My winter break homework was exposed, and I, a vocational school student, am now being snapped up by

Holy crap, 2077 is the ultimate game.

The teacher who set the questions must have been playing a lot of games lately, right?

I really want to play that game too, but unfortunately I don't have a computer at home...

How about we go to an internet cafe next time?

Ugh, what am I thinking?

Do I have time to play games now?

Hurry up and think of a question! If I get eliminated, how can I go to the math Olympiad with Chen Xiaoxiao?

Lin Chen cursed himself a few times, but unexpectedly, an idea suddenly came to his mind.

Haha! My Xiaoxiao, please bless me! Just thinking about you gives me inspiration!

Sometimes, solving math problems is like writing.

When you have no inspiration, no matter how hard you rack your brains, you may not be able to write a single word.

But once inspiration strikes and you start writing, it's like you've eaten a whole pack of gum – you just can't stop!

Lin Chen wrote with lightning speed.

The sound of the pen tip gliding across the exam paper was like a stirring piece of music, constantly building towards a climax.

Then it suddenly stopped.

Get it!

Lin Chen breathed a long sigh of relief.

This was the first time he had ever felt the difficulty of an exam since he obtained the system.

As expected of the International Mathematical Olympiad, it is indeed extraordinary.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Chen checked the paper and, after confirming that everything was correct, went forward to hand it in.

The proctor, who was sitting next to the lectern, was drinking tea and paid no attention to Lin Chen, who came to hand in his paper.

There is still half an hour left before the exam ends.

Therefore, in his view, Lin Chen was just another candidate who had given up.

But the moment the teacher caught a glimpse of Lin Chen's exam paper out of the corner of his eye, his eyes narrowed instantly.

Ok?

It wasn't a blank paper?

Interesting, this is the first paper he's collected with answers written on it.

Unfortunately, even the proctor didn't know the answers to the selection exam questions.

He could only glance at Lin Chen's answers.

I answered the first question.

I also answered the second question.

Question 3...

……

All six questions were completely filled out!

After thinking for a moment, the teacher's gaze fell on the signature.

Lin Chen...

Lin Chen?

He suddenly had a look of realization on his face.

So this kid is Lin Chen, who was first in the city-wide joint exam?

interesting.

So interesting.

Who knows, Donghai City might produce another player for the national Olympic team this year!

I left the examination room.

Lin Chen waited for a while by the green belt outside.

Not long after, Chen Xiaoxiao also came out.

To Lin Chen's surprise, Chen Xiaoxiao looked dejected and unhappy.

"what happened?"

Lin Chen quickly inquired with concern.

"I...I'm afraid I won't be able to go to the math Olympiad with you."

Chen Xiaoxiao had a bitter expression on her face, and her eyes were a little red.

"The questions were really difficult this time. I did answer the last question, but when I handed in the paper, I realized that my approach was wrong."

"Lin Chen, if I can't get into the math Olympiad team, you can go by yourself."

"That's it!"

Lin Chen noticed the fleeting smile in Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes and immediately understood everything.

He laughed and said, "It's okay, if you can't go, then I won't participate either."

"Why? This is a very rare opportunity!"

"Without you, the math Olympiad is meaningless to me."

Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, Chen Xiaoxiao finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She reached out and patted Lin Chen on the shoulder: "You're just going to give up such a rare opportunity?"

Don't worry, I was the one who suggested participating in the international competition, how could I possibly fail to pass it...

Seeing the wide smile on Lin Chen's face, Chen Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that he had seen through everything long ago.

"Oh! Lin Chen, you said that on purpose just now, didn't you? You saw through my act all along?"

"Alright, alright, I just wanted to help you relax. Come on, didn't you say you were going to take me somewhere? Where are we going?"

……

The parking lot outside the examination hall.

Han Yu was dozing off in her car when a sudden knocking on the window woke her up.

Upon seeing Lin Chen and Chen Xiaoxiao outside the car, Han Yu immediately opened the car door.

"How's it going? Finished the exam?"

Lin Chen gave an OK sign.

Seeing that he and Chen Xiaoxiao both looked relaxed, Han Yu's face lit up with joy.

If Lin Chen and Chen Xiaoxiao both pass this selection, Donghai No.1 Middle School will set a new record.

Two students from the same school were selected for the National Mathematical Olympiad Team.

This is an unprecedented honor!

"Then let the teacher take you home! Principal Lin said you don't need to attend classes this afternoon, you can just go home and rest."

As soon as Chen Xiaoxiao got into the car, she heard Han Yu's words and immediately said, "Teacher Han, could you take us somewhere?"

"Of course, where are you going?"

……

To the surprise of both Lin Chen and Han Yu,

The place Chen Xiaoxiao was going to was actually a funeral home.

A special funeral is being held here today.

"Lin Chen, actually, it was your mother's idea to bring you here. She has something she wants to tell you."

Knowing that this was actually Chen's mother Meng Lan's suggestion, Lin Chen couldn't help but feel curious.

What exactly did Meng Lan mean by inviting him to this funeral?

"coming?"

Just then, Meng Lan's voice suddenly rang out from behind.

Just as Lin Chen was about to greet her, Meng Lan said, "Come with me. Don't say anything, just watch from the side."

Lin Chen ended up in one of the halls in a daze.

A memorial service for the deceased is being held inside.

Through the eulogies of family members and friends.

Lin Chen roughly knew the identity of the person attending today's funeral.

It was that expert who died in the plane crash.

This expert is not old; he is only 45 years old.

He was sent abroad to study at the age of 30.

That departure lasted for 15 years.

Over the course of 15 years, her mother took dozens of long-haul flights alone, spending hundreds of days abroad with her son.

This expert, however, never returned to China.

It's not that he doesn't want to, but that others won't allow it.

In fact, he had planned to return to China as early as 5 years ago, but his research field involved core EDA technologies.

They were prevented from leaving by the other party using various reasons.

Even the dozen or so important papers he had were banned from publication because of his identity.

He endured it for a full five years before finally getting a plane ticket.

But unexpectedly, an accident occurred just before they were about to set foot on their homeland.

The atmosphere at the memorial service was somber, even after the ceremony concluded.

Meng Lan called Lin Chen and Chen Xiaoxiao aside.

"how do you feel?"

Lin Chen hesitated for a moment, then said, "It feels... quite difficult."

"Ah."

Meng Lan nodded: "That person worked alone abroad for 15 years to master the core technology of EDA development. You, a high school senior, dare to say you want to develop EDA? Do you think that's reasonable?"

"I had Xiaoxiao bring you here so you would know this."

At this point, Meng Lan suddenly took out a bag and handed it to Lin Chen.

"When the plane crashed, all his belongings were lost; only his body was recovered. All that remains of him are his study notes from his time studying abroad and his published papers. These are all photocopies that I made."

I don't expect you to actually produce the item, but I hope someone will carry on this man's legacy.

Lin Chen took the bag and said, "Don't worry, Auntie, I will."

Meng Lan smiled disdainfully.

Although Lin Chen has changed a lot, he has now surpassed his daughter in his studies.

Learning and doing scientific research are two completely different things.

Otherwise, with so many academic geniuses in China, they would have already conquered all the technologies that were being held back.

Where else could we be so subject to others' control as we are now?

But for some reason, Meng Lan always felt that Lin Chen was not as simple as he seemed on the surface.

A vocational school student was able to become a top student who surpassed his own daughter in just six months.

This was never going to happen.

If he can achieve one impossible goal, perhaps he can achieve another?

Perhaps it was because of this idea that she specifically asked Chen Xiaoxiao to bring Lin Chen here today.

"By the way, how did your math Olympiad qualifying competition go today?"

"You can get in."

Lin Chen gave a precise answer.

No hesitation.

"If you can win an award in the International Mathematical Olympiad, I can agree to you dating my daughter, but only dating!"

"Is that really true?" Lin Chen's eyes flashed.

Beside her, Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes also lit up.

"really."

Lin Chen smiled confidently: "Auntie, then you'd better not go back on your word later!"

Meng Lan smiled: "If I wanted to go back on my word, I wouldn't have made this suggestion."

"Mom! You're so good to me!"

Chen Xiaoxiao hugged her mother tightly.

She thought that Meng Lan would stick to her bet with Lin Chen.

She will not agree to their relationship until Lin Chen produces the EDA.

Unexpectedly, Meng Lan suddenly changed her mind.

"Silly child, I was just angry that you kept it from me. Do you really want me to let you grow old alone?"

"But don't get too excited yet. I heard this math Olympiad selection competition is very difficult. If Lin Chen doesn't make it, just pray that he can produce an EDA product soon!"

"Don't worry, Mom, he can definitely do it!"

Chen Xiaoxiao leaned her head on her mother's shoulder with a smile, her eyes full of confidence as she looked at Lin Chen.