"Principal Ding, I heard from your phone call just now that you were talking about some international student matters?"
After Ding Yue hung up the phone, Xiao Wenxing asked curiously.
Ding Yue nodded and said with a smile, "The Academic Affairs Office reported that there’s a consortium of colleges from The United States that’s organizing an exchange student program with Xia Country and said that our Mist City Arts and Science University might get a spot."
After hearing this, Xiao Wenxing immediately frowned and said, "Then how come we at the Mist City Education Bureau didn’t know about this?"
Ding Yue looked bewildered.
That shouldn’t be the case!
Surely, such an exchange program between The United States and Xia Country wouldn’t just be between Mist City Arts and Science University and the American colleges consortium. The Mist City Education Bureau would definitely be in the know.
But there was Director Xiao Wenxing of the Mist City Education Bureau right in front of Ding Yue.
And yet, he said he had no clue about it.
"Generally speaking, if there are foreign colleges that want to run exchange programs with our domestic universities through official channels, the Mist City Education Bureau would be the first to know. You just mentioned that someone approached your Mist City Arts and Science University... We had no prior knowledge."
Director Xiao Wenxing stated with certainty.
Because as the head of the Mist City Education Bureau, he would naturally be familiar with all of its affairs—it’s part of the job, after all.
"So, Director Xiao, are you saying that the party that approached our Mist City Arts and Science University for the exchange program is not legitimate?"
Ding Yue asked, puzzled.
Director Xiao Wenxing shook his head and explained, "It’s just that going through official channels and involving our Mist City Education Bureau would guarantee security. However, it doesn’t rule out direct arrangements between institutions, especially in the case of private ones like yours."
Ding Yue seemed to realize something was amiss.
"Director Xiao, are you saying that private institutions often have such under-the-table arrangements for exchange students? What about top world-class universities like Harvard and MIT in The United States? Could that be a possibility?"
Ding Yue immediately asked Director Xiao Wenxing again.
"Harvard and MIT, these are basically impossible to arrange privately. World-famous universities like them would definitely go through official channels. In the past, Mist City University also had exchange student programs with several renowned schools in America, which were facilitated by the Mist City Education Bureau," Director Xiao Wenxing explained.
After hearing what Director Xiao Wenxing said, Ding Yue immediately realized that something was fishy.
During the previous phone call, Director Qi Chunsheng had mentioned more than once that someone named Smith said there were spots available at world-renowned universities like Harvard and MIT for Mist City Arts and Science University.
That’s why Director Qi Chunsheng thought it was a rare opportunity.
Even because of this, Director Qi Chunsheng’s opinion might clash with Ding Yue’s decision.
But Director Xiao Wenxing had clearly stated.
Top world-class universities like Harvard and MIT would almost certainly not have private exchanges with domestic private institutions.
There had to be a catch!
But Ding Yue couldn’t quite grasp what the catch might be at the moment.
"Principal Ding, what’s wrong?"
Seeing Ding Yue’s expression, Director Xiao asked.
"Director Xiao, as you just said, it’s almost impossible for world-class universities like Harvard and MIT to have private arrangements with us. Then there’s something off about what the school just told me... Where could the problem be?"
Understanding the concern, Director Xiao Wenxing also furrowed his brow and said, "It couldn’t be scammers, could it? You should definitely be careful about this, Principal Ding. If it becomes necessary, report it to our Education Bureau, or you could also consider notifying the police!"
"That won’t be necessary, I’ve already declined it!"
Ding Yue shook his head.
Scammers were unlikely, for if someone dared to defraud so blatantly, they would be easily exposed.
Because all Ding Yue needed to do was use his connections to inquire in America if there really was a university consortium interested in an exchange program with Mist City Arts and Science University. The truth would then be clear.
Indeed, required further inquiry.
Ding Yue pondered it, not because he was worried about being duped by scammers.
What Ding Yue wanted to know was, what exactly was the catch?
If it were true, why would top world-class universities like Harvard and MIT have exchange spots available for his Mist City Arts and Science University?
Could it be because Mist City Arts and Science University had performed exceptionally well over the past year?
But that seemed unlikely.
Even if it had performed exceptionally well, it was still at best considered a top private university domestically, still some distance away from the leading national universities.
Why then were Harvard and MIT so favorably disposed toward Mist City Arts and Science University concerning exchange students?
From the beginning to the end, Ding Yue felt there was a problem.
"Director Xiao, could the Mist City Education Bureau somehow confirm with the American side whether there really is an American colleges consortium planning an exchange student program with our Mist City Arts and Science University?"
Ding Yue looked at Director Xiao Wenxing, hoping to get his help with this.
"That shouldn’t be a problem, I’ll have the bureau inquire right away," said Director Xiao Wenxing as he nodded and then took out his phone to call someone at the bureau.