Chapter 29 Who's watching?
Lu Mian felt eyes on her.
Years of training had sharpened her awareness to something near animal instinct. She knew instantly when a gaze lingered too long, too intently.
The gaze didn't seem threatening. More searching… assessing. Still, she didn't appreciate it. She lowered her lashes and subtly looked around to identify the source. It was the security cameras!
She mentally frowned. Even if it was a high profile exam, why stare at school students? The security seemed extra high. Lu Mian paid more attention to her surroundings to see if she could understand what was happening.
A few oddities jumped out immediately.
The guard's uniform at the gate seemed a bit too new - and really well maintained. In her experience no normal college guard wore a pressed uniform.
She spotted two men there who tried to mingle with the crowd - they were clearly soldiers. Their bearing and sharp eyes gave them away. And they seemed to be observing the crowd just as much as she was.
Such high security? What was going on? They seemed to be on a mission. Or maybe, it was just training. Resolving to be extra vigilant, Lu Mian calmly walked in when the gates opened.
It was really crowded.
Scores of students had already lined up. For once, everyone was talking not about the test, but how they could be noticed by THE Mo Jiali.
"Do you think he would be an invigilator?"
"Do you think we could walk around campus and run into him?"
"Oh, if I score in the top 5, will I get noticed by him?"
Lu Mian turned up her lips in a wry smile. It must be good to be so young. Though she physically looked 17, her mental age was a lot older. She simply couldn't gather the same enthusiasm like these children anymore.
Lu Mian had heard of this researcher before. In her past life, Mo Jiali's fame plummeted because he was accused of falsifying data to get results. One week after the news came out, the researcher's mysterious death was announced.
There was no reason given as to why - everyone just assumed it was because the researcher was too ashamed that they got found out.
Analysing the facts now, Lu Mian found it really fishy. Something didn't add up. How could an Internationally recognized researcher and a national nominee get away with something like falsifying data?! Had that been true, all her works would be disproved - which never was! Clearly, someone powerful had orchestrated her downfall.
Try as she might, she couldn't recall exactly when the incident happened. Her idiotic pre-occupation with the scumbag Pei Yan had made her ignore a lot of what happened around her.
In a flash, she guessed the extra security was for Mo Jiali. Interesting. Why still hold the exams though? That didn't seem like a smart move. "The innocent should never be the victim" Aegis had drilled into her.
The threat was clearly big. Going by the number of subtle hints she had witnessed, she knew atleast a whole military unit was involved. "And they are doing a really shabby job" she murmured to herself.
If she, Lu Mian, could spot the undercover operatives she was sure the enemy could notice them too. So why then choose to put lives at risk?
"Nonsense, if anyone gets noticed, it will be our LiLi here" a snooty voice broke her from her silent thoughts. "She's here because she is specifically meeting with Mo Jiali. The rest of you better stop dreaming" she asserted.
The speaker was Xi Yunyi, related to Director Xi, from a second branch. Because she was from the Xi family, she had more access and privilege at Qinghe Institute. She had used her intel and her influence to sneak in Gu Yanli - the Gu families' only girl, and win some favors.
"Stop speaking nonsense Yunyun", blushed Gu Yanli prettily. As the top socialite in the capital, she knew how important it was to appear demure and shy. "I am here just like the rest of you", she added generously.
"Can you tell me how you managed to get a meeting?" asked someone from the side. "To my knowledge, Mo Jiali doesn't do private meetings even if it is to do with particle research. She'll only meet with the top students, based on the Olympiad results"
Lu Mian turned to get a better glimpse of the speaker. She had thick bangs, and big glasses, but her gaze was remarkably sharp and direct, keenly taking in the world. She wasn't wearing a school uniform - so maybe she was one of the student invigilators Qinghe recruits to oversee the exams.
Xi Yunyi hated being questioned. And, it wasn't like she could admit that she had used favors to sneak into the backdoor.
Feeling cornered, she lashed out "A nobody like you doesn't need to know. Of course a great researcher wouldn't want to meet a useless person like you." she snapped.
"Our LiLi is different - she is the only daughter of the Gu family. Her research is already so far advanced that taking this Olympiad is just a formality.
Xi Yunyi knew it was critical for her family to get into Gu families' good books. As the top family in the capital, the Gu family had a tremendous influence - there was literally nothing they can't do. Being the only girl in the Gu family, Gu Yanli got a lot of attention, at home and from society.
If she could be considered even a friend of the Gu's, her second branch family could quickly shoot up to prominence. Unfortunately, her outburst made the Gu family look petty - using influence and power to suppress others.
In the elite circle, you don't talk so crass - it was a sign of poor upbringing. Gu Yanli pursed her lips in displeasure. This idiot is destroying her carefully built image of a gentle and generous girl.
Lu Mian wasn't impressed either. This is exactly why she hated the capital - everyone threw their weight around.
"The Olympiads are not a place for you to show off" she remarked sharply. "It is to hunt for talent - so that truly intelligent students have the opportunity to shine. And, it helps our nation nurture the best minds - helping us stay ahead of all the competition. If the great researcher speaks to you based on your family background, I doubt how qualified her research will be in future" she finished dryly. Maybe there were some truth to the rumours afterall?!
"Well said" the girl who had questioned Xi Yunyi spoke up crisply. "Mo Jiali will not see you because of who you are - but because of what you have done, and whether you are capable. Speak more nonsense here and I can sue you for slander." she finished, ignoring how embarrassed Gu Yanli and Xi Yunyi looked.
"Students, it's time to enter. Stop wasting time and focus. Your exam begins in 3 minutes." she announced and walked into the class, exuding a quiet dignity and authority.
Gu Yanli flushed red and became pale with embarrassment. No one in her entire life had challenged her or put her down like that. This idiot Xi Yunyi had thoroughly made her lose face! Just wait and see how I will deal with you she glared at Lu Mian and rushed to take her seat.
Ignoring the spoilt princess'es looks of anger, Lu Mian confidently walked up to her seat. Her agile mind had instantly uncovered a fact - this teacher knew Mo Jiali. Otherwise, there's no way she would threaten to sue powerful people for defaming her.
If that researcher is indeed as upright as this teacher explained, then… they might be worth meeting later, she thought vaguely and focused on her paper.
It was time to re-shape her future.
The hours passed by relatively quickly. For Lu Mian, the questions were childishly simple. She caught herself solving a barycentric equilibrium problem using an orbital-energy descent trick and paused.
That wasn't a wise move - she deliberately struck it out and dumbed down her responses, detailing the steps as Teacher Zhao had taught her.
And she moved through the paper with startling speed, making sure to double check her responses.
The entire 3 hour paper, Lu Mian finished in one. The class watched silently as Lu Mian walked up to the teachers podium to hand in her papers.
The invigilator was the same girl who had reprimanded Gu Yanli and Xi Yunyi. Her eyes gleamed as she checked Lu Mian's paper. What a genius!
"This student, can you please wait in the visitor area? I would like to talk to you about your exam."
Lu Mian blinked, surprised and nodded politely. The students watched her with varying levels of pity. Everyone assumed Lu Mian was in trouble because she finished too early and did badly.
Only Gu Yanli was thrilled. Serves you right! Poke fun at me? Looks like it's you who is still lacking!
Ignoring everyone's weird looks, Lu Mian made her way to the corridor and sat down at the visitor area to wait.
Barely a minute passed, when a quiet movement caught her eye. An old janitor was wiping the floors. He moved slowly from right to left, systematically dragging the mop in sweeping arcs.
Lu Mian's sixth sense pricked up. Her training was not for nothing. She noticed what was wrong with the picture right away.
The Janitors grip on the mop was too steady, like he was holding a weapon, not a cleaning tool. The mop looked too new, not what you would usually find in the supply closet.
But most importantly, there was no bucket of water to clean or dip into. He moved in regular intervals, perfect arcs without pausing.
This was reconnaissance behavior.
Lu Mian immediately dismissed the idea of him being a soldier. If he was the good guys, he would be on the defensive - not conducting reconnaissance.
Outwardly, she gave nothing away, but subtly glanced up at the security cameras - to see if she could signal someone.
Her gaze sharpened with realization. The camera in this area was switched off. Not disabled by accident, but cut cleanly -no flicker, no glitch. A professional job.
Someone had looped the feed or disconnected it at the control hub. Clearly, the janitor had planned it in advance, and seemed to have at least one tech support helping them.
Her mind worked fast. She was a school girl alone in a corridor with a probable operative. Engaging was a bad idea. She didn't want to invite trouble. "Do not be a hero" had been Aegis' golden rule.
Making up her mind, Lu Mian got up from her seat nonchalantly and moved to leave. As she turned, there was a sharp click and the sound of more footsteps.
Someone else was coming and had likely cut off her only exit.