The organizers held a medium-sized banquet for the award winners.
Rong Wangtian and Rong Yu arrived just as the banquet was beginning.
As soon as they entered, several parents congratulated Rong Wangtian.
"Rong Yu quietly won the gold medal—you must have raised her well, Mr. Rong."
"I heard Rong Yu switched from liberal arts to science and has only been in the science class for a little over a month. To excel like this, she must be truly gifted."
"Mr. Rong, could you share some parenting tips with us?"
Rong Wangtian felt awkward.
This daughter of his hadn’t grown up by his side. After bringing her back to Haicheng, he hadn’t paid much attention to her. What experience could he possibly share?
Meanwhile, a large crowd surrounded Song Huai, chatting excitedly.
"I heard Professor Liu from Tsinghua University has taken you on as his student."
"Professor Liu is the dean of Tsinghua’s Physics Research Institute. Rumor has it he might be elected as an academician next year or the year after. Song Huai is so lucky."
"With Professor Liu as your mentor, your future is limitless. Congratulations..."
Madam Song was overjoyed and eagerly shared, "Our Song Huai has been brilliant since childhood. He developed an interest in physics at three and started competing in physics tournaments in middle school. The shelves in his study are filled with certificates and trophies. I’m not surprised he earned Professor Liu’s recognition..."
Song Huai had heard these words so many times they bored him.
He squeezed out of the crowd and walked straight to Rong Yu. "Professor Liu is introducing me to some people tomorrow morning. Rong Yu, why don’t you come with me? I’ll recommend you to him."
Rong Wangtian, who had already learned about Professor Liu’s reputation at the banquet, quickly chimed in, "Yes, Xiao Yu, go with Song Huai. Let him introduce you to Professor Liu. Who knows? Maybe the professor will take you on as his student too."
"Pfft!" Madam Song’s voice cut in sharply. "A man of Professor Liu’s stature wouldn’t just take anyone! Most achievements in physics are made by men. Rong Yu is just a girl—she might be decent in theory, but when it comes to actual experiments, she’d be completely lost. What would a great professor want with her? To serve tea?"
Rong Yu burst into laughter.
Madam Song glared at her coldly. "What are you laughing at?"
Rong Yu replied leisurely, "Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Madam Song probably only studies how to pour tea to please men, right?"
Madam Song’s eyes widened in shock.
"Don’t be angry," Rong Yu said with a smile. "I’m just surprised that in this day and age, someone would still believe a woman’s value lies only in serving tea—especially someone as worldly as the wife of Song Corporation’s chairman."
Her words left Madam Song’s face alternating between red and white.
Under the scrutiny of the surrounding guests, Song Huai also felt extremely awkward.
"Is that any way to speak to an elder?" Rong Wangtian frowned. "Apologize at once!"
Rong Yu met his gaze coldly. "Tell me, which part of what I said was wrong and requires an apology?"
Rong Wangtian was left speechless.
"My mother went too far," Song Huai said quietly. "Actually, the opportunity with Professor Liu should have gone to Rong Yu..."
"Enough!" Madam Song grabbed his arm and dragged him aside. "Are you planning to give this chance to Rong Yu? If you dare do that, I’ll disown you!"
Song Huai pressed his lips tightly together.
Rong Yu picked up a small cake and sat quietly in the lounge area to enjoy it.
Suddenly, a boy sat down across from her.
She looked up and recognized him as one of the six gold medalists from the awards ceremony—a student from a prestigious high school in the capital. She hadn’t paid attention to his name.
"Hello, I’m Sheng Ciyuan."
The boy wore a crisp white shirt, his skin pale to the point of looking sickly, but his eyes were dark and bright.
He looked at Rong Yu and said, "During the experimental round, I was right across from you. You were impressive."
Rong Yu thought for a moment. "You’re the team leader whose experimental margin of error was controlled within 0.1‰?"
"That’s me." Sheng Ciyuan smiled. "Your precision control was terrifying. Could you explain your calculation process? Of course, if it’s inconvenient, never mind."
Rong Yu had no issue sharing. She ate her cake while explaining.
By the time she finished the cake, she had also finished her explanation—though her throat felt a bit dry.
Sheng Ciyuan immediately stood and brought her a glass of juice. "I know you’re also in a singing competition. Alcohol is bad for your voice, so try this juice instead. It’s quite good."
"Thanks." Rong Yu drank half of it. "A few days ago, I was reading a physics journal and vaguely recall seeing your name in it."
Sheng Ciyuan chuckled. "I’ve published a few papers in journals. Unless it’s a case of shared names, that was probably me."
"Those papers were from three years ago—meaning you were only fourteen or fifteen at the time?" Rong Yu looked surprised. "You’re a real physics prodigy."
"You flatter me." Sheng Ciyuan paused. "I’m planning to start a quantum mechanics project soon and need a teammate. Rong Yu, I can tell you have a gift for theoretical calculations. Would you consider joining my team?"
Rong Yu shook her head. "I’m afraid I don’t have much free time. But if you ever need help with calculations, you can send them to me. Let’s exchange contacts first."
Sheng Ciyuan took out his phone and scanned her QR code.
Their conversation was pleasant.
The next day, Min Shenyan, a mathematics academician, was giving a lecture at Tsinghua University related to Olympiad math. The teachers and students from Haicheng No. 1 High School attended together.
Rong Wangtian, following Shen Lin’s instructions, naturally had to go as well.
Having already heard Min Shenyan talk at length during last night’s dinner, Rong Yu had no interest in the lecture. She told Pei Yaru she was returning to Haicheng and parted ways with the group.
Ji Yanting’s car was already waiting outside the hotel.
As soon as Rong Yu stepped out with her luggage, he got out and took her suitcase. A woman followed him and helped load the luggage into the trunk before quickly returning to the car.
Old Master Ji was also inside.
The woman introduced herself, "Hello, I’m Qiu Sang, Yanting’s manager. You can call me Sister Qiu or Sister Sang."
"I’m Rong Yu," Rong Yu replied. "Sister Qiu can just call me Xiao Yu."
Qiu Sang said, "The old master mentioned that his life was saved by you, Miss Rong. Today, I’ll be taking you and him around the capital for some sightseeing."
Before this, she had wondered why Ji Yanting would exile Zhou Yachen overseas over a single photo.
Now she understood—the girl in the photo was Old Master Ji’s lifesaver. No wonder Yanting was so protective.
As she drove, she continued, "We’ll visit a flower exhibition first, then have lunch. If there’s time in the afternoon, we can take a stroll in Beihai Park..."
Old Master Ji interjected, "In the afternoon, we’re going to the Mathematics Research Institute."
The group first arrived at the flower exhibition. Qiu Sang stayed in the car to handle work while Rong Yu helped the old man walk, with Ji Yanting following behind, carrying their belongings.
Ji Yanting had Rong Yu's crossbody bag slung around his neck, Old Master Ji's emergency kit strapped to his back, and both hands laden with bags of impromptu purchases made by Rong Yu and the old man. No matter how striking his posture usually was, weighed down by all those items, he blended into the crowd like any ordinary person. To top it off, his face was half-hidden behind a mask and a baseball cap. After wandering the exhibition hall all morning, not a single soul had recognized him.
