That night, all the team leaders and deputy team leaders from each country were required to surrender their communication devices and were separated from the contestants, staying at a different hotel a few kilometers away. They were not allowed to leave their rooms or contact their contestants until the theoretical exam the next morning was completed.
Thus, Jiang Fuyue’s group was left under the supervision of Sun Qun.
Kang Lu also came over and warmly offered her assistance.
Sun Qun: “Thank you, but I can handle it for now.”
“Alright, I’m also staying here tonight, in room 1209. Call me or knock if you need anything,” she said before leaving.
Huo Fanjin opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately stayed silent, watching Kang Lu walk away.
Back in the room, she seemed listless and unmotivated.
This state would be unsuitable for tomorrow’s exam.
Jiang Fuyue walked up to her. “What’s wrong?”
“Huh?”
“Were you looking for Kang Lu?”
Huo Fanjin’s eyes brightened at the sight of Jiang Fuyue. “Finding you works too!”
“?”
“Captain, could you help me with something?”
Jiang Fuyue had a bad feeling about this.
Ten minutes later, when they were in the hotel’s garden, her feeling was confirmed.
“… We’ve been pen pals for three years, always corresponding through emails. It so happens that he’s also participating in the IPhO this year. Isn’t that a coincidence?!” Huo Fanjin explained as they walked.
Jiang Fuyue listened expressionlessly before asking, “So this is your online boyfriend?”
Huo Fanjin: “!”
“We… we haven’t confirmed our relationship yet. Don’t jump to conclusions!” Despite her protest, her blushing cheeks suggested otherwise.
“Alright, I admit I quite like him. If this meeting goes well, maybe we’ll make it official…” She couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
Jiang Fuyue coldly reminded her, “You have an exam tomorrow.”
“I know, don’t worry. The happier I am, the better I perform. It’s always been that way. On the contrary, if I’m upset, my performance tanks.”
Jiang Fuyue frowned.
In her view, real strength shouldn’t be influenced by emotions. If one couldn’t regulate their emotions, it could be disastrous during a major exam. Competitors could easily exploit such a weakness.
However, Huo Fanjin was too engrossed in the excitement of meeting her crush to notice this.
“Frank is very handsome and smart. He’s a true physics genius. He understands papers that I can’t make sense of and even recommends them to me…”
Jiang Fuyue: “Oh.”
Huo Fanjin realized she might have overdone it. “Of course, you’re also a genius! But in my heart, he’s the best!”
Jiang Fuyue’s eyebrow twitched. “So, why did you bring me to meet your pen pal?”
Huo Fanjin: “To be my translator! He’s from Country D, and I don’t speak German. I thought of asking Kang Lu, but I didn’t think she was reliable. Luckily, you’re here, Captain. Sister Yue, you’re like a treasure! You even know German…”
This was her first time calling Jiang Fuyue “Sister Yue.” She used to scoff at Fang Canyang for calling her that.
Now, though…
Huo Fanjin: Oh, how sweet!
Unfortunately, Jiang Fuyue remained indifferent and rational. “You can use English.”
“No, he said his English pronunciation is strange, so he doesn’t speak it often. For a perfectionist genius, that’s intolerable!”
Huo Fanjin shrugged. “He holds himself to high standards. He even refused my request for a video call because I wouldn’t understand his German. Otherwise, we would’ve seen each other by now. I don’t even know what he looks like…”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know what he looks like?”
“Yeah!”
“What about photos?”
“He sent a few, but they were full-body shots, so I couldn’t see his face clearly. Sometimes he’s skiing, sometimes rock climbing. He even pilots a speedboat! He seems like a sporty, sunny guy!”
Jiang Fuyue frowned. “Did he initiate the meeting tonight?”
Huo Fanjin bit her lip. “Actually, I asked him. I was too curious about his appearance…”
“I thought I’d see him in the dining hall since he’s on the Country D team, but there were too many people. I couldn’t search every table. So I asked him to meet tonight.”
Jiang Fuyue looked thoughtful. “Did he agree?”
“He was hesitant because of the exam, but he agreed after I insisted.” See, isn’t he sweet?
Huo Fanjin’s eyes sparkled with happiness.
Jiang Fuyue, however, felt something was off.
“Don’t tell him you’re my teammate. Just say you’re my translator, okay? I don’t want him to feel uncomfortable. Please, Sister Yue, please!”
“Alright.” Jiang Fuyue agreed quickly.
Huo Fanjin: “?” So agreeable?
Before she could ponder it, footsteps approached from behind…
The competition begins tomorrow. Good night~
