Together! Together!

Ou Ye returned to school, escorted by Old Ou.

Old Ou inspected Yenching University for several days but did not find Shen Qi, so he left.

With work to do, Old Ou couldn't stay by Ou Ye's side to take care of her for the rest of his life; he could only guide her from a macro perspective.

Shen Qi was not afraid to confront Old Ou head-on. He had been busy with visa processing these past few days and hadn't seen Old Ou.

After Old Ou left, Shen Qi saw Ou Ye: "You look good."

"You too." It seems that Ou Ye's months of recuperation at home have been effective.

"Let's go to class together," Shen Qi said.

"You've already received an offer from Princeton, why do you still need to attend classes?" Ou Ye had already learned that Shen Qi was going abroad.

"I'll accompany you to class." Shen Qi took Ou Ye's small hand and led her towards the teaching building. "From now until June, whatever classes you take, I'll take."

"Hmm..." Ou Ye didn't expect to receive such a perk as soon as she returned to school, but this perk was only valid for a few months.

It's a complex feeling: long-awaited love has arrived, but the male protagonist is about to leave for a foreign land.

Ou Ye couldn't refuse; if she did, even the several-month validity period wouldn't exist.

The two holding hands looked just like a couple, except for one confession.

In the science building, a cryptography class is being held.

Ou Ye chose this course, and Shen Qi accompanied her.

"The Vigenère Cipher is an upgraded version of the Caesar Cipher. Now, I'd like to invite a student to come up and write a set of Vigenère Cipher. Anyone want to try?" the cryptography professor asked.

"I'll do it," Shen Qi said, raising his hand first.

When he raised his hand, none of the other students in the department could compete with him.

Shen Qi walked up to the podium and wrote a set of Vigenère Cipher squares on the blackboard:

ACJSUYWT... BNL

BAPKJHYM... SDC

The characteristic of the Vigenère Cipher is that each row consists of 26 English letters, and the order of the letters in each row is different.

The secret to deciphering a cipher matrix lies in frequency analysis. By comparing the cipher table with calculations, one can crack the true message conveyed by the cipher writer.

Shen Qi wrote half a blackboard full of English letters, completing his Vigenère Cipher matrix.

When Shen Qi returned to his seat next to Ou Ye deciphered Shen Qi's Vigenère Cipher by referring to the cipher table.

Shen Qi's message transmitted through the coded array was. "Ou Ye, will you be my girlfriend, forever?"

Wow!

The other students in the classroom deciphered the code one after another, Shen Qi used the code to confess his feelings to Ou Ye!

That's what a big shot is like; their way of confessing their feelings is truly unique.

Happiness came one after another in one day, leaving Ou Ye somewhat dizzy.

Ou Ye had waited a long time for this moment, and when happiness became something within reach, she could hardly believe it.

Shen Qi looked sincerely into Ou Ye's eyes and once again expressed the meaning of the coded matrix. "Ou Ye, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes!" Ou Ye nodded heavily, she was about to faint, tears welling in her eyes.

"Together!"

"Together!"

The classroom erupted in cheers as the students applauded and congratulated the two top-performing students in the Mathematics Department on their successful pairing.

"Therefore, mathematics is the most romantic subject." The cryptography professor was understanding and did not stop Shen and Ou from showing their affection. Instead, he made a fitting summary based on this unexpected event.

The professor added, "You won't be able to get a girl if you don't do well in math. I hope you all work hard to improve your math scores. This top student who's about to go to the Princeton Mathematics Department is a role model for you."

Joyful laughter filled the classroom, and the cryptography professor's image in the students' minds grew even more impressive.

Shen Qi laughed heartily. This professor's teaching methods were excellent; he was truly a teacher suited to mentor students.

Ou Ye lowered her head shyly and happily, tapping Morse code on Shen Qi's thigh with her fingers. "I'm very happy."

Shen Qi tapped Morse code on Ou Ye's thigh. "Your touch is delicate, keep it up."

Ou Ye covered her face, emmmm, being his girlfriend is so stressful.

After a brief period of noise, the cryptography lectures continued.

The students studied this elective course diligently, demonstrating high enthusiasm for learning.

If this trend continues, cryptography may become a required course in mathematics departments in the near future.

I'd love to have more courses where I can find a girlfriend while studying my major.

After officially confirming her relationship with Shen Qi, Ou Ye was inspired with an incredibly high level of motivation to study.

She could endure the pain of missing Shen Qi when he was away for a year, but two years or even longer was unbearable.

The situation in the United States is complex, the social atmosphere is open, and there are all sorts of people in a big group.

"I told you, I will go to Princeton, I definitely will," Ou Ye said to Shen Qi.

"Then I'll wait for you at Princeton," Shen Qi said, stopping his work.

This is a newly opened coffee shop with a quiet environment, but the relatively high prices mean there aren't many customers.

Shen Qi and Ou Ye sat in a booth. Shen Qi was writing a paper on his laptop, while Ou Ye was diligently studying number theory, occasionally asking Shen Qi for advice.

Recently, Ou Ye has been focusing over 80% of her study energy on number theory, concentrating her efforts on this branch of mathematics.

Shen Qi passed his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics thesis defense in the second semester of his freshman year and received his degree certificate from Yenching University ahead of schedule.

Ou Ye also wants to take this shortcut. She is currently a sophomore in college, and if she follows the conventional route to complete her four-year undergraduate degree and go abroad, she will still have more than two years.

If you pass your thesis defense in your junior year, you can Provincial First Class.

At this point, it was necessary to concentrate efforts on a specific area of mathematics, Ou Ye chose number theory, from which her dissertation would be based.

"Don't overwork yourself, I'm afraid you'll collapse again." Recalling his illness last year, Shen Qi felt lingering fear. "If you go home to recuperate for a few more months, it will backfire."

"No, I'll be careful." Ou Ye closed the reference book on number theory and said, "You seem to owe me a gift."

"I will definitely keep my promise to Switzerland trip," Shen Qi assured, patting his chest.

"Alright, I'm satisfied with what you said." After reminding him, Ou Ye didn't insist. She knew Shen Qi had been very busy these past few months, and she had been very busy too.

Shen Qi said he must publish ten papers before going abroad, and he is currently drafting his tenth one.

Shen Qi's other wish is to obtain a second degree in physics from Yenching University. In the remaining few months, Shen Qi must complete the remaining half of his credits.

Aside from spending time with his girlfriend, Shen Qi devoted the rest of his time to his studies.

Fortunately, my girlfriend is also an academic, so we can pursue our studies while dating.

"As compensation, let's go on Beidaihe trip this weekend," Shen Qi suggested. "It's about balancing work and rest, a short vacation, what do you think, Ou Ye?"

"Switzerland and Beidaihe are quite different." Even Ou Ye, who doesn't usually like to complain, couldn't help but comment.