Claudia believed she really was quite formidable and could take on ten people by herself, but her fear and nervousness were just as real. So... when she said they should watch their backs, she hid behind Boss Luo, trembling as she followed him.
"Come to think of it, Claudia, you've never mentioned your mother..." Luo Qiu turned around. "After your father disappeared, your mother must have been devastated."
"I don't have a mother." Claudia shook her head. "I'm an orphan. My father adopted me when I was little... That's all."
"I see..." Boss Luo nodded.
This also revealed something: the missing Professor Xie Jiatu had never married.
"What's your dream?" Boss Luo suddenly continued asking. The subject change was quite drastic, even abrupt—but he had a gift for asking questions without making others uncomfortable.
"When I was little, I wanted to become an actress." Claudia thought for a moment, then shook her head. "But when you grow up, you realize that only knowledge can truly rewrite your destiny. So, if I had to name an ideal now, I'd like to see my name written in the records of the International Mathematical Union."
"The Fields Medal?" Boss Luo smiled faintly. "That's a wonderful ideal."
Claudia deflated. "Actually, it's too difficult... In all these years, only one woman has managed it. Maybe research is right—women are naturally somewhat inferior to men in rationality and logical thinking."
"Wasn't there already a first female recipient?" Luo Qiu shook his head. "I know quite a few women. In every field, they're far more outstanding than men."
Claudia shrugged. "Thanks for the encouragement, but you don't need to worry about me. Even if I can't become an outstanding mathematician, I won't end up destitute... If all else fails, I can still inherit my father's estate."
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