Participating in the International Mathematical Olympiad, the Special-Grade Laboratory

In a corner of the school.

Ji Chuxing had just rounded a corner when she spotted someone not far away and immediately turned around to leave.

But sharp-eyed Teacher Ouyang had already spotted the back of her head.

"Ji Chuxing, wait!" a voice called from behind her.

Ji Chuxing walked faster.

Teacher Ouyang caught up to her, panting. "Ji Chuxing, wait for me!"

Ji Chuxing had no choice but to stop. "What?"

Anyone who wasn't blind could see the displeasure on her face.

"Have you thought about entering the competition?" Teacher Ouyang beamed, pretending not to see the refusal on the girl's face.

Ever since Ji Chuxing had completed that test paper in the principal's office, Teacher Ouyang had set his sights on her.

Yesterday, she had gone to ask the principal for laboratory access and happened to run into Teacher Ouyang. After they discussed it, the condition for Ji Chuxing to gain access was that she complete a set of test papers Teacher Ouyang gave her.

Of course, Ji Chuxing had finished them in a flash without the slightest effort, not even needing scratch paper.

Her heaven-defying mental arithmetic was so powerful that Teacher Ouyang had wanted nothing more than to grab her by the head and take her straight to the International Mathematical Olympiad.

As a result, gaining access to a separate laboratory at Nanzhong had left her with Teacher Ouyang on her trail.

He insisted that she enter some International Mathematical Olympiad.

"No." Ji Chuxing refused again without hesitation.

She would have to advance through one round after another. What a hassle.

With that, she turned and walked away.

Teacher Ouyang doggedly pursued her. "Ji Chuxing, you're so gifted in mathematics. This would be your first International Mathematical Olympiad in high school. Aren't you tempted?"

Ji Chuxing said, "No."

"This is a great chance to bring honor to our school!"

Ji Chuxing bit into a milk tablet. "I'm not going."

"As long as you make it to the national competition, you'll have a chance to get into North City University without an entrance exam. You could even go to any prestigious university at home or abroad that you want!"

Ji Chuxing said, "Not interested."

Even without entering the competition, she could go wherever she wanted.

Teacher Ouyang was out of ideas. Following Ji Chuxing, he was just short of wheedling and rolling on the ground.

A grown man, abandoning all dignity, followed a young girl and pleaded in a low voice.

Not far away, Wen Xinyue and Wu Fangying were on their way to the chemistry office. She happened to glance over and saw Teacher Ouyang following Ji Chuxing, saying something she couldn't make out.

Ji Chuxing walked in front with an indifferent expression, looking somewhat impatient.

Wu Fangying felt her slow down. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Wen Xinyue shook her head, putting aside the strange feeling in her heart.

She had almost seen it wrong just now. Teacher Ouyang pleading with Ji Chuxing?

How could that be?

Teacher Ouyang was a special-grade mathematics teacher at the school. He was always strict and wouldn't even spare a glance for a poor student like Ji Chuxing.

Ji Chuxing must have made some mistake that Teacher Ouyang had witnessed, so he wouldn't let it go.

At that thought, Wen Xinyue felt reassured and headed toward the chemistry laboratory with Wu Fangying.

Meanwhile, Teacher Ouyang, still trailing Ji Chuxing, was truly out of ideas.

"Ji Chuxing, if you enter the competition and place, not only will the organizers award you three million, but the school will also give you a prize of five hundred thousand!"

Students might not obviously care very much about prize money, but Teacher Ouyang was truly out of ideas.

To his surprise, Ji Chuxing stopped.

"Prize money?" Her eyes sparkled, and all the impatience vanished from her face.

Teacher Ouyang froze, then nodded eagerly. "Yes! The competition prizes are very generous..."

Before he could finish, Ji Chuxing suddenly said, "Oh, all right. Sign me up."

Teacher Ouyang was completely stunned. Then, when it sank in, he was overjoyed. "Ji Chuxing, you really agree? You'll definitely go, right?"

Ji Chuxing nodded. "Don't worry. I'll enter the competition, and I'll bring the prize money back too."

Teacher Ouyang was satisfied. He had to hurry and tell the principal the news. This year, Nanzhong would surely reach the top ranks of the national competition. He had led teams to so many competitions, and Ji Chuxing was the most gifted of them all.

He left happily.

Ji Chuxing shook her head.

He should have said so earlier. With that much prize money, she would have agreed long ago.

After all, she needed quite a bit of money to buy medicinal ingredients. Ah, it really hurt to part with it.

She headed for the laboratory.

The principal had granted her individual permission to use the laboratory the day before.

At Nanzhong, laboratory access was divided into levels. The highest level belonged to special-grade teachers, while ordinary subject teachers had intermediate access. The next level down consisted of laboratories used only for student classes.

There was also a type available for public use.

Ji Chuxing had obtained the highest level of laboratory access. Once the principal learned that she wanted to conduct experiments, he had granted it without another word.

As she passed a laboratory, she suddenly saw Wen Xinyue come out of one.

Wen Xinyue was also taken aback to see Ji Chuxing, but then she smiled. "Sister, what brings you here? Oh, don't you know? This is an advanced laboratory. It's not a place you should be."

Ji Chuxing had no interest in her. She lifted her chin, signaling her to move. "Stop calling me that. I'm my dad's only daughter. Move."

Wen Xinyue's expression stiffened. "Sister, please stop being angry with Mom."

"Can't you understand what I'm saying?" Ji Chuxing looked at her coolly.

After Ji Chuxing had treated her coldly time and again, Wen Xinyue's expression grew even worse. "Sister, did I do something wrong to make you hate me so much? Do you blame me for taking Mom away? But..."

"Will you ever shut up? What does anything you do have to do with me? You keep yakking away-even a parrot isn't as noisy as you. Do I have to punch you before you'll move?" Ji Chuxing lost her temper, her eyes dark and cold.

When Wen Xinyue met her gaze, her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, and she moved aside instinctively. Only then did Ji Chuxing walk past.

Wen Xinyue watched her pass before coming to her senses, only to see Ji Chuxing turn another corner in the corridor.

That was the area where the special-grade laboratory was. What was Ji Chuxing going there for, and who had allowed her up here?

She had wanted to follow and take a look, but Teacher Wu was already calling her from the laboratory.

Wen Xinyue had no choice but to set the thought aside for now. On second thought, Ji Chuxing might simply be there to clean the floor, or if she had come up without permission, the school would surely punish her.

Surely she couldn't get into the special-grade laboratory?

Ha!

Impossible.

Even Teacher Wu couldn't enter the special-grade laboratory. If she remembered correctly, the principal was the only person in all of Nanzhong who had the right to enter it. Wen Xinyue felt reassured.

"What are you thinking about?" Wu Fangying suddenly asked.

Holding a reagent bottle, Wen Xinyue came to her senses. "Teacher Wu... I..."

Wu Fangying's expression was not very pleasant. "The most important thing when conducting an experiment is concentration."

He had always been strict, especially at the lab bench. Otherwise, even a second of distraction could cause an experiment to fail.

Wen Xinyue composed herself and obediently said, "Yes, I'll remember. I-I just feel a little unwell."

Wu Fangying looked at her complexion and said nothing more.

Entering the special-grade laboratory required facial recognition and pupil verification.

It had every piece of equipment one could need. Experimental materials could be requested directly from the school or brought in personally, provided the school's laboratory was not damaged.

Ji Chuxing looked around and was reasonably satisfied.

Then she pulled a large handful of materials out of her backpack.

The materials for making her hair-growth solution, whitening face mask, and special scar-removal gel had arrived yesterday!

She could finally earn her first little bit of money!