At the end of January, a major event arrived — the opening of the CMO (Winter Camp).
Location: the Imperial Capital.
Only six students from the entire J Province were lucky enough to be selected, four of whom came from Linnan No.1 High School.
They were: Jiang Fuyue, Ling Xuan, Tan Jiaxu, and Chen Cheng.
Especially Jiang Fuyue — the only student in the entire country to get a perfect score in the competition. Her results were simply dazzling.
The school held a meeting and decided that Teacher Xu Jing would lead the team and accompany the four students to the capital.
Flight costs would be reimbursed, and all accommodation and meals were fully covered.
Chen Cheng’s eyes lit up: “The school is being so generous this time! I heard from senior students who attended CMO before that they had to cover the camp expenses themselves. It wasn’t a lot, but the school never paid.”
Tan Jiaxu nodded: “I heard the same thing. Why the change this year?”
“Ahem!” Xu Jing cleared his throat. “The school has provided such good resources and conditions for you all. You must take this seriously and perform well to live up to their expectations, got it?”
Then, he suddenly lowered his voice: “This also directly affects whether your juniors can enjoy the same benefits in the future. It’s a big responsibility!”
Chen Cheng: “Don’t worry, Teacher Xu. With Sister Yue around, half the battle is already won. Nothing to worry about.”
Tan Jiaxu: “Sister Yue’s strength is off the charts. She’s like three people in one. Who would dare try to show off in front of her? That’d just be asking for humiliation.”
Xu Jing secretly nodded but said, “While Student Jiang is indeed talented, you all shouldn’t blindly rely on others. You need to blaze your own trails if you want to reach the top, understand?”
Chen Cheng: “…Oh.”
Tan Jiaxu: “…Okay.”
Inner thoughts (OS): Who doesn’t know you’re the biggest Jiang fanboy, huh? Still pretending?
Xu Jing: I may be a fan, but I won’t say it. As a teacher, I must be fair and just. Yay~
“By the way, where are Sister Yue and Ling Xuan?”
“It’s still early. They’ll probably be a bit late.”
Twenty minutes later, Ling Xuan arrived.
“Teacher Xu.”
“You’re here. Go check your luggage.”
“No need. I’ve just got a small suitcase, nothing prohibited. I can carry it on board.”
“Alright then.” Xu Jing took a sip of hot tea.
Yes, the old man always carried his own tea cup. Not even for a fortune would he sell it.
Ling Xuan casually glanced around and, after confirming someone wasn’t present, finally asked, “Where’s Jiang Fuyue?”
Tan Jiaxu: “Sister Yue isn’t here yet.”
“Not much time left.” Ling Xuan looked at his watch. “I’ll give her a call…”
When the phone rang, Jiang Fuyue was sitting in Xie Dingyuan’s car.
She glanced at the caller ID and picked up. “Hello…”
Ling Xuan: “Where are you?”
“On the way. About fifteen minutes out.”
“Did you eat breakfast? I’m already at the airport — I can buy you something.”
Although he didn’t put it on speaker, the car was a sealed space, and the seats were close. Every word of their conversation fell into Xie Dingyuan’s ears.
He stayed calm on the surface.
Meanwhile, the call continued—
Jiang Fuyue: “Thanks, I already ate.”
“Okay. We’re at Departure Hall, Gate 3. You’ll see us as soon as you come in.”
“Got it.”
Just as she hung up and was about to put down her phone, the man beside her spoke coolly: “That Ling kid?”
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue nodded.
“He’s going to the winter camp too?”
“Second in the province. What do you think?” Jiang Fuyue replied casually.
The man’s lips tightened slightly. After a while, he muttered, “…I never had the chance to go before.”
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
His gaze flickered, and a faint awkwardness crossed his face. “…Nothing.”
It took Jiang Fuyue a moment to realize what he meant.
She couldn’t help but laugh: “Right! The genius who skipped grades didn’t have time for subject competitions. Otherwise, you’d have swept all the gold medals and ranked first globally.”
This time, Xie Dingyuan looked embarrassed. “It’s not that exaggerated…”
Then suddenly, his tone shifted: “But I’m still better than that Ling kid.”
After a two-second pause, he added, “By far.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
That morning, she had originally planned to take a cab to the airport. Although her family had a car — a Cullinan no less — there was no driver available, and both Jiang Da and Han Yunru were out, so no one could take her. After thinking it over, a taxi seemed easiest.
Just when the taxi was about to arrive, Xie Dingyuan suddenly pulled up in front of her and said, “I’ll take you.”
It wasn’t a question, nor a request — his tone left no room for refusal.
Right then, the taxi driver also called to say there was an issue on the road and he couldn’t make it on time. So that solved everything.
Jiang Fuyue wisely got in.
Xie Dingyuan even brought her breakfast — a steaming bowl of tangyuan.
“Frozen ones. Taste is average, but better than nothing.”
The girl blinked and looked at the tangyuan, then at him: “You cooked it?”
The man didn’t reply, but the redness creeping up his ears gave him away.
…
The car came to a stop. Right across was Gate 3.
Jiang Fuyue got out. “I’m going.”
“Call me the day before you return.”
“?”
“I’ll pick you up.”
Vehicles couldn’t stay long at the airport entrance. Before Jiang Fuyue could reply, the man had already driven off, as if afraid staying a second longer would get him rejected.
Jiang Fuyue shook her head, smiled, turned around, and wheeled her luggage inside.
“Sister Yue——!”
Chen Cheng was the first to spot her and jumped up to wave.
Ling Xuan smoothly handed her a bottle of water. Jiang Fuyue noticed everyone had one, so she accepted it. “Thanks.”
Xu Jing: “Everyone’s here. Let’s go——”
…
At noon, their flight landed at the Capital International Airport.
By 12:30 p.m., the group boarded a shuttle arranged by the organizers.
At 1:00 p.m., they arrived at the designated hotel.
After checking in, they went to the hotel restaurant for lunch.
By then, students and teachers from other provinces had mostly arrived as well.
Xu Jing’s college classmate was the team leader from Z Province. The two greeted each other and soon rekindled their old camaraderie. They sat together with their students and started a lively meal.
“I’m full,” Jiang Fuyue put down her chopsticks and stood up. “I’m going for a walk.”
“Be safe! Don’t go too far!” Xu Jing hadn’t even finished chewing his meat but still managed to squeeze out a warning.
“Got it——” Jiang Fuyue waved behind her back.
“This girl, she never lets me relax…”
His old classmate, Fan Shiguang, looked surprised: “Tsk! Old Xu, this isn’t like you.”
“What?”
“It’s not your first time leading a team, but I’ve never seen you keep such a close eye on a student. She’s just going for a walk, and you’re fussing like this.”
Xu Jing coughed awkwardly and touched his nose. “Did I?”
“Don’t pretend. You totally did! What’s the deal? Is this girl special somehow?”
Xu Jing rubbed his chin, acting mysterious: “Can’t reveal the heavenly secrets.”
“Cut it out! We’ve been friends for years and you’re pulling this on me? Aren’t you ashamed?”
Xu Jing nodded: “Not at all.”
“……” D*mn. Still as shameless as back in school.
“Fine, don’t tell me. I don’t even want to hear it. But this year, if you didn’t bring that Jiang—”
Halfway through the sentence, Fan Shiguang suddenly paused.
A realization dawned on him. He looked in the direction the girl had gone, then turned to stare at his old classmate: “…Don’t tell me that was Jiang Fuyue?”
“Heh, you guessed it.”
“No wonder… you’re so nervous.”
“Of course! A trump card like that — I gotta keep it safe. What if someone targets her?”
Fan Shiguang snorted: “A real trump card doesn’t care who targets her — still a trump card, still full damage. You guarding her so tightly… she better not be a half-baked one.”
Back in school, the two always competed — over grades, scholarships, everything. After graduation, they competed over teaching ability and competition coaching.
Fan Shiguang’s mouth never had a filter — nothing good ever came out of it.
If it had been in the past, Xu Jing would’ve immediately snapped back. After all, losing face wasn’t an option, and he always fought back with words.
But this time, he didn’t argue at all. Instead, he smiled like a kindly Buddha.
Fan Shiguang gave him a suspicious look.
Xu Jing: “Say something? Cat got your tongue?”
“Old Xu, something’s off about you. Seriously off!”
When something’s out of the ordinary, something strange is going on.
In the past, they’d argue until they were red in the face. Now one side suddenly backs off — that’s not a good sign.
“Not saying anything? Fine, I’ll say it.” Xu Jing wiped his mouth. “Have you ever seen a full-score student in the league who’s half-baked?”
Fan Shiguang: “…”
Xu Jing: “Heh… I have. She’s my student. Jealous?”
“…Yeah. Kind of want to punch you.”
