I'm A Math Idiot, So What? - Chapter 21

I suddenly recalled the unresolved mystery from the last class, where a third of the students disappeared. Fang Congxin’s unexpected interference caused a temporary halt, and my heart felt like it was on a weightless ride. Half of my soul seemed to flee in fear, while the remaining half, out of self-preservation, forced myself to ask: “Then why are there still people choosing this course this year?”

Ge Chunchun: It’s mostly the hardcore enthusiasts who have participated in math olympiads in the past, eager to push their limits. Here, let me show you last year’s rant thread. [Link]

I clicked on a post titled “A Summoning Post: Gathering of the Fallen Soldiers of The Beauty of Mathematics.” The first six pages were neatly lined with “Farewell [candle emoji],” and it wasn’t until the seventh page that someone came forward to share their experience. This person, once considered exceptionally talented, detailed how they were toyed with by Professor Fang Rui, the big boss, and even uploaded a series of complex mathematical calculations to prove how tragically they failed. After looking at those calculations for a long time without understanding them, I felt that this person’s mathematical skills were already impressive. Yet they still met such misfortune, what hope did a math idiot like me have, if not complete annihilation?

If a year ago I thought mathematics and I could part ways amicably, each going our own happy way, now picking math back up again felt like being a kidnapped woman who escaped from a mountain village, only to be recaptured and forced back into marriage with math. Given the current situation, it feels as if I just discovered that the person I’m being forced to remarry is actually a heartless killer!

Li Tong: Last year, we took this course just to experience the charm of Professor Fang’s lectures. Alas, the charm was there, but we were just not worthy!

Da Huang: I’m not worthy either!

Everyone: I’m not worthy either!

Me: Sorry, just to clarify, so you all took a renowned teacher’s class and had some math foundation, right?

Da Huang: What do you mean? To be honest, although I failed, the course introduction did state that it was suitable for students with a certain mathematical foundation and a strong interest in math.

I suspiciously opened the course selection system, took a screenshot of the course introduction, and sent it over: Nothing like that here.

Da Huang promptly sent over a picture, marking with a red arrow the light blue “second page” at the bottom right corner of my screenshot.

Oh wow, since when was there a second page here? I’ve been studying here for over three years and never knew the course selection system had a second page!

I quietly clicked on it, and sure enough, the second page clearly stated the target audience for the course. It meticulously listed the prerequisite math courses needed. It even had red lettering: “Due to the high difficulty, this course is only suitable for students with a strong interest in mathematics and the ability to self-study and delve into topics. Withdrawal due to an inability to cope with the course pace is not supported to ensure fairness.”

So, I—a math noob—managed to select a math olympiad class? It’s like being at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a Muggle who doesn’t know any spells taking an exam with a bunch of advanced sorcerers?

God not only closed the door on me, but also slammed it on my head.I closed my phone and opened the reference book, mechanically glancing at the answer key.

Great, the four problems I just tackled were all wrong.

Silently, I shut the math book and played myself a piece from “Requiem.” Then, with my hands crossed over my abdomen, I lay stiffly on the bed.

Comrades, I’m ready. You may offer white chrysanthemums to the corpse now.

The blaring ring of my phone pulled me back from the depths of hell to the land of the living. When I saw the caller’s name, I swiftly sprang up from the bed like a carp, ready to receive guidance from my advisor. My advisor asked me to check out a new thesis point released by a friend of theirs, a doctoral mentor, on CNKI, and mentioned an insightful seminar next semester at the National University of Singapore. However, since I’m not yet officially a master’s student, I would have to cover my own travel expenses, and they specifically asked if I had any financial concerns. If I could manage, they would register me for it.

Look at how my advisor is carefully nurturing me! Could I really just stand by and watch my guaranteed research path cut short?!

No! My fate is in my own hands, not heaven’s! I shall defy the odds and change my destiny!

Securing my research placement is like protecting a pregnancy; the mother becomes strong when needed!

I must drop the course!

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