Su Ronghua remained silent for about two minutes.
Then, he flung two news article links into the group chat.
"Shocking! Actress Listed as Research Paper Author? Deep Dive into the Academic Scandal Behind Shi Research"
"Celebrity Attached to Top Scientific Achievement, Why Are the Real Researchers Collectively Silent?"
Seeing the messages, Song Huai was astonished.
He never imagined that someone would dare post such things in the group. Given his personality, no matter what he thought internally, he would keep it to himself first.
But.
On second thought, it was indeed reasonable for Rong Yu to face skepticism.
She was a repeat student, originally from the arts stream, had never appeared in any academic competitions before, had never published any journal papers... Suddenly, she was placed above everyone else. Who would be willing to accept that?
Song Huai initially wanted to say something, but after some thought, he let it go.
Other members in the group also didn't speak up.
Amidst the heavy silence, Sheng Ciyuan patted Su Ronghua.
Immediately after, he sent three consecutive links.
"A Breath of Fresh Air in Entertainment! Actress Rong Yu's 24-Hour Lab Grind Leads to Groundbreaking Results"
"Shattering Stereotypes! Ministry of Education Cites Rong Yu to Emphasize 'Diverse Paths to Success' in Education"
"Editorial from National Science Daily: Don't Let Prejudice Stifle the Next Celebrity Scientist"
Sheng Ciyuan: "Did the Su family not pay your internet bill this year? How can you keep up with academic news with this kind of connection speed?"
Su Ronghua: "What you call news is just fluff praising academic bubbles."
Teacher Huang, who had been absent for a while, suddenly posted a photo.
Teacher Huang: "This is the on-site vote by the organizing committee members. Rong Yu was elected team leader with six votes. Su Ronghua was elected deputy leader with three votes. If anyone disagrees, an internal team vote can be held again after the preliminary rounds."
Song Huai was taken aback.
There were twelve teachers on the organizing committee. Rong Yu got six votes, Su Ronghua three, Sheng Ciyuan two, Ding Zhe one, and he and another person received zero votes.
He knew that the higher one goes on this path, the more geniuses one encounters, but he never thought he would be utterly crushed, not even a speck left.
During lunch in the cafeteria, most students had heard about the incident and were discussing it nonstop.
"Representing the country in an international competition, facing top students from around the world, Song Huai and Rong Yu are truly amazing."
"Rong Yu is really the pride of Haicheng No.1 High School. Several of my younger siblings and cousins asked me to get Rong Yu's autograph, I'm just a bit too intimidated to ask."
"I'm so envious of Class 20 students, getting personal tutoring from Rong Yu..."
Sitting by the window in the cafeteria, Rong Ruoyao felt a sour taste in her heart.
In the past, such topics always revolved around her and Song Huai. Gradually, everyone's attention had shifted entirely to Rong Yu.
It seemed no matter where she went, Rong Yu was the center of attention.
Seeing Song Huai also looking in Rong Yu's direction, she couldn't help but bite her lip and say, "Song Huai, there are a few math problems I don't quite understand. Could you explain them to me in the library?"
Song Huai withdrew his gaze. "Okay."
Amidst the noisy chatter, the two left the cafeteria.
Rong Ruoyao's lips were pressed tightly together.
With a hundred days left until the college entrance exam, she had turned down all her acting roles, advertisements, commercial deals, and events in the entertainment industry... She had to get into Capital University. She couldn't let the gap between her and Rong Yu grow too wide...
The news of Rong Yu leading the Chinese team in the international competition acted like a powerful stimulant for everyone in Class 20. Even during breaks, everyone was focused on studying.
Due to a lack of educational resources growing up, Ji Jingchuan's weak point was English. He spent most of his day working on it.
Just after finishing an English essay, he glanced down at his phone. The message he had sent to Tang Jin in the morning still hadn't been replied to, a whole day later.
Yesterday, their elders had set a date for their engagement. He and Tang Jin, the two people involved, hadn't even discussed it yet.
As evening classes ended, he quickly stepped out of the classroom and called Tang Jin. He planned to ask her out for dinner, then a walk, and take the opportunity to propose.
Although everything was already settled, he hadn't actually proposed yet.
For a girl, a proposal should be very important.
The call went through, but no one answered.
"Let's go, school's out!" Ji Zhouye threw an arm around his shoulder and with his other hand hooked Rong Yu's neck, swaggering along. "I've got the school heartthrob on my left and the school belle on my right. The most envied person in this school, male or female, has got to be me, hahaha!"
Rong Yu wore an expressionless face. "Let go, or I'll chop your paws off."
Ji Zhouye grinned cheekily and leaned in. "In class today, the chemistry teacher said I've made great progress. Great-Grandma, please give me a little reward. Let's be clear upfront, no Huanggang Secret Test Papers, and no 'Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Simulation,' okay? Please..."
After cramming all winter break, this kid's grades had indeed improved significantly.
Rong Yu wasn't an unreasonable person. She thought for a moment and said, "Your reward is five minutes of game time today."
"Great! Games!" Ji Zhouye's smile vanished. "Wait, no, Great-Grandma, just five minutes? That's useless! How about half an hour? Come on, Great-Grandma, let me play for half an hour... Fourth Brother, you tell her, is this fair?"
Ji Jingchuan was clearly distracted. Suppressing his emotions, he said, "Then accumulate five minutes a day. In ten days, that's fifty minutes. That should be enough."
Ji Zhouye whined and complained the whole way home.
Rong Yu found it hard to handle. This kid was even better at acting silly and cooing for favors than Yingbao was when he was little. In the end, she, a person of principle, compromised and allowed him six minutes of game time.
Ji Zhouye: "..."
Fine, fine, picking on the academically challenged, are we?
He'd just save it up. Six minutes a day, in a hundred days that's six hundred minutes. He was going to play until the world went dark.
They rode home in the car.
Ji Jingchuan checked his phone. Still no reply from Tang Jin.
Later that evening, after finishing his English essay book, he once again dialed Tang Jin's number. Just as he thought no one would answer, a voice came through: "Chuan, I've been very busy these past two days. Let's not talk for now."
Before Ji Jingchuan could say anything, the call was disconnected.
A trace of self-mockery tinged Ji Jingchuan's dark eyes.
In the beginning, she was always the one initiating contact. She would wait for him in her car outside the school gate, make restaurant reservations, ask him what he liked to eat.
She would also send him English journals recommended by others to help him improve his English.
He had gradually opened up his heart too.
But he forgot that he and Tang Jin were only together, only arranged to be married, because of the needs and ties of their two families.
Now that their relationship was official, naturally, she no longer felt the need to put in the effort.
He could understand.
After all, he hadn't given his whole heart either.
Ji Jingchuan barely slept all night.
After leading her "old son" through his exercises, Rong Yu entered the dining room and saw the dark circles under his eyes. She said gently, "Don't overwork yourself studying. Make sure to rest."
Ji Jingchuan nodded. "I know, Great-Grandma."
Ji Zhouye came downstairs with messy bedhead, a steamed bun dangling from his mouth, and said bluntly, "Fourth Brother, why do I get the feeling you look like you've just been dumped?"
Rong Yu didn't pay much attention to the comment.
But after school, she remembered that before, Tang Jin used to wait for Chuan at the school gate every day after classes. The young couple was so lovey-dovey, it made people's teeth ache just watching.
Now, Tang Jin hasn't been seen for several days. Have they had a falling out?
