"Whoa, a gold medal!"
"Shen Qi, you got a perfect score again!"
"Bro, you're so damn reliable. You never mess up."
Qi Jianhong and the other teammates refreshed the national finals results at the same time. They were envious, sure, but not resentful. What was there to resent? Shen Qi got a perfect score every time. How could anyone hold that against him?
"Everyone won something. Look." Shen Qi scrolled down his phone screen. Seeing that every teammate had earned some kind of award, he was happy for them.
Ten Math Olympiad teams had sent a total of sixty contestants to the national finals. The organizing committee had awarded six individual gold medals, twelve silver medals, and twenty-four bronze medals. The rest received the "National High School Math League Finals Perseverance Award." There was no medal for that one, just a certificate and a big red flower.
In short, everyone won something. Qualifying for the national finals was a major prize in itself.
Shen Qi's five teammates had won two bronze medals and three Perseverance Awards. The Nanyue Math Olympiad team hadn't come in last; they'd placed in the top six as a team, largely thanks to the few ranking points Shen Qi's perfect 42 had earned them.
Below the team and individual rankings on the Chinese Mathematical Society's official website was an appendix.
Appendix: This year's national finals problems and answers, plus a sample perfect-score paper.
The only perfect-score paper from the national finals had been posted on the Chinese Mathematical Society's website as a PDF. It belonged to Shen Qi.
The National High School Math League Finals didn't draw anywhere near as much attention as the KPL finals. Math Olympiad contests weren't livestreamed, and there wasn't even any footage to watch afterward.
But people in the field were paying close attention to the national finals. Shen Qi's perfect-score paper and his wildly imaginative problem-solving methods had already caught the attention of prestigious universities, including Shuimu University and Yanjing University.
Around noon, Shen Qi's father, Shen Zhishan, called him. "Not bad, Shen Qi! You won a gold medal and didn't even tell me? I had to hear it from Teacher Zhang!"
"Dad, I've been swamped all morning... I haven't had a chance to call you and Mom with the good news... I'll talk to you later." Shen Qi held the phone in his left hand and covered his mouth with his right, speaking in a low, halting whisper.
Shen Zhishan was very displeased, and even a little hurt. "You think you're all grown up now, huh? What are you so busy with?"
Shen Qi sneaked a glance at the stranger not far away and lowered his voice even further. "Shuimu University wants me to sign a contract. We're discussing the details... I've also got the awards ceremony this afternoon. I'm running myself ragged."
"You little brat!" Shen Zhishan exploded, firing off a string of angry complaints. "You didn't tell me about something this important? Don't sign anything with Shuimu yet. Hold them off, got it? Don't act like you're beneath them and lower your own value, or you'll lose important bargaining power! Even if you sign, it won't count. I'm your legal guardian, and only my signature is valid! Wait there. I'm buying a plane ticket to the capital right now. I'll be there by tonight at the latest. We'll discuss everything after I arrive, or I'll disown you!"
Shen Qi was in a dormitory at Shuimu University with Teacher Tian and a middle-aged man.
Teacher Tian looked serious, but it was clear he was eager to laugh. He was doing his best to keep from bursting out.
The middle-aged man wore rimless glasses, and his hair was neatly styled. He looked refined, with a touch of arrogance. He gazed at Shen Qi and gave him an amused smile.
"Heh, sorry about that, Director Yan. My dad was calling, and this phone leaks sound a bit." Shen Qi ended the call, looking a little awkward.
"No problem, Shen Qi. Let's continue." The uninvited middle-aged man was Director Yan, a recruitment official at Shuimu University.
That was why Yanjing University had strongly opposed holding both the National Preliminary and the national finals at Shuimu University. All the high school contestants were staying in Shuimu's student dorms, giving Shuimu the home-field advantage.
But Yanjing University's protests had been useless. Shuimu had the home-field advantage, and on its own turf, it called the shots.
"Continue? Wait, continue what, Director Yan?" Shen Qi looked utterly confused, suddenly acting all innocent.
"Ahem." Director Yan cleared his throat and composed himself. "Shuimu University has been keeping a close eye on this year's National Preliminary and national finals. Put simply, the top university recruits only the best students. And you, Shen Qi, won a gold medal at this year's national finals and were the only contestant to get a perfect score. You meet Shuimu's admissions standards for special admission. So, have you decided to sign with Shuimu University?"
"I'm only seventeen. I'm still a kid. I don't understand this stuff." Shen Qi shook his head and looked helplessly at Teacher Tian. "My parents aren't in the capital, so I can't make this decision as a minor. I'll listen to our team leader, Teacher Tian. He's a math expert and knows a lot."
You little brat, playing dumb and acting cute, huh? Teacher Tian wasn't falling for it. "A national finals contract with Shuimu is an extremely important matter for a high school student. It could affect their entire life. As Vice President of the Nanyue Provincial Mathematical Society and leader of the Nanyue Math Olympiad team, my responsibility is to lead the students in competitions and look after their safety while we're away. For something like a contract, it's best to consult their parents."
That was perfectly put. He'd complimented Shuimu without taking on any responsibility.
Director Yan couldn't argue with that, but he still found it hard to understand. "I just don't get it. What's there to worry about when signing with Shuimu? So many students would give anything to get into Shuimu, but in the end they don't make it and have no choice but to go to one of the schools next door."
"Shen Qi, tell me, what are your concerns? I'm not asking you to sign the national finals contract right now. I just want to know where you stand. We can handle the legal paperwork after your parents arrive in the capital."
"Oh, Director Yan, which school is next door?" Shen Qi asked curiously.
"Which one doesn't matter. None of them are as good as Shuimu." Director Yan had the confidence of someone who could see from on high. He had every reason to: he was in charge of admissions at Shuimu University.
"I see." Shen Qi looked torn, as if he was somewhat tempted.
Director Yan kept his expression neutral, but he was already fairly confident. He could tell Shen Qi was pretending to be clueless. Just a moment ago, the boy had seemed sharp. How had his IQ suddenly gone offline?
From what Director Yan had observed, Shen Qi was a boy with a mind of his own. His unconventional, imaginative answers on the test paper made that clear. Director Yan's son was about the same age, and he knew that once a boy in his teens decided to do something, even his parents couldn't stop him. So the key was to win Shen Qi over.
After thinking for a long while, Shen Qi asked, "Oh, Director Yan, if I sign with Shuimu and then get accepted to another university before I officially enroll, what happens? Can I back out? How much would I have to pay?"
"Is there any university in all of China better than Shuimu?" Director Yan seemed to have heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. He shook his head with a laugh, finding it funnier the more he thought about it.
"According to the latest global university rankings, Harvard is first, MIT second, Stanford third, UC Berkeley fourth, Caltech fifth, Oxford sixth, Cambridge seventh, Princeton eighth, Yale ninth, and Columbia University tenth. They're the legendary global top ten. I think I've got that right. After all, I'm a national finals gold medalist, so my memory's pretty good. So, Director Yan, where does Shuimu rank globally?" Shen Qi's eyes suddenly sharpened. He stopped playing dumb.
"Globally... where? Shen Qi, are you thinking of going abroad?" Director Yan's smile froze, and he looked a little awkward.
Director Yan stood up, maintaining an awkward but polite smile. "Things are chaotic abroad, especially in the US and UK. The corruption and decadence of imperialism know no bounds, and their internal conflicts have spread to every field, including education. Shen Qi, you have to trust me: our great motherland is the best place for you to reach your full potential."
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