Chapter 884: I Want It All
I want it all!
Professor Forster obviously wanted to say this out loud, and according to the unspoken rules of academia, both the corresponding author and first author was his. There was no negotiation to be done about this.
He would only give the first author to his best-performing students.
He didn’t want to let go of such an excellent scientific research result, not to mention Lu Zhou was also involved.
However…
“… Do what you want.”
After a moment of silence, Professor Forster picked up the pen and signed his name on the graduation application.
He looked up at Xiao Tong and smiled as he said, “Do you want a recommendation letter?”
“If you can, thanks.”
No one would refuse a recommendation letter. Even though she had a recommendation letter from her brother, a recommendation letter from her master’s supervisor would help her with her PhD.
Even though she had little to do with Forster.
Xiao Tong politely bowed and accepted the graduation application with a smile.
In any case, she learned quite a lot from this professor over the past two years.
Of course, on the other hand, she also helped the professor in return.
Professor Forster didn’t a.s.sign her the project for n.o.ble reasons, it was just for her to help Forster “produce” more theses.
Now that his name was on an Econometrica thesis, he was happy.
After all, Forster himself would have to spend at least a year or two to write a thesis like that…
Professor Forster smiled in a relaxed manner and leaned back on his chair. He then said nonchalantly, “You’re welcome. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.
“If you decide on which university and professor you want to do a PhD under, tell me. I’ll send you the recommendation letter.”
This was the best option.
Even though Forster couldn’t retain Xiao Tong, he didn’t want to offend her. It would be better to let her go and keep a good relations.h.i.+p.
After being in academia for so many years, he was well aware of who he should not offend.
The person standing in front of him was one of them.
He had a feeling that he would meet Xiao Tong again in the future.
They might even work together.
Professor Forster looked at the door and sighed.
“d.a.m.n, Lu Zhou… F*ck, how come I don’t have a n.o.bel Prize laureate brother?
“If I did… I wouldn’t have to f*cking worry about receiving some Royal Academy of Science grant.”
He shook his head and put down his pen.
I guess pigs are starting to fly.
I’m actually jealous of a master’s student…
…
I’m going to graduate!
Finally!
I’m so happy!
After returning to her dorm, Xiao Tong began to jump up and down in joy. She jumped on her bed and took out her phone. She then called Lu Zhou, who was on the other side of the planet.
The call was connected, and she immediately spoke with joy,
“Brother! I graduated! Hahaha, mua, I love you!”
Lu Zhou heard her excited voice and smiled.
“You got your diploma?”
“Yeah!” Xiao Tong sat on her bed and hugged a pillow. She began telling Lu Zhou what happened.
After hearing Xiao Tong’s story, Lu Zhou nodded.
“Nicely handled.
“I hope you remember one thing. No matter what field of study it is, whether it’s applied or theoretical, there is always a hierarchy. However, there is one thing that doesn’t change; someone that produces good research will never be ignored.”
Xiao Tong nodded.
“I understand.”
“Good, when you encounter an unsolvable problem in the future, I’ll be there for you.” Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Oh yeah, one other thing, if you plan on going back for Chinese New Year, just go back to Jiangling. I’ll be going back soon, so I won’t be in Jinling.”
Xiao Tong happily said, “Sure, I haven’t been back in a long time.”
“Okay then, talk to you later.”
Lu Zhou was about to hang up the phone when Xiao Tong suddenly spoke.
“Wait a second.”
“What?”
“If this were you, how would you have done it?”
“If I were being stopped from graduating?” Lu Zhou rubbed his chin and said, “Difficult question… I’ve never worried about graduating.”
When he was doing a master’s degree, Academician Lu was clearly fond of his talents and wanted him to stay, but he still let Lu Zhou graduate. Professor Deligne, on the other hand, gave him a lot of freedom and even allowed him to choose his own thesis project.
Most supervisors didn’t want to let go of talented students.
However, if someone was truly talented, a supervisor wouldn’t be able to keep them for long…
Xiao Tong: “…”
She knew she shouldn’t have given Lu Zhou the chance to humblebrag.
After Lu Zhou hung up the phone, he put his phone into his pocket.
Luo Wenxuan walked next to him and casually asked, “Your sister?”
Lu Zhou nodded and said, “Yeah, studying a master’s degree in economics at Oxford.”
Luo Wenxuan was suddenly interested.
“Introduce me to her someday?”
“F*ck off.”
Luo Wenxuan s.h.i.+vered and quickly tried to explain.
“Wait, what are you thinking about, I already have my target, I just want to get to know her… Wait, don’t go, the idea I talked about with you last time, do you want to look at it?”
He quickly gave Lu Zhou a stack of printed thesis papers.
“Just read it, I won’t write your name down!”
When Lu Zhou read the thesis t.i.tle, he nearly laughed out loud.
[On Time Travel in Minkowski s.p.a.ce…]
“If you can publish this on PRL, I’ll eat a table.”
Luo Wenxuan coughed and scratched his head.
“Don’t say that! What if it gets approved, what will you do then?”
Lu Zhou shook his head and ignored Luo Wenxuan. He began walking back to his office, and Luo Wenxuan followed him.
However, when Lu Zhou was walking through the corridor, he saw a stylish girl with bangs standing by his office door. She was nervously looking through the office windows.
Luo Wenxuan noticed the pretty girl, and his eyes lit up as he put on a charming smile.
“Are you looking for Professor Lu?”
“Yeah…” The girl looked at Luo Wenxuan. She then noticed Lu Zhou who was standing behind Luo Wenxuan. Her eyes lit up as she asked, “Are you Professor Lu?”
Lu Zhou nodded and answered, “Yes, what do you want?”
“Um… Can we speak in private?” the girl hesitantly said as she looked at Luo Wenxuan.
“Okay then.” Luo Wenxuan gave Lu Zhou the thesis and waved goodbye.
Lu Zhou looked at the nervous lady.
“Let’s talk inside then.”
Because it was the holiday season, there wasn’t anyone in the office.
Lu Zhou opened the office door and placed the thesis on the coffee table. He then sat down at his desk.
Lu Zhou looked at the girl who followed him into the office and spoke.
“Please sit, do you need anything?”
The girl hesitated for a bit and decided not to sit on the sofa. She bit her lip and walked toward the desk.
“Um… Professor, there’s something I want to ask you.”
Lu Zhou: “No problem, I would be happy to help with any math problems, just nothing exam related.”
“Um… It is exam related. I was very busy this semester as I had to do my level 6 English exam and had student union obligations… so I didn’t have time to study.” The girl walked forward and said, “Please, professor, please don’t fail me, I’ll do anything.”
Failing a cla.s.s meant no scholars.h.i.+ps.
It could also mean not getting into a master’s program.
Therefore, the girl was willing to make some sacrifices…
When Lu Zhou stood up from his desk, the girl nervously clenched her fists.
She tried to prepare herself mentally.
This was her first time doing something like this, and she didn’t expect this to progress so fast.
Is he not going to buy me dinner first?
Lu Zhou walked next to her and stared at her for a second.
“Anything?” he asked.
The girl blushed, and she nodded quietly.
When Professor Lu walked up to her, her heart was pounding out of her chest. Professor Lu then spoke again.
“Then how about studying hard and preparing for the supplementary exam.”
Girl: “???”
Lu Zhou looked at the muddled girl and sighed.
He had done so much for the Jin Ling University undergraduate system. Even though the Jin Ling University mathematics department wasn’t world-cla.s.s, there were plenty of students.
Why did he always get the idiot students?
I guess we still have to work hard on improving the education system…