"Back then, you said that problem was too difficult for students at our level. It made me realize I still have a long way to go."
"And you just said yourself that it requires university-level knowledge to solve it instantly..."
Halfway through her sentence, it suddenly clicked for Li Dong. His eyes widened as he stared at Misha.
"Wait, you mean... today you want me to tutor you in university-level advanced mathematics and calculus?"
Misha’s face flushed slightly, and she nodded, a little embarrassed.
The corner of Li Dong’s eye twitched.
’You’ve got to be kidding me!’
’You’re paying me high school tutoring rates to teach you *Mathematical Analysis* from a university math major’s curriculum?’
’Are you looking for a tutor or slave labor? Trying to take advantage of me, huh?!’
Just as Li Dong’s mind raced, trying to figure out how to tactfully tell Misha, ’This comes at a different price...’
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
A sudden knock came from the door.
Misha frowned, a little puzzled.
’Her parents were never home during the day on weekends. Who could be knocking?’
She stood up and called out.
"Who is it?"
"Sis, it’s me." A boy’s voice came from outside the door.
Misha opened the door and found her younger brother, Migo.
She was even more puzzled. Although Sixth Middle School didn’t have mandatory classes for first and second-year students, as a student in the elite "rocket class," her brother was at school every weekend. Why would he come running home now?
"Why are you back?"
Just as she asked, a middle-aged man with a severely receding hairline stepped out from behind Migo.
Migo quickly made the introduction.
"Sis, this is Director Liu from our Sixth Middle School."
Misha froze.
’Why did my brother bring the school’s Director of Studies home? Did he get into trouble at school? Skipping class? Fighting?’
She greeted him nervously.
"Uh? Hello, Director Liu. Um... has my brother gotten into some trouble at school?"
Liu Limin smiled and shook his head.
"Not at all. Migo is an outstanding student."
"I’ve come today mainly to inquire about a situation. I do apologize if I’m disturbing you."
"Not at all, not at all! Please, come in, Director Liu."
Misha quickly stepped aside.
As Migo entered, he glanced toward the study, and his eyes went wide.
’Holy shit! There’s a guy in the house?!’
’Is my sister dating someone? That can’t be right! Isn’t she a total brainiac? How could she possibly date before she’s 60?’
Liu Limin walked into the living room and, of course, saw Li Dong as well.
He also saw the sheets of scratch paper on the table.
Although he was some distance away, Liu Limin could still vaguely make out the symbols.
Limits, the partial derivative symbol (∂), integrals...
’This is clearly an advanced problem, a transitional question between high school competition math and university-level advanced mathematics.’
Liu Limin nodded to himself.
’Not bad, not bad at all! No wonder Migo got into the honors class. The academic atmosphere at home must be intense if his sister is studying such advanced math problems with a male classmate on a weekend.’
’Such a scholarly household!’
Seeing everyone looking at Li Dong, Misha quickly made the introductions.
"Director Liu, this is my classmate. He came over today to help tutor me in math."
Then she turned to Li Dong.
"This is my brother, Migo, and this is Director Liu from their Sixth Middle School. They’re here to see me about something."
Li Dong had been racking his brain for a way to escape the fate of teaching advanced math for cheap. Hearing that a director was here on business, he immediately seized the opportunity to make his exit.
"Alright, Misha. Since you have guests, I won’t keep you. I’ll get going."
Although Misha was disappointed she wouldn’t get to hear the best part of his explanation, she could only nod apologetically.
"Sorry about this. Thanks for your help today. Get home safe."
"Don’t mention it."
Li Dong gave a wave, put on his shoes, and walked out the door.
After the door closed, Liu Limin sat on the sofa, smiling warmly at Misha.
"Misha, please don’t be nervous. As I said, your brother is an excellent student."
"The real reason I came today was to ask you about someone."
Misha found this strange.
’I’m a senior at Seventh Middle School, and the Director of Studies from Sixth Middle School has come all the way to my house to ask about someone? We’re completely unrelated.’
Still, out of politeness, she poured him a glass of water and handed it over.
"Who is it you wanted to ask about, Director Liu?"
At his side, Migo, being young and impatient, couldn’t hold it in.
"Sis! Director Liu just wants to ask about the guy in your class named Li Dong! You know, the prodigy from your school who won the physics competition!"
"Li Dong?"
Misha froze, her eyes instinctively flicking toward the door that had just closed.
Liu Limin chuckled, trying to sound casual.
"Oh, it’s nothing too important."
"I just wanted to ask, Misha, do you happen to have Li Dong’s phone number? Or his parents’ contact information?"
’This involves a classmate’s privacy, and he isn’t even a teacher from my school.’
Misha asked warily.
"Director Liu, could you tell me why you’re looking for him? Otherwise, I can’t just give you his contact information without his permission."
Hearing this, Liu Limin didn’t get angry. On the contrary, he gave Misha an appreciative glance.
’This young lady not only loves her studies, but she’s also highly principled. Seventh Middle School has produced some promising students these past few years.’
Liu Limin considered this for a moment, then decided to be frank.
"It’s like this, Misha."
"Our Sixth Middle School has always been dedicated to cultivating top-tier, innovative talent."
"In the recent Huaxuan Cup, Li Dong demonstrated an exceptionally rare talent for physics."
"I don’t mean to disparage a sister school, but Seventh Middle School’s facilities and faculty are, relatively speaking, a bit lacking."
"We at Sixth Middle School believe that if a student like Li Dong had a bigger platform, with nationally-renowned teachers to guide him, his potential would be far greater."
"We are acting out of a desire to nurture talent..."
Liu Limin was still droning on. His speech was full of high-minded rhetoric, making his attempt to poach a student sound as noble as some "targeted poverty alleviation" program.
’Misha already understood. Isn’t this just poaching?’
’Is Li Dong so outstanding that the Director of Studies from Jiangcheng’s top high school has to personally come and ask for his contact info?’
Migo, on the other hand, was getting fired up listening to all this. Being a straightforward person, he didn’t pick up on the slight against Seventh Middle School at all. He just thought it was badass.
"Sis, did you hear that? Just tell him! A prodigy that awesome is wasting his talent at your Seventh Middle School! He should hurry up and come to our Sixth Middle School!"
Misha shot her brother a fierce glare.
She looked at Liu Limin with a strange expression, then slowly revealed a truth that nearly gave the director an aneurysm.
"Director Liu... I really can’t give you his contact information right now."
"However... that boy who just left my house... he *is* Li Dong."
"What?!"
Liu Limin cried out in shock, nearly spilling the water in his cup.
"The boy who just left was Li Dong?!"
’Liu Limin recalled glancing at the advanced math notes on the table and mentally praising Misha... As it turns out, that was Li Dong teaching *her*?!’
Migo stood there, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
"Holy crap! That guy who just left—the one who’s even better-looking than me—is the same prodigy who’s topping all the charts?!"
"Misha, my apologies for the intrusion today. I have some urgent business to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave!"
Although Liu Limin was spouting polite pleasantries, his steps were incredibly hurried. He practically jogged to the door, clearly intending to chase after Li Dong before he got too far.
"Director, wait for me!"
Migo had class that afternoon and had to return to school anyway, so he quickly followed.
Just before heading out, Migo didn’t forget to look back and give his sister a huge thumbs-up.
"Sis, you’re a total badass!"
As the door closed, the large house fell silent, leaving Misha all alone.
She walked to the window and watched the hurried figures of Director Liu and her brother chasing after Li Dong. Her heart was a tangled mess.
’Is Li Dong really going to be poached? If he goes to Sixth Middle School, will I lose even the right to look up to him from afar?’
Misha gritted her teeth and pulled out her phone.
"Hello, Teacher Yang? This is Misha."

Comments

Loading...