Compared with the celebrations sweeping Jin University, Lu Zhou himself was much calmer about being elected to both academies.
After all, unlike scholars who spent more than a decade maneuvering their way to an academician's seat, this lifetime honor did not bring him much that he did not already have.
So when the notification arrived, Lu Zhou felt neither elation nor even surprise. Mostly, he felt the quiet satisfaction of receiving recognition he had earned.
The support he enjoyed in this country's academic community, and the resources he could draw on, had long since surpassed those available to an ordinary academician.
Jinling University.
The School of Mathematics office.
To deal with his students' papers, Lu Zhou had made a rare visit amid his busy schedule. But the moment he walked into the office, the pile of things in the corner startled him.
He had only been away for a week. How had his office turned into a storeroom?
Sitting near the door, Lin Yuxiang brightened at the sight of Lu Zhou and pushed back her chair to stand.
"Professor, you're finally back! So many people have come looking for you these past few days, they've practically worn out our doorstep."
Without responding to his assistant, Lu Zhou looked at the waist-high cactus standing against the wall nearest him and could not help asking,
"Where did this come from?"
Lin Yuxiang studied the waist-high cactus for a while before finally remembering who had sent it. She clapped her hands in realization. "Oh, that! Professor Zhang from the School of Physics sent it. He also asked me to pass along his best wishes: may your academic career rise to ever greater heights, and may you remain as evergreen and steadfast as a cactus."
There was nothing wrong with the sentiment, but why