Top Student at Their Peak-Chapter 138 - 87 No Comparison, No Harm_3

Sure enough, even the big wigs get curious, but the questions they ask really hit the core of the issue.

Xue Song immediately spoke up: "Speaking of topic selection, there’s actually a story. I just don’t know if you’re busy, as telling it might take some time."

"Go ahead, let’s hear it."

Xue Song quickly recounted the story of the equation he posted on the Algebra and Number Theory forum and how Qiao Yu solved it. He kept it brief, since just because the big wig is willing to listen doesn’t mean they have the time to hear a lengthy tale.

After finishing, Xue Song added: "Back then, a lot of professors on the forum knew about this, and quite a few of them had their eyes on Qiao Yu. I just thought his solution could be turned into a paper. Oh, and this happened back in August.

This afternoon, he finally sent the paper to me, and I just finished reviewing it. I don’t think there’s anything left for me to amend, so I plan to add my name as a corresponding author and directly submit it to the Journal of Number Theory."

By saying this much, he had basically made it clear.

If the big wig was still not interested, Xue Song wouldn’t say any more.

However, if Tian Yanzhen recalls this call after the paper is published, he might still take a look.

Then the call wouldn’t have been in vain.

Fortunately, the other side didn’t disappoint him. After contemplating for a second, the tone became relaxed, and he said: "I see, if you and that kid don’t mind, can you send the paper for me to take a look at? But my research in the direction of Number Theory is quite limited, so I may not have much useful feedback."

"Professor Tian, you’re too modest. If Qiao Yu knew you were willing to guide him, he’d probably be over the moon with joy. Well, should I forward it to you now?"

"Sure, by the way, do you know my private email?"

"I only know your public school email."

"Oh, that email is mainly managed by the research center’s secretary. I’ll text it to you later."

"Okay, thanks for the trouble, Professor Tian."

"No trouble at all, Professor Xue."

...

After hanging up, sure enough, it wasn’t long before Xue Song received a text from Tian Yanzhen, providing him with a private email account.

Xue Song then directly forwarded the email Qiao Yu sent him.

This was also the reason Xue Song required Qiao Yu’s paper to be sent via email. Submitting the paper through a formal email leaves a clear timestamp and trace, which can best protect the author’s interests.

Of course, the most important thing was that given the big wig’s status in the Jianghu, he wouldn’t covet Qiao Yu’s paper.

After forwarding the paper to Tian Yanzhen, Xue Song pulled up a tool on his computer, converted Qiao Yu’s paper to a PDF format, but did not submit it.

Although both of them knew the real purpose of sending the paper, since they had already asked for a review, it’s best not to send it before the big wig responds.

A basic issue of courtesy.

Besides, it wasn’t urgent within a day or two.

National Day was approaching; fortunately, apart from the local office opposite, foreign journal editorial boards don’t observe Huaxia’s National Day.

...

Huaxia, Star City, Xingtie First Middle School.

Rewind time about ten minutes ago, when Qiao Yu was left dazing off after hearing the busy tone on the phone.

Help Senior Brother revise the paper? And give review comments? How did the title of Senior Brother get forced onto him?

Okay, although Qiao Yu has never been a teacher, by common sense, isn’t this a mentor’s task?

And is there even any need to revise that paper? Clearly it should be rewritten directly, right?

Qiao Yu wanted to argue, but Old Xue just hung up, not giving him any chance to play his part.

This was quite unreasonable.

After all, his reasons were entirely justified.

Everyone knows that under the law, minors can’t be employed as child labor, and even those gaming workshops are strict about it.

Theoretically speaking, reviewing papers is also work, so isn’t this considered employing child labor? Did Old Xue forget he’s not an adult yet?

Moreover, trash should be thrown into the trash can, how is it okay to dump it on him?

He’s not running a waste recycling center!

Frustrated, shivering!

In short, there were so many points to ridicule that Qiao Yu even lost the mood to play basketball, so he casually told his teammates and ran to the school’s restroom to wash his face before heading back to his study room.

Previously, he had deleted the paper, but fortunately, he hadn’t deleted the original attachment from the email. Qiao Yu downloaded it again to his computer.

This time, instead of reverence, he began to scrutinize this Senior Brother’s paper critically.

This? And he’s supposed to be a Senior Brother? The gratitude he felt for Senior Brother Qin evaporated instantly.

A bunch of extremely sharp questions popped up in his head instantly.

Already a graduate student, and this paper isn’t even as good as a high schooler’s? Have all those years gone to waste? Just what did the university teach you? How did you pass the national exam line of the graduate studies entrance exam? And what about the re-exam? Is Old Xue starving? Does he accept any kind of student?

Alright, now he couldn’t even keep reading, even the abstract and introduction were a mess. How is he supposed to revise it? It’s clearly asking him to rewrite it!

Honestly, just looking at it for this short while, Qiao Yu felt hungry.

Reviewing papers like this really requires energy.

Forget it, let’s eat first!

As he grabbed his meal card and charged towards the cafeteria, Qiao Yu had already made up his mind.

There’s no way he’s seriously revising it; otherwise, how is that different from rewriting it? At most, he would point out all the parts he personally felt were problematic, casually provide some review comments, and throw it back the same way he received it.

What a joke? He’s still a kid!

Yes, as long as he’s not eighteen, even if the whole world doesn’t see him as a kid, Qiao Yu feels it’s necessary to view himself as one. As the saying goes: when you are out and about, you define your own identity!