Xingcheng.
"Here, Qiao Ze's mother, let's first toast to Yu together, to thank him for his help in facilitating Qiao Ze's smooth entry into one of our Huaxia's top universities."
In the private room of Cuiwei Residence, Zhou Xujang took the lead in raising his glass.
He and Yu were drinking Budweiser while Lu Xiuxiu's cup, as usual, was filled with juice.
"This... Zhou, please don't say that. The first toast should be to Ms. Lu, to thank her for raising a pillar of the future of our nation," Yu Chenggong said earnestly, shedding his usual slick demeanor.
Zhou Xujang knew Yu Chenggong well.
This guy differed from other admissions teachers in temperament—less bookish and more streetwise in his dealings with them, never putting on airs. Yet when interacting with students and parents, he could indeed play the part of respectable.
But he had never displayed the attitude he showed today.
His manner toward Lu Xiuxiu had gone beyond simply treating her as the parent of a student.
However, turning the conversation back, if they truly regarded Lu Xiuxiu as a standard parent of a student, they wouldn't have invited her to this dinner at all.
For someone who runs faster than anyone toward interests and doesn't touch anything lacking them, such an attitude could only mean one thing.
The school's satisfaction with Qiao Ze reached a level that could bring significant benefits to the person specifically handling the matter.
They could even completely disregard the weaknesses that were plainly visible in the child.
The child he had led for three years actually had merits he had never discovered?
"Right, right, right, my mistake, let's first toast to Ms. Lu," suppressing the astonishment in his heart, Zhou Xujang willingly lifted his glass and toasted Lu Xiuxiu.
Lu Xiuxiu, slightly unnaturally, raised her cup brimming with juice and clinked it with the two teachers.
"Teacher Yu is too polite, thank you both teachers, you are both benefactors to Qiao Ze, and I represent Qiao Ze in expressing our gratitude to you," Lu Xiuxiu said somewhat flusteredly.
"This..." Zhou Xujang didn't know what to say for a moment.
Yu Chenggong, who had just returned from the restroom, raised his hand and patted Zhou Xujang's shoulder, saying, "Haha, stop thinking about it. Even if given another chance, you wouldn't notice. Do you know why? Because we're all freaking dumb! Before meeting Professor Li from our school, he didn't even deign to speak to idiots like us!
Of course, it's not just us, this means that in his eyes, everyone at your high school is a bunch of idiots!
But if you ask me, the dumbest has to be that Olympiad coach at your school. According to my reevaluation, a kid like Qiao Ze should have shined in the math Olympiad, and then probably Xilin University of Technology wouldn't have been part of the picture! But who could have imagined that you didn't let him compete at all? However, this is good, really good!
Let me tell you this, if I become the head of admissions next year, Qiao Ze will be my greatest asset!"
"I..." Zhou Xujang felt like he was choking on a mouthful of old blood.
Who the hell could endure such an evaluation!
A fool from high school?!
Zhou Xujang couldn't believe these words came from the usually slick Yu Chenggong.
"Don't feel wronged! Do you know the first thing Qiao Ze said to me? He thought that although my IQ was low, I might still be of some help when he goes abroad for exchange, so he deigned to call me 'Teacher Yu' and even thanked me as a favor. My feeling at the time was probably just like what you're experiencing now. My heart was cursing, you know?"
"But he's just that strong! The vice-dean of Jiang University's School of Mathematics, even wearing the cap of a Yangtze River Scholar, came to Xingcheng for an academic conference. He was supposed to speak first on the stage, but he requested leave and didn't attend, all just to fight for that kid!
Besides him, five professors from first-class universities, including Professor Li from our school, were absent from the conference, all for the purpose of recruiting Qiao Ze!"
"Still feeling angry? But then again, if you think he's sick, and he thinks you're idiots, haha... this sure counts as a kind of mutual rush, doesn't it? Hahaha..."
For some reason, after saying these words, Yu Chenggong couldn't help but laugh out loud, and the more he laughed, the louder he got, to the point where he could hardly stop himself, even clutching his belly...
Drawing sidelong glances...
This guy, he must've drunk too much, right?!
But Yu Chenggong didn't care about that at all.
Honestly, he couldn't even remember when was the last time he laughed so heartily, so right now all he wanted was to indulge in the moment... it was just too hilarious!
A stunned Zhou Xujang became the involuntary backdrop.