As soon as Xie Dingyuan ended the call, he regretted it.
What was he thinking?
His subsequent experiments were half-hearted.
Maybe… he should call Sheng Yiming to cancel the ticket?
But when he picked up his phone, he called home instead, asking his grandmother to pack a few clothes for him and have the driver deliver them to the airport.
His grandmother was surprised: “Are you going on a business trip?”
Xie Dingyuan: “Yes.”
“So suddenly? You never mentioned it before.”
“… It was a last-minute decision.”
“Is it important?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his eyes flickered. Luckily, she couldn’t see his expression; otherwise, any mother would instantly know her son was lying.
He said, “Yes, it’s important.”
“What time is your flight?”
“In three hours.”
Without asking more, she hung up and went upstairs to pack.
Passing by Zhong Ziang’s room, she saw the door half-open and the boy squatting on the floor, packing his suitcase.
He had almost finished. He closed the suitcase and zipped it up.
“Angang, what are you doing? Going home?” She thought he was tired of staying and wanted to return to the Zhong family.
Zhong Ziang scoffed: “Whoever wants to go back can go. I’m not.”
“Then why are you packing?”
The boy’s face lit up as if he had thought of something delightful— “Hehe, I’ve booked a ticket to fly to Country D. It’s almost time for me to head to the airport.”
“What are you going to Country D for?”
“To see your future granddaughter-in-law!”
“The one competing in the physics contest, Jiang—”
Zhong Ziang grinned: “Jiang Fuyue.”
“Right, right, my memory. Well, it works out. Your uncle is also going on a business trip. The driver will be taking his luggage to the airport soon. You can go together, and make sure he drinks his beef bone soup, not leaving a drop!”
“Will it be on time? My flight is in three hours.”
“It will! I’ll pack his clothes right now.”
“Okay.” Zhong Ziang nodded, “Hurry up.”
Secretly, he wondered: Uncle doesn’t like business trips, especially not so suddenly… without packing… Strange…
At the airport in the capital.
Xie Dingyuan received a call from the driver asking where he was.
“Uncle Li, over here.”
The driver finally found him and hurried over.
“Ninth Master, here’s your luggage and the beef bone soup from the old lady.”
Xie Dingyuan took the suitcase. “No need for the soup, I’m in a hurry.”
“But…”
“Uncle, that’s not right,” a voice suddenly interrupted from behind the driver.
Xie Dingyuan frowned: “Why are you here?”
Zhong Ziang grinned: “Catching a flight, and supervising you drinking your soup.”
“…”
“Hurry up and drink, then check in your luggage. Grandma ordered me to make sure you finish it all, not a drop left. I can’t let her down!”
“…”
After drinking the soup, Xie Dingyuan turned and walked away, exuding a cold resentment.
Zhong Ziang watched, amused.
The driver reminded, “Young master, aren’t you catching a flight too?”
“D*mn! I almost forgot…”
Uncle and nephew checked in their luggage and passed through security separately. Zhong Ziang didn’t ask where Xie Dingyuan was going for business, nor did Xie Dingyuan care where Zhong Ziang was vacationing.
Forty minutes later, they found themselves in the same VIP lounge.
Their eyes met—one surprised, the other frowning.
Xie Dingyuan: “Why are you here?”
Zhong Ziang: “I’m going to Country D to watch Jiang Fuyue’s competition.”
The man’s eyes darkened.
“Uncle, don’t tell me you’re also going to Country D.”
“This VIP lounge is only for business and first-class passengers of the same flight. What do you think?”
Since both were here, the possibility of being on the same flight was undeniable.
Zhong Ziang was heading to Country D, so Xie Dingyuan’s destination was also clear.
At nine-thirty, they began boarding.
To their surprise, they were seated next to each other.
Zhong Ziang murmured: “What a coincidence…”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t respond, giving his nephew a cold profile.
Meanwhile, the sun in Country D hadn’t set yet.
Jiang Fuyue planned to go out.
Huo Fanjin: “Where are you going?”
“Just wandering around, buying some souvenirs.”
“Then I’ll come too!”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow: “Not meeting Frank?”
Huo Fanjin pursed her lips: “He hasn’t even replied to my emails. What would be the point? I’m not stupid.”
It seemed she had figured something out.
“Alright,” Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll ask the others if they want to join.”
So, two people turned into six—five students and Sun Qun.
“Ahem… I’ll join in the fun too.”
Mainly because Sun Qun didn’t speak German, and with Jiang Fuyue around as a translator, he didn’t want to miss the opportunity.
He also intended to buy some souvenirs.
They took the bus to the city center, following Jiang Fuyue’s suggestion, and went to a large supermarket instead of specialty shops.
In less than half an hour, Jiang Fuyue had picked everything she needed: various chocolates and some inexpensive handmade items.
Huo Fanjin, not short on money, wanted to buy everything she saw, unknowingly filling up a shopping cart.
Jiang Fuyue reminded her: “Can you fit all this in your suitcase?”
Uh…
“Right.” She then quietly put some items back.
Sun Qun paused his shopping and discreetly returned two boxes of chocolates with unattractive packaging.
Lin Shumo noticed and his mouth twitched.
Yet, he was also puzzled.
Jiang Fuyue, visiting Country D for the first time, should find everything novel, but she seemed more composed and experienced than those who had been there before.
It was quite strange…
Could she naturally be calmer than others?
Lin Shumo didn’t believe it.
If such traits were innate, wouldn’t all children be prodigies? Why bother with education?
Leaving the supermarket, everyone carried shopping bags. Ling Xuan and Lin Shumo had the least, Fang Canyang had a bit more, then Jiang Fuyue and Huo Fanjin, and the most was Sun Qun.
They then stopped by a convenience store. Jiang Fuyue bought garlic oil, effervescent tablets, and various vitamins, which were affordable and of good quality.
Sun Qun secretly bought several types of hair growth products, checking out last on purpose.
Everyone understood but said nothing.
They returned to the hotel before sunset and went to dinner together.
At night, Jiang Fuyue finished her bath and sat on the bed drying her hair.
Huo Fanjin suddenly took out her phone to transfer money to her.
“I don’t recall you owing me money?” Jiang Fuyue turned off the hairdryer.
“I paid for the top-floor suite last night!”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t understand: “Why did you pay?”
“Why should you pay!” Huo Fanjin was anxious.
“I suggested it.”
“And I agreed.”
Jiang Fuyue frowned.
Huo Fanjin whispered: “That suite was quite expensive…”
Jiang Fuyue understood.
“Don’t worry,” she waved, “I have money.”
Huo Fanjin was half-convinced.
Wasn’t her family selling pancakes? How could they make much money?
But it felt impolite to ask.
So conflicted…
Seeing her unease, Jiang Fuyue suggested: “Then you pay tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Then I’ll pay,” Jiang Fuyue corrected herself.
“No… are we staying there again tonight?”
“Yes.”
Huo Fanjin smiled and nodded: “Alright! I’ll pay tonight.”
She quite liked the starry sky…
The fifth day passed uneventfully.
On the sixth day, participants could finally sleep in, with the dining hall opening two hours later.
But Yan Zhenfeng and Qin Libin couldn’t, as they had to attend a team leader meeting, then meet with the grading team to discuss and resolve any grading discrepancies.
In the afternoon, the results would be out, followed by the final International Committee meeting.
The key agenda was approving the award list!
Three theoretical questions, two experimental questions, each worth 10 points, totaling 50.
According to the rules, the average score of the top three participants was set as 100%.
Those scoring 90% or above received first prize (gold medal); those between 78% and 90% received second prize (silver medal); those between 65% and 78% received third prize (bronze medal); those between 50% and 65% received honorable mention; those below 50% got a participation certificate.
The top gold medalist also received a special prize.
This year, there was a dilemma because the top two participants had identical scores!
Both had perfect scores!
Who should receive the special prize?
