My IQ has been increasing year by year.

The second period in the morning.

math.

Chen Zhuo sat in the specially made soft chair in the middle of the first row.

Today's math class was about absolute value and opposite numbers.

For Chen Zhuo, this couldn't even be called knowledge; it was simply common sense.

It's like someone is on a stage teaching you how to breathe or how to blink.

boring.

Extremely boring.

Chen Zhuo did not listen to the lecture.

He was calculating the book "Demidovich" to himself down there.

On the platform, Old Zhao was writing on the blackboard.

|-5|=5

|3|=3

The chalk tapped on the blackboard, making a "tap tap tap" sound.

Old Zhao usually speaks very slowly and in great detail, afraid that the kids below won't understand.

However, there's something off about Lao Zhao today.

The students sitting in the front row quickly noticed the anomaly.

When Lao Zhao usually teaches, he makes sure everyone is included, and his eyes will wander across the entire class.

But today.

Old Zhao's eyes were fixed on the center of the first row, as if drawn by a magnet.

That look in his eyes...

How to describe it?

It's a bit greenish.

It's like an old wolf that's been starving for three days, eyeing a plump little lamb.

Kindness tinged with fanaticism, and fanaticism tinged with ferocity.

Chen Zhuo sensed it.

Chen Zhuo couldn't ignore that feeling of being constantly on edge.

He looked up from his book, adjusted his glasses, and instead gave Chen Zhuo a smile.

That smile sent chills down Chen Zhuo's spine.

A smile that says, "You can't escape now."

Chen Zhuo suddenly hallucinated Jack's smile from "The Shining".

Did you get caught secretly eating snacks?

It was hidden quite well; it wasn't exposed at all.

Did they find out I skipped class yesterday?

That's not right either, those were notes approved by Old Zhou.

Chen Zhuo was a little confused.

However, he was an idealist.

Since we don't know the situation, we should just wait and see.

He nodded to Old Zhao, revealing a well-behaved smile befitting a nine-year-old child.

Then he lowered his head and continued reading his book, *Demidovich*.

Looking at Chen Zhuo's "well-behaved" appearance, Old Zhao's anger intensified.

Installed.

Keep pretending.

Yesterday you were already using calculus to calculate friction, and today you're still acting like a kid?

Row.

After class, we'll settle all our scores, old and new.

"Ring ring"

The bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

Old Zhao accurately tossed the chalk stub into the chalk box and patted the dust off his hands.

"get out of class dismissed."

The whole class was just about to get up.

Old Zhao added another sentence:

"Chen Zhuo, come to my office."

The whole class fell silent instantly, and dozens of sympathetic eyes were cast toward the figure sitting in front.

Being called to the teacher's office for a private talk is usually not good news.

Chen Zhuo closed the book expressionlessly.

He wasn't flustered.

Chen Zhuo could vaguely sense that Lao Zhao's feelings towards him were not anger.

Rather, it's a kind of... urgency?

Chen Zhuo slowly followed behind Lao Zhao and entered Lao Zhao's small office, which belonged exclusively to the grade group.

Old Zhao walked in, plopped down in a chair, and closed the door behind him.

"Click".

The sound of the door lock clicking shut was exceptionally clear in the quiet space.

"sit."

Old Zhao pointed to the chair opposite him.

Chen Zhuo sat down obediently, placing his hands on his knees, maintaining a proper posture.

"Teacher Zhao, you wanted to see me?"

Old Zhao didn't say anything.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip to moisten his throat, which had become dry from lecturing.

Then, his gaze passed over the lenses, scanning Chen Zhuo like an X-ray.

"I heard Old Zhou is giving you special treatment?"

Old Zhao's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Chen Zhuo's heart stirred.

As expected, it was because of this.

"Um"

Chen Zhuo nodded honestly.

"Professor Zhou gave me a book to read in the lab."

"snort."

Old Zhao sneered and slammed the teacup heavily onto the table.

"Didn't that old man also tell you that physics is the truth that explains the world? The source of everything?"

Chen Zhu blinked.

It seems that Lao Zhou might have said something like that?

"That's bullshit!"

Old Zhao suddenly swore, leaned forward, and his slightly weathered face was full of seriousness.

"Chen Zhuo, you are a smart child. You should know that there is only one thing in this world that is absolute."

Old Zhao stretched out a finger and pointed to the sky.

"That's mathematics."

"Physics? What's that?"

Old Zhao looked disdainful.

"That's an empirical discipline."

"That's an approximation obtained by conducting experiments, gathering data, and making minor adjustments."

"Today Newton is right, tomorrow Einstein comes out and Newton has to be revised, and the day after tomorrow some other person comes out and Einstein has to be revised too."

"Physics is flesh and blood; it looks full and interesting. It can build rockets and atomic bombs."

"but!"

Old Zhao's voice suddenly rose.

"Without the framework of mathematics, physics is just a pile of rotten flesh! A lump of mud that can't be plastered on a wall!"

"Who invented that calculus you're using, that differential equation? A mathematician!"

"Physicists are merely using our tools to work for our truth!"

These words were truly thought-provoking and resounding.

Chen Zhuo listened, completely stunned.

Of course he knows this principle.

But he didn't expect that Lao Zhao, who usually seemed so serious and rigid, would be so aggressive when he started spouting physics.

This isn't a debate between academic disciplines; it's a battle of beliefs.

"Teacher..." Chen Zhuo began timidly, "I think physics is quite interesting..."

"What a load of rubbish!"

Old Zhao waved his hand, interrupting him.

"That's because you haven't seen real mathematics yet."

Old Zhao opened the drawer.

He pulled out the yellowed exam paper from 1995 and slapped it in front of Chen Zhuo.

"Old Zhao asked you to calculate the rocket? To get those approximate numbers?"

"Tacky!"

"That's what engineers do."

Old Zhao pointed to the last, most challenging question on the exam paper.

"Take a look at this."

"This is number theory, the jewel in the crown of mathematics, the language God used when creating the universe!"

Chen Zhuo looked down.

There is only one line of text.

(Tsk, does anyone know how to input mathematical symbols here? By the way, this question is actually quite interesting.)

There are no complicated graphics.

There is no lengthy background description.

It's just pure numbers, pure logic.

"This question."

Old Zhao stared intently at Chen Zhuo.

"The kids in the ninth grade training camp thought about it for a week, but none of them could come up with it."

"Don't you like tough guys?"

"The hardest bone."

"Now, right here, solve it for me."

Old Zhao took a fountain pen from the pen holder and handed it to Chen Zhuo.

"If you can't solve it, you'll just have to obediently play in the mud with Lao Zhou from now on, and then I'll give up."

"But what if we can solve it...."

Old Zhao paused for a moment, then threw out the bait.

"I'll show you what real privilege is."