Chapter 10: You Know L'Hôpital's Rule, Right?

Lü Yongchang frowned slightly.

In his memory, he had once lost his temper over this very sound.

After all, during intense research tasks, the rhythmic click-click-click of a ballpoint pen was nothing short of torture!

He turned his head toward the source of the noise.

...

The girl beside him was gripping a pink ballpoint pen, her brow furrowed as she stared at a problem set, unconsciously pressing the pen's button over and over.

A look of resignation flashed in Lü Yongchang's eyes.

He remembered now.

In his past life, it was precisely because of Su Yutong's habit that he had—uncharacteristically—snapped at her during a critical research phase.

After that, she had broken the habit.

But now… clearly, she hadn't corrected it yet.

Lü Yongchang knew full well that if she didn't solve whatever problem was stumping her soon, this clicking would haunt him all day.

Suppressing a sigh, he leaned over slightly and asked in a low voice, "Having trouble with something?"

Su Yutong jolted, her finger freezing mid-click.

When she realized it was Lü Yongchang speaking, a flicker of wariness crossed her eyes.

Was this guy… finally working up the courage to hit on her?

In that instant, she had already mentally prepared three different ways to reject him!

"I mean… are you stuck on a problem?"

Noticing her guarded expression, Lü Yongchang pointed helplessly at her workbook and then at her pen. "That… sound is a bit distracting."

Silence.

The two stared at each other.

Slowly, embarrassment crept onto Su Yutong's face.

A faint blush colored her cheeks as she nodded sheepishly. "Sorry… I didn't mean to bother you. I'll try to stop."

Lü Yongchang exhaled, his tone begrudging. "Just show me the problem."

"Maybe I can help."

"Try to stop"? Yeah, right. He wasn't about to let this derail his research!

Honestly, women were nothing but obstacles to scientific progress!

"Really?!"

Delight lit up Su Yutong's face as she hastily slid the workbook toward him, then stared at him expectantly.

Watching her, Lü Yongchang was suddenly reminded of an image:

A giant hamster, clutching a sunflower seed, eyes wide and hopeful.

He sighed again and looked down at the problem.

A basic limit question.

"You know L'Hôpital's Rule, right? Just apply it—it's straightforward."

He moved to hand the book back.

But he'd overestimated Su Yutong's current skill level.

Taking in her utterly lost expression, Lü Yongchang surrendered.

"Fine. I'll write out the steps."

Grabbing his fountain pen, he swiftly jotted down the solution on a spare sheet of A4 paper and pushed it toward her.

Unlike ballpoint pens, Lü Yongchang preferred fountain pens—he liked the soft scratch-scratch of nib on paper.

"Th-thank you."

Su Yutong accepted the workbook, her voice small.

Her eyes darted between his elegant script and her own messy doodles, a mix of shame and curiosity stirring in her chest.

"Can I ask your name? I'm Su Yutong, applied physics."

Without looking up, Lü Yongchang muttered impatiently, "Lü Yongchang."

That distraction had already cost him five minutes!

See?

Women: the ultimate roadblock to research.

Resolving to ignore her, he turned his attention to another paper:

"Analysis of Factors Influencing Sonoluminescence"

By now, any guilt he'd felt toward Su Yutong had evaporated.

Not that he needed guilt—he had plenty of justifications ready.

Humanity's survival is at stake—no time for romance!

Besides, this Su Yutong wasn't his Su Yutong. She didn't even like him!

Meanwhile, Su Yutong—rebuffed—flushed and hunched over her workbook again.

…

"Ding."

A notification chimed from his phone, interrupting Lü Yongchang's reading.

He glanced at the screen.

A news alert:

[Breaking: China Announces Withdrawal from ITER Project!]

[Shocking Truth Behind China's Exit!]

[Ethics Scandal! How Far Will Researchers Sink?]

Lü Yongchang's stomach dropped.

He remembered now.

This was when China, framed and cornered, had been forced to withdraw from ITER.

The repercussions would haunt them for years.

Because of this, China's mastery of controlled nuclear fusion lagged two years behind the West!

And in the eventual Human Federation, China's voice had been muted—until Lü Yongchang, as Chief Scientist, tipped the scales.

Only then had he learned the real reason for China's withdrawal: a smear campaign.

"Damn it…"

Lü Yongchang's gaze turned icy.

As a Chinese scientist, he refused to let history repeat itself.

So what if they left ITER?

He'd make the world see—China would dictate the future!

Snatching up his papers, he stood abruptly.

He couldn't wait any longer.

He needed to demand answers from Professor Guan about the review!

"Huh? Leaving already?"

Su Yutong's voice, cool and clear, drifted over.

Lü Yongchang nodded curtly and strode off without another word.

"Ugh. So cold!"

Su Yutong glared at his retreating back. "No wonder you're single!"

Then her eyes caught on the A4 paper he'd left behind.

The dense equations and symbols made her jaw drop.

Wait—she'd assumed he was an undergrad like her!

But this… this was graduate-level work!

A spark of fascination ignited in her eyes.

This "Lü Yongchang"… who was he?

....

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