Evan Lin followed them into the elevator. It stopped at the twenty-second floor.
"I live on the twenty-second floor. The next floor up is Sunwave Bluebay's leisure level—your two students can go up and check it out later if they want."
Professor Gordon Gu stepped out of the elevator, walked to a room, and opened the door: "Come on in."
Inside, the suite was spacious—a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-bath layout. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you could see the city lights flickering below.
A thick wool rug covered the floor, soft and springy underfoot.
"Old Liu, I really have to say—you’re too stubborn for your own good. Why keep making things hard on yourself? If you’d just come to Beijing with me and taken a professor job, wouldn’t life be easier?" Professor Gu said, heading into the room to brew a pot of tea.
"Let’s not talk about that. You know the real reason I came this time," Old Man Liu shook his head.
"I know, I know. Well, you two, come here for a moment." Professor Gu nodded and called over Evan Lin and Rachel Liu.
Then Professor Gu took out a stack of draft paper and two pens from his bag. He sat down at the table, thought for a moment, and quickly wrote out three problems.
"I still don’t know how good your students’ math really is. Try these three problems first." Professor Gu handed the sheets to Evan Lin and Rachel Liu.
Evan Lin took the problems and quickly scanned them.
Honestly, I don’t know exactly what the Olympiad problems will look like. These three are just to test your math skills. If you can solve at least two, I’ll talk with you more about Olympiad strategies." Professor Gu checked the time. "You have ninety minutes."
Let them work on the problems. We two old guys haven’t played chess together in ages—I’ve got the board set up.
Professor Gu grinned, rubbing his hands together, and took a Chinese chess set out of the cabinet.
You still haven’t gotten over losing to me last time, huh? Old Man Liu chuckled when he saw the chess set.
Of course not! Ever since I lost to you, I’ve barely been able to eat. This time, I’m going to totally wipe the floor with you! Professor Gu declared confidently.
The two sat down and started playing.
Evan Lin picked up his pen and looked at the three problems in front of him.
The first problem involved trigonometric functions, the second was about constructing sequences, and the third combined inequalities, conic sections, and probability.
The three problems ranged from easy to hard.
Evan Lin didn’t hesitate. After a brief moment of thought, he picked up his pen and started working on the draft paper.
Across from Evan, Rachel Liu glanced at him.
All three problems were tough. Seeing Evan’s focused expression as he solved them, Rachel couldn’t help but admit she was a bit surprised.
Back at school, Evan had scored high on that set of math problems, earning a spot in the Olympiad. This had always been a mystery to Rachel.
She couldn’t imagine how Evan’s math scores had suddenly shot up, making him stand out from the crowd. And now, Old Man Liu had brought him to meet Professor Gu, turning him into a dark horse.
But soon, Rachel pushed away those distracting thoughts and buried herself in solving the problems.
Meanwhile, Professor Gu and Old Man Liu were drinking tea and playing chess, locked in a fierce battle.
Professor Gu glanced at the two students working on their problems, lowered his voice, and looked at the chessboard: “You’ve never brought students to see me before. Why break precedent this time?”
It’s rare to find truly promising students. If I can help, I want to. I’ve spent my whole life teaching, and now, as I approach retirement, I realize something’s missing." Old Man Liu picked up a knight and leaped over to the cannon.
It really is rare—kids good enough to earn your praise. If they’re that talented, why not hand them over to me? I’ve got pull at Huaqing’s math department. I can lower the admission scores for them, or after the provincial Olympiad, I’ll push them to win a national medal and admit them directly." Professor Gu took a rook and captured a pawn.
That depends on whether they’re willing. It’s their path to choose—I can only advise." Old Man Liu shook his head.
After speaking, Old Man Liu’s knight advanced, landing directly in front of the opposing general.
Check, and threatening the rook.
Professor Gu’s expression grew serious. “No, promising students deserve special treatment. The question is whether they’re truly promising or not. In math, hard work sets the lower limit of achievement; talent determines the ceiling.”
Your move. Don’t think that just because you look so serious, I’ll let you take it back. Hurry up, stop wasting time." Old Man Liu frowned, annoyed.
Sigh, you’re so heartless. After all these years of friendship, you won’t even let me take back a move." Professor Gu sighed, giving up his rook to protect his general.
Old Man Liu seized the chance and advanced his pawn on the right.
Once a pawn crosses the river, there’s no turning back. I don’t know how much longer I’ll live, so every piece I capture, every game I win, is a bonus." Old Man Liu laughed heartily.
On the other side, Evan Lin put down his pen.
Two minutes after Evan put down his pen, Rachel Liu finished as well.
She let out a breath, looked up, and realized Evan had already stopped answering the questions.
Finished?" Rachel asked, a little surprised.
Yeah." Evan nodded and stood up.
The two brought their answer sheets over to the two old men, who were still battling it out.
Seeing Evan and Rachel approach, Professor Gu waved them off, signaling not to interrupt, and continued his final showdown with Old Man Liu.
The battlefield was fierce.
In the end, Old Man Liu used two pawns to corner Professor Gu’s general in the palace.
Sigh, what a frustrating loss." Professor Gu groaned. If his rook hadn’t died, he might have had a chance, but now, in the midgame, even two pawns couldn’t save him.
Old Man Liu just smiled and said nothing.
Professor Gu looked up at Evan and Rachel, then glanced at the time.
Forty-five minutes? You’re done already?" Professor Gu was stunned.
Seeing Evan and Rachel nod, he finally took their answer sheets and glanced over them.
He first skimmed their answers to the first two problems, then focused on the third.
Professor Gu’s eyes gradually lit up, sometimes thoughtful, and finally filled with approval.