A Small Gift

Summer vacation is almost here.

Xu Rui and his family invited Shen Qi and Chen Xiaoting to dinner.

Four fellow villagers from the south entered university in the same year, and after a year of university, they are about to say goodbye to the freshman stage and enter their sophomore year.

Shen Qi was admitted to Yenching University through the standardized test, Xu Rui Sports Recommendation to Capital University of Science and Technology University of Media of Science and Technology through the sports-related test, and Chen Xiaoting was admitted to Communication University of China through the entrance exam. Xu Rui's girlfriend, Du Xianxian, was a former U19 national women's shot put champion and was admitted to Shuimu University through the standardized test.

These four universities have a certain reputation nationwide. The four students, two men and two women, are from the same hometown and are all students from key universities. They are having dinner at a restaurant in Wudaokou.

"Let me formally introduce you, Du Xianxian, my girlfriend, a student at Shuimu University." Xu Rui became much more composed after talking about his girlfriend.

"Qianqian, you've lost weight." Shen Qi greeted Du Xianxian. He had met Du Xianxian before, when they were in high school.

"I lost over ten kilograms this year in college." Du Xianxian lost over ten kilograms and now weighs over 160 kilograms.

Chen Xiaoting is 1.79 meters tall without shoes, and even taller than Shen Qi with high heels. She weighs over 120 kilograms and has a very standard figure. "Hello Qianqian, I'm Chen Xiaoting, Xu Rui's high school classmate."

"Xiaoting, you have such a great figure, I'm so envious." Du Xianxian genuinely envied Chen Xiaoting. As a shot putter, she had reached her limit of 160 pounds, and it was difficult for throwers with too low a body fat percentage to achieve good results.

Shen Qi admired Du Xianxian. For the sake of the country and the development of women's track and field in China, Du Xianxian gave up her beauty and slim figure at a young age.

Du Xianxian dared not lose weight excessively; she resolutely maintained a high-calorie, high-fat daily diet. She is a respectable female shot putter.

"So you two have officially confirmed your relationship?" Shen Qi asked Xu Rui and Du Xianxian.

"Hehe." Xu Rui laughed.

"Mmm." Du Xianxian lowered her head shyly.

Shen Qi raised his glass. "Come on, Xiaoting and I will toast Xu Rui and Xiaoting, wishing you happiness. Xu Rui, Qianqian, you two, one trains for the 100 meters and the other for the shot put, you are truly a match made in heaven as an athletic couple, I'm impressed by this display of affection."

Chen Xiaoting chimed in, "You must be happy, together, together!"

The luncheon proceeded in a joyful and harmonious atmosphere, hosted by Shen Qi.

Shen Qi noticed that Xu Rui and Du Xianxian's suitcases were placed next to the dining table. "Are you two taking the high-speed train back to Nangang City today?"

"No, my flight is tomorrow morning," Xu Rui said.

"Then why bring your luggage to eat?"

"After dinner, Qianqian and I went straight to the airport. We'll stay at a hotel across from the departure hall for the night. Our flight is at 7 a. m. tomorrow, so we need to check in an hour early. We have to stay near the airport, otherwise we'll miss our flight," Xu Rui explained.

Du Xianxian didn't dare to look up. This valiant shot put athlete on the track and field also had a shy side in her daily life.

"Oh." Shen Qi understood. Xu Rui, you deliberately booked such an early flight, didn't you? You're quite adept at this tactic.

"Let's drink! Let's drink!" Xu Rui invited Shen Qi for drinks. After a few rounds, he got quite drunk. "Shen Qi... when... when are you going home?"

"Our college is on summer vacation next week, and I'm going home next week. Xu Rui, drink less, you still have to go to the airport later." What annoys Shen Qi the most is that Xu Rui can't hold his liquor and still drinks too much. He's over 1.9 meters tall, and one bottle of red wine is enough for him.

"Xiaoting... what about you...?"

"Me? Uh, next week too."

Chen Xiaoting's alcohol tolerance was also low; after a few glasses of red wine, her face was already flushed, and she even picked up the wrong chopsticks—she was holding Shen Qi's chopsticks.

Perhaps due to genetics, Shen Qi has a high alcohol tolerance; he has never been drunk. Although Shen Qi's father often gets drunk, Old Shen's limit for getting drunk is 2 jin (1 kg) of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and he can drink any kind of red wine.

"They say academic underachievers can't find wives?" Xu Rui, with his arm around Shen Qi, laughed loudly, "Hehe... hehehe, Shen Qi, let me tell you... the first ones to get married... are academic underachievers... Ugh... I'm going to throw up, help me to the bathroom."

"Qianqian, you need to discipline Xu Rui. He needs to be strict with his family." Shen Qi helped Xu Rui walk towards the men's restroom.

"Ugh... Shen Qi... Ugh... How are things going between you and Xiaoting?"

"How about what?"

Xu Rui tore a tissue to wipe his mouth. "I'm drunk today, so just take it as me talking nonsense. I'm just afraid you've been blinded by the beauties at Yanda University. Tell me, do a lot of girls like you? Or do you even have a girl you like?"

Shen Qi: "I'll tell you when you're fully awake."

"I feel so sorry for Chen Xiaoting... Ugh!" Xu Rui started vomiting for the second time; his alcohol tolerance was indeed too low.

After the meal, Shen Qi saw Xu Rui and Du Xianxian into a taxi, then took Chen Xiaoting back to the University of Media before returning to Yenching University.

On his way back to Yenching University, Shen Qi crossed a sky bridge when a small, old man with sunglasses and a goatee waved at Shen Qi: "Friend, you have a fortune to tell."

"No, I never hang it," Shen Qi laughed. "Your calculations are inaccurate, Master. Goodbye."

"You're destined for romantic entanglements." The master smiled calmly, "Too much romantic luck will inevitably harm your wealth and career. I don't charge for divination; I only seek to enlighten people and help them find good fortune. Young friend, I'll give you a protective amulet, one of the four treasures of Longhu Mountain, which can help your romantic luck flourish and your wealth and career prosper."

Lakers must possess extraordinary skills. If I can't afford to offend them, can't I at least avoid them? Shen Qi cupped his hands and said, "Master, thank you for your kindness. I am a college student who has published SCI paper and wholeheartedly follows the Party. Please keep the amulet and give it to someone who is truly destined to receive it."

"The Two Sessions have been successfully convened, and the Party and the State have given important instructions on the healthy development of religious culture. My friend, accept this amulet; it does not contradict your original intention of following the Party." The master is quite concerned about current affairs; these days, all walks of life need well-rounded talents.

How could someone engaged in scientific theoretical research blindly believe in feudal superstition? Shen Qi turned and left without looking back.

The next day, Sun Erxiong found Shen Qi: "You wrote a paper about Strong Singular Integral Operator and submitted it to the * Journal of Mathematics *. Was this topic given to you by Lao Lu?"

The mathematics circle at Yenching University is only so big; no one can hide anything from anyone else, and there's no need to conceal it. Shen Qi nodded in agreement.

"Shen Qi, whether you acknowledge it or not, I brought you into the Mathematics Community. I was your professional instructor at the Yenching University Golden Autumn Camp." Sun Erxiong's burly body trembled, seemingly very displeased with Professor Lu.

Shen Qi said sincerely, "Professor Sun, whether you acknowledge it or not, you are my mentor and my academic guide."

Sun Erxiong expressed his satisfaction. "You're not entirely without gratitude, kid. Old Lu has already stepped in, so I, Old Sun, can't let you down. Shen Qi, you're about to be a sophomore. I don't have any expensive gifts for you, so I'll give you a research project to give you a perfect ending to your freshman year."

"A characteristic of the School of Mathematical Sciences." Shen Qi was both amused and exasperated. The School of Mathematical Sciences was poor; the professors really didn't have any substantial gifts to offer, so they could only send research projects as a token of their appreciation.

"Summer vacation is coming soon. After you get home, take a look at this project. It's funded by the National Natural Science Foundation China." Sun Erxiong handed the project materials to Shen Qi. "If you do a good job on this project, I believe it will play an important role in your academic capital accumulation, both domestically and internationally."

"This... this gift is too precious!" Shen Qi felt the arduous scientific research mission entrusted to him by the country. It was challenging, but he was determined to overcome the difficulties and forge ahead, because he was very interested in Professor Sun's National Natural Science Foundation of China-funded project.