Chapter Seventeen: The Results Are Out

Sunday evening, the evening self-study session began.

The monthly exam for October would take place the following Monday and Tuesday. Originally, the exams were scheduled for Thursday and Friday, followed by a holiday. However, since the midterm was just around the corner, the monthly exam was moved forward, so teachers could spend the remaining days reviewing and discussing the exam papers.

Whether for the monthly exam or the upcoming midterm, everyone was anxiously revising.

Zhou Xuan, too, was steadily following his study plan, making swift progress.

Thanks to his exceptional memory, all the physics, chemistry, and mathematics knowledge from the first to the third year of junior high was firmly etched in his mind; all that remained was to integrate and apply it.

As for English and Chinese, those were Zhou Xuan’s strengths—there was nothing to worry about at all.

On Monday, the six classes of the third years began their monthly exams.

Zhou Xuan breezed through the tests, displaying his full strength.

This time, the math exam was considered very difficult by everyone, but Zhou Xuan felt confident he could score full marks. Even the top math student in the class said the test was so tough, he expected to score only around 120.

Sure enough, before the evening self-study on Tuesday, Zhou Lin came over to Zhou Xuan and asked, "Zhou Xuan, tomorrow morning the first period is math. The scores for the math test will definitely be out. How many points do you think you got?"

Zhou Xuan smiled. "Take a guess."

Zhou Lin thought for a moment. The math test was really tough this time, so he guessed a number. "110?"

Zhou Xuan shook his head. "Too low."

"Could it be 120? The questions were incredibly hard. I asked around, and almost no one got the last problem right. Even Wang Lin said he didn't finish it. No way, Zhou Xuan, did you actually solve it?" Zhou Lin asked in surprise, his face full of disbelief.

Wang Lin was the best math student in the class. If even he didn't finish the last question, it was clear how difficult the test was.

If it had been the old Zhou Xuan, he certainly wouldn't have matched up to Wang Lin. But now, Zhou Xuan was not who he used to be. Since practicing the Small Heavenly Cycle breathing technique, his mind had grown sharper and his thinking more agile.

Zhou Xuan retorted, "Don't you have any faith in me? Can't you guess a bit higher?"

Zhou Lin was hesitant. "It's not that I don't believe in you, Zhou Xuan. It's just that you used to be only slightly better than me in math. Out of 150 points, 110 was already good. Now, after just over half a month, and with such a tough test, if you outperform Wang Lin, I'll really have to hand it to you."

"Ha! If I didn't have a few tricks up my sleeve, would I dare bet against Wei Xinyu? Just wait and see tomorrow. If I don't beat him by at least ten or twenty points, I won't be called Zhou Xuan," Zhou Xuan said confidently.

"Are you saying you might even get full marks? You’re getting more boastful by the day," a clear, crisp voice interjected. It was Zhou Xuan’s desk mate, Zhuo Lian, looking at him with thinly veiled disdain.

Zhou Lin quickly stood up to give Zhuo Lian her seat, and joked, "Zhuo Lian, do you like sitting with Zhou Xuan that much? You won’t even let me sit for a minute."

Zhuo Lian wasn't offended. She just laughed. "You think Zhou Xuan’s some kind of treasure? Everyone wants to be his desk mate."

"Anyone sitting next to Zhou Xuan is bound to improve fast," Zhou Lin said earnestly. Zhou Xuan had recently shared some study methods with him, which he found quite helpful.

Hearing them argue over who got to sit with him, Zhou Xuan said, "Shouldn’t you ask for my opinion first? Besides, it’s not up to you—seats are always assigned by the homeroom teacher."

"Then I’ll just apply for a change. Class is starting," Zhou Lin said as he returned to his seat.

Turning to Zhuo Lian, Zhou Xuan asked, "You really don’t think I can get full marks?"

Zhuo Lian shook her head. "Wang Lin himself said he could only get about 130. If you get full marks, pigs will climb trees."

"Want to make a bet?" Zhou Xuan grinned mischievously.

"No way! That sly smile means you’re up to no good. I’m not falling for it," Zhuo Lian refused outright. Making bets wasn’t something good kids did.

"You don’t have faith in me, and you won’t even take a sure bet? That’s pretty timid," Zhou Xuan teased.

"The teacher said gambling isn’t for good children," Zhuo Lian insisted, refusing again.

Looking at Zhuo Lian, Zhou Xuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration for her innocence and obedience. He could only hope she would hold on to her convictions and integrity as she grew older, resisting all temptations.

In his previous life, Zhou Xuan had heard too many stories of college girls trapped by predatory loans, burdened with enormous debt, bringing immense pain to themselves and their families, some even driven to suicide. He could never understand why someone would risk everything for a phone or a handbag, falling into such a trap for a few thousand yuan. Were college students really that lacking in emotional intelligence?

He looked at Zhuo Lian and said with genuine admiration, "Good girl!"

Zhuo Lian was taken aback, then protested, "Are you looking for trouble, trying to take advantage of me?" She gave Zhou Xuan a punch for good measure.

The next morning, first period was math.

As the bell rang, the math teacher walked in, carrying a stack of test papers.

After the class stood to greet her, her expression turned stern. "Today, we’ll be reviewing the test papers from the day before yesterday. The exam was tough, but you all didn’t do well either. Only three students in the entire class scored above 120, four fewer than Class One. The midterm is just days away. You’d better study hard—if the midterm results are bad, you’ll answer to me."

"Now, those whose names I call, come up and collect your papers."

"Li Chao, 89. That’s not good enough. If you do this again, I’ll have to call your parents."

"Wang Hui, 118. Well done, keep it up."

One by one, the test papers were handed out. Those who did well received their papers with joy; those who did poorly wore gloomy faces as they accepted criticism from the teacher.

"Wei Xinyu, 124. Not bad this time."

Everyone knew about Wei Xinyu’s bet with Zhou Xuan. Seeing that Wei Xinyu had scored 124, all eyes turned to Zhou Xuan, thinking his chances did not look good.

But Zhou Xuan remained calm, his face betraying nothing.

Wei Xinyu walked back to his seat, waving his paper at Zhou Xuan with a triumphant smile, as if to say, "Look, I got 124. Do you still think you can beat me?"

Zhou Xuan looked at him and thought, "Poor kid, enjoy your last few minutes of victory."

When Wang Lin’s score of 128 was announced, everyone began eagerly anticipating Zhou Xuan’s result and the last score above 120.

Yet, as the teacher handed out the last paper, Zhou Xuan’s name still hadn’t been called.

There was only one paper left—certainly Zhou Xuan’s. But had he surpassed 124, or hadn’t he?