I Studied Abroad in the Modern Times

Chapter 21: Talent

Chapter 21 Talent

Tang Lingwu cherished the last sip of her milk tea, thoughtfully held the now-empty cup, and after a moment of contemplation, stuffed it into her backpack. Then she led Zheng Fa upstairs.

"I’ve drunk your milk tea, so this matter is on me!"

She almost thumped her puffed-out chest for emphasis.

When they reached the fourth floor, she stopped and pointed at a reinforced security door. "My teacher lives here. Wait for me while I go in and talk to him."

She knocked on the door. When it opened, Tang Lingwu gave Zheng Fa a signal to wait outside. She slipped through the narrow gap and lightly shut the door, leaving it ajar.

Zheng Fa stood behind the door, listening to the muffled voices inside.

"Professor Bai, I need to ask you a favor!" Tang Lingwu’s voice was crisp and sweet.

Zheng Fa smirked. That voice is a little too sugary.

"State your case," came an elderly, wary voice, one that sounded strangely familiar to Zheng Fa.

"I’ve brought you another student!"

"You’re dating now?" The old man’s voice suddenly rose.

"Dating? No way! I mean, I have a classmate who has some questions for you."

"A studious one? Boy or girl?" The old man clearly doubted her claim.@@@@

"A boy... But we’re not dating!"

It was clear that for the price of a milk tea, Tang Lingwu was pulling out all the stops.

"Bah! I know what you youngsters are thinking. Studious young men are rare. The lecherous ones, however, I’ve seen plenty. I won’t agree."

The old man apparently saw Tang Lingwu as a junior under his care, harboring a natural hostility toward any males near her.

"Professor Bai, aren’t you a university professor? You’re supposed to guide and teach all students without discrimination!"

The old man snorted, "I’m retired! Understand? Retired. Teaching students before retirement and after? What’s the point of retirement, then?"

Clearly, this old man had some grievances with his past job—simply put, he was lazy.

"But teaching me or teaching one more person isn’t much of a difference, is it?"

Tang Lingwu was persistent, her voice sweet to the point that even Zheng Fa outside felt chills down his spine. It was hard to imagine that such a coquettish tone came from someone with a slightly aloof demeanor.

"You’re different. Your mother... gave too much—No, I mean you have great talent in math! You’re brilliant!"

"But you haven’t even seen him. Maybe he’s talented too!"

"Mathematical talent, huh? Let me tell you, it’s quite accurate to look at someone and say they don’t have it."

"Don’t say that! After some thought, I realized that after a lifetime of teaching, suddenly retiring leaves this heart of mine yearning to teach again!"

Tang Lingwu’s expression was filled with question marks.

That’s not what you said earlier!

Zheng Fa was equally stunned, staring at the old man’s sincere face.

"So... Professor Bai, you mean to say..."

"What I mean is, as someone who works in mathematics, I’m always on the lookout for students with potential. You, young hero—no, Zheng Fa—don’t martial arts sects also seek out talented disciples for their secret techniques?"

"Uh?"

"From what I see, your aptitude for math is quite extraordinary!"

Realizing what was happening, Zheng Fa grinned. "And I can see that Professor Bai’s foundation is truly unparalleled!"

Tang Lingwu stood to the side, her expression one of utter bewilderment.

It looked like the two men had just completed a shady transaction right in front of her.

---

Looking at the diagrams Zheng Fa handed over, Professor Bai frowned, his face turning serious. Gone was the playful demeanor; now, he exuded the air of a true university professor.

He traced his fingers over the diagrams, his brow furrowing deeper.

"Is this all?"

"Yes."

"Well, I can’t make much of it." Professor Bai set the papers down. "Maybe you should take them to a fortune teller. They might divine their meaning."

Zheng Fa: "..."

"But if you’re asking about patterns, there’s something here."

"Do tell."

"This one, this one, and this one," Professor Bai pointed to three diagrams hesitantly, "from the perspective of mathematical topology, they’re the same shape."

"Topology... what now?"

"This involves a basic and simple topology concept called homeomorphism..." As he dove into his professional domain, Professor Bai’s enthusiasm soared, his hands gesturing animatedly.

After a long explanation, he paused to ask, "Got it?"

"..."

Zheng Fa felt like a little knowledge imp was trying to pry open his skull, but alas, it seemed he had unknowingly mastered the Iron Head Technique.