My IQ has been increasing year by year.

Chapter 225 is quite sweet.

After dinner, it was already completely dark outside.

The lights were very bright in Chen Zhuo's living room.

In order to watch TV tonight, Liu Xiuying specially removed all the covers from the brand-new fabric sofa in the living room this afternoon, saying that watching TV with the covers on wasn't formal enough.

She also placed two large fruit platters on the coffee table, washed a bunch of purple grapes, cut two Fuji apples, and grabbed two handfuls of melon seeds and several pieces of White Rabbit milk candy.

This setup is even more grand than staying up all night for the Lunar New Year.

The hands of the wall clock had just passed seven.

The TV was on, tuned to CCTV-1.

The evening news was playing on the screen, and the male announcer's clear and resonant voice echoed in the spacious living room.

Zhang Zhicheng and Chen Jianguo sat in the middle of the large sofa, each with a freshly brewed cup of jasmine tea in front of them, steam rising straight up.

"Old Chen, is your watch accurate?"

Zhang Zhicheng stared at the television screen, picked up his teacup, and blew on it.

"Is the evening news almost over? After the weather forecast, it'll be time for the main program segment."

Chen Jianguo raised his wrist and glanced at it.

"It's accurate, it's a little past seven, almost there."

Chen Jianguo spoke calmly, but his fingers, holding the teacup, kept unconsciously stroking it.

He didn't even go to the balcony to smoke today, afraid that his son's camera would pass by while he was there.

"Hey sister-in-law, stop busying yourself and come sit down."

Zhang Zhicheng turned around and shouted at Liu Xiuying, who was still washing rags in the kitchen.

"It's about to start. If you miss it, who will you cry to?"

"Here it comes!"

Liu Xiuying ran out of the kitchen wiping her hands, and then quickly moved aside to make room for her on the sofa.

"We ordinary people can't usually access the programs on TV Channel 1."

Wang Li grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them open while sighing.

"Xiao Zhuo really made our two families proud this time. I went to the market this afternoon and ran into my old friends. I even told them that I had to look at a set of clothes tonight."

Liu Xiuying sat up straight, her eyes fixed on the large color TV.

"I just hope the camera will linger for a few more seconds."

Liu Xiuying said in a low voice.

"Old Wang's son from the factory joined the army before. It was said to have been on the provincial TV news. Old Wang's whole family watched it closely, but all they saw was the back of his head. He was gone in the blink of an eye."

"Today, as long as I can see your face clearly and take a screenshot to print out and hang on the wall, I'll be content."

"Sister-in-law, what are you thinking?"

Zhang Zhicheng chuckled.

"This is an exclusive interview, but news interviews are probably only a minute or two long, so let's all keep our eyes peeled and pay attention."

Chen Zhuo sat on the side edge of the sofa, holding an orange in his hand, slowly peeling it.

The distinctive scent of orange peel filled the warm, heated living room.

Zhang Qiang squeezed next to Chen Zhuo, one leg dangling under the coffee table, holding half an apple in his hand.

"Hey, Brother Zhuo."

Zhang Qiang nudged him with his elbow and lowered his voice.

"Aren't you nervous about going on TV? Is the camera bigger than your head, shooting right up to your face?"

Chen Zhuo popped a peeled orange segment into his mouth and chewed it twice.

"It's not that exaggerated. The machines are quite far apart. We're just chatting."

"What did you talk about?"

"Let's just chat."

Chen Zhuo broke off another segment of orange and handed it to Zhang Qiang.

"No, I need to focus on watching you later."

Zhang Qiang finished eating the half apple and then took a tissue to wipe his hands.

"This is the first time in my life I've seen a familiar face on TV. As soon as you come out, I'll take out my dad's camera phone and snap a picture."

Chen Zhuo glanced at him but didn't say anything.

I slowly finished the rest of the oranges and then took a tissue to wipe my hands.

7:30.

After the evening news ended, followed by a brief weather forecast and a few glitches, the program continued.

The image on the TV screen suddenly changed.

A calm and dignified background melody began to play, and the words "Face to Face" appeared in the center of the screen.

The six people in the living room, including Zhang Qiang who had been talking quietly, fell silent instantly.

Even the sound of cracking sunflower seeds has disappeared.

In the video, host Lin Yue is dressed in a business suit and sits in front of a somewhat quiet and old-fashioned backdrop.

"Hello everyone."

Lin Yue's voice came from the television speakers.

"I am currently on the third floor of the old library of Huaguo University of Science and Technology in Huizhou."

In the living room, Chen Jianguo subconsciously leaned forward.

"There are no spotlights here, no heating in the studio, and a very cold wind is blowing outside. Recently, there have been many rumors about geniuses and child prodigies."

Lin Yue on TV paused for a moment.

"The newspapers and news reports were full of news about a Chinese teenager being accepted as a student by a top international mathematics master. It was quite a sensation outside."

Zhang Zhicheng slapped his thigh suddenly and said in a low voice.

"Old Chen! Did you hear that?! This is talking about our little Zhuo!"

Chen Jianguo ignored him, his eyes fixed on the screen.

In the video, Lin Yue turns her body slightly to the side.

"But when we pushed open the door and actually sat in this somewhat old library, we discovered that the seemingly omnipotent protagonist in the rumors was actually just a boy sitting here quietly."

With Lin Yue's words.

The television camera switched smoothly.

On the screen, a close-up of a boy's upper body appeared.

A thick, dark gray sweater with the collar turned up neatly.

He sat quietly in an old chair, his profile illuminated by the soft afternoon sunlight, with stacks of yellowed old Russian periodicals and a window in the background.

The boy looked at the camera with a gentle, calm expression and clear eyes.

A line of white text appeared below.

Chen Zhuo, thirteen years old, is a student in the gifted youth program at the University of Science and Technology of China.

"oops!"

Liu Xiuying gasped in surprise, quickly covering her mouth with both hands, her eyes instantly turning red.

"It's out! It's out!"

Wang Li excitedly patted the sofa armrest.

"This photo is so clear! You can even see the texture of the sweater!"

Zhang Qiang, who was standing next to him, immediately swore.

"Damn, they're really on TV! The lighting makes them look much better than usual."

Chen Zhuo leaned back on the sofa, watching himself on TV, his expression unchanged.

Everyone thought it was just a short news flash that would last a few minutes.

But as the show aired, Zhang Zhicheng and Chen Jianguo gradually realized something was wrong.

The camera didn't cut away.

There were no other narrations or news clips interspersed.

Lin Yue immediately posed the first question.

"Hello, Chen. You are currently the focus of attention across the country. Not long ago, Professor Pierre, the winner of the highest international mathematics award, traveled a long way to USTC to publicly announce that he would accept you as his only student. Everyone is eager to know how you, at such a young age, managed to impress this world-class mathematician?"

On the television, Chen Zhuo smiled.

Actually, there's a misunderstanding here.

In the living room, Zhang Zhicheng's hand, which was holding a teacup, came to a complete stop.

He turned his head, glanced at the clock on the wall, and then at the channel logo in the upper right corner of the television.

"Old Chen."

Zhang Zhicheng swallowed, his voice a little dry.

"This...this isn't a breaking news report, this is a special program made just for Xiao Zhuo!"

The handful of sunflower seeds in Chen Jianguo's hand was already soaked with sweat.

He nodded, his voice trembling.

"Don't speak. Listen."

The sound from the television clearly filled the entire living room.

"Shortly before that, another physics professor at Princeton emailed me inviting me to visit, but I couldn't travel abroad at the time, so I replied and declined."

Chen Zhuo's tone on the television was calm, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"At the time, I wanted to sound more formal, so I used some old-fashioned language and wrote that the objective conditions did not allow it. When Professor Pierre read that reply, coupled with the reasoning techniques in the paper... he always thought that I was an old professor who had retired from USTC and was doing research in seclusion."

"So, he came to China to exchange ideas with older scholars, but when he opened the door, he found out that I was only thirteen years old."

On the TV, Lin Yue couldn't help but chuckle softly.

In the living room, Zhang Zhicheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Oh my god!"

Zhang Zhicheng laughed, leaning back on the sofa. "I thought some foreigner had divined that our Zeyang had produced a child prodigy! Turns out they just mistook this kid for an old man!"

Chen Jianguo laughed along, but as he laughed, he couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.

Whether it's a misunderstanding or something else.

A thirteen-year-old child can write things that even the world's top experts would mistake for the work of an old professor.

This amount is frighteningly heavy.

"What Xiaozhuo said is very true."

Chen Jianguo nodded, making his conclusion.

"No boasting, no taking credit, that's how it should be said."

The program continued.

Lin Yue asked about the division of labor in the thesis.

Chen Zhuo on TV put away his relaxed expression.

"The publication of that article was not solely due to my efforts. Professor Li Jianming set the direction, and my senior colleague Wu Tao spent months in the library, using up dozens of pen refills, painstakingly deriving those extreme logics stroke by stroke."

"I just helped them calculate the middle matrix. This paper was a team effort. I'm just a skilled problem solver who happens to be good with numbers."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiuying turned her head and glanced at Chen Zhuo sitting next to her.

"Son, your senior fellow apprentice treats you quite well, doesn't he?"

"It's great. They even help me get meals when it rains," Chen Zhuo said.

"When you go back to school, you should bring back some local specialties from our hometown for them. They've worked so hard, you can't just take all the credit for them."

Liu Xiuying gave her instructions.

In her mother's eyes, she didn't understand anything about matrices or topology.

She only understood social etiquette and knew that her son should not forget his benefactors while he was away.

"She's already graduated and gone to Shenzhen, Mom."

Zhang Qiang pursed his lips beside him.

"Chen Zhuo, you're being too modest. What do you mean by 'helped with the calculations'? I heard from my dad that your account..."

Before Zhang Qiang could finish speaking, Zhang Zhicheng slapped him on the back of the head.

"Adults are watching TV, kids shouldn't interrupt."

Zhang Zhicheng glared at him.

The matter of the 500,000 yuan special fund is something that cannot be discussed casually outside.

The program gradually progressed to the middle.

Lin Yue asked about the daily life of the gifted youth program and the regret of not being able to participate in the middle and high school entrance examinations.

When Chen Zhuo casually mentioned that he had taken a national competition and won two first places, the admission notice was sent to the school, and he simply packed his bags and came over.

The living room was completely quiet.

Zhang Qiang stared wide-eyed at Chen Zhuo on TV, then turned to look at Chen Zhuo sitting next to him, peeling peanuts.

There were no grand pronouncements, no self-disciplined acts of hanging oneself by one's hair or pricking one's thigh with an awl.

It means "I took the test on the side" or "I packed my bags and came over".

"You're just putting on airs."

Zhang Qiang lowered his voice and squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth.

"Absolutely amazing."

Chen Zhuo threw the peeled peanuts into his mouth and ignored him.

The light on the television screen seemed a little dimmer than it had been at the beginning.

Lin Yue leaned forward slightly and posed a question that parents across the country were most concerned about.

"Everyone is particularly eager to learn from your experience. How did your parents raise you from a young age? Did they subject you to rigorous intellectual development?"

Liu Xiuying and Chen Jianguo, who were on the living room sofa, instantly tensed up.

The camera cut to Chen Zhuo.

He smiled helplessly.

"No, really. My parents are just ordinary workers, and they're quite busy with work."

On TV, Chen Zhuo thought for a moment, then spoke with a touch of self-deprecation.

"Actually, when I was five years old and started kindergarten, I was very slow to react and would not speak for a long time."

"My mom was frantic and took me to the hospital for a checkup. She thought I had a mental problem and was an idiot."

These words were spoken.

In the living room, Wang Li couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Oh my, sister-in-law, you have this history too?" Wang Li joked.

Liu Xiuying blushed and hurriedly tried to explain.

"How can you blame me! When he was little, he was so quiet you wouldn't say a word. While other kids were running around calling for their mothers, he'd just squat in the corner watching ants. How could I not be worried!"

Zhang Zhicheng and Chen Jianguo also laughed.

This interview, which was originally a high-level interview, suddenly became as down-to-earth as a casual chat between neighbors downstairs.

Chen Zhuo continued speaking on the television.

He said he went to the library to borrow books because he was bored and found the gears of an old pocket watch interesting.

"There's really no advanced education involved; it's all about passing the time."

Lin Yue asked with emotion on television.

"Now that you've achieved these results and are about to go to Princeton, what do your parents usually talk about when they call?"

Chen Zhuo sighed.

"They don't really understand what papers I've published or which countries I'm going to visit."

On the television screen, the boy counted on his fingers.

"When I call home, my mom only ever cares about two things."

"First, do you like the food in the USTC cafeteria?"

"Secondly, sit up straight when you read, and don't let your eyes become nearsighted. She said it's hard to find a partner if you become nearsighted."

The laughter in the living room suddenly stopped at that moment.

Zhang Zhicheng's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air.

Chen Jianguo's smile slowly faded as he turned to look at his wife.

Liu Xiuying sat on the sofa.

She didn't laugh.

The light and shadow from the television screen shone on her face, clearly illuminating the fine wrinkles around her eyes.

She watched her son on TV, who was wearing a thick sweater.

That son who's about to go to Princeton to do academic research with the world's most brilliant foreigners.

Such a great genius, yet in front of the entire nation, no one thanked her for her meticulous cultivation, nor did they mention how great she was.

He only remembered her instructions about eating and finding a partner.

Two lines of tears welled up in Liu Xiuying's eyes without warning.

She quickly tried to wipe her tears with the back of her hand, but the more she wiped, the more tears she shed.

"This child..."

Liu Xiuying's voice choked with emotion, thick with a nasal tone.

"What nonsense are you spouting on TV...? Who cares about him finding a partner?"

Wang Li, who was also easily moved, quickly handed over two tissues and gently patted Liu Xiuying's back.

"Sister-in-law, why are you crying? The child is just being sensible and knows how to care for you."

Chen Jianguo remained silent.

He reached into his pocket, felt for the cigarette pack, and tried to take it out, but then let go.

He watched Chen Zhuo on TV, and his eyes welled up with tears.

Chen Zhuo took two tissues from a box on the coffee table and handed them to Liu Xiuying.

"Mom, we're recording a TV show. I have to answer whatever they ask. I can't just make it up on the spot."

Chen Zhuo's voice was as gentle as ever.

"that is."

Liu Xiuying took the tissue, wiped her eyes, and smiled through her tears.

"You child, you have no idea how to present yourself well. Now the whole country knows your mother is an old-fashioned woman."

The interview has come to an end without us even realizing it.

The natural light in the old library had completely dimmed.

The camera then cut to the host, Lin Yue.

She closed the notebook in her hand.

"Chen, the interview is about to end. Next year you'll be heading to Princeton across the ocean. Through CCTV's lens, is there anything you'd like to say to your family or friends back home?"

The atmosphere in the living room gradually calmed down.

Everyone felt that this was the moment for the final closing remarks, which would simply involve thanking the parents and teachers.

Zhang Qiang sat next to Chen Zhuo, biting into a half-eaten apple while nudging him with his elbow.

"Hey, now that it's almost the end, aren't you going to say something lofty like serving your country?"

Chen Zhuo ignored him.

On the television, Chen Zhuo sat on a wooden chair, not answering immediately.

He thought for a moment, then looked past the camera.

That look in his eyes was calm and ordinary.

"Actually, there's nothing I'm particularly worried about."

Chen Zhuo's voice came from the television speakers, played very softly.

"It's my hometown. I have a childhood friend with whom I grew up. He'll be taking the high school entrance exam next year."

In the living room.

Zhang Qiang, who was biting into an apple, suddenly stopped.

He blinked.

Childhood friend? Taking an exam?

Chen Jianguo and Zhang Zhicheng were also stunned for a moment. Their eyes subconsciously shifted from the TV screen to Zhang Qiang next to them.

Chen Zhuo's voice continued to come from the television.

Extremely clear, without any noise.

"He usually struggles a bit with science subjects and it's quite hard for him to learn."

The piece of apple that Zhang Qiang was eating fell to the ground with a thud.

He sat frozen on the sofa, as if struck by lightning.

On the television screen, Chen Zhuo smiled, a smile as gentle and refined as jade.

"I just hope he can do well in this exam, perform well, and get into a good high school."

The image freezes.

As the end credits music for "Face to Face" played, the subtitles began to scroll.

But in the living room of apartment 601 in Jinxiu Garden, time seemed to stand still.

Only the music from the television was echoing.

Zhang Zhicheng slowly turned his head.

Chen Jianguo slowly turned his head.

Liu Xiuying and Wang Li, still clutching tissues to wipe their tears, slowly turned their heads away.

on the sofa.

The gazes of the four adults, like four blinding searchlights, suddenly and uniformly focused on Zhang Qiang's face.

Zhang Qiang kept his mouth slightly open.

His pupils were trembling violently.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

CCTV-1.

Live broadcast nationwide.

Hundreds of millions of people across the country.

Everyone knows.

Everyone knows that Chen Zhuo, one of the top geniuses in China and a student in the University of Science and Technology of China's gifted youth program, has a childhood friend who is particularly bad at science and studies very hard.

"Brother Zhuo..."

Like a zombie, Zhang Qiang slowly turned his neck to look at his best friend sitting next to him, who looked completely innocent.

Zhang Qiang's voice trembled, tinged with despair.

"You...you actually dared to do this in front of the entire nation...?"

Chen Zhuo leaned back on the sofa, met Zhang Qiang's distraught gaze, and nodded with utmost composure.

"I'll also pray for your good fortune."

The living room was deathly silent for a full three seconds.

then.

"Snapped!"

Zhang Zhicheng slapped Zhang Qiang on the back of the head.

This sound was extremely loud.

"Did you hear that!"

Zhang Zhicheng's face turned red from holding it in, and he finally couldn't help but shout it out, but his voice was full of barely suppressed laughter.

"The whole country knows you're terrible at science now! Even those old professors who teach abroad could probably translate that for you!"

Zhang Zhicheng pointed at Zhang Qiang's nose.

"Have you no shame?! Get back to your seat and review your force analysis!"

"Hahahaha!"

Chen Jianguo was the first to lose his composure, leaning back on the sofa and bursting into laughter, laughing so hard he could barely hold his teacup.

Liu Xiuying and Wang Li laughed so hard they were doubled over, and this time they really laughed until tears streamed down their faces.

"Oh my, Xiao Zhuo is such a naughty child."

Wang Li laughed as she pointed at Chen Zhuo.

"Who exposes someone's shortcomings like that on TV? Qiangzi won't even have a good time finding a wife in the future."

"Why bother finding a wife? Now the whole country knows he's not smart!"

Zhang Zhicheng laughed so hard he slapped the table.

Zhang Qiang covered the back of his head, looking at the adults laughing all over the room with tears in his eyes.

He became known throughout the country for his poor performance in science subjects.

He died.

But his brother, who had already been elevated to godhood, reserved his last and most precious few minutes for him in the most dazzling television interview of his life.

Zhang Qiang looked at Chen Zhuo, who was sitting under the light with a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

He wanted to swear.

But my nose stung a little.

"You win."

Zhang Qiang squeezed out those three words through gritted teeth, bent down to pick up the apple pieces that had fallen to the ground, threw them into the trash can, and turned to walk out the door.

"I'm going back to do my practice tests! If I don't get into high school, I'll hang myself in front of your house!"

"Remember to close the door behind you!"

Zhang Zhicheng shouted from behind.

"Bang!"

The security door to apartment 602 was slammed shut.

The laughter continued in the living room of apartment 601.

The TV program had been changed to a drama series from some unknown channel.

Chen Zhuo sat on the sofa.

He looked at his mother, who was laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face, and at his father, whose face was glowing with health.

He took another orange from the fruit plate.

The draft papers from Huizhou and the snowstorm at Princeton seemed far away from him at this moment.

He peeled a segment of orange and put it in his mouth.