The Heart of Genius Episode 28 Recap
> The Heart of Genius Recap
Pei Zhi moved into Lin Zhaosheng's home. The smart robot repeatedly reminded Lin Zhaosheng to eat nuts, but Lin Zhaosheng insisted he had already eaten them in the yard, which Pei Zhi confirmed. The robot, feeling unappreciated, threatened to run away to a bank to recharge. Observing the robot's limited phrases, Lin Zhaosheng expressed a desire to learn how to input more information into it, and Pei Zhi readily offered to teach him using Python.
Lin Zhaoxi showed Pei Zhi an article she was writing titled "When a Car Thief Meets a Math Model," which was based on their experience catching a thief in Cheese World. She explained she wanted to introduce the concept of mathematical modeling and its real-life applications in an interesting way. Pei Zhi was eager to read it, and Lin Zhaoxi promised to share it once it was complete.
As the mathematical modeling competition approached, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi reviewed the rules, which involved an online preliminary round and a live main round at Sanwei University's stadium. Lin Zhaosheng enthusiastically wanted to join, but Lin Zhaoxi was hesitant, concerned about his health and suggesting she find Bao Xiaomeng to complete their team of three. Lin Zhaosheng, feeling lonely at home, persisted. Pei Zhi intervened, suggesting Lin Zhaosheng could be their "anchor," providing stability.
Lin Zhaoxi reluctantly agreed, assigning him the role of handling logistics only. Watching Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi prepare day and night for the competition, Lin Zhaosheng grew restless and wanted to offer his ideas. However, Lin Zhaoxi reminded him that the doctor had advised against high-intensity mental work. He confessed that seeing them work made him "itch with excitement" and that he simply missed the good old days.
He then revealed that he used to participate in similar competitions with Zhang Shuping and Lin Zhaoxi's mother, Qiu Yue, even remembering a specific competition topic about fertilizer. He cherished those times. Lin Zhaoxi then asked him about her mother, whom he described as strong, motivated, and always smiling, much like Lin Zhaoxi herself. He sadly admitted that after more than twenty years, he could no longer recall what Qiu Yue looked like.
Later that night, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi continued their preparations, eating instant noodles. Meanwhile, the smart robot incessantly prompted Lin Zhaosheng to take his medicine. He adamantly claimed he had, but when Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi checked, they found he had forgotten. He expressed distress, even momentarily forgetting about the modeling competition. Overwhelmed, Lin Zhaosheng later sat alone, looking at a photograph of Qiu Yue.
The day of the postgraduate entrance exam retest arrived, and Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi went to Sanwei University. Lin Zhaosheng waited outside and was recognized by Zhang Yan, a former colleague and senior. Zhang Yan coldly greeted him as "academic scum," reminding him of his past expulsion. Lin Zhaosheng clarified that the school committee, not Professor Zeng, expelled him.
Upon learning Lin Zhaosheng was waiting for his daughter, who also studied math, Zhang Yan expressed a desire to meet her. Back home, Lin Zhaoxi prepared for her interview. Lin Zhaosheng, who had been a recommended postgraduate student, shared that he had never experienced an interview himself but offered advice, suggesting she remain composed even if interviewers did something unexpected. Pei Zhi advised her to highlight her talent. Pei Zhi was the first to be interviewed.
Professor Zeng Qingran specifically attended Pei Zhi's interview. Professor Zeng inquired why Pei Zhi, who had shown amazing mathematical intuition and declined the International Math Olympiad team, chose not to attend Sanwei University for his undergraduate degree. Pei Zhi maintained it was for "personal privacy reasons," despite Professor Zeng's insistence that his special presence at the interview showed how much they wanted Pei Zhi. Next, Lin Zhaoxi entered her interview. She answered questions about complex analysis confidently.
Zhang Yan, part of the interview panel, asked if her father influenced her choice of mathematics. Lin Zhaoxi confirmed his passion for mathematics was a significant influence. Zhang Yan then directly asked for Lin Zhaoxi's opinion on her father's alleged academic misconduct. Lin Zhaoxi firmly defended him, stating that after twenty years of dedicated research, she did not believe he was a plagiarist.
She emphasized that having lived with him for over two decades, she had the most insight into his character. Zhang Yan expressed dissatisfaction and moved on. After the interview, Lin Zhaoxi emerged disheartened and went home in silence. Lin Zhaosheng felt deeply remorseful when she recounted Zhang Yan's questioning.
He finally explained the past: his master's thesis, titled "Theoretical and Methodological Study of Graph Isomorphic Verification," was found to be highly similar to a paper by Professor Feng Ming from Yongchuan University. Consequently, he was expelled from Sanwei University for alleged plagiarism, without a chance to defend himself.
Lin Zhaosheng believed it was a coincidence, asserting that Professor Feng Ming, a respected mathematician, would never plagiarize him, and that the two universities were in different cities, making such an act difficult. Pei Zhi also pointed out the geographical distance. Lin Zhaoxi, convinced something was amiss, decided she and Pei Zhi would investigate the matter. To access the university library, Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi planned to borrow Mr. Wang's card.
At the university basketball court, they encountered Zhang Liang, their middle school alumnus. Zhang Liang snatched Mr. Wang's card, challenging Pei Zhi to a five-point basketball game. He proposed the loser call the winner "elder brother." Lin Zhaoxi encouraged Pei Zhi to teach Zhang Liang a lesson. Pei Zhi, despite not having played for a while, skillfully won five consecutive points.
Zhang Liang grudgingly called Pei Zhi "elder brother" and vowed to defeat him in the upcoming modeling competition, revealing he had already formed a team and passed the preliminary round. Pei Zhi assured Lin Zhaoxi that his participation was primarily to accompany her. At the university archives, Lin Zhaoxi located a duplicate of Lin Zhaosheng's old thesis. She observed a flaw in its proof framework, noting that her father's current understanding of the subject was entirely different.
They then obtained Professor Feng Ming's paper and compared the two. The papers were indeed strikingly similar in their proof ideas and key points. Meanwhile, Lin Zhaosheng, tired of the robot's repetitive reminders, reprogrammed it to sing songs. Pei Zhi later visited his mother, Luo Jing, at her clothing store. He noticed she was working alone and learned that her business partner, Mr. Qian, had fired an employee and now escorted her home every evening.
During dinner, Luo Jing hesitantly shared her intention to marry Mr. Qian. Pei Zhi, recognizing his mother's long-standing single status since his father's passing, expressed his full support and joy for her new life. Elsewhere, Zhang Liang, Mr. Wang, and Ah Guang diligently prepared for the modeling competition. Ah Guang's boastful claim that their team could win "even with a dog" sparked an argument with Zhang Liang.
Mr. Wang intervened, stressing the importance of serious preparation, especially against competitors like Pei Zhi and Lin Zhaoxi, and urged them to study diligently. Lin Zhaoxi and Pei Zhi continued to ponder the uncanny similarities between the two papers. Pei Zhi hypothesized that a "third person" might have leaked Lin Zhaosheng's thesis. Their suspicion quickly turned to Lin Zhaosheng's former advisor, Professor Zeng Qingran. They approached Professor Zeng after his class.
When Lin Zhaoxi brought up the topic of her father, Professor Zeng claimed he knew little and advised them to investigate at Yongchuan University. Lin Zhaoxi countered by reminding him that Professor Feng Ming had been deceased for many years and that as Lin Zhaosheng's former advisor, he should be the most knowledgeable. Professor Zeng, however, explicitly stated he did not leak Lin Zhaosheng's paper to Professor Feng.
Pressed on why the school concluded plagiarism, Professor Zeng cited Professor Feng Ming's respected status, whose word carried more weight, and dismissed the issue as a "family private affair" that made the university's position difficult. Lin Zhaoxi insisted her father had done nothing wrong.
