The Vice Principal quickly said, "President, your phone hasn't been working lately. I was just about to inform you—the genius girl never showed up."
"What?"
Mr. Jiang froze. "How is that possible? I made an appointment with her, and she promised she would come."
Yara Lu stepped forward. "President, it's true. We were all waiting at the gate that day to welcome the genius girl, but no matter how long we waited, she never arrived."
Ning Xiner and several students from the Rocket Class echoed, "Yes, President, she really didn't come."
Mr. Jiang turned toward Su Mo. "Academician Su, you didn't see the genius girl either?"
Su Mo also looked puzzled. The young woman had clearly confirmed her appointment with the president, so why didn't she show? "That's right, President. I didn't see her either."
Without another word, Mr. Jiang pulled out his phone. "Something's not right. I'll call her now."
The crowd grew silent as Mr. Jiang placed the call. Everyone strained their ears, waiting. After just one ring, the line connected. A pleasant female voice drifted through the speaker.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang."
"Cici, you haven't arrived at Tsinghua yet?" Mr. Jiang's tone softened, as though coaxing a cherished student.
"Mr. Jiang, I'll be there shortly."
"Good, good. No rush. I'll meet you at the gate."
Elder Jiang hung up with a smile.
Cici?
That was the talented young woman's name?
The moment the speakerphone broadcast her voice, the students exchanged uneasy glances. The name—and that voice—sounded unmistakably familiar.
Recently, the entire university had been abuzz about Celia, the student who had just been expelled. How could anyone not remember her?
Ning Xiner tugged discreetly at Yara Lu's sleeve. "Yaoyao, am I imagining things? That voice… it sounded exactly like Celia."
Celia… Cici?
Yara Lu's face hardened. Her voice was sharp as she snapped, "Don't talk nonsense! How could that thief Celia possibly be the so-called genius girl?"
But just then, a clear, melodious voice rang out at the entrance.
"Mr. Jiang, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Everyone turned.
A slender figure walked gracefully into view—Celia.
"She's here!" someone gasped.
The students from Class 28, who had been standing in the back, rushed forward in shock. "Cici, what are you doing here?"
Meanwhile, students from the Rocket Class jumped up in outrage. "Celia, how dare you come back? You've already been expelled! Get out—we don't welcome you here at Tsinghua!"
Her sudden arrival set the entire hall buzzing with chaos.
Mr. Jiang, however, narrowed his sharp eyes, already piecing the puzzle together. He strode toward Celia. "Cici, it seems I've missed some very interesting stories while I was away."
Celia's lips curved faintly. "Then perhaps, Mr. Jiang, you should be the one to explain what arrangements have been made."
"Come," Elder Jiang said warmly, guiding her forward. Then, with deliberate solemnity, he turned to address the stunned audience.
"Allow me to introduce her properly. This is Tsinghua University's true genius girl—Celia!"
A collective gasp swept through the hall.
The genius girl… was Celia?
Wasn't she from Class 28? How could this be possible?
The most shocked of all were Yara Lu, Ning Xiner, and the Rocket Class students. They stared at her as if seeing a ghost.
Whispers rippled across the crowd.
"Impossible… how could someone from Class 28 outshine us?""She's the one who embarrassed us yesterday—yet she's the genius girl all along?""Then… does that mean all of us misjudged her?"
Some students flushed with shame, recalling how they had mocked her. Others clenched their fists in resentment, unwilling to accept that the girl they had dismissed was now standing on the highest pedestal.
Yara Lu's heart pounded violently. Jealousy surged through her chest like fire, burning away her composure. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Celia was supposed to be trampled underfoot, not standing at the very center of admiration.
Ning Xiner's face turned pale. Her lips trembled as she muttered, "If Celia is the genius girl, then what about us? What are we worth in comparison?"
At that moment, the girl's delicate, porcelain-like features and calm, confident presence shone in the light.
So this was the legendary genius girl.