"The list is out!"
"So nervous."
"Why be nervous? I can't get in anyway."
Hang Ling walked into the classroom with a piece of paper, without any suspense, directly reciting the names and total scores of the top fifteen students.
Cen Huai'an's name was the first one mentioned. Although his scores fluctuated, he had more instances of taking the first place, so his overall ranking was still the first.
A few people showed disappointment on their faces. They always thought that as long as they didn't fall out of the top fifteen in any individual exam, they would be fine. But the overall ranking wouldn't lie.
After the list was confirmed, the first round of training ended. The selected players were waiting to participate in the second round of training, where six would be chosen from the top fifteen to participate in the IMO competition.
The time for the second round of training was still far away. Cen Huai'an had not yet started school, so he went to see Grandpa Jiang every day.
Under the care of everyone, Grandpa Jiang's health gradually improved, but his illness had scared the younger generation.
After Jiang Shengnan and Cen's father confirmed that Grandpa Jiang was okay, they returned to their retirement home.
But they still come to Grandpa Jiang's house every day. And Eldest Uncle Jiang's friends have been coming more often.
Chu Xia suddenly remembered something. She turned to ask Jiang Zhida, "Did you tell Zhiyi about Grandpa being sick?"
Jiang Zhida was originally peeling an apple, preparing to soak it in hot water for Grandpa Jiang. At her words, he froze for a moment.
"No, I forgot, I was too worried about Grandpa."
Jiang Zhida frowned and said, "Second Uncle and Second Aunt should have told her, right?"
Chu Xia: "I think it's probably not true. Otherwise, Zhiyi wouldn't stay away from the capital."
Jiang Zhida's brow furrowed even more. In fact, Jiang Erjie and his wife should have been the ones to tell Jiang Zhiyi about Grandpa Jiang's illness. It was not appropriate for anyone else to bypass her own parents.
Jiang Zhida always spoke his mind. He directly looked at Jiang Erjie, "Uncle, did you and Zhiyi talk about Grandpa being sick?"
Jiang Erjie and Zhou Huaying were taken aback. Since they couldn't reach Jiang Zhiyi frequently, their contact with her had become less and less.
With Grandpa Jiang falling ill, they suddenly became busy and forgot to inform Jiang Zhiyi.
"I... I was too busy and forgot," Jiang Erjie rubbed his head and said.
Zhou Huaying frowned, "Now that Dad is well, there's no need to tell Zhiyi. She's so busy in Guangzhou that she doesn't even contact her biological parents much."
Her words carried a hint of resentment.
Jiang Dajiu and Jiang Shengnan frowned upon hearing this, and Grandpa Jiang, who was sitting in the sun at the door, overheard the conversation and said, "I'm already fine. There's no need to let Zhiyi come back."
His words settled the matter, and the people in the room stopped arguing.
However, when Jiang Zhida went to Guangzhou, he still informed Jiang Zhiyi about Grandpa Jiang's illness.
"How come none of you told me!"
Jiang Zhiyi was very angry, immediately packing her things, ready to buy a plane ticket home.
"Grandpa doesn't want you to come back now."
Jiang Zhida followed Jiang Zhiyi into the room, watching her pack her suitcase, and tried to persuade her with a headache.
Jiang Zhiyi suddenly looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Brother..." She sniffled. "Grandpa has been so good to me. If I don't go back when he's sick, am I still human?"
Qian Ran, seeing Jiang Zhiyi crying uncontrollably, anxiously squatted down to hug her. "Let's go back to the capital. I'll accompany you."
"Yeah!"
Jiang Zhiyi quickly packed her luggage and immediately set off to buy a plane ticket.
The tickets for that day were sold out, and she was in a hurry. "Do I have to wait another day?"
At this moment, Jiang Zhiyi wished she had wings to fly to the capital. She couldn't wait for a moment, let alone a whole day.
"Don't cry. I'll figure something out."
People sometimes cancel their flight tickets, and there are scalpers who sell tickets.
Qian Ran didn't take long to go out and managed to get two tickets to the capital.
"The flight is at 1 p.m. Let's grab something to eat first?"
Jiang Zhiyi's mood was poor at the moment. She didn't cry as easily as before, but she also had no appetite to eat.
"I don't want to eat."
But Jiang Zhiyi hadn't eaten anything since morning. Jiang Zhida, unable to bear seeing Qian Ran negotiating with a gentle tone, directly pulled up Jiang Zhiyi and said, "Are you trying to starve yourself by not eating?"
Dragging her along, he left, and Qian Ran quickly followed. "Brother, take it easy."
Jiang Zhida glanced at Qian Ran with frustration. "You just spoil her."
Qian Ran chuckled at Jiang Zhida, reaching out to hold Jiang Zhiyi's hand without saying a word.
His actions, however, greatly pleased Jiang Zhida, confirming that his sister had not chosen the wrong partner.
As Jiang Zhida's work in Guangzhou was not finished, only Jiang Zhiyi and Qian Ran returned to the capital.
Instead of going to their own homes, they went directly to Grandpa Jiang's house.
Since it wasn't a workday, only Jiang Shengnan and Father Cen were at Grandpa Jiang's house.
At this moment, Jiang Zhiyi couldn't even remember her parents. Seeing Grandpa Jiang lying on the recliner, she let go of Qian Ran's hand and hugged Grandpa Jiang, crying.
"Grandpa!"
She couldn't even articulate her words through her tears. Grandpa Jiang gently patted her back, just like when she was a child. "Don't cry, don't cry. Grandpa is fine!"
Jiang Shengnan didn't approach; instead, she led Grandpa Jiang for a short walk, giving space to Jiang Zhiyi and Grandpa Jiang.
After Jiang Zhiyi had vented her emotions, she sat down, wiping her face awkwardly.
"Come, wash your face. Your eyes are all swollen."
Jiang Shengnan took Jiang Zhiyi's hand, gently leading her to the bathroom.
"Auntie." Jiang Zhiyi hadn't seen Jiang Shengnan for a long time, and meeting her while in tears made Jiang Zhiyi feel embarrassed.
Jiang Shengnan patted her head, understanding her feelings, and said, "Actually, your grandpa didn't expect you to come back. But seeing you here, I can tell he's very happy."
Jiang Zhiyi nodded and cleaned her face with water, accepting the towel that Jiang Shengnan handed her.
Jiang Zhiyi had never been treated so gently by her elders before. Her mother had the temperament of a lady and never took care of children. Since childhood, she and her brother had been self-reliant.
She blushed slightly as she took the towel and said, "Aunt, I can do it myself."
Jiang Shengnan laughed heartily, "Why be so polite with your aunt? Come, wipe on the snowflake cream, or your face will dry out."
When Jiang Zhiyi and Jiang Shengnan came out again, apart from her slightly red eyes, there was no sign that she had cried.
Qian Ran quickly stood up to give his seat to Jiang Zhiyi and Jiang Shengnan. He had a relieved expression on his face.
If Jiang Zhiyi and the others had come a little later, the matter of him dating Jiang Zhiyi could have been exposed by Grandpa Jiang.
The younger generation's thoughts couldn't be hidden from Grandpa Jiang. He saw Qian Ran's worried expression when Jiang Zhiyi cried just now, and it was clear to him.
Therefore, as soon as Jiang Zhiyi and the others left, Grandpa Jiang chatted casually with Qian Ran, and in the course of the conversation, he managed to extract information about Qian Ran and Jiang Zhiyi's relationship.
Normally, Qian Ran wouldn't be so unguarded, but Grandpa Jiang was an elder and the grandfather of his beloved.
When he was a child, he often came to Grandpa Jiang's house with Jiang Zhida, and Grandpa Jiang treated him very well, so he had no guard against him.
But this matter would be known to the Jiang family sooner or later. Qian Ran's mindset was relatively calm, and he wasn't very nervous.
As Jiang Zhiyi sat down, Grandpa Jiang opened with, "Zhiyi has grown up; she has a boyfriend now."
Jiang Zhiyi was surprised and almost jumped up. She turned to look at Qian Ran, questioning him with her eyes about what he had told her grandfather.
Grandpa Jiang chuckled, "You don't need to look at Xiao Ran. Just the way you two came in, it's impossible to keep it a secret."
Jiang Zhiyi hugged Grandpa Jiang's arm, playfully pleading with him not to tell her parents.
"Grandpa, you know, if my parents find out that I have a boyfriend, and that they didn't help me find him, regardless of whether Qian Ran is a good or bad person, they will definitely make us break up."
That's something Zhou Huaying would do.
"How does Xiao Ran treat you?"
Jiang Zhiyi nodded with a slightly reddened face, "Very well."
She talked about things Qian Ran had done for her, including how he rushed to buy a plane ticket for her when she urgently needed to return.
Listening, Grandpa Jiang looked at Qian Ran and nodded, "You're not bad."
He then turned his gaze back to Jiang Zhiyi, "Xiao Ran knows how to strive for progress. Your parents may not appreciate a child from a harmonious and well-mannered family, but you don't need their approval. Grandpa approves of you being together."
In fact, Qian Ran had grown up under Grandpa Jiang's watchful eye, and Grandpa Jiang knew him inside out. He was a child with good character, and Grandpa Jiang had no dissatisfaction with him.
Jiang Zhiyi discreetly looked at Qian Ran, and he happened to look at her too. Their eyes met, and they sweetly smiled at each other. Love approved by parents was even sweeter.
When Jiang Zhiyi returned, Chu Xia already knew that she and Qian Ran had been back for several days..
Jiang Zhiyi ran over to give her a big hug, saying, "Sister-in-law, I missed you so much!"
Chu Xia patted her back, "If you miss us, come back to the capital more often."
Jiang Zhiyi let go of her, with a helpless expression on her face, "Sister-in-law, you know I can't do that."
"Do your parents know you're back?"
Jiang Zhiyi shook her head, "Not yet. I'm staying at Grandpa's house."
Jiang Zhiyi hadn't returned to the capital for several years. Now that she was back, she just wanted to spend quality time with Grandpa Jiang for a few days and didn't want to leave so soon.
She had taken a half-month leave, citing her family elders' illness as a reason. Working at the newspaper was not without compassion.
As for the impact on Jiang Zhiyi's work due to this sudden leave, she couldn't afford to worry about it now.
In the face of her grandfather's health, work had to take a back seat.
Chu Xia looked worried, "Today is Sunday; your parents should come."
Jiang Zhiyi shrugged, "Let them come. I'm not afraid of them now."
With Grandpa's support and Qian Ran by her side, she wasn't afraid of her parents resorting to their old ways to confine her.
However, Chu Xia wasn't as optimistic as Jiang Zhiyi. Still, since Jiang Zhiyi had made up her mind, Chu Xia decided not to interfere.
Cen Huai'an had heavier academic responsibilities now as they were about to enter their senior year. This semester, they were pushing to cover more material, including learning the new knowledge for their senior year to leave enough time for revision.
So, when Cen Huai'an went to Grandpa Jiang's house, he exchanged a few words with him and went to the study to work on his assignments.
In addition to solving new test papers, he tackled various mathematical problems that Teacher Jiang had provided, including past questions from the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).
Some of these questions were from places Cen Huai'an had never heard of, making him marvel at Teacher Jiang's extensive resources in the math field.
In the crowded living room, Chu Xia and Cen Zhengnian also joined him in the study. Each focused on their own work – one studying medical books, the other working on calculations with blank paper.
Later, Jiang Shu and Luo Peng also entered the study.
Smiling at Chu Xia, Luo Peng remarked, "It's a bit chaotic outside."
"Where's Xi Xi?"
"She's having fun with Lu Lu and the others. She wanted to play with An'an, but I told her that Brother An'an is studying and can't be disturbed, so she stopped looking for him."
Luo Peng lowered her voice and said to Chu Xia, a fond smile on her face.
Although Jiang Weixi could be mischievous at times, she hadn't developed any bad habits. She was adorable and lively, and Luo Peng always felt that she was the greatest gift sent to them by heaven.
Chu Xia also smiled, equally fond of Weixi.
The two didn't speak further, focusing on their books.
"Bang!" A loud noise of a heavy object falling sounded outside. Chu Xia, Cen Zhengnian, and the others all looked up simultaneously, sharing the same look of confusion – what was happening outside?
Even Cen Huai'an put down his pen and walked out of the study with the others.
However, as they reached the doorway, they heard a shocked and angry voice, "Jiang Zhiyi! Do you still consider me your mother?"
"Zhiyi, you've disappointed me and your mother." Second uncle Jiang's voice followed.
"It's because of people like you that I didn't tell you when I came back," Jiang Zhiyi retorted.
Chu Xia and the others walked out and witnessed the confrontation between Jiang Zhiyi and her second uncle's family.
Others were trying to mediate, but Qian Ran was particularly protective of Jiang Zhiyi.
Zhou Huaying was so angry that she maintained her outward elegance and directly scolded Jiang Zhiyi, "I guess you really don't want me and your father anymore. Fine, if you want to cut ties with us, I'll grant your wish in front of everyone!"
"Huaying, don't say impulsive things," Jiang Shengnan quickly advised.
Grandpa Jiang also spoke, "Huaying, it was my decision to have Zhiyi not tell you first. I wanted her to stay here a few more days. Please don't be angry with her."
"Dad, can you stop defending her?"
Zhou Huaying showed no gratitude and forced Jiang Zhiyi to speak.
As she was about to speak, Qian Ran pulled her back.
In fact, Chu Xia could understand Zhou Huaying's anger. She had been frustrated with Jiang Zhiyi for not coming back in the first place.
Now that Jiang Zhiyi had returned and was staying at her grandfather's instead of going home, avoiding any contact with her parents, it was no surprise that Second Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying were furious.
Since she had already returned, it was only a matter of time before Second Uncle Jiang's family found out. Jiang Zhiyi should have spoken up sooner.
"Zhiyi, what you did was indeed wrong. Regardless of how your mom and I are, you should have told us when you came back. After all, we are your parents!" Second Uncle Jiang looked at her with disappointment and sadness in his eyes.
Jiang Zhiyi felt a pang in her heart as she was looked at that way. She was just afraid, afraid of her parents getting angry, and she couldn't get rid of that fear.
However, she admitted her mistake, directly apologizing to Zhou Huaying and her second uncle.
Zhou Huaying's anger couldn't calm down for a while, but it wasn't as intense as before.
Little did they know, the tension wasn't over. Just as things seemed to be settling, Zhou Huaying discovered the matter of Jiang Zhiyi having Qian Ran as her boyfriend. Her anger flared up again.
"Jiang Zhiyi, you've really outdone yourself! Well done!"
After saying this, she left in her high heels. Second Uncle Jiang hurriedly followed. Jiang Zhiyi frowned, watching their retreating figures. It felt like her chest was stuffed with cotton, making it hard to breathe.
Chu Xia had been observing the unfolding drama and sighed inwardly, "I saw this coming."
The rift between Jiang Zhiyi and her parents was growing larger and becoming more difficult to resolve.
Qian Ran anxiously looked at Jiang Zhiyi, his eyes revealing unease. "Zhiyi."
"I'm fine," Jiang Zhiyi grinned widely. "I anticipated my parents' attitude a long time ago."
However, it was evident to everyone that Jiang Zhiyi was putting on a brave face.
The atmosphere among everyone at Grandpa Jiang's house this time was completely different from before. The dispute between Jiang Zhiyi and her parents cast a shadow of concern over everyone's mood.
During the ride home, Chu Xia's family discussed the situation.
"I wonder what will happen between Zhiyi and her parents in the future."
"It's not something we can worry about," Cen Zhengnian's tone was calm. The family affairs of Second Uncle Jiang's household were not something outsiders could meddle in.
"I know."
Cen Huai'an spoke, "Mom, I'm about to start the second round of training."
Immediately, Chu Xia's attention was diverted, and she asked him about the preparations needed for the second round of training, scheduled for April.
It was a seven-day session, and Cen Huai'an had taken leave for it.
The content of the training wasn't much different from the first round, involving classes, exams, and various other activities.
However, the knowledge covered in the studies became deeper. Cen Huai'an's roommate in the dormitory lamented about the high pressure, feeling that he was struggling to keep up with what the teachers were teaching.
"God Cen, do you find it difficult?"
Since Cen Huai'an had shone brightly in the training camp, even reaching a level that many couldn't catch up with, the nickname "God Cen" had started, and more and more people called him that. So, Cen Huai'an had acquired a fixed nickname.
Before Cen Huai'an could speak, his other roommate immediately chimed in, "Listen to the question you're asking. How could God Cen find these things difficult? Right, God Cen?"
Cen Huai'an paused with his pen in hand and turned to the two, saying, "I find it difficult too."
Both were shocked simultaneously, "Oh my, God Cen, you actually find it difficult? There's actually a time when I share the same mindset with God Cen. God Cen, which topic do you find difficult?"
"Not right," one roommate realized, "God Cen, every time you're asked in class, you know the answer."
Cen Huai'an replied, "Knowing doesn't mean it's not difficult. Considering our current knowledge reserve and thinking, it is indeed challenging."
The two roommates: ...
The difficulty for a master and our difficulty are not the same kind of difficulty.
Cen Huai'an had become more composed in the training camp, knowing that this was a crucial time, and he couldn't afford to slack off.
If he relaxed, all the previous efforts would be in vain.
Fortunately, after completing the last exam, Cen Huai'an ranked first, both in the final exam and overall.
Another boy and girl who had the same score as him in the national competition were also selected as one of the six IMO contestants.
Cen Huai'an wasn't very familiar with them as he tended to be a bit reserved. The girl was even colder, and the other boy wasn't very lively either.
Hang Ling looked at the three selected individuals and directly laughed, saying, "Each of you talks less than the other. This team is going to be quite quiet and reserved!"
The fourth-ranking girl immediately raised her hand and jumped up, saying, "Teacher, I'm lively, and I'll be responsible for livening up the atmosphere."
The sixth-ranking boy, who is also Cen Huai'an's roommate, also jumped up, exclaiming, "Teacher! Teacher! There's me too!"
Hang Ling looked at the two and burst into laughter, and the rest of the class followed suit, "Good, with you two, I don't have to worry!"
With a little over two months left until the IMO exam, Cen Huai'an, like the other selected students, engaged in various mathematical exercises.
IMO was too important, and Cen Huai'an had the privilege of skipping some classes, but he chose not to.
He only stopped doing regular class assignments and still attended lectures.
Zhang Lu watched Cen Huai'an's busy appearance, feeling exhausted on his behalf.
"An'an, you've been writing for so long; you must be tired. Come on, let's take a break and play some ball. Your brain is getting fuzzy from all the writing."
Zhang Lu had grown taller, whether due to martial arts practice or good nutrition, reaching a height of 170 cm with a tendency to continue growing.
She also developed an interest in a new campus sport – basketball. Sometimes, she played soccer and volleyball as well.
Cen Huai'an lifted his hand, massaging his neck. Feeling the fatigue, he had indeed been bending over the questions for too long.
He stood up, gazing at the distant playground. With spring in full bloom, the trees on both sides of the field were lush, and students on the playground were joyfully engaging in various activities.
"All right," Cen Huai'an turned to Zhang Lu.
To play, they needed more than just the two of them. Zhang Lu shouted to anyone interested, and within a few seconds, they gathered enough people to form two teams.
Zhang Lu led one team, while Cen Huai'an led another. Both of them had martial arts training, giving them an advantage in playing basketball compared to other classmates.
The game started, and the two teams immediately engaged in a heated battle for the ball. They weren't too concerned about the rules, as long as it wasn't a clear violation.
In addition to the players, there were classmates serving as referees and scorekeepers.
After an exhilarating game, Cen Huai'an was drenched in sweat, and as Zhang Lu had suggested, his mind was indeed more clear.
Drinking water on their way back to class, he found his thoughts becoming more focused when he resumed working on the problems.
Ultimately, there was no reconciliation between Jiang Zhiyi and her father and mother. Every meeting ended in arguments, and their relationship became increasingly strained.
Even when she and Qian Ran left the capital for Guangzhou, the tension remained unresolved.
However, Qian Ran's family, upon learning of Jiang Zhiyi's existence, grew fond of her and cared for her.
Their son was in his thirties, and they had exhausted every means to find him a wife without success.
Now that their son had found a partner, and it happened to be the well-regarded daughter of the Jiang family, they were overjoyed beyond words. This unexpected happiness left them unsure of how to react.
As a result, Qian's family was delighted and had no intention of creating obstacles for their son and Jiang Zhiyi.
Upon returning to Guangzhou, Jiang Zhiyi focused all her energy on work, burying the pain her parents had caused her deep inside.
With Qian Ran having found a partner, Jiang Zhida returned and faced relentless pressure from eldest uncle Jiang and Yang Mei to get married. Under Yang Mei's relentless matchmaking efforts, he spent days meeting numerous girls, not remembering who was who.
"Mom! Your approach is seriously affecting my work. Yun Meng Ze still needs me to handle things."
Now entangled in blind dates, he had no personal time, let alone the opportunity to go to Yun Meng Ze.
Yang Mei values efficiency. She straightforwardly said, "You quickly find a girl to marry, and I'll let you go back to Yun Meng Ze."
Jiang Zhida was extremely helpless, "Mom, finding a partner for marriage is not that simple. I can't just randomly pick someone and say, 'Let's get married.' That's disrespectful to the institution of marriage."
Yang Mei showed no mercy, "Then you obediently continue going on blind dates for me."
Jiang Zhida wore a pained expression.
Unable to endure any longer, Jiang Zhida sought refuge at Chu Xia's home for a day.
"Is getting married really this important? My mom is driving me crazy, pushing me so hard to find a partner."
"Uncle, I think there are many other important things in life."
Cen Huai'an flipped through the professional materials that Cen Zhengnian had helped him find, "It's not a necessity in life."
Jiang Zhida vigorously rubbed his head and laughed loudly, "Oh, despite An'an being young, he says things that sound good!"
Cen Huai'an removed his hand and somewhat helplessly fixed his hair, "Uncle, read more, and you'll understand."
Then, he moved a bit away from Jiang Zhida.
Chu Xia, holding a plate of fruit, said, "An'an and I share the same perspective. Unfortunately, your mom's perspective differs from ours."
Jiang Zhida sighed heavily, "Help me think of a solution. This is really affecting my life."
Cen Huai'an and Chu Xia shook their heads together, "There's no solution."
Chu Xia added, "Unless you can immediately find a partner to appease your mom, otherwise, no matter how many solutions we come up with, it won't work."
Jiang Zhida rubbed his chin, his face showing a thoughtful expression, "Sister-in-law, you're right. If I could find a partner immediately, that would be great."
Chu Xia replied, "Keep dreaming then."
Mysteriously, Jiang Zhida smiled. Within a couple of days, Chu Xia heard about Jiang Zhida finding a partner.
Chu Xia's face displayed an incredulous expression, "He really found one. Jiang Zhida is quite fast."
However, Chu Xia didn't pay much attention to this matter. She was currently busy organizing similar cases among the patients she had treated recently, preparing to compile them into an experience booklet for more convenient learning and comparison in the future.
As the summer vacation began, the IMO competition was about to take place.
This time, IMO was hosted in the capital of China, which delighted Chu Xia the most. Cen Huai'an didn't need to traverse mountains and rivers, or travel thousands of miles abroad to participate in the competition.
Chu Xia also didn't need to worry about him facing difficulties adapting to foreign environments or lifestyles.
Competing in the home country was different; it would reduce a lot of nervousness, and the competition would be more convenient and comfortable.
However, even though the competition was held in the capital, the selected contestants, including Cen Huai'an, had already entered the rooms prepared for them in the competition venue, adapting to the examination environment in advance.
Their remaining training sessions were conducted on the competition grounds.
Meanwhile, participants from other countries arrived at the competition venue from the airport in the capital.
M country participants were the most arrogant, R country participants were also proud, carefully observing every detail of the competition venue. Participants from H country liked to stir up trouble, finding fault with various aspects of the organizers.
When Cen Huai'an and his teammates went out for meals, they often encountered participants from various countries.
Some participants from other countries engaged in friendly exchanges with Cen Huai'an's team, wearing expressions that prioritized friendship over competition.
Some participants from certain countries looked down on Cen Huai'an's team, making provocative gestures indicating failure.
As the team captain, Cen Huai'an never responded.
The IMO competition had various regulations, and it would be frustrating if someone were eliminated before the competition for violating the rules due to losing their temper.
Cen Huai'an stopped his most impulsive roommate among his teammates and looked at the provoking participant, expressing himself fluently in English.
Cen Huai'an's teammates were shocked to witness his language proficiency for the first time.
"Right now, you're just gaining an advantage verbally. We'll see during the exam, and then you'll realize how ridiculous your behavior is."
The group of foreign students, mostly under 19 years old, pointed fingers at Cen Huai'an and cursed, but they dared not take further action.
"Barking dogs."
Having said that, Cen Huai'an turned and walked away. The foreign group initially didn't catch on, and by the time they realized what Cen Huai'an had said, he had already disappeared from their view.
Chasing after him would only make them appear inferior, so they had to swallow their frustration.
The IMO competition lasted for two days, with one exam paper per day, featuring three questions, and lasting for 4.5 hours. This indicated that the questions were exceptionally challenging, not something easily solved.
At nine in the morning, the first round of exams began, and live broadcasting had started since the beginning.
This was the most significant event recently held in China and represented the mathematical prowess of China's youth. Therefore, the entire competition was broadcasted to showcase the talent of China's young mathematicians and demonstrate the country's strength.
Families who prioritized their children's academic achievements watched the competition at home. Not only did parents watch, but some also dragged their children along.
It was the summer vacation, and all students in China were on break. With nothing else to do, parents captured their children's attention for hours, making it an unavoidable situation.
However, students who knew Cen Huai'an were watching, most of them being his classmates, and they were excited and nervous at this moment.
Both proud yet worried, fearing that he might not achieve satisfactory results in the IMO competition.
Students from the No. 4 High School had already been informed by the school not to forget watching Cen Huai'an's IMO competition during the summer break and to cheer for him.
Therefore, Qi Ling and his cousin watched together at home. While watching, Guan Yan also joined them.
Seeing a familiar figure flashing across the screen, she subconsciously furrowed her brows. She felt the figure was very familiar but couldn't remember exactly who it was. It flashed too quickly, and besides the silhouette, she couldn't see the face clearly.
When the camera turned back, Guan Yan instantly recognized Cen Huai'an's face. It seemed like heaven had favored his face, as he had grown a bit, but his appearance hadn't changed much, looking even more outstanding.
Guan Yan suddenly tightened her grip on Qi Ling's arm. Qi Ling yelped in pain, "Wow, Mom! That hurts! Don't pinch my arm."
Guan Yan snapped back to reality and quickly released him to check his arm. Fortunately, the force she used wasn't too much; aside from a bit of redness, there was nothing else.
"Ling Ling, is that Cen Huai'an?"
Guan Yan asked Qi Ling.
Qi Ling and his cousin nodded simultaneously, "Yes, it's him. Our school asked us to watch the live broadcast because he became one of the participants in the IMO competition."
After confirming, Guan Yan's expression became somewhat complicated.
"Ling Ling, can you be selected for this IMO competition?"
Qi Ling widened his eyes, looking at Guan Yan with an expression that said, "Mom, are you joking? How confident are you in my abilities? Do you know how difficult it is to get into the IMO?"
Guan Yan really didn't know. She wasn't a student, and although she had some knowledge about student competitions and the IMO, she wasn't familiar with the internal details.
Qi Ling's cousin looked at his younger cousin with a sympathetic expression and explained the difficulty of entering the IMO competition to Guan Yan.
Currently, Qi Ling hasn't even entered the Math Olympiad class, let alone other advanced classes.
Guan Yan furrowed her brows even tighter, "Ling Ling, can you join the Math Olympiad class?"
Qi Ling was even more shocked, "Mom, don't scare me. I'm not that gifted, and I don't have that kind of brain."
Guan Yan sighed regretfully and continued to watch the IMO competition on TV. The more she watched, the more she felt that Cen Huai'an was extraordinary.
"Ling Ling, I want you to interact more with Cen Huai'an, be friends with him. Look at how outstanding he is!"
Qi Ling replied, "Mom, my cousin and I tried. He doesn't want to be friends with us. He completely ignores us. How can we be friends?"
He couldn't understand why his mother insisted on making friends with Cen Huai'an. However, if his mother said to do it, he would, although he wasn't very interested.
Seeing that Cen Huai'an ignored him, it suited him perfectly. Now, he didn't need to bother trying to get close to Cen Huai'an.
Guan Yan patted his head, "You don't understand. Mom is doing this for your own good."
The pathway to adults was hard to open, but it was easy to connect through children.
Her husband's business in the capital wasn't going smoothly, still fluctuating in the market without stabilizing.
Guan Yan had been thinking that if she could establish connections on this side through Chu Xia, it would be great. It was challenging to approach adults, but getting close to children would be more straightforward. By then, through the children, the two families would naturally come closer.
Unexpectedly, her son and nephew were so uncooperative that none of them became friends with Cen Huai'an. Cen Huai'an and his parents had the same personalities, not easy to handle.
Qi Ling looked at Guan Yan's expression and listened to her words, nodding with a serious expression. He indeed didn't understand, and he didn't want to get involved in complicated adult matters. His mother's thoughts were even more elusive to him. Therefore, he focused on watching TV with his cousin.
Watching the two of them huddled together in discussion.
"Is that contestant frowning all the time?"
"Look at that one, it's so funny; he actually likes to grab his hair."
"What's going on with the blond one? Why hasn't he written anything for so long?"
Listening to her son and nephew, Guan Yan felt a darkness looming before her. How could there be such a huge gap between her son and Cen Huai'an? It made her feel frustrated.
Guan Yan and Qi Ling watched the live broadcast for more than a day. As the competition continued, they kept up with the broadcasts for the corresponding number of days.
On the last day when the results were announced, Qi Ling and Guan Yan stared at the TV without blinking, waiting for the host to announce the names of those who won gold and silver medals.
In the IMO competition, medals were awarded in gold and silver categories. The rankings for gold and silver medals were determined by the scores from both exam sessions, based on which country's participants performed better. The number of gold medals achieved played a crucial role in determining the final rankings.