Chapter 58.2: A Talk on the Balcony

The banner for the Provincial Math Olympiad had already been hung up, but the one for the City-level competition still hadn’t been taken down.

And for the sake of consistency, the provincial banner had undergone the same modification as the previous one—“First Prize” was scrawled over and replaced with “First Place.” The patch job was so blatant it practically begged to be noticed.

What made Principal Wu even more pleased was that not only had Li Zhuiyuan won, but two other students had taken home Third Prize.

That’s the power of a trailblazer.

Li Zhuiyuan had barely set foot in the classroom when Sun Qing ushered him into the principal’s office.

Several school administrators were smoking outside the office. When they saw Little Yuan, they all stubbed out their cigarettes and headed in.

The admissions officer from Haihe University hadn’t arrived yet, but that didn’t stop everyone from planning ahead on his behalf.

Chattering away, they began to draft a bargaining list for Li Zhuiyuan, pulling out every trick in the book.

Meanwhile, the boy himself sat quietly on the sofa, as if the whole affair had nothing to do with him.

Wu Xinhang brought over a cup of tea and set it in front of him.

Li Zhuiyuan looked up and said, “Thank you, Principal Grandpa.”

“Psh,” Wu Xinhang waved it off and nodded toward the huddle of administrators still debating terms. “Don’t thank me. They’re having the time of their lives.”

They might not have personally carved up a pig, but they’d certainly watched it done. Educators to the core, they knew the rules of the game.

For most students, the college entrance exam was a one-and-done ordeal: fill in your preferences, take the test, wait for the results—tears of joy if you got in.

But for a select few, college admissions was a game of leverage. The higher the stakes, the greater the show of sincerity required.

In this province, anyone who could win first place in the Provincial Math Olympiad was almost guaranteed to take a top prize at the national level later that year.

Moreover, the “child genius” craze was surging alongside the math craze.

With so many factors piling up, it would almost feel like a waste not to milk the situation.

Wu Xinhang beamed. “Little Yuan, I know you’ve already made your choice, but Grandpa has to ask—are you really not considering any other universities?”

“No. I’ve made up my mind.”

Wu Xinhang nodded, then shouted across the room, “Bleed them dry! Rip them off good!”

Just then, Teacher Yan walked in with a young man wearing glasses.

What caught Li Zhuiyuan’s attention was the flicker of excitement dancing in the man’s eyes.

Teacher Yan approached, smiling. “Little Yuan, someone’s here to interview you about the Math Olympiad. He’s from Jinling Normal College but also a Nantong local.”

“Okay.”

Li Zhuiyuan stood and faced him. The man, though a bit awkward and shy, radiated a deep-seated enthusiasm now that they were up close.

“Hello, Teacher. I’m Li Zhuiyuan. May I ask your name?”

“Ge Jun.”

The man sat down, pulled out exam papers and questions, and began discussing them with Li Zhuiyuan.

Soon enough, he realized this man was speaking from the perspective of a test question designer.

Maybe he wasn’t one yet, but he surely would be—one of those grim, grinning specters behind the symbols and numbers.

There’s a streak of cruelty in human nature. Otherwise, ancient Roman coliseums and underground fight clubs wouldn’t have thrived.

For question-setters, watching examinees struggle and curse in the traps they’ve set is a perverse kind of pleasure.

And curiously enough, thanks to helping Tan Wenbin draft problems, Li Zhuiyuan could now empathize with the “abuser’s” perspective, rather than the usual “victim’s.”

So, while waiting for the Haihe University rep, the two had an invigorating, delightful conversation.

Li Zhuiyuan spoke in the same vengeful tone he’d once used with the Black Cat—something that lit a spark in the man’s eyes. He felt he’d found a kindred spirit.

When he learned that the university rep was almost here, Ge Jun was visibly thrilled. “Since you’ll be in Jinling for college, we’ll get to exchange ideas often!”

That flicker in his eyes now roared like a flame.

Li Zhuiyuan figured this fire would one day become a hellish furnace, scorching generations of students.

The security guard reported that Haihe University’s vehicle had arrived at the school gate.

Ge Jun handed over his business card and gave Li Zhuiyuan a firm handshake before reluctantly leaving.

When he shut the office door behind him, a new door to hell had quietly opened in his heart.

Wu Xinhang raised a hand. “Places, everyone.”

The administrators found their seats. Legs crossed, tea cups in hand, clearing their throats in turn.

They’d deliberately laid out flyers, brochures, and business cards from other schools in prominent spots.

The door opened again.

Leading the delegation was Luo Tingrui.

His presence instantly dominated the room.

The confident school leaders, ready to bargain, suddenly faltered.

Even Principal Wu could only resort to sipping tea.

Education might be an ivory tower, but Luo Tingrui no longer belonged to that world—he was a strategist commanding vast manpower projects, a general in all but name.

He handed out business cards, introduced himself, and finally turned to Li Zhuiyuan.

He remembered the boy. What he hadn’t expected was such astonishing academic talent.

No marketplace noise here—everyone stayed refined and courteous.

The school leaders still presented their bargaining list.

Luo Tingrui glanced at it, set it down, and said:

“Alright. On behalf of the university, I accept.”

The entire room froze. The leaders collectively panicked: Too easy. We undersold!

They all turned to look at Li Zhuiyuan on the sofa, faces full of guilt.

Wu Xinhang swallowed a mouthful of tea leaves, bitterness deeper than the brew: rookies’ mistake.

Though nothing was official yet, Luo Tingrui offered his hand. “Li Zhuiyuan, welcome to Haihe University.”

Li Zhuiyuan stood and shook it.

From that moment on, he and Xue Liangliang were officially schoolmates.

“Liangliang told me you’re interested in Shan City too?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go together. Consider it early fieldwork—practical experience before theory.”

“Thank you, Director.”

“Just call me Teacher.”

“Okay, Teacher Luo.”

The leaders felt a bit better now. They knew Luo Tingrui’s status in academia—this wasn’t just a handshake, it was a golden ticket.

A freshman working on research projects before even enrolling? Almost unheard of.

In a nation this big, with education so widespread, there’s never a shortage of talent—or even geniuses. But without a platform, even the brightest can fade.

Luo Tingrui left. Li Zhuiyuan returned to class.

It was break time. Tan Wenbin was explaining a problem to Zhou Yunyun. The class monitor sat at her desk.

Li Zhuiyuan paused in the hallway, leaning on the railing, gazing at the schoolyard below.

They were planting ginkgo trees.

“Do you like them?” Sun Qing asked, appearing beside him.

“Yeah.”

Someone was already calling for “Old Sun” in the classroom.

Tan Wenbin hesitated.

Zhou Yunyun urged, “You’re not done yet. Keep going.”

Girls were bolder like that.

Tan Wenbin smiled and continued—he’d learned the solution from Little Yuan.

Sun Qing stood beside Li Zhuiyuan. “Principal Wu heard you like to watch the ginkgo trees after handing in your test. So he planted some.”

“But I probably won’t see them much from now on.”

He hadn’t planned on sticking around school anyway, especially now with Luo Tingrui’s internship offer.

Sun Qing smiled. “Then maybe they’re for us to look at?”

Li Zhuiyuan looked at her.

She continued, “A lot of what we strive for and cherish isn’t about tangible rewards—it’s about memories worth savoring.”

A true literature teacher.

She ruffled his hair gently.

When they stepped into the classroom, Zhou Yunyun and Tan Wenbin were still leaning close, heads bent over the problem.

Zhou Yunyun looked up and smiled at her homeroom teacher.

Tan Wenbin saluted.

Sun Qing said nothing. She walked to the podium and began preparing materials for the next lesson.

As she tidied the papers, a soft smile curved her lips.

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