Kids Are the Only Ones Who Choose

The faculty outing lasted two days. Early on the third morning, a bus pulled up at the entrance, picked up the teachers who had enjoyed themselves to the fullest, and headed back to Jin University.

For once, Lu Zhou had spent two days away from difficult problems. The trip to Purple Mountain had helped him relax, easing the tension he had carried since the start of the year.

On the return bus, Lu Zhou leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes, savoring the brief respite. Then he heard Dean Qin and the elderly dean of the School of Foreign Languages murmuring behind him.

"I hear five or six couples got together this time."

"Five or six? That's not bad."

"Looks like we'll have a few more weddings to attend next year."

"By the way, has that Professor Lu from your School of Mathematics found anyone?"

"No idea. He seemed to be having a good time chatting with that female advisor from your school, but I don't know how far things have gone."

"That's easy. I'll ask her when we get back."

Sitting in the row ahead, Lu Zhou felt his brow twitch. He coughed loudly twice.

The two older men hadn't noticed him in front of them. At the sound of his cough, they laughed awkwardly and fell silent.

After getting off the bus, Lu Zhou went straight to the School of Mathematics building. On the way, he called Chen Yushan.

The phone rang three times before she picked up, her pleasant voice coming through the receiver.

"Well? Did you have fun these past few days?"

"I'd say so."

Chen Yushan smiled. "Good. You're always cooped up in the lab. I was worried you'd make yourself sick."

"I wouldn't go that far. Back in Princeton, I sometimes