Chapter Nine: The Division of Arts and Sciences

A semester had passed, yet Zhang Feng’s obsession with Li Jie participating in the Math Olympiad had not waned. One day, Li Jie was called to the office and once again earnestly persuaded by Zhang Feng. Seeing Zhang Feng’s heartfelt insistence, Li Jie glanced around and noticed that they were alone in the office.

“Teacher, I can tell you the exact reason why I refuse, but can you keep it a secret?” Li Jie said firmly.

“What’s the reason? With your talent, winning awards in the Math Olympiad is definitely achievable. You could be directly admitted to prestigious universities like Tsinghua or Peking University. Such a rare opportunity that others dream of, yet you’re turning it down so easily?” Zhang Feng’s expression grew a bit agitated; he couldn’t bear to let go of such a promising student.

Li Jie asked again, “Teacher, can you keep it a secret?”

“Go ahead, I promise I won’t tell anyone. I just don’t understand what could make you refuse such a golden opportunity.”

“I’ve been refusing because I’ve been busy writing my novel, *The Devotion of Suspect X*. I simply don’t have time for the Olympiad.”

Zhang Feng’s mouth fell open as if something had been stuffed in it. Shocked and somewhat flustered, he said, “You must be joking! How could a high school student possibly write such a classic novel? If you’re going to make up an excuse, at least make it believable!”

Li Jie had anticipated this reaction, so before coming today, he had deliberately brought the manuscript he had just finished and hadn’t yet submitted.

“Teacher, this is the manuscript I haven’t had time to hand in yet. Take a look, and you’ll see if it’s true.” Li Jie pulled out a USB drive and plugged it into the computer on Zhang Feng’s desk, skillfully opening the latest manuscript.

As Zhang Feng watched Li Jie navigate through the folders and open the newest installment, he was stunned and remained speechless for a long while. By now, he was almost convinced that *The Devotion of Suspect X* was indeed written by this high school boy. No one would be so bored as to type out a magazine article word for word into a computer, and the manuscript clearly hadn’t been serialized yet, matching the author’s style perfectly.

Zhang Feng had to accept this unbelievable truth: *The Devotion of Suspect X* was written by this teenager not yet eighteen. Realizing this, Zhang Feng gave up his fantasy of Li Jie joining the Math Olympiad. With such a popular serialized work, a rising star in the literary world had no need to prove himself again on a math competition stage.

“I will keep your secret. You can go now,” Zhang Feng said despondently.

Seeing Zhang Feng’s gloomy expression, Li Jie opened his mouth to say something comforting but didn’t know where to start. After all, it was his own doing. Shaking his head, Li Jie left the office.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly noticed the chubby boy nearby still looking shocked. Li Jie thought to himself, “Oh no! He must have overheard!”

Patting the dazed chubby boy, who then came back to his senses and looked at Li Jie with excitement, the boy, starstruck and tongue-tied, stammered, “&%…%…&&.”

Li Jie shook the boy gently, and when he saw the boy’s emotions calm down, he said, “You’ll keep this secret for me, right? The reason I don’t want to reveal it is so I can quietly finish high school. You wouldn’t cruelly break that wish, would you?”

“Uh, why? Why can’t you just openly admit who you are? Besides, it’s not a bad thing, is it?” the boy asked, puzzled.

“Think about it. Once my identity is exposed, the media and reporters will swarm me. How can I stay peacefully in school then? I might be forced to take a leave of absence.”

Hearing that Li Jie might have to take a leave, the chubby boy panicked, thinking, “Oh no, if he takes a leave, I won’t be able to see my idol anymore.” Then, pounding his chest, he promised Li Jie he wouldn’t reveal his identity to anyone.

Li Jie nodded, seeing the boy’s loyalty, and promised to send him a signed collector’s edition once *The Devotion of Suspect X* was published. A few days ago, Liang Yuan, the editor-in-chief of Sprout Magazine, had informed Li Jie that several publishers were interested in publishing the novel but couldn’t find the author, so they contacted him instead. Li Jie had since entrusted all publication matters to Liang Yuan.

“Really? *The Devotion of Suspect X* is going to be published in print? That’s awesome! I’ll buy several copies to support you. Haha, can I tell others about this?”

“Of course,” Li Jie said, watching the chubby boy’s excitement rise again with a little helplessness. He patted the boy’s shoulder and reminded him not to forget the real reason he was in the office, then turned and headed back to class.

The chubby boy, still flushed with excitement, went to the office and said to a somber Zhang Feng, “Teacher, the class monitor sent me to pick up this week’s homework.”

Zhang Feng weakly pointed to the homework book on his desk. The chubby boy grabbed it and left the office, sensing something was off.

…

“Lu Xinghe, did Teacher Zhang just call you to the office about your choice to study the humanities? Your science grades are so good, why insist on humanities?” Geng Geng asked nervously.

“For you! That’s why I chose humanities,” Li Jie replied half in jest, half seriously.

“Wow! Wow! Geng Geng! Lu Xinghe is so good to you, yet he won’t admit there’s something going on between you two. Every holiday you two go out together, and now he even chooses humanities just like you!” Beta said, eager to stir up trouble.

Geng Geng blushed deeply at Li Jie’s answer and Beta’s words, then dashed out of the classroom. Seeing this, Beta hurried after her. Li Jie, seeing that Beta had followed, decided not to go after them, not wanting to embarrass Geng Geng. She needed some time to calm down.

On the rooftop, Beta asked the still flushed Geng Geng, “Hey, Geng Geng, what do you think? Lu Xinghe gave up science for you to study humanities. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Stop saying that! We just agreed to be deskmates forever,” Geng Geng said, feeling a bit guilty.

“Alright, alright, just deskmates,” Beta teased.

“By the way, I was wrong earlier. I shouldn’t have said those things about you and Lu Xinghe in front of the class,” Beta said, playfully shaking Geng Geng’s arm.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind. Everyone’s been gossiping about us anyway,” Geng Geng replied, not admitting that she had run out because of Li Jie’s comment, not Beta’s meddling words.

“Then it’s settled! We’re best friends for life!”

“Yeah, best friends for life!” Geng Geng said, holding Beta’s hand and placing it over her heart solemnly.

As the bell rang to signal class time, the two hurried back to the classroom, their earlier serious atmosphere shattered by the pounding of their footsteps down the stairs.