"Tang Qiao, someone is looking for you," came an abrupt announcement. A girl swiftly approached and gestured toward the door.
"Alright, I'll head over now." Tang Qiao nodded.
As she exited the classroom, the girl whispered, "Miss Yan Ping is looking for you. She wants you to meet her at the parterre downstairs."
Why is Yan Ping looking for me? "Okay, thank you," Tang Qiao replied thoughtfully.
There was a vibrant parterre downstairs. It was a testament to the blossoming spring. Tang Qiao strolled past it, rounded a corner, and spotted Yan Ping in the distance. She was still donned in her crisp white and black formal attire, her hair meticulously tied up, reflecting her perpetual seriousness.
"Miss Yan, are you looking for me?" Tang Qiao inquired.
"Yes," Yan Ping nodded, her gaze fixed on Tang Qiao, who wore her school uniform with her hair neatly tied in a ponytail. She exuded a fresh and natural charm.
Yan Ping straightened her posture and addressed Tang Qiao, "Congratulations on getting the top spot in the selection."
"Thank you. Miss Yan, do you have something to discuss with me?" Tang Qiao replied, getting straight to the point.
Yan Ping fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Tang Qiao, would you like to transfer to Class 1?"
Yan Ping served as the homeroom teacher for Class 1, the class renowned for its high-achieving students.
Tang Qiao found Yan Ping's proposal intriguing. She shook her head and declined, "I'd rather not."
"You!" Yan Ping's frustration flared. Many students from the regular class aspired to join her class, Sophomore Class 1, but Tang Qiao dismissed the idea with ease.
"Miss Yan, if that's all, I'll take my leave now," Tang Qiao said, turning to leave.
Yan Ping watched Tang Qiao's retreating figure and thought of her subpar performance in other subjects. Her anger gradually dissipated.
Perhaps it was best for her to remain in the regular class; being exceptional in math alone had its limitations.
On the First High School forum.
Tang Qiao's flawless score in the Mathematical Olympiad qualifiers became a hot topic, sparking numerous discussions.
"I never expected that Tang Qiao was a math prodigy! This is mind-boggling!"
"Hahaha, when Lin Qingyu struggled with Tang Qiao's math terms, I sensed her extraordinary skills. But Lin Qingyu's dismal score of only 25 points this time truly astonished me!"
"Yes, I heard Lin Qingyu got only 25 points this time. It's an incredible gap and comparison!"
On the forum, it appeared that a festive atmosphere was taking hold. The excitement ran high among the forum members, but this wasn't unusual. Lin Qingyu had garnered a significant following in the school. Anyone who dared to speak ill of Lin Qingyu would face an onslaught of rebukes and scolding. So, now that they could hold their heads high, it was only natural for them to strike back. Nevertheless, a few individuals were engaged in a serious discussion about Tang Qiao's perfect score in the preliminaries.
"With Tang Qiao participating in the city-level preliminaries this time, could our school's reign of mediocrity finally be coming to an end?"
"This exam is merely a school selection competition, not a true Olympiad. The real Olympiad features numerous complex problems, with a maximum score of 300 points – it's exceptionally challenging. Based on last year's provincial standard, 180 points would suffice for a first prize!"
"It seems like there's a glimmer of hope for our school, but we won't know for certain until we see how demanding the municipal preliminaries turn out."
While the forum buzzed with discussion, reality intervened as the school bell rang, silencing the entire class 9. Lu Heng, a rotund figure with hands on the podium, stepped forward.
"I've heard that someone in your class aced the Mathematical Olympiad qualifiers," Lu Heng remarked, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. The students in Class 9 remained silent, but Tang Qiao responded calmly, "Yes, Mr. Lu is quite well-informed."
Lu Heng, hands clasped behind his back, grinned and perused his lesson plan. "I also notice that Tang Qiao's chemistry scores are commendable. How about considering the Chemistry Olympiad?"
The classroom fell into hushed contemplation. Li Luo leaned back and whispered to Tang Qiao, "Please, don't!" Participating in two Olympiads was too overwhelming. Tang Qiao should focus on preparing for the city-level preliminaries and midterms!
Lu Heng's gaze directed downward, inquired, "Why not? You've even delved into the university chemistry textbook. Are you afraid of the Olympiad?"
Li Luo desperately wished to silence Lu Heng's prodding. Other students shook their heads in disagreement, signaling Tang Qiao to decline the offer.
Upon observing Li Luo's emphatic head-shaking and sensing the concern in her classmates' eyes, Tang Qiao smiled gently. Her long, black eyelashes fluttered as her eyes sparkled with clarity and moisture. "Sure." Tang Qiao unexpectedly agreed.