Chapter 18
“What's your plan for the research? Slicing?”
The old man had a strange expression, looking up and down at Zheng Fa. “I just want to practice on my own, but if you need it, I can find someone to do the slicing for you, even though I'm not a specialist in that area.”
“Don’t! You know the rules in my school—knowledge isn’t passed on lightly.”
“Hey!” The old man complained, “You youngsters are all like this, hoarding your treasures. Isn’t that how things decline?”
“Right, right, right!”
As Zheng Fa listened to his lecture, he ran off into the distance.
The old man probably realized that Zheng Fa had no intention of discussing this further, so he stayed put, his gaze lingering with a hint of reluctance.
…
By afternoon, the atmosphere in the class had become a bit restless.
At Qingshui High School, the seniors didn’t have weekends off.
Zheng Fa and his classmates had two days off every two weeks, with Friday evenings free until Sunday night when they returned for evening study.
Friday evenings were the most exciting time for students, many of whom would choose to hang out a bit before heading home.
“Zheng Fa! Let’s go play basketball after school!”
Wang Chen called out to Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa wasn’t particularly skilled at basketball, but he was tall and had good stamina from years of farm work, so he didn’t lag behind the other boys in class.
“Not today, I have plans with someone.”
Zheng Fa glanced at Tang Lingwu in the front row.
“Plans with someone? Who?” Wang Chen was taken aback; he had never seen Zheng Fa with any close friends before.
Following Zheng Fa’s gaze, he looked at Tang Lingwu.
“Tang Lingwu!” Zheng Fa had never seen such a rich expression on Wang Chen’s face before.
It was a mix of begrudging congratulations and disbelief.
“Just a few days ago, you were as quiet as a mouse, and now you’re making big moves?”
“... She asked me out.”
“Foster father, I want to learn this!”
Hearing him call out “foster father,” Zheng Fa realized the kid was really convinced…
“Trust me, girls love this!”
At the entrance of a milk tea shop, Wang Chen confidently urged Zheng Fa.
“I’ll explain again; I just want to express my gratitude.”
Zheng Fa tried to clarify.
After all, Tang Lingwu was willing to introduce him to her teacher, and he felt he should thank her.
But he hadn’t really interacted much with girls his age in this world.
He asked Wang Chen, who took him to the milk tea shop at the school gate.
This place was indeed popular, especially on Fridays, with many girls buying milk tea.
However, Zheng Fa had never been there.
A cup of milk tea costing over ten yuan felt a bit extravagant for him.
“Get me the most popular drink you have.”
Not knowing which one was good, he said to the staff.
In the end, he didn’t know if it was popular or not, but it turned out to be one of the pricier options, and the twenty-eight yuan price tag made him feel a bit ripped off.
Tang Lingwu had arranged to meet Zheng Fa near the staff dormitory.
Zheng Fa arrived first, and it was nearly half an hour before Tang Lingwu showed up.
“Sorry, my family needed me for something.” As soon as she saw Zheng Fa, she apologized.
“It’s fine, I didn’t wait long.”
Zheng Fa noticed a black car following Tang Lingwu around the corner.
He didn’t know much about cars, but from his simple aesthetic, this one looked quite flashy and probably wasn’t cheap.
“This way.”
Tang Lingwu led the way, and Zheng Fa handed her the milk tea he was holding.
“This is for you.”
Tang Lingwu shot him a puzzled look.
“It’s just to thank you for bringing me here.”
Tang Lingwu nodded, indicating she understood, but then crossed her arms in front of her chest and shook her head: “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t want the milk tea.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t drink milk tea; it’s unhealthy.”
Zheng Fa felt a bit regretful—what a waste of twenty-eight yuan!
If he had known, he would have asked Tang Lingwu first.
But since she didn’t want it, he didn’t insist, thinking he’d just drink it himself later.
Qingshui High School had eight teaching buildings.
Tang Lingwu led Zheng Fa into one of the more secluded ones. As soon as they entered the hallway, she stopped and extended her hand toward Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa looked at her long, slender fingers.
Then he glanced at the milk tea in his hand.
Silently, he placed the plastic bag into her palm.
Tang Lingwu didn’t move on; she stood in the hallway and eagerly took a big sip.
“Isn’t it unhealthy?”
“Are you stupid? My mom is watching from the car!” Tang Lingwu shot him a glare. “I don’t drink it; my mom won’t let me!”
Got it.
The hand wave was just an act.
“Wait a minute, I’ll finish this and then we can go up!” It was clear that Tang Lingwu was experienced in this kind of negotiation.
As she happily gulped down the milk tea, she introduced Zheng Fa:
“The teacher who’s coaching me for the competition is like a distant grandfather. My mom knows him, and I can’t let him see me drinking milk tea.”
“He’s a teacher at our school?”
Zheng Fa thought since she lived at Qingshui High School.
“No, his daughter works here, and he’s already retired.” With that large cup of milk tea, Tang Lingwu surprisingly finished it in just a few gulps, looking a bit unsatisfied. “He used to be a university professor and was part of the Olympiad question-setting team.”
“That sounds impressive.”
“Yeah, my mom had a hard time getting someone to speak well of me. Even though he’s a distant grandfather, we haven’t really kept in touch.” Tang Lingwu paused.
Zheng Fa glanced at her face, a thought left unspoken.
It was clear that your family is quite impressive too.
---
**Chapter 21: Talent**
Tang Lingwu cherished the last sip of milk tea, pondering for a moment before stuffing the empty cup into her backpack and leading Zheng Fa upstairs.
“I drank your milk tea, so this is on me!”
She almost patted her chest in assurance.
When they reached the fourth floor, she stopped and pointed at a security door. “My teacher lives here. Wait for me while I go in and talk to him.”
She knocked on the door, and someone inside opened it. Tang Lingwu shot Zheng Fa a look to wait, slipped through the door, and left it slightly ajar.
Zheng Fa stood behind the door, listening to the muffled voices inside.
“Mr. Bai, can I ask you a favor?” Tang Lingwu’s voice was clear.
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but grin.
That sweetness in her tone was a bit over the top.
“Go ahead.”
An elderly voice came through, laced with caution, and Zheng Fa felt it sounded oddly familiar.
“I brought you another student!”
“Are you in a relationship?”
The old man’s voice shot up an octave.
“What relationship? I mean, I have a classmate who has some questions for you.”
“A keen student? Male or female?” The old man clearly didn’t buy Tang Lingwu’s story.
“Male… but we’re really not dating!”
It was evident that Tang Lingwu was putting in a lot of effort for that cup of milk tea.
“Come on, you young people think I don’t know what’s going on? Young men are rarely eager to learn; I’ve seen plenty who are just after girls! I won’t agree.”
The old man clearly viewed Tang Lingwu as a junior.
He held a certain hostility toward every male around her.
“Mr. Bai, aren’t you a university professor? You should be open to teaching anyone!”
The old man huffed, “I’m retired! Do you understand? I taught students before I retired, and if I keep teaching after retirement, what’s the point of retiring?”
This old man clearly had some grievances about work.
In simple terms, he was lazy.
“Well, teaching me is still teaching; what’s the harm in teaching one more?”
Tang Lingwu was really trying hard; even Zheng Fa felt a shiver listening to her outside.
It was hard to imagine that voice came from her slightly aloof face.
“You’re different; your mom has given you too much… No, I mean you’re very talented in math! Smart!”
“Well, you haven’t even met him; he might be talented too!”
“Math talent is something you can often gauge at first glance.”
“... Is there really no way?”
“No way!”
…
Tang Lingwu walked out of the room, looking a bit apologetic.
“Sorry, he doesn’t want to see you.”
“It’s fine; you did your best.”
From outside, Zheng Fa could imagine how Tang Lingwu had been sweet-talking and flattering the old man, her effort evident in her voice.
Moreover, that cup of milk tea was actually to thank Tang Lingwu for bringing him along.
He had also picked up on the fact that her family had spent quite a bit to find this teacher for her.
Twenty-eight yuan was just a drop in the bucket compared to that.
He wasn’t so greedy as to think a single cup of milk tea would make the teacher willing to teach him.
Table of Contents
