Chapter 51: The Feast Arrives!

Shen Meng’s mother’s expression gradually grew solemn as well. What a joke—Ling Qiu had saved her twice; even a fool could see right from wrong!

“Director Qiu, you shouldn’t speak carelessly. Ling Qiu is a good boy. As Shen Meng’s mother, having a friend like him only puts me at ease, not on edge.”

What?

Qiu Yaofan and the others were stunned. They hadn’t expected such a response!

“Auntie, we’re old neighbors—we’re doing this for your sake! How can you be so muddled about something like this?”

At this, Qiu Biaolian hurriedly chimed in, “I’m telling the truth! That guy admitted it himself just now! And—”

“Enough. That’s enough,” Song Ningxue suddenly interjected, fixing her gaze on Ma Pijing. “You’re a teacher at Jiangnan University, aren’t you?”

Ma Pijing replied, “That’s right.”

“Then let me ask you—if this student wanted to enroll at your university, would you welcome him?”

She pointed at Ling Qiu.

Everyone present was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Was she joking?

This kid?

Ma Pijing smirked, half amused, half scornful. “Jiangnan University might not be as prestigious as Jinghua University, but it’s certainly not a dumping ground for rejects! I’m sorry, but we don’t accept trash. Forgive my bluntness—this is simply how I speak.”

At these words, Song Ningxue turned to Ling Qiu with a smile. “Didn’t you apply to Jiangnan University? But now their teacher has said he won’t accept you. What will you do?”

Everyone began to jeer.

Was this kid serious—he actually applied to Jiangnan University?

“Haha! Him?” Qiu Biaolian laughed mercilessly. “He hands in every exam in thirty minutes—may as well hand in a blank paper! This year’s cutoff for Jiangnan University is at least 570 points. With his grades, he’s not even qualified to say the words ‘Jiangnan University’!”

Ma Pijing acted as though he’d heard the world’s funniest joke, and said to Ling Qiu, “It’s good to have ambition, but a frog in a well shouldn’t dream of soaring through the heavens. These days, you’re all choosing your universities—I suggest you change your preference quickly. Jiangnan University is not a place for underachievers like you!”

Ling Qiu: …

Truly, he was on the verge of tears at the sheer stupidity of these people.

With this crowd, he couldn’t even be bothered to argue.

“Mr. Ma, are you sure you want to say that?” Song Ningxue’s tone was half-smile, half-serious.

Ma Pijing narrowed his eyes. What was this about—was she trying to give him a hard time?

“Ha, madam, the truth may be unpleasant, but I speak from the heart. For students like him, the gates of Jiangnan University will remain forever closed!” With that, he pointed righteously at Ling Qiu.

Song Ningxue gave a cold laugh. “Very well, since you’re so adamant, I’ll just call Director Li from your admissions office.”

With that, she dialed a number. “Hello, Director Li? This is Song Ningxue, Dean of Discipline at Jiang’an No. 3 High School. Do you remember what you asked me today? I wanted to let you know that Ling Qiu has listed Jiangnan University as his first choice—wait, I’m not finished. Unfortunately, I just ran into your teacher, Ma Pijing, who made it very clear to Ling Qiu that he’s not qualified to enter your university. So, as his dean, I’ll help him change his choice to another school today. That’s all.”

She hung up and turned to leave. “Come on, Ling Qiu, I’ll walk you out.”

With that, the two of them left, Shen Meng and her mother quietly following.

The crowd was utterly baffled—they couldn’t figure out what Song Ningxue’s call meant.

Why would the director of Jiangnan University’s admissions office care about a single student’s university preference?

Could it be… was Ling Qiu someone with connections?

While everyone was scratching their heads—

The phone rang.

Ma Pijing took out his phone, stunned to see Director Li’s name on the display. He picked up at once.

“Hello, Director Li? I… Ah? No, I didn’t… What?! I—I didn’t know! What should I… Yes, yes! I understand!! Yes, absolutely!!”

Throughout the call, Ma Pijing’s face changed color three times in a second, ending up ashen.

“Mr. Ma, what’s wrong?” Qiu Yaofan and his son asked in confusion.

Ma Pijing didn’t answer. Without a word, he rushed out.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded.

What was going on?

Curiosity piqued, the crowd filed out of the villa. As they stepped outside, they saw Ma Pijing striding up to Ling Qiu and Song Ningxue, stopping them with a shout.

“I—I’m sorry! Ling Qiu… I sincerely apologize!” He bowed deeply, his manner grave.

Everyone was stunned.

What on earth was happening?

Ling Qiu stopped, half helpless, and said to Song Ningxue, “Director Song, that wasn’t very kind. You should have seen I couldn’t even be bothered to argue with them.”

Song Ningxue replied matter-of-factly, “That won’t do. If they look down on you, sometimes you have to let these blind fools see the truth.”

Perhaps, as they were about to part ways, Song Ningxue wanted to return a favor to Ling Qiu.

Ling Qiu smiled faintly and ignored Ma Pijing, stepping around him to continue forward.

But Ma Pijing wouldn’t let up. He rushed ahead and blocked Ling Qiu’s path. “Ling Qiu, please—forgive me! I completely misjudged you. I spoke out of turn. I hope…”

Ling Qiu couldn’t be bothered to reply. “Out of my way.”

One word, spoken coldly, sent a chill through Ma Pijing’s heart.

He didn’t dare move.

If he left now—

If Ling Qiu really decided not to attend Jiangnan University, it would be a disaster!

Director Li had made it very clear on the phone: this Ling Qiu was the top scorer in Jiangnan Province’s college entrance exam!

And—

Director Li said Ling Qiu’s score was 690 only because he’d left his essay blank!

In other words, Ling Qiu could theoretically have gotten a perfect score—a genius among geniuses!

Such a student, choosing Jiangnan University over the country’s most elite schools—this was a huge deal for the university. When Director Li heard Ling Qiu had applied, he was nearly beside himself with joy!

Yet Ma Pijing had nearly ruined it, and Director Li had threatened to fire him on the spot if he couldn’t make amends!

To be fair, the entrance exam might not be too hard for a brilliant student, but a perfect score was almost impossible—one character, one symbol, even a single nuance could cost points.

This meant Ling Qiu was a once-in-a-generation academic prodigy.

“Ma Pijing, what on earth is going on?”

“Mr. Ma, what are you doing?” Qiu Yaofan and Qiu Biaolian hurried over.

Song Ningxue glanced at the two and said with a half-smile, “Oh, nothing really. Ling Qiu was more than qualified for Jiangnan University, but Mr. Ma here decided to bar him at the door. The admissions director wasn’t happy about that.”

At these words, the Qiu family and the onlookers froze in shock.

What? Was it true? So Ling Qiu really had connections? Or was he actually an outstanding student, and Qiu Biaolian’s accusations were just jealousy and slander?

Either way, if the admissions director had spoken, the Qiu family and Ma Pijing had been thoroughly humiliated.

“So what?!” Qiu Yaofan, his pride wounded, suddenly barked out, “Even if this student is qualified for Jiangnan University, that’s no reason for you to grovel like this! Jiangnan University is full of talent—why single out a high schooler like him? I know Director Li well enough—I’ll call him right now. Don’t worry, Mr. Ma, he won’t blame you!”

Qiu Yaofan took out his phone, casting a cold glance at Ling Qiu and Song Ningxue, putting on the airs of an official. “So proud, aren’t you? There are plenty of students who get into Jiangnan University! I’ll say it here and now—even if Ling Qiu’s grades are good, his character is lacking; as long as I’m here, he won’t set foot in Jiangnan University!”

He dialed and stepped aside to make the call.

Meanwhile, Qiu Biaolian lowered his voice and sneered, “Ling Qiu, so you actually know Director Li? But let me remind you, my father’s an official in the Education Bureau—his connections are wide. With one word from him, not just Jiangnan University, but every university in the province will refuse you!”

This sounded exaggerated but wasn’t impossible. If they could prove Ling Qiu’s character was suspect, no school would accept him, no matter his grades.

Ling Qiu felt his intelligence drain away just listening. What a ridiculous waste of time!

“Director Song, I’ll be going now—no need to see me off.” He tossed the words out lightly and walked away, hands in his pockets.

“Hey! Wait!” Just then, Qiu Yaofan shouted, hurrying over.

“Uh… young man, you’re Ling Qiu, right? Haha! It’s all a misunderstanding! Everything just now was a misunderstanding!” Qiu Yaofan came up to Ling Qiu, his attitude flipping completely, a wide smile plastered on his face.

What the—?

What was going on?

The crowd was utterly dumbfounded.

Qiu Biaolian’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets. “Dad?! What are you doing?!”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve to talk!” Qiu Yaofan scolded. “Ling Qiu is an outstanding student, and you believed groundless rumors and repeated them in public! You nearly made your father wrong this exceptional young man!”

“Dad? What are you talking about?!”

“This Ling Qiu is the top scorer in Jiangnan Province! What are you waiting for? Hurry over and apologize to him!”

WTF?!

What?!

Top scorer in the entrance exam?

This young man, Ling Qiu?