Unlike Lu Yue, Meng Ting couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel. She had to rise early instead. The mathematics competition was set to begin at nine o’clock, and it would take Meng Ting an hour and forty minutes to reach the venue. She woke up at six.
Since it was the weekend, Shu Zhitong hadn’t gone to work, and the house was quiet. The sky was still dim when Meng Ting, dressed and ready, left her room. She noticed a blurry figure in the living room and paused, realizing it was her stepbrother, Shu Yang.
Shu Yang put down his water glass and glanced at Meng Ting before retreating to his room, showing no interest in her destination. He had always maintained this attitude, which led Meng Ting to believe in her previous life that he particularly disliked her. She offered him a friendly smile before shouldering her backpack and leaving.
Meng Ting took the bus to the venue, arriving at 8:20 AM when there were still few participants. The few staff members at the art gallery looked at her with surprise. “Young lady, are you here for the competition?” Their eyes couldn’t help but linger on her protective glasses.
Meng Ting nodded in affirmation.
They smiled, “It’s still early. No one else has arrived yet, so you’ll have to wait.” Inwardly, they admired her dedication for arriving so early.
Meng Ting settled in a corner and pulled out a book to read.
By 8:40 AM, people began to arrive steadily. Most were students, and since this was the high school division, the majority were seventeen or eighteen-year-old youths.
Everyone sat in the waiting area, chatting idly when suddenly the crowd began to stir.
Meng Ting looked up and saw Jiang Ren.
It was November, and the small fountain behind the art gallery caught the early morning sun, creating a beautiful rainbow effect.
Jiang Ren and his group arrived on mountain bikes. He wore a black fitted shirt, his silver hair striking. A black diamond earring caught the light, and he wore a sports wristband. He stood out starkly among the others.
Most of the competition participants were well-behaved students who had never encountered people with such a rebellious air. The newcomers seemed more like they were here to cause trouble, and the security guards were reluctant to let them enter.
Jiang Ren hung his helmet on his bike and dismounted. His eyes held a hint of mischief as he asked, “What, not letting us in?”
The security guard could only reply, “There’s a competition being held here.”
Inside, whispers began to circulate.
“They must be from some gang. What are they doing here?”
“Haha, they’re not here for the competition.”
A bespectacled boy muttered, “If they want to show off, why not drive a car instead of riding motorcycles?”
By that time, motorcycles were common, but few teenagers could afford a car.
Another boy responded, exasperated, “Don’t be ignorant. That mountain bike of his is worth as much as a supercar.”
The bespectacled boy didn’t believe it, but many who overheard looked over with renewed interest.
He Jun Ming hadn’t expected such snobbery in this place. He was about to curse when Tang Fang pulled him back, “Keep it low-key. Don’t cause trouble and upset Ren ge today.” He Jun Ming immediately backed down.
Jiang Ren lit a cigarette. “I’m here to see a friend. She competes.”
The guard asked, “Who’s your friend?”
Jiang Ren’s gaze passed through the glass doors and settled on Meng Ting.
She was sitting in the corner, closest to him.
It was his first time seeing Meng Ting not in her No. 7 Middle School uniform.
Because of the morning chill, she wore a light yellow knit sweater with a small climbing rose embroidered on the collar, green leaves twining around the branches. It gave her an unexpectedly soft and elegant appearance.
Seeing him look at her, she froze for a moment, seemingly afraid of being associated with him, and quickly turned away.
He couldn’t help but smile.
Damn.
Seeing Jiang Ren’s silence, the security guard was even less inclined to let them in.
Some parents were allowed inside, but Jiang Ren and his group, with their smoking and dyed hair, looked every bit the delinquents.
Lu Yue pushed through the crowd and ran out, telling the guard, “Uncle, they’re my friends. Can you let them in?”
He Jun Ming’s face lit up. “Lu Yue, we’re here to cheer you on.”
Lu Yue couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Ren, her heart fluttering with joy.
Jiang Ren frowned slightly but said nothing.
The guard hesitated. Lu Yue said, “I’ve been the champion for several years. Can’t my friends come to support me?”
Her tone carried a hint of pride.
After some discussion, the guards nodded and turned to Jiang Ren’s group, saying, “You can go in, but turn off your phones, no smoking, and no noise.”
He Jun Ming was incredulous. Was this a prison sentence?
They couldn’t even understand the competition, which would last for hours.
He was about to suggest waiting outside, but then he saw Jiang Ren stub out his cigarette on the fountain edge, toss it in the trash, and walk in with his hands in his pockets.
His presence was intimidating, and he didn’t look like a good person. The well-behaved students inside quickly made way for him.
He Jun Ming: “Huh? We’re going in?”
Tang Fang: “Jiang Ren went in.”
He Han took a moment to process: “What’s there to watch?”
Despite their words, after finishing their cigarettes, they followed him inside.
He Jun Ming couldn’t help but chuckle, “These girls aren’t much to look at.”
He Han burst out laughing, “Maybe their brains work well, but nothing else does.”
He Jun Ming laughed hard.
In He Jun Ming’s experience, it was rare to find someone both smart and beautiful, which made Lu Yue stand out even more.
Meng Ting sensed a faint smell of smoke and turned her head.
Jiang Ren had sat down next to her, legs crossed.
His jacket zipper was undone, hands in his pockets, exuding an irritating air of cockiness.
Meng Ting felt very uncomfortable being so close to him.
Jiang Ren had a strong presence, and many people were looking their way. She had no choice but to pretend not to know him and lowered her head again.
She sat by the glass window, knees together, with her book open on her lap. A patch of soft golden sunlight fell on her.
“Hey, good student, seeing an acquaintance and not even saying hello? You’re so cold.”
He leaned in close. Meng Ting closed her book and after a moment, said softly, “We’re not close.”
He couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiang Ren curved his lips, “Do you know my name?”
Meng Ting pressed her lips together, “Jiang Ren.”
Her voice was soft and gentle, like fingers brushing over spring water.
He was stunned for a long while, then smiled, “Mm.”
It was strange, but it felt as if the long-held frustration in his heart had suddenly, effortlessly dissipated.
He Jun Ming and the others came in at this moment, surprised to see Meng Ting: “Little bli… Meng Ting, you’re competing too?”
Meng Ting nodded.
Lu Yue followed, her gaze falling on Meng Ting. She didn’t know Meng Ting, but when she saw her eyes, her expression flickered. “You’re a sophomore at No. 7 High School, right?”
Seeing Lu Yue address her, Meng Ting had to respond, “Hello, senior.”
Lu Yue said, “During the competition, watches and sunglasses aren’t allowed. You should take them off in advance.”
Meng Ting shook her head, “Thank you, but my eyes aren’t good. These aren’t sunglasses. They’re…” Under Lu Yue’s increasingly pleased gaze, Meng Ting calmly said, “Protective glasses for the visually impaired.”
Lu Yue noticed that Meng Ting showed no sign of inferiority, and Jiang Ren beside her didn’t seem to find it strange. She frowned slightly.
At 9:00 AM sharp, the competition officially began.
The participants were moved to tables at the front of the art gallery. Parents could still watch from the rest area.
Because it was the first open competition, each person had an easel in front of them.
The host said, “Everyone, please remain quiet. Any cheating will be severely punished. The competition officially begins now. You have 150 minutes to answer. You may start now.”
The competition started smoothly, with parents focusing on their children.
But as it progressed to the middle stage, He Jun Ming was going crazy. He complained, “Damn, this is worse than prison. I can’t take it anymore.” He reached for his phone to turn it on.
Jiang Ren casually snatched his phone away. “Behave yourself.”
“…”
He Jun Ming turned to the others, “Tang Zi, He Han, want to play rock-paper-scissors?”
Tang Fang said, “Idiot.”
He Han also said, “Not playing.”
Feeling utterly bored, He Jun Ming could only look towards the competition area.
The two familiar faces, Lu Yue and Meng Ting, were sitting far apart. He could only see their straight backs. Suddenly interested, he said, “Who do you think will win?”
Tang Fang glanced at Jiang Ren but said nothing.
“Let’s make a bet. The loser…” He thought for a moment. “Isn’t it Thanksgiving today? They’re selling that foreign vanilla ice cream outside. The loser buys ice cream for the winner’s girl.”
This seemed interesting.
Tang Fang said, “I think Lu Yue will win.”
He Han considered, “Not to look down on Meng Ting, but I heard this competition is quite difficult. Lu Yue said she’s been studying for nearly eight years and has been the champion for several years. I also think she’ll win.”
He Jun Ming’s mouth twitched. “Come on, if everyone thinks Lu Yue will win, what’s the point of competing? Tang Zi, you bet on Meng Ting.”
“Why don’t you bet on her yourself?”
He Jun Ming finally looked at Jiang Ren. “Ren ge… who do you think will win?”
Jiang Ren’s gaze turned to the pink ice cream shop outside the window. After a while, he said lazily, “Whatever.”
With no other choice, He Jun Ming reluctantly bet on Meng Ting. He thought to himself, well, if I lose, I lose. It’s just for fun.
At 11:30 AM, everyone handed in their papers.
There weren’t many participants who could enter the finals. The high school division had a total of 55 students, and the results were out ten minutes after the competition ended.
The host smiled, “Students, well done. After more than two hours of hard work, I now have the names of the top three in my hand. Are you excited?”
The rest area had already become noisy. Even though the students were nervous, they tried to appear calm.
The host, having built up enough suspense, opened the card in his hand. His gaze swept over everyone. “Now, I announce the third place of this year’s High School Math Olympiad is… Fang Di! With 132 points.”
A boy stood up, joy evident in his eyes. He bowed and sat down.
The host smiled and said, “Now for second place.”
Meng Ting looked up.
“Her name is probably very familiar to you all. She wins awards every year. Congratulations to Lu Yue, with 136 points.”
Lu Yue looked over in disbelief.
She had been the champion every year, but this time… how could she be second? Her expression changed instantly. She stood up, gave a perfunctory bow, and sat down. If she was second, then who was first?