The day after Christmas, it started to snow in Jin Ling City.

The snow made Lu Zhou think back to when he was in Princeton, of the fireplace in his old house. Whenever it used to snow in New Jersey, he would study in the living room instead. His back would be against the sofa, and he would sit on the ground while facing the fireplace.

Even though he was far from the age of being nostalgic

When he saw the snow falling outside the window, he couldnt help but miss his old life.

He was sitting in the living room. He grabbed a dumpling, dipped it in vinegar, then stuffed it in his mouth. He looked at the white pine trees outside his window and suddenly said, I want to install a fireplace here.

Wang Peng looked around the living room and asked, Is it not warm enough?

Lu Zhou looked at him with a strange expression and said, Its not cold, I just want one.

Wang Peng paused for a second and said, Okay then Do you need me to do anything?

Lu Zhou said, No, unless you know how to lay bricks.

Lu Zhou was joking. He didnt expect Wang Peng to take it seriously. Wang Peng contemplated it for a while and answered, The General Staff Department has people in that expertise.

Lu Zhou: Are you a genie?

Why do you have everything?

Wang Peng: ?

In the end, Lu Zhou didnt ask the Peoples Liberation Army General Staff Department to build a fireplace for him. Instead, he contacted the design company that originally constructed the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study.

After all, using state resources for his little fireplace was a little overkill.

Lu Zhou didnt like two things, one was to ask others for help, and the second was to overreact over small matters.

Other than being handsome and smart, he didnt think he was better than others in any way. He didnt need special treatment.

Instead, he would feel more comfortable if other people treated him normally.

That was one of the reasons he was still single.

The construction company took Lu Zhous phone call very seriously.

Even though compared to nine-figure projects, a small fireplace was a drop in the ocean, the construction company still had the highest level of professionalism. The next day, they sent a team of designers to Lu Zhous home. By night time, they sent the design drawings and asking price to Lu Zhou.

Some were Victorian style, others were modern minimalistic style, and there were even some that were of the classic retro red brick style. There were a total of 15 designs, all of which were made according to Lu Zhuos living room layout. Each design even included a set of handmade wool rugs.

Lu Zhou looked at the price and began to wonder if the company was even making money on this project.

The asking price was 5,000 yuan, including the carpet. Lu Zhou couldnt help but want to increase the price.

Are you sure about the price?

The sales lady put on a professional smile and politely replied to Lu Zhou, Its fine, dont worry, youre an important client for our company. Giving our clients the best price has always been the companys leading philosophy.

Lu Zhou was baffled. He looked at the design plans and pinched his eyebrows as he said, My math might be wrong here But why does this come with a rug that is worth four times the asking price?

The sales lady smiled and said, This is our VIP discount.

Lu Zhou:

Discount my a**!

Lu Zhou wasnt going to stop them from saving him money. He hesitated for a bit and chose his favorite design.

Well go with this one then.

The sales lady circled the design Lu Zhou wanted and asked politely, Okay then, well install it for you as soon as possible. What time is convenient for you?

Anytime is fine, preferably the afternoon Lu Zhou looked at Wang Peng, who was standing next to the sofa. He then asked, Are you free this afternoon?

Wang Peng gave the same answer he always gave him.

I am available 24 hours a day.

Lu Zhou nodded and looked at the saleslady.

Well do two to six every afternoon How long will it take?

The saleslady gave him a glamorous smile.

Three days at the latest.

Actually, Lu Zhou didnt have to wait for three days. The fireplace was installed on the night of the second day.

Lu Zhou politely declined the offer from the saleslady to install floor heating pipes for free. After Lu Zhou paid the 5,000 yuan fee, he bid farewell to the construction people. He then immediately ignited the smokeless charcoal he bought and made a fire in his fireplace.

Lu Zhou sat on his new wool rug, leaning against his sofa. He listened to the fire crackling and felt the warm fire on his body. He yawned and felt sleepy.

So nice

He stretched his back and was about to fall asleep. However, his phone suddenly rang.

When Lu Zhou saw the caller ID, he immediately picked up the phone.

The other end of the phone spoke first.

Sweetheart, how are you?

Im doing good, Mom, not as busy as last year, Lu Zhou said with a relaxed smile on his face. He paused for half a second before asking, How are you and Dad doing?

Fang Meis face lit up the second she heard the word Mom. She had a hearty smile on her face as she spoke.

Dont worry about us, were doing good. Your dad is retiring in a few years, so he doesnt have to do much at work these days. All he does is drink tea and read the news. If it werent for me making him exercise, I couldnt even imagine what he would be like. I just called to see how youre doing, I didnt interrupt your work, right?

Lu Zhou smiled and said, Of course not, youre more important than work.

Fang Mei said, Dont say that, your career is growing, dont focus on me and Dad. We dont need you to worry about us. But I just hope you dont burn out, health is always the most important Oh yeah, are you busy after New Years Day? If you are, your dad and I can come to look after you.

Lu Zhou didnt want to give them more trouble, so he said, No no, its fine, Im good! Im not busy this time of the year, so Ill go back home instead.

Fang Mei sighed and said, Youre such a good kid, just too polite.

Lu Zhou was perplexed.

Mom, what are you talking about Im not being polite, I just havent been home in so long, and I miss you guys. Anyway, dont come to Jinling, Ill drive back home this year.

Even though his research was important, it wasnt as important as his family.

Not to mention that the Riemann hypothesis wasnt something he could solve overnight. He had just finished solving the Quasi Riemann hypothesis, so he needed some time to chill out and relax his mind.

Of course, more importantly, his parents were getting old. Lu Zhou wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.

Also, everything at the lunar orbit project was going according to plan, so he, as the chief consultant, didnt have to do anything.

If the plan needed to be changed or something unexpected happened, he would obviously stop his scientific research and go fulfill his duties.

Fang Mei could tell that Lu Zhou really did have time to go back home this year. She finally relaxed and smiled.

She obviously wanted her son to come home. Even though her son had a big mansion in Jinling, she had lived in Jiangling her entire life. Jiangling was her roots, and all of their family friends were in Jiangling.

This was why they never agreed to move to Jinling, even with Lu Zhou asking many times.

Good good, Ill make you some dumplings, dont think about work all day Sigh, I used to tell you to study hard so that you would have a good future. Your dad and I never thought it would be like this. We just hope youre not in a laboratory all day eating takeout. Go out sometimes, meet some new people.

Lu Zhou coughed and said, Im trying to change, also dont believe everything you see on documentaries. Whether its mathematics or physics research, everyone has to meet new people.

The stereotype of the loner scholar didnt exist anymore.

Even Lu Zhou couldnt cut all outside contact with the world and lock himself in a room. He needed at least arXiv and some other theses databases.

Fang Mei: Anyway, I just hope youre happy. Your dad and I just want a grandson. Thats all we want.

Lu Zhou said, Um Well talk about that later, there definitely will be one.

Fang Mei didnt seem to believe Lu Zhou, but she still smiled and spoke as if she was comforting herself.

I hope so

Lu Zhou:

Even though Lu Zhou knew his mom wasnt trying to give him pressure, he still felt like his heart was just stabbed