Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, Office of the President.

After watering the spider plants on the windowsill, the cleaning lady wiped the dust off the glass windows.

With this done with her hands and feet, she picked up the bucket and walked out of the office.

Before leaving, she glanced at Professor Peter Sanak, who was sitting behind her desk, with some surprise.

Although she didn't know much about academic things, it was the first time in so many years that she had seen this old man, who was always very serious, showing an embarrassed expression in front of people.

Of course, although he took up the position of dean, it was only five or six years ago......

Sitting at the desk and silent for a while, the white-haired old man pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, looked at the young man standing in front of the desk, and said with a soft sigh.

"Earlier this year, there was a proposal to include you in the team of tenured fellows at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. I know it's not a good time to say this, but ...... Do you really stop thinking about it? ”

Each of the Institutes for Advanced Study at Princeton has a small, tenure-track team of world-class scholars who are engaged in cutting-edge research in their fields.

In the academic world, the status of a tenured fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton is not only a guarantee of research funding and living standards, but also a supreme honor.

At present, there are only 10 tenured researchers in the School of Mathematics, and Lu Zhou's supervisor, Professor Pierre Deligne, is one of them. If he continues to stay here, he may be this year if he is fast, and he will become the eleventh in only two or three years if he is slow.

But......

Lu Zhou shook his head and said softly.

"I've been thinking about it for half a year."

Before winning the Nobel Prize, the resources he could get at home were far less than those available to Princeton, and after winning the Nobel Prize, the resources he could get at Princeton were far from being comparable to the support he could receive at home.

It is not wrong to say that he is selfish, after all, when he is doing multiple-choice questions, he does think about the problem from the "best choice".

Hearing Lu Zhou say this, Dean Peter Goddard didn't say anything more, opened the drawer, and took out an application form from it.

"Really? Now that you've thought about it, there's not much more for me to say. Serve the country, serve the world...... That's Princeton's motto, and I think you've made the right choice. ”

Gently placing the application form on the desk, Dean Peter Goddard leaned back in his chair as if he had let go of his burden, and looked at Lu Zhou to continue.

"In addition to the fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, there is also a faculty position at Princeton University...... I'm guessing you're going to resign when you come back this time. ”

Lu Zhou: "Yes, I'm going to Nassau Hall in a while." ”

Dean Goddard smiled and said, "Remember to say hello to Professor Isgrub for me." ”

Picking up the application form from the table, Lu Zhou nodded slightly.

"I will."

After leaving Dean Goddard's office, Lu Zhou did not stop much at the Institute for Advanced Study and went straight to Nassau Hall at Princeton University.

Compared to Dean Goddard's reluctance, Headmaster Isgrub's reaction was rather gentle, or calm.

After listening to Lu Zhou's willingness to resign, he didn't say much, and took out a form of similar specifications from the drawer.

“…… I remember about 20 years ago, when I was the dean of academic affairs. Mr. Faltings approached me and told me that he was going back to Germany. I kept him, but now that I think about it, it wasn't necessary. This choice is not something that can be made in a day or two, nor can it be changed in a few words. ”

Pushing his glasses, he handed the form to Lu Zhou's hand.

"It's our loss that we can't keep you."

Speaking of which, Headmaster Isgrub paused for a moment and continued in a joking tone, "So, to make up for our losses, I hope that you will at least accept the title of honorary professor at the same time as you resign as professor." ”

Lu Zhou, who took the application form, was slightly stunned, and then smiled: "This is my honor." ”

……

When I left Nassau Hall, it was already dusk.

Leaving here with two application forms, on the way home, Lu Zhou walked very slowly, even a little detour.

This kind of mentality is probably like a person who is about to travel far away and wants to spend a little more time in the places where he has lived in the past.

After all, having lived here for so long and experienced so many things, he still has a lot of feelings for Princeton.

When passing by Carnegie Lake, just as Lu Zhou was thinking about whether to go over for a long time and run late, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure sitting on a bench by the lake.

With a smile on his lips, he walked over to the vending machine, bought a can of sports drink and a can of coffee, and walked in the direction of the lake.

As he approached, Molina, wearing a blue sweatshirt, was wiping the beads of sweat from her face with a towel.

Suddenly, a can of drink appeared in her sight.

Slightly stunned, Mo Lina turned her face sideways and looked to the side, only to see Lu Zhou standing there.

Qingxiu's eyebrows raised, she took the drink unceremoniously, threw down a "thank you", then buckled the pull ring of the can, raised her head and poured it violently.

"You're welcome."

Lu Zhou smiled, sat on the other side of the bench, buckled the tab of the coffee can, and slowly tasted it.

Although he still likes to drink instant coffee, this factory-produced canned frozen coffee also has a different flavor.

Molina: "When did you come back?" ”

"It was about noon. Originally, I was going to leave some time to come and run, but when I was done, it was getting dark. Looking at the students running late by the lake, as well as the kayaking team training on the lake, Lu Zhou said in a casual tone.

Molina glanced at Lu Zhou.

"Speaking of which, you shouldn't be here at Princeton for half a year."

"Yes, time flies so fast," Lu Zhou smiled at the sparkling lake in the sunset, "Sometimes I have the illusion that I just graduated yesterday, but when I come back to my senses, I am already 25 years old." ”

Molina: "...... I think most people are just 25 years old. ”

Lu Zhou smiled embarrassedly: "It seems to make sense for you to say that...... Speaking of you? How are you and your mentor doing on the project? ”

The corners of Molina's mouth hooked up a smug smile: "I have graduated and am now a lecturer at Princeton University. ”

Lu Zhou glanced at her with a slight surprise: "Already graduated?" Then congratulations...... While I wanted to throw a party to celebrate your new colleagues, I've quit my job now. ”

"Yes."

Molina's expression was not surprised, as if she had guessed.

Looking at the can of drink in her hand, she continued, "So this can of drink is considered to be a favor to me?" ”

"Sort of. Although a can of drink may not be enough," Lu Zhou patted the dust on his trouser leg, stood up from the bench, looked at her and smiled and said, "When you have the next opportunity, you will travel to Huaguo, and I will invite you to drink it again." ”

Molina joked, "What if I don't have a chance? ”

"Then we may have to wait until we meet at an academic conference."

I usually meet during a night run, and the communication between the two is basically the same.

It begins without any warning and ends without warning.

Looking at the back of Lu Zhou leaving, Mo Lina didn't say anything, picked up a stone casually, and threw it into the lake.

Except for mathematics, she has nothing else to be interested in, and Lu Zhou can only be regarded as ordinary friends.

However, the thought that this guy will not be here in the future still makes her feel a little lonely......