Chapter 31 - The Qiao Qing Persuasion

At this moment, the class was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. The students looked at each other, unable to say a word.

In the past, they would believe this was a plot manufactured by Mo Li, but they knew what kind of character Prof. Tao was. He would never stoop to a level of creating make-believe with a girl student.

Moreover, the back and forth of the duo's Q&A was so quick and fluent that it didn't sound like it was rehearsed.

Zhou Xi gritted her teeth as she listened to the broadcast. Isn't the bitch supposed to be horrible in her studies? How could she manage to have this academic banter with Prof. Tao and when did she get so good enough in math to represent the school to participate in IMO?

Back inside the professor's office, the old crone's face immediately dropped when she heard Mo Li's rejection. If Tao Wen was not present, she would have said something like, 'You, motherfucking little bitch...' But she stopped herself. Mo Li was now in Tao Wen's good book, if she didn't show a good and supportive side to Mo Li, her career path would be so much more difficult. After all, her plan was to replace Tao Wen as the Math Subject Leader in a few years and then move her way up to become the director.

Furthermore, once she cleared her mind, the old crone realized that it was a good thing for her career if Mo Li was willing to participate in IMO and came back with a first prize for her! It would look so beautiful on her resume!

Therefore, she immediately forced a smile and asked, "Miss Mo Li, do you mind telling teacher why you don't want to participate in the competition?"

"Because I don't want to waste time on a competition. I don't need a first place to prove that I'm good at math. I'd rather spend the time to do something more meaningful." Mo Li answered plainly. Tao Wen shrugged. As a researcher and philosopher, he could understand Mo Li's reasoning somewhat.

The old crone was so shocked by Mo Li's answer that her mouth hung open. As someone who needed validation and reward for everything that she did, the old crone couldn't understand Mo Li's pursuit of pure knowledge. All she heard was arrogance from Mo Li's answer.

Mo Li was not being arrogant. She had made the same decision in her old life. She did not spend her life chasing after accolades and prizes, to her, the pursuit of knowledge itself was its own reward. It was the reason why she managed to achieve the level of mastery as someone like Tao Wen before she even started research school. She took things at her own pace, and managed to sleep punctually every day at 9 pm so she had no fear of going bald like Tao Wen...

"No!" The old crone said in a tone that brooked no argument. The IMO was a prestigious competition. Winning first prize would help propel her career. The old crone had graded Ding Yi's paper, the student was definitely not at the level to score first place. Qiao Qing was okay but now she had a surefire chance in Mo Li, the old crone was definitely not going to let that slip. Mo Li was her ticket to glory and success. "This is a perfect chance for you to bring glory to our school, how could you refuse the opportunity just like that? How could you just think about yourself, you have to consider the honor of the collective student body too."

Seeing how desperate and anxious the old crone was, Mo Li was quite speechless. Earlier, the old crone was the one who challenged the authenticity of her answers, and now she was asking her to participate in the competition.

"I do not like crowds." Mo Li gave an excuse, and a chance to the old crone to let this go.

"Miss Mo Li, you can't act so pampered anymore. If one can't change the environment, one needs to work on changing oneself. See this as a chance for you to improve yourself.

"Furthermore, this is the chance for you to redeem yourself. Recently, the school reputation has been affected because of you. Don't you think it's imperative of you to do something to help the school recover its damaged reputation? Or do you really think you own the school?"

Mo Li already gave the chance for the old crone to let this be, she did not expect the old crone to be so pushy.

"I don't think I own the school but I don't think you own me either. You speak of honor but I think you really mean fame, and are we really talking about the school's fame here?" Mo Li hinted that she knew what was going behind the old crone's little mind.

Hearing that, Tao Wen raised his brow with interest. This girl is really interesting. She has the brain and the character to back it up.

"What, what are you trying to insinuate? How could you talk to your teacher like that?"

Aren't you cold taking up all the moral high ground? Mo Li looked at the old crone, "I will not be forced into something that I am not comfortable with. The school has no right to force its student to enter this kind of competition, right?

"Furthermore, haven't you already decided on Qiao Qing as your representative to participate in the competition?"

The old crone choked on her world. She didn't expect Mo Li to have such a silver tongue.

"Student Mo Li, I'm doing this for your own good! You knew better than anyone the kind of reputation you currently have around the school. If you win this glory for the school, this will definitely change your peers' perception of you. They wouldn't think you're a heartless person who drove into her own brother anymore." She even managed to squeeze out a few tears, showing that she only wanted what was best for her student.

The old crone changed tack and used the age-old, 'I'm only doing this for your own good' argument. This time, she believed the demon girl would have to cave to her demands.

Tao Wen looked at Mo Li with intrigue. Even someone like him, who never dabbled in school rumors, had heard about the car accident. However, he also knew that neither the police or the authority had managed to present any convincing evidence that Mo Li was the real culprit.

Mo Li shrugged nonchalantly. She was surprised that the old crone would adopt the 'Qiao Qing persuasion', acting all dewy-eyed innocent and infinitely caring.