Old Gui and Qianqian left Hohhot that day and headed for Chengdu. The special investigation team naturally couldn't find Li Qian, and they didn't ask me, continuing their extended investigation into the 107 major fraud case.
Although I had a bet with Qianqian, I didn't rush to find the long-tongued ghost Li Jiu. I still had a lot to do at school; the make-up exams were approaching, and my books were brand new!
Under the guise of "scheming," living in a world unknown to others. In that case, it would truly be like Old Gui, a living person, yet as traceless as a ghost. I didn't want to live like that. I wanted a life, a career, and a solid personal record. Therefore, I had to take the make-up exams.
...
What about the long-tongued ghost? Of course, I wouldn't just abandon it, but I'd put it aside for now. Don't deliberately pursue anything; you might lose more than you gain. The reason I understand Old Gui's thoughts isn't because I'm particularly intelligent, but because I've experienced things Qianqian hasn't. I have a brother, Tie Zhishan, who committed a murder, made a mistake, and yet I remained silent, even suspected of helping him escape. I'm not someone who is perfectly good. When certain things happen to me, I'm very selfish.
It is because of these thoughts that I chose to do nothing for the time being. Based on the intelligence I currently possess, did the long-tongued ghost come here solely to sever the connection between Jin Bengui and "Logical Paradox"? Not necessarily. "Logical Paradox" is no longer an invisible entity; the criminal investigation bureau has its eyes on them. They even established a special task force called "Black Gold," which includes not just one top criminal investigation talent like Luo Bo. Therefore, bringing "Logical Paradox" to justice is the general trend.
I don't know much about the long-tongued ghost, but as he and Old Gui are fellow disciples, he shouldn't be far behind. Schemers go against the heavens; that doesn't make sense. Moreover, when I was in Xi'an, I heard Lin Zhijun and the agent mention that "Logical Paradox" had four core members with nicknames: "Driver X," "Agent," "Gambler," and "Long-tongued Ghost." Among these four, the first three refer to the founder of "Logical Paradox" as "The Mentor." In their conversations, I also learned that "Long-tongued Ghost" is not exactly "The Mentor's" disciple, but rather has an "as teacher, as friend" relationship with him, possibly making him a co-founder.
For such an important figure, to merely facilitate a murder for a bank president by delivering a fake painting and severing evidence? Come on, this isn't a novel; where are there so many simple-minded villains?
I'll wait. Once I'm done with my own affairs, I'll shamelessly go to Yu Xiaoluo to find clues about the long-tongued ghost and win the bet.
...
The make-up exams have arrived!
The sky above the city was overcast, not a sliver of sunlight penetrating. The elites who failed last year's exams were nervously preparing. However, at this critical juncture, a proctoring scandal erupted at the school, causing panic throughout the examination halls. The school's focus shifted to investigating candidates. If you were caught with minor infractions like cheating in the exam hall, the invigilator might show leniency. But if you were caught impersonating a student, you risked expulsion.
Today is the English make-up exam, and the invigilators are the busiest. As engineering students, the sheer volume of coursework already burdens us. Public service, mechanics, dynamics, materials, computer languages – each of these courses is fraught with difficulty. Yet, we unfortunate souls still endure economic and spiritual torment over a foreign language.
English consistently has the highest number of students taking make-up exams. For other subjects, after reviewing, I was generally able to proceed without issue. However, when it came to English, I felt a slight apprehension.
Today, entering the examination hall was more difficult than usual. Besides the exam permit and student ID, we also had to present our identification cards, and then be scanned by the teachers' laser-like gazes before being granted permission to take the exam.
I don't know when the proctoring scandal began; it had already become a serious reality before I knew it. However, I felt it had nothing to do with me. If I truly couldn't pass the exam, I'd rely on my 1.5 vision, which I'd maintained since childhood, to discover treasures. Impersonation? Not happening. (I'm tired of lying; I don't want to waste effort on such trivial matters.)
The invigilator was a female teacher from the Foreign Trade department, in her thirties, tall, and beautiful. On the arduous path to the examination hall, this Foreign Trade teacher seemed to draw more attention from students.
Furthermore, from a distance, I overheard classmates whispering that this teacher had once showcased her talents on a catwalk and had even graced the cover of a certain Hohhot magazine.
Gradually, I approached this beautiful teacher. She wore a flowing chiffon dress, her hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her voice was soft and charming. Looking at her, even with Lin Han's stunning beauty, Yu Xiaoluo's heroic spirit, and Qianqian's pure loveliness by my side, I still found this female teacher beautiful. Her beauty lay in a serene elegance, her eyelashes slightly lowered, her icy countenance like a flower that never fades.
"Tang Nan?" the model-like teacher asked, holding my student ID.
"Yes!"
"Don't you know I'm invigilating today?"
I felt a hint of confusion from her words: "Teacher, what do you mean by that? Do I need to know who the invigilator is to take my exam?"
"Jiang He."
The model-like teacher suddenly said this inexplicably.
I felt something was wrong in my heart, but I said, "Jiang He? Why not the sea!"
This casual joke enraged the model-like teacher. She turned to the teacher beside her and said, "Teacher Pan, this child is Jiang He from Management College, Foreign Trade Class 3. His student ID says Tang Nan."
Teacher Pan heard this and walked over, followed closely by a burly sports teacher. What is this? If there's resistance, immediate suppression? This is a make-up exam, not a criminal apprehension scene!
Even though the sports teacher was burly, I didn't care. My experiences allowed me to fight them both. But would things unfold that way? Of course not. So, I could only paste on a smile: "Teacher, is there some misunderstanding? I am Tang Nan from the Mechanical Engineering College, Equipment Automation, Year One."
"Go to the Academic Affairs Office."
I didn't spend much time at the Academic Affairs Office before my class advisor arrived. A short, stubby man with a pug nose. Seeing me, he wore a sinister smile that was entirely unbecoming of a university teacher: "Tang Nan, you've upset a young lady from the Management College. She had Teacher Pan call me over."
Seeing our class advisor, Teacher Pan pulled him aside and whispered, "Teacher Zhang Ying said he is Jiang He from Management College, Foreign Trade Class 3. We checked the school system, and there's a problem; we couldn't find any student named Jiang He."
The class advisor was bewildered: "The young lady's name is Jiang He."
Teacher Pan glanced at the class advisor, likely despising his demeanor, but patiently explained, "This student is here for the English make-up exam, and the invigilator, Teacher Zhang Ying, said he is Jiang He."
The class advisor burst into laughter, pointing at me: "He's Jiang He? Haha, he, he is Tang Nan, the real deal, the typical student who cost me my bonus. Last year, when I took over Equipment Automation, the whole class was decent, except for this brat who dragged me down, always running around like he was 'in heat.' He failed every single exam at the end of the semester."
Hearing the class advisor say this, Teacher Pan's face became extremely awkward: "He really is Tang Nan."
"I'd recognize him even if he were reduced to ashes. No mistake."
This put Teacher Pan in a difficult position. She looked at me and said, "Then what should we do? The exam has already started!"
"It's fine. This child comes from a well-off family. Last year, he was tricked out of millions, almost becoming a promising young man at our school. It's fine if he doesn't take it; his English level wouldn't pass anyway."
The class advisor had confirmed my identity, but his words were harsh, cutting to the bone.
"That won't do, Teacher. Although my grades are poor, I have the right to take the exam," I argued.
Teacher Pan bit her lip and said, "Perhaps we can arrange for someone to let him take it alone."
...
In a separate classroom, Teacher Zhang Ying brought the exam papers. She sat opposite me openly and, when she saw I was struggling with a question, deliberately or inadvertently hinted at the answer. As a result, I turned misfortune into fortune, and what was my most difficult subject, foreign language, became the one I was most confident in.
When submitting the exam, Teacher Zhang Ying sincerely apologized to me. Fearing I wouldn't believe her, she gave me a photograph. In the photo, Teacher Zhang Ying wore stylish jeans and open-toed sandals, her hair in a cool ponytail, looking beautiful and youthful. Beside her stood a shy young man carrying a drawing board. It was as if I had seen a ghost; this boy looked exactly like me, the same gaze, the same demeanor, practically me.
I don't know Teacher Zhang Ying; I've never met her, and I certainly don't paint.
Therefore, this person is not me.
...
I accepted the apology but became curious about this person who looked exactly like me. So, I went to the school's computer lab and used the campus network to search for Jiang He from Management College, Foreign Trade Class 3.
There's no such person in Foreign Trade Class 3?
Is that possible?
I found a military training photo of the incoming class for Foreign Trade Class 3 and looked at each small head one by one. There was no one who looked exactly like me.
No records in the class, and none in the photos. Where did this Jiang He come from? A setup?
In broad daylight, using such a cheap trick against me? Who?