On the first Wednesday of February, a bright silver flight landed at Paris International Airport.
On the plane, a kind-looking old man and a handsome young man were exchanging pleasantries.
"Academician Lu, please."
"No way, you go first."
Under normal circumstances, Lu Zhou wouldn't refuse. However, when he thought about the level of the people outside, he subconsciously shivered.
No, not shivering.
I'm just not good at this kind of thing.
The old man looked at Lu Zhou's cautious look and laughed.
"If we continue to be so polite, the people outside will start to get anxious."
Seeing how the old man had no intention of backing down, Lu Zhou had no choice but to give up and continue to walk forward.
Honestly speaking, Lu Zhou didn't expect Director Li to help arrange a flight for him. He just wanted to see if he could get on a diplomatic flight.
However, he didn't expect Director Li to arrange this flight for him.
The old man who was exchanging pleasantries with him was none other than the one who often "wrote" to him.
Apparently, this visit was for the completion of the nuclear fusion power station in Cadarache and the cooperation with the Silk Road.
Because it happened to be early February, the president learned that Lu Zhou was planning to go to France, so he "conveniently" brought Lu Zhou along.
Along the way, the two talked about mathematics and physics, then about chips, nuclear engineering, and aerospace.
Lu Zhou originally planned to close his eyes and sleep the entire time, but the old man kept asking him questions. Lu Zhou couldn't help but answer out of politeness. In the end, he couldn't stop talking.
Fortunately, he took a nap four hours before getting off the plane. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't be able to open his eyes.
Just as he was about to go down the gangway, someone suddenly stopped him.
"Sir, please wait a second."
The flight attendant walked next to Lu Zhou and reached out her hand to help him fix his collar. She then had a smile on her face.
"That's a lot more handsome."
"… Thank you."
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt like the flight attendant was looking at him a bit unnatural.
It was as if a carnivore had seen a big piece of fat meat.
Although he was somewhat embarrassed, Lu Zhou couldn't help but feel proud for a few seconds.
Sigh, maybe this is the trouble of being too handsome.
As expected, the lineup outside the airport was unusually grand. A red carpet was laid at the bottom of the gangway, and on both sides stood the concierge staff in suits.
In addition to the Ambassador and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, even the President was here.
"Welcome to France, Academician Lu Zhou." A tall man in a suit came forward and extended his right hand enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you."
Shaking the president's hand, Lu Zhou replied politely.
"Thank you, nice to meet you too."
With a sunny smile on his face, the man continued.
"I've always heard people talk about you. In my impression, scholars who can achieve such achievements are mostly old men with white beards. I didn't expect you to be younger than I thought."
Lu Zhou smiled modestly.
"You're flattering me."
After all, this was a diplomatic occasion. After exchanging a few friendly words with Lu Zhou, the president didn't continue to stay on his side. He quickly focused on the old man walking down the gangway.
Lu Zhou, who was let go, was finally relieved. He felt the pressure on his shoulders lightened a lot.
It wasn't that he had stage fright.
Being able to present reports at international forums and major summits, he had seen all kinds of big scenes. Even if there were twice as many people here, he wouldn't feel anything.
However, the problem was that standing here, he not only represented himself, but he also represented the collective of China researchers and even the national image of China.
With so much pressure on his shoulders, even if he wanted to appear relaxed, it was difficult to really relax …
…
In addition to the grand airport welcome ceremony, there was also a state-level banquet waiting for them in the evening.
This state banquet was held in the presidential palace and was managed by the mysterious French presidential kitchen.
Before attending the banquet, Lu Zhou was actually quite looking forward to it. However, when the dishes were actually served, he felt like it was no different from the French restaurants he had eaten before.
At least from his point of view, the biggest difference was probably that each dish was a little more exquisite, and that was all.
The only thing that left a deep impression on him was the French roasted snails.
As for why it left a deep impression, it wasn't because it was delicious, but he didn't expect to see it here …
Of course, objectively speaking, the taste was quite good.
After all, if it wasn't delicious, they wouldn't have brought it here.
In short, the entire banquet was carried out in a relaxed atmosphere.
It seemed like the French knew that Lu Zhou didn't particularly like to discuss political views with people, so they arranged for an academician from the French Academy of Sciences to communicate with him.
The banquet came to an end. Before returning to the hotel, a French Foreign Ministry official found him and politely spoke to him.
"I heard that Academician Lu plans to visit Mr. Grothendieck's former residence?"
Lu Zhou nodded and spoke with a smile.
"I do plan to do so. Although it's a pity that I didn't get to see the old man, strictly speaking, he is my ancestor."
"Professor Grothendieck is indeed a respected scholar. Whether it is his attitude toward war or his pursuit of truth, he is respected by countless French people." The French official smiled and continued in a friendly tone, "If you need it, we will arrange a special car and special security personnel for you. As long as you are in France, you can go anywhere you want. "
Lu Zhou nodded and spoke cheerfully.
"Thank you very much."
At night.
After a whole day of traveling, he finally arrived at the hotel where he was staying.
As soon as he returned to his room, Lu Zhou took a quick shower. He then couldn't wait to lie down on the bed. He didn't want to move at all.
Before he fell asleep, he picked up his phone and looked at the news for a while.
Unsurprisingly, he saw a photo of himself shaking hands with the French president.
Lu Zhou couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
It seemed like he was the center of all the big news.
The popularity of the Z particle hadn't subsided yet, and people were still guessing if he could win this year's Nobel Prize in Physics. A few days later, he appeared on China's diplomatic visit to France.
Lu Zhou was about to throw his phone on the bedside table and go to sleep when a message suddenly popped up on the screen.
[Are you in Paris?]
When Lu Zhou saw this message, he paused for a second. He reached out and opened Facebook, which he rarely used. The people he added were mainly friends he met when he was studying and working at Princeton. However, even if he added them, they rarely chatted. They usually communicated via email.
What surprised him even more was that the message was actually from Molina.
Her last message was "Happy New Year" from last year.
She didn't even send it this year.
Lu Zhou hesitated for a second before he typed a reply.
[Yeah, what's up?]
Molina: [Come out and drink with me.]
Lu Zhou: "…"
What's wrong with her?
But then again, she's also in France.
Since when did Princeton holidays become so long?
Lu Zhou didn't say anything. He silently raised his phone and took a photo outside the window.
After a while, he received a message.
Molina: [What do you mean?]
Lu Zhou: [Do you think it's appropriate for me to sneak out of a place like this?]
Reporters couldn't enter the hotel.
However, it was different outside the hotel.
Lu Zhou sneaked out of the hotel in the middle of the night and went to a bar with a beautiful lady.
Even though he and Molina were just friends, and most of their conversations were in the academic field, no one would believe him even if he explained it like that.
Molina: "…"
Lu Zhou sighed. He didn't want to hurt his friend's feelings, so he typed a message and sent it over.
[Why don't you come over.]
Molina: [Send the location.]
Lu Zhou didn't think much about it and sent the location over.
Paris was huge, and the traffic wasn't good. She probably wouldn't be interested in coming.
Drinking was a hobby in itself. No one would be interested in riding a car for more than ten kilometers just to have a few drinks.
However, after he sent the location, he didn't receive a reply.
Lu Zhou was stunned.
The f * ck?
She's not actually here, right?
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