After obtaining everyone's consent, Ms. Sharon found a relatively difficult Math Olympiad test paper and distributed it to everyone, including the reserve members.
"The top five students in this test will directly become official members of the Math Olympiad team. At the same time, the person with the highest score will be the captain of the Math Olympiad team from now on." Before the test, Ms. Sharon reconfirmed the rules, giving Nell the fairness she desired.
The test then began, with an estimated duration of one hour.
Because the test paper Ms. Sharon found was quite challenging, Nell only just managed to finish the questions right as the time limit expired.
A confident smile rose on her face after completing this "feat."
Compared to the reserve members of the Math Olympiad team who were still scratching their heads when submitting their papers, Nell could indeed be considered a "genius."
Of course, this "genius" refers to a genius within the scope of ordinary people.
Because on the other side, more than half an hour earlier, Mike, Paige, and Sheldon had already easily answered all the questions.
It was just a pity that Nell, who had been immersed in solving problems, hadn't noticed this.
At this moment, after submitting her paper, she felt quite good about herself.
Another half an hour later, Ms. Sharon on the podium had finished grading all the test papers.
"Parker, 60 points, you did well, please keep up the good work..."
Ms. Sharon distributed the test papers one by one, and it was soon Nell's turn.
"Nell, 80 points, great improvement, keep it up..."
Amidst the encouragement, Nell smiled and stepped forward to retrieve her test paper.
Then, as she walked back to her seat, the girl seemingly unconsciously glanced at Mike, with a hint of provocation in her eyes.
Compared to the reserve members who generally scored only thirty, forty, or fifty points, Nell, with her high score of eighty, certainly had reason to be proud.
However, in the next moment, her pride was shattered.
"Tam, 90 points..."
Tam, whose score was called, humbly stepped forward to retrieve his test paper.
Compared to Nell, he was so low-key that he seemed almost humble.
"How is that possible...?" Hearing the score, Nell looked incredulously at Tam, who was very ordinary in all aspects, feeling a little pain in her face.
This wave could be considered a dimensionality reduction attack.
"Now, let's congratulate Mike, Paige, and Sheldon, all of whom scored a perfect 100 points. Let's give them a round of applause—"
Regardless of how the students below felt, Ms. Sharon announced the good news with a smile.
Immediately, applause erupted in the classroom.
Mathematics is something you either know or you don't. The scores of the three, Mike, Paige, and Sheldon, clearly earned the students' recognition.
"Alright, the difficult problem of who will be the captain is up to you three to decide..." After the applause stopped, Ms. Sharon, in a good mood, also made a joke.
Ms. Sharon had a good idea of Mike and Sheldon's level. As for Paige, who had risen unexpectedly, she was a complete surprise.
And now, with only a little over a month until the Math Olympiad competition at the end of the year, for the Medford Math Olympiad team, the more "surprises" like Paige, the better.
"I'm not interested in being the captain..." Sheldon, who had received his test paper, stated bluntly, "I just hope that in the future, I can have more time in the classroom to study the knowledge I want to learn."
Translated, it roughly means: Don't bother me anymore!
"I'm not interested in being the captain of the Math Olympiad team either." Paige then also expressed her thoughts.
She, who had always followed Mike like a little shadow, actually didn't have much presence at school.
Of course, this was also a result of her deliberate actions.
So, there was no longer any dispute about the choice for the Math Olympiad team captain: Mike naturally took the position of captain.
On the other side, Nell, who had once again suffered a dimensionality reduction attack, curled up into a ball, even beginning to doubt her life.
One can only say that there are also differences between "geniuses."
Then, the Math Study Room was divided into two teams: on one side was the "Immortal" team of Mike, Paige, and Sheldon.
Ms. Sharon gave them the maximum amount of "freedom."
The rest was Tam and Nell's special improvement group.
As for the reserve members, they served as a foil, studying alongside the improvement group.
Just like that, time slowly entered early December, the day when the Nobel Prize was about to be announced.
"Mom, are the snacks ready...?"
"Mom, we need more drinks..."
"Mom..."
In the spacious the Cooper family basement, Sheldon's commanding voice could be heard from time to time.
December tenth, the date of the Nobel Prize selection.
To welcome the good news, Sheldon specially transformed the basement into a "small conference room" to listen to the entire process of the Nobel Prize selection.
At the same time, to share the achievement with more people, Sheldon also invited all the students from school to come to his house to listen to the radio together.
At this moment, he was preparing to "receive" his classmates.
"Enough, Shelly. You need to rest for a while!" Mary, who had been running around at his command, finally couldn't stand her youngest son's "nagging."
There was nothing she could do; Sheldon was simply too excited today, becoming even more "annoying" than usual.
Even the family members who came to watch the excitement had a look of "disgust" on their faces.
Especially Georgie, whose room had been forcibly occupied, had an even more displeased expression.
"Sheldon, listen to me, no one will come to be silly with you today..."
Georgie, who knew Sheldon's popularity at school, looked at his messy room and couldn't help but "mock" him.
"No, science is a sacred thing, and I will find like-minded people. As for those simple-minded people, I don't care about their opinions." Sheldon was as sharp-tongued as ever.
However, he still had a sense of proportion in his heart; looking at the large amount of snacks and drinks piled in the room, he didn't make a fuss for his mother to prepare more.
Just as Georgie and Sheldon were bickering, Mike led a group of people in.
Yes, as collaborators on the Booster Recovery project, Mike and Paige both received an invitation from Sheldon.
Of course, following behind Mike were Lina, Mia, and Connie, as well as Tam, whom they met at the door.
"See, I told you I could find companions." Upon seeing Mike and the others arrive, a smug expression rose on Sheldon's face.
"Say what you want, but I can assure you that besides Mike and them, no one else will come to your strange party." Georgie remained confrontational.
"Then let's wait and see." Sheldon retorted, also unconvinced.
However, as time passed, Georgie's words seemed to be confirmed; no more outsiders came to the Cooper family basement.
"How could this happen?" Seeing that the Nobel Prize selection time was approaching, and the room was still "cold and deserted," Sheldon's expression gradually became disappointed.
Everyone's love for science didn't seem as high as he had imagined.
"You probably didn't inform others that Mike was here. If you had, your party would definitely be lively." Missy, leaning next to Mike, eating snacks and drinking beverages, gave a pertinent evaluation of this "party."
"You're right!" Sheldon's eyes lit up, and he hurried out: "I need to make a call, you guys keep an eye on the radio..."
Not long after, Sheldon, having finished his call, rushed back.
At this point, there was less than ten minutes left until this year's Nobel Prize selection.
"You didn't really temporarily inform other students that Mike was here, did you?" Missy asked speechlessly, looking at Sheldon, who was sweating from running.
"Of course not, I said I don't care about those who don't pay attention to science. I called to confirm how much longer Dr. Sturgis and Dr. Linkletter would take to arrive." Sheldon replied.
Sheldon had also invited John and Linkletter to this gathering today.
This instantly elevated the status of this "cultural" gathering.
"Hope we're not late..."
Just before the Nobel Prize selection, Dr. Sturgis and Dr. Linkletter, specially dressed in formal attire, arrived just in time.
"Welcome to this year's Nobel Prize selection..."
As the two elderly men sat down, the Nobel Prize selection program began on the radio.
"Next to be announced is this year's Nobel Prize in Physics. Nominated are Professor Georges Charpak and his team from the College of Advanced Physics in France..."
"Next, also nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics are Dr. Sturgis and Dr. Linkletter from the University of Texas in America, and their team..."
Amidst everyone's anticipation, good news came from the radio.
At the same time, Dr. Sturgis, Dr. Linkletter, and Sheldon all showed joyful expressions.
However, no one spoke to celebrate until the results were confirmed.
"Next, let us witness together the final recipients of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics. He is Georges Charpak and his research group. Let us congratulate Professor Charpak. He and his team have made significant contributions in the field of physics, inventing and developing several particle detectors, and also made outstanding contributions in the area of multiwire proportional chambers..."
The radio was introducing the life and achievements of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics laureate.
Evidently, Dr. Sturgis and his team's research project was still a step behind and failed to win the ultimate honor.
"Phew! It's already great to be nominated for the Nobel Prize; our research will not be in vain..." After a long while, Dr. Linkletter spoke optimistically.
However, the expression on his face could not hide his regret.
"Yes, don't be discouraged, we still have a chance in the future." Dr. Sturgis immediately spoke, but his behavior was more like a loser's self-consolation.
One should know that seventy years old is definitely a high age.
For researchers of this age, what they lack is not experience but passion and drive.
At this moment, the two elderly men probably knew in their hearts that they would likely never win a Nobel Prize in this lifetime.
"John, are you okay?" In the low pressure, Connie stepped forward and hugged Dr. Sturgis.
Although the two had broken up, they were still friends.
On the other side, Mary was also comforting her dejected youngest son.
And Mike and Paige, who had also participated in the research project, appeared very calm at this time.