Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, dean's office.
After the cleaning lady watered the spider plants on the windowsill, she wiped the dust off the glass window.
She quickly finished the work, picked up the bucket, and walked out of the office.
Before she left, she looked at Professor Peter Sarnak, who was sitting behind his desk.
Although she didn't know much about academic matters, this was the first time she had seen this old man, who was always very serious, reveal an awkward expression in front of others.
Of course, it was only five or six years ago that he took up the position of Dean …
The white-haired old man pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked at the young man standing in front of his desk. He sighed and spoke.
"At the beginning of this year, someone proposed to include you in the team of tenured researchers at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study. I know this isn't a good time, but … Are you sure you don't want to think about it? "
Every research school at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study had a small, lifelong research team. The scholars that formed this team were the world's top scholars, and they were engaged in the most cutting-edge research in their respective fields.
In academia, the identity of a tenured researcher at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study not only meant research funding and a guaranteed standard of living, but it also meant the highest honor.
Currently, there were only ten tenured researchers in the mathematics department. Lu Zhou's supervisor, Professor Pierre Deligné, was one of them. If he continued to stay here, he would become the eleventh one in two or three years, if he was fast, perhaps this year, and if he was slow, he would become the eleventh one.
However …
Lu Zhou shook his head and spoke.
"I've been thinking about it for half a year."
Before he won the Nobel Prize, the resources he could obtain in China were far less than in Princeton. But after winning the Nobel Prize, the resources he could obtain in China were far greater than in Princeton.
It wasn't wrong to say that he was selfish. After all, when he was making multiple-choice questions, he did consider the "best choice" as a starting point.
After hearing Lu Zhou say this, Dean Peter Goddard didn't say anything else. He opened his drawer and took out an application form.
"Really? Since you've already thought about it, I have nothing else to say. To serve the country, to serve the world … This has always been Princeton's motto. I think you made the right choice. "
Peter Goddard gently placed the application form on the desk. As if he had put down a heavy burden, he leaned back in his chair and looked at Lu Zhou.
"In addition to your research position at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, you also have a teaching position at Princeton University … I'm guessing that you're planning to resign as well."
Lu Zhou: "Yes, I'm going to Nassau Hall later."
Dean Goddard smiled and said, "Remember to say hello to Professor Eisgruber for me."
Lu Zhou picked up the application form from the table and nodded.
"I will."
After leaving Goddard's office, Lu Zhou didn't stay at the Institute for Advanced Study for too long. He went straight to Princeton University's Nassau Hall.
Compared to Dean Goddard's reluctance, Principal Eisgrub's reaction was mild, or rather, calm.
After listening to Lu Zhou's intention to resign, he didn't say much. Instead, he took out a form from his drawer.
"… I remember about 20 years ago, I was still the dean of academic affairs. Mr. Faltings found me and told me that he was going back to Germany. I tried to convince him to stay, but now that I think about it, it wasn't necessary. This kind of decision can't be made in a day or two, and it can't be changed with just a few words. "
He pushed his glasses and handed the form to Lu Zhou.
"It's our loss that we can't keep you."
Principal Eisgruber paused for a second and said in a joking tone, "So, in order to make up for our loss, I hope you can at least resign from your position and accept the title of honorary professor."
Lu Zhou took the application form and said, "It would be my honor."
…
It was already dusk when Lu Zhou left Nassau Hall.
He took the two application forms and left. On the way home, Lu Zhou walked very slowly and even took a detour.
This was like a person who was about to go on a long journey and wanted to spend more time in the place where he lived in the past.
After all, he had lived here for so long and experienced so many things. He still had a lot of feelings for Princeton.
When Lu Zhou passed by Lake Carnegie, he was thinking about whether or not to go for a run when he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure sitting on a bench by the lake.
With a smile on his face, he walked to the vending machine, bought a can of sports drink and a can of coffee, and walked in the direction of the lake.
When he approached, Molina, who was wearing a blue sportswear, was wiping the sweat from her face with a towel.
Suddenly, a can of drink appeared in her field of vision.
Molina paused for a second and looked to the side. She saw Lu Zhou standing there.
She raised her eyebrows and took the drink without hesitation. After saying "Thank you", she pulled the tab of the can and took a big gulp.
"You're welcome."
Lu Zhou smiled and sat on the other side of the bench. He opened the can of coffee and slowly took a sip.
Even though he still liked instant coffee, this kind of factory canned frozen coffee had a different flavor.
Molina: "When did you come back?"
"They arrived around noon. I planned on saving some time to come for a run, but it was already dark by the time I finished my business. " Lu Zhou looked at the students running by the lake and the kayaking team training on the lake. He then spoke in a casual tone.
Molina looked at Lu Zhou.
"Speaking of which, you've been away from Princeton for half a year, right?"
"Yeah, time flies by so fast." Lu Zhou looked at the sparkling lake under the sunset and smiled. He said, "Sometimes I feel like I just graduated yesterday, but then I realize I'm already 25 years old."
Molina: "… I think most people just graduate at 25."
Lu Zhou smiled and said, "That makes sense … Speaking of which, what about you? How's the research project going with your supervisor? "
Molina had a smug smile on her face as she said, "I've already graduated, and I'm now a lecturer at Princeton."
Lu Zhou looked at her with surprise and said, "You've already graduated? Congratulations … Even though I wanted to help you hold a party to celebrate your new colleague, I've already resigned. "
"Oh yeah?"
Molina didn't look surprised, as if she had already guessed it.
She looked at the can of drink in her hand and said, "So this can of drink is to repay the favor?"
"Kind of. Although one can of drink might not be enough, "said Lu Zhou as he patted the dust off his pants. He stood up from the bench and smiled at her. He said," Next time you come to China, I'll buy you a drink. "
Molina joked, "What if I don't get the chance?"
"Then you'll have to wait until you meet at an academic conference."
Usually, when they ran into each other, the conversation between the two was basically like this.
It started without any warning and ended without any warning.
Molina looked at Lu Zhou's back and didn't say anything. She picked up a stone and threw it into the lake.
Other than mathematics, she didn't have any other interests. She was only friends with Lu Zhou.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
