Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Beijing.
Chen Baohua’s home.
The family was watching TV while eating, talking, and laughing.
The TV news happened to broadcast the site of the Century of Physics conference in Shanghai. Chen Yushan put down the chopsticks in her hand, her eyes glued to the screen.
Chen Baohua noticed the shining expression on his daughter’s face. He felt a little unease as he joked, “You’re not going?”
Chen Yushan sighed. She then replied in a bad mood, “I planned to go with him originally… But something suddenly happened at work. I had to come to Beijing for a business trip, so he went by himself.”
She had even booked the maglev tickets to Shanghai, and she was frustrated about this matter for a while.
However, Lu Zhou comforted her, saying that watching it through the TV and being at the scene were the same and that no matter how far apart, their hearts were close together.
Lu Zhou was getting better and better at talking to girls.
Just like that, the two were separated. Lu Zhou went to Shanghai, while she came to Beijing.
Since she rarely visited her hometown, Chen Yushan didn’t stay at a hotel. Instead, she stayed with her parents.
She didn’t like to come back here except for the holidays, because she was always urged by her relatives to get married.
But that wouldn’t happen anymore.
When someone asked, she could finally say that she had a boyfriend now!
Not to mention that her boyfriend was so excellent!
“… My old friend from the Entertainment Department Office says that the whole country wants to research physics.” He looked at the TV, which was showing the president walking down from the podium and heading toward Lu Zhou. Chen Baohua said emotionally, “Professor Lu is at least half of the reason for this.”
Chen Yushan was stunned.
“The whole country…? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”
Chen Baohua spoke with a smile.
“Not an exaggeration. When Chen Jingrun’s story was first reported, didn’t it set off a wave of mathematicians in the country? Back then, people even put up posters at the office. Posters about Goldbach’s conjecture and ten ways to prove Goldbach’s conjecture… It’s actually quite fun to think about it now.”
“Amazing…”
Chen Baohua asked bitterly, “So, what’s going on with you and Lu Zhou?”
Chen Yushan blushed. She said shyly, “We’re dating…”
Chen Baohua stared at his daughter for a while. He suddenly sighed.
Chen Yushan asked, “Why are you sighing?”
“No reason.” Chen Baohua lit a cigarette and said, “Worried my daughter can’t get married, worried when she gets married. This is the catch22 of being a father! Wait till you’re a mother, you’ll know what I mean!”
Mother Chen looked at Chen Baohua smoking. She suddenly said, “Old man, no smoking in the house.”
“What old man!” Chen Baohua glared and said, “I’m still too young to be called old. Call me old when I’m holding my grandson!”
He put out the cigarette.
Chen Yushan blushed, not knowing what to say.
She wasn’t worried about getting married. After all, both of them were so busy. Even if they got married, they wouldn’t have a child any time soon.
“Dad, don’t be in a hurry, there’s still time…”
“Still time?!” Chen Baohua turned his head and glared at his daughter. He said, “Your mother had you in her early twenties. Look at the calendar. What year is it? Kiddo, he’s an academician in his early thirties. Not to mention his career, and he’s fair looking. If you say there aren’t any temptations in his life, I don’t believe you.”
Chen Yushan became anxious. She blushed and said, “What are you talking about! He’s so busy, he doesn’t have time.”
“It’s not about whether he’s busy or not.” Chen Baohua sighed and said, “In fact, I want you to find a normal guy in our neighborhood… However, your relationship is your own decision. Daddy is just reminding you, don’t hesitate too much; if you hesitate, the opportunity will fly away.”
Chen Yushan blushed and said, “Fly, fly away?! Dad! You, I’m leaving after I finish eating!”
“Old man, what are you talking about there! You think our daughter is no match for Lu Zhou?” Mother Chen said.
Seeing how he seemed to have angered both women, Chen Baohua decided to stop talking.
However, just as he was about to change the conversation, the image on the TV shocked everyone…
At the Shanghai International Convention and Exhibition Center.
After seven days, this large-scale academic summit with more than 100,000 participants finally went into the final conclusion.
At the closing ceremony of the No.1 conference hall, the president stood in front of the podium. On behalf of China, facing the scholars inside and outside the conference hall, as well as the people of the world, who were sitting in front of their TVs watching this grand event, he gave his best wishes and blessing to the physics community.
In fact, when the president appeared on stage, many people in the audience were surprised. No one would have thought that such a powerful figure would appear at an academic conference.
This showed China’s respect for academia. After the president’s speech was over, there was warm applause from the audience.
In midst of the warm applause, the president nodded and walked off stage. This was followed by Lu Zhou walking onto the stage.
Lu Zhou adjusted the microphone. After clearing his throat, he spoke in a clear and steady voice.
“Thank you all for coming to Shanghai, for the summit that affects the future of humanity.
“For centuries, our discipline has been able to prosper to where it is today because we understand the importance of communication and cooperation.
“Here, on behalf of the ILHCRC council, I would like to extend my highest respect and gratitude to all scholars who are battling on the road of physics and to all those who are concerned about our common cause in the future.
“The Century of Physics conference ends here!
“Let us give a wave of applause to ourselves and to the future!”
The audience burst into applause again.
The sound was like a tumbling ocean wave, smashing the entire venue.
Bathed in applause from the audience, Lu Zhou waited quietly for half a minute for the applause to subside.
Then…
Just when everyone thought that the closing ceremony was over, he spoke again.
And this time, it was like he threw a nuclear bomb…
“Also, one more announcement.
“The next ILHCRC committee meeting will be held in a week to determine the members of the ILHCRC board of directors, as well as the chairman!
“After the election and the handover work, I will resign from the ILHCRC board of directors!”
The atmosphere seemed to have been frozen.
The president, standing backstage, turned around and walked away.
Luo Wenxuan’s mouth was open. Although it was something that had already been decided, Lu Zhou’s announcement of this matter here still made it difficult for him to conceal the surprise on his face.
Dobrik, Wei Hong, Witten, Wilczek… The physicists who knew Lu Zhou but didn’t know the inside story were in disbelief.
No one thought that Lu Zhou would announce his resignation here!
The entire conference hall fell into a deathly silence.
And the exhibition hall outside the conference hall…
Was completely blown up by the cries of surprise and disbelief…