A genius? I just love studying.

Chapter 97 The Net of Heaven is Vast
"I'm sorry, Xiao Yuan."

Ran Peng said with a smile, "It's a strategic retreat."

He naturally had nothing to be embarrassed about, but having gotten a good deal, it was only right to be polite to the other party.

It was also a question posed to Yuan Xinyi—you're not going to try and steal him from me, are you?

Yuan Xinyi shook his head, then quickly composed himself and said to Ran Peng, "Congratulations, Elder Ran!"

The same sentence, spoken only a few minutes apart, can evoke vastly different feelings.

Ran Peng had obviously been in contact with Chen Hui for a long time, otherwise Chen Hui wouldn't have sent his paper to Ran Peng. At this point, even if Ran Peng disregarded ethics and tried to poach Ran Peng, he probably wouldn't succeed.

So this "congratulations" is actually an answer to Ran Peng's question—congratulations to you, I won't compete with you for it.

Of course, although he also thought highly of Chen Hui, he was just a promising young man after all, and potential does not necessarily mean ability. Moreover, the other party's potential was not high enough for him to feel compelled to take him as a disciple.

If that kid shows talent that could contend for the Fields Medal, then even if it offends Ran Peng, he won't give up.

Upon receiving the answer, Ran Peng's smile widened, and he comforted him, "This may not be a bad thing for you. You are still young and have the opportunity to achieve results. At this time, diverting your energy to teaching students would be a waste of your own talent."

"I accept your kind words, Mr. Ran."

The idea that he was distracted was just polite talk. Truly outstanding students would not only not distract him, but would actually become his asset, giving him wings.

Yuan Xinyi stopped dwelling on the matter and said, "Let's go to the lounge and rest for a while."

"Don't forget to bring that little guy to the next meeting, Elder Ran."

However, he was still interested in the little guy.

"No, no, I want to go for a walk by myself."

Ran Peng declined the invitation again, saying, "I've always heard about the beautiful cherry blossom avenue at Jiangcheng University, so I might as well go and take a stroll there."

"..."

Yuan Xinyi was speechless; this excuse couldn't be more lame.

It's June now, and the cherry blossoms have long since faded. At this time of year, going to the cherry blossom avenue means you can only see the avenue itself.

"Okay, please contact me anytime if you need anything, Elder Ran."

Ran Peng's meaning was clear: if he wanted to be alone for a while, he naturally wouldn't force him.

After Yuan Xinyi left, Ran Peng got up, walked out of the lecture hall, and went out of the old library. Looking down from the top of the cherry blossom tree, the long staircase was daunting. His old arms and legs probably couldn't withstand such a trek.

Giving up on the idea of ​​strolling along the cherry blossom avenue, Ran Peng found a secluded spot at the top of the cherry blossom tree, took out his phone, and dialed the office of the director of the admissions office at Rongcheng University.

Chengdu University Admissions Office, Director's Office
Chang Zebin was discussing Chen Hui's matter with Zhang Wei when suddenly his cell phone rang.

"It's Elder Ran!"

Chang Zebin glanced at the caller ID, hesitated for a moment, and instead of letting Zhang Wei leave first, he turned on the phone's speakerphone before answering the call.

"Xiao Chang, how's the special recruitment of Chen Hui going?"

Chang Zebin frowned and hesitated, unsure how to answer. Zhang Wei, however, preemptively replied, "Don't worry, Mr. Ran, the contract has been finalized and will be completed before the end of this semester!"

"That's good!"

Ran Peng wasn't familiar with Chang Zebin and didn't notice anything strange about the person's voice. "Give him my contact information and let him contact me. He can come to the school to do research during the summer vacation. Continuing high school courses won't be of much use to him."

"Ok!"

Zhang Wei simply answered to the end.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

Ran Peng was in a good mood after gaining a good student, and he specially offered his condolences before hanging up the phone.

"You're playing with fire!"

After hanging up the phone, Chang Zebin angrily rebuked him.

"Don't worry, Director. At this rate on the internet, the truth will be revealed in the next few days. It won't even take until summer vacation."

Zhang Wei was full of confidence: "Everything will be fine then. But if they are really recruited, there will be a lot of mess to clean up after the truth comes out."

Watching Zhang Wei's departing figure, Chang Zebin's expression had already calmed down; his anger just now was merely an act. This matter wouldn't have much impact on him at all.

He's a professor and a Yangtze River Scholar, but not a dean or university president.

To put it bluntly, it's just a nice-sounding title that might carry some weight in academic circles, but it doesn't really apply to him.

Especially for those engaged in academic pursuits, their means of struggle are limited. Even if a conflict arises, the other party can't do anything about it. Scholars are utterly useless; this is the case.

So, not recruiting Chen Hui would at most offend Ran Peng, but recruiting him would probably cause a lot of trouble.

Of course, if Chen Hui performs well as CMO in the future, he will not let Zhang Wei act recklessly. After all, Asai is just a business competition, and he still does not trust him.

CMO is an officially organized competition, and its level of formality is incomparable to other competitions. Its prestige, at least in terms of the authenticity of the results, is convincing.

The CMO contract expires in mid-July, so there's still time to sign Chen Hui by then.

As for the fact that the top 60 CMO gold medalists can be guaranteed admission to Tsinghua and Peking Universities, he never even considered it.

A high school freshman who made it into the top 60 gold medalists in his first CMO competition—there's probably no other monster like that in the world!
……

Amidst the turbulent outside world, the school serves as a shelter, like an ivory tower.

The gossip outside didn't have much of an impact on the school; everyone continued to go to and from school, read, and do their homework as usual.

It's already mid-June.

Wu Huachun was leisurely drinking tea in his office.

Although the online public opinion has become heated, as long as the parties involved maintain their composure, the impact will ultimately be limited.

The jobs of Chen Hui's uncle and aunt have been properly resolved, and Chen Hui's studies have not been affected at all. The person spreading the rumors has also been dealt with by Uncle Hat.

Clouds in the blue sky, water in the bottle!
"Today is a good day..."

A beautiful song drifted from the cell phone on the table.

After glancing at the caller ID, Wu Huachun answered the phone.

"Teacher Wu, I'm sorry, we can't identify the person spreading the rumor."

A calm voice came from the other end of the phone, without any unnecessary words, like a sharpshooter pulling the trigger and hitting the target cleanly and efficiently, without any superfluous movements.

"Okay, I understand. You've all worked hard too."

Wu Huachun nodded, somewhat regretful, but helpless.

Bringing the rumor-mongers to justice would be ideal, but even Uncle Hat couldn't do anything about it, so he could only sigh in despair.

"Don't worry, teacher. Our colleagues in the cyber investigation team are still trying to find a solution, but it may be difficult to get results in the short term."

Zhou Yu patiently explained.

Wu Huachun was his high school teacher at the time, and he respected him greatly.

……

"The hat-wearing uncles have done their best, but for now, this is probably the only way things can be."

In the principal's office, Wu Huachun spoke to Chen Hui with some trepidation.

He could see things clearly, but Chen Hui was still a child, and Chen Hui was the victim.

He could have simply sent a message or had An Chengzhang inform Chen Hui about this matter, but he still called Chen Hui over to give him a personal explanation.

"The school has already helped me a lot."

There's a cause for every grievance, and the school can't be blamed for this matter. Chen Hui naturally wouldn't have any complaints about the school because of this. The school has already done more than enough by arranging jobs for his uncle and aunt.

As for those rumor-mongers, those guys who tormented my uncle and aunt.

He certainly wanted those people to pay the price.

But Uncle Hat had no choice; naturally, he wouldn't waste his time.

He would be better off spending his time studying. When he becomes famous throughout China, those guys will be like rats hiding in the gutter, living in his shadow every day.

Isn't this a form of revenge?
(End of this chapter)