Chapter 184: Am I Crazy, or Is the World Crazy?!

"What a coincidence—we ran into each other here too!" Ran Na warmly greeted Xu Xu Qingzhou.

Xu Xu Qingzhou was also surprised. "Are you here just for sightseeing?"

"Yes, we just arrived last night and are heading to St. Mary's Church now." As she spoke, Ran Na studied Xu Xu Qingzhou and thought he looked even more disheveled than when she'd seen him on the plane.

Xu Xu Qingzhou nodded, pointing ahead. "Walk straight down this street, turn left at the fourth intersection onto Trinity Street, then head north for a kilometer—you'll see St. Mary's Church."

"Wow, you know this place so well." Ran Na sighed, then feigned annoyance as she glanced at the thick stack of papers in his hand. "Aren't you supposed to be saying you're not an international student?"

He knew the routes and carried a pile of manuscripts—she assumed he was a local student.

Sun Sun Qingli internally grumbled: Of course—he's just another show-off. If he's here to study at Jianqiao, just say so. Why pretend he's here for "something else"? He shook his head. "No, I'm here to attend a symposium."

What kind of xianxia opening is this?

Read! {

But he had no intention of exposing him now—didn't want Ran Na thinking he was petty. He'd wait until later to show her the official notice of the Jianqiao symposium, so she could see this man's true face.

Xu Xu Qingzhou shook his head. "Not nervous."

"Good, thank you." Xu Xu Qingzhou nodded.

Sun Sun Qingli's expression was equally stunned—he found the whole situation bizarre. Why was this foreigner so enthusiastic toward this show-off? One was Professor Maynard, and now this Bazell guy was from Princeton?

Ran Na and Sun Sun Qingli stared at the two foreigners who appeared, utterly baffled. If several big names were greeting each other, it wouldn't be strange—but two middle-aged men plus a twenty-year-old boy? The visual impact was too jarring to accept.

Xu Xu Qingzhou smiled modestly.

Xu Xu Qingzhou extended his hand. "Professor Bazell, hello."

Academician Xu was waiting ahead—he and Zhao Zheng had gone to London for a meeting yesterday, but worried about Xu Xu Qingzhou, they rushed back this morning.

Professor Maynard joked, then added with deep admiration: "God is truly unfair. Some people are born for research—Xu, you're one of them."

Prover of the Cramér Conjecture—Xu Xu Qingzhou.

"Thank you for the compliment. I'm just deeply interested in these topics and work hard at them—there's still so much to learn and improve."

Professor Bazell: "Mr. Xu, I can hardly wait to hear your presentation today."

!.

Jianqiao is supposed to be prestigious—why invite a kid under twenty to give a talk?

Professor Bazell nodded. "Steven even invited Mr. Xu to pursue a degree at Princeton. Unfortunately, Mr. Xu declined."

Xu Xu Qingzhou nodded, took two steps, then seemed to remember something. He turned to Ran Na. "By the way, my name is Xu Xu Qingzhou."

"Goodbye."

Before Xu Xu Qingzhou could speak, he noticed Professor Maynard and another middle-aged man approaching.

"Little Xu, first time at a symposium like this—aren't you nervous?"

Before coming, he'd seen the news: Jianqiao was hosting a major mathematics symposium, and everyone attending was top-tier.

Professor Bazell looked at Xu Xu Qingzhou. "I have an old friend who holds your paper 'A Classical Description of Einstein Coefficients in Quantum Optics' in the highest regard. I've had the honor of reading it—it's brilliant." "Is your friend Mr. Steven?" Professor Maynard asked.

Bad news: this guy was invited by Jianqiao to give a talk! Meanwhile, Xu Xu Qingzhou entered the lecture hall and saw it was nearly full. He said: "Thank you—I won't let you down."

"Symposium?" Ran Na didn't understand such things—she was more interested in his name. "We've met twice now—it's fate. But I still don't know your name."

"Good morning, Xu." Professor Maynard greeted Ran Na and Sun Sun Qingli, then smiled. "Let me introduce you—this is Professor Bazell from Princeton."

Ran Na waved blankly.

Seeing Xu Xu Qingzhou seemed calm, Academician Xu relaxed. "That's a good mindset. Treat this like an ordinary exchange."

"I know."

"Hello, Mr. Xu." Professor Bazell smiled and shook Xu Xu Qingzhou's hand.

At that moment, a staff member approached. "Mr. Xu, all equipment for your presentation is ready."

Wait—this guy's presentation? Ran Na froze, her mind unable to process it. Her English was decent—she'd clearly heard the three men's conversation.

Good news: this guy wasn't a Jianqiao international student.

Xu Xu Qingzhou turned to the utterly stunned Ran Na and Sun Sun Qingli. "Sorry, I have to give a presentation. Goodbye."

Xu Xu Qingzhou shrugged. "Sorry, traveling abroad wasn't in my plans."

Seeing the time had come, Professor Maynard and the other man bid Xu Xu Qingzhou farewell and left without delay.

At this moment, he even wondered if he was still asleep—that everything happening was an illusion.

With that, he strode toward the lecture hall.

He was giving the presentation—and both professors were here to listen.

"Good morning, Professor Maynard." Xu Xu Qingzhou greeted him.

"Even Mr. Steven was turned down. Maybe I shouldn't feel so down."

Sun Sun Qingli's forehead was lined with black veins. Studying abroad was one thing—but giving a presentation? Brother, you're overdoing it.

What level does he have to be invited to a symposium of this caliber?

Am I crazy—or is the world crazy?!

Seeing Ran Na's excited expression, Sun Sun Qingli walked over curiously. When he saw the webpage about Xu Xu Qingzhou, his pupils contracted—he stood frozen, as if his soul had been drained.

"Xu Xu Qingzhou," Ran Na murmured, feeling the name was familiar. She thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up—it was the name she'd heard recently! She quickly pulled out her phone and searched "Xu Xu Qingzhou." Instantly, dozens of search results appeared with the three characters "Xu Xu Qingzhou."

Meanwhile, Professor Maynard recalled the recent exchange and sighed. "Bazell, Xu isn't just strong in number theory—he's also exceptional in linear algebra and complex function theory."

"Thank you, Academician Xu." Xu Xu Qingzhou bowed in gratitude.

Academician Xu shook his head. He was an honorary professor at Jingda; Xu Xu Qingzhou was essentially his student. Looking after students was only natural.

"Young brother, good luck." Zhao Zheng encouraged Xu Xu Qingzhou.

Xu Xu Qingzhou nodded with a smile, carrying the prepared Q&A materials toward the podium. As the minute hand landed on 6, his first mathematics symposium officially began.

(End of Chapter)