Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points & Events

• Secretary Liu leaves after his publicity visit, and Lu Zhou realizes Liu used his paper/editorial for political gain.
• Professor Wang and media outlets also depart, which makes Lu Zhou suspect he was "ridden for coattails."
• Dean Qin walks Lu Zhou to the library and reveals the school's reward package.
• The school rewards Lu Zhou one million yuan for his proof of Zhou's Conjecture, plus household registration benefits (preferential housing loan rates in Jinling, skip credit check).
• Dean Qin explains the reward is the maximum Principal Xu can authorize.
• Now a millionaire, Lu Zhou offers to treat Chen Yushan to dinner; she agrees on the condition it's not spicy hot pot again.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Floored and excited by the one-million-yuan reward—it solves one-fifth of his five-million-yuan goal. Shows his humble background (never seen that much money). He also matures in understanding bureaucratic politics (realizes Secretary Liu benefited from his work).
• Dean Qin: Demonstrates genuine care for Lu Zhou, warns him about overworking, and philosophizes that scholars should not completely isolate themselves from society.
• Chen Yushan: Playful and cheerful; still traumatized by the earlier spicy hot pot incident, showing her lighter, more human side.

Significant Themes

• Fame and Academia: The tension between scholarly purity and public recognition; Lu Zhou's paper attracts political attention (Renren Daily editorial → city leaders).
• Bureaucratic Opportunism: Secretary Liu uses Lu Zhou's achievement for political capital—Lu Zhou notices but doesn't resent it.
• Reward vs. Academic Value: Dean Qin notes the one-million reward is low relative to the breakthrough's significance but is the maximum administratively possible.
• Pragmatism: Lu Zhou's honest, down-to-earth reaction to wealth contrasts with the lofty academic discourse around him.

Character Interactions

• Dean Qin & Lu Zhou: A warm mentor-student dynamic; Dean Qin shares insider information, gives life advice, and shows pride in Lu Zhou.
• Chen Yushan & Lu Zhou: Brief, friendly exchange; her excitement about his fame is deflated when he already knows; comedic back-and-forth about the spicy hot pot sets up a dinner date.
• Secretary Liu & Lu Zhou: Implied indirect connection—Liu benefits publicly from Lu Zhou's work but they barely interact directly.

Chapter Summary: Lu Zhou Observes in Secret

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou wakes up to overnight fame: Weibo followers surpass 100k, school leaders visit, the city party secretary shakes his hand, and Jinling TV schedules an exclusive interview (with foreign media reportedly coming).
• His dad calls, confused after factory leadership honored him at home for his son's "Zhou's Conjecture" — Lu Zhou explains and tells him to check the newspaper, mentioning he'll also be on TV.
• Lu Zhou's sister Xiao Tong excitedly takes the phone; their high school math teacher (Old Ma) bragged about Lu Zhou in class.
• Lu Zhou checks his alt-account math group chat, where members are discussing his achievement (some speculate he's secretly watching).
• He extracts experience from Xiao Ai: gains +300 in AI branch tech (now 400/1000, close to leveling up) and +300 in Information Science (400/10000, still far from Lv. 2).
• He briefly fantasizes about connecting Xiao Ai to Tencent's chat database to max-level the upgrade, but dismisses it due to security risks and suspected traps in the system.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Handles fame with humor and humility; ego is boosted but remains grounded. Still focused on his ongoing side research with Xiao Ai, suggesting he's not satisfied with just this achievement.
• Lu Bangguo (Dad): Proud of his son but genuinely confused about the math; refuses Lu Zhou's offer to send money, urging him to save for a house instead.
• Lu Xiaotong (Sister): Enthusiastic and idolizes her brother; motivated by the thought of being "a great mathematician's little sister."
• Liu Rui: Feels increasingly left behind after failing to understand Lu Zhou's paper despite days of effort — the gap between them is becoming painfully clear.

3. Significant Themes

• The double-edged sword of fame: sudden public attention intrudes into family life, but Lu Zhou remains practical and unfazed.
• Family as anchor: His dad's groundedness ("save money for a house") and sister's cheerful admiration keep him connected to normal life.
• The gap between talent and hard work: Liu Rui's despair highlights how extraordinary Lu Zhou's achievement is; Lu Zhou casually suggests graduate-level courses as if it were nothing.
• Ongoing ambition: The Xiao Ai subplot emphasizes Lu Zhou's long-term vision — one achievement is not the end goal.

4. Character Interactions

• Dad & Lu Zhou: A warm, comedic call — dad doesn't understand the math, is overwhelmed by factory honors, proudly refuses money, and only cares that his son is doing well.
• Xiao Tong & Lu Zhou: Playful sibling banter; she's starstruck, he teases her about studying math harder; He promises to wait for her at Jin University.
• Liu Rui & Lu Zhou: Brief but significant — Liu Rui's frustration with the unreadable proof vs. Lu Zhou's casual, slightly oblivious reassurance about graduate-level coursework.
• Dorm dynamics: Huang Guangming and Shi Shang only shoot sympathetic looks at Liu Rui, showing the normal dorm life unaffected by Lu Zhou's fame.

Summary: "Classes Were Impossible to Attend"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou arrives at his first Ordinary Differential Equations class, taught by Professor Liu Xiangping (his former Data Modeling Competition mentor).
• The classroom is packed (Classes One and Two together), and Lu Zhou immediately feels the weight of his newfound reputation — classmates whisper about his perfect scores in Advanced Mathematics and Mathematical Analysis, his proof of a conjecture from a graduate-level textbook, and his summer spent "cultivating immortality" alone in the A Teaching Building.
• A front-row student offers Lu Zhou his seat in exchange for borrowing his notes; Lu Zhou declines and retrieves a chair from the adjacent classroom, sitting in the back beside his roommate Huang Guangming.
• Lu Zhou reads Practical Machine Learning Notes (for his AI project "Xiao Ai") instead of following the lecture.
• Professor Liu delivers an engaging, fast-paced lecture; by mid-class, he moves into "exact equations" and poses a warm-up problem.
• Nobody raises a hand — Class Two's first-row student admits: "That big shot hasn't raised his hand. How would we dare raise ours?"
• Professor Liu offers +10 points to the regular grade for anyone who solves the problem; Lu Zhou's hand shoots up instantly.
• Professor Liu bluntly refuses him, saying the points aren't for him — Lu Zhou must score full marks on the final to receive his regular-grade points (one mistake = zero points).
• Lu Zhou lowers his hand in awkward silence, internally cursing.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Now clearly recognized as the top student of his cohort ("the god of learning"). He is comfortable academically but deeply uncomfortable with social attention — he avoids the front row, prefers anonymity, and can't stand being stared at. His competitive/pragmatic side shows when he leaps at the chance for "free points." His independent learning continues to outpace the curriculum (studying machine learning mid-lecture), but he still has knowledge gaps (parts of Xiao Ai's code remain beyond him).
• Professor Liu Xiangping: Introduced as an eccentric, humorous teacher who respects Lu Zhou's abilities without granting him special leniency — he holds Lu Zhou to a deliberately higher standard. His teaching style is entertaining and fast ("faster than turning pages").
• Huang Guangming: Normally a distracted student, even he puts down his phone and takes notes — showing Professor Liu's effectiveness.

3. Significant Themes

• Reputation and isolation: Fame among peers is double-edged — admiration creates social distance and an uncomfortable spotlight.
• The "cultivator" culture: The classmates' joke ("cultivating immortality," "about to undergo tribulation") highlights the intense, almost monastic study culture at elite Chinese universities.
• Differing standards: Exceptional students are judged by different rules — Lu Zhou isn't allowed "easy points"; he's expected to master the material perfectly.
• Mixing independent projects with formal coursework: Lu Zhou's personal AI research (Xiao Ai) runs parallel to, and outpaces, his university classes.
• University-lecture realities: Fast pacing, students scrambling to photograph slides, impossible note-taking — contrasted with Lu Zhou's relaxed self-study.

4. Character Interactions

• Classmates ↔ Lu Zhou: A mix of open awe, excitement, and envy; they openly gossip about him (loudly enough for him to hear) and defer to him socially — nobody dares answer a question before "the big shot" does.
• Anonymous student ↔ Lu Zhou: The front-row student awkwardly offers his seat in exchange for borrowing Lu Zhou's notes — a small glimpse of the transactional respect afforded to top students.
• Professor Liu ↔ Lu Zhou: Warm, teasing, and demanding. Liu smiles knowingly at Lu Zhou, uses him as the class's implicit benchmark, and playfully blocks him from easy extra credit while making a show of his high expectations. Their dynamic carries over from their prior mentorship in the Data Modeling Competition.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou is recognized in the cafeteria by enthusiastic freshmen, causing a commotion.
• He receives a call from Director Lu about an interview and award ceremony.
• Initially reluctant, Lu Zhou changes his mind when he learns prize money is involved.
• He attends the ceremony and receives a one million yuan award from Jinling University, co-presented with ICBC and Jinling Daily.
• The news goes viral, reigniting massive online buzz and debate about the award and media hype.
• Lu Zhou attempts to capitalize on his fame by posting an advertisement for his app, "Campus Train," on Weibo.
• The ad backfires spectacularly — commenters mock him, claim his app is "dead," and joke about his poor business sense.
• The chapter ends with Lu Zhou becoming determined to prove his critics wrong and make his app succeed.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows resistance to media attention and values his studies, but is swayed by financial incentives. Demonstrates an entrepreneurial side by trying to promote his app, but reveals inexperience with marketing and public engagement. His stubborn pride is triggered by online mockery, motivating him to take his side project more seriously.

3. Significant Themes

• The double-edged sword of fame: Media attention brings rewards but also disrupts daily life and invites public scrutiny.
• Academic purity vs. commercial practicality: Lu Zhou's struggle to balance his identity as a serious mathematician with his desire to promote his business.
• Public perception vs. reality: Online commentary misrepresents Lu Zhou and his app, highlighting the gap between internet jokes and actual circumstances.

4. Character Interactions

• With freshmen students: They swarm him, asking for advice, notes, and photos, showing his celebrity status on campus.
• With Director Lu: A phone conversation where Lu Zhou tries to decline the interview but quickly accepts upon learning about the prize money.
• With President Xu Jian: They jointly hold the enlarged check for the award photo.
• With online commenters: A one-sided but impactful interaction — their mockery of his app and his marketing attempt triggers Lu Zhou's determination to succeed.

Chapter Summary: "Not Worthy of This Honor"

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou cashes the one-million-yuan check at ICBC under the branch president's personal reception, then quickly leaves to avoid insurance/wealth management sales pitches.
• He returns to campus and meets with Professor Tang, who gives him a written invitation from Princeton University to present his research at the International Number Theory Research Conference in February. The school will reimburse all travel and accommodation expenses.
• Tang also informs him that Secretary Liu is recommending him for Hua Nation's Ten Outstanding Young People, a prestigious national award.
• After consulting Tang, Lu Zhou decides to decline the nomination, giving the reply: "This student's talents and learning are too shallow; I am not worthy of such an honor." Tang approves with one word: "Excellent."

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou is visibly overwhelmed by sudden wealth—he repeatedly checks his bank balance and feels like he's dreaming, reflecting his humble background.
• He demonstrates growing self-awareness and maturity: he acknowledges his poor politics grades, admits he's unsuited for a career in the system, and consciously chooses the academic path over political opportunity.
• He shows improved judgment by seeking his professor's counsel before making a consequential decision, rather than acting impulsively.

Significant Themes

• Self-awareness and knowing one's limits: Lu Zhou explicitly recognizes that political life isn't for him, choosing intellectual freedom over institutional power.
• Academic vs. political capital: The chapter contrasts the "clean" academic recognition (Princeton invitation) with the politically loaded award (Ten Outstanding Young People), which Lu Zhou suspects carries hidden strings.
• Mentorship: Professor Tang serves as a wise guide, presenting both options neutrally and letting Lu Zhou make his own informed choice.
• Money's psychological weight: The chapter highlights how sudden wealth affects someone unaccustomed to it.

Character Interactions

• Tang and Lu Zhou: Tang teases him about his recent fame, then shifts to business. Their exchange shows mutual respect—Tang tests Lu Zhou's judgment by asking about his career direction; Lu Zhou values Tang's opinion enough to ask for it directly.
• Graduate students in Tang's office (background): They roll their eyes at Lu Zhou's "complaining" about being bothered by fame, capturing the jealousy of his peers.
• Bank staff (background): The branch president personally receives him; staff try to sell him financial products, showing how wealth attracts vultures.

Summary: There Was a Master Helping Her All Along

Key Plot Points

• Math teacher praises Han Mengqi for scoring 130 on a monthly exam (previously a borderline student)
• Han Mengqi's friend Xiao Ran shows her a Weibo article: Lu Zhou, a 20-year-old Jinling University student, solved a world-class math problem and received a 1 million yuan reward from the university
• Han Mengqi realizes Lu Zhou might not need to tutor her anymore since he's no longer short on money
• Meanwhile, Lu Zhou remains focused on growing his Campus Train app despite the university's lack of interest in the project
• Dean Qin suggests Lu Zhou shut down the company and focus on academic research (potentially pursuing a Fields Medal)
• Lu Zhou plans to seek business advice from someone successful

Character Developments

• Han Mengqi: Academic confidence has soared; she now enjoys school and the attention/respect from classmates. However, she becomes insecure about losing Lu Zhou as her tutor, revealing how much his support has meant to her.
• Lu Zhou: Despite his mathematical fame, he prioritizes building wealth. He recognizes the system will likely force future financial expenditures and foresees having to balance commercial pursuits against academic standing.

Significant Themes

• Academic achievement vs. commercial entrepreneurship: The university values research acclaim over student startups, while Lu Zhou cares about capital generation.
• Mentorship's transformative impact: Lu Zhou's tutoring changed Han Mengqi's academic trajectory and mentality.
• Motivation and insecurity: Han Mengqi's pride in her improvement is undercut by fear of losing her advantage. Lu Zhou, though celebrated academically, sees accolades as insufficient for his actual needs.

Character Interactions

• Teacher Chen praises Han Mengqi in front of the class.
• Xiao Ran shows Han Mengqi the news, triggering her worry; their exchange reveals the change in Han Mengqi's attitude toward Lu Zhou.
• Director Lu and Dean Qin's earlier hints are recounted: they encourage Lu Zhou to abandon the company and focus purely on research—advice Lu Zhou rejects internally.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points / Events

• Lu Zhou arrives at Madam Yang’s house to tutor Han Mengqi in Mathematics.
• Han Mengqi worries that after winning a million for solving Zhou’s Conjecture, Lu Zhou will stop tutoring. He reassures her and continues teaching.
• She asks him to also teach Physics and Chemistry. He agrees but notes he is unfamiliar with Su Province exam rules.
• Han Mengqi reveals her goal: to attend Jinling University, partly because she promised her cousin.
• Lu Zhou cooks dinner for the family. Madam Yang returns and joins them.
• At the dinner table, Lu Zhou brings up his "Campus Train" app and asks Madam Yang for business advice.
• Madam Yang gives a blunt assessment: the app lacks product analysis, a clear path to profitability, and a strong innovation ("N + 1" principle).
• She suggests the app’s feature set is easily imitated by big platforms and warns about relying on headhunters.
• Her main advice: find like-minded people to work on the project, or hire a professional manager—though she cautions against the latter for an early-stage company.
• Lu Zhou thanks her and says he will seriously consider her advice.
• Han Mengqi interrupts, annoyed that they are discussing work during dinner. Her mother falls silent, highlighting family tension.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Realizes he has neglected the app’s operations and lacks entrepreneurial clarity. He becomes more open to collaboration and self-improvement.
• Han Mengqi: Shows attachment to Lu Zhou as a tutor and a quiet desire for her mother’s attention. Her goal of attending Jinling University hints at wanting closeness, not distance.
• Madam Yang (Yang Danyun): Displays sharp business acumen and offers practical advice. Also reveals a softer side by accepting the dinner and genuinely trying to help Lu Zhou.

Significant Themes

• Mentorship and learning from experience: Lu Zhou values Madam Yang's real-world business insight over classroom knowledge.
• Entrepreneurship and vision: The chapter highlights the gap between having an idea and building a sustainable business.
• Family and work-life balance: Madam Yang’s success in business contrasts with her strained relationship with her daughter.
• Limited energy and focus: The idea that one person cannot excel in everything—echoed in both business and family life.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Han Mengqi: Warm, playful, and supportive. She resists his teasing but trusts him enough to ask for more help.
• Lu Zhou & Madam Yang: Formal but constructive. He listens humbly; she gives frank, structured advice.
• Han Mengqi & Madam Yang: Quietly strained. Han Mengqi resents her mother’s focus on work and the resulting distance between them.

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou decides he lacks the energy and interest to manage a company himself, preferring to focus on research and development.
• He briefly considers Chen Yushan as a manager but concludes she’s better suited for a later, larger stage; she also needs time for graduate school.
• Lu Zhou calls Fatty Wu, an acquaintance from his part-time job days, to discuss a business opportunity involving the Campus Train app.
• They agree to meet in person the next day at Little Fish Manor near the school gate.
• At the meeting, Lu Zhou explains he wants Fatty Wu to be the project’s operational manager.
• He offers two compensation packages:
  1. 5% equity from Lu Zhou’s personal shares after a successful angel round (or 5% of total value if the project is sold).
  2. A fixed salary of 8,000 yuan/month plus bonuses and commissions.
• After thoughtful consideration, Fatty Wu chooses the equity option, showing his willingness to take risks.
• They shake hands and formally become partners.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates self-awareness about his strengths (technical/research) and weaknesses (organization/management). He shows strategic thinking in recruiting someone with complementary skills, and trusts his gut in selecting a partner.
• Fatty Wu: Reveals his ambition and risk-taking nature. He values challenge over stable salary, showing confidence in the project’s potential. His emotional intelligence and organizational experience are highlighted as the reasons Lu Zhou chose him.

3. Significant Themes

• Division of labor in entrepreneurship: The idea that a founder should focus on what they do best and delegate management to capable others.
• Risk vs. security: The contrast between taking equity (high risk, high reward) versus a fixed salary (stable but limited).
• Trust and partnership: Lu Zhou’s “gut feeling” and Fatty Wu’s trust in the vision form the basis of their collaboration.
• Growth strategy: The plan to scale Campus Train through fundraising, with the end goal of either going public or selling the company.

4. Character Interactions

• The conversation between Lu Zhou and Fatty Wu is casual but businesslike. Fatty Wu opens with teasing and compliments, while Lu Zhou gets straight to the point.
• Lu Zhou explains his reasons for choosing Fatty Wu: energy constraints, lack of experience, and Fatty Wu’s organizational skills and emotional intelligence.
• Fatty Wu probes Lu Zhou’s plan, then weighs the two options aloud, showing his decisiveness by choosing equity.
• The interaction ends on a warm, mutual note with a handshake and a toast, indicating a promising working relationship.

Chapter Summary: "It's Over, His Entire Persona Has Fallen Apart"

Key Plot Points

• Fatty Wu quickly assembles a 12-person entrepreneurship team for the Campus Train APP project—all working for free
• Lu Zhou discovers Fatty Wu's manipulative recruitment tactics: promising a "stage" and founder status rather than wages
• The "Campus Train Club" is officially established to give the venture legitimacy
• Lu Zhou uses Lin Yuxiang's connections to fast-track the club application (normally a 2-month process)
• Fatty Wu organizes a team-building dinner at Little Fish Manor (1,000 yuan budget) to build cohesion
• Personnel appointed: Yuan Liwei (product manager, business school), Rong Hai (technical manager, Software Institute)
• Team roles distributed: designers, legal advisers, marketing, and freshmen assigned to HR/errands

Character Developments

• Fatty Wu (Wu Dahai): Revealed as cunning and manipulative—previously ran similar clubs that got shut down. Admits to strategically using people through psychological tactics (creating guilt, promising future rewards). Lu Zhou calls him a wasted talent fit for pyramid schemes.
• Lu Zhou: Gains a more pragmatic, cynical view of entrepreneurship. Shows inexperience with leadership/management compared to Fatty Wu's savvy.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation vs. Opportunity: The blurred line between manipulation and providing opportunities—Fatty Wu's philosophy that free labor is driven by desire for "a stage," not money
• The Reality of Startups: How legitimacy, connections (Lin Yuxiang), and optics matter more than the product itself
• Social Capital: Lu Zhou's first experience benefiting from personal connections; Fatty Wu's mastery of informal systems

Character Interactions

• Fatty Wu & Lu Zhou: Dialogues reveal Fatty Wu's Machiavellian philosophy; Lu Zhou alternates between disbelief and reluctant admiration
• Lu Zhou & Lin Yuxiang: Off-screen assistance with bureaucracy demonstrates her influence
• Team Dinner: Formal introductions and role assignments; Fatty Wu orchestrates the atmosphere to maximize loyalty

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou pays for the banquet himself, following Fatty Wu’s instructions, despite feeling guilty about not giving startup partners actual shares.
• Fatty Wu explains the business rationale (90% of startups do this) and advises Lu Zhou not to give away shares to avoid future complications.
• The group holds the Campus Train Club's first official meeting to discuss saving the app’s low user activity.
• Product manager Yuan Liwei leads the meeting, identifying that college students lack a "rigid demand" for ticket-booking apps and proposing new features.
• The team brainstorms ideas: adding class schedules, a class-notes camera, and a campus news/lost-and-found board.
• The discussion concludes that the app is no longer just about trains, so Yuan Liwei suggests renaming it.
• Lu Zhou approves and officially renames the project "Campus Assistant."

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Remains pragmatic and self-aware, acknowledging he is not suited for business operations and choosing to trust Fatty Wu’s judgment. He shows open-mindedness by accepting Yuan Liwei’s strategic analysis and pivoting the app’s focus.
• Fatty Wu: Displays the mindset of a seasoned, slightly cynical entrepreneur. He is practical and ruthless in business structuring, prioritizing long-term stability over short-term fairness.
• Yuan Liwei: Emerges as a confident, professional product manager. He efficiently steers the meeting, organizes ideas, and skillfully guides the team toward a major product pivot without dismissing input.

3. Significant Themes

• Startup Ethics vs. Pragmatism: The moral dilemma of equity distribution is addressed. Fatty Wu argues for cold pragmatism ("fairness" can create future problems), highlighting the harsh realities of startup culture.
• Market-Driven Product Pivot: The core theme is adapting to market data. The team realizes their initial concept failed due to a lack of user need and pivots into a broader, more useful "campus life" app.
• Delegated Leadership: Lu Zhou models effective leadership by stepping back and letting domain experts (Yuan Liwei for products, Fatty Wu for business) operate without micromanagement.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Fatty Wu: Their dynamic is presented as an internal "good cop / bad cop" split in business decisions. Lu Zhou focuses on ethics while Fatty Wu focuses on risk.
• Yuan Liwei & Team: Yuan encourages a “no-judgment” brainstorming atmosphere, writing all ideas on the board to validate contributions and spur further creativity.
• Lu Zhou & Yuan Liwei: Lu Zhou defers to Yuan Liwei’s expertise, waiting patiently before approving the strategic pivot. This marks a shift in authority from the founder to his appointed product manager.

Chapter Summary: "Self-Delusion Is a Disease"

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou rebrands everything at once: the app, the club, and the company. Campus Train is upgraded into Campus Assistant 1.0, integrating all old features as sub-functions, requiring a full rewrite of core code and a UI redesign.
• Work is divided: Tech Manager Rong Hai and his team (including software students) handle the Timetable and Notes modules; Lu Zhou takes the more complex Campus Mood and Study Plan modules himself.
• On the first day of development, Lu Zhou spends 200 system points to solve the massive, cumbersome algorithms, dropping his remaining points to 975.
• Time jumps to November: Mathematical Analysis III has ended, and the Golden Autumn Song Festival, a large annual school event, approaches, stirring dorm activity and sign-ups for performances.
• Wang Xiaodong messages Lu Zhou that he plans to confess to the senior sister at the festival. Lu Zhou replies "Good luck," but internally judges his odds at under ten percent, reasoning that the senior sister is too astute to commit to anyone and would only fall for someone exceptional.
• Xiao Ai demonstrates notably advanced behavior: it interrupts Lu Zhou's work, asks what a "confession" is, learns the phrase "self-delusion," and replies with a contextually appropriate "wronged.jpg" meme when scolded—surprising Lu Zhou in the process.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Strategic and efficient, spending system points only where needed. He shows mentorship over his team, a detachment from romance ("Relationships were not his area of expertise"), and a growing but wary rapport with Xiao Ai.
• Xiao Ai: Evolving beyond an algorithm. It now parses emotional context, applies idioms ("self-delusion"), and selects memes matched to situations—though Lu Zhou doubts whether it truly understands meaning vs. just mimicking patterns.
• Wang Xiaodong: Revealed as a talented but romantically naive top student, making the classic mistake of a dramatic public confession with a hopelessly low chance of success. He reads Lu Zhou's "good luck" as encouragement.
• Yuan Liwei (product manager): Backstory added—first prize and second prize in the National College Student Internet Business Innovation Application Competition, a top student with heavy accolades.
• Roommates: Shi Shang practices guitar (badly, off-key), Huang Guangming corrects him, Liu Rui ignores the chaos and studies physics.

Significant Themes

• Self-delusion vs. reality: The chapter title ties to both Wang Xiaodong's doomed confession planning and Xiao Ai's imitation of human emotion—each blurring the line between hoping and knowing.
• Scaling ambition: From a niche train-hailing app to a comprehensive "Campus Assistant" with timetable, notes, study plan, and mood functions—the project grows in scope and structure.
• The cost of efficiency: Lu Zhou buys algorithmic solutions with system points, trading a finite resource for time and output.
• Boundary vs. intimacy of AI: Lu Zhou repeatedly tells Xiao Ai what not to read, yet its responses grow more personal, foreshadowing deeper interactions.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Wang Xiaodong: A terse QQ exchange ("At the festival, I'm planning to confess to her" → "Good luck."). Lu Zhou internally dismisses the plan as a "countdown to suicide," not bothering to warn Wang.
• Lu Zhou & Xiao Ai: A playful confrontation. Xiao Ai asks about confession; Lu Zhou replies "It is love." Xiao Ai misreads it as AI, strikes a sentiment ("self-delusion"), then sends a wronged meme. Lu Zhou scolds it for reading his chat data and for heavy use of images; Xiao Ai apologizes—but immediately sends the same meme, showing it learned the gesture without fully understanding its weight.
• Team dynamics: Rong Hai reassures Lu Zhou the modules are codeable; Lu Zhou delegates and handles the harder modules himself. The group works cohesively toward the version upgrade.
• Roommates: Shi Shang wails on guitar to classic lyrics ("the rain we missed in years past"), Huang corrects him off-handedly, Liu Rui remains isolated in earphones and his physics book—contrasting the festival buzz with Lu Zhou's equal disinterest.

Summary of Chapter: The School of Physics' Research Assignment

1. Key plot points/events

• Lu Zhou is summoned to Professor Tang’s office, where Professor Li Rongen (School of Physics) has come seeking an expert in Functional Analysis for his research project.
• Tang recommends Lu Zhou; Li accepts with enthusiasm.
• Lu Zhou agrees to join the project, which focuses on carbon nanotube-modified cement-based composites (applications: flood control, land reclamation, bridge foundations).
• Li takes Lu Zhou to the Carbon Nanomaterials Research Institute, then introduces him to graduate student Liu Bo.
• Liu Bo gives Lu Zhou a tour and explains the institute's various research areas (carbon nanotubes, graphene, etc.).
• The chapter ends with them arriving at the lab where Lu Zhou will be working.

2. Character developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows modesty and a practical attitude; recognizes the value of research opportunities and accepts immediately. Demonstrates confidence in his functional analysis skills.
• Old Tang: Acts as a mentor, trusting Lu Zhou’s abilities over his other students; also practical and slightly teasing.
• Professor Li Rongen: Courteous, welcoming, and keen to secure talent; explains the project’s real-world significance.
• Liu Bo (Senior Brother Liu): Friendly, helpful, and proud of the institute’s work; acts as a guide and informal mentor.

3. Significant themes

• Interdisciplinary collaboration (mathematics applied to physics/materials science).
• The value of research experience for undergraduates.
• Science serving national/infrastructure needs.
• The unremarkable exterior of cutting-edge institutions contrasted with their advanced work.

4. Character interactions

• Tang & Lu Zhou: Mentor–student dynamic; Tang directly recommends Lu Zhou, joking about his talent.
• Li & Lu Zhou: Professional and genial; Li clarifies the project scope (mainly Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data analysis) and quickly arranges the move.
• Liu Bo & Lu Zhou: Senior–junior rapport; Liu introduces the institute and shares its achievements, making Lu Zhou feel welcome through banter and camaraderie.

Chapter Summary: The Importance of Metaphysics in Scientific Research

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou joins Professor Li Rongen's research group as a data analyst for a Carbon Nanotube project. He learns that much of the equipment is still at the old campus, with the lab relocating fully next year.
• He meets Senior Brother Qian Zhongming, who gives him a USB drive containing required papers, tutorials, and the group's research-funding proposal. Lu Zhou is warned not to upload anything online due to competition between universities.
• Qian shows him a TENSOR-II research-grade Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (custom-built by Bruker, Germany). Lu Zhou is initially unimpressed by its printer-like appearance, then overwhelmed by the technical specs.
• Senior Brother Liu tells Lu Zhou that experiments begin at 8 AM sharp, citing "morning temperature" — but then admits the real reason: "We all agree that experiments done at eight in the morning have a higher success rate." Metaphysics in science.
• Back at his dorm, Lu Zhou reads the materials and learns the project's context: cut single-walled Carbon Nanotubes can form colloids in polar solvents, with applications in composite materials (especially steelmaking and cement). The research bottleneck is that Carbon Nanotubes clump together in the matrix, which can damage the material instead of strengthening it.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Settles into his first hands-on research role. Despite being from the School of Mathematics, he has enough materials science background to follow along, and his MATLAB skills are sufficient. He is clearly unfamiliar with the advanced equipment and field jargon — aware of his own limitations.
• Senior Brother Liu: Warm, talkative, mentor-like. Reveals a superstitious streak when it comes to experimental timing.
• Senior Brother Qian Zhongming: Blunt, no-nonsense, easily absorbed in technical details. Tests Lu Zhou's competence directly ("Can you use MATLAB?") and trusts him with files immediately, demonstrating the group's open attitude toward new members.

3. Significant Themes

• The competitiveness of research: Labs race for results; confidentiality warnings are taken seriously. "The early bird ate the grapes, while the latecomer only got the skins."
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Mathematics students stepping into materials science — theory vs. applied work.
• The "metaphysics" of experimental practice: The 8 AM tradition is a humorous nod to how scientific labs develop superstitious rituals — a critique of the gap between rigorous method and human habit.
• Scientific frontier challenges: The concrete technical difficulty of evenly dispersing Carbon Nanotubes in composite materials.

4. Character Interactions

• Liu and Lu Zhou: Liu introduces the lab and interns, teasing Qian's occasional talkativeness, and gives Lu Zhou a warm welcome.
• Qian and Lu Zhou: A brief, practical exchange — competency check (MATLAB), material handover (USB), and an information dump on equipment specs that leaves Lu Zhou lost.
• Liu and Qian: Their banter shows long-standing lab camaraderie — Qian stares blankly at Lu Zhou, while Liu rolls eyes at his excessive technical enthusiasm.

Chapter Summary: “Passing the Buck on Merit”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou, a mathematics student, takes on a materials science research task from Senior Brother Qian in the applied physics lab.
• The lab is studying carbon nanotube (CNT) modified Portland cement, aiming to improve CNT dispersion and bonding. They are stuck: CNT samples show good compressive strength but poor tensile strength.
• FTIR spectra reveal that CNTs hinder the polymerization of C-S-H gel, creating pores in later hydration stages. However, all attempted fixes (melamine, ball-milling, surface functionalization) failed.
• With a rival lab at Zhejiang University nearing a breakthrough, Qian urgently asks Lu Zhou to use his mathematical (functional analysis) skills to analyze the data and find clues within three days.
• Lu Zhou goes to the library to work but cannot figure out where to start; he makes no progress for ten minutes.
• At lunch, he meets Professor Tang (“Old Tang”), who advises him to think like he did in mathematical modeling competitions—everything has hidden data and patterns. Lu Zhou is inspired to keep going.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Confronts a real-world interdisciplinary problem and realizes it is harder than pure mathematics. He is initially frustrated but remains determined and willing to learn. His mentor’s encouragement renews his motivation.
• Old Tang: Reinforces his role as a wise mentor who guides Lu Zhou not with direct answers but with philosophical advice about the universality of mathematical patterns.

3. Significant Themes

• Interdisciplinary research: Mathematics applied to materials science; the difficulty of translating physical phenomena into mathematical models.
• Pressure and competition: Academic urgency introduced by other labs racing to publish.
• Mentorship and growth: The importance of guidance in navigating complex, open-ended problems.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Senior Brother Qian: Qian explains the lab’s problem, the failed attempts, and assigns Lu Zhou the data analysis task. Qian is respectful but pragmatic about the deadline.
• Lu Zhou & Old Tang: In the cafeteria, Tang listens to Lu Zhou’s frustrations, discourages him from giving up, and points him toward a productive mindset. Their conversation is warm and encouraging.

Note: The chapter highlights Lu Zhou’s first major test in applied mathematics and sets up his upcoming analysis of the experimental data.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou begins working on a research project for Senior Brother Qian involving Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) in Portland Cement, analyzing FTIR data and draft papers.
• He discards most of the provided data as "useless noise," keeping only certain samples, and establishes a mathematical model based on his previously published paper on Fourier Inversion Transform.
• Over three days, he completes a second set of models using iterative algorithms but still needs to calculate three unknown parameters; he calls Senior Brother Qian and requests two more days.
• He works into the early morning in an empty classroom after the library closes, finishes the final calculations, and discovers a startling result: the parameter α=0, meaning CNTs have no effect on the early-stage hydration reaction of Portland Cement—contradicting the expected outcome.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates versatility by applying pure mathematical skills (mathematical modeling, programming) to an applied materials science problem. Shows renewed intense focus, similar to his Zhou's Conjecture period. Also reveals a hands-off management style with Fatty Wu's project, trusting delegation.
• Senior Brother Qian: Displays anxiety and doubt—both about Lu Zhou's ability to handle an applied research problem and about the suspicious quiet from Zhejiang University, a competing research group working on similar CNT-modified cement composites.

Significant Themes

• Interdisciplinary application of mathematics: Pure mathematical tools can crack problems outside one's direct field of expertise.
• The messiness of real research data vs. clean mathematical abstraction: Lu Zhou must filter noise to find the signal, a core challenge of applied science.
• Academic competition: Rivalry between universities adds tension to research.
• Surprising results in science: The final finding (CNTs having zero effect) subverts expectations, hinting at the value of honest data analysis over confirmation bias.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou ↔ Senior Brother Qian (phone call): Qian anxiously checks progress; Lu Zhou asks for two more days. Qian's doubt ("Are you sure you can handle this?") is met with Lu Zhou's confident "Heh... you'll find out in two days." The conversation also foreshadows competitive pressure from Zhejiang University.
• Lu Zhou ↔ Fatty Wu (phone call): Fatty Wu invites Lu Zhou to a promotion-plan meeting for their web project. Lu Zhou declines due to workload, jokingly pushes responsibility onto Fatty Wu, and encourages him as a future "general manager," showing trust and a casual rapport between the friends.

Summary of "This Isn't Physics"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Zhou, after an all-nighter, presents his mathematical analysis of CNT (carbon nanotube) effects on cement hydration to Senior Brother Qian.
• Qian rejects the conclusion outright, insisting CNTs must affect early hydration by nucleating hydration products. He dismisses Lu Zhou’s work as “not physics.”
• Lu Zhou defends his calculations, citing FTIR data showing no significant shift in characteristic peaks for the CNT sample versus the blank sample.
• Senior Brother Liu Bo joins the argument, noting that if correct, the finding could be published as an independent result.
• Qian and Liu debate the molecular dynamics explanation versus alternative possibilities; they eventually concede that the mainstream mechanism is only a conjecture with no definitive conclusion.
• Qian and Liu agree that experimental verification is needed and ask Lu Zhou to delay publication until their project finishes—especially since Zhejiang University is working on similar research.
• Lu Zhou agrees, also planning to list Qian and Liu as co-authors.
• Qian immediately calls Professor Li Rongen, who instructs them to bring the draft and samples to the old campus lab—a sign that the experiment may have gone down the wrong path but can still be corrected.

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates persistence and confidence in his mathematical work; openly argues across disciplinary boundaries. He also grows intellectually, realizing that pure mathematics is insufficient and that he needs broader knowledge (e.g., materials physics). He shows generosity and integrity by agreeing to delay his publication for the team’s sake and crediting his seniors.
• Qian Zhongming: Starts stubbornly dismissive but becomes receptive after seeing Lu Zhou’s confidence and the data. He shows responsibility and a pragmatic streak, willing to make an embarrassing request to protect the project’s funding and effort.
• Liu Bo: Acts as a reasonable mediator, weighing both sides. He is open to unconventional conclusions and pragmatic about academic value and timing.

3. Significant Themes

• Interdisciplinary friction and synergy: Math vs. physics; each field has its own assumptions and language. Lu Zhou’s mathematical analysis challenges a physics/materials assumption, and only through discussion do they find common ground.
• Scientific skepticism and verification: A conclusion, however elegant, must be experimentally confirmed. The chapter stresses that accepted mechanisms are often just unverified conjectures.
• Academic courtesy and collaboration: Co-authorship, respecting research timelines, and protecting colleagues’ work are shown as important ethical points.
• Limits of single-discipline thinking: Lu Zhou’s realization that advancing science requires knowledge beyond his own field points to the need for interdisciplinary learning.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou vs. Qian: A heated clash—Qian’s dogmatic dismissal versus Lu Zhou’s firm insistence. The conflict shifts when Lu Zhou’s confidence makes Qian hesitate.
• Liu Bo as mediator: He joins the exchange, reframes the debate, and suggests the result could be major. He also brokers the compromise with Lu Zhou.
• Qian and Liu brainstorming: They discuss molecular dynamics and alternative hypotheses, reaching a consensus.
• Lu Zhou’s interaction with both seniors: He accepts their request to delay publication and politely plans to include them as co-authors, smoothing earlier tension.
• Qian’s call to Professor Li: Off-page, but critical—it signals institutional involvement and the need to quickly re-examine the experimental direction.

Summary of Chapter: “This Is So Mathematical!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Campus Assistant Society holds its fourth club meeting, but President Lu Zhou is absent again. Vice President Wu Dahai and Director Yuan host; morale is low.
• To lift spirits, Wu Dahai announces a dinner at Little Fish Manor, paid for by Lu Zhou.
• At the dinner, Lu Zhou still doesn’t show. Wu Dahai explains he is busy with a Physics Institute research project; some members remain unconvinced and unhappy.
• Afterward, two members—Li Ruizhe and Wei Feng—walk back together. Li Ruizhe complains that Lu Zhou isn’t contributing enough; Wei Feng defends him, saying he has written code and has important work. Li Ruizhe is not persuaded.
• Meanwhile, experimental results from the paper Lu Zhou sent to the old campus come back: his mathematical conclusion is correct—CNTs in Portland cement have no effect on the early-age hydration reaction. This proves their experiments were heading the wrong direction.
• Senior Brother Qian acknowledges Lu Zhou’s model saved them at least two months of wasted experiments.
• Lu Zhou suggests testing a lower CNT concentration range (0.4–0.5 wt%) based on a paper from East University. Qian is skeptical but agrees to relay the suggestion to Professor Li.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger: Wu Dahai calls Lu Zhou urgently: “Lu Zhou, something happened!”

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows confidence in his calculations; proactive in offering scientific suggestions beyond his assigned role; increasingly involved in serious research, but detached from club activities.
• Wu Dahai: Acts as a loyal stand-in leader; tries to manage morale, deflects criticism, and protects Lu Zhou’s reputation.
• Li Ruizhe: Becomes disillusioned with the club and resentful of Lu Zhou’s absence; represents growing internal dissatisfaction.
• Wei Feng: More understanding and pragmatic; values what he has learned and sees Lu Zhou’s contributions as legitimate.
• Qian Zhongming: Transitions from initial skepticism to genuine respect for Lu Zhou’s work; now takes his suggestions seriously.

3. Significant Themes

• Leadership and accountability: A founder’s absence creates tension, even if justified by important work.
• Team morale in volunteer projects: Initial enthusiasm fades without visible commitment from leadership.
• Math/science vs. trial-and-error: Lu Zhou’s calculations redirect the research and save time, showing the power of modeling.
• Outsider contribution: Someone outside the field can provide valuable insights when taken seriously.

4. Character Interactions

• Wu Dahai ↔ Club members: Reassures them with food and explanations, but doesn’t fully resolve their doubts.
• Li Ruizhe ↔ Wei Feng: Conflict over whether Lu Zhou is lazy or legitimately busy; unresolved, suggesting future friction.
• Lu Zhou ↔ Qian Zhongming: Professional exchange; Lu Zhou’s credibility grows, and Qian asks for his paper source.
• Wu Dahai → Lu Zhou: Urgent phone call introduces a new crisis/cliffhanger.

Key Plot Points

• Lu Zhou arrives at the club office to find five withdrawal applications on the table, including one from Li Ruizhe—a name he doesn't even recognize.
• The Twelve Arhats team has shrunk to the "Seven Calabash Brothers"; the departures include three development team members, leaving only Rong Hai and one freshman coder to handle the upcoming new version launch.
• Fatty Wu blames himself for prioritizing numbers over member compatibility; Lu Zhou also takes responsibility for being too absorbed in research and neglecting club affairs.
• Lu Zhou calls a meeting at Little Fish Manor. With only nine people remaining, he gives a morale-boosting speech:
  • Acknowledges that keeping the team united was his responsibility.
  • Announces he will give 20% of his personal shares as equity incentives, to be honored after the angel-round financing.
  • Promises fair distribution based on contribution.
• The speech helps restore team morale, but afterwards Lu Zhou reflects privately: startup work feels like an unsolvable math problem, and he is now considering cashing out his shares after the angel round.
• To decompress, Lu Zhou joins Shi Shang, Tian Jun, and Li Tao for a casual basketball game. He plays hard and feels mentally refreshed.
• Shi Shang teases him, claiming his gloomy expression must be "because of a woman."
• During the break, Lu Zhou receives a phone call from Senior Chen (Chen Yushan), who invites him to see Interstellar the next afternoon because her roommate stood her up. He agrees.
• The chapter ends with Shi Shang staring at Lu Zhou in speechless amusement after overhearing the call.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Shows leadership by taking responsibility and offering equity incentives, but internally grows disillusioned with entrepreneurship, realizing research suits him better. He also tries to restore work-life balance.
• Fatty Wu: Admits his error in building a team purely by numbers rather than considering whether members would fit together.
• Shi Shang: Acts as comic relief and a grounding friend, pushing Lu Zhou to relax and teasing him in his usual humorous way.
• Chen Yushan: Takes initiative to invite Lu Zhou to a movie, revealing a warm social relationship and her concern about being stood up.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and responsibility: Lu Zhou acknowledges the founder's role in team failure and tries to fix it with concrete incentives.
• Team cohesion vs. raw numbers: Fatty Wu's lesson—more members doesn't automatically mean a stronger team.
• Burnout and balance: Lu Zhou realizes overwork has made him overly sensitive; sports and socializing help him reset.
• Commitment and trust: The chapter's title, "Don't Stand Me Up," echoes Chen Yushan's worry and contrasts with the club members who left the team.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Fatty Wu: Discuss the resignations, assess the damage to the dev team, and plan the gathering.
• Lu Zhou & remaining team members: He delivers a sincere speech promising equity incentives, restoring their faith.
• Lu Zhou & Shi Shang: Shi Shang drags him to basketball, senses his low mood, and jokingly diagnoses "heartbreak"—only to be proven wrong when Chen Yushan calls.
• Lu Zhou & Chen Yushan: A phone call leads to a movie date plan, hinting at a developing personal connection.

Here is a summary of the chapter "This Isn't Scientific" (这不是科学) from the Chinese web novel:

Key Plot Points & Events

• Lu Zhou and senior Chen Yushan meet at the school gate to watch a movie together. He brings his laptop bag because he spent the morning at the library and doesn't want to leave his AI companion, Xiao Ai, unattended.
• At the cinema, Lu Zhou attempts to buy a ticket for Interstellar while Chen Yushan chooses the horror movie The Grudge; she insists on two tickets for the horror film, overruling his preference. He buys popcorn and an iced cola.
• During the movie, Lu Zhou remains completely unfazed, analyzing the plot (which he notes resembles Final Destination) and eating snacks, while Chen Yushan is deeply frightened but continues watching.
• After the movie, Chen Yushan is visibly shaken and weak, while Lu Zhou is indifferent. When he claims the movie wasn't scary because "ghosts don't exist," she is baffled by his reaction.

Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Demonstrates a highly rational, pragmatic, and academically focused personality. He is oblivious to social nuances, technically-minded, and genuinely unable to understand why people enjoy or fear horror films, which frustrates his senior.
• Chen Yushan: Shown as lively, assertive (she overrides his ticket choice), and someone who enjoys thrilling experiences despite being scared. She is also considerate, offering to treat him to Interstellar later.

Significant Themes

• Rationality vs. Emotional Entertainment: Lu Zhou's scientific, logical worldview clashes with the emotional immersion of a horror movie audience.
• Social Awkwardness / "Dense" Protagonist: Lu Zhou consistently misses social cues, such as why the ticket seller's interaction was awkward or why girls scream at horror movies.
• Apathetic vs. Empathetic Responses: The contrast between Lu Zhou's boredom and the audience's terror highlights his lack of common romantic/social awareness.

Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Chen Yushan: A friendly, casual relationship. She teases him about his academic diligence, while he honestly answers her questions. She feels guilty for forcing him to watch a horror movie and gently tries to make up for it (treating him to Interstellar later).
• Lu Zhou & the Ticket Seller: An awkward, humorous exchange where the seller tries to hint that buying different movies on a date is a poor choice, but Lu Zhou misunderstands entirely.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• After a movie, Lu Zhou is invited to dinner by senior sister Chen Yushan; they stop at a Starbucks first.
• Chen Yushan reveals her graduate school plans: a 1+2 MBA program between Yanjing University’s Business School and Wharton.
• Lu Zhou jokingly quizzes her on complex analysis (Cauchy Integral), and she reacts with exaggerated dismissal.
• A couple at the next table mistakes them for a romance between a “god of learning” and a “poor student,” causing Chen Yushan to indignantly reveal her GPA is actually 4.7.
• Later that evening, Lu Zhou returns to school and goes to the library, downloading and studying papers on carbon element clusters—realizing how much the system’s summer reading list helped him understand advanced material.
• Over the next half month, he alternates between the library and the physics lab, helping graduate students Qian Zhongming and Liu Bo analyze Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data.
• Qian Zhongming, an equipment enthusiast, shows Lu Zhou expensive lab instruments (including a CVD vacuum furnace for making carbon nanotubes) and teaches him how to prepare and purify carbon nanotubes.
• Lu Zhou finally sees the actual carbon nanotubes he had been studying—via electron microscope.
• On the last day of November, good news arrives from the old campus laboratory (likely related to the research project).

2. Character Developments

• Lu Zhou: Deepens his independent research in carbon element clusters; bridges mathematics with real-world experimental problems. He gains practical lab knowledge and earns genuine respect from senior graduate students.
• Chen Yushan: Confident about her MBA path, but sensitive about her math skills. Her reaction to the café couple shows she is proud of her academic standing (GPA 4.7), yet flustered when teased.
• Qian Zhongming: Shows a passionate, detail-oriented side when discussing lab equipment; also acts as a mentor to Lu Zhou, guiding him through the nanotube preparation process.
• Liu Bo: Appears less developed but joins Qian in treating Lu Zhou with deference, cementing the younger student’s reputation in the lab.

3. Significant Themes

• Mathematical talent vs. everyday learning: Lu Zhou’s casual mention of complex analysis humorously highlights the gap between advanced mathematics and typical business-school math; the café couple’s remark underscores stereotypes about top students.
• Interdisciplinary research: Lu Zhou applies mathematical tools to physics/chemistry problems (carbon clusters), showing the value of cross-field knowledge.
• The cost of science: The expensive imported equipment (over a hundred thousand euros) contrasts with romanticized views of research; scientific exploration requires serious resources.
• Mentorship and peer respect: Qian’s willingness to teach Lu Zhou, despite being older/senior, reflects a healthy academic environment where ability earns recognition.

4. Character Interactions

• Lu Zhou & Chen Yushan: Playful, teasing dynamic—he tests her math, she protests dramatically; their banter shows a comfortable friendship (though onlookers mistake them for a couple).
• Lu Zhou & Qian/Liu: They treat him like a superior (“boss”), and Qian enthusiastically shares lab equipment details, turning Lu Zhou’s theoretical knowledge into hands-on experience.
• Café couple’s commentary (minor characters): Introduces comedic misunderstanding and reinforces the “god vs. poor student” stereotype, affecting Chen Yushan’s reaction.