Chapter 146: 142 Norton University: Recruitment Rush?! 【2 more updates】

“`

“What’s the matter?” Zuo Li was taken aback and looked in the same direction.

The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the sunlight was brilliant.

Not even a bird in sight.

What was she looking at?

Just as Zuo Li was utterly confused, he watched the girl pick up a stone from the ground and after tossing it in her hand, she hurled it into the air.

“Crack!”

A very faint, crisp sound, as if something had shattered.

Gone in a blink.

Zuo Li stared at that spot in the sky for a full thirty seconds before he finally snapped out of it, uncertainly, “Classmate Ying, did you hear anything?”

“Hm?” Ying Zijin retracted her gaze, wiped her hands, her expression unchanging, “Nothing at all.”

But what she hadn’t expected was that the technology on Earth had already developed to this level.

However, that wouldn’t obstruct her plans for retirement.

“Oh, okay.” Zuo Li nodded, thinking he might be too excited and had started to hallucinate.

**

At the same time.

Somewhere in the world.

A laboratory door was suddenly flung open from the inside, and a figure dashed out, “Where are the people from the Admissions Department? Hurry, hurry, I have an urgent matter!”

It was an old man with silver-white hair, yet he moved with a sturdy and forceful gait, not seeming old at all.

Someone reminded him, “Professor, over there.”

The old man immediately ran off.

He arrived at the Admissions Department and placed a USB drive in front of the admissions officer on duty, “In my area of responsibility, I have discovered a genius. Take a look, and after you’ve reviewed it, give me the invitation letter.”

“Right away, I will handle it for you,” the admissions officer took it, but a minute later, he looked up confused, “Professor, are you sure there’s nothing wrong? There’s no video in here.”

“That’s impossible!” The old man leaned in for a closer look and when he saw the screen was blank, he exploded, “Where are my records? Who erased my videos?”

Norton University had deployed invisible drones around the world to detect talented students.

Of course, they wouldn’t monitor students’ private activities.

Any conversations related to privacy, the drone cameras would automatically shut down.

Only when the cameras sensed a student worth recruiting to Norton University would they activate, record the relevant footage, and transmit it to the headquarters.

This USB drive was connected to one of those drones.

The old man didn’t even know who had invented this type of drone; he didn’t have the time to care about that.

Now, what he needed to do was get the invitation letter and head straight to Hua Country, to recruit this student into Norton University beforehand.

“Professor, that’s impossible,” said a female assistant carrying a file as she passed by, overhearing this conversation, she shook her head, “Even the leader of the Anonymous Hackers Alliance couldn’t destroy our recordings; they can’t even detect our drones.”

“But it’s truly gone!” the old man said, distressed and pacing in circles, “I just watched it a moment ago, how could it be gone all of a sudden?”

The female assistant shook her head again, “Maybe you should take a rest.”

This was it; he was having problems with presbyopia.

**

Zhong Family.

Although it was the weekend, Old Master Zhong still went to the company.

Only Lady Zhong and Zhong Zhiwan remained in the old house.

Zhong Zhiwan stood rigidly in front of the sofa, her palms sweating, not daring to look up at Lady Zhong’s face.

“Zhong Zhiwan, what happened with your exam this time?” Lady Zhong glared at the ranking on the paper, so furious she laughed, “1001st place? Are you joking with me?”

“Mom, that’s not it,” Zhong Zhiwan’s face was pale as she spoke softly, “This time, there was a mistake with the school’s calculation system; they didn’t convert the scores. Our class rankings are all very low.”

She paused, then added, “Look, Mom, I’m ranked first in the class. It’s not possible that our whole class would do so poorly.”

“Is that so?” Lady Zhong raised her eyebrows, and upon checking the class ranking, indeed found that was the case, “So if converted, your score would be 730, first in the grade?”

Zhong Zhiwan bit her lip and remained silent, as if tacitly agreeing.

“That’s more like it,” Lady Zhong’s expression softened, “Don’t blame me for being so strict with you. It’s all for your own good.”

Sighing, she continued, “Wanwan, among the young ladies of your generation, you and Xiao Xuan are the most outstanding. I have always been pleased that you could surpass her academically.”

Zhong Zhiwan dared not say anything more.

She feared Lady Zhong would find out that the actual first in the grade was Ying Zijin, the Ying Family’s foster daughter.

Fortunately, during the parent-teacher meeting, the homeroom teacher did not mention the top student.

Given Lady Zhong’s personality, she was too lazy to check other people’s scores.

“So you must work hard and not fall behind,” Lady Zhong’s tone became stern again, “In three days, someone from the Imperial Capital’s Mu Family will come. Wanwan, you must behave carefully; don’t leave the Mu family with a bad impression, understand?”

Zhong Zhiwan, recalling the disciplinary note she had received from school the day before, tensed up, her voice even lower, “Mom, I understand.”

“There’s a banquet next Friday,” Lady Zhong thought for a moment and advised, “You don’t need to concern yourself with that; just focus on your studies.”

**

Han Pavilion.

“`

The server arranged the utensils and dishes and then left.

Returning here once again, Ying Zijin glanced sideways, taking note of the incense burner nearby.

She could naturally tell that the incense burning inside was different from the first time.

It could not only soothe the mind but also relieve feelings of oppression.

Ying Zijin’s eyelashes flickered slightly.

It was indeed prepared on purpose.

She looked towards the man sitting opposite her, contemplative.

“Hmm, Yaoyao, I promised you last time that if you got full marks, brother here, would gift you an entertainment company,” Fu Yunshen slid his phone across to her, “Now, it’s just about time to fulfill that promise.”

Ying Zijin raised her eyebrows slightly as if surprised.

“Yaoyao, with that expression—” Fu Yunshen’s eyes with peach blossom-like corners lifted, “you don’t think your brother is deceiving a child, do you?”

Ying Zijin rested her chin on her hand, not mincing words, “Hmm.”

“Kid, that is just heartless,” Fu Yunshen’s eyes narrowed slightly, “When have I ever lied to you.”

Ying Zijin tilted her head, as if recalling something.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Three seconds later, she repeated a sentence from their first meeting without rushing, “You said I have no power or influence, what if they catch us?”

Fu Yunshen: “…”

He seemed to have said that.

“It’s fine.” Fu Yunshen leaned back on the couch, was silent for a moment, then smiled, “You keep a clear account of your brother’s handle. Will this gift make up for it?”

Ying Zijin picked up the phone.

The webpage displayed was from Tianyancha.

This is a business security company that provides information on companies.

At the top of the page, there were four characters.

Chuguang Media.

Ying Zijin paused, looking thoughtful.

She was familiar with this company.

The villainous supporting actress from another web drama she was watching belonged to Chuguang Media.

Since that actress was rather attractive, she had taken extra notice and happened to check out the company.

Chuguang Media, ranking number one among Hua Country’s entertainment companies.

It had launched many best actors and actresses and even international superstars.

It could be described as the holy land of the entertainment industry, with no student from the Imperial Capital Film Academy who didn’t aspire to join Chuguang Media.

Chuguang Media doesn’t produce stars, only actors.

Anyone noticed by Chuguang Media was bound for a brilliant career.

The annual revenue of Chuguang Media was also an astronomical figure.

This was being given away just like that.

Ying Zijin’s gaze moved downward.

It landed on the section listing the legal representative.

The name was written there was hers.

Below that was the registered capital, with a very long number.

“I thought about it, this one is better,” Fu Yunshen poured a cup of tea, his demeanor casual, “It has quite a few female stars, I haven’t paid much attention, but they should be to Yaoyao’s liking.”

“If not, you can always acquire more.”

“I’ll concoct a medicine for you,” Ying Zijin paused, “This time not for kidney strength, definitely for longevity.”

“Hmm, okay,” Fu Yunshen raised an eyebrow, prolonging his tone. “A real kidney tonic wouldn’t be too bad either.”

He didn’t need it, but he could give some to Nie Yi.

**

Monday.

After letting the students of the International Class resolve their problems on their own, He Xun went to the principal’s office.

The principal had been waiting and, upon his arrival, pushed his glasses up, “Teacher He, please take a seat.”

Ever since the Q&A session a few days ago, He Xun had noticed the way students looked at him had changed.

The previous admiration and infatuation were gone, replaced by a hint of contempt.

Such looks were something He Xun had never encountered.

In the past few days, he had been even more worried that Norton University would call again, but it had not happened.

He Xun’s throat tightened before he asked, “Principal, what can I do for you?”

“Teacher He, as I said before, if you insist on reporting a student for cheating without evidence, there will be consequences,” the principal took out a document, his tone still rather measured, “This is the punishment decided by the school after discussion.”

He Xun pursed his lips, suppressing the unease in his heart.

He took the document, opened it, and read.