Go to My Home for a Visit

Back home, Shen Qi continued to refine his research findings.

The next morning, Shen Qi finished revising the last formula in his office.

"Old Xu, meet at my house in twenty minutes," Shen Qi called Xu Yang.

After ending the call, Shen Qi took the manuscript, went downstairs to the Mathematics Room, and found Zhou Yu'an: "Come on, let's go to my house for a meeting about the Mathematical Grand Unification."

"An American-style tea party?" When Zhou Yu'an was studying in the United States, he Sun Yat-sen University their homes. The scholars would invite their closest students or colleagues to their homes, where everyone would drink brandy, smoke cigars, and freely express their academic thoughts.

"I left a few manuscripts at home, and with these I have, my work is basically finished. I'll talk to you and Xu Yang later to discuss how to proceed."

"You've already mastered algebraic projective clusters in just a few days?"

"I guess it's all sorted out now."

"Professor Shen, what does it feel like to be invincible?"

"I was very excited at first, but after a while I didn't feel anything anymore."

Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an walked side by side to Academician Shen's villa. The two brothers hadn't had a chance to talk to each other alone for a long time.

"Zhou Yu'an, we met when we were seventeen, right?" Shen Qi asked.

"Absolutely! Back then, we were in our second year of high school and were selected for the math Olympiad training team. In the blink of an eye, we're all in our early thirties now. Shen Qi, I have to admit, the strongest student in school is also a formidable figure in society. Look how successful you are! You've reached the pinnacle of your career, have a happy and fulfilling marriage, and a smart and adorable daughter. You're a true winner in life!"

Shen Qi sighed, "Brother, there are some things I can't tell outsiders, so I can only vent to you."

"What's wrong, even Boss Shen has troubles?" Zhou Yu'an patted Shen Qi on the shoulder and said, "Go ahead, tell me your worries."

Shen Qi pinched the bridge of his nose to relieve eye strain, then said, "I'm tired."

"You're mentally exhausted, aren't you? I understand, I completely understand. Then why did you rename the Shen Qi Mathematical and Physical Research Center to the Shen Qi Science Research Center? Why don't you just focus on researching mathematics and physics? Science covers so much; do you really want to exhaust yourself, becoming an encyclopedic scholar, researching every subject— Science and Engineering, biology—to its utmost perfection?"

"So Zhou Yu'an, you have to help me. After the Mathematical Grand Unification is completed, all the mathematical work at the center will be your responsibility. I will no longer directly interfere in any mathematics-related business."

"Having accomplished your task, you leave without a trace. Are you aiming to cultivate immortality?"

As they talked, the two arrived at Academician Shen's villa.

Ou Ye went to work, Shen Nuo Fei went to kindergarten, and Aunt Cuiping went grocery shopping. Shen Qi and Zhou Yu'an sat in the living room, waiting for Xu Yang to arrive.

"Zhou Yu'an, do you remember when you were an undergraduate, you had a crush on a girl and even pursued her relentlessly?"

"Why bring this up after all these years?"

"So, you liked women when you were twenty."

"I like women now too."

"Then why aren't you married yet?"

Does liking someone mean you have to get married?

"Isn't dating without marriage just being immoral?"

"Hey, I came to your house to discuss math problems, not ethics."

"Zhou Yu'an, every time we talk about your relationship, you avoid the main issues. I'm really worried about you if this continues!"

"Shen Qi, you worry about the Mathematical Grand Unification, you worry about the Grand Unification, and you still worry about other people's relationship problems. You worry about me, but I'm afraid you'll worry yourself to death! You might as well worry yourself to death!"

Zhou Yu'an gave Shen Qi a long lecture, basically telling him that he should worry about what he should worry about, and not worry about what he shouldn't worry about.

"Hey, Zhou Yu'an, Laozi worried about you, and you're just teasing me." Shen Qi chuckled. These days, there aren't many people who tease him; it's only Zhou Yu'an, his brother of over ten years, who occasionally teases him a few times.

Zhou Yu'an: "Speaking of relationships, I'd like to ask you, is Ou Ye really your first love? There's no one at home, tell me the truth."

"Once you're married and have kids, whether it's your first love or not doesn't matter anymore."

Zhou Yu'an asked curiously, "Shen Qi, it seems you haven't forgotten that long-legged girl from the University of Media. She was your high school classmate, right? She was your first love, wasn't she?"

Shen Qi shook his head. "No, when I was in junior high school, I liked a girl. She was very beautiful and kind. Perhaps that was my first love. At that time, I was very insecure about relationships. I liked her but didn't dare to tell her. I kept this pure feeling hidden in my heart as a boy with unrequited love."

Zhou Yu'an pressed further, "How is your first love doing now?"

Shen Qi: "I heard from another junior high school classmate of mine that she immigrated and is now a mother of five."

Zhou Yu'an: "So prolific..."

Shen Qi sighed, "So, let bygones be bygones; what matters most is the present. Wait, Zhou Yu'an, you've led us astray. How did we end up talking about my romantic history?"

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang, Xu Yang arrived late.

"I'm so sorry, gentlemen. I just had a meeting in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and I'm twenty minutes late," Xu Yang said apologetically.

"Come on, let's go to my study." Shen Qi led Xu Yang and Zhou Yu'an to the study on the second floor, took out three glasses, and opened a bottle of red wine.

"This... drinking in broad daylight?" Xu Yang asked in surprise.

Shen Qi handed a glass of red wine to Xu Yang: "Just trying to liven things up, Lao Xu. Do you have class or a meeting this afternoon?"

Xu Yang took the glass. "Nothing important to do this afternoon, let's have a drink. Looks like there's some good news?"

Shen Qi handed the manuscript to Xu Yang and Zhou Yu'an: "After the meeting at our center last time, I was entrusted by Professor Xu and Section Chief Zhou to prove the problem of algebraic projective varieties. The proof process and conclusion are written in these manuscripts. Please take a look."

"It's done so quickly?" Xu Yang was overjoyed. He carefully studied Shen Qi's manuscript.

The three men in the study were drinking red wine, discussing mathematics, and savoring the fruits of their hard work.

Xu Yang stared at a certain manuscript and asked, "This proof is quite creative, covering the richest topology. Was it Director Shen's original creation?"

Shen Qi nodded and said, "I suppose so. Because the conventional proof is too complicated, I first assumed that the richest topology covers all representational functors as layers, so the morphism fi is not necessarily an embedding. In proving this assumption, I used this proof based on the richest topology. Fortunately, the result of the proof matches our expectations."

I was so busy during the Chinese New Year holiday, and I only have time to write today. Happy belated Lunar New Year to everyone! Wishing you all a prosperous and auspicious Year of the Pig!