While the internet was abuzz with controversy, the competition venue at Imperial University remained calm. Tong Su had just finished the Chinese Classics competition and was sitting in the venue, quietly waiting for the awards ceremony.
She won the silver medal.
The first place winner was the son of a professor, three years older than Tongsu, and a senior in high school. The boy was a natural literary talent; it was said that he began reading 300 poems at the age of three, and by the age of six he could read 2,000 large characters and had become a disciple of a master of Chinese studies.
Now he can recite the classics of Chinese studies fluently. In school, he ranks at the top in all subjects except for mathematics, and he has basically secured a place in the Chinese Department of Beijing University.
Unlike such geniuses, Tong Su herself admitted that her brain and IQ were not top-notch. She made up for her shortcomings through hard work and accepted her defeat wholeheartedly.
"Now we will present the silver award. Please welcome Tang Tongyang, the second place winner of our Chinese Classical Studies Competition, from Mingfeng High School, to the stage to receive the award."
On the stage, Professor Tang and his wife were the award presenters, smiling as they watched Tong Su walk onto the stage.
Although it was called an awards ceremony, it was actually just a small auditorium with only a few people in attendance and no media present. However, sitting on the "chairman's" stage were several renowned masters of Chinese classical studies.
Most of the masters had gray hair, but were still in good spirits. They sat there with smiles on their faces, looking at the energetic children holding their medals with admiration.
Professor Tang and his wife presented Tongsu with the medal, their eyes crinkling with smiles.
"Tongtong, how have you been doing at school these past few days? Do you like it here? -- Right? Imperial University is so great, so after you finish your college entrance exam, why don't you apply here? I've seen several senior professors who want to take you on as a student."
They recognized the child a long time ago; she was another child from the orphanage three months ago. They inexplicably liked her and therefore took good care of Tongsu.
While studying for their college entrance exams, the two of them frequently invited Tongsu to their home in the university's staff dormitory.
This is the main residence of the Tang family, but Tang Nuoyu is not here. She doesn't like this strong academic atmosphere, but prefers luxury and extravagance.
After hearing that the Tang couple owned a small house in the wealthy area near Mingfeng, they insisted on living there on their own.
The two often sighed in private: "Although we've done the DNA testing, sometimes I feel like Tongyang is the real child. Nuoyu is quite well-behaved, but her personality... is completely different from ours."
"Yes, it's really strange..."
The competition was completely closed off, and the masters were so engrossed in their academic pursuits that they rarely checked the internet and were therefore completely unaware of the major events on Weibo.
After the ceremony, a group of people, young and old, laughed heartily and went to a restaurant next to the school for a meal.
Tong Su chatted happily with them, but the young children next to her couldn't stand the loneliness, and since the competition was over, they also took out their phones and started scrolling.
“Traditional Chinese studies are certainly good, but I always think I want to learn more about other things,” she said. “If I don’t apply to the Chinese Literature or History Department, can I ask the teachers if I don’t understand something when I’m reading?”
The old professors chuckled in surprise, “You don’t want to study Chinese or history? What do you want to study then? You’re perfect for this, kid. Come on—”
They tried to abduct Tongsu, but Tongsu just smiled and said she would think about it. Seeing this, everyone was very disappointed, but still respected her choice and laughed loudly, "You've already called me teacher, how could I refuse?"
As everyone was chatting and laughing, a classmate who was scrolling through Weibo suddenly screamed. Everyone instinctively looked at her, but she stared at Tongsu in shock.
"Tongyang, you seem to have become famous. Everyone on the internet is talking about you... Entertainment reporters have staked out your house and filmed a lot of videos. The internet is exploding now!"
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