“The list is out!”

“So nervous.”

“What’s there to be nervous about? I won’t make it anyway.”

Principal(Teacher) Hang entered the classroom with a sheet of paper, immediately announcing the names and total scores of the top fifteen students without any suspense.

Cen Huai’an’s name was the first one mentioned.

Although his scores had fluctuated, he had more instances of ranking first, so he maintained the top spot overall.

A few students showed disappointment on their faces; they always thought that as long as they stayed within the top fifteen during exams, it was fine, but the total ranking didn’t lie.

Once the list was confirmed, the first round of training camp came to an end.

The selected participants were now waiting to attend the first round of training, where six students would be chosen from the fifteen to compete in the IMO.

With some time before the training camp began, Cen Huai’an hadn’t started school yet, so he went to visit Grandpa Jiang every day.

Under everyone’s care, Grandpa Jiang’s health gradually improved, but his illness had also scared the younger generation.

Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father returned to the retirement home after confirming that Grandpa Jiang was fine but continued to visit him daily.

Uncle Jiang and the others came even more frequently.

Chu Xia suddenly remembered something and turned to Jiang Zhida: “Did you tell Zhiyi about Grandpa’s illness?”

Jiang Zhida, who was peeling an apple to soak in hot water for Grandpa Jiang, froze for a moment at her question.

“No, I was too worried about Grandpa at the time and forgot.”

Jiang Zhida frowned and said, “Uncle and Aunt should have told her, right?”

Chu Xia replied, “I think they probably didn’t. Otherwise, Zhiyi wouldn’t have stayed in the capital.”

Jiang Zhida’s brow furrowed tighter.

The news should have come from Uncle Jiang and his wife; it was inappropriate for anyone else to bypass her parents.

Jiang Zhida, known for speaking his mind, directly looked at Uncle Jiang: “Uncle, did you tell Zhiyi about Grandpa’s illness?”

Uncle Jiang and Zhou Huaying were taken aback.

Ever since they had trouble contacting Jiang Zhiyi, their communication with her had dwindled.

With Grandpa Jiang falling ill, they had been so busy that they completely forgot to inform Jiang Zhiyi.

“I… I forgot in the rush,” Uncle Jiang rubbed his head sheepishly.

Zhou Huaying frowned: “Now that Dad is better, there’s no need to tell Zhiyi. She’s so busy in Yangcheng that she doesn’t even keep in touch with her own parents.” Her tone carried a hint of resentment.

Uncle Jiang and Jiang Shengnan exchanged glances, and upon hearing the conversation from the porch where Grandpa Jiang was sunbathing, he remarked, “I’m fine now, so there’s no need for Zhiyi to come back.”

His statement settled the discussion, and no one argued further.

However, when Jiang Zhida went to Yangcheng, he still informed Jiang Zhiyi about Grandpa Jiang’s illness.

“Why did no one tell me?”

Jiang Zhiyi was very upset and immediately returned to her room to pack her things, insisting on buying a plane ticket home right away.

“Grandpa doesn’t want you to come back right now.”

Jiang Zhida followed Jiang Zhiyi into the room, watching her pack her suitcase with a headache as he tried to persuade her.

Jiang Zhiyi suddenly looked up, tears streaming down her face: “Brother… Grandpa has always been so good to me. If I don’t go back when he’s sick, am I even human?”

Qian Ran, standing nearby, saw Jiang Zhiyi crying uncontrollably and hurriedly crouched down to hug her: “Let’s go back to the capital. I’ll go with you.”

“Okay!”

Jiang Zhiyi quickly packed her bags and headed out to buy a plane ticket.

There were no tickets left for that day, and she was extremely anxious: “Do we have to wait another day?”

At that moment, Jiang Zhiyi wished she could grow wings and fly to the capital, unable to wait even a moment longer, let alone an entire day.

“Don’t cry; I’ll think of a way.”

There were always people who returned tickets, and scalpers sold tickets.

Qian Ran didn’t take long before he managed to get two tickets to the capital.
“The flight is at one in the afternoon; should we grab something to eat first?”

Jiang Zhiyi was in a very bad mood at this point.

She had stopped crying but had no appetite.

“I don’t want to eat.”

However, she hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning, and Jiang Zhida couldn’t bear to see Qian Ran being so nice to her while she neglected herself.

He pulled Jiang Zhiyi up and said, “If you don’t eat, do you want to starve yourself?”

He dragged her along, with Qian Ran quickly following behind: “Slow down, brother!”

Jiang Zhida shot a frustrated glance at Qian Ran: “You just keep indulging her.”

Qian Ran smiled at Jiang Zhida, reaching out to hold Jiang Zhiyi’s hand without saying a word.

However, his actions pleased Jiang Zhida, proving that his sister hadn’t chosen the wrong person.

Since Jiang Zhida still had unfinished work in Yangcheng, only Jiang Zhiyi and Qian Ran returned to the capital.

Upon arriving in the capital, they didn’t go home first but headed straight to Grandpa Jiang’s house.

It wasn’t a workday, so besides Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father, there was no one else at Grandpa Jiang’s home.

At that moment, Jiang Zhiyi was completely unable to think of her parents.

Seeing Grandpa Jiang lying in a recliner, she dropped Qian Ran’s hand and rushed over to hug him, crying, “Grandpa!”

She was sobbing so hard that she couldn’t speak clearly.

Grandpa Jiang gently patted her back, just like when she was a child: “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m fine now!”

Jiang Shengnan didn’t step forward but instead led Grandpa Jiang outside a bit, giving space to Jiang Zhiyi and Grandpa Jiang.

Once Jiang Zhiyi had vented her emotions, she wiped her face and sat up, feeling embarrassed.

“Go wash your face; your eyes are all swollen from crying.”

Jiang Shengnan took Jiang Zhiyi’s hand, gently leading her to the bathroom.

“Auntie,” Jiang Zhiyi hadn’t seen Jiang Shengnan in a long time, and now that they met while she was crying, she felt a bit awkward.

Jiang Shengnan patted her head, understanding her feelings and not minding: “Actually, your grandpa didn’t expect you to come back. But now that you’re here, I can see he’s very happy.”

Jiang Zhiyi replied with an “Mm,” washing her face with water, and Jiang Shengnan handed her a towel.

Jiang Zhiyi had never experienced such gentle treatment from her elders before.

Her mother, being the daughter of a prominent family, never really took care of children, so she and her brother had always been self-reliant since childhood.

Her face turned slightly red as she took the towel and said, “Auntie, I can do it myself.”

Jiang Shengnan laughed heartily: “Why be polite with your aunt? Let’s put some moisturizing cream on, or your face will dry out.”

When Jiang Zhiyi and Jiang Shengnan came out again, besides her slightly red eyes, there was no sign left that she had been crying.

Qian Ran quickly stood up to give his seat to Jiang Zhiyi and Jiang Shengnan, relief evident on his face.

If Jiang Zhiyi had arrived any later, Grandpa Jiang would have surely uncovered their relationship without leaving anything behind.

The thoughts of the younger generation couldn’t be hidden from Grandpa Jiang.

He clearly noticed Qian Ran’s anxious expression while Jiang Zhiyi was crying.

Thus, as soon as they left, Grandpa Jiang started chatting with Qian Ran like an old friend.

Before long, Qian Ran found himself spilling the beans about his relationship with Jiang Zhiyi.

Usually, Qian Ran wouldn’t be so careless, but Grandpa Jiang was his elder and also the grandfather of the girl he loved.

When he was a child, he often accompanied Jiang Zhida to Grandpa Jiang’s house, where Grandpa Jiang treated him well, so he had let his guard down.

However, this was something the Jiang family would find out sooner or later. Qian Ran had calmed down about it and wasn’t too nervous.

As soon as Jiang Zhiyi sat down, Grandpa Jiang’s first words were: “Zhiyi has grown up; she even has a boyfriend.”

Jiang Zhiyi was startled and nearly jumped up, quickly turning to look at Qian Ran, her eyes silently questioning him about what he had told her grandfather.

Grandpa Jiang chuckled: “You don’t need to look at Xiao Ran. The way you two came in just now, there’s no way to hide it.”

Jiang Zhiyi hugged Grandpa Jiang’s arm, playfully begging him not to tell her parents just yet.

“Grandpa, you know, if my parents find out I have a boyfriend who they didn’t set me up with, regardless of whether Xiao Ran is good or bad, they’ll definitely make us break up.”

This was something Zhou Huaying would do.

“How is Xiao Ran to you?”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded, her face slightly flushed: “Very good.”

She shared some things Qian Ran had done for her, including how he rushed to buy tickets for her when she was anxious to return.

Listening to her, Grandpa Jiang nodded toward Qian Ran, “You’re a good kid.”

He then turned to Jiang Zhiyi: “If your parents don’t approve of a hardworking, harmonious, and good-natured child like Xiao Ran, then you don’t need their approval.

Grandpa will support you two being together.”

In fact, Qian Ran had grown up under Grandpa Jiang’s watchful eye, and Grandpa Jiang knew him well.

He was fully aware of Qian Ran’s character and had no complaints.

Jiang Zhiyi secretly glanced at Qian Ran, who was also looking at her.

Their eyes met, and they shared a sweet smile, feeling that parental approval made their love even sweeter.

When Chu Xia learned that Jiang Zhiyi had returned, she and Qian Ran had already been back for several days.

Seeing Chu Xia, Jiang Zhiyi ran over and gave her a big hug: “Cousin, I missed you guys so much!”

Chu Xia patted her back: “If you miss us, come back to the capital often.”

Jiang Zhiyi released her, her face showing helplessness: “Cousin, you know I can’t do that.”

“Do your parents know you’re back?”

Jiang Zhiyi shook her head: “They don’t know yet; I’m staying at Grandpa’s house.”

After several years away from the capital, Jiang Zhiyi had returned and wanted to spend quality time with Grandpa Jiang for a few days, not wanting to leave so soon.

She had taken a half-month leave; her elderly family member was sick, and the newspaper office wasn’t without compassion.

As for Jiang Zhiyi’s job, her sudden leave would definitely have consequences when she returned.

But right now, Jiang Zhiyi couldn’t care less—work had to take a backseat in the face of her grandfather’s health.