The results of this city's math competition are related to the qualification for participating in the national math competition, and only those who win the first prize can participate.
Originally, the teachers at No. 4 High School had high hopes for several outstanding competition students in the third year. At this moment, looking at the proud faces of their successful students, they could only sigh and refrain from asking more.
Zhang Lu sat on the bus, holding a water bottle and chatting with Cen Huai'an beside her: "If a city competition is already this difficult, how challenging will the questions be in the national competition?"
After handing in the test paper, Zhang Lu knew that she wouldn't win any prizes this time, but she was aware of her own level. Just like what Teacher Jiang said, she was just there to make up the numbers, so she wasn't too sad, maintaining a calm mindset.
Cen Huai'an said calmly, "We've done papers for the national math competition."
They had done too many papers in math class, and she couldn't remember which ones they had done. She looked at him in confusion and asked, "When?"
Cen Huai'an told her which day and which paper it was. Zhang Lu widened her eyes and exclaimed, "You remember that?"
Cen Huai'an replied, "Why wouldn't I remember?"
Zhang Lu: Struck by the sudden blow.
"Alright, you don't have to say anymore."
Chatting with Cen Huai'an was always a downward blow. If he wasn't unwilling to skip grades, he might be in college now.
When the results of the city competition came out, Cen Huai'an was sitting in the math class doing problems. After finishing the school's arranged courses every day, the students in the math class would study here.
Teacher Jiang came in with a pleased smile, holding two certificates in his hand, looking more spirited than usual. "Everyone, stop for a moment. I have good news to announce."
All the students in the class put down their pens and looked at him. Only Cen Huai'an continued to bow his head and write. At this moment, he was working on a key problem, and nothing could distract him..
"Congratulations to Cen Huai'an and Tang Song from our sophomore math Olympiad class! They both received awards in the city competition, one first prize and one second prize!"
"Wow!"
"So impressive!"
The classroom was filled with amazed voices, and everyone's gaze spontaneously turned to the two students.
Cen Huai'an was still bowing his head, seemingly indifferent to the announced awards, while Tang Song's eyes were on Teacher Jiang, showing little excitement.
"Cen Huai'an, Tang Song, come and receive your awards."
Cen Huai'an happened to finish writing down the final result. As soon as Teacher Jiang spoke, he stood up.
Tang Song followed suit, both showing little excitement compared to the enthusiastic emotions of their classmates.
The classmates in the room clapped excitedly, looking at the two as if they were gods in the sky, unattainable beings.
After all, they all participated in the same competition, and while others received no consolation prizes, these two managed to secure significant awards, creating a noticeable gap among their peers.
Cen Huai'an looked at his first prize, finally revealing a hint of joy in his eyes. He wasn't unhappy; it's just that his reserved nature prevented him from displaying emotions to others.
Among the applauding students below, Zhang Lu clapped the most enthusiastically. After all, the person on the podium was her younger brother, and she felt especially proud of his first prize.
Cen Huai'an was called away by Teacher Jiang with his certificate, while Tang Song returned to his seat alone.
He sat behind Zhang Lu, who had stopped applauding and turned to look at Tang Song, whose mood seemed less elevated.
"You won the second prize, it's too impressive! Second prize gets you extra points in the college entrance exam."
Tang Song put away the certificate and said, "Yes."
While it was true, there was still a sense of disappointment in Tang Song's heart. His ultimate goal was to participate in the national math competition, but currently, his abilities fell short.
Tang Song picked up his pen again to solve problems. Zhang Lu felt that at this moment, he seemed to have changed yet remained the same, but his speed in solving problems had indeed increased significantly.
Suddenly, Zhang Lu felt a sense of urgency, silently turned around, and quickly started working on her own problems. Although she didn't place too much emphasis on competition results, she didn't want to be considered an underachiever in the class of top students.
Meanwhile, Cen Huai'an, called away by Teacher Jiang, was going to discuss the matter of participating in the national competition.
Teacher Jiang held a list and looked down, saying, "Cen Huai'an, apart from winning the first prize in the city competition, there are two other students in the senior year who also won first prizes. The three of you will participate together in the national math competition. Therefore, the school will provide special training for you. After your classes, go to Room 101 on the first floor of the building behind for your lessons."
"Teacher, are only the three of us attending the class?"
"No, that's the classroom for the senior year math Olympiad class."
Of course, Cen Huai'an and the other two seniors participating in the national competition would have a different learning pace. They would be given more challenging papers, and the teacher would provide individual explanations to them.
After Teacher Jiang finished speaking, Cen Huai'an frowned and asked, "Can I not go?"
He enjoyed his time in the sophomore math class and didn't want to switch to a different environment.
"No, it won't work. Your progress is different from the sophomores, and it would be a hindrance there. Besides, I'm also teaching math for seniors, so you don't need to worry."
Cen Huai'an wasn't afraid, but hearing Teacher Jiang's tone of non-negotiation, he knew he had to make the move to the senior class.
"Teacher, how long do I need to stay in the senior class?"
Cen Huai'an didn't ask if he could avoid going but instead inquired about when he could return.
"Until the conclusion of the national math competition," Teacher Jiang said. "But, as you know, with your level, the senior class is more suitable for you in the third year."
Cen Huai'an replied, "I can excel in any class." His tone was not arrogant but rather a casual confidence.
Teacher Jiang nodded, "I know."
That's why he agreed to let Cen Huai'an return to the sophomore class after finishing the national math competition.
After looking at Teacher Jiang for a while and confirming that he wouldn't change his mind, Cen Huai'an stopped talking.
While packing up his things in the sophomore math class, Zhang Lu looked at his actions in surprise. "An'an, where are you going? Are you going to participate in a competition now?"
"No," Cen Huai'an didn't have many things in the math class, mostly just books and scratch paper.
He looked up at Zhang Lu and said, "I'm moving to the senior math class."
Zhang Lu was even more surprised, but she knew this must be the arrangement of the class teacher. A sense of reluctance appeared in her eyes. "If you leave, will you come back in the future?"
Cen Huai'an put all his packed items into his backpack and lifted it with one hand. "I will come back."
Zhang Lu became happy again and ran over to Cen Huai'an's seat to help him check if he had left anything behind.
"You go. It's just right to let the competition students in the senior class experience the terror of your 'Big Demon King,'" Zhang Lu seemed to envision that scene and couldn't help but amuse herself.
"By then, they'll probably be getting hit every day, just like me and our classmates."
Cen Huai'an responded, "It won't be like that."
He glanced at Zhang Lu and said, "Sis, I've never seen you being hit before."
Zhang Lu's smile carried a hint of pride, "You're my brother, and your excellence makes me proud! Besides, I don't plan to major in mathematics in the future, so I won't be sad even if I don't excel as well as you!"
Cen Huai'an nodded, waved to her, nodded to other classmates who were looking over, and then left with his backpack.
Tang Song watched Cen Huai'an walk away, and the light in his heart seemed to shine even brighter. His gaze became more determined, and he lowered his head to focus even harder on solving problems.
When Cen Huai'an entered the senior math Olympiad class with Teacher Jiang, it was as if a drop of water had entered a hot oil pan, causing the entire pan to sizzle.
"I heard it's him, along with Xin Yang and Li Shilai, who won first prizes in the city competition."
"Cen Huai'an from the sophomore math Olympiad class?"
"Yes!"
"This is incredible! The questions in the city competition were so difficult."
"That's why we found out about him before; it's because he's too outstanding!"
In fact, there weren't many students left in the senior math Olympiad class. Those who didn't win any awards in the city competition didn't want to stay in the math class anymore. They packed their things and returned to their own classes, focusing on preparing for next year's college entrance exams.
As for the remaining students in the class, except for Xin Yang and Li Shilai, who were preparing for the national competition, others were curious about the incoming Cen Huai'an.
Their mood was still good. Although they couldn't participate in the national competition, winning a second prize would still provide some extra points in the college entrance exam, lowering the overall difficulty for them.
After Teacher Jiang arranged for Cen Huai'an to sit in the class, the curious gazes from the other students in the class hadn't withdrawn. Some even skipped paying attention to the lecture just to observe him.
This made Cen Huai'an's expression even colder. He worked hard to focus on the blackboard, ignoring the various expressions and stares.
However, what Cen Huai'an didn't expect was that the next day when he returned, there were only him, Xin Yang, and Li Shilai left in the class.
Sitting in his seat, he was a bit stunned. How come there were so many students in the class yesterday, and now they were all gone?
At this moment, Li Shilai, sitting in front of Cen Huai'an, suddenly turned around and greeted him warmly, "I'm Li Shilai. I know you. You're quite famous in our school's math class."
Cen Huai'an: ?
Li Shilai seemed to sense his confusion and looked surprised, "You don't know?"
Cen Huai'an: "Should I know?"
He hadn't paid attention to why so many people knew him. He usually focused more on learning various new things.
Seeing that Cen Huai'an really didn't know, Li Shilai's jaw almost dropped, and he roughly explained why many people would recognize him.
Cen Huai'an: "Actually, I think they should focus on their own studies."
Paying attention to him wouldn't help improve their grades.
Li Shilai: "How do you know people worship you for the final exams?"
Cen Huai'an: ...
"I don't know, but I do know that worshiping me won't help."
Li Shilai had a more cheerful personality and quickly chatted with Cen Huai'an, giving him some insights into how he was perceived by other students.
It painted a rather absurd image of Cen Huai'an, even by his own standards, but he didn't really mind.
On the other hand, another student in the math class had a different temperament from Li Shilai. He was not very talkative, often carried a subtle air of arrogance, and most of the time, his gaze towards Cen Huai'an was filled with reluctance.
***
Ever since the persimmon-picking day in the courtyard, Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an became acquainted with the neighbor next door, Dou Baishui.
Every time she and Cen Huai'an went to check on the house or tidy up the yard, Dou Baishui would poke his head out from the wall.
In winter, when there were many fallen leaves in the courtyard, Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an would gather the leaves and prepare to light them up. Dou Baishui quickly spoke from the wall, "Aunt Cen! An'an, wait a moment, don't light it up yet!"
Not long after, Dou Baishui showed his head again from the wall, holding four or five sweet potatoes in one hand, using the other hand to prop himself on the wall as he jumped down. Then, he ran toward the two with the sweet potatoes in his arms.
Several kids behind him also held sweet potatoes and jumped along.
"There are so many leaves; they are just right for roasting sweet potatoes."
Chu Xia remarked, "These leaves won't burn for long. Even if we burn them completely, the sweet potatoes may not cook."
Dou Baishui, experienced in this matter, waved his hand confidently, "No problem. After the fire burns out, bury the sweet potatoes in the embers, and they will cook."
With that, Dou Baishui tossed the sweet potatoes into the pile of dry leaves. Chu Xia lit the leaves on fire.
The red and yellow flames burned vigorously above the fallen leaves. The warmth instantly radiated from the fire, making the already cold early winter season feel less chilly.
The children who had jumped in with Dou Baishui happily danced around the fire, as if attending some festive gathering.
Holding hands, they, along with Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an, sang and danced around the fire.
The beautiful flame of the fallen leaves didn't last long. When the flames subsided, red sparks still flickered in the black ashes, where the sweet potatoes were buried, waiting for them to roast thoroughly.
"Xiao Bai, where did you get these sweet potatoes?"
Dou Baishui stared at the pile of ashes, his eyes filled with anticipation for the soon-to-be-roasted sweet potatoes.
When asked where he got the sweet potatoes, he replied, "From my kitchen at home."
Chu Xia fell silent for a moment and then asked, "Do your parents know you took the sweet potatoes?"
Dou Baishui shook his head, "They don't know."
Chu Xia continued, "With so many sweet potatoes, your mom will definitely be upset if she finds out."
She stood up, walked toward the door, and said, "You guys play at home; I'll be back in a moment."
Cen Huai'an released Dou Baishui's hand and took a couple of steps toward Chu Xia, "Mom..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chu Xia interrupted, "You don't need to come with me. Now, you're the little master of the house. Take good care of these little guests."
Cen Huai'an stopped in his tracks, looking down at Chu Xia. In just over a year, he had grown taller than Chu Xia, and he was still growing.
Every time Chu Xia marked Cen Huai'an's height on the height wall at home, she would laugh and say, "An'an, now I have to stand on a stool to mark your height. If you grow any taller, I might have to bend down to talk to you."
Cen Huai'an was delighted because growing taller meant he was growing up, and it meant he could, in turn, take care of his mom.
The courtyard was in Xidan, not far from the bustling main street, and the market was also nearby.
Chu Xia didn't go far before buying a lot of sweet potatoes. There happened to be someone selling freshly dug lotus roots, still covered with some wet mud. Chu Xia also bought a good amount of those, along with the sweet potatoes, and carried them back.
"Mom!"
Cen Huai'an heard the commotion and looked toward the door. He saw Chu Xia carrying a large bundle of items, causing a red mark to appear on her hand from the strain.
He immediately ran over and took the net bag from Chu Xia's hand, saying, "I should have gone out with you just now."
Chu Xia shook her hand, easing the soreness in her arms, and replied, "Why follow me outside? We didn't go far."
She picked out half of the sweet potatoes and handed them to Dou Baishui, saying, "Put these sweet potatoes in your kitchen so your mom won't notice that some are missing."
The group had just buried quite a few sweet potatoes, and Chu Xia didn't feel right taking so many from someone else's house.
Dou Baishui initially declined, but Chu Xia insisted, "If you don't take them, I'll have to take them back myself."
"Aunt Cen, my mom won't be upset."
Chu Xia replied, "Taking one or two sweet potatoes is fine, but you took too many."
In the end, Dou Baishui still carried the sweet potatoes back home.
Like when he jumped over the wall to come in, today both of his parents were at home. One was sitting at the entrance, basking in the sun while listening to the radio, and the other was in the living room watching TV.
No one noticed Dou Baishui's entrance. He poured the sweet potatoes into his home study, about to turn around and leave when he suddenly saw his mother standing behind him. This startled him, and he jumped up.
"Mom!"
Mother Dou looked at the sweet potatoes, furrowing her brow as she asked, "Where did you get these sweet potatoes?"
"Neighbor Aunt Cen gave them to me."
Mother Dou's frown deepened, "People give you something, and you just take it. Don't you understand manners?"
Dou Baishui nodded and said, "I understand. But it's because I took our sweet potatoes to their house to roast, Aunt Cen asked me to bring these sweet potatoes back."
Mother Dou couldn't remember exactly how many sweet potatoes were in the kitchen, and she didn't mind if some were missing. Her family wasn't lacking in such things.
Mother Dou inquired about the details and developed a great appreciation for Chu Xia.
She asked Dou Baishui to hold the ladder for her as she climbed onto the wall, carrying some sweet potatoes in her hands.
Upon reaching the wall, she saw Chu Xia and Cen Huai'an with the children.
"Hello!"
Mother Dou greeted Chu Xia. When Chu Xia looked up, Mother Dou was surprised and exclaimed, "Dr. Luo!"
Chu Xia also showed surprise. She hadn't expected her neighbor to be a relative of the elderly person she had helped.
After a moment of recollection, Mother Dou remembered that the woman on the wall was the daughter-in-law of the elderly man she mentioned earlier. She also recalled that Chu Xia's husband was named Dou Zhang and that she could find him if she needed anything.
"How coincidental," Chu Xia said with a smile.
Mother Dou was particularly excited and shouted to her husband, "Dou Zhang! Dou Zhang! Come over here quickly. Dr. Luo is our neighbor!"
After calling out, she jumped into Chu Xia's yard with the same posture as Dou Baishui, and the sweet potatoes in her hands swayed vigorously due to her movements.
"Dr. Luo, if I had known you lived next door, I would have come to knock on your door long ago. Are you roasting sweet potatoes here? You can take these sweet potatoes with you."
She turned to Dou Baishui, who had climbed onto the wall, and asked him to bring all the sweet potatoes from their kitchen.
"Xiao Bai, don't take them! We can't finish them. Besides, I don't live in this courtyard now."
"Dr. Luo, please don't be polite. You saved my father-in-law, and our family is very grateful to you."
Chu Xia said, "You've already expressed your gratitude."
Mother Dou waved her hand dismissively, "That's just material things, how can they compare to health?"
At that moment, Dou Zhang also climbed onto the wall. His body was too fat, and he was struggling to move along the wall, making onlookers worried.
"Dou Zhang, are you trying to get yourself killed? Go through the front door!"
Mother Dou angrily shouted. Chu Xia saw Dou Zhang's body tremble, and he quickly descended from the ladder, obediently walking to the main entrance.
Mother Dou and Dou Zhang were overly enthusiastic about Chu Xia.
The group of children squatted on the side, each holding a roasted sweet potato, enjoying the aroma as they listened to the adults' conversation.
"An'an, your mom is a doctor, so amazing," Liu Hongxin said.
"Yeah! An'an's mom even saved my grandpa!" Dou Baishui immediately nodded.
"I want to save people in the future. Can I become a doctor?" Liu Jianshe asked.
Cen Huai'an："Yes, you can."
***
In mid-November, the national math competition was about to begin, and the competition was set to take place in Liangzhou.
Upon hearing the name of the location, Chu Xia's heart skipped a beat.
"In the past, where were the competitions held?"
Cen Huai'an, packing his luggage, replied, "It varies; the location for the national competition is not fixed."
Similar to the National Junior High School Mathematics Competition, it changes cities every year.
Understanding this, Chu Xia wouldn't have reacted so strongly if it were any other city. But Liangzhou had those people from her maternal family.
Looking at An'an's face, Chu Xia turned to Cen Zhengnian and asked, "Do you think An'an looks like me when I was young?"
Cen Zhengnian responded, "Yes."
Cen Huai'an had almost the same appearance as he grew up, with facial features fully developed. However, traces of his childhood could still be seen.
Chu Xia's frown deepened, "An'an, I'll go to Liangzhou with you."
"No need, Mom." Cen Huai'an held Chu Xia's hand. His hand was now larger than hers, and unnoticed by Chu Xia, he had grown into a role capable of protecting her.
"I'll stay in a hotel near the exam venue with teachers and classmates once in Liangzhou. Besides going to the exam venue, I won't go anywhere else. I won't encounter those people."
"But..."
"Even if I do encounter them," Cen Huai'an recalled scenes from his childhood, his face expressing disdain, "they can't beat me now."
If the Luo family did anything excessive, he didn't mind showing them what pain really meant.
In Cen Huai'an's eyes, a shadow flickered. He had never forgotten the uncomfortable memories from his childhood; he had merely suppressed them deep within his heart.
"Mom, I'm in high school now. You have to trust me. Moreover, in Liangzhou, it's not just me alone; there's also Bang and the others."
Finally, Cen Huai'an managed to persuade Chu Xia and dispel her thoughts of going to Liangzhou. As Cen Huai'an had said, he was now a high school student, and Chu Xia had to learn to let go.
Parents who held their children's hands, fearing they might suffer the slightest harm, could also make their children miserable.
Just like Jiang Zhiyi, who still hesitated to return to the capital due to the strained relationship with her family.
At night, lying in bed, Chu Xia tossed and turned, unable to sleep. When she turned over once again, Cen Zhengnian reached out and embraced her.
"Still worried?"
"Yeah."
Chu Xia turned in Cen Zhengnian's arms, burying her head in his chest. "You don't know... those people from the Luo family have done many excessive things before."
A sudden pain pierced Cen Zhengnian's heart. He gently stroked Chu Xia's hair and said, "I know."
This matter had never been let go in his heart, but he blamed himself more.
"So how can I feel at ease? An'an is going to compete, what if he encounters someone from the Luo family and it affects his performance? He values this competition a lot."
Cen Huai'an had prepared a lot for the upcoming national competition. His goal extended beyond the national level to winter camps at prestigious schools and even the international stage.
The national math competition was just the starting point; there was no end to it.
Cen Zhengnian, well aware of this, frowned slightly and said, "I'll contact my classmates."
"Don't." Chu Xia stopped him. "Currently, it's all just our speculation. What would you tell your classmates? Besides, we've troubled your classmates so many times before in Liangzhou. I don't want to owe them any more favors. If An'an really encounters someone from the Luo family, I'll just take a plane and go there directly."
Liangzhou also had an airport, and a two-hour flight would get her there.
"Alright."
The next day, Chu Xia accompanied Cen Huai'an to school. Among the students who won first prizes in the entire capital city competition, about ten of them were heading to Liangzhou for the national competition, accompanied by three teachers, including Teacher Jiang.
Teacher Jiang didn't trust leaving these kids with others. There were still three students from their school.
As the train carried these high school students to Liangzhou, Chu Xia watched the direction in which the train disappeared, her brows slightly furrowed.
In the following days, Chu Xia's ears were always attuned to the phone calls from the residential compound. Not only did she listen, but she also insisted that Cen Zhengnian listen with her.
"Sometimes I'm at the hospital, and when An'an arrives in Liangzhou, I can't get through to him. I can only call you."
Cen Zhengnian: "You all have BBs."
Chu Xia: Completely forgot about that.
Accustomed to the convenience of smartphones in her past life, the BB machines seemed too small, and paging someone required calling the paging service and then waiting for the person being paged to call back.
Although it was convenient for contacting fixed numbers, it couldn't compare to smartphones. As a result, Chu Xia rarely used it and often forgot that she even had a BB machine.
Unable to reach Chu Xia, Cen Huai'an would undoubtedly page her.
Waiting in the residential compound, Chu Xia wasn't as anxious anymore.
At this moment, after dozens of hours on the train, Cen Zhengnian and his classmates successfully arrived at Liangzhou Railway Station with the teachers.
Once Cen Huai'an and the others arrived in Liangzhou, they were taken by a bus directly to the second floor of the hotel.
There were no choices to make; they were given standard double rooms. Cen Huai'an shared a room with Xin Yang.
After entering their rooms, the first thing the students did was freshen up and get some rest. After a long train journey, they were all experiencing backaches and fatigue, both physically and mentally.
Cen Huai'an didn't force himself either. He took his mother's advice seriously; good sleep and early rising were crucial for growing taller.
After reassuring Chuxia with a phone call, he lay down and went to sleep.
However, Xin Yang, who shared the room with Cen Huai'an, didn't rest. After entering the room, he took out papers, pens, and sat at the table, diligently working on math problems.
The sun had already reached its zenith outside, and it was now lunchtime.
Cen Huai'an rubbed his stomach and sat up. Xin Yang was still working on the problems. Cen Huai'an glanced at them as he passed by – these were the papers given by Teacher Jiang, and he had already completed them.
Teacher Jiang knocked on each door one by one, calling the students to go downstairs to the dining hall.
When all the students came out, Teacher Jiang checked the names, confirmed everyone, and then led the group downstairs.
The meal provided by the hotel didn't taste bad nor was it particularly good, the level of an unusual meal.
The hotel itself did not provide lunch because there were now many students staying, so the organizers negotiated with the hotel. They paid extra to have the hotel prepare meals for the students, as it was considered unsafe for them to eat outside.
After a hungry morning, everyone was a bit rushed during the meal. At this point, the main goal was to fill their stomachs, and no one cared much about the quality of the food.
Waiters were busy replenishing the food on the tables as the students ate.
Cen Huai'an didn't notice, but among the waitstaff, there was a woman in her twenties. Whenever she served dishes, her eyes frequently shifted towards him, revealing a mix of confusion and astonishment.
One of the waitstaff noticed that she had placed a dish in the wrong spot and gave her a pat, saying, "Xiao Luo, what are you daydreaming about? You placed the dishes wrong."
The woman quickly lowered her head, shaking it, and said, "I... I zoned out for a moment." She hurriedly corrected the placement.
After returning from serving in the dining hall, a fellow waiter who was friendly with her asked what happened. She had seemed absent-minded, unlike her usual work demeanor.
"I... I thought I saw someone I knew just now, but upon closer inspection, I realized I was mistaken."
The woman didn't elaborate further, and the other waiter didn't press. They quickly changed the subject to other matters.
Once her shift ended, the woman rushed back to her family home.
Cen Huai'an was unaware of the conversation between the hotel staff. After finishing his meal, he went upstairs. In the afternoon, he didn't plan to sleep; instead, he took out some practice papers to work on.
At this point, Cen Huai'an's pursuit was no longer solely about improving his mathematical skills. He mainly aimed to maintain the feel of solving problems so that he could perform at his best during the exam.
Two days later, the exam was set to begin. However, before those two days elapsed, one evening, while Cen Huai'an was having dinner with his teachers and classmates in the dining hall, a woman with mostly white hair suddenly rushed towards him, reaching out to grab his hand.
Cen Huai'an swiftly evaded her grasp. If it weren't for the table in front of him, his leg would have already kicked out.
"An'an! It's me! I'm your grandmother!"
Cen Huai'an's eyes flashed with disgust, and a hint of hostility filled his gaze. "I don't have a grandmother."
Wang Yulan in front of Cen Huai'an had aged significantly. The once glamorous and imposing figure from his childhood was entirely gone.
The wrinkles on Wang Yulan's face were numerous, revealing the marks of aging. Apart from the pitiable expression in her eyes that still resembled her, everything else had faded away.
Teacher Jiang and the other students quickly reacted, standing up to protect Cen Huai'an.
"What are you doing? We are all students here for the competition. If you dare to do anything, I will directly send you to the public security bureau!"
Teacher Jiang's gaze was stern, and Cen Huai'an had never seen his smile disappear so completely.
"I am not a bad person, I am really his grandmother!"
Tears fell from Wang Yulan's eyes. "An'an, look at Grandma. You and your mother are so heartless. You've been gone for so many years without a word. Do you know how worried and eager I've been for you?"
Cen Huai'an replied, "My grandmother passed away a long time ago. Teacher, this crazy woman came from who knows where, and I don't know her."
He didn't want to acknowledge anyone from the Luo family. If it weren't for the fear of affecting the upcoming competition, he might have personally thrown Wang Yulan out of the hotel.
Cen Huai'an was not the kind of person to show mercy to enemies, even if this person was technically a relative. He remained indifferent to accusations of being unfilial.
Teacher Jiang naturally believed his student and quickly called the hotel's staff and security.
At that moment, a hotel staff member rushed out, supporting Wang Yulan. She glared angrily at Cen Huai'an and said, "Cen Huai'an! You and your mother are ungrateful. My mom raised you..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Cen Huai'an interrupted, "My mother has her own income. She raised me with her salary, not your mother. Moreover, I don't know you people, stop making a scene!"
Teacher Jiang shouted louder, calling for the hotel staff and security. Finally, the security and other staff members arrived. Teacher Jiang immediately complained about Luo Xiao Mei and even threatened to report the hotel as unsafe for allowing problematic people inside, affecting the safety of their customers.
The hotel manager came over urgently to handle the situation. If something happened to these competition students in the hotel, not only would the hotel be held accountable by the competition organizers, but the government would also question their responsibility, jeopardizing their chances of getting such lucrative contracts in the future.
Regardless of what Wang Yulan and Luo Xiao Mei said or shouted, the hotel's security still dragged them out and threw them at the entrance.
"You are a staff member of this hotel? Don't bother coming to work again!"
Entering the hotel with one's mother was challenging, and it damaged the hotel's interests. No place would want such an employee.
Luo Xiao Mei finally realized what a foolish thing she had done and quickly pleaded, "Manager, I was wrong. I won't dare to do it again."
It was in vain. The manager couldn't be bothered to deal with them much. After instructing the security guards at the entrance to keep an eye on the two and not allow them into the hotel, he directly went back.
The manager personally apologized to Cen Huai'an, Teacher Jiang, and the others, and then served some special dishes to make Teacher Jiang reluctantly satisfied.
"In the future, pay attention to the people coming in. If they scare my students and affect the exam the day after tomorrow, your hotel will be in big trouble."
"Yes, yes, we didn't handle it properly." The manager nodded repeatedly, understanding what Teacher Jiang meant. He felt even more annoyed with Luo Xiao Mei and her companion.
After dinner, Cen Huai'an picked up the phone, hesitating whether to make a call or not.
After a while, he took a deep breath and called.
On the other end, Chu Xia immediately asked, "How is the hotel? Did you encounter any problems?"
Cen Huai'an explained what he had been doing at the hotel for the past two days. Initially, Summer eased up a bit, but then Cen Huai'an suddenly said, "Mom, I met them."
Chu Xia's heart tightened, and her mouth felt dry. "Who did you meet?"
"Grandma and Aunt."
Chu Xia responded, "They don't deserve you calling them that. Did they bully you? Did they try to get our contact information from you?"
"No." Cen Huai'an recounted the afternoon's events to Chu Xia. "I didn't acknowledge them, and the hotel staff drove them away."
Chu Xia said, "They won't give up easily. An'an, don't worry about them for now. Focus on your exams. After the exams, we can deal with them."
"Mom, do you think it's wrong for me not to acknowledge them?"
Chu Xia immediately replied, "Wrong? Not at all! If I could cut off ties, I would be the first to do so!"
She hates the Luo family. In all these years in the capital, she never looked back at those memories.
Cen Huai'an, having received his mother's support, smiled, "Mom, I understand."
After hanging up the phone with Cen Huai'an, Chu Xia became even more concerned.
"Zhengnian, I'm buying a ticket to Liangzhou tomorrow. An'an ran into the Luo family."
She rubbed her temples, feeling quite anxious.
Cen Zhengnian thought for a moment and said, "An'an has already handled the Luo family. If you go now, it might disrupt his exam rhythm and make him more nervous."
Chu Xia replied, "I'll go first without letting An'an know. After he finishes his exams, I'll go see him."
However, Cen Zhengnian became even more uneasy, "Facing the Luo family alone, I'm not at ease. I'll go find the teacher tomorrow."
Knowing how busy his work was, Cen Zhengnian acknowledged that he hadn't taken care of Chu Xia and An'an properly. This time, he wanted to stand in front of them.
"What about your work?" Chu Xia frowned.
"It's okay, I'll catch up when I come back."
Sure enough, Yan Heming did not approve Cen Zhengnian's leave. No matter what he said, it was not allowed.
"If you leave, who knows how many days it will take, and the progress will directly slow down. Your work can't be replaced by anyone else."
Cen Zhengnian's current responsibilities involved the most crucial projects in the research department, and Yan Heming couldn't grant him leave.
"If I allow it, I can only give you one day off."
"One day is fine."
Chu Xia interjected, "One day is not enough. Flights are not that frequent, and you may not make it back. One day's holiday is insufficient."
At this moment, Cen Huai'an called: "Mom, you and Dad don't need to come."
Cen Huai'an had forgotten to inform his mother yesterday and made the call early this morning.
"Mom, you need to trust my problem-solving abilities. I can handle it."
Chu Xia hesitated, "But..."
"Mom, I want to handle it on my own."
Cen Huai'an's words left Chu Xia no room to insist on going. She responded with a simple "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, she looked at Cen Zhengnian with a furrowed brow, "An An doesn't want us to go. He doesn't need to be so strong."
Cen Zhengnian gently patted her head, "At his age, he always hopes to prove his capabilities through certain events."
Although Chu Xia didn't go, she communicated with Cen Huai'an every day.
She knew when he went for the exam, when he finished it, that the paper was challenging, even more so than the city competition questions, but he managed to complete it.
She also knew he went to meet Bangzi and his other friends, and that they had grown tall. Although their faces still looked youthful, a distinct maturity could be vaguely seen, setting them apart from other kids.
Cen Huai'an wanted to know about the situation of the Luo family in recent years, and Bangzi directly filled him in.
"I knew you would ask, so I've been keeping track."
In recent years, the Luo family had been constantly plagued by problems, facing domestic discord and frequent quarrels. Otherwise, Wang Yulan wouldn't have aged so rapidly.
After hearing this, Cen Huai'an felt much relieved. Knowing that his adversaries were not leading comfortable lives put his mind at ease.
"So, have you seen them?"
Leaning against a tree, Brother Bang played with a leaf in his hand and asked, "Do you want me to teach them a lesson?"
Cen Huai'an shook his head, "Even if you do, they won't know who did it. No need to bother; let them deal with their own mess. However, if we catch them doing something shady, we can expose it directly and make their lives even more chaotic for a while."
Bangzi understood his intention, patting his shoulder, "Rest assured."
In the current state of the Luo family, there was no need for him to intervene; every day was a spectacle.
Wang Yulan and Luo Xiao Mei lurked near the hotel every day but never caught sight of him.
Meanwhile, there was another quarrel between Eldest Luo's wife and Eldest Brother Luo, spreading throughout the entire neighborhood. Eldest Sister Luo had also been mistreated at her in-laws' place, returning home in tears.
The Luo family found themselves in a chaotic situation, and by the time they sorted out their issues, the hotel was empty—Cen Huai'an and his group had already left.