When Li Zheng found Jie Qifen in the hallway, he was sitting alone on the steps, with no smell of smoke around him.
"Aren’t you smoking?" Li Zheng casually sat next to him.
"No, I would if I had any." Jie Qifen patted his pocket and looked back, "Where are they?"
"They’re still discussing that model." Li Zheng smiled wryly and lowered his head, "I’m having a bit of trouble with it, I’ll go back and chew on it slowly tonight."
Jie Qifen saw the troubled look on Li Zheng’s face and began to comfort him, "It’s right to struggle. Only people like Gu Jianfeng, who have a grand unification understanding of geometry and abstract algebra... or those born with a brain different from ordinary people, can imagine the diagram in such a short time."
"Yeah, right." Li Zheng pointed in the hallway, with his forehead covered, "Inside, one with a mathematical grand unification, one born with a different brain, I’m having a tough time..."
"You have your strengths." Jie Qifen really became more enthusiastic in comforting him, "You can put all this together, string seemingly unrelated knowledge together, you are the axis. Li Zheng, you can organize all this, you’re far more clever than someone like Chu Youhua mobilizing funds."
"You really comfort me when I say I’m struggling?" Li Zheng hit Jie Qifen and laughed, "So what the hell is a tunneling path? Have you already figured out this problem and are just playing with us?"
"I actually wish I could." Jie Qifen shook his head and sighed, "Superconductivity and condensed matter aren’t my specialties, much of this content I learned alongside you guys, just that my foundation is a bit thicker."
"Then how did you come up with the term ’tunneling path’ all of a sudden?"
"What do you think?" Jie Qifen said dryly with a laugh, "Is there any other possibility?"
"..." Li Zheng pondered for a moment, although he had a vague feeling already, he still tentatively asked softly, "Is the ’tunneling path’... in your theory... a unique term? Have you ever proven it... or predicted it from some other angle?"
Jie Qifen didn’t directly answer, but just patted Li Zheng, "See, I didn’t try to pull you guys in any specific angle, but you reached it anyway. Perhaps that’s physics. As far as you go, you will find that blocking all directions is the same wall."
After saying that, he struggled to his feet, supporting his knees and looked back down the hallway towards the other end of the lab with a quiet sigh.
"This is as far as I can accompany you."
Then, he walked slowly towards the lab.
Li Zheng hurried after him, wanting to say something more, but he just raised his hand, indicating not to ask any more.
...
Inside the classroom, Lin Yujing was... was... feeding.
She stuffed all her emergency snacks into Gu Jianfeng.
There’s no helping it, once this kid gets engrossed, it seems like his entire body loses perception, leaving only his brain roaming the mathematical world, completely without a sense of hunger, even ignoring the need for a restroom.
According to Father Feng, Gu Jianfeng even once fainted from studying.
This state...
Li Zheng could only feel inferior.
Lin Yujing, on the other hand, felt very sorry for the child, feeding him while touching him like studying a small animal.
"Wow... a person with no physical activity, really has abs?"
"Don’t... don’t touch..." Gu Jianfeng blushed, chewing his chocolate crisp, "I am a human too... Li Zheng will get angry..."
Sure enough, Li Zheng glared as soon as he entered the room.
"I thought you were discussing math, and you’re doing this??"
"Come on, come on." Lin Yujing beckoned, "He has abs, really firm ones."
"Oh?" Li Zheng rushed over to touch them too, "Really!"
"Enough already..." Gu Jianfeng, annoyed, twisted his body and covered his belly, "If you keep this up, I won’t stick with you guys, I’ll go find Teacher Shen."
Lin Yujing blinked and smiled, "Good, Grandpa also has abs~"
"Enough already!"
While they were studying Gu Jianfeng, Jie Qifen had written the following content on the whiteboard.
After Gu Jianfeng replenished his energy, Jie Qifen’s lesson for tonight had also begun.
Rather than calling it a lesson, it felt more like making arrangements for the future.
"This is the research direction going forward."
"1: Model Gu Jianfeng’s algorithm, translate it into physical language, make it understandable to the physics community."
"2: In it, regard the ’tunneling path’ as an unknown principle law and create a completely new Magic Angle Model based on it."
"3: If our path is right, then the applicability of this model will not be limited to graphene alone. Try to apply this model to more two-dimensional materials and make more ’Magic Angle’ predictions."
"4: Experiment to verify it. If there’s no experimental condition, we’ll have to wait for others to verify it... Graphene waited for 6 years, I don’t know how long this will take, but theoretical people are inherently ’waiting’."
"All this, you don’t necessarily have to strictly adhere to, these are just my personal suggestions."
"Then, most importantly." Jie Qifen dropped his pen, gazing at the three of them sentence by sentence, "You must, regard the ’tunneling path’ as an unknown principle, treat it as a formula, use it freely, but do not try to explain it. If you still consider me a mentor, this is the only request."
"But, Teacher Jie!" Gu Jianfeng’s eyes lit up, seemingly only caring about this, "I don’t understand superconductivity and condensed matter at all... nor care about verifying any Magic Angle, I just want to know where the tunneling path leads!"
Lin Yujing also showed the same eager expression.
For physics enthusiasts, compared to the discovery of "tunneling path", superconductivity and condensed matter are simply trivial.
Whether it was Lin Yujing, who knew more about physics, or Gu Jianfeng, who knew more about math, they both felt a "Dao in the Morning" level of calling.
Before hearing this call, they never felt why they were born, and they scoffed at the word "destiny."
But tonight, they felt this way.
And their fanatical eyes were precisely what most tormented Jie Qifen.
Sure enough, it can’t be stopped...
Beyond self-blame, Sui Miao’s advice and Lu Dongsheng’s smirk also successively appeared before him.
They were right.
These students couldn’t be stopped.
Only Li Zheng was a bit more cautious, still possessing a wary rationality.
It wasn’t that he was much steadier, but rather that he knew more about the past, in addition to receiving more preventive guidance from other teachers.
Seeing Lin Yujing and Gu Jianfeng completely uncooperative, and Jie Qifen himself unsure how to persuade them, as the "axis" Li Zheng, it was time to correct the angle.
Li Zheng first rose and pressed down the muttering Jingjing and whimpering Gu Jianfeng, "You two quiet down and listen to me."
Then he glanced back at the anxious Jie Qifen, "Teacher Jie, you too, don’t speak in absolutes, you know we can’t achieve it."
Finally, he took a deep breath.
"Jingjing, Feng Feng, the world isn’t as we ideally imagine it."
"You might think a project is good, but that’s only ’your’ opinion."
"The world doesn’t care about ’your’ opinion."
"But the world cares about what ’Einstein’ thinks, ’Yang Zhenhua’ thinks, even ’Chu Youhua’ thinks."
"Before we acquire research resources, we have to first prove that we deserve them, make the world care about us."
"We take exams repeatedly, participate in contests repeatedly for this purpose, including our current project."
"We have been happy during this time, but this does not mean we are not frustrated."
Li Zheng looked at Jie Qifen, sweeping his hand across the classroom.
"Surrounded by everyone’s doubts and scorn, stuck in this rundown classroom, without even a decent computer..."
"And yet required to finish such a grand project within a single semester..."
"To connect to a subtle theory we have to sneak about, hiding here and there..."
"Although I love studying, I’ve never felt such frustration from learning..."
Li Zheng stared at Jie Qifen, tapping the desk.
"One day, I want to be in a classroom in broad daylight, openly, listening to Professor Jie Qifen teach the theoretical gaps he is willing to spend his life filling."
"That’s what has kept me going until today."
"So, Teacher Jie, do not talk about ’forbidding exploration’, it’s the cruelest punishment for students."
Li Zheng then turned his glare towards Gu Jianfeng and Lin Yujing.
"You two, also hold it in, don’t make me repeat Teacher Jie’s mistakes."
"Creation theories, revered by all."
"I want them all!"
"Electron microscopes, condensed matter research, DNA analyzers, supercomputers, space telescopes, colliders."
"I want them all!"
"For this, behave yourselves now, first come up with a Magic Angle Model to shut them up."
"Then secure a superconductivity theory."
"After that, it will be our turn to set the rules, play however we want."
"This isn’t a request, not persuasion."
"This is an order."
"Let there be no more nonsense about this matter."
"Understood?" Li Zheng first glared at Lin Yujing.
Lin Yujing shivered, "Scum... scum..."
"I can’t hear you!" Li Zheng glared harder, "Understood?"
"Um..."
"Can’t hear you!"
"Um!"
"Good." Li Zheng then turned towards the trembling Gu Jianfeng, "You?"
"My...my Dad has never bullied me like this..."
"Who has never bullied you? Can’t hear!"
"Dad!"
"Good!" Li Zheng then walked over to Jie Qifen.
Gu Jianfeng felt exceedingly wronged and started to get up to follow, "Wait... I haven’t..."
Lin Yujing quickly pulled him back, pressing his voice low and anxious, "This time Scum Chap is serious... just obey... I’m scared too..."
"It’s not that we can’t obey..." Gu Jianfeng said with a mournful face, "I just want to be respected..."
By now, Li Zheng had also walked up to Jie Qifen.
"Since you say I’m the axis, you should rotate with me."
"It’s the same words again, let’s together make the Magic Angle Model happen."
"If Ji University still dares to stop even one person from learning with you."
"Then it’s no loss for us to leave this Ji University."
"You really think I’m unwilling to go next door and have a laugh with Yang Zhenhua?"
"How so?"
At this moment, Jie Qifen also showed an innocence similar to the two before him.
"Let it be..." Lin Yujing nodded vigorously, "Let’s produce the results first, and then do as we please. Teacher Jie won’t need to feel pressured anymore."
"We could have just said these things outright…" Gu Jianfeng also nodded sadly, "Rubbing faces, patting bellies, why must you pick on me..."
Seeing this, Jie Qifen could only let out a relieved smile, picked up the final formula from Gu Jianfeng on the desk, and pulled up a new whiteboard.
"Your path formula is written so ugly, here, let me show you how to simplify it."
"!" Gu Jianfeng instantly stopped feeling sorry for himself, "I just haven’t gotten to simplifying it yet, this is not my real level."
"Yo." Jie Qifen smiled and casually waved his hand, "Then come, let’s split up and simplify this final formula. Whoever does it most beautifully, well... they will be in charge of spanking Li Zheng’s butt because the roast just now stank big time."
"Hey!" Li Zheng glared, "How did we suddenly get to this point!"
"Ah!!" Lin Yujing had already run up and snatched the draft paper, "Spank!! Spank hard!!"
Gu Jianfeng also hurriedly grabbed a pen and buried his head in work: "You’re dead, Li Zheng... I’ll use math to avenge..."
Jie Qifen just smiled and raised his hand, looking at his watch, "Alright, I’ll give you ten minutes."
Li Zheng, while looking for a pen, protested, "This is my butt, what right do you have?"
Jie Qifen smirked and said, "Look how mad the kids are, just accept it."
"No, I’m going to win!"
Half an hour later, Gu Jianfeng won the competition.
Mainly because Jie Qifen hadn’t participated but simply provided the standard answer.
So, a historic scene unfolded.
In front of the lab bench, Gu Jianfeng nervously clasped his right hand.
"I’m going to hit it now!!"
"Damn it…" Li Zheng clenched his teeth, "Make it quick."
"It’s exactly this expression." Lin Yujing exclaimed while frantically snapping photos with her phone, "Resignation, helplessness, the look of being at someone’s mercy from below."
"!" Li Zheng snarled, "Just you wait, your unlucky day will come!"
"Oh?" Lin Yujing raised an eyebrow and laughed, "You were just being fierce to me, believe I will tell grandpa?"
"Tsk…"
...
Based on the ’Tunneling Path’ hypothesis, research on the Magic Angle Model formally began.
They were amazed to find that once the ’Tunneling Path’ final formulation was adopted, many complex problems in the previous model were resolved with ease, though the principles were unclear, it just mysteriously worked well.
Even Jie Qifen himself didn’t expect this thing to be so useful.
In casual conversations, he inevitably revealed some past events.
Unlike superconductivity research, Jie Qifen had unearthed the "Tunneling Path" from high-energy physics experimental data twelve years ago, but that was just one hypothesis among many he had, and even he didn’t know which one was the truth.
It could even be said, if any of these hypotheses turned out to be true, it would be miraculous.
Unexpectedly, twelve years later, Gu Jianfeng encountered it again in his calculations for the Magic Angle.
Each of them knew well that a mathematical model common to two unrelated fields inevitably points to an intriguing direction, but like Li Zheng said, they kept their eagerness, waiting to prove themselves before embarking on deeper research.
The good news was, with the addition of Gu Jianfeng and the unsealing of Jie Qifen, model construction entered the speed of light domain.
Li Zheng, every night returning to studying, catching up on lessons a hundredfold, while incorporating their findings into the computer, introducing more two-dimensional materials to calculate and adjust.
Perhaps because of the solid foundation established over the previous months and the plethora of accumulated materials from Jie Qifen, the brief half month could only be described as soaring.
In the blink of an eye, it had soared to the end of the month, which was also the end of the year.
As a couple, Li Zheng and Lin Yujing’s New Year’s Eve was naturally spent studying.
Jie Qifen went home to accompany his mother to watch the evening program, and Gu Jianfeng, persuaded by Li Zheng, went home to spend quality time with his father.
So, that night in the lab.
It was only... Li Zheng and Lin Yujing.
Just walking in the deserted hallway, they had already simultaneously become shyly silent.
Is there any place... more stirring for romance than a New Year’s Eve lab?
"The whole building... probably won’t have anyone else, right?" Lin Yujing said, tilting her head as she walked tentatively.
"Yeah, I sent away the cleaning lady and the security guard." Although Li Zheng’s voice was deep, it trembled slightly, "I guarantee, the whole evening, this building is ours, no matter what noise or sound is made, no one will discover it."
"Uh..." Lin Yujing covered her face and shook her head, "Stop talking, stop... I’m suddenly scared to be alone with you..."
"Hmm." Li Zheng twisted his mouth, "This time I’ll be more forceful, not giving you any space to struggle, I feel like you’ve actually been looking forward to this moment."
"Ah!!!" Lin Yujing pounded on Li Zheng furiously, "Not everything needs to be thought through and said out loud! It’s better left unsaid, Scum Chap!"
"Exactly." Li Zheng walked to the laboratory door, smiling as he pulled out his keys, "Always claiming you want to be on top, but deep down, you long to be... under…"
"That’s you!! You must have thought so yourself to say that."
Li Zheng’s expression tightened.
Ah… was he seen through?
"???" Lin Yujing’s mouth formed a perfect circle, "Ohhh! So that’s the kind of Scum Chap you are. Then I have to properly tease you when New Year’s comes."
"Humph, let’s see who’s tougher," Li Zheng said as he forcefully inserted the key.
It didn’t go in.
He tried again.
Still didn’t go in.
"Can you even do it, Scum Chap?" Lin Yujing covered her mouth and laughed, "Is that all?"
"Huh? But it’s this one, I’ve used it many times…" Li Zheng poked a few more times, then bent down to look at the keyhole, and as he looked, his eyes suddenly bulged, "The lock’s changed?!"
"???" Lin Yujing’s eyes also bulged as she leaned in, "What the heck, just today?!"
At that moment, Jie Qifen’s New Year’s greetings arrived.
[Li Zheng, Lin Yujing, Gu Jianfeng:]
[Happy New Year!]
[There’s something I’ve always wanted to say, but our time together was too precious, and I didn’t want to ruin it.]
[Due to my mother’s old age illness, I have had to accompany her to the hospital more and more frequently. The commute distance and work in the laboratory are already hard to sustain, so I applied for a transfer to a department closer to my home with a more flexible schedule.]
[Regarding the Magic Angle Model, I’ve done everything I could. The remaining work can be handled by you three; I’m even a drag on the progress.]
[Once the paper is complete, you can publish it alone or ask Professor Zhang Qi from the Institute of Theoretical Physics within our school to be the corresponding author. He is quite capable and might accept this.]
[Please don’t write my name; my second-rate is already turned third-rate.]
[Thank you all, these months have been the happiest of my time at Ji University.]
[Those so-called "my theories" I promised you, they will appear before you as soon as your Magic Angle Model is published.]
[But as for me, for a long time into the future, I need to fulfill a son’s overdue responsibilities first.]
[Do not mourn, do not chase, once my mother’s condition improves, I will contact you.]
[Lecturer, Jie Qifen.]
Li Zheng and Lin Yujing each clutched their phones, exchanging glances.
"Old Xie has to take care of his mom... It’s inevitable, right..."
"Mmm... the paper is indeed just about the finishing touches..."
New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.
"So... we... shouldn’t bother him for now?"
"That can work... but..." Li Zheng grimaced as he stared at the keyhole, "There was no need to change the lock, not when we had such a good setup."
"That makes me think..." Lin Yujing speculated, "Old Xie really had no reason to change the lock... isn’t this kind of thing managed by the office... "
"!" Li Zheng also paused, "Changed by the school??"
"Seems like it must be..."
Li Zheng’s face darkened.
This is not good.
This time, it’s really not good.
It’s not good for him, not good for Lin Yujing, not good for the School of Physics.
He immediately grabbed his phone to make a call.
"Sister Shu?"
"Can you help me, do you know someone at the research center?"
"Yes, the teaching lab."
"Ask them why the lock was changed. I study here every evening, and now I’m very upset... Don’t say it’s me asking, just pretend it’s casual chat and find out yourself."
"Thanks."
A moment later, Wu Shu called back.
When Li Zheng put down the phone, his expression turned downright grim.
He slowly raised his fist and rested it against the door of the lab.
"Fake."
"What’s fake?"
"Old Xie, taking care of his mother, it’s fake." Li Zheng turned, his face cold, "The school pushed him out... today was the deadline. The lock change was to keep him from coming back secretly to teach us..."
"???!!!"
"Fuck." Li Zheng pounded the door heavily, "This I could ignore... but tonight... we were so in sync, wanting to be in the perfect atmosphere... damn it..."
"I just said to think about it, not to actually say it out loud!!!"
"I’m pissed off." Li Zheng shook his head forcefully, abruptly turning and storming out, "These people, are they so anxious..."
Lin Yujing hurried after him, "You need to calm down... otherwise we... we could change locations... to study... or something besides studying..."
As she spoke, she also irritably ruffled her hair.
"See, I even said it myself... not fun, not fun at all!!"
"Exactly, it ruins our mood." Li Zheng worked his neck, his voice growing harsher, "Tonight, nobody’s going to have a good New Year."