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To be honest, Li Xiang really felt like having a cigarette to calm his nerves right now.
But obviously, aside from catnip cigars, he had nothing on him.
So, he took a deep breath and used the Three-Blind Perception Method to adjust his mindset.
"Professor Mo, thank you for your kindness in calling me personally. I truly appreciate it," Li Xiang said softly. "If you have time this weekend, I will come to Mist City with my parents. Perhaps it would be better to discuss things face-to-face then.
"Discussing matters over the phone is quite inconvenient. If you're unavailable, sending a representative would also be fine. We can adjust the timing to suit your schedule as well."
An Elite Four personally recruiting someone…. that was on a completely different level compared to ordinary circumstances.
Li Xiang felt he needed to handle this seriously and inform his parents.
But unexpectedly, "...How about this: you don't need to come this weekend. I'll be there on the day of the interview, and we can talk then. How does that sound?"
Mo Ye said this.
"Talk just the two of us"—it seemed he didn't plan to let Mrs. Yin and the others get involved.
But showing up in person on interview day...
Good grief. How many people would that attract to Mist City?
Li Xiang felt a bit helpless to comment. The fan effect of an Elite Four was terrifying. Especially if he appeared somewhere—it was practically blatant vote-pulling.
Without much hesitation, Li Xiang quickly said, "Okay, okay. Thank you for your trouble."
There was no need to be overly polite about something the other party had already decided.
Better to avoid creating a bad impression.
"Good. Fill in whatever preferences you want."
After saying this, Mo Ye hung up.
'...What did that mean?'
'Fill in whatever preferences you want, but getting in is up to me?'
Li Xiang was a bit dumbfounded. Was this directly blocking all his other options? So domineering!
Surely not—Mo Ye probably wouldn't do something like that—
'Dammit! If he was calling personally, what wouldn't he do?'
Li Xiang facepalmed, feeling like things were developing in a direction he completely hadn't anticipated.
He glanced back at the classroom. His dear classmates were like eagerly waiting piglets, staring at him through the glass with eyes full of curiosity.
Some even had their ears pressed against the glass, trying to eavesdrop.
Since the Youth Training Camp began, unconventional events had been happening repeatedly. No wonder they were so curious.
The top six universities recruiting someone in advance—this was something they had never heard of before.
Li Xiang returned to the classroom and looked at those pairs of curious eyes. "It's pretty much what you're thinking. It was a teacher from Wudu/Mist City University."
An honorary professor was still a teacher. The moment he said this, the classroom erupted.
It really was one of the top six universities recruiting!
They believed Li Xiang wouldn't boast about something like this, nor was there any need to. With Li Xiang's results, couldn't he go wherever he wanted?
"I've never heard of something like this in my life!"
"I'm jealous."
"I'm jealous too."
"Comparing people leads to death, comparing goods leads to disposal—how can there be a beast like you in this world!"
The one who said this was Yang Tianwang, his face twisted with jealousy as he not only spoke but also moved to lock Li Xiang in a headlock.
Qu Sheng didn't say a word, silently grabbing Li Xiang's hands.
"I'll take care of the legs!"
Lin Feng stood up and shouted.
Li Xiang hurriedly said, "No, no, no, no! I just took a shower! Let's talk this through!"
If they were like this just because of the top six universities recruiting, what would they do if they found out about Mo Ye recruiting? Wouldn't he be done for today?
"What can I do if someone calls me? I'm just born this outstanding—I can't hide it!"
Li Xiang cried out in mock grievance.
As a result, Song Jie also stood up, silently pressed against his joints, and said seriously, "Let's throw him into the flowerbed outside."
"Agreed!"
"I'll lend a hand too!"
"Count me in!"
Fang Xin and Luo Dayou excitedly raised their hands. They had been wanting to get back at Li Xiang for a long time.
The remaining boys enthusiastically volunteered. The girls watched intently.
And so, held aloft by a crowd, Li Xiang was thrown into the flowerbed outside, crushing a bunch of shrubs and flowers.
"These people, really no manners. Just jealous!"
Li Xiang brushed the grass off himself, but a smile was on his face. At this point, it was indeed time to let off some steam.
A year of hard work was about to pay off. Who wouldn't be happy?
Suddenly, a pale hand reached out in front of Li Xiang.
Li Xiang instinctively grabbed it and stood up. "So you do have a conscience? You know to help me up? You were the one locking my joints the hardest—uh, Wu Ruoxue."
He stared blankly at the person in front of him, embarrassed. "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else. Thank you."
"It's fine." Wu Ruoxue shook her head, looked at Li Xiang, and asked, "Are you going to Mist City?"
"Well... probably. They're giving me so much face," Li Xiang said with a smile. "Looking at the history of higher education, not many have received this kind of treatment."
Barring any surprises, he should be the only one in the country.
"Okay." Wu Ruoxue nodded, glanced at the departing boys, and said softly, "Me too."
With that, she ran off, leaving a bewildered Li Xiang behind.
'Me too? What does "me too" mean?'
'Did you also get a call from one of the top six universities? Well… Probably means she's going to Mist City University too.'
Li Xiang shook his head. Song Jie's voice came from beside him, "Did you get confessed to?"
"Confess my foot. With a guy like you around, who would confess to me?"
Li Xiang rolled his eyes, then walked over and forcefully wrapped an arm around his neck. "You little rascal! Using joint locks on me! Your skills have improved!"
Song Jie's expression was calm. "She's even following you. Can't we vent a little?"
"Oh? You're that sure I'm going to Mist City? Just because they called doesn't mean I have to go."
Li Xiang retorted.
"Do you think I'm blind?"
Song Jie sneered. "A call from a teacher at one of the top six universities wouldn't make you that flustered. Come on, out with it. Who from Mist City was it? The principal? The association president?"
As the person who knew Li Xiang best among everyone, he knew perfectly well that a mere teacher from one of the top six universities wouldn't shock Li Xiang to the point where his hands were shaking and he had to close his eyes to use that Three-Blind Perception Method technique.
Li Xiang wasn't surprised that Song Jie could tell. This guy was like a worm in his belly, always able to guess something.
He looked left and right, making sure no one was around.
Then he said softly, "It was the Four Elite, Mo Ye. Last winter vacation, something happened, and I met him once."
"..."
Song Jie fell silent, looking at Li Xiang as if he were some kind of non-human entity. After a long while, he said, "Are you serious?"
"Would I lie to you for candy?"
Li Xiang said indignantly. "I was shocked too, okay! We barely exchanged two words! Suddenly he calls! And he says he wants to talk to me on interview day!"
This was like the highest leaders calling you personally after your college entrance exams, insisting you go to their alma mater. Even personally interviewing you.
It was a miracle he didn't just stand there frozen.
...Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but the other party was indeed stooping to his level.
After all, Mo Ye didn't know he had a cheat skill; at most, he just knew Li Xiang had good talent and grades.
Ultimately, Li Xiang didn't even know why Mo Ye had called him.
"You... you can't not go now."
Song Jie frowned.
"Exactly. They're being so enthusiastic, and I don't have a clear goal anyway. If I still refused, I'd seem ungrateful."
Li Xiang rubbed his temples. "Do you think if I leaked this news, I could make headlines?"
Song Jie retorted, "I think it would dominate the front page."
"Now that you mention it, I think so too."
The two boys chatted and laughed as they returned to the classroom.
...….
Mist City.
An office.
Mo Ye sat on a sofa, placing the phone to the side.
Directly opposite him.
"So, did he agree?"
A woman with a gentle demeanor and a full figure sat in the executive chair, asking quietly.
On the desk in front of her was a nameplate that read [Principal: Bai Wanhua].
"He said he wanted to come talk in person, but I vetoed that. I'll go find him in person on interview day. I'll definitely bring him back for you."
Mo Ye said calmly, his treasured long sword lying in his arms.
"That's good."
Bai Wanhua nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, A Ye." (A nickname/term of endearment.)
"It's fine. I was planning to bring him over anyway. It just happened to coincide with your request."
Mo Ye still had that calm expression. "By the way, Mom asked you to bring Yuan Yuan home for dinner this weekend. This time she found a—"
"Ahem! Ahem! Ahem!"
Bai Wanhua coughed several times in succession, cutting off Mo Ye. "I'll go, but no blind dates. I'm fine on my own. Tell Mom to stop sending those people over."
"Okay, I'll tell her."
Mo Ye nodded.
Bai Wanhua, the current principal of Mist City University, thirty-seven years old, was Mo Ye's cousin.
Her parents passed away when she was young, and she lived at Mo Ye's house—her aunt's house—for over ten years.
She had a daughter, Bai Yuanyuan, thirteen years old, a student at Mist City No. 1 Middle School, who will be entering the second Youth Training Camp in August.
Husband: divorced eight years ago.
Her personal life received intense attention from her aunt... practically her real mother, Mo Ye's mom.
"Let's not talk about that." Bai Wanhua waved her hand and picked up a file from the side. "This child has truly surprised a lot of people."
Li Xiang's actions, seemingly calm on the surface, had actually stirred up huge waves in certain circles. Especially after the overall results came out a couple of days ago.
That score, far surpassing the national second place, made many people gasp in amazement.
They strongly suspected he had cheated. But after carefully reviewing his battle records and points gained, aside from the 2,500 bet points being somewhat questionable, everything else was shocking enough.
Especially his strength. For a fourteen-year-old to achieve this wasn't just one in ten thousand.
That term wasn't even worthy!
How could such a monster exist in this world?
Many universities were also rubbing their hands together, trying every means to recruit Li Xiang to their schools.
After all, if you didn't recruit him, and someone else did, then he would become your competitor!
What same-year student could possibly beat him?
Worrying about him burning out didn't seem very applicable at this point. By the time he became an upperclassman, wouldn't he be the clear leading figure of the younger generation?
Who wouldn't want their school to produce another Master, or even an Elite Four or Champion?
It would bring such glory!
As the principal of Mist City University, Bai Wanhua naturally coveted Li Xiang. Coincidentally, she had heard this name from Mo Ye before, so she asked on a whim.
She never expected Mo Ye to actually be bringing Li Xiang over!
What a coincidence!
'Little brother, I'm counting on you!'
Bai Wanhua looked at Mo Ye with blazing eyes.
A question mark floated over Mo Ye's head.