On this day, a luxurious coach bus drove into the University of Texas campus, carrying the Columbia University teaching team who were there for academic exchange.
In the back row, Paige, dressed in a well-fitting casual suit with her hair tied up like an adult, was also a member of this lecture group due to her achievements in internet programming.
On the other side, many University of Texas students, knowing that Columbia University professors were coming for academic exchange, had gathered early in the large lecture hall for the public class.
For the studious University of Texas students, this opportunity for exchange through a public class was rare.
After all, compared to Columbia University, the University of Texas lagged far behind, whether in terms of faculty strength or academic achievements.
This time, rather than calling it an academic exchange between two schools, it was more like Columbia University providing unilateral academic assistance to the University of Texas.
At this moment, outside the University of Texas lecture hall, it was packed with eager university students, and Sheldon, noticeably smaller, had also arrived early.
However, as the classroom door opened, Sheldon, who was originally at the front, ended up being squeezed to the very back of the line due to various reasons.
Just as he was feeling dissatisfied, his peripheral vision caught Paige entering from outside.
"Paige, why are you here? You… you've changed a lot…" Sheldon exclaimed in surprise.
In fact, he wanted to say that she had become "so much bigger" that he almost didn't recognize her.
Indeed, Paige, whose height was about to exceed 165cm, aside from her slender figure, had gradually shed her childishness, dressed as an adult.
If not told, it was likely no one would guess she was only fourteen years old.
"You haven't changed much, still the same as before…" Paige said with a smile, a hint of pride in her tone.
The girl's past experiences had made her envy Sheldon for having a happy family, with a brother and sister who cared for him and played with him.
But not anymore; the girl was already content with Mike.
"Even if you say that, I won't let you cut in line!" Sheldon, thinking the girl was trying to butter him up, suddenly spoke.1
"Is that so? If you had read my paper on network development, you wouldn't say that." Paige, holding two teaching plans, entered the classroom through the faculty passage, not forgetting to thoughtfully explain before leaving: "Actually, I'm the lecturer this time~"
The lecturer this time… the lecturer…
Until the girl disappeared, her voice still echoed in Sheldon's ears.
And if he remembered correctly, she also seemed to have said that she had published a paper on the internet.
"Perhaps her paper is terrible, I can help her pick out the mistakes…" Sheldon, who had hesitated for a long time at the entrance, finally convinced himself to walk into the classroom.
He swore he absolutely did not want to come in to listen to Paige's public class.
More than an hour later, Sheldon walked out of the large classroom in a daze. Behind him, Paige, having finished her lecture, was acting like an adult, answering questions from the university students gathered in front of her.
The new field of network intelligent engineering also held great appeal for ordinary people.
Another half an hour later, Paige, having seen off all the university students, walked towards the university dormitory accompanied by University of Texas staff.
This time, Paige came to Texas for academic exchange and would not immediately return to New York with the Columbia University teaching team afterward. Instead, she would first visit Connie and then go home.
Some time ago, the girl learned over the phone that her parents were going to have a younger brother or sister.
So, while waiting for someone to pick her up, Paige decided to "care" for Sheldon again.
"Network engineering is just so-so, can it be more interesting than physics…" In his single dormitory room, Sheldon unhappily fiddled with his toy car.
He would never admit that his bad mood was due to "jealousy."
Earlier in class, Sheldon had prepared to find fault with Paige, but because their fields of study didn't align, he didn't find an opportunity to do so.
This made the highly competitive little guy feel frustrated, and his long-held belief that he was the smartest child of his age group unknowingly began to waver.
This inexplicable feeling made Sheldon very uncomfortable.
"This is Sheldon's dorm." In the dormitory hallway, the University of Texas staff member treated Paige, this "little mister," with great importance.
"Thank you, I'd like to go in alone now." Paige responded politely.
What the girl was about to do next was not suitable for University of Texas staff to be present.
"Okay, if you need anything later, you can contact us." The staff member did not insist, and after expressing the University of Texas's stance, he left the dormitory.
Meanwhile, Paige composed her expression, then pushed open the dormitory door with a hint of arrogance.
"You really haven't grown up yet, still so fond of playing with toys." Looking at Sheldon in the dormitory, holding a toy car, Paige spoke in an unkind tone.
"No, I'm studying physics transmission, which is more useful than your network intelligence theory… Newton has already proven this point…" Sheldon, interrupted and seeing who it was, immediately entered a combat state, while not forgetting to slide the toy car in his hand a few times.
"Is that so, heh heh—"
Paige looked down at Sheldon, who was so nervous he was starting to babble. Although she said nothing, it was as if she had said everything.
Yes, comparing him to Newton was ridiculous.
The era in which the other person lived didn't even have computers, so naturally, he wouldn't research anything in the field of network intelligence.
"Alright, assume I said nothing just now…" Sheldon quickly realized how ridiculous his statement was, then he changed the subject: "Why are you looking for me? Do you want to show off your network intelligence theory?"
As he said this, Sheldon's demeanor actually bore a six or seven-tenths resemblance to Paige's deliberately put-on pose.
Clearly, he was also mocking the girl.
It could be said that when it came to annoying people, Sheldon absolutely had the best talent.
"Of course not, I'm just here to see how your university life is going." Paige paused, then slightly emphasized her tone: "Just as I thought, not only have you been slacking off in your studies at university, but you haven't made a single friend either."
"How is that possible? I've already completed a year's worth of University of Texas coursework in half a semester. And I do have friends… Yes, Tom is my friend at university, he's right next door…" Sheldon, provoked, immediately retorted, but his voice grew less confident as he spoke.
"What's so great about a year's worth of coursework?" Paige said in a flat tone: "In fact, I've already completed four years of Columbia University courses. And let me tell you another piece of news, Mike is also preparing to complete all four years of courses in the next month."
"How is that possible…" Sheldon wanted to say, how could anyone complete four years of university courses in a month? He certainly couldn't.
However, seeing the girl's confident expression, Sheldon became unconfident again.
After all, in his impression, Mike was not dumber than him, perhaps even a little smarter. Of course, only by a hair's breadth.
Relatively speaking, denying the other person was denying himself.
"Alright, even if you've completed all university courses, it doesn't mean I don't have friends. Tom is right next door…" Sheldon maintained his last shred of dignity.