At that moment, Peng Li strolled out with a mocking grin."Director Li, this exam is brutal! Are you ready to become the laughingstock of the whole school?"
Li Guoxiang chuckled calmly. "Teacher Peng, how about we make a little wager?"
"A bet?" Peng Li raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. If Class 28 manages to take first place, you'll apologize to these kids in front of everyone and say, 'Class 28, you're the best.'"
Peng Li smirked. "Fine. But if our Rocket Class takes first place, you'll transfer your entire year's salary to my account."
Li Guoxiang: "…"
What a ruthless man. Losing meant losing every penny he had worked for. Worse, if he went home without his salary, his wife would have him kneeling on a washboard. Still, for the sake of these kids, he clenched his teeth and nodded. "Deal!"
News of the wager spread like wildfire. Within hours, the competition between Rocket Class and Class 28 in the upcoming calculus exam became the hottest topic in Beijing. Young people flooded the Tsinghua University forum, leaving comment after comment:
"Not trying to be rude, but… do we really get to see Celia streak naked?"
"I vote Rocket Class! Don't ask why—the answer is obvious: I want to see her streak!"
"Rocket Class +1."
"Rocket Class +N!"
The Rocket Class seemed destined to win—at least in the eyes of the public.
It didn't take long for this noise to reach Nathaniel Fu.
"President," Secretary Song reported nervously, "everyone online is buzzing about it. They're all waiting to see Miss Su streak…"
Nathaniel's handsome face instantly darkened, his sharp features carved with ice. His voice dropped several degrees. "Does that include you?"
Secretary Song froze. In the blink of an eye, he slapped a hand over his own eyes. "Ah! My eyes—suddenly they hurt! I can't see a thing!"
"Get out."
"Yes, sir!" Secretary Song retreated quickly, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. Years of being Nathaniel's scapegoat had honed his instincts—thankfully, this time, they'd saved his life.
Nathaniel tried to return to the stack of documents on his desk, but his eyes refused to focus. Every line blurred into the same image—Celia. That reckless girl had only been in the capital for a short time, and already she had stirred up this much chaos.
Was she insane?
Was she seriously planning to go through with it?
Grabbing his car keys, Nathaniel strode out and headed straight to Tsinghua University. Along the way, he found her new phone number and dialed.
Meanwhile, in Class 28, Celia was explaining a difficult problem at the board. The entire classroom hung on her every word. The clarity and elegance of her explanation made problems that Peng Li's lectures had turned into nightmares feel almost… simple.
"Celia, you're incredible! How did we never realize you were this talented? You explain problems just like Professor Fu!"
Celia smiled softly and pulled a thick booklet from her bag. "The exam's only a few days away. This is the review guide I prepared for all of you. Work through these problems, and if you don't understand something, come find me."
When the students flipped open the booklet, their eyes widened. Every page was filled with carefully designed questions, polished and precise, the kind usually found only in rare genius-level study manuals. Hope lit up their faces.
Just then, a crisp ringtone chimed. Celia's phone lit up with an unfamiliar number. She excused herself and stepped into the corridor to answer.
"Hello? Who's this—"
Before she could finish, a large hand shot out of the shadows, gripping her slender arm and pulling her into a secluded corner.
"Ah!" Celia gasped, startled.
"Don't scream."
That deep, familiar voice echoed above her.
She looked up, and her heart skipped a beat. Nathaniel Fu's tall frame towered over her, his chiseled face filling her vision, closer than ever before.