.

Lu Zhou couldnt stand Xiao Tongs nagging anymore, so he sighed and looked at his computer. He reluctantly agreed to take a look.

However, after he downloaded the attachment, he had a strange look in his eyes.

Even though he didnt know a lot about economic theory, the mathematical model shown in the project was definitely beyond the abilities of a masters student.

Even his student He Changwen from Jin Ling University would take a while to tackle this model.

What a supervisor you have Anyone who hasnt done functional analysis would have a hell of a time mastering the model.

Xiao Tong said, I told you, this is impossible!

Lu Zhou: Are you sure your supervisor gave you this assignment?

Xiao Tong nodded and said, Yeah! Why would I choose such a difficult topic for my graduation thesis?

Lu Zhou thought for a second and said, How about this, I cant write it for you, this is your thesis. But I can co-author it with you. You can do the economics theory side, and Ill do the mathematics side.

Really? You agree?! Fantastic, theres still hope! Love you! Xiao Tong kissed the phone screen and lay on her couch as she smiled and said, Youre the best!

Ok enough, also, I have one request.

Xiao Tong stood up from the couch and said, Go on, Ill do anything, do you want a girlfriend? The office next door has plenty of chesty blondes.

No need for that, Lu Zhou said. You have to submit the thesis after it is completed. I dont care about being the first or second author, but I have to be the corresponding author.

When Xiao Tong heard Lu Zhous request, she paused for a second. She suddenly frowned.

But Im worried my supervisor wont agree. Im about to graduate, what if he doesnt let me graduate?

When it came to academia, the students were slaves to their supervisors.

The supervisors were usually the communicating author.

Xiao Ai was scared she wasnt going to graduate.

Lu Zhou knew Xiao Tong would say this, but he didnt seem to be concerned.

He smiled and replied, Tell him to do it and see what happens.