Jiang Man became more and more invigorated as she wrote.
Lu Xingzhou leaned on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest for a while.
Kangkang grew restless, circling around to Jiang Man's side, craning his neck to see.
At first, he furrowed his brows upon seeing her steps to solving the problem.
But as he reached the latter part, he couldn't help himself, "Holy crap! Can this problem even be solved like this?"
Jiang Man smiled, wrote down the final answer, and glanced at the wall clock, "Exactly five minutes, as promised."
"No way! No way!" Kangkang's ability to articulate collapsed instantly, repeating only these exclamatory words.
Lu Xingzhou opened his eyes, skeptically picking up the exam book.
Seeing the initial steps to the solution, he was quite calm.
Because they were similar to his own methods.
But as he read on and saw the introduction of a new parameter, Lu Xingzhou grew more and more uneasy.
Sitting up straight, he lifted his head, looking at the girl before him with astonishment and disbelief.
This is the level of a third-grade primary school student?
This is really the level of a third-grade primary school student??
Lu Xingzhou's face was full of question marks.
Kangkang was extremely excited, hugging Jiang Man's arm, "Sis, you're so awesome! You're even better than Brother Xingzhou? Holy moly! I'm floored, bro! Sis, can I take you as my master?"
Seeing the boy so thrilled, Jiang Man gave a forced laugh, "It's not that big a deal."
The problem was somewhat difficult, but not that difficult.
"It is a big deal! It is! Sis, my IQ is over 130, and Brother Xingzhou's is 149, but you must be scoring a full 200? Even Newton would have to say, 'Well done!' Sis, this is the first time in my life I've been so impressed by someone," Kangkang said seriously.
And Kangkang wasn't lying.
He was named one of the top ten youths in the North City, having won the national Math Olympiad three years in a row.
This year, he was set to represent the country in a world-class competition.
He really was a genius among young people.
Even though his parents always praised Lu Xingzhou and told him to learn from him, knowing that Lu Xingzhou was a young prodigy who entered Harvard at 17 and took over the Lu family business at 20, commanding 250,000 employees and increasing the company's value to a trillion, with a personal net worth of several hundred billion.
Kangkang was fully aware of all this.
Yet he had never been impressed by Lu Xingzhou.
"You little rascal, I've been your tutor for years, and I never saw you wanting to take me as your master," Lu Xingzhou said, a little begrudgingly.
He himself was also puzzled, why compete with Jiang Man?
He was already thirty, was he really being childishly competitive over such a trivial matter?
"You're not as awesome as sister," Kangkang stated solemnly.
His face was all sincerity, even boasting a bit, "I told you she was smart!"
Lu Xingzhou rubbed his temples, suddenly at a loss for words.
Undeniably, Jiang Man did make him take a second look.
But what he couldn't figure out was, how could someone who had only read for three years manage such a difficult Olympiad problem?
Could it be, that in this world, there really exist geniuses?
Those who don't need to study, whose brains can solve problems on sight?
Just then, their company's latest product was a brain apparatus that could control a person's brainwaves, thereby achieving the effect of controlling emotions.
Some patients with depression or mental illness, through this brain apparatus, could see relief and even a cure.
Lately, because of this product, his research on the human brain had reached the point of forgetting sleep and meals.
He thought, if Jiang Man really possessed a super brain, then her talent must not be buried.
"Jiang Man, you really are smart," Lu Xingzhou said, not sparing any praise.
Jiang Man, however, didn't react much, feeling they were both overreacting.
Just a math problem after all, was it necessary to praise her to the skies?
"I'm thirsty, I'll go get some water," Jiang Man said, with her hands in the pockets of her pajama pants.
By the time she returned from drinking water, Kangkang had just finished packing his backpack.
He scurried over to Jiang Man, deliberately acting cute, "Sister, wait for me for another seven years, I'm fifteen this year."
"Huh?" Jiang Man was somewhat baffled by the boy's words.
However, Kangkang raised his eyebrows in confidence, "When I'm twenty-two, I can marry sister, Sister, you have to wait for me."
"Pfft." Upon hearing that, Jiang Man almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
She wasn't interested in an uncle, and even less interested in a puppy love.
"Concentrate on your studies, and don't think about all that nonsense. Besides, I'm already married to your brother Xingzhou."
"Not scared, seven years from now, you might already be divorced, right?" Kangkang laughed with a he-he.
Lu Xingzhou was utterly speechless, "Xu Zikang, get lost! Are you trying to undercut me right in front of me?"
Kangkang pulled a face at Lu Xingzhou and then ran off like his life depended on it.
Watching his retreating figure, Jiang Man shook her head.
Are the post-2000s kids this wild?
Oh wait, she herself is a post-2000s kid.
Why did she feel like she's not from the same generation as Kangkang?
"He's not wrong though, seven years from now, we'd be long gone."
Never mind seven years, they would have been divorced after just one year.
Jiang Man seemed indifferent, pointing towards the corridor, "Well then, I'm off to sleep if there's nothing else."
"Go ahead," Lu Xingzhou nodded.
Watching Jiang Man's disappearing figure, he only then realized that he shouldn't drink the coffee in his hand.
Tonight, he was bound for a sleepless night.
...
The next day.
Jiang Man woke up early.
She had an appointment with the research institute today, so she packed two sets of clothes to change into.
Now that she was a 'married woman', she needed to spend a few days at the research institute and come up with an excuse to report to Lu Xingzhou.
Otherwise, if she disappeared without a trace, and Lu Xingzhou searched the whole city for her, that would be a problem.
Today she tied her hair up in a high ponytail, carried a backpack, and radiated the sunshine and youthfulness of her age.
Unlike her, Lu Xingzhou always appeared mature, deliberate, and incredibly elegant.
Sitting at the dining table, he was still reading a newspaper.
Jiang Man felt amused, Lu Xingzhou was only thirty years old, so why did he act and behave so much like her father?
"Mr. Lu, good morning," she greeted him.
Without looking up, Lu Xingzhou said slowly, "What are your plans for today? Continue staying at home playing on the computer?"
"I'm going out for a couple of days," Jiang Man smiled, "I found a job, going for a trial for a couple of days."
Hearing she found a job, Lu Xingzhou was pleased.
She was young, after all, and couldn't afford to be idle.
With her educational background, she could probably only get a job in a factory screwing in bolts.
However, work is work, no matter the status. Any job that required hard work, he supported.
"Hmm," he nodded, "Then when you're free, I'll take you to buy a car."
"Buy a car?" Jiang Man was surprised.
"It's grandma's idea. As a girl, having a car is convenient when you're out and about," Lu Xingzhou explained, folding the newspaper and setting it aside, "I'm not busy today, so I'll take you to work."
"..." Jiang Man awkwardly waved her hand, "No need, you're usually so busy with a myriad things, take the chance to rest at home if you're free."
Lu Xingzhou, thinking she was being polite, insisted, "It's fine, what's the location of your work?"
Jiang Man didn't even know where the place was.
Maybe deep in the mountains or woods?
"Really, no need. Someone from there will come pick me up," Jiang Man said, tugging at the corner of her mouth.
What kind of job sends someone to pick you up?
Not wanting to be insistent for no reason, Lu Xingzhou nodded in agreement, "Alright."
No sooner had he spoken than the butler came over, all mysterious, "Young Master, there are several military vehicles parked outside the gate..."