Midterm Exams

With less weighing on his mind, Shen Qi spared a little energy to improve in his other subjects.

The midterm exams were tomorrow. Chinese, math, English, physics, chemistry, and biology were all on the schedule. Math alone wouldn't be enough.

Science and Engineering were all connected. It wouldn't make sense if he did well only in math but couldn't improve in the other science subjects. That would arouse suspicion. Shen Qi took out 300 Scholar Points and invested them in physics, chemistry, and biology.

"100 Scholar Points deducted. Host's Physics Level increased from 0 to 1."

"100 Scholar Points deducted. Host's Chemistry Level increased from 0 to 1."

"100 Scholar Points deducted. Host's Biology Level increased from 0 to 1."

Host: Shen Qi

Age: 17

1. Math Level 3 (0/5000)

2. Sports Level 1 (0/1000)

2. Physics Level 1 (0/1000)

2. Chemistry Level 1 (0/1000)

2. Biology Level 1 (0/1000)

3. Chinese Level 0 (0/100)

3. English Level 0 (0/100)

3. History Level 0 (0/100)

3. Geography Level 0 (0/100)

3. Politics Level 0 (0/100)

Scholar Points remaining: 905

Shen Qi's subject rankings had changed. Math still held the top spot, while physics, chemistry, and biology had all risen to second place.

He still had over 900 Scholar Points left. He could force Chinese and English up to Level 1 as well, but Shen Qi didn't do that. Recently, he had been paying close attention in physics, chemistry, and biology, but had barely touched Chinese and English.

He still had to be rigorous. Using math to boost the other sciences, letting some science subjects get rich first, and eventually achieving common prosperity—that was perfectly reasonable in the real world.

Chinese and English were another matter. He'd deal with them later.

After finishing his evening study session in his bedroom, Shen Qi went to the living room to relax and watch some English Premier League.

It was already ten at night, and neither of Shen Qi's parents had come home. They were both busy.

Mom was working the night shift at the hospital, while his dad had probably gone out drinking with clients again. They both had it tough.

"Come on, Manchester United, hang in there! We can win this!"

Watching the English Premier League broadcast, Shen Qi jumped up in agitation. He was a Manchester United fan, and this round they were getting slaughtered away from home by Liverpool.

Shen Qi was interested in sports. Of his ten default subject levels, sports was the only one at Level 1.

Just then, the front door opened, and Shen Zhishan came home reeking of alcohol.

"Shen Qi, what are you doing?" Shen Zhishan tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa and looked very displeased.

"W-watching the Premier League," Shen Qi replied nervously.

"Oh, the Premier League." Shen Zhishan took off his belt and snapped it a few times.

"Hey, Boss Shen, you're not allowed to abuse a minor! That's illegal!" Shen Qi hurriedly turned off the TV to avoid getting beaten.

"Your midterms are coming up. Why are you watching the Premier League? Your grades are so bad. If a son isn't taught well, it's his father's fault. I haven't raised you properly, so today I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Snap, snap. Shen Zhishan whipped the belt a few more times. He'd been a soldier, then a civil servant, and now he was a boss. The soldier in his nature was hard to shake off. If his son didn't behave, then he needed a beating.

"Can you wait until after the midterms to decide whether to beat me?" Shen Qi hadn't told his parents that he'd gotten a perfect score on his math test. He wanted to save the big reveal for the midterms and surprise them. After all, a comprehensive exam like midterms was way more impressive than a classroom quiz.

"What was your overall ranking at the end of last semester in your second year of high school?"

"Forty-seventh in the class."

"How many students are in your class?"

"Forty-eight."

"Good job. Second from the bottom. Shen Qi, I'm a reasonable man. For these midterms, if you can place in the top forty in your class, I won't just refrain from beating you—I'll reward you. Don't you want the latest phone? Don't you want an Apple laptop? I'll buy them for you. I want to see you improve, but you have to earn both improvement and reward."

"Dad, you'll keep your word?"

"Of course. I, Shen Zhishan, always do what I say. But Shen Qi, if your grades still don't improve, then there's no point in going to school. I'll call an old army buddy and send you to enlist. A misguided kid like you should be sent to the military to shape up."

"I don't want to be a soldier! I'm going to be King of the Pirates—no, wait, I'm going to be the strongest top student!" Shen Qi had no desire to enlist.

"A top student? If you can become one, I'll buy you whatever you want. I could even get you a secondhand tank." Shen Zhishan had been drinking, so he was exaggerating a little.

"Dad, I've at least had some schooling. Smuggling arms carries criminal liability... And I don't really need a secondhand tank. How about you get me a car for my eighteenth birthday? A Fit would be fine. Xu Rui can already drive, and his family has a Fit. Of course, it's not as impressive as your car. You drive a Mercedes-Benz, after all."

"A Fit? If you can come in first in your class, I'll buy you a brand-new Mercedes-Benz."

"Then I'll sign up for driving school this summer and start learning. By next year, I'll be eighteen and ready to get my license." Kids these days were exposed to cars from an early age. Shen Qi envied Xu Rui, who could drive. Xu Rui was ten months older than him, already eighteen, and had gotten his license.

"Hoo... hoo..." The alcohol hit Shen Zhishan, and he fell asleep on the sofa.

"Hey, Boss Shen, the moment I mention a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, you go straight into sleep mode. Is that really okay?" Shen Qi was speechless. His dad was a man of his word when it came to rewards and punishments, and had the iron discipline of a soldier. His only flaw was that he liked to brag.

Monday, April 21. The second-year classes at Nangang Second High School began their midterm exams.

The eight science-track classes were tested in Chinese, math, English, physics, chemistry, and biology.

The three humanities-track classes were tested in Chinese, math, English, history, geography, and politics.

The first exam was Chinese.

Shen Qi performed as usual and filled in the entire Chinese exam paper during the two-and-a-half-hour exam.

Chinese was a subject based on the mother tongue of the people of China. Unless someone was illiterate, it wasn't a matter of knowing it or not.

Shen Qi hadn't invested even a single Scholar Point in his Chinese level. He relied on his instincts to complete the paper. How many points he'd get was up to fate.

That afternoon's exam was math, Shen Qi's strongest subject.

Solid Geometry, sin α, and tan β were child's play to him. He could write down the right answers with his eyes closed.

Shen Qi finished the math paper in just 37 minutes.

The allotted exam time was two hours.

Shen Qi handed in his paper more than an hour early. Zhang Wanbang was supervising the exam.

"This paper wasn't written by Teacher Zhang, was it? It's way too easy—so low-level I feel like calling the cops." Shen Qi muttered under his breath after handing in his paper.

"Get out of the exam room right now! Don't distract the other students!" Zhang Wanbang scolded him in a low voice. He had written most of the math paper and was the head of the second-year math group.

Shen Qi did exactly as Zhang Wanbang said and left the exam room at once.

Zhang Wanbang gave a barely perceptible smile. Shen Qi's progress in math had been growing at a geometric rate. High school math really was too low-level for him.

On Tuesday morning, they took English, and in the afternoon, physics.

On Wednesday morning, they took chemistry, and in the afternoon, biology.

For the exams in these four subjects, Shen Qi obediently stayed in the room until the bell rang before leaving. He wanted to show off, but didn't feel up to it. The gap between Level 0 or 1 and Levels 2 or 3 was considerable in practice.