The four of them almost simultaneously turned their gazes toward Xue Jiao. The heated arguments ceased, the discussions halted, and all eyes focused on one spot.

Xue Jiao's hand holding the pen froze. Subconsciously, she raised her hand and touched her face. "What... is something wrong?"

Yang Zhan looked at her, his tone tentative. "What did you just say?"

"Magnetic field superposition."

"How exactly would that work?" Yang Zhan pressed further.

"By superimposing the magnetic fields, we can amplify the magnetic force. Or... consider the flying vehicle itself—could we reduce gravitational effects through mutual interaction?" Xue Jiao said softly.

After another moment of silence, Zhang Han led the applause.

Xue Jiao was startled, placing a hand over her heart, her face flushing with slight embarrassment.

Yang Zhan clapped his hands together. "Yes, yes, yes!! I think it's very feasible! Gu Xue Jiao, you're amazing. Truly, your words woke us from our stupor."

"Xue Jiao! Brilliant!" Chu Sheng laughed and patted her shoulder.

"We can divide the work and proceed in two separate directions. Regardless of which one succeeds—or if both do, or even if neither—at least we'll have a clearer next step!" Zheng Jiakun's expression relaxed slightly.

Sometimes, the more you know, the harder it is to find a solution. They had been going in circles, trapped in their own framework. Occasionally, an outsider's remark could be the key to unlocking their thoughts.

Perhaps, given time, they might have figured it out themselves. But in that moment, they had been too close to the problem to see clearly.

Zhang Han's brow also eased slightly as she looked at the others. "In that case, let's discuss together today, then divide the tasks and collaborate, keeping in touch through the group chat."

"I support that," Chu Sheng raised his hand.

The others nodded in agreement.

"This will be a long and complex process. Everyone needs to stay committed, but there's no need to rush—especially you four. You still have heavy course loads, and finals are coming up. Don't pour all your energy into this project just yet." Zhang Han's face remained stern, but her words carried concern for the group.

She was a research fanatic... cold on the outside but warm inside.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. If we couldn't handle our studies, how would we even be sitting here?" Yang Zhan raised an eyebrow, already back to his playful banter.

Zhang Han shot him a glance and continued, "The magnetic field setup here is already complete. You can simulate any results you come up with. Did everyone review the materials I sent yesterday?"

"We did."

"It was mentioned earlier..."

Zhang Han went through the details one by one, occasionally interrupted by Xue Jiao and the others when they had insights to share.

The meeting lasted until past one in the afternoon. Zhang Han's assistant brought everyone lunch, and they continued discussing between bites, resuming the conversation after the meal.

Xue Jiao rubbed her temples. Compared to these physics experts—especially Yang Zhan and Zhang Han—her foundation was still too weak.

Half of her notebook was filled, along with numerous question marks—all topics she needed to research further.

Now that they had a general direction, the next priority was determining what to do and what results to aim for.

Once that was clear, the "how" would come through gradual exploration.

By eight in the evening, Xue Jiao was massaging her temples again.

The others also seemed drained, even Zhang Han frowning slightly.

"That's about it. Personally, I think the project's chances of success might not be as low as we initially thought, but it will likely take much longer." Chu Sheng summarized, reaching for his cup and taking a sip."Alright, since everyone has their direction now, let's wrap it up for today. Feel free to share any progress in the group chat, and we'll decide on the next discussion time later." Zhang Han stood up and began packing her things.

"Okay." Xue Jiao also rose to gather her belongings.

Both Yang Zhan and Zhang Han were from other schools, and leaving too late might mean missing the last bus. So everyone quickly packed up and headed out.

Chu Sheng and Zheng Jiakun were staying on campus, so Xue Jiao naturally walked out with Zhang Han and Yang Zhan.

"Tired, junior?" Yang Zhan raised an eyebrow.

Xue Jiao couldn't hide her exhaustion. "A little."

"Haha, you're a math major. Must've been tough listening to physics all day."

The usually quiet Zhang Han suddenly interjected, "And you're a physics major, yet you're always dabbling in math and chemistry."

Xue Jiao was taken aback, realizing Zhang Han was defending her against Yang Zhan's teasing.

Though it was all in good fun, Zhang Han's gesture clearly showed her friendliness toward Xue Jiao.

Yang Zhan exaggeratedly gasped, "Wow, wow, wow! Senior actually took junior's side against me!"

Zhang Han averted her gaze slightly, embarrassed. "You asked for it."

Xue Jiao smiled and lightly linked arms with Zhang Han, a warm and comforting gesture Mai Jiajia often did with her.

Zhang Han stiffened, her hand freezing mid-air, but she didn't pull away or push Xue Jiao off.

Xue Jiao's smile brightened. "Senior, hope to see you again soon."

Zhang Han's stern expression softened slightly at her radiant smile. After a pause, she replied coolly, "Mm."

Xue Jiao kept her arm linked, staying close as they walked.

As they neared the school gate, Yang Zhan leaned in mischievously. "Junior, let me tell you—Senior here is a research machine with no friends and no feelings. Good luck!"

Zhang Han shot him a cold glare.

Xue Jiao also glared. "You're the one with no feelings!"

Yang Zhan: "..."

Well, now they were on the same team.

Zhang Han's arm relaxed slightly, growing accustomed to Xue Jiao's hold.

Xue Jiao's cheerful gaze suddenly froze when it landed on a figure in the dim light. She stopped walking, prompting Zhang Han and Yang Zhan to follow her line of sight.

A man stood there—a very handsome one.

"Oho, junior, what's this?" Yang Zhan teased, nudging her. Despite his impressive reputation, his personality was lively and cheeky.

Xue Jiao blushed, releasing Zhang Han's arm. "Um... Senior, I have something to attend to. You two go ahead."

Zhang Han nodded. "Mm. See you." After a pause, she added, "Get home early." Her tone was as curt as ever, but her eyes held warmth.

Xue Jiao grinned at her, eyes sparkling. "Okay! Don't worry!"

With that, Zhang Han turned to leave.

Yang Zhan smirked. "Such a pretty junior already taken. What a shame." Seeing Zhang Han walking away, he hurried after her. "Senior, wait for me!"

He caught up to Zhang Han, undoubtedly saying something to provoke another glare.

Xue Jiao chuckled and turned, quickening her steps toward Lin Zhihua.

"What are you doing here?"Lin Zhihua lowered his head and lightly flicked her forehead with his finger, his tone carrying a hint of grievance: "You were chatting so happily with another guy just now. What? Did I interrupt you?"

Xue Jiao shook her head, her ponytail swaying slightly: "Don't talk nonsense, that was Senior Yang Zhan."

"Oh... the Senior Yang Zhan you admire so much? The one who won some award or another..."

"Ah! Why are you so jealous!" Xue Jiao stood on her tiptoes and covered his mouth with her hand.

Though she was teasing Lin Zhihua, she felt secretly delighted inside. Even though they'd just met yesterday, seeing him again today made her happy.

Lin Zhihua gently kissed her palm before holding her hand: "I am very jealous indeed. So you must behave properly and not get too close with other guys. You should know—you're already taken."

Xue Jiao glared at him: "Then you should remember you're taken too! No getting close with other girls, or else..."

"Or else what?" Lin Zhihua raised an eyebrow.

"Or else I'll break up with you!" Xue Jiao widened her eyes.

When those last two words came out, Lin Zhihua's expression darkened for a moment, his eyes flashing with an indescribable emotion.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, his voice deep: "I won't get close with other women. Don't say those two words again—it hurts to hear them, okay?"

Just the thought of those words made his chest tighten with panic.

Seeing the sadness in his eyes, Xue Jiao's heart ached. She reached up on her tiptoes and patted his head: "No, no. As long as you don't wrong me, I'll never leave you. We'll be together forever."

She said this with complete sincerity.

Lin Zhihua didn't respond, simply holding her hand as they walked toward the parking area.

She was still young, having just turned eighteen this year. A promise of "forever" carried immense weight—easy to say, but incredibly difficult to uphold without wavering over a lifetime.

But so what?

He would make sure her love for him lasted a lifetime, growing deeper each day—from fondness to love, from love to devotion.

If love required effort, he would be the perfect strategist.

Xue Jiao sat in the passenger seat, nibbling on the snacks Lin Zhihua had left for her.

"Wow, you made snacks for me again? Doesn't it take up too much of your time?"

She munched on the homemade sweet potato and purple potato chips—steamed and then baked dry, with minimal oil and light seasoning.

"It's fine. I wasn't busy today. I made them after dinner and have plenty left. I'll bring more when I pick you up tomorrow—you can keep them at school." Lin Zhihua reminded her, "No matter how busy your project gets, you must eat. No skipping meals!"

"Okay, okay!" Xue Jiao raised both hands in agreement, then suddenly remembered something. "You're picking me up tomorrow too?"

"Mm. I'm not busy these next few days. Just message me half an hour early each day, and I'll come get you." The corners of Lin Zhihua's lips curled into a visible smile.

Opportunities to see Xue Jiao were too rare—he wished he could drive her every single day.

Xue Jiao frowned slightly: "Won't it be too much trouble?"

"Not at all. In a few days, I'll be moving to your neighborhood. It'll be even more convenient then." Lin Zhihua said casually, watching her reaction from the corner of his eye.

Xue Jiao's eyes widened: "Huh?"

Lin Zhihua was going to live in her neighborhood...

Her face flushed slightly."What are you thinking about, silly girl?" Lin Zhihua's voice was filled with amusement.

The Cheng family's current residence was indeed about twenty minutes farther from his company than before, but compared to being able to see Xue Jiao every day, nothing else mattered.

Xue Jiao's face flushed slightly as she looked out the window. "N-nothing..."

Could she say that her first thought had been how close their home would be after they got married...

Married...

Xue Jiao's face grew even redder.

She closed her eyes and shook her head vigorously. What are you thinking, Xue Jiao!

"You're blushing? What were you thinking about?" They happened to stop at a red light, and Lin Zhihua turned to look at her, his deep voice carrying a hint of laughter.

Xue Jiao shrank back guiltily and quickly changed the subject. "Wasn't I supposed to message Uncle Xing? How did you negotiate with my dad?"

Lin Zhihua started the car and raised an eyebrow. "WeChat groups are wonderful things."

"Huh?" Xue Jiao blinked blankly at his handsome profile.

Lin Zhihua chuckled. "Check WeChat."

Xue Jiao took out her phone and opened it, seeing a new group chat with messages from half an hour ago—

Lin Zhihua: I'll pick up Jiao Jiao tonight.

Li Sitong: Sounds good! Uncle Xing was about to leave, but I'll tell him not to go.

Cheng Shuo: ...

Cheng Mingze: ...

Xue Jiao covered her mouth, laughing. "You're something else!"

Lin Zhihua smiled without responding. When dealing with a father-in-law and brother-in-law who disliked him, the only solution was to get the mother-in-law on his side.

She continued eating potato chips, then suddenly remembered something. Licking her fingers, she reached for her backpack.

"Oh, right. My thesis bonus came in. This is your gift."

Xue Jiao shyly took out a small box and placed it in front of him.

Lin Zhihua's lips curved slightly. "A gift? What should I do? There's one gift I really want—will you give it to me?"

"What?"

His deep voice carried a magnetic quality that made her ears tingle. "My Jiao Jiao."

Xue Jiao: "..."

Hmm... her face seemed to be heating up again...

She turned her head to look at his handsome profile.

Lin Zhihua's features were striking, but his tanned skin kept him from looking effeminate, instead giving him a rugged handsomeness. Dressed casually with his hair slightly covering his forehead, his sharp nose and defined eyebrows stood out. When he faced someone directly, his gaze was either piercing or hazy—both expressions made her blush.

But now, as she quietly studied his profile, she realized just how breathtakingly handsome he was, enough to make her heart race.

The car soon arrived at the entrance of Xue Jiao's neighborhood. Lin Zhihua parked and suddenly turned to her, unbuckling his seatbelt before leaning over and kissing her.

His technique... had improved dramatically...

"Mmm..." After a while, Xue Jiao was gasping for air.

Lin Zhihua finally pulled back slightly, his hazy eyes fixed on her as he murmured in a low, suggestive voice—

"If you keep looking at me like that, I might commit a crime."

Boom—

Her face burned crimson, and Xue Jiao raised her hands to cover it.

Lin Zhihua caught her wrists, lowered his head, and captured her lips again.

His gaze was wild, his movements restrained—for a moment, Xue Jiao felt as though he truly wanted to devour her.

By the time he released her again, she could only gasp heavily for breath.

Lin Zhihua sat back, taking a deep breath. "Jiao Jiao... you should get out on your own..."

Xue Jiao instinctively glanced at him, meeting his intense, barely restrained gaze. Her heart pounded, and she quickly pushed open the car door and fled.Lin Zhihua rolled down the car window, watching Xue Jiao's figure disappear from sight before reaching out to take the small box.

He gently opened it to reveal a leather wallet inside.

His fingers lightly traced the wallet as the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

His Jiao Jiao...

——

Chen Yan sat beside Lin Zhihua, with the driver and assistant Tan Qi in the front seats.

"Chairman Xu has invited you to play golf at his villa this afternoon."

"Who else will be there?"

"President Hua Mingzhen and CEO Gao Yixia..."

"Alright, tell them I'll attend."

"There are no arrangements for tonight. Tomorrow at 9 AM, Manager Xu from City C and Manager Zhou from City W will come to report. Manager Tian from Tiantian will meet you at noon tomorrow. The afternoon is currently free—shall we schedule a meeting with the project and planning departments?"

"Proceed."

"Understood." Chen Yan nodded.

As the car stopped at the company entrance, Tan Qi quickly got out to open the door.

Instead of hurrying inside, Lin Zhihua slowly took out a wallet, carefully opened it, and pulled out a hundred-yuan bill. "Go buy me a pen."

Tan Qi: "......" ???

What the...???

Chen Yan stepped forward, took the money, and handed it to Tan Qi while calmly remarking, "Boss, that's a nice wallet."

"Jiao Jiao's gift."

Lin Zhihua smiled contentedly, put the wallet away, and strode toward the company.

Chen Yan followed respectfully behind.

Tan Qi: "......" ???

Holding the hundred-yuan bill stiffly, he wondered—did he really have to buy a pen? Weren't there still several boxes of pens in the office?

Watching the commanding presence of his boss ahead and Chen Yan's deferential posture...

He still had much to learn...

When Xue Jiao arrived at the lab, Chu Sheng was already there. Just as she set down her bag, Zheng Jiakun walked in.

"Morning."

"Morning."

"By the way, two people from your math department came looking for me last night—Ge Donglin and Zeng Bin," Chu Sheng suddenly mentioned.

Xue Jiao frowned slightly. Weren't those the two who had stopped her the other day?

"What did they want?"

Chu Sheng looked puzzled. "They said they wanted to join our project."

"What did you tell them?" Zheng Jiakun asked while unpacking his bag and taking out his notebook.

Chu Sheng shook his head. "They said joining us would help a lot and wanted to know what our project was about. They also mentioned having a whole year free to work on it, more time than us, so they could contribute more..."

"But they're from the math department—why join us?" Zheng Jiakun's brows furrowed.

Just then, a loud voice boomed from the doorway—

"Which math department folks want to join you?!"

Chu Sheng's eyes lit up as he greeted cheerfully, "Professor Jin, hello!"

While Chu Sheng sounded delighted, Zheng Jiakun stiffened. "Professor Jin, good morning..."

Xue Jiao also smiled. "Good morning, Professor Jin."

"Not as good as yours!" Professor Jin waved dismissively.

He strode to the center of the lab and glared at Zheng Jiakun. "I'm not here for you, so why the fear? Think I'd hit you?"

Zheng Jiakun: "......"

Xue Jiao couldn't help but laugh at Zheng Jiakun's awkward expression.

As everyone knew, when Zheng Jiakun had once abruptly announced mid-experiment that he wanted to return to take the college entrance exam for the math department, Professor Jin had been so shocked he asked twice to confirm. Upon realizing Zheng Jiakun was serious...

He'd taken off his shoe and threatened to beat him on the spot.Professor Jin said sourly, "Fine, stay in the math department if you want. It's not like you can easily switch majors now that you're a sophomore anyway."

After speaking, he suddenly turned to Xue Jiao with a beaming smile.

Xue Jiao felt a chill down her spine, sensing trouble.

Sure enough, Professor Jin hit her with a soul-piercing question—

"Student Gu Xue Jiao, would you like to transfer to our physics department?"

Beside them, Zheng Jiakun stifled a laugh.

Xue Jiao's scalp tingled with awkwardness as she replied, "No..."

Professor Jin cut her off: "Don't you think our physics department is great? If it weren't, why would you work on our physics projects? In physics, from astronomy to geography, any curiosity you have can be answered!"

Xue Jiao forced an awkward smile.

"Aren't you curious about the boundless cosmos? The sky and orbital mechanics? Outer space? Or one miraculous invention after another?" Professor Jin's voice was dripping with temptation.

"Not curious at all!" Another voice answered for Xue Jiao. At the doorway, Professor Tan walked in.

Xue Jiao: "..."

Why were these two rivals here together?!

Professor Tan smirked without warmth. "Don't mind him. Professor Jin can't get over Zheng Jiakun's cross-disciplinary work, so he's trying to poach you. Just ignore him."

Xue Jiao scratched her head awkwardly. The "war" between these two professors was something she'd rather not get involved in.

Honestly, she'd assumed professors always respected each other...

There was respect, sure, but they also loved taking jabs at one another.

Especially Professor Tan. Though incredibly capable and seemingly indifferent to fame with a mild temperament, the truth was quite different.

While other professors would flaunt their students' achievements, Professor Tan always maintained a calm, composed demeanor.

Yet he often "casually" showed off, pulling off effortless flexes.

It was supremely aggravating.

Professor Liu in the math department and now Professor Jin in physics—both seemed like they wanted to strangle him.

"What do you mean 'can't get over it'?!" Professor Jin fumed, his beard practically bristling.

Professor Tan replied coolly, "Isn't that the case?"

"I recognize Gu Xue Jiao's talent for physics!"

"Hah. And I recognize Chu Sheng's talent for physics too," Professor Tan retorted calmly.

Professor Jin glared, turning back to Xue Jiao. "Student Gu Xue Jiao, you're about to finish your freshman year—this is the perfect time to switch majors. Our physics department has won numerous awards recently, the prospects are excellent, and we have young professors. Your math department is just a bunch of old-timers—no future there. You should come to physics. Isn't physics amazing? The projects are fascinating too. If you transfer, I'll apply for you and Chu Sheng to share this lab!"

"Xue Jiao, you should recognize your mathematical talent," Professor Tan countered.

Professor Jin scoffed. "Proving Fermat's Last Theorem is impressive, but you could prove things in physics too. Our field has plenty of unsolved problems."

Noticing the thick stack of physics materials in Xue Jiao's arms, he pressed on: "See? The more you study physics, the more you love it, right? Join our department, and under my guidance, you could win the Chinese Physical Society Award!"

His voice was persuasive, and he rambled on, listing all sorts of benefits.

By the time he finished, his throat was dry, and Xue Jiao was thoroughly embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Professor Tan remained unruffled as he said—

"Student Gu Xue Jiao, congratulations on winning the 16th Chern Mathematics Award."