My IQ has been increasing year by year.

July 5th.

Eight o'clock in the morning.

The sound of packing luggage could be heard coming from the hotel corridor.

This morning, they are going to take a plane back to the provincial capital, and then...

Everyone went back to their own homes and to their own mothers.

Chen Zhuo was tidying up his backpack in his room.

Fold the clothes neatly, put the toiletries into a plastic bag, and stuff the pencil case aside.

Go out.

Zhang Bai and Li Nanbai happened to come out from next door.

The group walked together to the elevator and pressed the button.

First floor lobby.

The elevator doors opened.

Coach Xu is already standing in front of the service desk processing the check-out procedures.

Holding a stack of room cards, he was checking the bill and asking for an invoice.

Chen Zhuo stepped out of the elevator.

His gaze inadvertently swept over the lobby's rest area.

A set of brown leather sofas next to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

There was a person sitting there.

He was wearing a neatly ironed white short-sleeved shirt, dark suit trousers, and a pair of spotless black leather shoes. On the sofa cushion next to him sat an old-fashioned black leather briefcase.

The old man had gray hair and wore a pair of half-rimmed glasses.

He was holding a disposable paper cup provided by the hotel and drinking water.

Chen Zhuo paused for a moment.

The old man seemed to have sensed something.

He put down the paper cup in his hand and looked up.

Across the large potted plants and the flow of people in the lobby, his gaze fell precisely on Chen Zhuo.

A gentle smile appeared on the old man's face.

He picked up the black briefcase next to him and stood up from the leather sofa.

He walked towards Chen Zhuo at a leisurely pace.

Chen Zhuo looked at the old man walking over and was not surprised.

He had seen this old man in the restroom of the Beijing Physics National Training Center.

The head of the admissions office for the Huazhong University of Science and Technology's gifted youth program.

The old man walked up to Chen Zhuo.

The distance was well-controlled, neither too formal nor too oppressive.

"We meet again."

The old man's voice was steady, and his tone conveyed the composure of an old-fashioned intellectual.

"Hello."

Chen Zhuo nodded and greeted him.

Zhou Kai and Zhang Bai, who were standing nearby, stopped in their tracks.

He looked at the old man who had suddenly appeared with some confusion.

Coach Xu paid the bill first and put the receipt in his pocket.

Turning around, I saw that there was another person over there.

He came over with several documents in his hand.

"Who is this...?"

Coach Xu looked at the old man, somewhat hesitant.

The old man turned his head and looked at Coach Xu.

He took a business card out of his jacket pocket and handed it over.

"I am Fang Yuanming, an admissions officer from the School of Gifted Youngsters at the University of Science and Technology of China."

He didn't list his lengthy titles, but simply used the most basic form of address.

Coach Xu was stunned.

He lowered his head and glanced at the business card in his hand.

The white card had a red school badge printed on it.

Coach Xu's mind went blank for a few seconds.

In all his years of leading teams, he had never encountered university admissions officers blocking people's way in the hotel lobby on their return journey. Fang Yuanming turned his gaze back to Chen Zhuo.

He didn't exchange pleasantries or say any polite, meaningless words.

He unzipped the black briefcase in his hand and pulled out a folded A4 sheet of paper.

He handed it to Chen Zhuo.

"Last night, the internal results of the national mathematics finals were released. The official notification will take a few more days to go through the process before it reaches the province," Fang Yuanming said naturally.

"Mathematics, full marks, plus your previous physics score."

Fang Yuanming looked at Chen Zhuo.

His eyes revealed a certainty that came from having seen many geniuses, yet still admired them.

"You solved the questions set by those senior professors on this year's exam very well."

Zhang Bai and Li Nanbai, who were standing nearby, heard this.

Their eyes widened instantly.

Li Nanbai opened his mouth, looked at Fang Yuanming, and then turned to look at Chen Zhuo.

Full marks!?

In the national finals exam that tormented them half to death, made them unable to even find auxiliary lines, and left them barely able to walk after the exam.

Chen Zhuo got a perfect score?!

Chen Zhuo didn't look at the reactions of his teammates.

He took the A4 sheet of paper.

It was a photocopy with a table and grades on it.

His name is in the first row.

He glanced at it, then folded the paper again and returned it to Fang Yuanming.

"We talked in Beijing."

Fang Yuanming looked at Chen Zhuo through his glasses, lowered his voice, and got to the point.

"You made your demands back then, but you didn't sign."

Chen Zhuo looked at him and nodded.

"I took your exact words back to school."

Fang Yuanming smiled, his smile revealing a hearty appreciation for talent.

"The school held a meeting to discuss it, and the school leaders approved it directly."

Fang Yuanming held up three fingers.

"First, we will not participate in semi-military management, and we will not be forced to do morning exercises or follow a uniform schedule."

"Secondly, we will grant you the highest level of library access, allowing you to borrow any foreign language journals and core literature."

"Third, the right to choose courses freely. As long as you don't fail any courses, you can audit any course offered by the school, whether it's arts, sciences, technology, or philosophy, and earn credits as you like." Fang Yuanming put his hand down.

"The school gives you the greatest degree of freedom."

Coach Xu stood to the side, clutching the business card tightly in his hand, his palms slightly sweaty.

As he listened to the conditions Fang Yuanming presented, he felt as if he were listening to gibberish.

After listening, Chen Zhuo smiled faintly.

"it is good."

Clean and efficient.

Fang Yuanming took another document out of his briefcase.

Several thick pages of paper.

The top of it read "Letter of Intent for Pre-Admission to the Junior Class of the University of Science and Technology of China," which I handed over.

At the same time, a black fountain pen with the cap removed was also handed over.

Chen Zhuo took the letter of intent and walked to a glass round table in the lobby rest area.

Lay the documents out.

He didn't flip directly to the last page to sign; instead, he read through the terms word by word.

The permissions that Fang Yuanming just mentioned were confirmed and written down in black and white in the supplementary agreement.

After watching it.

He turned to the last page.

In the student signature section, the name Chen Zhuo was written steadily.

He capped the pen and handed the document and pen back to Fang Yuanming.

Fang Yuanming took the document and carefully examined the signature on it.

Then, I carefully put the documents back into the briefcase and zipped it up.

The whole process was carried out in an orderly manner.

"You've signed it."

Fang Yuanming looked at Chen Zhuo, his tone becoming serious and professional.

"But this is just a letter of intent. You're only ten years old. From legal procedures to school registration transfer, the process can't be completed without your legal guardian's signature." Chen Zhuo nodded. This was the normal procedure.

"Your flight back to the provincial capital is at 11:30 this morning, right?"

Fang Yuanming turned to Coach Xu and asked a question.

Coach Xu nodded subconsciously.

"Yes, go through the Rainbow Bridge."

Fang Yuanming tucked the briefcase under his arm.

"I bought a ticket yesterday for the same flight as you."

These words were spoken.

Coach Xu was stunned again.

Fang Yuanming adjusted his glasses, his tone very natural.

"Going to university is no small matter; I have to go to Zeyang in person."

He looked at Chen Zhuo.

"I need to meet with your parents to explain the accommodation and living arrangements for the gifted youth program, as well as your training plan, to put their minds at ease. I also need to get your guardianship documents signed." Fang Yuanming's words were devoid of any condescension.

There is only the rigor and down-to-earth nature of an old-school educator.

For the sake of a promising young talent, and to put the parents at ease, he didn't mind personally accompanying this group of junior high school students on a trip.

"Let's go, it's almost time to go to the airport."

Fang Yuanming glanced at the clock on the wall in the lobby and greeted him casually.

Coach Xu then realized what was happening.

He quickly nodded and called to the few students who were still in a daze behind him.

"Grab your luggage and head out to the bus."

The bus was parked in front of the hotel.

Everyone boarded the bus one after another.

Zhang Bai and Li Nanbai walked behind Chen Zhuo.

Li Nanbai nudged Chen Zhuo's arm and lowered his voice.

"Brother Zhuo, you're going to university soon?"

His tone was full of disbelief, and a sense of sudden, enormous disparity.

Chen Zhuo, carrying a bag, stepped onto the car.

"It's just that I'm two years ahead of you, it's the same."

He replied casually, his tone as calm as ever.

The bus started and headed towards Hongqiao Airport.

airport terminal.

The space is open and well-ventilated.

The announcements about flight information played on a loop. After checking in my luggage and getting my boarding pass, I was able to proceed.

Everyone walked to the rows of metal seats in the waiting area and sat down.

Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see rows of white passenger planes on the tarmac outside.

Fang Yuanming sat next to Coach Xu, and the two chatted casually about the situation in the provincial capital over the past two years.

Chen Zhuo sat by the window, watching the ground staff drive the luggage carts back and forth outside.

"Attention passengers bound for the provincial capital airport, boarding for your flight is now beginning..."

An announcement came over the loudspeaker in the waiting area.

After passing through the jet bridge, enter the aircraft cabin and find your seat.

Chen Zhuo sat by the window, and Fang Yuanming sat diagonally in front of him.

Not long after, the plane landed smoothly at the provincial capital airport.

Provincial capital airport.

The automatic glass doors at the domestic arrival and departure points open and close.

Old Zhao and Old Zhou leaned against the iron railing at the arrival gate.

Old Zhao was carrying a plastic bag full of chilled mineral water.

Old Zhou glanced at the electronic flight information screen hanging in the center of the hall.

"It's been half an hour since we landed, why aren't we out yet?"

Old Zhao stood on tiptoe and peered into the exit passage.

"You can't queue to collect your checked luggage," Old Zhou said calmly.

Old Zhao turned around and looked at Old Zhou with a serious expression.

"Old Zhou, let me tell you something."

"Chen Zhuo will be in the second year of junior high school when school starts. I have already compiled all the past exam papers for the junior high school math competition and the advanced algebra papers for senior high school. There are two big stacks of them. You should stop taking up his time with those junk papers from your physics lab this new semester."

Old Zhou chuckled and turned his head away.

What does "scrap metal" mean?

Old Zhou spoke with righteous indignation.

"Physics class starts in the second year of junior high. With Chen Zhuo's hands-on skills, it would be a waste not to put him in the lab. He can finish those few math problems you solved with his eyes closed by just drawing a few lines on the draft paper. The rest of his free time is mine, no discussion. I even got him a high school electromagnetism kit."

Two middle-aged men, whose combined age is nearly 100, argued vehemently at the airport arrival gate over the ownership of a ten-year-old student.

They even planned out the textbook schedule for Chen Zhuo's three years of high school.

In their eyes, the No. 1 High School of the city has firmly secured its position as the dominant force in science competitions for the next few years.

The glass doors slid open to both sides again.

A wave of passengers pushing luggage carts surged out.

Old Zhao's eyes lit up.

"They're out!"

Coach Xu walked at the front, followed by several junior high school students wearing school uniforms and carrying backpacks.

The group was disorganized, with everyone looking around for their respective pick-up parties.

Old Zhao and Old Zhou didn't even glance at these top students from the provincial capital or other cities.

Their gazes, like radar, pierced through the crowd and precisely locked onto Chen Zhuo, who was walking in the middle of the group.

Old Zhao quickly pulled a bottle of ice water out of the plastic bag.

He wiped the water stains off the bottle with his sleeve and strode over to meet it.

Old Zhou followed closely behind.

"Chen Zhuo!"

Old Zhao called out, a smile he couldn't hide on his face.

Chen Zhuo heard the sound and looked up.

His eyes lit up instantly when he saw the two teachers walking quickly towards him.

He quickened his pace and went to meet them.

"Teacher Zhao, Teacher Zhou, why did you come all the way to the provincial capital?"

Chen Zhuo's tone was genuinely surprised.

He knew how far Zeyang was from the provincial capital, and it was the middle of summer, yet it was still holiday time.

"I'm on summer vacation anyway, so I thought I'd come pick you up."

Old Zhao smiled and handed the ice water in his hand to Chen Zhuo.

I was just about to reach out and take the backpack off Chen Zhuo's shoulder.

Old Zhao stopped moving.

Only then did he and Lao Zhou notice.

Beside Chen Zhuo followed closely an elderly man wearing a white shirt and dark suit pants, carrying an old black briefcase.

The old man had a very calm and composed demeanor.

They didn't look like ordinary students' parents or high school teachers at all; they carried a sense of solemnity unique to university campuses.

Coach Xu also saw the two teachers from No. 1 Middle School who were leading the team.

He walked over and nodded.

"Teacher Zhao, Teacher Zhou, come and pick someone up."

Coach Xu's expression was somewhat complicated, and his tone carried an indescribable sense of emotion.

"I have returned your precious treasure from No. 1 High School to you intact, but..."

Coach Xu stepped aside, making way for the elderly man in the white shirt behind him.

Fang Yuanming looked at Lao Zhao and Lao Zhou.

Extend your hand proactively.

"Are you two Chen Zhuo's teachers?"

Fang Yuanming's voice had a southern accent; it was easygoing, yet firm and resolute.

Old Zhao subconsciously reached out and shook it, his face completely bewildered.

Old Zhou was also completely baffled.

Fang Yuanming released his grip, took out two business cards from his jacket pocket, and handed them to the two men.

"I am Fang Yuanming, a teacher from the Admissions Office of the Special Class for Gifted Youngsters at the University of Science and Technology of China."

Old Zhao held the business card with the red school badge printed on it.

The announcements in the lobby were still broadcasting flight information, but it felt as if all the sound had been sucked out of his ears.

"Both teachers taught exceptionally well."

Fang Yuanming looked at them and, without any preamble, revealed his true intentions.

"Mathematics, full marks; Physics, also full marks."

"I'm going back to Zeyang with Chen Zhuo this time to get his parents to sign some papers so that when the new students start school, I can take him directly to Huazhong University of Science and Technology." The arrival gate was bustling with people, and the sound of luggage cart wheels scraping against the ground was very noisy.

But where Lao Zhao and Lao Zhou stood, silence fell.

Old Zhao was carrying a plastic bag full of mineral water.

The bag was digging into his fingers, leaving red marks, but he seemed oblivious.

Old Zhou's hand froze in mid-air.

Full marks.

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Go to college.

These three words together are like a heavy hammer.

It completely shattered their meticulously crafted plans for dominating the junior high and high school exams and their high school laboratory training programs.

They were just arguing whether to plant the cabbage in the early field of mathematics or the paddy field of physics.

As a result, they sailed away on an aircraft carrier and took everything, pot and all.

Old Zhao looked at Chen Zhuo, his lips moving several times.

He wanted to smile to congratulate him, but his facial muscles were a little stiff.

After struggling for a long time, he finally managed to squeeze out a dry sentence.

"This... you're not going to high school?"

Old Zhou lowered his hand and took a deep breath.

Reason regained its footing, but with it came a profound sense of emptiness.

He looked at the ten-year-old child in front of him.

A few months ago, this kid was still in his office reading that Soviet edition of "Selected Solutions to Problems in Middle School Physics".

Now, teachers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology are personally escorting them to the airport.

"It's better if we don't go, it's better if we don't go."

Old Zhou's voice lowered slightly.

"Staying in Zeyang is definitely holding you back."