Super God-Level Top Student

Li Jiangao didn't pay attention to the splendid final move that Sumant Jair executed.

After he had thought the whole matter through, he knew that the two big shots' battle on Facebook would inevitably come to a temporary close in a very odd way.

As for how it would end, that was no longer just a matter for those two dueling titans.

Li Jiangao felt sure that someone would humbly and earnestly beg Qiao Ze to help them explain that the paper wasn't completely plagiarized.

There was no helping it, this was just the way the world operated.

Business that wasn't meant to be exposed to the sunlight wasn't necessarily off-limits, but you'd need the skill to keep it hidden. Otherwise, you had to accept the loss if the gamble didn't pay off.

Even if you didn't want to admit defeat, there would be a swarm of people who, in defense of justice, would force you to concede.

The sad part was, those who stepped out wearing masks of justice might be doing even dirtier deeds behind the scenes. Their outspoken criticism might only be a means to shield themselves, but often it would unleash an even more formidable power.

Li Jiangao had been through these experiences, so after giving an explanation to the small group, he couldn't be bothered to pay any more attention to the matter.

Make a fuss if you must... but this time, they would not lose.

...

When Li Jiangao arrived at the bottom of the apartment complex, he happened upon Tan Jingrong, who was struggling with a box.

Inclined not to bother with the heavy box, Tan Jingrong was having a hard time.

"Tan Jingrong, what are you moving there?" Li Jiangao asked.

"Eh? Boss, this is the material that Qiao Ze asked me to print this afternoon, it's all prepared especially for you. Qiao Ze said you prefer to read the physical copy to make notes, right? Oh, I took a look while printing, it's all papers that Qiao Ze found for you," Tan Jingrong said honestly.

Li Jian was taken aback, then glanced at the large box in Tan Jingrong's hands, and then back at his own student.

They locked eyes, and suddenly Tan Jingrong realized something, then he blinked.

Oh no...

How had he so naturally passed on exactly what Qiao Ze had told him? How embarrassing, right?

It was one thing for Qiao Ze to assign homework to his own advisor, but what business was it of his to relay it?

Fortunately, when Li Jiangao got over his initial reaction, he just nodded, gave an "Oh," and then quickly made his way into the stairwell ahead.

He had intended to help Tan Jingrong carry the box.

But seeing his student was so honest, he decided against it.

Honest folks should do a bit more work; that's quite reasonable, isn't it?

Indeed, it was quite reasonable.

Seeing his advisor had gone up first, Tan Jingrong felt more relieved instead.

Not bad.

But then he suddenly remembered Zuo Jie's plea to him on WeChat today, and he was taken aback again.

With such awkwardness, how was he supposed to broach the subject with his advisor?

...

Right now, Li Jiangao really couldn't be bothered with the simple-minded Tan Jingrong.

Taking two steps at a time, he went upstairs and entered the studio. Qiao Ze and Su Mucheng were sitting at the table used for team meetings in the living room, having dinner together.

It was actually quite a warm scene.

Thinking about the commotion outside made Li Jiangao appreciate this little studio as a true shelter from the storm.

"Uncle Li, you're here. Have you had dinner? If not, I can ask Chen Yiwen to get another portion for you from the canteen," Su Mucheng said with the sweetest voice in the studio.

Although Qiao Ze now also greeted people, he would generally just glance up and nod.

"No need, I've eaten," Li Jiangao said with a smile.

Chen Yiwen stepped out of the work room and greeted him, "Hello, Teacher Li."

Then, craning his neck and looking toward the two dining in the living room, he asked sycophantically, "Su Mucheng, did you call me just now?"

"No, you heard wrong. Go on with your work," she said.

"Oh, okay."

Chen Yiwen returned to the work room, and Tan Jingrong, puffing and panting, brought the box up and quietly placed it in the corner of the living room. Then, without waiting for Qiao Ze or Li Jiangao to speak, he hastened into the work room to join Chen Yiwen.

"Shall we talk after you finish eating?" Li Jiangao sat opposite Qiao Ze and spoke softly.

"Yes," Qiao Ze nodded.

Su Mucheng raised her head and smiled sweetly at Li Jiangao, asking, "Uncle Li, what time does Qiao Ze's mother's high-speed train arrive in Xilin tomorrow?"

"Teacher Yu hasn't replied yet. But there's no hurry, we'll go pick her up together tomorrow."

"That works. I'll have my dad prepare a larger car."

"Your dad is still in Xilin? Hasn't he finished negotiating?"

"Yeah. As for the cooperation with Youwei, my dad said there are many details that need to be reviewed, but he has already told Boss Yu that, after meeting Qiao Ze's mother tomorrow, he will first go to Shencheng, since the final contract signing is happening there. Once he returns from Shencheng, he plans to pick me up to visit home again."

"Oh," Li Jiangao nodded.

He felt something peculiar again; the thing that should have been getting the most attention was oddly not being given much here.

"By the way, my dad also said that once the contract is signed, Qiao Ze and I should give a big red envelope to everyone in the research group. How much do you think we should give?"

"Uh... that's up to you guys. I think it doesn't have to be too much, just a token is fine," Li Jiangao answered awkwardly.

"Then let's give everyone 660,000 as a gesture, so everyone's studies go smoothly. What do you think?"

Li Jiangao: "?"

...

In the United States, inside the office of the editor-in-chief of "Pure and Applied Mathematics Communications" at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences of New York University, Jack was staring at a cheque on the table in a daze.

The amount on the cheque was sixty thousand US dollars.

At any other time, receiving this cheque would have thrilled Jack.