Chapter 513 - You must have calculated that with a calculator? (1/2)

Chapter 513: You must have calculated that with a calculator?

On a platform on the hill.

The pine trees leafing out in green were showered with the rays of the gradually rising sun.

Upon reaching the grounds where the annual International Math Olympiad was held, the venue this year took up a large area of the park. In the inner area, where the compet.i.tion was being held, there were barricade tapes put up labeled with the word 'restricted'. The park visitors, who were on the outside, could not see how the contestants were doing inside as they were blockaded far away from the inner area, but it wasn't quiet on the outside either. Being a global compet.i.tion and with the Chinese as the hot favorites this year, there was naturally a lot of emphasis, otherwise they would not have picked Summer Palace Park as the grounds for compet.i.tion. There were many local and foreign park visitors, as well as the relatives, friends and teachers of the compet.i.tors present at the venue. There were also quite a number of media staff present today. There were also many math related games and activities being held around the compet.i.tion area.

Topic boards were placed along in front of the greenery, some hanging from the pine trees and and some from the artificial rockery. Many of the more difficult questions would award a prize if it were solved and were mainly meant for the visitors to take part in.

Like Sudoku.

Like Nine Squares.

Like Speed Calculations, etc, etc, etc.

Upon noticing that there were reporters around, Zhang Ye and Old Wu, who had just reached the hillside, naturally parted their arms. It was definitely better to keep a low profile.

A female park visitor said, ”Oh, it's so lively here today?”

”Mom, I want to play some math games too!” A little kid said.

An old man, who came to watch the compet.i.tion, said, ”The Americans were the champion for the previous term, right?  I wonder how our Chinese kids will do this time around.”

A youth said, ”The champions.h.i.+p will definitely be ours this year!”

A lot of foreign visitors were discussing fervently as well, but he could not understand what they were talking about.

As it was too crowded over there, Zhang Ye and Old Wu did not head into that area. They just stood around the perimeter where the pine trees and bamboo forest crossed paths. Wu Zeqing then sent a message to Xin Ya.

Not long after, Wu Zeqing said, ”She's coming.”

Zhang Ye looked around and asked, ”Which one?”

Wu Zeqing stuck out her chin towards a general direction, ”That one wearing black framed gla.s.ses.”

Just as she finished speaking, Xin Ya, who had just managed to squeeze past the crowd, spotted her too. She was smiling as she waved, ”Old Wu.”

She wasn't tall and her looks were pretty normal. Her hair was a little spa.r.s.e, perhaps as a result a clever mind. In any case, she could not be considered as pretty though her demeanor was quite good. Her eyes were also glittering with a sense of wisdom and she didn’t seem like the kind of mathematician that Zhang Ye imagined she would be.

Wu Zeqing had already started talking to her even though she was still quite a distance away. ”Why have you not gone in yet?”

”The leader is with them right now and there's also Little Han from your Peking University's Mathematics department. I had to come out because the air is too suffocating in there.” Xin Ya laughed heartily.

Wu Zeqing said, ”Little Han?”

”I'm talking about Han Henian, the one that sent you the love confession on Weibo this morning.” Xin Ya said, ”He's one of teachers selected for the Chinese team this time and is here as an observer.”

Old Wu was previously a vice president of Peking University while Han Henian was a teacher in the Mathematics department. Although he had shown some good results over the past few years and was a rising star in the Mathematics world, he did not have much in common with Old Wu. They were also not quite on the same level, so Wu Zeqing did not seem too familiar with him. Even if they met in the past, they still did not know each other, but Zhang Ye had already burned this name into his mind. He would definitely not forget each and every love rival's name. He even tried to use an acrostic poem to woo my Old Wu? Pfft, how immoral! Zhang Ye was naturally full of malice towards these love rivals. He was totally biased against this person and not the issue!

After squeezing through the crowds, they finally managed to get closer to each other.

Xin Ya stopped in her step, as her extremely curious vision set itself onto Zhang Ye's figure, ”Oh, aren't you a little too overdressed? I can't even see your face.”

”Professor Xin, h.e.l.lo.” Zhang Ye's eyelids jumped a little with his hand stretched out.

”Why, h.e.l.lo to you too. You're kinda young?” Xin Ya shook hands with him before turning sideways and sn.i.g.g.e.red, ”Come clean, what's up with the 2 of you? When did it start?”

Wu Zeqing smiled, ”Make a guess yourself.”

”How old is he even?” Xin Ya asked curiously.

Wu Zeqing replied, ”Twenty something.”

Xin Ya said, ”That young? Sis Wu, are you robbing the cradle?”

Wu Zeqing laughed, ”You've always been this way. Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth.”

Xin Ya went on, ”I'm really curious about how you've suddenly brought one of these out of nowhere after being single for so many years. I thought you'd just grow old and die alone, so I'm still getting used to this. He won't even show his face, at least let me see what he looks like.” As she said that, she took another glance at Zhang Ye's face.

”There's too many people around and even reporters. It's not convenient.” Wu Zeqing smiled and said, ”When there's no one around, then he'll show you.”

Xin Ya wondered, ”So what if there's a lot of people around? It's not as if you're some big time celebrity. Who would care about you? As if a single middle-aged woman like you would be afraid of some scandal?”

Zhang Ye rolled his eyes thinking, who was she to make such a comment? Middle aged woman?

Wu Zeqing shook her head and laughed, ”You're only about a year younger than me, how could you say that about me? Hur hur, your mouth has always been harsh since we were young.” She looked back to Zhang Ye and said, ”You two should have a face-off one of these days since the both of you can speak so well.” And she turned back to face Xin Ya, ”But I doubt that mouth of yours would be able to fend off Little Zhang.”

Zhang Ye did not say anything and kept quiet.

But Xin Ya was amused, ”What do you mean by that? Someone dares to challenge me to an argument? I might be in the field of Mathematics, but I've never ever lost an argument before. Looking at your friend, he seems rather introverted. I can't see how he can argue with me.” She was rather headstrong too and did not seem convinced by Wu Zeqing's claims.

Zhang Ye laughed a little and threw his hands back, ”Old Wu's praising me too much.”

When it comes to arguing? How could Zhang Ye possibly lose to her? Because that mouth of his was what earned him his keep! He was an expert and a professional at such things. If this had been in the past, in any other situation and against anyone other than her, Zhang Ye would surely have started a dispute with them, but today, he was being very humble and low key.

Zhang Ye was being extremely gentlemanly today, acting with grace and self-restraint. He knew very well that since he was young, he had never behaved as decently as he was now. Right now, he was left with no choice as Old Wu was standing beside him. Even if he wanted to, Zhang Ye just couldn't be his usual c.o.c.ky self because he had wanted to put up his best behavior for her. For him to have so much self control, he felt that this must have been the power of true love. He had never met anyone like this since he was born, and was even disobedient to his parents, but Old Wu was able to make him want to put on his best behavior. It was just like when Sun Wukong met Buddha, or when a layman met an expert. Old Wu was like a gentle sea which Zhang Ye had fallen into and no matter how hard he swam, he just could not get out of it.

Xin Ya asked, ”What do you do?”

Wu Zeqing answered on his behalf, ”A teacher at my school.”

”Oh, from Peking University too?” Xin Ya was getting even more curious, ”Which major?”

It was Zhang Ye who answered this time, ”I teach in the Chinese department.”

Xin Ya laughed, ”Our professions are natural jinxes to each other.”

The Mathematics and Chinese departments, were indeed like the Southern Sky and Northern Sea. They were worlds apart.

After exchanging a few lines, Xin Ya suddenly discovered something and stared curiously at the Yangzhi White Jade bracelet on Zhang Ye's wrist, ”Huh? Old Wu, my Sis Wu, you've even given away that bracelet that your dad left for you more than 10 years ago? Aiyo, you're really serious about it this time, aren't you?”

Wu Zeqing said annoyingly, ”Don't say it out so loudly, you're being an announcer now?”

”That's because I'm so surprised, that's why.” Xin Ya said sourly, ”When I told you that I liked that bracelet while we were still at university, you did not give it to me no matter how much I begged. When I asked you to lend it to me for a couple of days, you even kept nagging at me to take good care of it, but look at where it is now, you've given it away just like that?”

Wu Zeqing hugged her coat tighter and laughed a little, ”It's just a simple accessory, but don't you go around telling anyone about it. Keep it a secret, alright?”

”Alright, alright. Do you think I'm stupid?” Xin Ya continued to ask, ”So what did he give you as a token of his love? Quickly show it to me.”

Wu Zeqing was about to say something.

But Zhang Ye knew that Old Wu would try to speak up for him and explain the situation. He did not feel that this was necessary and thus honestly, while embarra.s.singly, said, ”I've not had the chance to gift her something yet. I'm still thinking about it, do you have any suggestions?”

Xin Ya laughed and said, ”Sis Wu likes things like jade or similar stuff like it. All women like stuff like that.”

Wu Zeqing laughed while shaking her head, ”I don't like things like that anymore.”

Xin Ya glanced at her with despise, ”Don't act like you don't.”

Zhang Ye could understand that Old Wu must've have known that he did not have any money left and so denied that suggestion on purpose. She was probably afraid of causing him to feel too much pressure, otherwise why would she have suggested that she just wanted a little craft art as a gift when he asked her? Old Wu was an especially caring woman deep down and this was exactly the reason why Zhang Ye liked her so much. A famous calligraphy or a painting piece? Indeed, Old Wu liked those things very much, but those were not suitable as love tokens. Xin Ya's suggestion had given Zhang Ye an idea. Jade? Hmm, jade? Or diamonds maybe? Yes, he definitely had to get something along these lines for Old Wu. She had already given him her treasured Yangzhi White Jade bracelet, so if Zhang Ye did not give her something important to match the favor, it would not feel right!

The three of them started chatting.

At first, Zhang Ye and Xin Ya were still a little unfamiliar with each other, so they did not talk much. But very quickly, they opened up and then after that, there were others who joined them as well.

A woman walked up to them, ”Hey, aren’t you President Wu?”

Wu Zeqing took off her sungla.s.ses, ”Director Chen?”

Xin Ya clearly knew her as well, ”Director Chen is here too?”

”Professor Xin, aren't you the deputy leader for your team? What are you doing out here?” said someone from the Mathematics a.s.sociation who had just walked over, ”Isn't the compet.i.tion almost done?”

Xin Ya looked at her watch, ”It should be done anytime soon.”

That middle-aged man from the Mathematics a.s.sociation said, ”President Wu is here to support our partic.i.p.ants today too?”

Wu Zeqing laughed, ”I was just here by coincidence.”

A  thirty-something year old mathematician, wearing sungla.s.ses, sporting a crew-cut and rigid looking man followed along behind. He did not even look at a beauty like Wu Zeqing and started speaking to Xin Ya, “Professor Xin, I was helping a group of students with a question about function simplification which I would like to discuss about with you. I'd like to seek your advice later.”