Tuesday did have a political science class, and Qiao Ze had agreed to attend, so he naturally wouldn't go back on his word.
In fact, if it had been someone else, the class would have been unbearable. After all, popularity sometimes really is a double-edged sword.
Daniel's Facebook post had given Qiao Ze tremendous popularity on Huaxia's internet, which had spilled over into the school, earning him a large following among the students, especially his classmates.
Initially, his classmates didn't have such a favorable impression of Qiao Ze.
None of them were fools.
The school wouldn't just suddenly increase the difficulty of the final exams for no reason.
So all clues pointed to Qiao Ze.
It was because of this guy joining their basic mathematics class that the difficulty of the final exam had skyrocketed.
Although the school had tried hard to remedy the situation, it still led to the "June Massacre" of 2023.
Out of over eighty students, practically each one failed at least one core subject, with about 21 students failing each.
There was a saying that 21 was the maximum failure rate the school would tolerate. Any more, and the professors would be in trouble. To avoid such trouble, the school eventually simply adopted a ranking system, pulling out the bottom 21 students from each course to take the fall.
Sadly, that was just speculation; no professor had ever confirmed it.
But afterwards, the situation began to change.
First, Qiao Ze's paper got published, and the class representative everyone knew, along with Chen Yiwen, actually got their names on the paper as well.
Then came a series of pioneering reforms by the School of Mathematics, which brought the students there a lot of attention in the school.
Even sometimes granting them a few small privileges.
It's no exaggeration to say that when lining up for food in the cafeteria, sometimes the cooks would give them a little extra if they knew they were from the School of Mathematics and, moreover, in the same class as Qiao Ze.
In addition, with Zhang Zhou, Gu Zhengliang, and Su Mucheng tirelessly telling their roommates and classmates about Qiao's deeds every day, it made people aspire to be like him.
Admiration is a mindset that lives within human nature.
Fortunately, Qiao Ze no longer had to attend classes with the other students, so the Tuesday political science class became the best opportunity for everyone to worship the "school god."
It was as if few had the experience of attending class with their own professor.
But after Daniel had confirmed Qiao Ze's qualifications, that feeling became a reality.
The influence was unique, previously when Qiao Ze attended class, at most everyone just looked at him a bit longer when he entered the room, but this time on the way to school, students actively approached him for a chat.
"God Qiao, hello, class rep, hello, by the way, God Qiao, may I ask if you are going to accept Professor Daniel's invitation to become a professor at Princeton?"
The girl who mustered the courage to ask Qiao Ze was from the second class. Qiao had no recollection of her, but fortunately, Su Mucheng knew her.
So the considerate Su Mucheng took the initiative to greet her, "Liao Xiaojuan, you're early today too."
Then she took Qiao Ze's hand and squeezed it slightly.
In the next moment, Qiao Ze answered seriously, "Not for now."
"Oh, I see, thank you for clearing that up, God Qiao." After that, the girl hopped away cheerfully.
Leaving Qiao Ze not quite understanding what kind of enlightenment that was.
"Look, Qiao, everyone cares a lot about you, they're all afraid you'll choose to go overseas," said Su Mucheng joyfully.
"There are definitely some who hope I would go abroad," Qiao Ze commented fairly.
This was based on the notion that his presence would certainly make graduation more difficult for some.
"Those must be people who don't understand you," Su Mucheng retorted softly, and then they both returned to their usual rhythm.
Su Mucheng, full of pride, led the silent and reserved student Qiao Ze into the teaching building.
This was something that several live streamers sneaking around campus hadn't figured out, unaware that Qiao Ze's route to class was different from that of ordinary School of Mathematics students.
Mainly because the lab where Qiao Ze worked was closest to the east side door of Building 5, if he was coming from the dormitories, he always went through the main entrance of the teaching building.
Otherwise, more than just one student who happened to take this way would have greeted him.
Indeed, when Qiao Ze entered the classroom, where usually at most people would give him a couple extra glances, today many gathered around him.
"God Qiao, I heard you got approved as an expert! That's just too awesome, right?"
"Bro, when do you plan to graduate? I think the school should give you a professorship too, there's been precedent for that."
"Eh, God Qiao, if you become a professor next year, will you come teach us? If I snatch up your elective course, could you just let us pass directly?"
Really, when everyone clustered around him, even though Qiao Ze was reserved, it didn't feel that awkward anymore.
Not to mention Su Mucheng was there to help him greet other students, so the normally quiet back corner of the classroom suddenly became lively.
Qiao Ze, as usual, didn't have much to say.
But when Zhang Zhou, Gu Zhengliang, and Chen Yiwen saw the situation and also came over to greet Qiao Ze, he was eventually compelled to say a few more words.
"The expert status will come in handy this year."
"Undergraduate graduation, probably next year."
"I have suggested that the school improve the faculty and also increase the difficulty of graduation."
His honest answers almost provoked a louder chorus of complaints when, finally, the bell rang for the start of class.
The professor teaching political science and the one teaching mathematical analysis were both surnamed Zhu, and they shared some similar traits, such as being forthright and having a sense of strict impartiality.