“Didn’t he just say it earlier? Partner and collaborator?”
“While I was still grinding through practice books, Sister Yue was already working with a top-tier academic giant. Sobs… why must high schoolers torment other high schoolers?”
“Professor Xie feels more like an elder to Sister Yue. That hug just now? Totally like a mother hen shielding her chick!”
“Elder… actually kind of makes sense. He’s nearly ten years older after all.”
“I’m more curious—what does Sister Yue call him in private? Older Brother? Uncle?”
“Uncle, probably. I mean, with his academic status.”
“Can I ask quietly… anyone shipping them?”
A beat of silence in the crowd.
“We want to, but we’re scared.”
“I’m secretly doing it already.”
“Waaah! Found my people at last—I thought I was the only one brave (and dumb) enough!”
“Girls, I recorded a video of Professor Xie wrapping his arm around Sister Yue’s waist. Wanna see?”
“Send it to me!”
“Me too!”
“Don’t forget me!”
“Let’s just make a group chat. We’ll call it… YuanYue Processing Sugar Plant?”
“Yes yes yes!”
“Ladies! From today on, we ship with all our might!”
“Did the video get sent?”
“Yes, yes—”
“HOLY—THE WAIST! HE WRAPPED HIS ARM AROUND HER WAIST!”
“My pupils are shaking.”
“Professor Xie is exploding with boyfriend energy! And my Sister Yue’s slim little waist… they’re perfect for each other!”
“So those cheesy romance lines like ‘his large hand wrapped around her slender waist’ are real? Aaaah—I can’t live!”
“I know it’s probably impossible, but I’m shipping them until my teeth fall out!”
“YuanYue Girls—Charge!!”
They were so excited their squeals—wait, chicken cries?—drew attention from nearby boys.
“Hey, what are you all talking about?”
“Secret~ Teehee…”
The national training team list remained unchanged. Jiang Fuyue secured first place with a perfect score—absolutely unshakable.
….
Back in Linhuai, the good news spread fast. Old Principal Hu Yongwei put down his phone, his face crinkling from the sheer joy of his smile.
“Old Hu, what’s got you so happy?” The principal of Second High asked casually.
“Oh, just got a WeChat message.”
The principal from Third High turned around with a grin. “Must be good news, huh?”
Hu Yongwei nodded, unable to hide his delight. “It is. Very good. Happy for the kids.”
Second and Third High’s principals exchanged a look.
“About a student, I bet? What happened? Spill it.”
Ahem. Hu cleared his throat. “Nothing major, really. Just that the CMO results are out, and some of our students did pretty well.”
This year’s joint exam was notoriously brutal. Linhuai only had a few students who made it to the CMO round—and they were all from No 1 High. Second High’s principal had been salty about it for days, even calling in his prep teachers for a talking-to.
So now, hearing Hu bring up the CMO results felt like poking a sore wound.
His expression shifted instantly.
Third High’s principal sat back with amusement, enjoying the show. Third High had never been able to compete with First or Second High, so he had nothing at stake.
“The results are out, huh?” Second High’s principal said coolly. “Anyone make the national team?”
Hu nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh, congrats. No. 1 High School has always been strong in math. I remember your best year, you had two students make the team, right?”
“Mm.”
“Too bad they didn’t make it to IMO in the end. Hopefully this year’s better.”
Hu smiled wider. “This year’s already better. We didn’t just get two in. We got four.”
“How many?” Second High’s principal blinked.
“Four.” Hu confirmed.
“If I recall correctly, only four students from Linhuai made it to the CMO this year, right?” Third High’s principal added with a smirk.
“All four made the national team?!”
Hu nodded.
Second High’s principal looked like he’d swallowed a lemon.
Third High’s principal said, “To make the national team, they had to place pretty high, right? Top fifty? Or was it thirty?”
“Top thirty,” Hu replied.
“Wow, that’s impressive,” Third High’s principal said sincerely—though the schadenfreude was unmistakable. “So what were their exact ranks? One of them was Jiang Fuyue, right? The perfect scorer from the prelims. Did she score full marks again?”
He only asked in passing, figuring it was too much to expect lightning to strike twice.
But—
Hu nodded. “With math, physics, and chemistry, she’s never scored less than full marks. So it was expected.”
“…?”
“The other three were a surprise though.”
“How… surprising?”
“One got second. The other two tied for fifth.”
Third High’s principal gaped. “So all four placed in the top five? And Jiang Fuyue was first again?!”
“That’s correct.”
Third High’s principal: “…” His mouth had been too bold. His face now paid the price.
Second High’s principal: “…” Should he faint or cough blood? That was the question.
Intermission ended. The second half of the meeting resumed.
Before continuing the agenda, the education bureau officials made a point of congratulating Hu Yongwei in front of all 36 high school principals.
And so the news spread—
“No. 1 High School’s stronger than ever.”
“If they win IMO, along with previous IPhO and IOI victories, No. 1 High School would have a full sweep!”
“They weren’t even this strong before. Must’ve changed in the last year or so?”
“I heard it’s because of a genius student.”
“I know who! Jiang Fuyue! She’s been trending on Weibo multiple times.”
“Look at how smug Old Hu is… I’m jealous. When will my 18th High produce a student like that?”
The CMO concluded. Students who didn’t make the national team could return home and prep for school.
Those who made it had three days off.
National team training would begin afterward.
Xu Jing packed up that afternoon to head back to Linhuai. Local supervisors were no longer needed—national coaches would take over through to IMO.
Chen Cheng went too. “Tomorrow’s my mom’s birthday. I want to be home with her.”
Tan Jiaxu signed up for a two-day local tour. “Never been to the capital before. Figured I’d take some photos.”
Ling Xuan had relatives in the capital and got picked up in a Maybach right after the closing ceremony.
By evening, only Jiang Fuyue remained at the hotel.
Ling Xuan had invited her—
“My aunt’s villa is out in the suburbs. I’ll be the only one there. You’re welcome to come—lots of rooms, super quiet, no one will disturb you.”
“Thanks, but I promised my uncle I’d stay with him.”
“…Oh.” He left, disappointed.
Out of water, Jiang Fuyue went downstairs. On her way back, she ran into a girl she’d shared an exam room with.
“Sister Yue! Not going home?”
“Heading soon.”
“Then why are you still here? It’s almost dark.”
She smiled. “Waiting for someone.”
“Oh, then I’ll head off. Bye!”
“Bye.”
They passed each other. The girl made a peace sign and texted excitedly—
[Guess who I just saw?!]
[Who?!]
[Sister Yue!! She smiled and said bye to me—how can anyone be this smart, this polite, and this pretty?!]
….
As dusk fell and city lights lit up, Jiang Fuyue worked in her room, going through a backlog of company documents.
A WeChat ping broke the silence.
She opened it: just two words—
[Come down.]
Ten minutes later.
She exited the hotel—and froze.
Across the street, a man leaned against a car. His suit from the ceremony was gone, replaced by a gray trench coat, unzipped with its collar slightly upturned.
Less formal, more dashing.
Jiang Fuyue raised a brow.
The man straightened upon seeing her, hands jammed nervously into his pockets.
She walked over. “Wait long?”
Xie Dingyuan shook his head. “Not really.”
As he spoke, he opened the passenger door for her.
She slid in.
He circled to the driver’s side, got in, and started the car. “Let’s eat first.”
Half an hour later, the black car stopped outside a hotpot restaurant.
As soon as Jiang Fuyue stepped out, the smell made her salivate.
Inside, the waiter led them to a private room.
Xie Dingyuan ordered like a regular.
Jiang Fuyue watched—he picked all her favorites.
“What is it?” he asked after handing the menu back, catching her gaze.
“Nothing,” she shook her head.
The yin-yang pot arrived quickly. Dishes followed.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t have to lift a finger—he handled it all.
“This one takes five seconds. That one, fifteen…”
He remembered everything.
“I’ll do it. You eat too.”
“I am.”
But in truth, he ate one bite and served her three.
She: “…”
Was he being too attentive?
He felt great. The book said being considerate earns bonus points.
So… how many points had he earned? Was he past the passing line?
After dinner, he went to pay. She stayed to freshen up.
Coming out of the restroom, she nearly collided with a man.
He was drunk—flushed cheeks, dazed eyes, swaying.
Seeing her, he paused, stopped fidgeting with his collar.
“Sorry, wrong room.”
He blinked, scanned the room, and after a pause, replied, “My bad.”
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue waited for him to leave.
Suddenly: “Have we met before?”
“I don’t think so.”
“No, I’m sure we have!” He stepped forward.
“Stop—”
He froze.
“What’s your name?”
“No comment.”
Her icy demeanor was clear.
Zhong Yunyi chuckled, intrigued. “Do you know who I am?”
She’d heard that line recently—from Fang Liuliu.
“Are you the Chinese yuan?”
“…What?”
“Because everyone’s supposed to know you?”
He was stunned. Maybe it was the booze, or maybe it had been too long since anyone dared mock him to his face.
Still, he found it novel.
“I’m not the yuan,” he shook his head, “but I have a lot of it.”
“Please leave.”
He ignored her. “Which university are you from? I—”
Thud!
He hunched over, clutching his stomach, stunned as she retracted her foot.
“You—kicked me?”
“If you don’t leave, I’ll slam you next. Believe it?”
No one had ever done that to him.
“You bit—”
BANG! Before he could finish, he hit the floor.
Flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. Pain flared across his back.
Jiang Fuyue calmly picked up her coat and bag and walked out like nothing had happened.
“You stop—” Zhong Yunyi chased after her—
And ran into Xie Dingyuan.
They froze, recognizing each other.
“Little Nine? What are you doing here?”
He remembered Xie Dingyuan didn’t eat hotpot.
“Why are you coming out of our room?” Xie Dingyuan asked.
Our?
Zhong Yunyi now noticed Jiang Fuyue was beside Xie Dingyuan, both looking at him with suspicion.
Cold sweat broke on his back.
“I—I must’ve been drunk. Wrong room. Big misunderstanding.”
No mention of being kicked and slammed.
Xie Dingyuan frowned. “I’ll call my sister to pick you up.”
“Sure,” Zhong Yunyi nodded weakly. “Otherwise, I really wouldn’t know how to make an excuse to leave.”
Call done.
Zhong Yunyi turned to Jiang Fuyue. “Sorry again. I was out of it—mistook you for someone else.”
She replied coolly, “Mm.”
Not sure if she believed him.
A flicker of interest passed through his eyes.
Xie Dingyuan returned.
Zhong Yunyi suddenly stood straighter. “Ah Yuan, this young lady is—?”
“…My friend.”
Then he leaned in and whispered to Jiang Fuyue, “That’s my brother-in-law. Zhong Ziang’s dad.”
She raised a brow, now giving Zhong Yunyi a proper look.
Yeah, the resemblance was there.
And he didn’t look his age—easily passed for early thirties.
But from what she’d heard, he and Zhong Ziang didn’t get along.
Xie Dingyuan: “My sister should be here soon. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
They left.
Zhong Yunyi watched them go, eyes narrowing.
Friend? When did Xie Dingyuan start having female friends?
How… interesting.
Twenty minutes later, Xie Yunzao arrived.
She found Zhong Yunyi leaning against a column, smoking. Jacket on one arm, shirt collar undone.
The cigarette glowed in the breeze, his whole posture radiating devil-may-care charm.
She stopped in front of him. “Drunk or not?”
“Nope.”
“Then why call me?”
“Little Nine called you. You didn’t say no.”
She shoved him. “You stink of booze.”
“Good thing my wife smells amazing.”
She rolled her eyes. “How’d you bump into Little Nine?”
“That’s what I’m wondering too… at a hotpot place, of all places.”
She frowned. “He doesn’t eat hotpot.”
“Exactly. Doesn’t eat hotpot, doesn’t have a girlfriend… but today he did both.”
“What do you mean? And stand straight! Quit rubbing against me!”
She pushed him again.
“Ow—don’t touch my stomach! It hurts!”
“You got hit?”
“…Actually, yeah.”
She glared. “I don’t have time for your jokes. Just now—what did you say about Little Nine? What girlfriend?!”
Today’s Xie-dog is in a trench coat.
Zhong Ziang: You might not believe it, but not just me—my uncle, and my dad have all been taken down by Jiang Fuyue.
Pretty bad*ss, huh?
