Su Jin hung up the phone with a heavy heart and turned back to the meeting room.
He hadn't decided whether to tell the old men in the Su family about Ruan Chen's background, and how their misunderstandings were so outrageous.
When Su Jin returned to the venue, the press conference had already ended. He went against the flow of people and found Ruan Yunhan in the backstage lounge.
She stood in front of the vanity mirror, staring blankly at her reflection.
Seeing Su Jin enter, she took a deep breath, composed herself, and asked in a somewhat cold tone, "How did your chat with Ruan Chen go?"
"We didn't talk much, I just thanked her on behalf of the Su family."
"What did she say about me? I answered the questions as instructed by the Ye family." Ruan Yunhan took out a densely printed piece of paper from her bag and tore it up.
That was the manuscript the Ye family had prepared for her.
"He didn't say anything, but he got angry at me."
Ruan Yunhan scoffed, "Where does my sister get such a temper? What anger does she have to vent on you? Is it because you, Su Jin, and she had a disagreement about how to divide the spoils here?"
Her words were barbed and sarcastic.
Su Jin wasn't always going to indulge her whims; his tone turned a bit colder, but was still gentle, "Stop guessing, let's go back."
-------------------------------------
Bo Nian never came to school after that.
His name was no longer in the student records of No. 1 High School, and his desk was empty and very clean.
It was a good spot right in the middle of the classroom. Old He had arranged for Ruan Chen to sit there, but Ruan Chen declined.
That position was uncomfortable; there were people all around.
Old He didn't arrange for anyone else to sit at the table; he simply left it empty.
When Ruan Chen occasionally glanced at the empty desk, a slight ripple would stir in her heart.
Bo Nian never contacted her again after that. His social media was as quiet as a stagnant pool. Ruan Chen had also heard from other classmates that Bo Nian seemed to have cut off contact with everyone and was busy with his family and company every day, flying back and forth to the other side of the ocean several times.
It matured overnight.
Ruan Chen snapped out of her thoughts and listened to Lao He's speech on the podium.
It's about the National Biochemistry Operation Grand Prix. The first place winner gets 50 extra points on their college entrance exam and a chance to choose between the National Medical College and Shanhe University for an academic summer camp.
Ruan Chen had already signed up before Lao He notified him, but at that time he teamed up with Bo Nian and his friends.
Ruan Chen originally planned to go alone, but the competition required at least three people to form a group.
Now that Bo Nian has been admitted to university through a special program, he naturally won't participate in the competition. The people he had previously assembled also tacitly removed Ruan Chen from the list of participants—this competition also has group scoring, and if Ruan Chen had come, it would have been obvious who would have been the top performer in the group.
Ruan Chen didn't ask any questions and accepted being ostracized without any concern.
She asked Lin Fengzi if she wanted to participate, as she was planning to sign up for the university group with Lin Fengzi, but Lin Fengzi refused, saying that she was too busy at the moment.
So Ruan Chen still hasn't found a teammate.
She looked at the completed registration form under her elbow, her brow furrowing with disappointment. She recalled what Bo Nian had said earlier; she was indeed an outsider.
After explaining the registration requirements and bonus point details, Lao He walked up to Ruan Chen, who was lost in thought, knocked on her door, and gestured for her to come out.
In the office, Lao He said, "Ruan Chen, you must be interested in participating in the competition, right? I heard from your chemistry teacher that you consulted him about some procedures."
"There's no point in hiding it," Ruan Chen replied. "Yes."
"Have you found a team yet?" Old He asked, hitting the nail on the head.
Ruan Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm making contact."
“The registration information has been posted on the official website for a week now, and there are still three days left until the deadline. If you could get in touch with them, you would have submitted your registration information by now, right?” Old He sighed. “Don’t be stubborn. Bo Nian told me that you and he were in the same group before, but now that Bo Nian isn’t coming, his group members have already submitted their competition information, and your name isn’t on it.”
Old He's tone was tinged with sympathy and pity.
It's clear from every angle that Ruan Chen was bullied; it's blatant exclusion and passive-aggressive behavior on campus.
Although Ruan Chen didn't take it to heart, Lao He's thoughts were actually true.
Ruan Chen only noticed the name Bo Nian when Lao He mentioned it.
When did he contact you?
Old He glanced at his phone. "A few days ago, as soon as the official announcement came out, he contacted me and asked me to take care of you so that you wouldn't miss the registration deadline. He was also the one who told me that you were in the same group as other people."
Old He picked up his large tea mug, took a sip, loudly spat the tea leaves from his mouth into the mug, smacked his lips, and continued, "When those guys brought up their registration forms today, I saw that the three of them had formed a team, and your name wasn't on it."
Ruan Chen explained, "Actually, the competition rules have changed this year. Although the old rule still requires at least three people to form a group, only the top three scores in a group are valid, and the scores within the group are also ranked. The final bonus points and summer camp spots also depend on the ranking of the scores within the group."
Ruan Chen didn't continue, but Lao He understood.
If Ruan Chen is added to the list, then it's destined that someone in that group will be left out.
"Then tell your teacher, do you still want to participate?"
Ruan Chen definitely wanted to; she started preparing last year. She never expected to get stuck at the registration stage.
Actually, she had a solution; she simply had to hire someone to accompany her on the trip.
She just couldn't say this to Lao He.
"Teacher, I'll figure it out myself." In front of the teacher, Ruan Chen was unusually obedient, always rolling up her sleeves before letting them fall down.
"Okay, I understand. You can go back now, and I'll figure something out for you."
Ruan Chen sighed and rubbed his nose, agreeing that Lao He's arrangement was fine.
"Ruan Chen, if you encounter any difficulties, please report them to your teacher promptly. The school will not stand idly by."
Looking at Ruan Chen's somewhat frail figure, Lao He was filled with worry.
This child is just like a sword, thin and sharp, only she never draws it.
Ruan Chen left Lao He's office, checked her watch, and saw that there were still five minutes left before get out of class ended. Too lazy to go back to the classroom, she slowly dragged her feet towards the restroom.
Nan Jing called.
Since what happened with Yan Qian, Ruan Chen hasn't contacted Nan Jing on her own initiative.
Nan Jing did approach her a few times, sending Ruan Chen a barrage of tedious data to process. Ruan Chen simply processed the data without asking any questions or arguing.
"Ruan Chen, are you free tonight? Come to the office; I have something to discuss with you."
Ruan Chen leaned on the railing, squinting as she enjoyed the sun, her tone languid, "South Institute, busy. We can discuss things over the phone."
She still felt a little awkward.
"How old are you this year?"
"Next...next month I'll be sixteen."
Nan Jing seemed conflicted. After a moment, she said, "That's about it. Get ready to enroll next September."
Ruan Chen suddenly stood up straight.
It came very suddenly.
Also, what does Nan Jing mean by saying "it's about time"? I've never heard of an age limit for admission to the First Academy. Every year, the Rising Star Class recruits several geniuses who are eleven or twelve years old.
"South Institute, we agreed on a three-year term, and it was based on my willingness. Besides... I've already registered at Beijing University of Technology."
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