An Expert Is actually By My Side - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: The Second Treasure Chest

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Nobody knew where Professor Li Xuesong went or for what. Up until the end of class, he had not come back.
When the bell rang, the doctoral student, who was halfway through reciting the textbook, swiftly packed up the things on the desk. He left the classroom without staying a moment extra, perfectly depicting the phrase “knock off work right on the dot”.
Cloud Hao also packed up his things, planning to go to the cafeteria to have a meal.
Just then, the girl sitting in the row in front of him suddenly turned her head and said to him in fascination, “Hey, why are you so amazing?”
Her eyes were very distinctive. They were bigger than an average person’s, but the glasses resting on her nose bridge were even bigger. If Cloud Hao remembered correctly, she should be on the class committee and was also from dorm room 201, like the committee’s secretary, Xiao Tongtong.
Cloud Hao asked, “…Uh, isn’t it a very simple question?”
There were so many books stacked on the lectern. Surely not all of them were as blank as Liang Ziyuan’s?
However, just as he was thinking that, Dong Shan rolled her eyes and said in a half-joking tone, “Simple my a*s. You were probably the only one amongst the two classes who could answer it.”
At the same time, she gently prodded Cloud Hao’s arm with the tip of the pen and said with a wicked smile, “Expert, if there’s anything I don’t understand in my future assignments, I’ll have to consult you.”
Cloud Hao replied, “I’ll try my best.”
“Enough. Don’t cause trouble for others.” After packing up her textbooks, Xiao Tongtong rolled her eyes at her roommate. “Did you not hear what the professor just said? His class grade is already secured, and he doesn’t even need to attend classes. But he should help you with your assignments?”
“I am not asking someone to do my homework for me; just seeking help in questions that I can’t solve,” Dong Shantao blinked and said with a hippie smile. She then turned to Cloud Hao. “I will ask you questions that are too difficult for me!”
Although it felt a little troublesome, Cloud Hao still nodded out of interpersonal relationship etiquette. “Alright, I suppose.
“If I know how to do it.”
He didn’t know if he was imagining things, but he felt as if the girl sitting next to both of them was staring at him. However, when he looked over, that person just gave him a small smile, then turned her gaze away without a trace.
If he remembered correctly, her name seemed to be Xu Xiaoruan. She was also from dorm room 201.
Just when Cloud Hao was about to get up and leave, He Ping from the front row walked over to him. He placed both his palms on the table and stared at Cloud Hao feverishly.
“How did you come up with it? That proof by contradiction…”
The twisted expression on He Ping’s face stunned Cloud Hao.
It had been about half a month since he came to this university. Aside from a face-to-face meeting when he first arrived at the dormitory, this was the second time he was speaking to this guy.
According to Zheng Xueqian, this guy was the provincial champion in the National Mathematics Competition. He was a top student who had been directly admitted into the university on recommendation. Earlier, the system gave him the talent label of [Mathematical Genius] and evaluated him to have a hidden potential stat of 9.
In other words…
Although he’s just the provincial champion, based on his current life trajectory, isn’t it very hopeful for him to become a great mathematician that will go down in history?
“Uh, I came across a similar question in a reference book previously?”
“Which book is that?! Can you lend it to me to take a look?”
Under such a fervent gaze with a zealous desire for the truth, Cloud Hao didn’t quite have the heart to refuse him.
However, the book had long since turned into ashes and vanished. Even if he wanted to help him out, he couldn’t.
“…I can’t remember which book it was, but I can still recall some of the reasonings.”
“Please teach me!”
“I can’t teach you since I also learned it from someone else.”
Recalling the gibberish written in the notebook, Cloud Hao coughed lightly and imitated Old Li’s tone as he cooked up some nonsense, “Mathematics is the product of intuition, but our intuition is not always honest. At times like that, we should cast our intuition aside… Think of the problem from another angle. The results may be very different.”
Even though it was just a casual remark on the speaker’s part, the listener read his own meaning into it.
After hearing his “advice”, a look of comprehension appeared on He Ping’s face.
“Mathematics is the product of intuition, but our intuition is not always honest.”
His expression gradually turned solemn. He looked at Cloud Hao in all seriousness and said, “Thank you, I understand.”
Although Cloud Hao didn’t know what he understood, he still forced himself to nod and say, “…Okay, good that you understand.”
He Ping bowed his head in thanks and said nothing more. He then spun around and left.
The committee secretary and study rep watched him leave with confused expressions on their faces, not knowing what to think.
Staring at He Ping’s back view as he left, Cloud Hao heaved a sigh of relief. However, he was only halfway through that sigh when he nearly sucked it back in.
[Achievement unlocked: He Ping (Talent: Mathematical Genius), 1 Hidden Potential stat point redeemed]
[Reward: +1 music attribute point]
What the…
You can actually harvest attribute points without a mission?!
There’s actually a reward for showing off?!
When he saw the light blue notification window in front of him, Cloud Hao was taken aback for a moment. The next instant, he was delighted and could not help but lament in his heart.
Look at the comprehension ability of other people!
What is talent?
This is what talent f*cking is!
Hah, I want to change dorm rooms…
…
Although one attribute point was not much, it was still an attribute point.
After all, the [Proficient] achievement would be unlocked with five attribute points. It would bring about substantial improvement to his own ability, not just a bonus to his learning. Cloud Hao felt delighted and itched to sacrifice his three roommates on the spot.
Cloud Hao found a place with no one around and opened the S-grade treasure chest again. This time, he had learned from his mistakes, though. He didn’t put his hand on his face.
There was a flash of golden light. Then, Cloud Hao’s hands felt heavier. A slightly yellowing aged book landed in his hands.
Is it a math textbook again?
Praying in his heart, Cloud Hao opened the cover page. At the same time, a light blue dialog box with two sentences appeared in his line of sight.
[S-grade Treasure Chest opened. Obtained “Lao She’s Writing Notes” (unpublished version)]
[Subplot: Read the entire book and gain a deep understanding of the contents of the notes]
[Reward: +1~3 Writing attribute points]
Oh boy, there’s actually a range for this subplot reward?
So, it’s dependent on individual perception?
After complaining about the system in his heart, Cloud Hao stuffed the notebook into his shoulder bag. In any case, writing skills were still somewhat helpful in this world, where technology was leading but lagging behind in literature and entertainment.
Be it creating games, writing novels, or scripts, good writing skills were always a plus point. Moreover, Lao She was one of the best masters in the history of modern Chinese literature in his previous life.
The notes by the master himself, even if they were just essays he wrote when idle, Cloud Hao would still be able to learn quite a lot if he studied them carefully.
Cloud Hao then came out from the small empty alley. He was planning to go to the cafeteria to grab some lunch, but he received a phone call.
He looked at the caller ID; it was Lin Jun.
Cloud Hao pressed the answer button and held the phone to his ear.
“Hello?”
“President Hao, is it convenient for you to come down to the company this afternoon?”
Coincidentally, he didn’t have any classes in the afternoon, so it wasn’t a problem. Cloud Hao thought for a while and said, “I’ll come after two o’clock. What’s up?”
“There’s a two-million-yuan megaproject, so I might need to trouble you to sign on it.”
Two million yuan?
When he heard the huge number, Cloud Hao felt his hand, which was holding the phone, tremble. He nearly lost his grip. Gulping, he asked nervously, “What two-million-yuan megaproject? What have you been doing these past few days?”
Lin Jun smiled and said, “Hah, I didn’t really do anything. The person who came to survey and investigate just looked around at the company. Next, the other party came over for a cup of tea and left. They then sent the email the next day.”
“Th-that, that two-million-yuan megaproject…”
“Eh? Don’t you know?” Lin Jun was stunned and continued, “It’s regarding the Dami Corporation. They want to buy the mobile game development authorization for our 2048 project… Uh, isn’t this the megaproject you told me about last time?”
What the heck?
Cloud Hao was shocked silly. He just said it without thinking at the time. He didn’t think that what he said would actually come true.
Cloud Hao was too astonished to speak for a while.
When there was no sign of activity from his boss for a long time, Lin Jun grew a little uneasy, thinking that he had done something wrong. Thus, he said in a small voice, “Are you dissatisfied with the price? Actually, they initially offered one million yuan. I negotiated with them and raised it to two million, but I felt like that’s their limit.
“After all, it’s just a mini-game. I thought that for a development license to sell for two million, it seems to be not too bad? Furthermore, they plan to pre-install it on the phone to promote their newly-launched Dami app store. I felt that this was also pretty good publicity for us. Of course, if you’re not happy with it, the contract hasn’t been signed anyway… It’s okay for me to turn it down on your behalf.”
As soon as he heard the two words “turn down”, Cloud Hao immediately snapped out of his daze and said, “You don’t have to turn it down!
“As for the price… it’s considered normal! Never mind, we’ll just take it as making a friend.”
Lin Jun finally felt relieved with the boss’s affirmation, and a smile spread across his face.
“Alright then! I’ll make an appointment with the other party!”
If this deal went through, the company’s account would finally have some much-needed funds.
Once he earned some more, he would have the chance to realize his dream of showing people what he was capable of in the investment field!