Equestrianism

Easton Academy was located in a coastal city in southeastern Deyue, where a fine drizzle often lingered in spring and autumn.

Beneath the gray sky, a cold mist gathered on the cast-iron railings outside the library.

Jimo came out of the library holding his books, his mind somewhat dazed. When he saw the familiar sky, he thought for a moment that he had returned to his old world.

In the past, he too had spent whole days sweating in the training room to prepare for a competition. For a while, the weather had been wet and gloomy, and whenever he came out, he had felt as though he had stepped into another world. The feeling had left a particularly deep impression on him.

Jimo pinched the bridge of his nose and came back to himself. He had been studying intensively all week and had made up considerable ground. He felt much more at ease, having found his rhythm again.

It had also been a while since he had checked the forum.

Jimo took out his phone, opened the forum, and skimmed it. He saw no mention of any special-class students.

But... the student council?

Jimo opened a trending post. The discussion was all about members of the student council being punished.

[What did that bunch from the student council do wrong? Professor Mosi actually docked all of them five points.]

[I heard quite a few people were punished this time. What about the student council president? Were his points docked too?]

[Apparently not. But his members did something wrong. How can it be right for the president not to take responsibility?]

[Sigh, the president is Mosi's trusted right-hand man, whom he trained himself. How could he bear to punish him? Besides, he's so close to F4 that he was never going to lose any points.]

Points were similar to grade points, but grade points covered every course arranged by the school, while points reflected a student's overall performance outside of coursework during their four years at the academy. This was the unique point system used by Easton Academy as an affiliate of the Alliance.

Whether a student could enter the Alliance after graduation, and whether they could get the position they wanted once inside, were both closely tied to their points.

The more points they had, the more choices they would have.

Special-class students were an exception, however. Even after they entered the Alliance, the discrimination they had faced at the academy followed them. People viewed them through tinted glasses, and no matter how well they performed, it was difficult for them to win the favor of the higher-ups.

Thus, some special-class graduates with high point totals would rather take positions at colleges than go to the Alliance and put up with others' attitudes. There were exceptions, though; a very small number of Alliance managers had been special-class students.

Jimo put away his phone. He had no interest in points.

Everyone on the forum was guessing what the student council had done wrong. It seemed no one knew; the news had been kept tightly under wraps.

But it didn't matter, as long as they didn't cause trouble for him and the protagonist.

Jimo headed off campus. He and Jiang Wangshu had arranged to have their first meal together in a while.

The milk tea shop was packed. Jimo looked around and saw that most of the customers were little kids from nearby middle schools. Jiang Wangshu was in the shop, deftly packing orders.

Jimo didn't call out to him, just stood in the back and waited. Only when the crowd had thinned somewhat did Jiang Wangshu notice him.

"Gege, you're here!" Jiang Wangshu's eyes lit up. He quickly took off his apron and handed it to another employee.

Jiang Wangshu came out holding two cups of milk tea, their straws already in place, and handed one to Jimo. "Why didn't you call me when you got here? Have you been waiting long?"

"I just got here."

The two walked toward campus, and Jimo brought up the student council. "Huang Zhenghao and the others seem to have upset Professor Mosi and gotten punished."

Jiang Wangshu was drinking, so his reply came out muffled. "Really? I haven't heard about it."

"They haven't bothered you lately, have they?"

Jiang Wangshu smiled at Jimo, revealing two sweet dimples. "No, thanks to you having me stay in the infirmary for three days, Gege."

Jimo was gratified. Remembering how gloomy the protagonist had looked when they first met, he felt Jiang Wangshu seemed much more lively like this.

Jimo took a sip of milk tea. The tea flavor was strong.

"How's your revision going?"

"Not bad."

Jiang Wangshu said, "Oh, right, Gege, can you ride a horse?"

Jimo shook his head. "Why?"

Equestrianism was a course offered only in the second year; most first-year classes were classroom-based.

Jiang Wangshu mentioned the academy's newly announced assessment requirements. The sport had recently been added to the assessment.

"Students aren't required to know how to ride, but it can earn bonus points that count toward the total score. It can improve your ranking quite a bit."

"I see."

This was very disadvantageous for Jimo. If the ten people he was competing against knew how to ride, it would effectively push his score down.

Jimo didn't understand. "Why did your medical school suddenly make a rule like that?"

The medical school's coursework was demanding enough. Why had they suddenly introduced something so pointless? What were the professors thinking?

Jiang Wangshu said, "The professors said our school doesn't place enough importance on socializing, so it's hard for us to climb the ladder after graduation. A doctor needs not only excellent medical skills, but also the ability to navigate social situations."

Jimo was speechless. What a twisted world.

"I'll think about it. There's only a little over a month until the assessment. It's too late to start learning now."

Jiang Wangshu suggested, "Why don't we go take a look at the riding grounds first? You might pick it up quickly."

Jimo didn't hold out much hope, but Jiang Wangshu looked so earnest. Besides, going would only take an afternoon and wouldn't get in the way of anything.

So he agreed.

It was overcast and rainy today, and there was no telling whether it might start pouring. Jiang Wangshu checked the weather forecast and suggested, "How about this Saturday? It'll be sunny, and there are more arenas available on weekends."

Jimo opened his class schedule. He had no classes on Saturday, and he could push back the revision he had planned.

"Sure."

Saturday arrived with a cloudless sky. It was indeed a beautiful day.

Jiang Wangshu was already waiting downstairs outside Jimo's dormitory early that morning.

As soon as Jimo came down, he saw that Jiang Wangshu looked a little excited, evidently looking forward to their riding trip.

Jimo asked, "Can you ride?"

Jiang Wangshu shook his head. "Don't worry. I looked into it, and the instructors there can guide us."

Seeing how excited he was, Jimo had thought he knew how to ride.

The two took a self-service driverless car to the riding grounds on the east side of the academy.

Easton Academy covered a vast area, and it had been no less generous with the land for its riding grounds. The facilities were comprehensive, with more than a dozen indoor arenas, a circular outdoor arena, a cross-country course, and a grass hunter arena.

When an instructor came over to brief them, he asked whether they preferred indoors or outdoors. The two exchanged a glance.

Jimo said, "Let's choose the safer option."

"Students, our safety standards are very high everywhere here. As soon as you enter these riding grounds, we guarantee your safety." The instructor wore tall boots and had a serious expression.

Seeing that neither of them answered, the instructor paused. "The weather's nice today, so I recommend going outdoors."

"Sure."

The instructor said, "All right. The outdoor arena costs one thousand Alliance coins per person per hour."

Jiang Wangshu was a little surprised. He had thought it was free. He would have to work part-time for a week to earn what one hour cost.

Without batting an eye, Jimo took out his card and handed it over. "Charge us for four hours to start with, for two people."

Jiang Wangshu pressed his lips together. He had always known there was a class gap between him and Jimo, but at this moment it had become more tangible.

How cruel. It seems I can never keep up with him, no matter what.

Jiang Wangshu said quietly, "Gege, I'll give you the money for my share."

Jimo was a little surprised. "There's no need. You came to keep me company, so I should pay."

Jiang Wangshu had no time to dwell on it. The instructor told them to collect their riding gear and clothes, then go to the stables and pick a horse they liked the look of.

Jiang Wangshu changed into riding clothes and led a majestic white horse out of the stables. Jimo's eyes lit up.

He praised him sincerely. "Xiao Shu, you look so handsome like that."

His long arms and legs and riding boots elevated his whole bearing, making him look like a true young nobleman.

Jiang Wangshu was a little embarrassed.

What he didn't say was that Jimo was the one who looked good in riding clothes. Jiang Wangshu was even a little embarrassed to meet his eyes.