Chapter Forty-Three: The Struggle

Wu Tong first nodded to Teacher Zhang and the other teammates, apologizing for interrupting the lesson, before politely pressing the answer button.

“Sorry, I don’t need—” She was about to habitually refuse and hang up, but the exclamation from the other end stopped her mid-motion.

“Wu Tong, we’re from the admissions office of Capital University. Don’t say you don’t need us! Has Hua Qing reached out to you first? Whatever they promise is just empty words. The conditions we offer are absolutely the best!

Our admissions staff are already on their way to Donghai and will soon arrive in Qiongya to introduce you to everything in detail. Are you available now? Our Capital University teacher is already at the hotel—let us give you a proper introduction!”

The admissions officer from Capital University, thinking they were moving at breakneck speed and rushing to arrange everything, had barely managed to get Wu Tong’s phone number to call her. Yet their old rival had beat them to the punch, prompting him to raise his voice and launch into a rapid barrage of persuasion.

They had expected the results to be officially announced tomorrow, followed by the award ceremony, so the admissions office had left for Donghai today as usual, intending to rest and then, once the results were out, compete for the top students.

But who would have thought that this year’s CMO had produced a student who reversed the tide—a perfect score, outstanding beyond compare, a talent that shone above all others! Fortunately, there were Capital University staff on the grading committee, who quietly passed along the news. The decision was immediate: such an exceptional student must belong to Capital University!

The admissions team was already on the way to Donghai’s exam site, and the grading teacher, newly released from quarantine, was personally dispatched to the hotel. Worried that their rivals might act even faster, they hurriedly found the contact information for the perfect-score student and called her at once.

They were fast, but could their rivals really be even faster? How could this top-scoring student immediately say she didn’t need them? Capital University was excellent, after all—the mathematics department unmatched nationwide, a fact even their rivals conceded!

“Uh…” The torrent of words left Wu Tong somewhat bewildered. She paused to gather her thoughts before responding, “Sorry—”

“No need to apologize. Once you learn about Capital University, you’ll be glad you did!” Before Wu Tong could finish, the other side responded with the characteristic briskness of Beijing, leaving her half amused, half exasperated.

“No, teacher, please let me finish. No one else has contacted me yet—you’re the first. I said sorry because I mistook your call for a telemarketing one!” With the Capital University staff already at the hotel, it couldn’t possibly be a scam, so Wu Tong handled the call with due seriousness, speeding up her speech to clarify everything.

“Haha… Then it’s a beautiful misunderstanding! Wu Tong, you’re a polite and admirable student. First, congratulations! You performed brilliantly in this year’s CMO, earning a perfect score and the undisputed national first place. Your mathematical talent shines like a jewel in a crown, and Capital University sincerely invites you to enroll next year. All conditions will be in your favor!” The admissions officer renewed his invitation.

Meanwhile, Coach Zhang Ping, covering his phone’s microphone, concisely told Wu Tong, “Hua Qing’s admissions office called—they want to meet you in person and invite you to enroll with them! They promise the best conditions and warn you not to listen only to Capital University!”

Witnessing two top universities vying for his student from afar, Coach Zhang Ping had to admit—it was both hilarious and a source of immense pride!

As Wu Tong spoke, Teacher Zhang’s own phone rang. “This is from University of Science and Technology—they’re inviting you to enroll as well!”

Hmm, indeed…

The other students present were stunned and deeply envious. They had no idea how their own results turned out, while the prodigy before them was being feverishly courted by the nation’s elite universities, each offering the most favorable terms.

They worked hard for the slim chance to enter such prestigious schools, while those schools were actively competing to attract Wu Tong’s choice.

Each time they experienced this disparity, it left them speechless!

When the goddess fashioned mankind, she must have sculpted that one with exquisite care, bestowing the blessings of a sage, while the rest were mere clumps of clay tossed aside.

“Wu Tong, Capital University was the first to call—we insist you consider enrolling with us. Last year’s IMO perfect-score gold medalist chose Capital University, you know! Our mathematics, physics, and science faculties are the best in the nation!”

Through the phone, the admissions officer clearly heard the commotion on the other end, immediately ramped up his pitch, and swiftly sent an update to the grading teacher already at the hotel.

At the same time, he signaled the other admissions staff to begin the third step: the parent engagement plan. No compromises—they must secure the top talent. Wu Tong would be the most important recruit of the year for Capital University; there could be no mistakes!

In the hotel lobby, the grading teacher’s phone chimed twice. He glanced at it—an update from admissions: Wu Tong was in the Central Plains coaching room, with Hua Qing and University of Science and Technology already calling the lead teacher.

He looked up, preparing to head to the Central Plains team’s room, which he’d already identified.

He’d barely taken a few steps when he spotted a familiar face he’d hoped to avoid.

“Ha, Li Tiesheng, out for a stroll? Or heading back to your room to rest?”

“Heh… I don’t bother with people who can’t even read all the Chinese characters! The corridor’s wide—why do you care where I go?” The elegant Mr. Li Yisheng from Capital University flashed a rare sardonic look at his rival. “Feng the Loudmouth, who doesn’t know who you are? Why pretend?”

“Good students deserve freedom of choice, fair competition, after all!” Mr. Feng from Hua Qing matched Li’s pace, intent on keeping a close eye on Capital University’s staff. He couldn’t let them quietly secure a commitment like last year, when they lost the IMO perfect-score gold medalist, watching Capital University strut around at every math competition since. Today, he was determined to stick to them like glue.

The honor a top genius brings is worth far more than ten ordinary students! Such a child, nurtured from the ground up, becomes the school’s core talent base.

“Haha… The hotel lobby is especially comfortable today, isn’t it? Everyone’s gathering here!” Another voice chimed in. The two adversaries looked over—sure enough, aside from them, every admissions teacher from the other C9 elite universities was present.

The speaker was Teacher An from Jinling University. The grading teachers, released from quarantine, had all converged here.

Though they knew their chances with the perfect-score winner were slim with Capital University and Hua Qing in the lead, it didn’t hurt to try! Dreams are worth pursuing—who knows, maybe something about their school might touch the prodigy’s heart, and they could plant the golden phoenix tree there.

Even if they didn’t get the golden phoenix, watching the two big rivals battle it out provided enough entertainment to last a year!