A Role Model

"It seems this achievement will need to wait a few years to truly become valuable," Link said on the way back. "Perhaps ten years, or maybe just seven or eight, but I believe by then both you and I could be millionaires."

Sheldon said, "I don't care about money."

"But having enough money can certainly give us more convenience when researching, can't it?" Link said.

"With sufficient funds, you can freely purchase all sorts of equipment and materials needed for research. For example, this time, if it weren't for my funding, it probably wouldn't have been easy for your research to yield results so quickly."

"Alright, you're right. Then let me know when this patent can be turned into money. Perhaps then I can buy enough Uranium to build the Nuclear Reactor design I had before."

"...Don't worry, I might tell you then."

The matter concluded there. Link, through his current investment of two thousand dollars, exchanged it for technology potentially worth hundreds of millions in the future. Although he didn't know how many years it would take to realize the value, it was enough to make him happy.

Shortly after this matter was resolved, Link and Sheldon were called to the principal's office. It turned out to be somewhat related to the Rocket incident.

"It's a pleasure to see you two, the two geniuses of our school. Please have a seat," the principal said, gesturing to the seats in front of his desk.

"Here's the thing, I think the current high school curriculum isn't much of a challenge for either of you, is it?"

Before Link could speak, Sheldon answered directly, "Thinking about it carefully, you're not wrong. So, have you thought of a suitable method? Or perhaps we could hire a professor..."

It must be said that Sheldon's way of speaking usually was indeed annoying, so the principal directly interrupted Sheldon: "Precisely because of this, I received a very good suggestion from Dr. Hodges."

"Is that the doctor from the Space Agency? Alright, I also look forward to some innovative suggestions from him."

"Dr. Hodges recommended Wilmott Academy for Gifted Children to me. He has connections with the principal there, and therefore recommended you two to the principal. I have some information about this school here, you can take a look."

Link took the information handed over by the principal, read it carefully, and then said, "Principal, honestly, I really want to go to this school, but its tuition is clearly something I cannot afford."

"I understand, but don't worry, I've already contacted the principal of their school. If you can pass their test, not only will they provide a full scholarship, but they can even provide living expenses."

"Excellent, then when can we go?"

It was Sheldon who said this. After reading the introduction, he felt a little impatient.

"I admire your attitude towards learning, Sheldon, but I still need to discuss this matter with your parents. So I hope you will tell your parents this news and ask them to come to the school tomorrow."

"Of course, no problem."

"Okay."

Link planned to bring up the matter during dinner, but before Link could speak, Robert was the first to start talking to Link about his situation at school:

"Link, I heard you've been a little... well, a little too free at school recently."

"What do you mean 'a little too free'? He's been too unrestrained!" Lisa knew as soon as she heard that Robert was siding with Link, and immediately decided to take matters into her own hands:

"Link, I know boys your age are very interested in things between men and women. I didn't want to say much originally, but you've been really excessive lately.

I heard rumors about you at school during the day. How many girls have you provoked? And these girls actually all say you're amazing. Have you forgotten your ideals?"

"Of course not."

"Not forgotten? But what I heard is that almost all the pretty girls in the entire school have had something to do with you. Time is limited. The more time you spend on girls, the less you spend on studying.

Even if your grades are still top-notch at school, this is clearly not an excuse for you to be unrestrained. Are you satisfied with just this? There are many people better than you who are working hard.

It's like Peggy and Sheldon, they are both younger than you, but their talent surpasses yours. You can't compare to them in terms of talent.

If you don't work harder, I'm afraid you'll never have a chance to catch up to them in your lifetime. I don't object to you having a girlfriend, but what you're doing is really too much..."

Facing Lisa's scolding, Link was also a bit speechless. In reality, throughout Lola High School, he had only attracted a total of six or seven girls. After all, his requirements for looks and figure were not low.

Moreover, this was purely academic exchange, and the frequency was not high. Link didn't really plan to have a formal girlfriend, and he was just exploring the ocean of knowledge with these girls.

Especially after the incident related to the Rocket, realizing that the gap between himself and Sheldon was not just a little bit, Link became even more restrained, only using the planned break time.

However, rumors often become more exaggerated the more they spread. After Link's academic ability became known, even being able to have academic exchanges with Link became one of the standards for popularity among female students.

Some girls even fabricated some rumors about themselves and Link in order to appear popular enough.

With more girls doing this, under the effect of "three people make a tiger," the version Lisa heard became that many girls in high school had academic exchanges with Link, and even many classmates firmly believed this.

But this kind of thing only gets worse the more you try to explain it, and Link couldn't possibly explain it. He could only say, "I know, Lisa, I'll be careful in the future and won't delay my studies."

Although Link's intelligence could continuously improve over time, Sheldon and Peggy's IQs were indeed quite high now, but Link believed that he would definitely have a chance to surpass them.

Lisa, however, didn't know this. She was clearly concerned, and Link could only accept her scolding at this time.

Compared to Lisa, Robert was more open-minded about this, even showing a hint of pride. He took the opportunity to say:

"Link, it's okay to date at your age, just be careful and take precautions. Come with me after dinner, I've prepared some..."

"Robert!"

"I know, Lisa, but Link is grown up now. His current situation is much better than what you were worried about before, that he would be lonely his whole life. And many scientists are actually quite romantic, like the famous Einstein, Schrödinger... and even Hawking today..."

Hearing Robert say this, Lisa had to nod. Recently, she and Robert had paid more attention to the scientific community and knew that indeed, many scientists in the scientific community would end up lonely due to their reclusive nature, but there were also scientists who could serve as role models for Link.