Chapter 158 106: Panic (3)
He pressed four fingers together and gently rested them on the paper.
Lu Jia froze.
He stared blankly at the hand resting on his notebook.
"There's no standard answer to this question."
A voice sounded from beside him.
The voice wasn't loud. It was calm and even, devoid of any emotion.
It was like someone reading an instruction manual.
Chen Zhuo withdrew his hand.
He didn't look toward the professor at the front of the room. Instead, he turned to Lu Jia, whose eyes were filled with bewilderment.
"You could just write 1+1=2 on this blank sheet of paper."
Chen Zhuo looked Lu Jia in the eye and spoke, enunciating every word.
"Tell the professor it's the origin of human mathematics, the cornerstone of all complex formulas."
"He'd still give you a passing mark."
Lu Jia sat there stunned, his mouth hanging open.
1+1=2.
Chen Zhuo picked up his water bottle from the desk.
He twisted open the cap and pushed the bottle into the space between them.
A wisp of steam rose from the bottle.
"There's no standard answer, and no hidden meaning."
Chen Zhuo pointed at the pencil lead on the desk.
"Have some water. You dropped your pencil lead."
The cool air from the conditioner drifted down from above.
Lu Jia looked at the thin pencil lead on the desk, then at Chen Zhuo's calm expression.
The bewildering pressure that had been crushing his chest suddenly dissipated.
'That's right.'
No score, no ranking.
Even writing 1+1=2 would be fine.
Lu Jia slowly put down the mechanical pencil in his hand.
He leaned back in his chair and felt a sudden chill. Only then did he realize his shirt had become damp with sweat.
He let out a long breath.
He took his hands off the desk and placed them on his knees.
"Th… Thank you."
Lu Jia's voice was quiet, laced with the frailness of someone who had just regained their footing.
Chen Zhuo didn't speak, just took the water bottle back and tightened the cap.
On the dais,
Xue Boyong had seen everything.
He didn't intervene, nor did he come down to ask about it.
The old professor lifted his thermos, took a sip of tea, and a barely perceptible smile touched his lips.
He put down the thermos and cleared his throat.
"Alright, that's all regarding tomorrow's test."
Xue Boyong stood up and pushed his chair back into place.
"This concludes our first class meeting. Go back, get a good night's sleep. See you tomorrow afternoon."
With that, he picked up his thermos and walked out of the classroom.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became lively.
"That's it? We're not even picking a class president or anything?" Chu Ge stretched in the back row.
"Good. I can't stand meetings," Wang Dayong said, standing up and dusting off his pants.
The students started to file out one after another.
Lu Jia remained seated, slowly reloading the pencil lead, closing his notebook, and carefully placing it in his backpack.
He zipped it up and slung the backpack over his shoulder.
He turned his head and looked at Chen Zhuo, who was getting ready to leave.
"My name is Lu Jia."
He said it earnestly.
Chen Zhuo took his book in hand and stood up.
"Chen Zhuo."
Lu Jia nodded and walked out of the classroom, backpack on.
His back was still ramrod straight, but his shoulders weren't as stiff as before.
Chen Zhuo walked to the door and met up with Chu Ge and Wang Dayong.
Wang Dayong looked at Lu Jia walking ahead and nudged Chu Ge with his elbow.
"Hey, isn't that your roommate? Aren't you going to ask him to walk back with us?"
Chu Ge fished a coin from his pocket and sneered.
"Ask him? My ass. Did you see him freaking out just now? I'd feel suffocated just walking with him. Let him go on ahead. We can take our time and stroll back."
"Let's go. Back to the dorm."
Wang Dayong shook his head and didn't press the matter.
Pushing open the doors of the Red Building, the wave of heat from outside washed over them again.
Under the streetlights, flying insects were still tirelessly crashing against the lampshades.
Chu Ge looked at Chen Zhuo walking ahead of them.
"What were you whispering to that nerd about earlier? He looked like he was about to have a heart attack."
Chen Zhuo walked in the shadows of the trees.
"Nothing much."
He glanced up at a streetlight.
"Just told him what's on the test tomorrow."