Chapter 50: I'm not the Joker!
Professor Alicia Harper approached and saw the scene unfolding, rubbing her temples in frustration.
"What's going on?"
Although she didn't want to deal with this situation, as a professor who had been specifically instructed by the dean to look after little Sheldon, Professor Alicia Harper had no choice but to come over and ask.
"He's picking on me!"
Little Sheldon wailed, pointing at Chuck's retreating figure.
"How is he picking on you this time?"
Professor Alicia Harper glanced at Chuck who was walking toward the back of the lecture hall, and felt a headache coming on.
"He's not Batman, and I'm not the Joker! sob"
Little Sheldon cried even harder.
"Don't cry, you're absolutely right—he's not Batman, and you're definitely not the Joker."
Professor Alicia Harper suddenly remembered Chuck's dry humor from before, and found herself caught between laughing and sighing as she tried to comfort him. She reached for a tissue to wipe little Sheldon's tears.
"I don't want other people's tissues, they're not sanitary! sob"
Little Sheldon dodged Professor Alicia Harper's hand, crying as he spoke.
"..."
Professor Alicia Harper froze awkwardly, tissue in hand. She suddenly understood Chuck's impulse to make little Sheldon cry.
This insufferable little kid was absolutely impossible to deal with!
"Alright, let's head into the classroom first."
Seeing college students passing by in the hallway shooting curious glances their way, Professor Alicia Harper had no choice but to usher little Sheldon inside. When she reached the podium, she glanced at Chuck, who sat calmly in the back row observing everything. She crouched down and looked at little Sheldon: "What happened this time? Why did he make that joke again?"
Little Sheldon tearfully recounted the whole story.
"He wrote the solution on the bulletin board in the hallway?"
Professor Alicia Harper was both surprised and relieved.
Ever since her husband John had posted that problem, she'd been on edge all weekend.
Originally, her husband had put it up casually, figuring whoever could solve it before the end of the semester would be impressive. But then a student called that very evening asking who had solved it.
Her husband was initially skeptical, but when he rushed over to check, he discovered that someone had indeed found the solution. The approach was completely different from the ones they already knew—a totally novel and more efficient method.
This immediately energized her husband, who spent the next two days obsessing over the solution while sending people to track down whoever had solved it.
After two days of investigation, it finally became clear that it was the brilliant young doctor in her class who had cracked it.
That made perfect sense.
Looking at the weeping little Sheldon and thinking of her husband, who was constantly raving about Chuck, Professor Alicia Harper massaged her temples and shot Chuck a withering look from across the room.
Chuck's expression remained perfectly calm, though inside he was pleased.
Once again, thanks to little Sheldon's tears, she had given him the usual +10 Positive and +10 Negative points.
While the point increase wasn't as substantial as the +50 Positive points he'd gained from the Wind River Valley trip, it was easier, more stable, and sustainable, plus it maintained his balance.
And then there was Professor Alicia Harper's glare... As he'd confessed to his sister Haley, he was fascinated by Professor Alicia Harper's eyes.
Even an annoyed glare was a change in her eye expression—beautiful and intriguing.
"Who solved it?"
Just then, a man hurried in, glanced around without making eye contact with anyone, and asked urgently.
"John."
Professor Alicia Harper looked at her husband who had burst in.
"I heard the person who solved the problem is here."
Professor John Harper ignored his wife, simply stating his purpose while his eyes darted around the room.
"Dr. Chuck Wolfe!"
Seeing her husband in this state, Professor Alicia Harper knew he was in full math-obsessed genius mode, so she called out for him: "Could you come over here, please?"
Chuck stood up and walked over.
"Did you solve it?"
Professor John Harper glanced at Chuck briefly before looking away.
"Yes."
Chuck nodded.
"Absolutely brilliant."
Professor John Harper nodded enthusiastically.
"I know."
Chuck said matter-of-factly.
"I solved it too."
Seeing that they were completely ignoring him, little Sheldon couldn't help but wipe his tears and remind them of his presence.
"You solved it as well?"
Professor John Harper looked down at him in surprise.
"Here's my solution."
Little Sheldon opened his small backpack, pulled out a thick stack of calculation papers, and handed them to Professor John Harper.
Maybe he couldn't claim first place, but he was still one of the people who solved it!
"Excellent work."
Professor John Harper took the papers and flipped through them, nodding approvingly throughout.
Little Sheldon's tears finally stopped.
Although he usually looked down on everyone, recognition from a scientific master still made him incredibly happy.
"I'd like to invite Dr. Chuck Wolfe, and him..."
Professor John Harper looked at little Sheldon.
"Sheldon Cooper!"
Little Sheldon tried to stand taller.
"I'd like to invite Dr. Chuck Wolfe and Mr. Sheldon Cooper to our home for dinner."
Professor John Harper looked at his wife. "They're the only two mathematical geniuses who've solved this problem so far."
"And Paige,"
little Sheldon pouted, but couldn't help correcting him.
"Paige?"
Professor John Harper looked puzzled.
"Paige Swanson,"
little Sheldon said sullenly. "She's a college student my age, currently at Columbia, and she solved it too."
"That brilliant little girl from before."
Professor Alicia Harper suddenly remembered the precocious young girl they'd met previously. "There really are so many geniuses in the world."
"I'm just as good as she is!"
Little Sheldon felt hurt and defensive.
He couldn't bring himself to admit that Paige had solved the problem a full day before him.
"Then let's invite Paige Swanson as well,"
Professor John Harper said enthusiastically.
"Alright, I'll handle the arrangements."
Professor Alicia Harper understood her husband's pleading expression and nodded, indicating she would take care of everything.
Although her husband was a mathematical genius, he was hopeless at everything else in life.
Naturally, she had to handle all the household duties and dinner party planning.
"But Dr. Wolfe, and Mr. Cooper, would you actually like to come?"
Professor Alicia Harper didn't share her husband's naive assumption that the matter was settled with a simple invitation. Instead, she actually asked them.
"I'll need to check with Beverly, but it should be fine."
Little Sheldon thought for a moment and replied.
"Sure."
Chuck looked directly at Professor Alicia Harper's eyes and answered concisely.
Professor John Harper was a genuine mathematical genius. Discussing mathematics with such a brilliant mind was perfectly normal, and there was no reason to decline.
"What about Paige?"
Professor Alicia Harper asked, "Could one of you please contact her?"
"I can do it!"
Little Sheldon agreed eagerly.
"Perfect."
Seeing that everything was finally settled, and noticing that the lecture hall was now packed with students staring at the podium with obvious curiosity about the ongoing drama, Professor Alicia Harper quickly ended the conversation: "John, I need to start class now. You should head out."
(End of chapter)
join patreon for update and advance 40+ chapters
https://www.p-atreon.com/c/Soulforger
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
"If you're enjoying this story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone! Your support keeps me motivated and helps the novel reach more readers."
"100 Power Stones this week = 1 extra chapter release!"
"500 Power Stones = 2 extra chapter release ."