Xu Wenyao’s finger hovered over the “enter” key.
Hearing Bai Lian’s words, he thought for a moment before moving the cursor to type “Bai Lian” below Chen Hong’s name.
Jiang University’s campus network was reliable. After the transparent circle on screen finished spinning, blue characters appeared showing “Successfully Registered.”
“The problem will be released at 3 PM the day after tomorrow, and we still need to select a supervising professor,” Xu Wenyao explained the details to Bai Lian after completing registration. “The competition period is three days…”
Bai Lian nodded.
She wasn’t familiar with these competition procedures.
The three of them finished eating quickly.
Xu Wenyao invited Bai Lian to join them in the study room to familiarize herself with the mathematical modeling competition. Bai Lian glanced sideways, eyes slightly narrowed, “I’ll pass, I need to go print some materials first.”
“There’s a print room at school,” Chen Hong said, “just up ahead.”
Bai Lian knew about Jiang University’s print room, but the documents were from Professor Ma. After thinking, she said, “I’ll go back to print them.”
Chen Hong watched Bai Lian leave from the cafeteria entrance. “What does she need to print?”
“Maybe she has a lot of materials,” Xu Wenyao said casually. “The print room queue is too long.”
“That’s true,” Chen Hong nodded, the early July sun strong. He remembered something from earlier, “You really added her?”
“Yes.” Xu Wenyao gave Chen Hong an apologetic look. “Don’t worry, she won’t slow us down.”
With Chen Hong on the team, Xu Wenyao wouldn’t have agreed to add any other freshman, but this was Bai Lian.
Xu Wenyao recalled seeing Professor Ma at the airport.
Being valued by Professor Ma who personally saw her off at the airport, he knew Bai Lian must have her own strengths.
“Hey, it’s nothing. You’ll have to work harder now – without Qi Jun, we both have to share the model design.” Chen Hong put an arm around Xu Wenyao’s shoulder, showing he didn’t mind.
Without Qi Jun this time, they might only achieve mid-to-upper rankings. Modeling was team collaboration after all, adding Bai Lian didn’t make much difference to Chen Hong.
Besides, Bai Lian was this year’s top scorer. Chen Hong was willing to take this chance to build goodwill with the siblings.
“Just that we’ll miss Professor Jiang this time, he values the Boyuan modeling results.” Chen Hong sighed. He had emailed Professor Jiang, who had replied to the group.
The Boyuan modeling competition held even more weight than national competitions due to its high threshold. Registration spots needed approval from major universities. With poor results, even if graduate exam scores met requirements, Professor Jiang would likely not choose him.
Choosing an advisor for graduate studies was very important.
Back at the Shanhai Apartments.
Both 303 and 302’s doors were open.
Jiang He sat on 302’s carpet, his back to her assembling Lego. Ming Dongheng was on 303’s balcony observing Bai Lian’s newly planted cabbage.
Xu Nanjing sat lazily on Bai Lian’s sofa, legs propped on the coffee table, casually playing with a white jade fan. Seeing Bai Lian return, he quickly stood up, “Sister Ah Lian.”
Bai Lian greeted him before heading to her study.
She had a printer in her study.
Seeing her study door wasn’t closed, Xu Nanjing followed. Bai Lian had already turned on the computer and was efficiently printing documents.
Professor Ma had sent several documents. Now that she was done with college entrance exams, Professor Ma had raised his expectations, asking her to learn to write reviews.
He glanced at them – more academic papers he couldn’t understand.
High school students are already reading these? Xu Nanjing handed Bai Lian the folding fan, “From my mom.”
Professor Ma’s documents were 50 pages, still being printed one by one.
Bai Lian took the fan. It was pure white, the jade fan ribs reflecting a lustrous cold light, less than 30 centimeters long.
Her fingers were a cold white as she unhurriedly held the fan, lightly pushing it open.
“White jade fan ribs.” Bai Lian spoke while using her index finger as an axis to spin the fan twice, then suddenly closing it, gently pressing the handle against her palm.
The movements were fluid and natural, like a casual stroll, as if she was well-practiced with fans.
Xu Nanjing paused, “Let me try.”
He took Bai Lian’s fan, attempting to copy her movements. Pushing with one hand, it didn’t open.
He tried three times.
Bai Lian opened the next document. Seeing him still clumsily trying, she took it back to demonstrate, “Like this.”
She turned slightly, holding the fan in her right hand, her slender middle finger casually pressed against the fan’s base, thumb pushing outward while index finger pushed inward, very slowly spreading it apart.
Xu Nanjing tried again but couldn’t open it.
Great, learned nothing.
“Never mind.” Xu Nanjing gave up, returning the fan to Bai Lian before discussing the main matter.
It was about Old Master Xu’s birthday celebration. They were already sending out invitations.
Both Gao Yan and Xu Jueling had asked Xu Nanjing to invite Bai Lian.
At that auction, the invitation had helped purchase something the old master cherished. The old master had always been very pleased with Xu Nanjing, and now even more so.
“End of month?” Bai Lian only knew Xu Nanjing and Gao Yan, wasn’t familiar with the Xu family. It seemed Xu Nanjing wasn’t from an ordinary background. “I’ll pass.”
Xu Nanjing placed a gold-embossed invitation on her desk, thought for a moment, “Here’s the invitation, come if you have time.”
Gao Yan would be upset if Bai Lian didn’t come.
At the Mu family’s old residence.
Baohe Pavilion.
This wasn’t Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun’s first visit, but Shen Qing still appeared very nervous. Compared to this huge five-courtyard mansion, the Xu family villa was nothing.
Beside her, Ren Wanxuan had never seen such grandeur either.
Behind the octagonal redwood table stood two servants.
Both nervous and uneasy.
Only three people sat at the table. Butler Lou stood behind Ji Shaojun. Seeing Xiao Jie enter from outside, he looked up, “Where’s the young miss?”
“She’s still handling business matters, will be late,” Xiao Jie said quietly.
“Young Master Mu isn’t here either?” Butler Lou inquired.
Xiao Jie nodded, “He’s on a call with Jiang University professors.”
After the tragic death of the younger generation starting with Mu Qiong, the Mu family only had Mu Mingyi and her son Mu Shao left.
Mu Shao’s talent wasn’t comparable to Mu Qiong’s, but he was more intelligent than most.
Butler Lou nodded slightly in understanding, then spoke to Ji Shaojun, “Please start eating, no need to wait for them.”
In the east wing room next to Baohe Pavilion.
A woman sat in the study with documents beside her. Her assistant handed her new materials, “Young Miss, these are Ren Wanxuan’s documents.”
Mu Mingyi took them, curiously looking them over.
She had met Ji Shaojun at the company. Though she had a poor impression of her cousin’s wife, she liked this cousin.
The Mu family already had few descendants. Hearing Ji Shaojun had two nieces, she had suggested taking them in.
She never doubted the Mu family genes…
Old Master Mu looked down on Ji Shaojun because he had witnessed the genius Mu Qiong. After Mu Qiong’s death, he was devastated and became dispirited.
But Mu Mingyi knew Ji Shaojun’s capability was proven by how quickly he had picked up company operations. He was considered above average in Jiangjing.
She had thought this niece wouldn’t be too bad, but seeing Ren Wanxuan’s documents, she was somewhat disappointed.
“She did grow up in Xiangcheng after all,” the assistant looked at Mu Mingyi, speaking quietly. “She’s considered excellent in Xiangcheng. Don’t be like the old master, comparing everyone to Young Master Mu Qiong. That’s too harsh on Second Master Ji.”
The old master still hadn’t met Ji Shaojun.
“I know.” Mu Mingyi pressed her forehead, closing the documents with a sigh.
In such a great family as the Mu’s, with so few descendants, there was actually no internal strife. Mu Mingyi had no hostility toward Ji Shaojun’s appearance, and even hoped he could help carry the Mu family banner.
She had expectations for Ren Wanxuan, since Ji Shaojun hadn’t disappointed her.
Now seeing the documents, disappointment was inevitable.
“Wasn’t there another niece?” Mu Mingyi tossed the documents aside.
“She didn’t come.” The assistant explained.
Come to think of it, the assistant also found it strange. Butler Lou said that young lady had arrived early, yet why hadn’t she come to the Mu house for dinner? When checking documents, he hadn’t found much information about that young lady either.
Like Ji Heng, there were only a few brief mentions.
Ji Shaojun didn’t have much information either, while Shen Qing and Ren Wanxuan had piles of documents.
“Fine.” With Ren Wanxuan as precedent, Mu Mingyi wasn’t so curious about the other unseen niece anymore.
Early the next morning.
Bai Lian didn’t go to the library, instead joining Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong at the computer room.
Jiang University had several computer rooms. Due to the Boyuan summer camp competition, they would remain open all summer.
Thirty teams from the whole school were participating. Besides them, there were teams from other national universities and international teams.
Due to its prestige, participants were all strong competitors, most participating for their second time.
“These are our previous models,” the computer room wasn’t very crowded now. Chen Hong’s group was in the last row. He plugged in a USB drive and opened a file to show Bai Lian, “Do you have any thoughts about supervising professors?”
The last question was directed at Xu Wenyao.
Bai Lian had just arrived at their school and wouldn’t be familiar with their professors.
Xu Wenyao calmly opened the competition platform, turning slightly, “Weren’t you interested in Professor Jiang?”
“Hehe,” Chen Hong nodded, “You know me!”
Since he couldn’t be Professor Jiang’s graduate student, choosing him as supervisor was the next best thing.
Xu Wenyao opened the page and filled in “Jiang Weijian” under supervising professor, submitting it to await system feedback.
While the two discussed the supervisor issue, Bai Lian sat at the computer, opened the folder, and examined their previous papers.
Their first model was about topological shortest path problems. Bai Lian had done some research on this too and read it carefully.
As for the code in the folder, she didn’t run it, being unfamiliar with it.
The three sat in the back row, Bai Lian on the far right corner, Xu Wenyao next to her, and Chen Hong beside him.
By noon, Bai Lian had finished reading their previous models. She picked up her phone and the fan she had set aside before heading to the cafeteria.
The computer room was close to cafeteria three.
On the way, Bai Lian’s phone rang. It was He Wen.
“Sis,” He Wen called her “sis” very righteously, “Haven’t you read the paper I sent you?”
Bai Lian held the phone to her ear with her left hand, right hand holding the white jade fan, her cold jade-like fingertips tapping the fan ribs, “Haven’t had time these past days.”
“What are you doing?” Airport announcements could be heard from He Wen’s end.
Bai Lian didn’t reply, only asking: “You’re at the airport?”
“Mm,” He Wen remembered something, “Since Young Master Jiang is back, I just transferred my current tasks, the project follows his return, now I’m heading to report to him. Don’t know what his mood is like recently.”
Mentioning Jiang Fuli made He Wen anxious.
He hadn’t seen Jiang Fuli for a long time. At the last online group meeting, he had just been scolded. Many people at Jiang University admired this honorary alumnus who always seemed to suffer. Not sure what Jiang Fuli scolded him for, Bai Lian comforted him: “His mood should be okay.”
After all, Jiang He hadn’t been scolded much lately.
“I’ll take your word for it.” He Wen sighed. “I’ll treat you to a meal in a few days. Oh what are you busy with? You should be done with college entrance exams right?”
“Boyuan modeling.” Bai Lian was concise.
On the other end of the phone, He Wen: “…”
Boyuan summer camp modeling, a global competition that mostly sophomores and juniors participated in.
He Wen had participated in his freshman summer.
You remember you haven’t even enrolled yet? Bai Lian hung up the phone, then opened the folding fan with one hand, calmly placing it in front of her forehead to block the sun overhead.
Chen Hong glanced at her, “Junior, do you have something to handle? It’s fine if you’re busy, Wenyao and I can manage. Maybe we’ll get lucky and win first prize.”
He had overheard some of Bai Lian’s conversation.
“It’s fine,” Bai Lian turned her head slightly, her slightly long bangs falling by her eyebrows casting a shadow, “he’s not in a hurry.”
As they spoke.
Qi Jun’s group who had just come down the stairs behind them also overheard.
“Has Xu Wenyao gone crazy?” Yu Sheng watched Xu Wenyao’s group from behind, surprised. “Actually finding a girl?”
He had heard Chen Hong’s “Wenyao and I can manage.”
He almost laughed out loud. First prize?
Even with Qi Jun they might not get first prize, let alone now that Qi Jun had left their team.
Qi Jun said nothing, just watching Chen Hong’s group from behind before taking out his phone to send Qi Shuqiong a message.
That evening.
At the school office, Bai Shaoke respectfully knocked on the door with some documents, “Professor Jiang.”
Only after hearing a response did he push open the door.
Professor Jiang was standing by the window on the phone, his voice notably ingratiating, “You just got back, we should welcome you… You’re at Young Master Jiang’s? Alright…”
Bai Shaoke stood by the desk, lowering his eyes to ponder who was on the professor’s phone.
Not many people at school could make Professor Jiang take such a tone.
“Young Master” Jiang, which Jiang?
As he thought, he noticed the computer screen showing the Boyuan competition selection. Professor Jiang was a supervising professor this time, with limited spots for two teams.
The first was his team, which Professor Jiang had already approved.
Bai Shaoke’s gaze swept past the other team, passing over the first two names to land on the last one—
Bai Lian.
Professor Jiang finished his call, staring at his phone for a while before walking to his desk with a serious expression.
Noticing Bai Shaoke looking at the screen.
Bai Shaoke was willing to spend money. Many of Professor Jiang’s project instruments were sponsored by Bai Shaoke, and he himself was clever, so Professor Jiang had taken him on. “What is it?”
“This person,” Bai Shaoke pointed at the name “Bai Lian,” his eyelashes lowering, “seems to be a girl.”
Girls in science fields often faced prejudice.
Hearing the words “girl,” Professor Jiang’s brows furrowed, “I saw this team had good results in their last two competitions, how do they they have a girl? Let me ask.”
As a competition supervisor, if the team won awards, he could potentially get promoted.
But it required students to achieve breakthrough results.
That evening.
Bai Lian hadn’t returned to Shanhai Apartments yet. The topics would be released tomorrow afternoon. She had just turned off her computer in the lab when she received Jiang Fuli’s call.
“Not out yet?” His voice was unhurried.
“Just shutting down.” Bai Lian packed up her books, picked up the fan, then stood.
Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong left with her. Xu Wenyao was returning home tonight but would stay at Jiang University for the next four days.
They had only walked a few steps when a professor entered, looking at Xu Wenyao’s group. “Is Bai Lian one of your members?”
Hearing her name, Bai Lian told Jiang Fuli “one moment” and hung up. “Yes, professor.”
The professor looked at her, nodded, and asked no more questions.
Bai Lian’s senses were keener than most. She heard him making a phone call: “Professor Jiang, it is indeed a girl.”
Night had fallen, campus lights were on.
Jiang Fuli stood under a lamppost, tall and elegant, wearing a cap, the light casting his cold shadow very long.
“Boyuan modeling competition?” Jiang Fuli looked at the lit teaching building, knowing what she was doing.
“Mm,” Bai Lian put her bluetooth earpiece in, “choosing topics tomorrow.”
Jiang Fuli nodded, leading her toward the car.
Ming Dongheng had driven a black car today, probably his own, very low-key.
Bai Lian’s phone buzzed – their three-person modeling group chat.
Xu Wenyao: [Screenshot]
Chen Hong: [Ah, we lost our supervising professor?]
Xu Wenyao: [Both ways]
He was concise. Chen Hong understood: [So Professor Jiang doesn’t want to choose us right? Why so sudden?]
For Boyuan modeling, supervising professors could provide some ideas during the competition but couldn’t be too involved.
Some teams had no supervisors and just filled in random names.
Bai Lian slowly read through these messages.
Then scrolled down.
He Wen: [Didn’t get scolded much today]
So he still got scolded.
Bai Lian: [.]
He Wen: [When will you read the paper?]
Bai Lian: [After the competition]
At 6 PM on July 10th, the Boyuan modeling competition topics were updated.
Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong were choosing topics in the computer room.
Released right on time, the website was very slow. None of their three computers could load it until 6:05.
There were three types of problems – A, B, and C. C was easiest, A hardest. Few people chose A. Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong went straight to C.
Problem C was optimization design.
Bai Lian sat at her computer, not scrolling back, only looking at Problem A.
Problem A was more complex, the problem description alone was four pages – optimization adjustment of astronomical telescopes, with a downward curved spherical main reflector surface. The modeling needed to solve three problems.
Bai Lian read through the problem line by line.
Beside her, seeing she was still reading the last problem, Xu Wenyao spoke up, “Ah Lian, Problem A is too hard for us.”
Chen Hong was also stunned, lowering his voice, “Junior, let’s choose C! This A problem is too hard, I estimate barely any teams in the school will dare choose it.”
“Choose A.” Bai Lian’s fingers tapped the desk, giving them just two words.
Xu Wenyao scrolled his page to Problem A, seeing the astronomical telescope, his temples throbbing. He was confident about C, but “I can’t be sure about A.”
He shook his head.
“Didn’t ask you to do it.” Bai Lian had already estimated the problem and had ideas.
“Junior, calm down,” Chen Hong reasoned with her, “We don’t even have a supervising professor this time…”
Bai Lian picked up her mineral water, twisted it open one-handed, took a sip, waited for him to finish, then looked at Chen Hong lazily: “Who says we don’t have a supervisor?”
“Huh?” Chen Hong was surprised Bai Lian had found a supervisor at this time?
Bai Lian lifted her chin, pointing at his phone, “I added him to the group.”
Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao picked up their phones—
[Bai Lian has invited “Stand At Attention When Getting Scolded” to the group]
Getting scolded today?: [Location]
He said nothing else, just sent a location.
Bai Lian: [1]
After copying down the modeling problem, she pushed against the desk to stand, looking at Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao, “Let’s go, he’s waiting for us.”
Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong shut down their computers and followed Bai Lian, exchanging glances as they opened the location – it was the Losun cafe on campus.
This cafe—
Was below the doctoral dorm Building One at Jiang University.
Building One.
This was the intellectual ceiling of Jiang University. The doctoral students living in Building One likely had academicians as advisors. Most people there were mysterious figures doing research under famous academicians, and…
Half the honorary alumni came from here.
Building One was quite far. They took the campus bus, then walked ten minutes through a small path before reaching the cafe.
Bai Lian pushed the door open and went in directly.
Chen Hong stood beside Xu Wenyao, “Wenyao, which expert did junior find?”
As he spoke, Bai Lian had already stopped.
A young man sat by the floor-to-ceiling windows, wearing a short t-shirt, a silver laptop in front of him. His legs were slightly propped up as he typed one-handed while holding a coffee cup with the other hand.
Seeing Bai Lian from the corner of his eye, he put down his cup and stood, “You were right, I barely got scolded these days.”
Bai Lian pulled out a chair to sit, “Not bad.”
The young man handed her a milk tea, “School doesn’t have cherry flavor, make do with strawberry,” his gaze swept to the two still standing, “These are your teammates?”
As he turned his head, Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao finally saw his face clearly.
His ID photo was on the stone tablet behind the school’s celebrity statue.
He Wen.
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