The crowd was even more shocked by Yi Zhongshen’s words. They stared at him blankly, unsure if they should be shocked that he didn’t reject the letter, or shocked by the underlying meaning of his words.
Not his handwriting……
Didn’t that mean Young Master Yi was very familiar with Bo Xiyun’s handwriting?
Even Head Teacher Gao was surprised, “Zhongshen, how do you know that?”
Without waiting for his reply, Teacher Liu remembered, “Both of you met before the Olympiads right?”
He explained to Head Teacher Gao, “In B City, just before the competition, I invited Zhongshen to give the students a talk about his experience in the Olympiad as T University was nearby.”
“Oh, right,” Head Teacher Gao also realized. “Besides, there’s only a one-year difference between the both of you, is that right, Xiyun? Both of you are also top scorers in school. Did you already know each other in the past two years?”
“Not for the past two years.” Bo Xiyun suddenly said, shaking his head.
He indeed remembered that someone had given the Olympiad team pointers before the competition and he had seen Yi Zhongshen then.
But there were no earlier interactions in his memory.
“…”
The end of Yi Zhongshen’s eyebrows lowered but he didn’t speak.
But for some reason, Bo Xiyun still felt a sense of familiarity towards Yi Zhongshen, thus he glanced back at him again.
On the other hand, Teacher Liu had already kept the envelope and didn't mention this misunderstanding anymore. He ushered Yi Zhongshen towards the office and spoke to him again.
“Zhongshen, why the sudden visit? Are you in a hurry to return tonight?”
There were still many students following them but the teacher didn’t chase them away as this was a rare opportunity for the students to relax.
Besides, when the night class bell rang later, they would’ve to return to their classrooms.
Head Teacher Gao also said, “Right, the school hall is empty, how about you give a speech to our current Grade 3 students?”
Yi Zhongshen’s family had already moved to B City a few years ago, and only he remained in Q City for high school. When he successfully enrolled in the country’s second-best university, T University, he also moved to B City and never returned after the college exams.
With such a rare visit to Q City, the teachers naturally wanted him to stay longer and give the students a role model to emulate.
“I have some time pressing matters,” Yi Zhongshen replied indirectly.
“What is so special that it requires you to specially make this trip?” The teacher asked curiously.
Bo Xiyun followed behind the three. He was lost in his thoughts throughout the entire journey, but his eyes were still on Yi Zhongshen.
In the end, he suddenly heard Yi Zhongshen say, “Here to look for Bo Xiyun.”
Bo Xiyun was startled like he was caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to do.
Immediately, he heard the remaining sentence.
“Results are out internally and he has achieved the gold medal in this year’s competition. The professors at T University have asked me to contact him.”
“…?!”
Head Teacher Gao stopped in his tracks. Teacher Liu was also stunned, both staring at Yi Zhongshen to Bo Xiyun, and back again.
In contrast, the students reacted much faster.
“Gold medal?!”
“Another gold medal! A new God of Studies!”
“Oh my god, T University?? Achieving the gold medal means direct admission into T University?!”
Although everyone had heard that this top scorer, God Yun, in Grade 3 was good, they had never thought he was that incredible——this was a national competition.
Even Yi Zhongshen, who usually didn’t talk much, seemed to be talking more out of admiration. “He is placed fourth nationally and has entered the national training team.”
There were only 50 placements in the national training team and only the students whose results fell into the top 50 were able to enter.
But the national top 5 had a much bigger impact.
“It’s even better than my placement last year.”
As Yi Zhongshen continued, he glanced toward Bo Xiyun. “Congratulations.”
Bo Xiyun was startled and nodded. “Thank you.”
In reality, they were the only ones able to hold a normal conversation. Even the experienced Teacher Liu and Head Teacher Gao were so excited that their voices trembled, “Gold medal, placed nationally fourth, really? Oh my god!”
“T University asked you to come here? It will be a direct admission based on this result?”
“Correct.” Yi Zhongshen replied.
“Wah—!!”
There was another round of exclamations from the students, gazing at Bo Xiyun with eyes even more fiery and passionate than when they had looked at Yi Zhongshen earlier.
This was a God of Studies that they could look upon every day, and they had witnessed the exact moment when the title was bestowed.
To be able to see two Gods of Studies on this one trip, everyone felt they could laugh all the way to the bank. The two teachers reigned in their emotions with some difficulty and remembered that they had to go to the office.
Head Teacher Gao rubbed his face, massaging the corners of his mouth which were stiff from smiling, before finally managing to calm down. “It’s too cold out here, let’s go into the office.”
The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile again as he spoke, “Haha, gold medal!”
Bo Xiyun: “…”
Even his originally calm demeanor was starting to get infected by them.
This rare good news quickly spread like wildfire throughout the school. Teachers could still maintain some semblance of calm, but this could not be said for the students.
In the short walk to the office, more and more students started congregating around them. Everyone still maintained order and didn’t make too much noise, but they were craning their necks to see the two Gods of Studies.
With so many fiery gazes on him, Bo Xiyun felt that he was like a certain creature in his memory—
“Koi fish”.
Everyone wanted to touch or rub him.
Peace and quiet finally reigned when they entered the office. It was also much warmer here.
“Come, take a seat!” Head Teacher Gao addressed them while getting a cup of water. “Zhongshen, you said you were here to pass this news?”
He was too excited just now. After calming down and thinking clearly, this news could’ve been easily given online or through the telephone. There was no need to make a trip in this cold weather.
As expected, Yi Zhongshen replied, “There’s more.”
As he spoke, he took the remote from the table and increased the temperature of the central air conditioning system by two degrees.
“Oh, feeling cold?” When Head Teacher Gao saw this, he paused in the act of getting water and turned towards the hot water flask. “Was it because we were standing in the wind for too long just now? I’ll get some hot water.”
Yi Zhongshen didn’t reject, “Thank you.”
Teacher Liu was a little puzzled over this.
He didn’t remember Yi Zhongshen as a person who was afraid of the cold.
Last year, when Yi Zhongshen was in Grade 3, he still expressed that this young man was pretty tough.
But Yi Zhongshen didn’t show much expression as usual.
Instead, it was Bo Xiyun who relaxed visibly once he felt the warm air as his freezing body slowly regained some warmth.
Bo Xiyun had always been afraid of the cold, and there was a rare cold wave today which made it worse. When they had just stepped into the office, his ears and the tip of his nose were turning white.
He received the cup of water, took down the mask he had been wearing, and said softly, “Thank you.”
Steam rose from the paper cup and under its warmth, the youngster's pale skin finally regained some warmth and color as the tips of his ears reddened slightly.
He sighed quietly, his pretty forehead finally smoothening out. Behind the steam rising from the cup, his features attracted even more attention, rendering people unable to take their eyes off him—
It left them wanting to stare intently through the rising steam to see him clearly.
Silence descended on the warm office.
Teacher Liu couldn't bear it any longer and reminded, “Zhongshen, you mentioned there was another matter?”
Only then did Bo Xiyun remember that Yi Zhongshen had not finished his words.
With his hands cupping the paper cup, Bo Xiyun looked toward him. Yi Zhongshen hadn’t removed his mask. Bo Xiyun couldn’t read his expression but his brows looked calm, his tone of voice normal.
“There are some problems with Junior's information, and we need additional documentation.”
As it was suddenly mentioned, Bo Xiyun paused and realized that the ‘junior’ in question was actually him.
“What’s wrong with the data?” Head Teacher Gao realized immediately, “Is it because of the name change?”
Yi Zhongshen said, “Correct.”
Head Teacher Gao frowned, and Teacher Liu's expression was not good either. He wanted to say something but in order to protect Bo Xiyun’s feelings, he closed his mouth.
This incident caused by the Bai family had really given Bo Xiyun too much trouble.
But Bo Xiyun didn't care too much.
Most of his attention was actually on Yi Zhongshen.
They were not seated closely and from Bo Xiyun’s perspective, he could see Yi Zhongshen’s profile. Most of the young man’s face was still covered by the mask and Bo Xiyun’s gaze ended up on Yi Zhongshen’s nose bridge.
Yi Zhongshen’s features were well defined with a tall nose bridge, unconsciously projecting an aura of cold authority. There was a bump on the bridge of his nose, resulting in his features looking fierce.
—and this caused Bo Xiyun to find it all too familiar.
As if, he had memorized his facial contours before.
When did he actually meet this person?
As he was lost in his thoughts searching his muddled memory, his gaze rested on where the silent Yi Zhongshen’s jaw moved and his slender Adam's apple slowly bobbed.
Bo Xiyun thought he was thirsty or was preparing to say something. But after observing him for a while, Yi Zhongshen did not remove his mask to take a sip of water, nor did he speak. Even the lowered eyelashes covering his light-coloured eyes stopped moving.
It wasn’t until Teacher Liu and Old Gao turned towards him in the midst of their discussion. Bo Xiyun snapped back to attention, realizing that he was staring and being impolite as he moved his gaze away.
At this time, he heard Yi Zhongshen’s voice again.
“The previously used name and the name you are currently using have to be submitted in advance.”
Unsure if it was his own imagination, Bo Xiyun felt that Yi Zhongshen’s voice was a little hoarse.
Like he was really thirsty.
Hearing that sound, Bo Xiyun involuntarily took another sip from his paper cup.
He closed his eyes in enjoyment.
The hot water was so comfortable.
On the other hand, the two teachers were more impatient. “This has to be done before the results are announced?”
Yi Zhongshen nodded his head. “After the results are announced, there is only a half a day window to confirm personal particulars. I took a look before coming here; Junior’s name has not been updated in the system.”
“Then we have to submit the documents quickly,” Teacher Liu said. “Once everything has been announced, it will be too late.”
He immediately turned to Bo Xiyun, “Come, Xiyun. I’ll accompany you to give your home a call, get all the documents ready and submit them.”
Bo Xiyun got up and followed Teacher Liu. He glanced behind before closing the door and coincidentally saw Yi Zhongshen remove his mask and take a deep breath.
Getting a glimpse of Yi Zhongshen’s face, Bo Xiyun was startled.
He could finally retrieve the other person’s identity from his jumbled memory, but the answer was not a good thing for him.
Because this person…
Was rumored to be the person he was secretly infatuated with.
Before the competition in B City, the Bai Family’s young master’s identity was revealed and he was said to be impersonating the real Young Master Bai, thus facing a lot of difficulties and ridicule from others.
Someone even found out that he seemed to be infatuated with Yi Zhongshen and purposefully spread the news, becoming another weapon to be used in the ridicule of the fake Young Master Bai.
Immediately after, the Bai Family came to B City and harassed the youngster. He fell ill with a high fever and became unconscious.
When Bo Xiyun awakened, the competition was already starting soon. Hence, he disregarded the rumors and pushed them out of his mind, which was why he didn’t remember this incident.
Until today, when he saw Yi Zhongshen.
Bo Xiyun finally realized.
No wonder there was someone who wanted him to pass on the envelope containing the words ‘I like you’. This was done in order to frame him.
There was also an awkward atmosphere in the classroom earlier. Furthermore, his classmates were trying their best to comfort him when he walked in while they were talking about Yi Zhongshen.
Bo Xiyun: “…”
That cold and distant Young Master Yi seemed a lot more dangerous now.