Chapter 176
Alexander Laurent quickly deduced their identities from their ages and appearances.
He stepped forward with a smile to greet them.
"Hello, Uncle, Auntie. I'm Alexander Laurent, Sophia's neighbor."
Sophia Sullivan snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly made introductions.
"Mom, Dad, this is Professor Laurent. He's the one who lent me his lab."
David Sullivan's expression cleared with understanding.
"I didn't expect the professor to be so young. Truly accomplished for your age."
Isabella Sullivan was also slightly surprised, then smiled.
"Thank you for looking after our Sophia these past few days."
"Please, you're too kind. Just call me Alexander or Alex."
Alex?
Was he putting himself on the same generational level as Sophia?
"Hmm? What's this…" David noticed the object with a kraft paper cover in Alexander's hand.
It looked like a book, but not quite.
Alexander explained, "This is a 'desk calendar notebook' I borrowed from Professor Qin in the physics department at Caltech."
Worried David might not understand, he elaborated.
"It's a tradition in Caltech's physics department. Each professor has their top student compile excerpt notes based on hot research topics."
"Though only excerpts are required, students usually include their own analysis of research trends. It's passed down every four years, from one graduating student to the next."
"Professor Qin had his students' notes bound by year, like a desk calendar. Hence the name."
Alexander tried to explain in plain language, but it still sounded somewhat technical.
David looked a bit dazed.
He didn't seem to fully grasp it.
"My apologies," Alexander said. "Was my explanation too complicated?"
Suddenly, Isabella turned to David.
"Wasn't your respected mentor also named Qin? Qin something-wind?"
Alexander looked slightly surprised. "Qin Yufeng?"
"Yes, yes! Qin Yufeng!"
Alexander was even more astonished. "Uncle, you graduated from Caltech's physics department?"
David scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed.
"Ah, it's rather shameful. Most of Professor Qin's students became leaders in research fields. Only I... didn't live up to expectations..."
Back then, his mentor had reserved a direct Ph.D. spot for him.
But he wanted to return to his hometown to be near his parents, so he declined the offer.
They hadn't seen each other since.
"How is Professor Qin's health?"
Alexander replied, "Hale and hearty."
David nodded.
"He was always full of energy. It's good that he's healthy. That's what matters. Alex, are you also from Caltech's physics department?"
Alexander said, "I studied physics, but I went to MIT."
David's eyes lit up.
"Physics is good. Exploring the infinite mysteries. Which specific field do you research..."
"Alright," Isabella quickly cut him off. "The professor needs to go out. Must you go on and on?"
David also noticed the bag in Alexander's hand.
"My apologies. I get carried away once I start talking. Please, don't let us keep you."
"It's no trouble at all. Chatting with you both has been a pleasure. You've just arrived today, so I won't intrude further. We can talk more once you've settled in."
David quickly nodded.
"Of course, of course. We'll talk later."
Alexander gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Once inside the apartment, Sophia busied herself with the luggage.
Isabella and David began to look around their daughter's place.
Two bedrooms, one living room. Not too big, not too small.
Though the basic structure was old, the soft furnishings were carefully chosen.
The sofa, cabinets, and appliances were all quite new.
Some flaws were cleverly concealed with decorations and ornaments.
At first glance, it looked like a cozy, well-appointed apartment.
Seeing the dirty, messy stairwell had lowered their expectations for their daughter's living conditions.
But inside, it was a different world.
Isabella was very pleased.
Not just because the apartment was nicely decorated, but because of her daughter's attentiveness to life.
In her view, life could be make-do, but one's attitude toward life should not be.
When she and David first married, his monthly salary was meager, with most going to his parents.
They only had a small amount to live on.
After Sophia was born, finances were even tighter.
But Isabella still bought a bouquet of flowers every fortnight.
If they had money, she bought nicer ones. If not, she picked wildflowers for a vase.
Sophia always thought her mother was a bit bourgeois.
Her occasional "extravagance" didn't seem to fit an ordinary family background.
But whenever asked about her past, Isabella always said she'd forgotten.
Sophia suspected her mother came from a well-to-do family.
David thought so too, which was why he never restricted Isabella's spending.
He often said—
"Your mother suffered following me. I used up all my luck the day I saved her from the river."
So whenever something unlucky happened, he accepted it cheerfully.
David: "You know the first law of thermodynamics, right? Conservation of energy. Meeting your mom was energy +. Life's difficulties are energy -."
"Because I got such a huge + all at once, the - has to come slowly over time."
Back then, Sophia had just started in physics competitions.
She drew two conclusions from this.
Dad thought he wasn't unlucky enough (too little -).
It was okay to be unlucky for a lifetime (take it slow).
David: "..."
Isabella: "Hahaha..."
"Dad, Mom, don't just stand there. Sit down, rest for a bit, have some water..."
After putting away the luggage, Sophia went to the kitchen to make lemon tea.
"Sophia," Isabella took a sip of tea and suddenly asked, "Is Professor Laurent married?"
"Probably not."
"Does he have a girlfriend?"
Sophia paused, amused and exasperated.
"Mom, since when are you so nosy?"
"Just asking. With his qualifications, there must be no shortage of girls around him, right?"
Sophia thought about it seriously.
"Well, since I moved in, I haven't seen any girls around him."
Isabella looked thoughtful.