CHAPTER 29: PROVEN INNOCENT

At the same time, the top ten students from the grade’s monthly exam were also called to participate in this special test.

Rong Zhihao sniffed lightly and said in a soft composed voice to the director, "From a personal standpoint, I really don’t want to believe that Rong Xingyu cheated. But since this matter has grown so serious, I’m willing to cooperate with the school to resolve it quickly."

The discipline director’s expression softened and a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes as he looked at Rong Zhihao.

Soon, the heads of each subject’s teaching department arrived at the office.

They had all put aside their work just to come here and make questions for a student accused of cheating. Naturally, none of them were in a good mood and their faces were tense as they began writing the problems.

Just then, a small group of people entered the office. The one who leading them was an elderly gentleman whose face was instantly recognizable, he’s the one that everyone in the country’s education field knew.

"Professor Lu?!"

The discipline director almost swore under his breath before hurrying forward and bowing respectfully. "Professor Lu, what brings you here so suddenly?"

Professor Lu waved his hand with a smile, completely without arrogance or formality. "I heard someone here is making test questions for a few excellent students, so I brought a few of my own students to take a look."

The director glanced at the people standing behind Professor Lu and felt his heart sink. Those are your students, yes, but each one of them is a giant in the academic world!

The teachers who had been busy writing questions froze when they saw who had arrived.

"...P-Professor?" one of them stammered.

Oh no... why did our mentors have to show up here of all times?!

The professors who came with Professor Lu were all top figures in the national research community. Without hesitation, they squeezed in beside the teachers, waving them aside impatiently.

"Move, move. We all know your level. You think you can make proper questions? Stand over there and stay out of the way."

The teachers from Qibao Dwith School nodded quickly, sweat already dripping down their foreheads.

They suddenly remembered the days back in school when their mentor used to scold them so harshly that they wished they could disappear...

Professor Lu walked straight to Rong Xingyu. He looked the young man up and down, his smile warm and kind.

"So, you’re Student Rong Xingyu?"

Rong Xingyu nodded politely. "Hello, Professor Lu."

"Good boy, no need to be nervous." Professor Lu gently patted the back of his hand. "Be careful when answering the questions later. Grandpa believes in you."

A wave of warmth spread through Rong Xingyu’s chest. He looked up and smiled gratefully at the old man.

Meanwhile, the group of top students including Rong Zhihao began to feel uneasy.

Ever since Professor Lu and the other scholars entered, no one had paid any attention to them. And now, they could all sense that the situation was starting to spin completely out of their control.

That feeling only deepened once they received the test papers written by those professors...

While the others were still scribbling frantically on their scratch paper, struggling through complicated calculations, a calm and clear voice suddenly broke the tension.

"I’m done."

The other top students froze mid-scribble.

"...What??!"

"I’m done," Rong Xingyu said again, setting down his pen and lifting his head under Professor Lu’s encouraging gaze.

The sound of pens scratching across paper instantly stopped.

As he handed over his answer sheet, beads of sweat rolled down the noses and foreheads of the other top students.

The more they panicked, the more those last few big questions made no sense at all. In the end, they could only leave them blank in embarrassment.

Rong Zhihao’s face turned pale as paper. He lowered his head, his teeth clenched so hard his jaw trembled.

But no one paid any attention to them anymore.

One of the professors took Rong Xingyu’s paper with a cheerful smile. His handwriting was neat and elegant and the entire page looked clean and organized.

Their fondness for the boy instantly grew after all, what teacher doesn’t like a serious and hardworking student?

As they went through his answers, their expressions shifted from mild interest to open admiration. They nodded repeatedly exchanging impressed looks, before passing the paper over to the teachers from Qibao Dwith School who had been anxiously waiting.

When the teachers saw Rong Xingyu’s perfectly reasoned answers and flawless results, all the frustration they’d felt about being dragged from their work vanished completely.

This boy is a true prodigy!

Now that Rong Xingyu’s innocence had been completely proven, Professor Lu’s smile faded and his expression turned stern.

"If it weren’t for this little test today," he said in a deep, serious tone, "would a future talent like this have been destroyed by your careless accusations of cheating?"

The professors from various top universities immediately joined in the discussion.

"Yes, exactly! A student like this, if your school doesn’t want him, I’ll take him as my personal disciple right away."

"What disciple? If he studies under you, he’ll be wasted. Young man, come to our Wuling University instead. I’ll personally mentor you."

"You sneaky old man, trying to steal my student again? Don’t listen to him, young man. Come to our Jinzhou University instead—"

"You—!"

The teachers from Qibao Dwith School could only stare at the professors, who were on the verge of arguing over Rong Xingyu.

"..."

The discipline director awkwardly wiped the sweat from his forehead while shaking his head repeatedly in denial, his voice trembling. "Could it be... that Student Rong was just hiding his abilities before?"

Rong Xingyu: "..."

He wanted to say it wasn’t him who used to be bad at studying, it was the original Rong Xingyu.

"I really did a lot of foolish things before..." Rong Xingyu said quietly while rubbing his nose with a slightly embarrassed look.