Ren Wanxuan’s face was cold, and she didn’t continue speaking. However, she felt extremely annoyed inside.
Chen Zheng, who was sitting next to her, had already figured it out – he didn’t recognize Bailian earlier, but now after hearing what Ren Wanxuan said, he remembered that this was the person he saw on the street that night.
He didn’t know what kind of relative she was to the Ren family. If Bailian was able to get into this training class because of her connection to the Ren family, then it wouldn’t be too surprising.
He nodded slightly and continued to look down to work on questions.
The other students looked at each other. Everyone in the training class knew what this class was for – preparing candidates for Peking University. Only real talents with outstanding academic abilities could get in here – the entrance exam math was extremely difficult while the science questions were giveaway problems. There were several students in this class who got full marks on science.
“85 marks?” Shi Yutong’s voice became sharp. “How did she even get in here?”
She had good grades, and since she was young, she learned how to socialize and form alliances with others at school, always looking down at ordinary students.
Bailian was clearly an “connections admission” with marks like that.
However, Shi Yutong didn’t care too much. No matter how strong her background was, it couldn’t be stronger than the Chen or Ren family, right?
Some students who wanted to add Bailian on WeChat held themselves back.
“Why is it so quiet today?” The substitute teacher was the head teacher of Class 8 Senior Year 3, who was also the group leader for the physics teachers of Senior Year 3. Wearing glasses, he turned on the projector to show the class their curriculum, smiling kindly at these top students. “Let’s do the usual today – watch curriculum videos for an hour and a half, then work on problems for half an hour. Dismiss at 8.”
What he showed were lecture videos from the famous teacher competition team at the Beijing Affiliated High School. The videos alternated between math and physics. Today’s video was on physics.
After starting the video, the head teacher of Class 8 also sat at the back with a pen and paper, watching along with the students. Today’s physics curriculum covered electromagnetics and relativity. The video explained it very clearly. Bailian put down her pen and listened attentively. This was her first time learning about time dilation. She felt like this concept was frightening, since everyone’s perception of the flow of time was different.
At exactly 7:30pm, the video finished playing. The substitute teacher distributed printed questions that he had prepared. “Here are today’s questions, just one question. Take a look and work on it. I’ll come collect it tomorrow night and count it as part of your usual grades.”
The only sound left in the lecture hall was the rustling of papers. After handing out the questions, the teacher from Class 8 clasped his hands behind his back and slowly paced over to Bailian, lowering his head to look at her.
He wanted to see her solve the problems.
Write! Why aren’t you writing?
Classmate, do you have an issue with me?
He stubbornly waited for ten minutes. Seeing that she showed no intention of writing anything, he expressionlessly stood up straight, preparing to leave. He could tell this student was very rebellious.
Usually the substitute teachers would leave early, allowing students to voluntarily stay behind in the last half hour.
But then he suddenly recalled something.
Wait, the book Bailian took out earlier was—
“Physics at Peking University”?
That book wasn’t available for sale to the public, only physics majors at Peking University had it. Getting into Peking University itself was difficult enough, let alone into the department with the highest admissions scores, Physics.
The head teacher of Class 8 didn’t personally know anyone from the Peking University Physics Department. As he left, he wondered to himself.
He had to find an opportunity to bo—ahem, borrow, that book from this student and take a look.
**
As she read, Bailian lightly turned the pages, occasionally jotting down notes.
“How annoying!” In front of her, Shi Yutong sat with an icy expression directed at Bailian’s area. Seeing that she had set aside the distributed questions and was just flipping through a book, Shi Yutong couldn’t help but lose her temper. “If you don’t want to study properly, then stop disturbing others, okay? Do you have to keep flipping pages, are you doing that just to annoy people?!”
Surnamed Bai – after searching all of Xiangcheng City, Shi Yutong failed to find any Bai family.
Her dad worked at the education bureau so she knew about student records. The other students might not know, but she had a very clear grasp.
She knew Chen Zheng’s family was Xiangcheng’s wealthiest, while Ren Wanxuan’s background was even more impressive.
Bailian continued to lightly bow her head. The lights in the lecture hall were quite bright. She lazily leaned against her chair, one hand turning pages and the other holding a pen. From time to time, she would write notes in the book. She ignored Shi Yutong completely.
Although she couldn’t compare to Chen Wei and Ren Wanxuan, Shi Yutong was not a nobody at school either. Her grades were good and her family background was also decent.
Being ignored like this, she couldn’t stand it – she had never lost face like this in front of others before! Let alone to some random transfer student of unknown origins!
“Bailian, are you deaf?”
“Oh?” Bailian finally raised her head. She glanced at Shi Yutong, as if only just reacting now. A strand of black hair fell lightly at her cheek. “Were you shouting at me?”
With her choice of the word “shouting”, it was as if Shi Yutong was a barking dog.
Shi Yutong’s face darkened. “Don’t keep flipping your—”
“I’m going to do that on purpose.”
Bailian cut Shi Yutong off. While appearing as nothing more than an ordinary student, her posture was upright as she lazily leaned one arm on the table. Upon turning sideways to face Shi Yutong, her gaze carried an arrogant and domineering look down at the other girl.
With languor, she turned another page in her book, smiling faintly at Shi Yutong. “Want to call the police?”
Shi Yutong swore she heard stifled chuckling from a few places.
Ren Wanxuan had already experienced Bailian’s sharp tongue. She didn’t know why this person who got into the training class thanks to the Ren family had so much nerve.
But Ren Wanxuan didn’t want more people at school to know of Bailian’s relationship with her. So she didn’t clarify. She hoped Bailian would have some tact and not try to cling onto her.
Seeing Shi Yutong’s reaction, Ren Wanxuan said, “Have a seat.”
Shi Yutong sat down with an overcast gaze still fixed on Bailian. Never before had she been so humiliated in front of others! Moreover by a random transfer student of unknown background!
Half an hour quickly passed. Students who couldn’t solve the question started packing up and leaving one by one. Ren Wanxuan looked at Chen Zheng beside her. “Were you able to get it?”
Chen Zheng shook his head, then looked over at Ning Xiao’s spot. Ning Xiao was also packing up, unclear if he had solved it or not.
“Going home?” Ren Wanxuan also hadn’t written out the right answer. “Heard anything about invitation letters?”
Upon hearing this, Chen Zheng turned his head. “Where did you get that news from?”
“My gra—” Ren Wanxuan was about to say, when she noticed Bailian still on her right and stopped. She gave Chen Zheng and the others a look. “Let’s talk outside.”
She didn’t want to mention her grandfather’s background or her own family’s prestige in front of Bailian.
The few of them packed up and left together. As they exited through the front entrance, Ren Wanxuan noticed the question sheet on Bailian’s desk was still completely blank. She hadn’t even touched the first question.
Ren Wanxuan’s lips curled in a cold smile.
“Your grandfather received news of invitation letters to White Tiger Auction House?” Away from others on the stairwell, Chen Zheng spoke up first. “My dad didn’t hear anything.”
“Very normal,” Ren Wanxuan was unsurprised. “It’s not like anyone can enter White Tiger Auction House.”
Compared to White Tiger Auction House’s status, Xiangcheng amounted to nothing in their eyes. For them to even acquire an invite, they could only turn to the black market. The two continued chatting while Shi Yutong and the rest could barely comprehend the terms being discussed.
Coming from ordinary families, they only knew a little about domestic affairs. They had never even heard of White Tiger Auction House before. It wasn’t until parting ways at the gates that they lowered their voices and discussed the exchange after Ren Wanxuan and Chen Zheng’s cars had driven off.
Shi Yutong spoke quietly, “I feel like my dad may have mentioned it before, it’s over at our border region…”
She didn’t dare utter the words “Heishui Street”.
Ordinary people did not casually venture into that area. It was said that even passing dogs would be skinned thrice over.
**
At slightly past 8pm, Jiang He was waiting for her at the school gates. Ming Dongheng apologetically looked at Bailian – he felt that she was very even-tempered.
With Jiang Furong coming home late every day, Jiang He was often left to play by himself until his brother returned. His temperament was odd and he didn’t have friends his age.
Bailian was Jiang He’s first friend, willing to play with him, so Jiang He was highly clingy towards her.
Having long received Jiang He’s message, Bailian told Ji Heng she wouldn’t be going back for dinner. She brought Jiang He next door to a bubble tea shop. “What time does your brother get home? The shop closes at 9.”
Her deskmate had already gotten off work and gone home.
“They won’t close,” Jiang He lazily replied. “Gege bought the shop.”
His tone made it sound as simple as buying some cabbage.
The always upright and honest Bai family member: “…”
Ah.
**
Jiang Furong returned early today. At the same time, he had people deliver dinner over to this area near the school.
As he stepped out of the car, the only light coming from the bubble tea shop was a bulb by the window. The shop appeared closed to the public, with just that one light left on.
Bailian bowed her head as she worked on assignments. Feeling slightly cold tonight, she had on the school uniform jacket, the zipper undone to reveal the white embroidered collar of her shirt underneath. She leant one hand languidly against her chin while the other held a pen. Brows slightly furrowed, long lashes half-lowered.
From time to time, passing pedestrians would frequently glance back.
Jiang He sat beside her, head lowered as he played with a Rubik’s Cube.
The door chimes rang as someone entered. Bailian and Jiang He looked up simultaneously to see who it was.
Jiang Furong’s gaze had always been icy and aloof with an innate sense of nobility. Carrying the chilled overcoat draped over an arm, he stood tall and straight, briefly inclining his head as he stepped through the doorway.
Seeing the two look at him, his steps strangely faltered for a second.
Why did he take Jiang He in? Maybe seeing the 3-year-old Jiang He home alone waiting for parents who would never return, he could empathize.
Despite being unsociable and taciturn, Jiang He also hardly threw tantrums during this period. In fact, these days were when he had the most vigor.
Jiang Furong watched this scene, struck by the sudden sensation that Bailian and Jiang He were waiting for his return.
After setting out the food neatly, the assistant also brought out Bailian’s share. She wasted no time in picking up her chopsticks, while also handing Jiang Furong the question sheet they were given today. “The teacher had me sit in on the training class lessons which I could follow. But when it comes to the actual problems…”
She paused briefly. “I kind of want to fight them.”
Jiang Furong almost felt like smiling.
“Don’t be so quick to start brawling,” his voice was cool and clear. Reaching out to take the papers, he saw the Peking University header and knew roughly what it was after a quick glance. “It’s not you, the guy who made these questions is just always like this. Simple problems. I’ll explain after eating.”
Questions that no one else in the entire Xiangcheng school system could solve, he easily brushed off with a casual “simple”.
During the meal, Jiang Furong sincerely sent Professor Ma a suggestion —
?Your PhD students can’t write exam questions well, I can teach them?
Over the past couple days, Bailian had listened to many lessons, including tonight’s master teacher video lecture. Having that contrast made Jiang Furong’s explanation much clearer and more digestible, going into greater detail at a more measured pace. His voice was also somewhat softer.
Bailian watched him intently without blinking, curiosity shining bright in those dark eyes of hers. “So was the invariance of the speed of light derived or proven?”
“Maxwell’s equations…” Jiang Furong picked up a pen, long tapered fingers fluid and fair under the light as he neatly wrote out an elegant set of formulas on the back of his hand.
Off to the side, Jiang He drank milk while blankly regarding his brother. He had asked a similar question last month.
Jiang Furong simply pointed to a folder and coldly said—
“There’s a related paper I published in Nature two years back, go find it yourself.”
“…”
You…you wrote that??
**
Jiang Furong explained it very clearly. Covering electromagnetism lately happened to coincide with Bailian’s current focus, so she more or less grasped the concepts for solving this question.
The next day at school, she wrote up the answer based on her own understanding.
Tonight’s training session curriculum was Math.
The head teacher collected yesterday’s question sheets and distributed the answer key he had just printed out before starting today’s video lecture.
While the students watched the lecture, the Class 8 head teacher brought out his record book for usual grades. He also grabbed two pens to start correcting the homework they just turned in. Most hadn’t fully completed it. For each student he went over, he’d mark down a score for usual grades in his book – all evaluations this late in the term.
The questions were far too twisted. After barely pulling an all-nighter last night to completely wrap his mind around the answer key, seeing Ning Xiao’s submission, the head teacher wrote a big huge “8” next to his name.
Usual grades were out of 10 points.
Most of the others scored between 4 to 5 points.
Ren Wanxuan’s answer was slightly higher than average, 6 points.
Chen Zheng’s solution this time wasn’t as comprehensive as Ning Xiao’s, so 7 points.
Going through all the scribbled and distorted handwriting, he was used to searching between the crevices for contorted responses year after year.
It wasn’t until he reached the last sheet that he saw writing as orderly as print, beautiful stroke by stroke. Lighting up, his gaze went to assessing the content – merely on the first question, he straightened with an alert expression. By the time he read the second question—
His pupils contracting violently.
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