Awakening Elementary School System in University

After those remarks, Vice Minister Xie shifted the topic back to the International Mathematical Congress itself.

"This is the first time our country has hosted such a prestigious academic event in mathematics..."

"Throughout the preparation process, Yanbei University, Huaqing University, and the relevant departments of the Ministry of Education have all done a great deal of highly effective work..."

"The success of this congress not only showcases the latest achievements in our nation’s mathematical research but also provides an invaluable platform for exchange among scholars from home and abroad..."

"We are confident that this congress will further promote..."

As Chen Lin listened to the standard official platitudes from the stage, his mind began to wander.

He turned his head to look at Shen Yan beside him.

The excitement and thrill that had washed over Shen Yan’s face after his successful proof had finally started to subside.

A faint blush still lingered on her usually cool and composed cheeks, making her look exceptionally captivating.

As if sensing his gaze, Shen Yan turned to him, her crystal-clear eyes filled with a smile she couldn’t hide.

Their eyes met. Chen Lin lowered his voice and leaned close to her ear. "Want to just slip out later?" he whispered. "Otherwise, once the closing ceremony is over, we’ll probably be swarmed. We won’t be able to get away even if we try."

The warm puff of his breath against her ear made the tips instantly turn red.

She instinctively flinched away, but the smile on her lips only deepened. She nodded lightly, her voice soft. "Mm, whatever you say."

A wave of contentment washed over Chen Lin.

Normally, after the closing ceremony, there would be a high-profile banquet in the evening to welcome the visiting scholars from home and abroad.

Given his performance today, if Chen Lin attended that banquet, he would undoubtedly be the center of attention—swarmed by people wanting to toast him, cozy up to him, and take pictures with him...

The mere thought of that scene made Chen Lin’s skin crawl.

’Forget it, forget it. Better to just slip away.’

Tomorrow was Saturday. All he wanted was to get back to his cozy little rental before midnight, take a nice hot shower, and sleep in until noon.

At that thought, Chen Lin immediately pulled out his phone, opened a train ticket app, and started searching for intercity trains from the Imperial Capital to Jinmen.

An 8:35 PM train. There were still tickets!

With deft speed, Chen Lin selected the seats, placed the order, and paid, all in one smooth motion.

Two second-class tickets.

He breathed a long sigh of relief, turned his phone screen to Shen Yan, and whispered, "Got ’em. The train’s at eight thirty-five. We can probably get ready to head out now."

Shen Yan glanced at the screen and hummed a soft "Mm," the smile in her eyes deepening.

Chen Lin then opened WeChat and sent nearly identical messages to Academician Liang Tianshi, Director Feng Yunhai, and Professor Gongtan:

"Academician Liang (or Director Feng/Professor Gong), Shen Yan and I need to rush back to Jinmen tonight, so we won’t be attending the banquet. Apologies for leaving early!"

After sending the messages, Chen Lin put his phone away and shot Shen Yan a meaningful glance.

With a shared, unspoken understanding, the two of them stood up and slipped out a side door at the back of the auditorium. Although plenty of people were staring, they hunched over as they left, as if fooling themselves into thinking they were being stealthy.

Onstage, Vice Minister Xie’s address was still going on.

"...And finally, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, I would like to once again thank all the staff for their tireless efforts, thank all the experts and scholars who have traveled from afar, and wish all the students in attendance academic success and a brilliant future! Thank you, everyone!"

As he finished speaking, the entire hall once again erupted in thunderous applause.

In the hallway, Chen Lin, wearing his backpack, walked briskly alongside Shen Yan toward the exit.

"Let’s go back to the hotel and grab our luggage, then get a bite to eat before heading to Beijing South Station," Chen Lin said, calculating the time as they walked. "It’s only three-thirty. We have plenty of time."

"Mm," Shen Yan replied softly. The smile on her lips made her appear much gentler than her usual cool and reserved self at school.

The two returned to the hotel, packed their luggage, and checked out. They then found a rather elegant-looking Huaiyang restaurant nearby.

After they sat down, Chen Lin checked for replies to the WeChat messages he’d sent while ordering their food.

Director Feng Yunhai and Professor Gongtan had replied almost instantly.

Director Feng’s reply was concise: "Got it. Travel safely. You worked hard today. Go home and get some rest."

Professor Gongtan’s reply was much more enthusiastic: "Hahaha, you sure are quick to sneak off, you rascal! It’s fine. I know you’re exhausted from the past couple of days. It’s for the best you skip a stuffy event like the banquet."

Chen Lin’s heart warmed as he read their replies.

However, when he opened his chat with Academician Liang Tianshi, he found it was still empty. There was no reply.

A knot of anxiety suddenly formed in Chen Lin’s stomach.

’Oh no,’ he thought. ’Could he be angry that I left without saying goodbye in person?’

’After all, Academician Liang has been so good to me, both mentoring me and looking out for me. It’s pretty bad of me to just sneak off without saying a proper goodbye in person.’

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he felt. After picking at his rice for a couple of bites, he couldn’t resist pulling out his phone again. He opened his WeChat with Professor Gongtan and cautiously sent a message.

"Professor Gong, do you think Academician Liang is mad at me? He didn’t reply to my WeChat message."

Shortly after he sent the message, a reply from Professor Gongtan came through: a long voice message.