CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: SOS

In the office, the other teachers were discussing Rong Zhi’s score, while Rong Meng, who had previously scored 125 and received praise, was now totally overlooked.

With Rong Zhi’s 180 in front, who still remembers Rong Meng’s mediocre 125?

Zhou Zhongming had long snapped out of his shock. Listening to the conversation around him, his smile almost fell off his face. He stiffened his own expression, grinded his teeth, and grabbed Rong Meng’s test paper before leaving.

...

Class 3-1.

Rong Meng was lowering her head, doing her homework, while pondering whether today’s math Olympic Competition results should be out.

Meanwhile, her new desk mate, Chi Cha, was swooning over her phone.

"Rong Xiaohua, tell me, what’s Rong Zhi like privately? You’re real siblings, you surely know him well." Chi Cha rubbed her phone screen with Rong Zhi’s photo as her eyes sparkled like stars.

Rong Meng’s pen paused. She pressed her lips, softly replying, "He’s...pretty good, just sometimes when the tutor comes for lessons, he’s nowhere to be found..."

"Tutor? Rong Zhi works so hard?" Chi Cha exclaimed with adoration, "No wonder he’s my chosen man! Awesome!"

Rong Meng’s failed attempt at slandering: "..."

Beauty-obsessed!!

"Rong Meng."

At the classroom door stood Zhou Zhongming calling her.

Rong Meng looked up, a hint of a smile in her eyes, realizing her score was out, so she stood up and walked out.

As she passed Chi Cha, she inadvertently knocked over the thermos cup on her desk. The lid wasn’t screwed on, and the water poured out, soaking Chi Cha’s printed photo of Rong Zhi.

Chi Cha: "!!!"

My Rong Zhi!!

Rong Meng instantly bit her lip, nervously and apologetically, "Sorry, sorry, it was unintentional..."

"Not your fault, you go find the class teacher." Chi Cha was heartbroken, saving the photo, too distraught to bother with Rong Meng, and replied perfunctorily.

Rong Meng internally scoffed and nodded slightly.

Outside the door.

Zhou Zhongming stood there with his hands behind his back, expressionless.

Seeing him in this state, Rong Meng frowned with confusion, but politely said, "Mr. Zhou."

Why is Mr. Zhou showing this expression? Did something go wrong with the math Olympic result?

Rong Meng’s heart suddenly sank, "Teacher, is it the exam..."

"No, you did well." Just someone did better and overshadowed you.

Zhou Zhongming took out the test paper, "125 marks, still okay. You’re definitely in the top three of the school this time. Prepare yourself for the city-level competition."

What’s this ’still okay’ supposed to mean?

Rong Meng hadn’t even had time to be happy before she was bewildered by those words.

From childhood to now, ’still okay’ had never been associated with her.

"...Then, teacher, who took first place?" she couldn’t help but ask.

Zhou Zhongming’s face briefly looked uneasy and cold. He pursed his lips, barely squeezing out a sentence through gritted teeth, "If I guessed right, it should be Rong Zhi."

"..."

Rong Meng was stunned, "Rong Zhi?!"

Seeing her reaction, Zhou Zhongming felt uncomfortable too, waving his hand impatiently, "Yes, it’s him. He scored full marks. Mr. Li took away his test paper. The ranking should be out shortly."

He left after speaking, his footsteps somewhat awkward and embarrassed to the point of fleeing.

Rong Meng remained in place, her usually sweet face showing an expression of disbelief, frozen there, an overwhelming sense of incredulity surging within.

Full marks...Rong Zhi? Him?!

No way!

What does a village punk know!!

...

Class 3-2.

Yu Nian paused during his lecture feeling thirsty, stopped to drink water, noticing Old Li pacing outside the classroom door, he raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Why is Mr. Li here?"

The next class isn’t math class.

"Ahem, Teacher Yu, I need to talk to Rong Zhi." Old Li said.

Yu Nian blinked and suddenly realized, chuckling, "Is the math Olympic Competition result out?"

Hearing the mention of the math Olympic Competition, the previously noisy classroom instantly quieted down.

Ying Hengyu looked up from his sea of exercises, his eyes shifting, he said, "Third Brother, your results are out."

Rong Zhi was chatting with someone over WeChat.

Zeus: [President Fei save save save save me!! I’ve been surrounded!!]

Rong Zhi: [?]

Zeus: [Last night picked up a mission, we’re cooperating with the police over there, searching for a human trafficking den. Turns out their base is on a mountain!! There’s even bombs buried around, we don’t have enough people, so we’re surrounded.]

Rong Zhi: [Were you discovered?]

Zeus: [Yes, we’ve already contacted the outside, but these people are too cunning, I fear for our loss, so President Fei, save me!!!]

Several exclamation marks in a row almost made Rong Zhi’s eyes ache.

Being able to send her messages so leisurely meant the situation hadn’t escalated to the extent described by Zeus. Probably wanting to operate cautiously, hence asking her to step in.

Her fingers lingered over the word "human trafficking", she replied a second later: [Activate the locator, I’ll be there.]

She had collaborated with Zeus multiple times, having locators to stay connected.

Once Zeus’s locator was activated, Rong Zhi looked up, facing Ying Hengyu’s thrilled and excited gaze. Her brow faintly furrowed, "What’s wrong?"

"Brother! You scored full marks on the math Olympic Competition!! Full marks!" Ying Hengyu’s voice was so loud it almost blew the ceiling off the classroom.

Rong Zhi: "Oh."

???

Ying Hengyu was baffled by her reaction, filled with question marks, "Wait, Brother, aren’t you even slightly excited? Happy for once?"

Rong Zhi packed her things into her bag and then twisted the bracelet on her right wrist twice, calmly saying, "Why be excited?"

Ying Hengyu: "You scored perfect on the exam! And became the school’s top scorer; the math Olympic Competition’s such difficult questions, yet you managed full marks. You should definitely be excited."

Rong Zhi lazily responded, "That’s because the paper only had that score."

Ying Hengyu: "...?"

For god’s sake, is this something any human would say?!

Could this be the difference between a genius and a slacker?

While slackers are thinking about just passing, geniuses are scoring full marks, simply because there’s only this much to score.

The entire second class was silent, clearly, they heard this declaration too.

Qin Man Yue turned her head and laughed, "Rong Zhi, your math skills are truly remarkable."

Rong Zhi’s voice was cool, composed, "Thank you."

She picked up her bag and stood up.

Ying Hengyu had yet to recover from the impact, seeing her about to leave, hurriedly asked, "Where to?"

Rong Zhi: "Something to do."

Having said that, she handed the leave slip she’d filled out to Yu Nian at the podium.

Yu Nian was used to her occasional absences, signing his name with a smile, "Rong Zhi really makes our class proud."

Old Li, standing nearby, saw Rong Zhi taking leave, slightly furrowed his brow, "There’s still the city-level competition coming up. Once back from your break, find me, I’ll give you a set of questions to take home and work on."

Rong Zhi nodded, "Alright."

As the lean and cool figure of the young man left the classroom, the class bell rang, and just then quiet second class exploded.

"Whoa whoa whoa, guys look at the school forum. The whole forum is now discussing our Brother Zhi hahahaha."

"Class 1 definitely can’t believe it; a dark horse has appeared in our class. By the finals, nah, the monthly exam, our overall class score is sure to surpass Class 1!!"

"He’s handsome, studies well, and cares for others. Ugh, why am I not a girl? Such a school heartthrob, I’m in love!!"