A perfect score on the college entrance exam? The Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng has astonis

Zhao Tianyu finally removed his hand from Chen Mo's shoulder.

He took it down very slowly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

The ambiguous smile was still on his face, but it had become stiff, like a mask glued to his face.

Tsinghua University Admissions Office.

Call Chen Mo.

He had seen Chen Mo's "700 points" in the class group chat.

He took it as a joke and even led the way in mocking it.

He thought Chen Mo had gone mad, or was deliberately trying to attract attention in the group chat.

But now, Tsinghua University's admissions office has called.

What does this mean?

Chen Mo, that academic underachiever who can't even finish his essays, that guy who always ranks last in every exam—Tsinghua University is vying for him?

Zhao Tianyu's brain was like an overloaded machine, buzzing loudly.

Chen Mo did not look at Zhao Tianyu.

He said something into his phone.

"Ms. Li, thank you for your call. But I'm out right now with some friends, and they're worried I might be harassed by scammers. How can I prove my identity?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Teacher Li laughed.

"Chen Mo, your caution is justified. Here's what we'll do—wait a minute. Your school principal will call you personally. Can you verify that?"

Chen Mo glanced at Zhao Tianyu and said into the phone, "Okay."

The phone hangs up.

The escalator entrance was as quiet as a tomb.

Zhao Tianyu stood opposite Chen Mo.

My mind went completely blank.

The expressions of the boys behind him were even more interesting—some had their mouths agape and forgot to close them, while others stared wide-eyed as if they had seen an alien.

"Is this...is this real?"

"It's definitely fake!"

Zhao Tianyu's voice suddenly rose, as if he were trying to convince himself.

"Scammers! They're pulling off a series of elaborate schemes! First they impersonate Beijing Normal University, then Tsinghua University—I've seen this kind of elaborate trap many times!"

His voice was so loud that several customers passing by turned around to look at him.

But the louder the sound, the more hollow it sounds.

"Yes, yes, yes, a scammer!"

The boy behind him immediately chimed in, "What 'the principal personally called'—who believes that?"

Several people chimed in, each one louder than the last, as if using their voices to bolster their courage.

But their eyes betrayed them—their gazes were all fixed on Chen Mo's phone, waiting for the "liar's" next move.

Tangtang stood to the side, the milk tea in her hand was no longer hot, but she had no desire to drink it at all.

Her mind was in complete turmoil—Tsinghua University?

Did Tsinghua University call Chen Mo?

The one she was just mocking, saying that "he's good for nothing except being handsome"?

She remembered the things she had said in the bubble tea shop—"Your grades are terrible," "You can't even get into a top-tier university," "What kind of future do you have?"

Every word is like a slap in the face, flying back at three hundred kilometers per hour.

Su Wanci stood next to Chen Mo, remaining silent. Her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if they held stars. She didn't look at Zhao Tianyu, the other boys, or Tang Tang—she only looked at Chen Mo.

She remembered what he said in the class group chat: "700 points".

I remember him saying "I have confidence," and I remember him saying at the mall entrance, "I won't let you repeat a year."

She thought he was just putting on a brave face.

She thought he was trying to comfort her.

She thought he was just using that clumsy way to keep her from worrying.

But now—the admissions office of Tsinghua University has called.

She couldn't say anything.

She simply stood beside him, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt until her knuckles turned white.

The phone rang again.

This time, the bell rang out in the dead silence at the escalator entrance, startling everyone.

Chen Mo glanced at the screen—the caller ID showed a local mobile number.

He answered the phone and put it on speakerphone.

A middle-aged man's voice came through the phone, his tone steady: "Hello, is this Chen Mo?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"Hello Chen Mo, I am the principal of Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School. My surname is Wang."

Zhao Tianyu's pupils contracted sharply.

Principal Wang.

He had heard Principal Wang speak countless times in the school auditorium—at the opening ceremony, coming-of-age ceremony, and college entrance examination mobilization meeting.

That voice, that tone, that slightly accented Mandarin—he knew it all too well.

"Hello, Principal Wang."

Chen Mo's tone remained calm.

"Chen Mo, Ms. Li from the Tsinghua University Admissions Office just contacted me, hoping I could help you verify their identities. I'm here to officially confirm that the person who called you was indeed a staff member from the Tsinghua University Admissions Office. Please feel free to communicate with them."

The voice on the phone continued, but Zhao Tianyu could no longer hear it.

He felt a buzzing in his ears, as if a thousand bees were flying around.

Principal Wang personally called to vouch for Chen Mo.

Principal Wang. Principal of Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School.

personally.

To Chen Mo.

Call up.

Zhao Tianyu's brain finally stopped functioning.

It's like a computer with a burnt-out motherboard; the screen is still lit, but nothing works.

The boys behind him had fallen completely silent.

No one said anything like "liar," "scammer," or "chain scam" anymore.

They just stood there, like a few telephone poles struck by lightning, still standing on the outside, but completely charred inside.

Tangtang's milk tea finally slipped from her hand.

The cup fell to the ground, the lid flew off, milk tea spilled all over the floor, and tapioca pearls rolled everywhere on the smooth floor.

She looked down at the rolling pearls, only one thought in her mind—

What Chen Mo said is true.

The score of 700 is real.

Tsinghua University is real.

Everything is real.

And what she said in the bubble tea shop just now.

"Your grades are bad."

"Not even close to the first-tier university admission line."

"What future can it have?"

Each word was like a pearl, rolling around on the ground, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Chen Mo said into the phone, "Thank you, Principal Wang, I understand."

"You're welcome, Chen Mo."

Principal Wang's voice suddenly became much gentler, carrying an undisguised pride.

Congratulations! You are the most outstanding student in the history of our school. The entire school is proud of you.

"Thank you, Principal."

The phone hangs up.

The escalator entrance was quiet for about ten seconds.

Then Zhao Tianyu turned around, pushed aside the boys who were still standing there, and strode down the escalator.

He walked very fast, as if he were running away.

He didn't turn around or say anything—he just kept walking, faster and faster, until he almost ran down the escalator and disappeared into the crowd on the fourth floor.

The boys behind him exchanged glances for a couple of seconds, then sheepishly followed.

No one looked back at Chen Mo—they dared not.

Tang Tang stood there, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something to Su Wanci.

But Su Wanci didn't look at her—Su Wanci's gaze had been fixed on Chen Mo, and hadn't left him since the beginning.

Chen Mo switched his phone back from hands-free mode and was about to put it in his pocket when the screen lit up again.

It's still the same Tsinghua University number.

He answered the call.

...

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