The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

"It must be Xiaoxiao!"

The teacher's wife jogged to open the door.

A short-haired girl was standing outside the door.

He looked to be around 26 or 27 years old, wearing a beige wool coat and a red scarf, and carrying two boxes of pastries.

The gold-rimmed glasses on his nose gave him a scholarly air.

"Auntie! Uncle! Happy New Year!" The voice was clear and crisp.

"Oh, Xiaoxiao's here! Come in quickly!"

The teacher's wife accepted the gift. "Perfect timing, Huahua is here too. Your god-sister is much more enthusiastic than you."

Su Xiao took off her coat, revealing a light gray sweater underneath.

Upon seeing Fu Hua, he greeted her warmly, "Hua Hua? I knew you'd come today. I was just looking for you!"

"Xiaoxiao, you got a haircut?"

Su Xiao touched her short hair and chuckled, "Yeah, I did it a few days ago. New year, new look, starting from scratch."

Fu Hua smiled slightly and cupped her hands in greeting: "Happy New Year, Sister Su Xiao."

"That's right, keep calling it that from now on!"

Su Xiao took a newspaper out of her bag. "Look, it's today's Science and Technology Daily, on the front page!"

The newspaper was spread out on the coffee table, and the front page headline featured a photo of Fu Hua.

She stood on the winter camp podium, holding a gold medal in her hand, with the five-star red flag in the background.

The headline reads: "Fu Hua, an 18-year-old prodigy: Her remarkable journey from rural village to world champion."

"I deliberately kept a sample copy of the newspaper when I was doing typesetting at the newspaper office yesterday."

Professor Yan took the newspaper, put on his reading glasses, and examined it closely.

After a long while, he raised his head, his eyes slightly moist: "Good...good boy, you've really lived up to my expectations."

The teacher's wife snatched the newspaper, her fingers lightly tracing the photo: "He's really handsome, those eyebrows, that air about him... Old Yan, look how promising this child is, those parents are really..."

After being confronted by Professor Yan, the professor's wife swallowed the rest of her words.

Seeing this, Su Xiao quickly changed the subject, her tone excited, "Huahua, you're so modest! You won a gold medal, and you didn't even tell me!"

Our editor-in-chief said he wants to do a feature article about you. Are you interested?

Fu Hua: "Sister Su, isn't this report a bit exaggerated...? I'm still young."

"Not an exaggeration at all!"

Su Xiao sat down next to her. "Do you know that this is the first time since the founding of the People's Republic of China that a Chinese student has won a gold medal at an international mathematics winter camp?"

Furthermore, several senior experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences reviewed your paper on quantum encryption and said its level was no less than that of the international forefront!

She paused, then lowered her voice: "There's another piece of news... The Ministry of Education and the State Science and Technology Commission are jointly selecting outstanding young scientists."

Only ten people will be selected nationwide, and your name is already on the shortlist. Isn't that an exaggeration?

Fu Hua was stunned.

I didn't expect the competition I participated in before to have received so much attention.

Professor Yan slapped the sofa armrest excitedly: "She deserves it! Fu Hua is fully qualified! Commander Hua personally called me to say that her communication algorithm has far exceeded expectations in border trials!"

So,

Su Xiao smiled and said, "You absolutely have to do this special report, Auntie, don't you think?"

"Do it! We must do it!"

The teacher's wife held Fu Hua's hand, "Let the whole country know that China has such an outstanding girl!"

The atmosphere was lively at lunchtime.

Eight dishes and a soup filled the round table, with a large plate of steaming dumplings in the center.

Su Xiao sat next to Fu Hua, constantly piling food onto her plate: "Eat more, look how thin you are. By the way, didn't you say you wanted to start a clothing brand? When are you going to launch it? I promise I'll be your first customer."

"The spring collection will be available around next month."

Fu Hua said.

"Save me a few pieces when they're available, and I'll write a fashion article to promote them!"

Su Xiao's eyes lit up. "By the way, the Beijing Women's Federation is holding a New Era Women's Style Exhibition next month. Do you want to participate? I can try to get you a booth."

Fu Hua quickly shook her head.

She has too many things to do; even three heads and six arms couldn't handle it all.

"Alright, your main job is studying, so we can talk about these things after graduation."

Professor Yan nodded in agreement.

Fu Hua is a rare scientific research genius.

We can't let ourselves be distracted by such trivial matters.

Professor Yan took a sip of his drink and continued, "Huahua, there's an important project after the New Year, led by the National Defense Science and Technology Commission, about next-generation communication encryption. I'd like to recommend you as the deputy technical leader. Are you willing to take it?"

The table fell silent.

Fu Hua put down her chopsticks: "Teacher, I'm only... a sophomore in high school, is that okay?"

"Why not?"

Professor Yan waved his hand dismissively, "Your paper on quantum encryption was praised by experts from the Science and Technology Commission as having a forward-thinking approach! This project absolutely needs you!"

Su Xiao chimed in, "Fu Hua, this is a great opportunity. The project is high-level, with ample funding, and you'll get access to the most cutting-edge technology."

If you're worried about your studies, feel free to read any foreign periodicals in our newspaper's archives; I'll keep the keys!

The teacher's wife placed a lion's head meatball on Fu Hua's plate: "Take it, why won't you? Our Fu Hua has the skill!"

Three pairs of expectant eyes looked at her. Fu Hua picked up her teacup.

Offering tea instead of alcohol: "Thank you for your trust, teacher. I'll take it."

"good!"

Professor Yan raised his glass happily, "These are the students I want to have!"

We ate lunch until 2 p.m.

The teacher's wife and Su Xiao were washing dishes in the kitchen, and Fu Hua offered to help.

He was practically pushed out: "Go, go, go have a chat with your master, the kitchen doesn't need you!"

In the living room, Professor Yan brewed a pot of fresh tea and poured a cup for Fu Hua: "Fu Hua, there's something... I need to remind you."

"Please speak."

"The tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

Professor Yan's expression was serious. "You're currently enjoying too much attention, which inevitably attracts jealousy. I've heard about the Fu family's situation. Although your parents won't interfere in your affairs, I'm afraid the Fu family elders won't let it go easily."

And the Su family... they're not simple either. You're still young, you need to learn to protect yourself. If anything happens, this old man can still make decisions for you."

Fu Hua nodded: "I understand, teacher."

"But there's no need to be afraid."

Professor Yan smiled. "You don't just have me behind you, you have Peking University, us teachers, the military... By the way, how's Xie Ci doing lately? Why didn't he keep you company today?"

Fu Hua blushed slightly: "He... is on duty at the military base."

"That kid's not bad."

Professor Yan took a sip of tea. "You have good judgment and a sense of responsibility. I support your relationship."

Just then, Su Xiao came out of the kitchen wiping her hands: "What are you talking about? Why are you being so mysterious?"

"The person Fu Hua is talking about."

The teacher's wife came out carrying fruit, all smiles.

Su Xiao's eyes lit up: "Thank you? I've seen you before. Last time you came to the newspaper office to pick up Fu Hua, you were in a military uniform, very handsome."

Some of my female colleagues at work even asked me about him, but I turned them down. Fu Hua, you have great taste!

Fu Hua felt embarrassed by what was said and lowered her head to drink her tea.

Before leaving, the teacher's wife insisted on giving Fu Hua a large bag of things.

Dumplings, pickles made by the teacher's wife, and two pairs of woolen socks.

"Good child, you must eat well even when you're alone. I knitted these socks myself; they're warm!"