Chapter 402 - 415: A Disturbance Arises 2
After the apprenticeship ceremony, the Dean of the History Department stood up in astonishment. He pointed at An Ning, then looked toward Yu the Elder.
Understanding, Yu the Elder stepped forward and explained, "Mr. Shi Sr., please don’t be alarmed. My master’s knowledge, skills, and character all surpass my own. There’s no need for surprise."
"However, my master prefers to keep a low profile and doesn’t wish for our relationship to be known publicly for the time being. I hope you will look out for her."
The elderly man, Mr. Shi Sr., readily agreed. He was simply astonished by the age difference between An Ning and Yu the Elder.
The simple yet dignified apprenticeship banquet came to an end. Everyone ate the meal specially prepared by the Zhou Family, chatting in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
They were all acquaintances, so there was no need for formality.
During the banquet, everyone toasted to their new lives. Fueled by the light fruit wine, each person expressed their heartfelt gratitude to An Ning.
By the time the banquet ended, it was already past eight o’clock.
The students headed back to the university together, while Yu Zheng drove Yu the Elder and Li Chengze home.
After a good night’s sleep, they were up early for their run as usual. When they finished, they exchanged class schedules to make it easier to find one another, then dispersed to attend their respective classes.
An Ning and Zhou Xiaoshan headed toward a classroom in the math department. When they climbed to the second floor and stepped inside, they glanced at their watches in utter disbelief.
They weren’t late.
’So why were there so many people, all sitting neatly and reading their books?’
The half-eaten bun in Zhou Xiaoshan’s hand suddenly seemed particularly conspicuous. He shoved the remaining mouthfuls into his mouth at once, but it must have been too much, and he began to choke.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH—Teach—"
"Got it!"
An Ning located the right spot and gave his back a sharp smack. The wad of bun flew out of Zhou Xiaoshan’s throat.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
At the booming reprimand, Zhou Xiaoshan, still clutching his throat, looked up. An elderly woman with black-rimmed glasses and wearing a Zhongshan suit was walking toward them, a book tucked under her arm.
Most importantly, there was a piece of the bun wrapper stuck to her face.
Zhou Xiaoshan shot a quick glance at An Ning, only to see her say with feigned concern, "You’re welcome, classmate."
She... acting as if she didn’t know Zhou Xiaoshan, walked right into the classroom.
Only Zhou Xiaoshan and the elderly woman who had been ambushed by the flying bun were left at the doorway.
The old woman’s eyes were like laser pointers, causing a stinging sensation wherever they landed.
"What’s your name?"
Zhou Xiaoshan desperately wanted to give a different name, but he didn’t dare.
"Zhou Xiaoshan?"
"Ah... the one who placed second."
The old woman’s expression remained neutral as she walked into the classroom to begin the lesson.
Zhou Xiaoshan cleverly tried to slip in behind her, but he had only taken a single step.
"Clean up that mess outside before you come in."
"Yes, ma’am!"
Zhou Xiaoshan quickly ran out, pulled a tissue from his pocket, cleaned the floor, and then entered the classroom.
By the time he sat down, he felt as if he had been gone for an eternity. ’Was I really outside that long? When did she fill a third of the blackboard? What is she even talking about now? Why is there more and more on the board?’
And so, in a state of utter panic, Zhou Xiaoshan began his first class of the day.
It wasn’t just Zhou Xiaoshan. With the old woman launching into her lecture without any introduction, every student was left completely bewildered through their first class.
The content of that first lesson was like something from another world, causing this group of self-proclaimed elites to start doubting their own intelligence.
The old woman on the dais stood with her back to the class, writing on the board with mechanical precision. She went over this same problem at the start of every school year. Her goal was simple: to put the students in their place and warn them against arrogance.
The twenty-three students seated before her were, without exception, brilliant. But the more brilliant a person is, the more they need good character, integrity, and even the ability to handle pressure.
That was why every year in the math department began this way.
When the old woman had filled the entire blackboard, she skillfully picked up an eraser and began wiping away what she had first written.
A student couldn’t help but call out, "Professor, I’m not done taking notes!"
The professor didn’t even turn around.
"My only job is to lecture."
The professor’s movements didn’t pause in the slightest. The first section of the board was wiped completely clean. Below, every student felt their chests tighten as their hands began to move faster.
When the old woman finally turned around, An Ning was the one who stood out the most.
She was the only girl in the entire class, which made her stand out.
She was the only person in the entire class not taking notes, which made her stand out even more.
And she was the only person in the entire class whose attention wasn’t focused; she was gazing out the window, making her stand out exceptionally.
The professor walked down from the dais and stood beside An Ning, careful not to block her view.
"You’re An Ning?"
"Hello, Professor. Yes, I’m An Ning."
An Ning stood up politely to greet her. The professor didn’t seem displeased or angry; she simply continued her questioning. "What are you looking at?"
"I’m not sure. I was just spacing out."
An Ning’s blunt honesty almost made the professor’s stoic expression crack. She quickly composed herself and asked, "Do you understand the material I was covering?"
"Yes."
The professor wasn’t surprised. Among the intelligent, there are always the exceptionally so.
"How many methods do you know to solve it?"
An Ning glanced at the blackboard. "Five."
"Five?"
The professor’s voice rose slightly, unable to contain her surprise. "Are you certain?" she asked, needing confirmation.
"I am. If I can write out all five methods, may I be excused from class early?"
It wasn’t that An Ning was being arrogant. She had a strong, nagging feeling that something was wrong.
"Professor, I’m a Feng Shui Master," An Ning explained. "I have a very strong feeling that something is happening. I mean you no disrespect."
An Ning’s explanation left the professor at a loss for words.
’Her top student, in a math class, was telling her that she... was a Feng Shui Master?’
However, something in An Ning’s earnest expression made the professor a bit more lenient.
"Go on up and write them."
"Thank you, Professor."
An Ning walked to the front in a few strides, picked up a piece of chalk, and began writing at a furious pace—even faster than the professor had.
By the time An Ning had written out the third method, the professor standing behind her had gone completely still.
’The math department is about to produce a truly remarkable student.’
Once all five solutions were on the board, the professor was completely engrossed. ’So it can be done that way, too.’
"Professor?"
"You may go. Just be sure to attend the next class."
"Thank you. I will."
An Ning ran out of the classroom. Zhou Xiaoshan watched her go, a nervous expression on his face. He had only just managed to understand two of the methods; there was no way he could keep up with her.
Zhou Xiaoshan lowered his head, determined to wrestle with the problem until he understood.
Meanwhile, An Ning was heading straight for the Finance College.
Before she even reached the Finance College building, she saw Yin Xuemei running desperately toward her.
Yin Xuemei and Jiang Xia were in the same program: finance.
"An Ning!"
"Yin Xuemei, what’s wrong with Jiang Xia?"
Yin Xuemei ran up with all her might and grabbed An Ning’s arm tightly.
"The person in our class... his name is Jiang Xia, but it’s not him!"
"He got up and introduced himself using Jiang Xia’s name, citing Jiang Xia’s academic achievements."
Yin Xuemei’s words made An Ning’s pupils constrict. ’Someone has stolen Jiang Xia’s academic record and his identity. Then where is the real Jiang Xia?’