The First Warble of a Young Phoenix (Continued)

Early September marked the beginning of the school season.

At Jingzhou West Station, waves of people surged through the crowds.

Lu Ruoxi and Su Yang followed the flow of passengers out of the exit, instantly enveloped by the clamor and grandeur of this international metropolis.

The towering skyscrapers, the endless streams of vehicles, and the fast-paced energy lingering in the air were worlds apart from the small county town where they had lived for eighteen years.

Su Yang’s eyes brimmed with wonder and awe. Instinctively, he shielded Lu Ruoxi behind him, scanning their surroundings warily like a young wolf guarding its most precious treasure.

Lu Ruoxi, however, remained far calmer.

Pulling a slightly worn suitcase, she observed the city with curiosity, her gaze devoid of fear—only a thirst to explore the unknown.

“Ruoxi, where should we go now? Straight to the university?” Su Yang raised his voice, trying to be heard over the noise.

Before his words faded, a man in a well-tailored suit approached them with a polite smile.

It was Zhang Qi, Lu Chenyuan’s executive assistant.

After Lin Yuan took over as CEO of Yuanlong Group, Zhang Qi had officially stepped into the role of Lu Chenyuan’s assistant.

“I’m Zhang Qi, Mr. Lu’s assistant. He has an important meeting today, so he sent me to pick you up.”

Zhang Qi’s manner was courteous and professional.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Lu Ruoxi replied with a polite nod.

Su Yang, however, eyed the impeccably dressed man with suspicion, saying nothing.

Back in Anhe County, Lu Chenyuan had been accompanied by someone named Lin Yuan.

Hadn’t Lin Yuan been his assistant before?

Su Yang’s mind churned with wariness.

Zhang Qi acted as though he didn’t notice the guarded look, smoothly taking their luggage and guiding them toward a black business van in the parking lot.

“Mr. Lu has already arranged accommodations for Miss Ruoxi—a faculty apartment near Jingzhou University. The enrollment procedures and daily necessities have all been prepared.”

He made no mention of Su Yang’s arrangements, implying he was to stay in the student dormitory.

The car glided smoothly into the city, the scenery outside the window shifting rapidly.

Su Yang remained silent the entire ride, watching the skyscrapers—ones he had only ever seen on TV—with a mix of emotions.

He could feel the vast chasm between himself, Lu Ruoxi, and this so-called “Mr. Lu.”

The disparity filled him with a hint of inferiority, but it also stoked the competitive fire in his bones.

After some time, the car finally arrived at the faculty housing complex of Jingzhou University.

“Miss Ruoxi, Mr. Su Yang, please settle in and familiarize yourselves with the surroundings. Tomorrow at nine in the morning, Mr. Lu will send someone to pick you up again. He wishes to take Miss Ruoxi to visit an elder.”

Handing the keys to Lu Ruoxi, Zhang Qi bid them farewell with the same practiced courtesy.

Lu Ruoxi and Su Yang exchanged uneasy glances. Lu Chenyuan’s arrangements left them with a vague sense of unease.

Su Yang’s mind even wandered to darker possibilities.

Lu Ruoxi, however, remained composed, convinced that Lu Chenyuan wasn’t that kind of person.

“Let’s check out the place first,” she said.

The apartment was modest—two bedrooms and a living room—but elegantly furnished and fully equipped. The refrigerator was even stocked with fresh ingredients and drinks.

Yet, it was a photograph on the wall that seized their attention.

The image showed an elderly woman with silver hair, but her features bore an uncanny resemblance to Lu Ruoxi.

The sight sent shockwaves through both of them.

...

The next morning, Su Yang arrived early at Lu Ruoxi’s apartment.

Before long, the doorbell rang—Zhang Qi had come to fetch them.

Lu Chenyuan wasn’t with him, which eased Su Yang’s tension slightly, but it also deepened his curiosity about the identity of this “elder.”

Instead of heading toward the bustling city center, the car circled Jingzhou University before turning onto a quiet, tree-lined lane. It finally stopped in front of an aged but dignified courtyard house.

Zhang Qi pressed the doorbell.

The door was opened by an elderly man in a Zhongshan suit, his demeanor sharp and spirited.

At the sight of Lu Ruoxi, the old man paused, his gaze lingering on her face with a flicker of surprise before he nodded and stepped aside to let them in.

They were led through the courtyard into a study lined with books.

Inside, a silver-haired, bespectacled man with a lean frame sat behind a broad desk, his pen swiftly scribbling calculations on a sheet of paper.

This was Chen Jingzhi—a titan of Xia’s mathematics community, a legend who had devoted his life to numbers and formulas.

Lu Chenyuan stood beside him, quietly grinding ink with the reverence of an ordinary student.

When Lu Ruoxi entered, Chen Jingzhi didn’t look up, only snorted impatiently and chided,

“So, you brat, you finally remembered this old man. I thought your business triumphs had made you forget all about functions and geometry.”

His words were sharp, but Lu Chenyuan detected a trace of fondness beneath them.

“Grandfather Chen, I was afraid my mediocrity would tarnish your reputation, so I brought you a real genius to make up for it,” Lu Chenyuan replied with a smile, setting down the inkstick.

He turned to Lu Ruoxi. “Ruoxi, this is Professor Chen Jingzhi.”

Then, to Chen Jingzhi, he said, “Teacher, this is the Lu Ruoxi I mentioned—this year’s top science graduate from Hexi Province. She possesses extraordinary talent in mathematics.”

Only then did Chen Jingzhi lift his head, scrutinizing Lu Ruoxi through his glasses.

Yet the moment his eyes landed on her, he stiffened slightly, as if glimpsing the shadow of someone from his past in her features.

His expression grew complicated.

Lu Ruoxi met his gaze without hesitation and gave a slight bow. “Professor Chen, it’s an honor.”

Hearing her voice, Chen Jingzhi snapped out of his thoughts.

“Hmph. Top graduate?” His tone dripped with disdain.

“Dozens of those emerge every year. Being good at exams doesn’t mean you understand mathematics. Modern education churns out problem-solving craftsmen, not thinkers.”

Adjusting his glasses, he pointed to a small whiteboard beside the desk and said coldly,

“Girl, don’t just stand there. Since this boy’s been singing your praises, I’ll test you myself.”

“Look at this.”

With a marker, he wrote down a seemingly simple yet profoundly perplexing geometric problem—a variant of the “Penrose stairs” paradox.

The moment the question appeared, even Lu Chenyuan’s brow furrowed slightly.

This was far beyond high school curriculum—beyond conventional learning altogether.

This wasn’t a test. It was a deliberate challenge.

Chen Jingzhi leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, wearing the expression of someone waiting for a spectacle.

He intended to expose Lu Chenyuan’s “exaggeration” and remind this wayward “businessman” that mathematics was sacred—no room for shortcuts.

Yet, Lu Ruoxi’s reaction defied all expectations.

She stepped up to the whiteboard and stared at the diagram in silence—for a full five minutes.

She didn't move her pen or speak a word, yet her eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if countless stars were flickering and colliding within them.