Chapter Twenty-Six: The Mock Exam Approaches

After the two morning classes, there was supposed to be a long break. Usually, this time of day was filled with noise and bustle throughout the campus, but today, for reasons unknown, hardly anyone left their classrooms. The few students who did emerge wore heavy expressions, hurrying to the restrooms and then rushing straight back, their faces clouded with worry. Even the weather, once bright and clear, darkened suddenly; the crimson sun withdrew behind the clouds, dimming its light. The entire atmosphere at Innovation High felt stifling, as if an ominous event was about to unfold.

Inside Class One, the silence was absolute. Every student sat at their desk, focused intently on their exam papers, pens flying across the pages. On the rare occasion whispers could be heard, a keen ear would realize they were discussing problems. The homeroom teacher, Old Yan, entered the classroom with his distinctive, eight-legged stride. He paused, pleased to see his students so absorbed in their work, and nodded approvingly before setting his books down on the lectern.

“Ahem. Everyone, put down your pens for a moment. I have something to announce.”

At the sound of his voice, the students looked up, each with a different expression but all sharing a vague sense of anticipation.

“Tomorrow is the second round of the joint exams,” he declared, drawing out the phrase.

A boy sighed and slumped over his desk, his expression confirming what many had already suspected. “I knew it. What’s meant to come will always come; there’s no avoiding it.”

But another student lit up with excitement. “Finally, the joint exam! I’m definitely going to do well this time.”

Exams always brought a mix of joy and dread—those who were uneasy hadn’t reviewed enough, fearing their scores might drop, or were simply anxious at the very mention of tests, their minds turning blank under pressure. Those who were happy were confident, ready to use the exam to prove the fruit of their efforts. But regardless of who awaited or dreaded it, the exam would arrive all the same.

Xiao Lin, too, was watching Old Yan. If there was anyone who looked forward to the exam, it was surely him. For the past two weeks, he hadn’t wasted a single day—constantly working on practice papers and reviewing examples, his life a strict triangle between classroom, study room, and his home office. During this time, Xu Tong and the others had invited Xiao Lin to play basketball and relax. Xiao Lin went, but only with his books in tow. While Xu Tong and the others played, he would sit beneath the basketball hoop, immersed in his reading. They were both exasperated and impressed—unaccustomed to his radical transformation, yet deeply admiring his dedication.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuqing had been rather glum these past two weeks. She’d barely exchanged a few words with Xiao Lin in all that time. Whenever she tried to start a conversation, Xiao Lin would reply with as few words as possible before diving back into his papers. Wang Yuqing couldn’t quite describe her feelings. She should have been happy that Xiao Lin had rekindled his passion for studying, but his silence left her feeling lonely and disappointed. In the end, she could only comfort herself by thinking, “After the joint exam, maybe he’ll return to normal.”

With that thought, she couldn’t resist glancing at Xiao Lin. She found his eyes ablaze with a light that only appeared when he was excited—like a starving lion spotting its prey, unable to hold back its urge to pounce.

Wang Yuqing was taken aback. Was it really just for an exam? She didn’t know that Xiao Lin’s motivation went beyond his own ambitions. Much of it was driven by the wager—her bet with Old Yan.

Observing the varied expressions below, Old Yan’s face grew stern. “I want all of you to focus for this exam. If anyone drags the class down, you’ll have me to answer to.” At this, he shot Xiao Lin a pointed look, a silent warning in his gaze. Then his eyes softened as they landed on Wang Yuqing—he was certain this girl would surprise him in the upcoming test.

Seeing Wang Yuqing’s confident demeanor, he allowed himself a faint smile. He recalled the wager and chuckled inwardly—top ten, what an amusing bet that was.

“After class, Liu Xiaoming, come to my office. I’ll give you everyone’s exam numbers to distribute,” he instructed the class monitor, then began the lesson.

In the school choir’s rehearsal room:

“Young Master, your singing is even more beautiful than a pop star’s!” Zhao Mingliang flattered Gao Zheng, who had just finished a song.

Gao Zheng waved away the compliment, accepted a bottle of water from a nearby girl, and took a few sips.

“The exam is tomorrow. That’s all for today—go home and review, everyone,” he told the music club members.

They responded in unison, greeted Gao Zheng, packed up their things, and left to study.

“With your intelligence, Young Master, you don’t even need to review. You’re sure to be in the top ten again this time,” Zhao Mingliang gushed.

Gao Zheng made no comment. To him, these exams were a mere formality—no pressure at all.

“Have you found out about Yuqing’s background?” he asked, clearly interested in Wang Yuqing.

Zhao Mingliang grinned. “Already done! I’ve got a buddy at Donghai No. 1 High. No need to worry, Young Master—her grades are outstanding. She’ll probably make the top ten easily, maybe even the top three. Looks like little Chai has some real competition now.”

Gao Zheng nodded. He could tell at a glance that Wang Yuqing was an exceptional girl, her grades certainly no less impressive. But Zhao Mingliang’s claim about the top three was clearly an exaggeration to please him. He knew exactly who “little Chai” was—Chai Yuan, Innovation High’s top student, whose abilities even Gao Zheng had to respect. Wang Yuqing might have a shot at the top ten; after all, she was top of the best high school in Donghai, but Donghai was just a city, hardly a match for the elite schools in the capital.

As for Xiao Lin, Gao Zheng dismissed him outright. With grades at the bottom of the school, he didn’t warrant a second thought. Although their last encounter—an arm-wrestling contest—had ended in a draw, to Gao Zheng, Xiao Lin was just a decent-looking boy with a bit of talent, not worthy of special attention. He assumed Wang Yuqing only sat beside Xiao Lin because they had once been classmates, nothing more.

“Heh. After this exam, Yuqing will probably change seats. No one wants to sit with a failure—only I am worthy of her,” Gao Zheng thought to himself.