Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Seeing that Qin Ran didn’t speak, Nan Huiyao directly took it. “What competition is it that you’re so mysterious…”

Halfway through the conversation, her voice suddenly got stuck in her throat.

Opposite her, Xing Kai was eating with chopsticks, but when he saw that, he looked up and asked, “What’s wrong?”

While talking, he pulled the planning project over and indifferently said while eating, “What did you see…”

After a long while, he looked up at Qin Ran sitting diagonally across from him. “Sister- Sister Ran, I’m not mistaken, right? This is the ICNE competition?”

The last time Nan Huiyao explained what the popular science competition, the ICNE competition, was, Xing Kai and Chu Heng remembered very clearly that it was a high-level competition in the Physics world.

Next to him, Chu Heng glanced at the planning project and turned to Qin Ran. “You formed a team with us for May next year?”

They already knew that Qin Ran was going to participate in the ICNE preliminary competition in May next year, but they didn’t expect she would directly take them to this project?

“No, Chu Heng, look closer.” Nan Huiyao also returned to her senses. She stiffly took a sip of her Coke and said, “… You missed the second line.”

Xing Kai slammed the planned project down in front of Chu Heng.

Chu Heng lowered his head.

On the first page, the bold words on the second line—

“ICNE Finals”

Chu Heng’s chopsticks dropped onto the table. He had always been calm and composed, but at this time, his face couldn’t help but stiffen. “So, you were going to participate in the finals in February next year?”

It was fine if she, a freshman, wanted to go to the ICNE finals made for top research students, but she even dragged them along to the pits?!

Casually putting down her Coke and picking up her chopsticks, Qin Ran nodded. “Yeah.”

“Where did you get the spot?” Chu Heng glanced at the documents again.

Pausing, Qin Ran took a bite of her meal, lowered her head, and vaguely said, “Just say if you want to join.”

The three of them exchanged glances. Since Qin Ran had come to them, it meant she was serious about this. Although the ICNE final was… indeed a little outrageous for them…

“Count me in.” Nan Huiyao patted the table.

Chu Heng also nodded, regaining his composure. “I’m not sure how much I can help you, but I’ll try my best.”

Xing Kai silently raised his hand. “Sister Ran, are you sure you want to bring me along?”

“Then, it’s settled.” Qin Ran crossed her legs, resting one hand on the table, and holding her chopsticks in the other. “I’ve already submitted the list. I’ll take you guys to Dean Jiang to take leave in the afternoon.”

To engage in this research, they had to drop their freshman courses.

**

At 3:30 pm, Qin Ran came out of the library with a book and took the other three to find Dean Jiang.

Dean Jiang had received her news in the afternoon and was already waiting in the office.

“The four of you in a team?” Dean Jiang looked at the four freshmen teammates in front of him. After thinking for a few minutes, he gave the other three a notice of leave. “If you have this opportunity, it’s best to grab it. Beijing University’s highest score was 42, and University A scored about the same. Qin Ran, you… it’ll be best if you can surpass 42 points, enter the top 30, and break the historical record of the two schools.”

He finished speaking and approved their leaves.

After they left, he turned to his assistant and finally said, “Am I asking too much of Qin Ran and the others? This is the ICNE, an international project research, not a random experimental one…”

This innovative type of research project required the creation of novel things. There were 100 top teams in the world, including doctoral students who had participated two or three times already… not to mention getting top 30, even getting a middle-tier result was not to be underestimated.

The global rankings of Beijing University and University A were only 50-60. Obtaining the top 30 in this kind of competition was also an important indicator of school rankings over the years.

Dean Jiang suspected he might be dreaming…

Downstairs.

Nan Huiyao silently stared at her. “Ran Ran, you’re not human…”

Xing Kai also glanced at Qin Ran and nodded in silent agreement.

Holding the book with her other hand, Qin Ran turned and raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

“I mean, when you said you would join the competition in February next year, I thought that Dean Jiang only wanted to broaden your horizons, and not expect you to place a good ranking.” Nan Huiyao obviously did some homework on ICNE at noon. “But the top 30… Ran Ran, I’ll try my best not to drag you down.”

In the hearts of people like Nan Huiyao, Qin Ran’s direct entrance to the preliminary round in February was already law-defying enough. But to take the top 30, it was obvious how high Dean Jiang’s expectations were of her, and how strongly he believed in her abilities.

He still had such a high level of confidence despite the three newcomers.

Nan Huiyao really felt like no one was more perverted than Qin Ran…

The other two also silently stared at her.

Qin Ran had only focused on the research items and never checked the history before. “… Alright.”

They parted ways at the intersection. Nan Huiyao and the other two wanted to go back and talk to the assistant director to clarify their doubts.

“Why do I feel like… Sister Ran doesn’t seem nervous for the top 30?” Xing Kai paused.

Nan Huiyao laughed. “How could it be? She’s probably nervous too. I saw that she has bloodshot eyes, so she must have not slept well these days. Entering the top 30 is too much pressure. But if we can reach the top 30, I’m willing to give up 10 years of my life…”

Chu Heng stared at Qin Ran’s back without speaking.

Naturally, they didn’t know that Qin Ran was indeed under big pressure, but it wasn’t because of Dean Jiang.

Dean Jiang hoped she would be in the top 30, but Qin Ran and Principal Xu had their own plans. In March, Principal Xu would hold a successor ceremony for the Academy. In this ICNE competition, he had directly asked her to work towards the top 3.

In comparison, Dean Jiang’s request for the top 30 was really not much pressure on her.

**

In Yunjin District.

Carrying his groceries in one hand and talking to Qin Ran on the phone with the other, Qin Hanqiu said, “Ran Ran, when will you and Xiao Cheng come back for dinner? The teacher your Uncle hired for Xiao Ling has arrived yesterday and lives opposite us. Come back for dinner. Butler Qin said that the teacher is very impressive!”

On the other end, Qin Ran walked to the lounge and replied with a message, “This Saturday, then.”

She also wanted to see what kind of teacher Qin Xiuchen had found for Qin Ling.

Although she had asked Qin Ling to ask Lu Zhixin previously, he was too busy with his project. He couldn’t teach Qin Ling. He could only point him in the general direction.

They hung up.

Qin Hanqiu crossed the road and was about to head towards the gate when a car stopped in front of him.

He took a step back and vigilantly looked forward.

The back door opened and a beautiful woman in a light yellow coat came down.

As soon as she raised her head, Qin Hanqiu immediately recognized Qin Yu.

“Dad, long time no see.” Standing by the car door, she looked at Qin Hanqiu and smiled.

Qin Hanqiu turned and was about to leave, but Qin Yu stopped him. “My Fourth Uncle asked me to tell you, he wants to invite you and Xiao Ling to dinner.”

He was naturally talking about the Fourth Master.

Butler Qin had never mentioned the Qin family’s matters to Qin Hanqiu, but he had heard of the Fourth Master before and ran back even faster at this moment.

He would go back and ask Butler Qin.

Behind him, Qin Yu stared at his back, rooted to the ground.

Then, she turned and got into the car again, driving towards Ning Qing’s small apartment.

The door opened.

Ning Qing was on the phone with her relative from her hometown. “You said you saw Ran Ran on TV? Yes, yes, that was Ran Ran. I didn’t know she turned out to be the niece of a big celebrity… Yes, she’s in Beijing now…”

Qin Yu was in the Arts department and her schedule was a lot freer.

Listening to Ning Qing’s call, she slammed the door shut.

In the past two weeks, almost every day, someone called Ning Qing to inquire about Qin Ran.

Not many youngsters lived in Ninghai Town, but they watched TV and recognized Qin Ran’s impressionable face. They spread the word, and now, everyone knew that Ninghai Town’s eldest daughter had appeared on TV.

Not to mention Yun Cheng, just like Lin Wan, Ning Qing’s sisters whom she had never interacted much with before were now rushing to call her. Everyone only focused on her eldest daughter and almost forgot about the existence of Qin Yu.

Sitting in front of her computer, Qin Yu pursed her lips and stared at her small Weibo page.

Qin Ran already had a Weibo hot search corner called “qr”.

Everyone swiped her Weibo, but she still didn’t post anything. Even after two weeks, her popularity was enough to be a small celebrity.

Looking at the super chat area, Qin Yu sneered. Using the tone of a fan, she directly posted a message—

“Seeing that everyone wants to know this little sister’s violin skills, I have a video of her competition here. (Video link)”

The competition video had been widely promoted on Weibo at first, and some people even fell in love with her because of her face. Later, after the plagiarism incident with Qin Yu, her violin video was deleted for some reason.

However, Qin Yu still had a copy on her phone.

She watched her Weibo post rise in views and popularity, feeling an unbridled sense of jealousy in her heart.

She sneered…

It was better the more popularity it received. By that time, when the truth was revealed, Qin Ran would fall even harder.