Modern era, classroom.
"Zheng Fa, you're about to lose me!"
Zheng Fa, bent over his desk studying, looked up and stared blankly for a moment. Only after his mind pulled free from those indescribable mathematical symbols did he see that Wang Chen was the one speaking to him.
Wang Chen looked deeply grieved.
"When you memorized textbooks, I put up with it!"
"When you ranked second in the class and top ten in the grade, I put up with it!"
"Even when you and Tang Lingwu were all tangled up and flirting around, I still put up with it!"
"..."
Wang Chen's tone became one of heartfelt anguish. "But look at yourself—what are you doing now?!"
Zheng Fa glanced at the Perfect-Score Exam Compendium in his hands. "What's wrong?"
"You're actually memorizing exam papers! And you memorize whichever questions are the hardest!" Wang Chen sighed. "We've known each other for so many years. I thought I understood you well enough. But now... you're such a freak that you feel like a stranger to me..."
Zheng Fa fell silent, then said, "Forget you. Even I think I'm becoming a bit of a freak."
"?"
"You wouldn't understand what it feels like to be forced by life to cram this disgusting stuff into your head... I feel a little sick now. I'm leaving first."
With that, Zheng Fa looked at the sky, shook his head, and headed downstairs. Today was the day he and Tang Lingwu were going to Old Man Bai's for tutoring.
Watching Zheng Fa leave, Wang Chen blankly turned back to his deskmate and asked, "Was Zheng Fa cursing himself just now? Has he studied himself stupid?"
"Seems like it!" His deskmate nodded. Watching Wang Chen pull a textbook from his desk, close his eyes, and begin muttering, he