Flag Raising Ceremony

The students in the audience immediately put on masks of pain upon hearing that the principal was about to speak next.

Who among those present didn't know that when the school leaders spoke, it was always a long-winded speech? If it were a student representative speaking, they'd at least try to inspire you with some platitudes.

For the vast majority of students, the best thing about this half-hour break was the chance to catch up on sleep in their classrooms.

"Haaawn~"

In the queue for Class 3 of the Science Stream in their sophomore year, Chen Wei let out a deep yawn, completely uninterested in the principal's speech. He then turned to look at Xiao Yi beside him and asked curiously, "You look a bit excited. What's up?"

Xiao Yi glanced at him and said, "You'll know soon enough."

Chen Wei waved his hand and said, "It couldn't be that they're going to give you an award, right?"

Xiao Yi immediately gave him a strange look.

Weird, how did this kid know about this?

He only found out himself 10 minutes ago.

Sensing Xiao Yi's odd gaze, Chen Wei immediately jolted, a bad feeling dawning on him.

He widened his eyes. "You, you, you... it's not... it's not really...?"

"Uh-huh," Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow.

"Chen Wei."

At this moment, Luo Penghua's gaze fell upon them, and he glared at Chen Wei.

Chen Wei quickly stood at attention, not daring to speak further, but then his gaze kept shifting between the principal on the stage and Xiao Yi beside him.

Oh god, is Brother Xiao going to show off again?

"...In conclusion, I hope all students will reflect carefully after last week's midterm exams, strengthen their studies, and strive for progress in the second semester."

On stage, Liu Songlin gave a brief summary of the midterm exams conducted throughout the school last week, after which applause erupted from the entire audience.

As the applause gradually died down, the principal spoke again: "Additionally, last week, the junior year students participated in the Nine Provinces Joint Examination. Many students performed exceptionally well in this examination, and we would like to commend them here."

"Furthermore, we want to specially commend one student who achieved first place among 4.5 million candidates in this Nine Provinces Joint Examination!"

Upon hearing this, the entire school erupted in an uproar.

Good heavens, first place out of 4.5 million candidates?

Is this a joke?

Such a prodigy is from our school?

The first to be shocked were the junior year students. Except for Class 1 of the Science Stream, students from other classes had no idea how their grade's top student had performed. Upon hearing the principal's words, they were stunned.

"Holy crap! Is it true? First place out of 4.5 million candidates? When did our school get someone this awesome?"

"Who's this powerhouse?"

"When did Wang Zichao get this good?"

For the sophomore and freshman students, this news was equally unbelievable.

"That's amazing! Are the junior year students this awesome?"

"Damn, if they can get first place in the Nine Provinces Joint Examination, won't they become the Top Scholar in the Gaokao?"

"The Top Scholar could actually come from our school? It's usually someone from No. 1 High School!"

Besides the high school section, their school also had a middle school and an elementary school. For these students who were still far from the Gaokao, this news brought them immense shock.

First place out of 4.5 million people was enough to shock any student.

For a moment, these younger students couldn't help but look up to this super academic prodigy with admiration.

The only two classes in the entire venue that did not cause a stir were Class 1 of the Science Stream in the junior year, and Class 3 of the Science Stream in the sophomore year.

This was because they all knew that Xiao Yi had not participated in their sophomore year exams this time; he had taken the junior year exam.

Thinking back to his monthly exam results from a month ago, the eyes of the classmates in the class were all focused on Xiao Yi.

Chen Wei's eyes widened even further.

It's you, it's you, it's definitely you!

"This student's name is Xiao Yi. He achieved first place with scores of 131 in Chinese Language, 150 in Mathematics, 144 in English, and 300 in Science Comprehensive, for a total of 725 points. This is 5 points higher than the second-place finisher, who scored 720."

"He is the undisputed first place in this joint examination."

As Xiao Yi's name and total score were announced, the entire school was filled with another wave of exclamations.

Especially the junior and sophomore years.

The junior year students exclaimed, "How is it Xiao Yi?"

The sophomore year students reacted, "It's actually Xiao Yi!"

The junior year students had not heard of anyone named Xiao Yi among those with good grades in their year. The sophomore year students, on the other hand, were surprised that Xiao Yi had gone to take the junior year exam. They thought that the sophomore year exams weren't challenging enough for him, so he decided to experience the junior year exams?

And as a result of this "experience," he had completely dominated the junior year exams?

Principal Liu offered an explanation: "Student Xiao Yi actually comes from Class 3 of the Science Stream in his sophomore year. However, because he's already been noticed by the Gifted Class at the University of Science and Technology of China, he will be participating in the Gaokao this year along with the juniors. His participation in this current junior-level exam is also to prepare him for the Gaokao in advance."

"His ability to achieve such excellent results in an exam like this is the pride of our school and the pride of our entire province."

"Let us take this opportunity to wish him the very best results in the Gaokao, and we hope all students in the school will learn from student Xiao Yi!"

Following that, he began to clap.

All the students in the school also started clapping.

The younger students in the primary and middle school sections felt their hearts surge with excitement, wishing they too could win the championship among millions in the multi-province joint examination as sophomores participating with the juniors.

The high school students, on the other hand, were relatively more subdued, or rather, they were grumbling.

Learn from Xiao Yi?

Learn what?

Learn how he scored a total of 725?

Learn how he was selected for the Gifted Class?

Or learn how, as a sophomore selected for the Gifted Class, he then "dominated the nine provinces" and "turned his back on all the juniors" in the junior-level exam?

Impossible!

Completely impossible!

"To commend student Xiao Yi for his outstanding achievements, I, on behalf of the school, announce that we will be awarding student Xiao Yi a scholarship of ten thousand yuan. We hope he will continue to strive for excellence and achieve even greater success!"

"Student Xiao Yi, please come up to the stage to receive your award!"

Ten thousand yuan!

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted.

Except for a few from wealthy families, for the vast majority of students, ten thousand yuan was undoubtedly a huge sum of money.

It was enough to buy almost anything they wanted during their student days.

Whether it was a mobile phone or a computer...

In short, all the students wore expressions of envy.

And in the ranks of Class 3 of the Science Stream, Xiao Yi, under the gaze of all his classmates, stepped out of the formation and walked towards the podium.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands of students from the entire school, he walked to Principal Liu's side.

The center of everyone's attention!

Seeking collection and recommendations!