Problem at the University

Zhi Luan returned to the restaurant where everyone was waiting to hear how the exam went. He patiently answered their questions one after the other. Old man Shen gave him the rest of the day off, but Zhi Luan refused and took over kitchen duty.

The applicants were to wait at least a week after the exam before the results would be released. A week later, Yan Qincheng came by the restaurant with an envelope. The envelope was sealed when she handed it over to Zhi Luan.

"This is your result from the exam. I didn't want to look at it before you did…" she said.

Zhi Luan received the envelope, and at this point, everyone was tense. Zhi Luan noted their eagerness, but still proceeded to slowly undo the seal of the envelope.

"You punk, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Old man Shen couldn't bear the suspense and shouted.

"It's your fault for being nosy." Zhi Luan blandly replied.

Finally, he undid the seal, taking out a sheet of paper. Zhi Luan proceeded to read its content silently, and when he was done, he simply slid it back into the envelope, as though he read nothing. Everyone exchanged glances,

"Well?"

Yan Qincheng asked impatiently.

"Oh… I passed."

Zhi Luan shrugged.

Everyone stared at him, dazed.

"Give me that,"

Yan Qincheng could wait no longer and snatched the envelope from his hand and read through the content of the paper. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she put the paper down.

"He passed…"

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

Zhi Luan frowned,

"Did you guys think I would fail?"

"Don't worry about what we thought, what's important is that you proved us wrong."

Lu Yu stepped up and patted his shoulder.

Congratulatory messages came from everyone, but Zhi Luan brushed them off.

"What about his score?"

Old man Shen asked.

"The school does not publicize the score, but I'll check with my colleagues to know."

Everyone was happy for Zhi Luan except him.

"Oh, cheer up, you drama queen," old man Shen slapped Zhi Luan's shoulder.

"Yeah, we should celebrate after work, drinks on me…"

Lu Yu was yet to finish speaking when old man Shen interrupted.

"Why don't we drink here then? We'll get the drink and celebrate here after work, how does that sound?"

"That could still work."

Amidst the cheers, Yan Qincheng walked up to Zhi Luan, smiling as she said,

"Congratulations, you did well."

"I have my teacher to thank for it."

"You made teaching easy for me. You put in a lot of work… I'm glad you succeeded in the end."

She smiled and was about to leave when she remembered something else,

"Oh, before I forget, you'll have to come with me sometime this week to start your admission paperwork."

Zhi Luan grumbled,

"More forms to fill?"

"I thought to bring them here, but I wanted a change of environment for you that is not this place. Plus, you need to explore the school grounds more."

"So, you're doing me a favor?"

"Don't mention it."

Yan Qincheng smiled and left.

~The Next Day~

Yan Qincheng just finished her morning lectures and was now engrossed in some paperwork, when she was in by the head of her department.

"Sir,"

She gently knocked on the door.

The HOD's door was already wide open so he gestured her to come inside. As she approached his table, the HOD slid a file over to her,

"This person… do you know him?"

Yan Qincheng was surprised to see that the picture on the file belonged to Zhi Luan. She was a little confused at the moment.

"Don't deny it. Security cameras caught both of you entering and exiting the school together."

"I'm not denying it, sir."

Yan Qincheng regained her composure.

"Good. What can you tell me about him?"

"Uh… he just recently moved to the city a few months ago and is currently working in a restaurant around my neighborhood."

"Is that all?"

"Yes sir," replied Yan Qincheng.

"Look over there,"

The HOD gestured as he pointed to the television in his office. A slightly blurry video was on repeat.

"This… this is a security footage…"

"Exactly," replied the HOD.

"This was this 'Zhi Luan's' exam room."

"I don't understand. Why is he under scrutiny?"

"You say he works at a local restaurant around your neighborhood, but can you explain this?"

He asked as he passed over a sheet of paper with Zhi Luan's picture and some printed words.

Yan Qincheng stared at the paper with creased brows as her expression alternated between shock and confusion.

"This is his exam score… he got a perfect score?"

The HOD nodded,

"I have replayed this footage many times in the past hour, yet I can't find anything implicating."

"Implicating? You suspect he cheated?"

"How else would you explain that score?"

Yan Qincheng tried to speak up but stammered at the beginning,

"T-That's impossible… he wouldn't do that.

"Really? What makes you think that?"

"For starters, I tutored him on the courses to take for the exam. There's no way…"

"You what?"

The HOD's voice suddenly became stern.

Yan Qincheng immediately figured that she had blundered.

"Oh no, no sir, it's not what you think. I assure you I'd never do something like that…"

Before she could finish her sentence, the HOD waved his hand,

"Trust me, Miss Qincheng, you were the first person I suspected, but I dismissed the thought. The exam questions are randomly generated by our system the morning of the exam, so unless you can see into the future, then you have nothing to worry about. This person, on the other hand, is who I don't trust."

"Every applicant is patted down before they sit for the exam. If there was something on him, then security should have found it out. Also from the footage, you said you haven't seen anything that indicated he cheated, which could mean he didn't."

The HOD lightly tapped his table rhythmically,

"I understand your sentiment on this, Miss Qincheng, but we have to look at things objectively.

"Objectively, you're saying he cheated because he got a perfect score. I understand the difficulty involved in doing this, but it doesn't mean it's impossible."

The HOD didn't speak for a little time, idly tapping his desk as he contemplated.

"You're certain that he didn't cheat? Before you reply, I'll let you know that I've submitted his paper to be marked multiple times by both machine and hand. Is your resolve still strong?"

"Yes, it is sir."

"Fine then. He'll be placed under probation in his freshman year. If he doesn't live up to what he has displayed for us, then have him expelled immediately, and you… you'll clear out your desk as well. What do you say?"

"That's fine by me sir."

"Good. I'm glad we have a common ground. You're dismissed."