Genius Playground

WHOOSH!

Hearing this name, Jiang Ran shot up from his chair.

’Well, I’ll be damned.’

’Quantum Tunneling.’

’The main culprit behind Teacher Zhang Yang’s imprisonment has appeared!’

’I thought Zhang Yang wouldn’t start researching this arch-culprit until after this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics was announced.’

’I never expected...’

’The shackles of fate were already starting to bind him this early.’

”No, no, no.”

Jiang Ran waved his hands frantically.

”This one’s a no-go, Teacher Zhang. I’m not researching that.”

”Huh?”

Zhang Yang was very surprised. His star pupil had clearly agreed so readily, so why was his reaction so strong after hearing the project’s name?

”I just knew you were knowledgeable and well-read. You must know something about Quantum Tunneling!”

’Thinking this, the look Zhang Yang gave Jiang Ran held a hint more approval.’

”Then you must know this theory has great potential! To be honest, I personally don’t understand why, after all these years, the Nobel Prize in Physics hasn’t been awarded to it yet.”

”Believe me, Jiang Ran, this research will undoubtedly shine in the coming years. As my first disciple, I would never do you any harm!”

”No, no, no.”

Jiang Ran’s attitude was firm.

”Teacher Zhang, absolutely not. That thing has no future. Its prospects are completely bleak!”

”I have zero interest in the quantum field. I absolutely won’t touch it. And I advise you not to research it either. It’s... how should I put it? I feel like quantum mechanics is too ’out there’. It’s easy to be [led astray].”

’Although Jiang Ran knew that Zhang Yang wouldn’t stop his research just because of a few words of discouragement from him.’

’But he had to try. He’d take any chance he could get to persuade him.’

”Alright, alright.”

Zhang Yang waved his hand dismissively, not seeming to mind.

”Since you don’t like quantum-related topics, let’s switch to something else. Let me think... hmm... how about the field of sterile neutrinos?”

Jiang Ran was baffled.

’What the heck is that?’

’I don’t even understand the name.’

”Not interested.”

He shook his head, using his disinterest to mask his ignorance.

”You don’t like micro-level stuff, is that it?”

Zhang Yang still treated Jiang Ran with complete respect.

”Alright then, hmm... how about the ’assembly theory’ proposed by Lee Cronin... although I’m not a fan of that translation. Are you interested in that?”

’Fuck.’

Jiang Ran was horrified.

’This time I don’t even recognize the name!’

’Then, of course, my answer is still...’

”Not interested,” he said, feigning composure.

”...”

Teacher Zhang Yang’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious.

He slowly sat up straight, calming his breath.

’Excellent.’

’He truly is the peerless genius Teacher Gao Yan praised so highly.’

’Truly one of a kind!’

’Truly proud and ambitious!’

’Truly arrogant in his talent!’

’I’ve really hit the jackpot.’

’Zhang Yang suddenly felt a pang of regret. He felt his performance just now was too weak; it must have been a huge disappointment to his top disciple.’

’Seriously.’

’The young man before me is a super genius that even Teacher Gao admires with the utmost respect...’

’How could I propose such simple topics?’

’Even if they were already some of the top-tier problems in the world of physics.’

’But a super genius is a super genius. How could he possibly be interested in these ’rejects’?’

’A miscalculation, a miscalculation.’

Zhang Yang’s palms began to sweat.

This was also his first time supervising a graduate student, and to start with a peerless prodigy like this... the pressure he felt was indeed considerable.

On one hand, he was afraid he couldn’t handle Jiang Ran; on the other, he wanted to maintain his authority as an advisor.

’No.’

’I have to bring out the big guns.’

’Otherwise... Jiang Ran will definitely look down on me, his ’new advisor’.’

”Alright.”

He nodded.

”I understand. These topics are a bit lacking in challenge for you, truly uninteresting. Then let me offer a few more that are more challenging, more... groundbreaking...”

A few more proposals for extremely difficult research topics followed.

However, without exception, Jiang Ran would always shake his head and refuse without a moment’s hesitation:

”Not interested.”

Zhang Yang wiped his forehead.

”Well, what about the field of mathematics? Teacher Gao subtly mentioned to me that your talent for math is exceptionally high. Let me give you a few options in mathematics...”

A few more world-class problems were proposed.

He even threw out a problem on par with Goldbach’s Conjecture, but Jiang Ran still wore that same sour expression.

”Not interested.”

”Not interested” x2

”Not interested” x3

...

Zhang Yang frowned.

He finally realized that Jiang Ran was toying with him.

Because the only thing he would say was ”Not interested,” yet he never once offered his own opinion!

Normal communication should be a two-way street.

’If you’re not interested in what I’m suggesting, you could at least share your own views, ideas, or inclinations.’

’What’s with this constant rejection and not saying anything else?’

’Is this some kind of new-student power play, trying to put his new advisor in his place right off the bat?’

”Then you say it yourself!”

Zhang Yang slammed the table.

”You tell me! What field do you want to research!”

”I haven’t decided yet.”

Jiang Ran put his hands together, pleading.

”Teacher Zhang, you’re asking me to decide on the spot, and I really can’t think of anything right now. There’s still plenty of time anyway. Can’t you let me go back and think it over properly, and give you an answer after summer break starts?”

”No!”

Zhang Yang was getting genuinely angry.

’Hasn’t decided yet?’

’That’s a complete cop-out!’

’If he really hadn’t thought about it, why would he reject every single one of my proposed topics, and so quickly, without a second thought?’

’This proves that Jiang Ran must already have an idea, a goal in mind!’

”You don’t have to be too detailed, but you have to at least give me a general direction today! So I have some idea of what to expect!”

This was the first ”sparring session” between master and first disciple, and Zhang Yang was determined not to yield an inch.

”If you were just an ordinary student, I wouldn’t push you this hard. But you’re a genius. I can’t hold you to the standards of an ordinary student. Your research must be held to a higher standard!”