Chapter 534 - 232: National Rankings Released, Who in the World Wouldn’t Know You

On his end of the line, however, Lin Tao felt no pride at the man’s words.

Instead, he furrowed his brow.

Truth be told, as unlikely as it sounded, he was still a little worried.

’These back-to-back phone calls... could this be some new type of phone scam?’

"Hold on a moment."

Lin Tao cut the man off, his voice grave. "You say you’re from Huaqing University. How can I confirm your identity?"

On the other end, Liu Zhen seemed to detect the suspicion in Lin Tao’s voice. Far from being offended, he rushed to explain.

"Mr. Lin, your concern is completely understandable! My full name is Liu Zhen. You can go to our official Huaqing University website right now and find all my information in the faculty and staff directory."

"Also, the number I’m calling from is our admissions office’s official landline. Feel free to verify it at any time if you have any doubts!"

His tone was incredibly earnest, even tinged with a hint of desperation.

Before Lin Tao could even speak, Zhao, who was standing beside him, got the hint. His fingers flew across the keyboard with a furious CLACK-CLACK-CLACK.

Soon, the official website for Huaqing University popped up.

Everyone else in the office instinctively craned their necks, forming a tight circle around Zhao’s monitor.

"Found it! Admissions Office... Director, Liu Zhen!"

"The number! Check the number!"

"It’s a match! It’s the exact same number!"

Zhao excitedly looked up, nodded vigorously at Lin Tao, and silently mouthed the words.

"Mr. Lin, it’s real!"

The weight that had been pressing on Lin Tao’s heart finally lifted slightly.

’At least it wasn’t a scam.’

His concern wasn’t about losing his own money, but about Lin Ye.

With the man’s identity confirmed, Lin Tao asked the most crucial question.

"Mr. Liu, I’d like to know, the national rankings haven’t been announced yet, so how... did you find out my son’s score?"

The question was met with a brief silence on the other end of the line.

Everyone in the office held their breath, straining to listen, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

’This is top-secret information!’

After a moment, Liu Zhen’s voice came through again, even lower this time.

"Mr. Lin, technically, I’m not supposed to disclose this."

"But given the special circumstances today, I’ll level with you."

"Although the results haven’t been officially released, truth be told, we’ve already heard some rumblings."

"Some decisions have already been made over at the Imperial Capital’s Testing Center One."

"I’m really not at liberty to discuss the details, but I can tell you that our desire to have your son join Huaqing University is absolutely genuine!"

"Mr. Lin! We can discuss the specific terms in more detail! Let me just tell you this: whatever conditions Jiuzhou Military Academy offered, we at Huaqing will double every single one!"

"The scholarship will be at least ten million per year, and we can also arrange for residency in the Imperial Capital and a private, standalone house!"

"As for the compensation package, anything you ask for is on the table!"

BOOM!

These words crashed like rolling thunder in the ears of everyone in the office!

Everyone’s jaws dropped, their eyes nearly popping from their sockets as they drew a sharp, collective breath.

Double!

’This isn’t recruitment anymore. This is a no-holds-barred... talent grab!’

In their entire lives, this was the first time they had ever heard of a top-tier institution like Huaqing University humbling itself to this extent for a single student!

What was happening in this little office today was more surreal than anything they had experienced in their past several decades combined.

Wang Yuchuan felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

He felt his worldview shatter into a million pieces in just a few short minutes.

He put himself in Lin Tao’s shoes. If that call had been for him, he probably would have been babbling incoherently with excitement just from hearing the two words "Huaqing University" and would have accepted on his son’s behalf right then and there.

But Lin Tao’s reaction once again defied all expectations.

Faced with an offer that no parent could possibly refuse, Lin Tao’s expression remained impassive.

He simply and calmly reiterated what he had told the admissions officer from Jiuzhou Military Academy.

"Mr. Liu, thank you for your school’s generous offer."

"But which school Lin Ye chooses is his own decision. As his father, I will not interfere with his choice, much less make any guarantees on his behalf."

"All I can do is convey your invitation to him, exactly as it was given."

After saying that, without giving the man a chance to raise his offer, Lin Tao hung up the phone with an abrupt CLICK.

The entire office fell deathly silent.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at Lin Tao, as if he were some kind of celestial being.

’Huaqing University!’

’That’s *Huaqing University*!’

’Begging and pleading for your son to enroll, offering an astronomical package.’

’And yet...’

’Mr. Lin just... stone-faced, rejected them?’

’What kind of insane self-control is that?!’

After a brief silence, the office instantly exploded into an uproar.

"My God... I didn’t mishear that, did I? A ten million a year scholarship? And they’re throwing in a private villa?"

"Mr. Lin, why did you hang up?! That was Huaqing University!"

"Mr. Lin, I could live a hundred lifetimes and never reach your level of composure."

"The real question is, what kind of heaven-defying score did your son get to make the admissions director of Huaqing that desperate?"

Amidst the chatter, all eyes turned to focus on Lin Tao once more.