Time to Start Studying for the Qualifying Exams!

Note: This article was actually written on August 12, 2026. At the time of writing, Xiǎomī was undergoing the Great Memory Restoration Technique.

How many days were left again!? Xiǎomī (小咪) was about to face one of the most important examinations of his PhD: the qualifying exams. If he failed, Xiǎomī would be sent packing from the programme with his head hung low.

In truth, Xiǎomī ought to have begun studying more than twenty days earlier. Once May arrived, he had little to do besides research and prepare for the exams, yet he had paid scant attention to the latter. From beginning to end, Xiǎomī believed that he had ample time to deal with the three approaching exams, which would last seven and a half hours in all. At least, that was what he told W-san every day at the office - W-san, who came in as diligently as he did.

Xiǎomī said that, at a dozen or so problems a day, he could easily finish the hundred-odd problems in the question bank in just over a week. Yet over the previous twenty days, he had completed 5 problems in all.

Today, Xiǎomī sensed that something was amiss. Although scores of only 50%/50%/30% were required to pass the three exams, there was still a risk of being caught unawares if he did not study.

Thus began the first day of Xiǎomī locking himself away to study.