Lin Chen's arrival surprised the professors and doctoral students who were being reprimanded by the university president. They were unceremoniously "asked" to leave the president's office, while Lin Chen was kept behind. Such differential treatment was bound to pique their curiosity.
As soon as they stepped out of the office, several professors and doctoral students gathered together and began to whisper among themselves.
"Who was that young man just now? Why is he so favored by the principal?"
"They look like students from our school, but what student could earn such serious attention from the headmaster?"
"And they were personally brought over by our Dean of Students, Lin Ruoyan. This is quite a special treatment!"
"I heard that a year ago, a student had a major falling out with the then Vice Principal Zhu Dehua, and the counselor at that time was Lin Ruoyan," a well-informed professor whispered.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at him with surprise, as if they had all made a connection to something.
"You mean, that young man just now was the student from back then?"
"That's very possible! I heard that student later took the entrance exam and came back to our school."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, lingering at the entrance to the principal's office, reluctant to leave.
At this moment, inside the office, the principal was looking at Lin Chen with a kind smile.
"Lin Chen, you probably don't know me very well, do you? Outsiders usually call me Principal." The Principal's tone was full of warmth.
"Is your surname 'Da'? Where is it 'Da'?" Lin Chen sneered.
Lin Ruoyan, who was standing nearby, quickly interjected, "Principal, Lin Chen is a very humorous person. He's just joking with you! Actually, he should have come to see you a year ago, but at that time..."
"Let's not dwell on the past." The principal interrupted Lin Ruoyan, turned around and bowed deeply to Lin Chen. "Haizhou University was sorry for what happened back then. As the principal, I failed to handle this matter properly, and I am deeply sorry."
This action surprised both Lin Chen and Lin Ruoyan. They hadn't expected the headmaster to apologize to a student so frankly.
"Headmaster, what brings you here?" Lin Chen asked directly.
The headmaster smiled and handed Lin Chen several sheets of A4 paper, densely covered with writing. Lin Chen quickly skimmed through them, filtering out the lengthy and irrelevant details, and gradually formed a general impression of the situation in his mind.
"This matter... doesn't seem to have anything to do with me, does it? There are plenty of people in the school who are more capable than me, why would it be my turn?" Lin Chen gave a wry smile. Although he had already guessed the principal's intention in calling him here, he still wanted to decline as much as possible.
Looking at Lin Chen's expression, the university president couldn't help but laugh: "If all the students in this school were really better than you, then Haizhou University would have been among the top ten in the world long ago."
As he spoke, the principal took out a thick document from his drawer and handed it to Lin Chen: "This is my investigation report on you, not just the news reports, but also a deeper understanding. You are a true genius, a genius that cannot be measured by age."
Lin Chen took the documents, flipped through a few pages, and couldn't help but feel moved. He hadn't expected the headmaster to know him so well.
"Can I choose not to participate?" Lin Chen tried to decline again.
The president's smile remained kind: "This event, though nominally an academic exchange, is in reality a competition between various academic forces. How many people want to see Haizhou University embarrass itself! You are now a member of Haizhou University; shouldn't you do something for the school's honor?"
Lin Chen remained silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that this event was both a challenge and an opportunity for him. If he refused to participate, he would undoubtedly miss an opportunity to showcase himself; but if he participated, he would need to devote a lot of time and energy to preparation.
Just as Lin Chen was hesitating, the principal spoke again: "Lin Chen, I believe in your abilities. You are not only a genius, but also a responsible and dependable young man. I believe you will make the right choice."
The principal's words were like a warm current flowing into Lin Chen's heart. He looked up at the principal's trusting and expectant eyes, and finally made up his mind—he didn't want to go!
"Lin Chen, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You must cherish it and seize this chance!" Lin Ruoyan's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding with the principal and was now earnestly persuading Lin Chen.
Lin Chen shrugged helplessly and joked, "What, are you coming with me too? Don't let me be busy and overwhelmed while you're just watching and laughing at me."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoyan gently placed her hands on Lin Chen's shoulders and smiled, "If you really want me to go with you, I might consider it."
Lin Chen quickly waved his hand, looking disgusted, and said, "Come on, you should just stay at school. If you really come with me, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep well at night."
Seeing that the headmaster seemed genuinely interested in having Lin Ruoyan accompany him, Lin Chen quickly tried to stop him. He knew that while this cultural exchange activity was significant, it was by no means an easy task. However, from the headmaster's determined gaze, Lin Chen also understood that he truly couldn't avoid it this time.
"Then... where is my first exchange location?" Lin Chen reluctantly compromised, but a trace of curiosity remained in his heart.
“Massachusetts College.” The principal’s tone was calm, yet it seemed to contain immense power.
Upon hearing the words "Massachusetts Institute," Lin Chen's pupils dilated instantly, and all his previous ulterior motives vanished. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was one of the world's top universities; the opportunity to exchange ideas with it would undoubtedly be a rare learning experience.
"How long?" Lin Chen's voice trembled slightly as he tried to glean more information from the principal's tone.
"Two weeks." The principal keenly noticed the change in Lin Chen's emotions and couldn't help but wonder what kind of charm Massachusetts College had that could move this young man so much.
This cultural exchange is a significant event among the top ten universities in China. Each university sends students to the other for a two-week exchange program. However, this is not merely a simple academic trip. In these prestigious institutions, professors, for the sake of their school's reputation, often deliberately make things difficult for these exchange students.
Therefore, the students who can represent the school in this exchange must be the most outstanding students in the entire school.
Haizhou University, as one of China's top universities, was no exception. After rounds of selection, five representatives were chosen from over 40,000 students. Of these five, besides Lin Chen, a freshman, the other four were seniors, third-year students, or even graduate students. This list quickly spread throughout the university, causing quite a stir.
The list was quickly leaked on Haizhou University's forum. Senior students, both third and fourth-year, began searching for information about these representatives, eager to learn about their illustrious careers. The newly admitted graduate student had also published numerous articles in academic journals, demonstrating a solid professional foundation.
However, when everyone saw the name Lin Chen, they couldn't help but feel puzzled. What abilities did this freshman possess that allowed him to outshine so many upperclassmen and become one of the representatives for this exchange program?
Many students began to discuss the matter, with some expressing dissatisfaction and even suspecting behind-the-scenes manipulation by the school. After all, at a top university like Haizhou University, every student is selected through a rigorous process. Many of them are exceptional talents, standing out from millions of applicants nationwide.
This academic exchange opportunity is crucial for everyone. Therefore, it's natural that some people would feel dissatisfied and question the fact that a freshman had taken up a spot.
However, regardless of the outside world's discussions, Lin Chen remained calm and composed. He knew that this exchange was both a challenge and an opportunity for him. He believed in his own strength and abilities, as well as in the fairness and impartiality of Haizhou University. Therefore, he was determined to seize this opportunity and prove his worth through his actions.
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