Showing Talent

"Wow, a gold medal!"

"Shen Qi, you got a perfect score again!"

"Bro, you're so steady, never choke."

Qi Jianhong and the other teammates refreshed the National Final leaderboard simultaneously. They felt envious, jealous, but not hateful. There was nothing to hate; Shen Qi scored perfectly every time. How could they possibly hate him for that?

"Everyone gets something, everyone gets a prize, look." Shen Qi scrolled through his phone screen. He saw that every teammate had gained something and expressed his happiness.

A total of sixty contestants from ten Math Olympiad teams participated in the National Final. The organizing committee awarded six individual gold medals, twelve silver medals, and twenty-four bronze medals. The remaining participants received the "High School Mathematics League Final Endeavor Award," which didn't come with a medal but a certificate and a large red flower.

In short, everyone received an award. Just qualifying for the National Final was a great prize in itself.

Shen Qi's five teammates won two bronze medals and three Endeavor Awards. The Nanyue Math Olympiad team didn't finish last; they even secured a top-six team ranking, mainly thanks to Shen Qi's perfect score of 42 points boosting their standing.

On the Chinese Mathematical Society's official website, below the team and individual rankings, there was a supplement.

Supplement: This year's National Final real exam questions + answers, and a display of the perfect score paper.

The only perfect score paper from the National Final was posted on the Chinese Mathematical Society's official website in PDF format. The owner of this paper was Shen Qi.

The influence of the High School Mathematics League Final couldn't compare to the KPL Grand Finals. Math Olympiad competitions weren't live-streamed, and you couldn't even watch recordings.

However, people within the industry paid close attention to the National Final. Shen Qi's perfect score paper and his wildly imaginative problem-solving approaches had already attracted the attention of major universities, including Shuimu University and Yanjing University.

Around noon, Shen Qi's father, Shen Zhishan, called: "Not bad, Shen Qi. You won a gold medal and didn't even tell me? Teacher Zhang had to let me know."

"Dad, I've been swamped since early this morning... I didn't have time to share the good news with you and Mom... I'll hang up for now, we can talk later." Shen Qi held his phone in his left hand, covering his mouth with his right, speaking in short, hushed bursts.

Shen Zhishan was very displeased, even a little disappointed: "You've gotten too big for your britches, huh? What are you so busy with?"

Shen Qi secretly glanced at a stranger not far away, lowering his voice even further: "Shuimu University is talking to me about a contract, discussing business... I also have to attend the National Final awards ceremony this afternoon. I'm busy as hell."

"Shen Qi, you ungrateful brat!" Shen Zhishan roared, his scolding like a barrage of firecrackers: "You're not reporting such a huge matter to me? Don't sign with Shuimu University yet, hold steady, you hear me! Absolutely do not appear humble in front of them, don't lower your value, or you'll lose your bargaining chips! Shen Qi, it's useless even if you sign, I'm your legal guardian, my signature is the only one that's valid! Wait there, I'm buying a plane ticket to the Capital immediately. I'll be there by tonight at the latest. We'll talk about everything after I arrive, or I'll disown you!"

Shen Qi was currently in a dorm room at Shuimu University. In the room with him were Teacher Tian and a middle-aged man.

Teacher Tian looked serious and proper, but it was clear he wanted to laugh. He was trying hard to suppress himself from bursting out laughing.

The middle-aged man wore rimless glasses, his hair neatly styled. He had a refined appearance, with a touch of aloofness. He stared at Shen Qi and smiled playfully.

"Heh heh, sorry Director Yan, that was my dad calling. My phone has a bit of a leak," Shen Qi said, hanging up the call, feeling a little awkward.

"It's fine, Shen Qi, let's continue." The middle-aged man, who had arrived uninvited, was named Yan and was a representative from Shuimu University's admissions office.

This was why Yanjing University strongly opposed holding the National Preliminary and National Final of the Mathematics League entirely at Shuimu University. All participating high school students were housed in Shuimu's dormitories, giving Shuimu University a significant advantage.

However, Yanjing University's protests were useless. Shuimu University had the home-field advantage; it was their turf, and they were the big players.

"Continue, huh? Continue with what, Director Yan?" Shen Qi looked completely bewildered, suddenly appearing naive.

"Ahem." Director Yan cleared his throat twice, steadying himself, and said: "Our Shuimu University has been closely monitoring this year's National Preliminary and National Final. Simply put, the top institutions only recruit the most outstanding students. And you, Shen Qi, are the gold medalist of this year's National Final, the only one with a perfect score. You meet our admission standards for Shuimu, so we're offering you special admission. So, have you decided to sign with our Shuimu University?"

"I'm only 17, I'm still a child. I don't understand these things." Shen Qi shook his head and looked helplessly at Teacher Tian: "My parents aren't in the Capital. As a minor, I can't make the decision. I'll listen to our team leader, Teacher Tian. He's a math expert, very knowledgeable."

You little rascal, pretending to be dumb and cute, huh? Teacher Tian wasn't falling for Shen Qi's act. He said: "Signing with Shuimu for the National Final is an extremely significant matter for a high school student, potentially affecting their entire life. As the Vice President of the Nanyue Provincial Mathematical Society and the leader of the Nanyue Math Olympiad team, my responsibility is to lead the children to the competition and ensure their personal safety during the competition. As for signing contracts, it's best to consult the parents' opinions."

What he said was impeccable. It flattered Shuimu without rashly taking on responsibility.

Director Yan couldn't refute it, but he found it hard to understand: "I just don't get it, what's there to worry about signing with our Shuimu? So many students try their hardest to get into Shuimu but end up having to go to the neighboring institution."

"Shen Qi, please tell me, what are your concerns? I'm not asking you to sign the contract immediately at the National Final. I just want to see your attitude. We can proceed with the legal signing process after your parents arrive in the Capital."

"Oh, Director Yan, which neighboring institution are you referring to?" Shen Qi asked with great curiosity.

"Which one it is doesn't matter, because none of them are as good as Shuimu University," Director Yan said with an air of superiority. He had the confidence because he was Shuimu University's admissions representative.

"I see." Shen Qi appeared hesitant, seemingly a little tempted.

Director Yan remained impassive, but he already felt somewhat confident. He could tell Shen Qi was deliberately playing dumb. He had seemed like a sharp kid just moments ago, so why was his intelligence suddenly offline?

Based on Director Yan's observation, Shen Qi should be a young man with his own opinions. This could be seen from his unconventional and imaginative exam answers. Director Yan's son was around the same age as Shen Qi, and he knew that once a teenage boy like Shen Qi decided on something, even parents couldn't stop him. Therefore, convincing Shen Qi himself was the key.

After thinking for a long time, Shen Qi asked: "Um, Director Yan, if I sign with Shuimu and then get accepted by another university before officially reporting, what happens then? Can I break the contract? How much would I have to pay for breaking it?"

"Is there a better university in China than Shuimu?" Director Yan seemed to hear the most ridiculous joke in the world. He shook his head and laughed, finding it increasingly amusing.

"The latest global university comprehensive rankings show Harvard at first, MIT second, Stanford third, UC Berkeley fourth, Caltech fifth, Oxford sixth, Cambridge seventh, Princeton eighth, Yale ninth, and Columbia University tenth. These are the legendary Global TOP 10. Hmm, I should remember correctly, after all, I'm a National Final gold medalist, my memory is still pretty good. Um, may I ask, Director Yan, what's Shuimu's global ranking?" Shen Qi's eyes suddenly became sharp; he stopped pretending to be foolish.

"Global rank... what rank? Shen Qi, are you thinking of going abroad?" Director Yan's smile froze, and he even looked a bit awkward.

Director Yan stood up, maintaining an awkwardly polite smile: "It's very chaotic abroad, especially in the US and UK. Imperialist decadence is rampant, and their internal contradictions permeate every field, including education. Shen Qi, please believe me, our great motherland is the most suitable place for you to thrive."