Want to Avoid Failing?

This was practically an impossible question. Once Liu Shang failed to answer it, Li Wenzhong could launch into the reprimand and lecture he had prepared long ago.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, Liu Shang walked up to the podium without any visible change in expression. He picked up a piece of chalk and, without a moment's thought, began writing out the solution step by step on the blackboard.

He completed it almost in one go. In less than half a minute, the extremely difficult exam question had been solved with ease.

Whether it was the foundations of chemical theory or difficult calculations involving calculus, everything was flawless and precise.

Li Wenzhong was completely stunned at the podium. Only after Liu Shang had returned to his seat, and the classroom erupted in wild applause and cheers, did he finally snap out of it.

No matter how hard he thought, he could not understand how such a delinquent student, someone who skipped class, could solve a question he had made so difficult.

And do it so effortlessly!

How profound did his foundation and grasp of the subject have to be?!

But how was that even possible?!!!

At that moment, Jiang Ruolin and Zheng Jiao, who had been standing at the classroom door all along, showed completely different expressions.

At first, Jiang Ruolin's eyes had been filled with worry and concern. She simply could not connect Liu Shang with those students who skipped class and sat in the back rows.

But as the questioning continued, Jiang Ruolin's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

And when Liu Shang perfectly solved that difficult question, leaving the teacher dumbfounded and drawing applause from the entire classroom, a trace of relieved satisfaction appeared on Jiang Ruolin's face.

This was her boyfriend—the mischievous, talented, spirited guy in her heart.

In contrast, Zheng Jiao's expression changed from confident disdain to shock, until she was utterly dumbstruck.

At that moment, a terrifying thought surfaced in her mind. Could Liu Shang really be so formidable that he did not need to attend class or listen to lectures, yet still learned no worse than anyone else?

Amid the uproar in the classroom, Li Wenzhong took several deep breaths on the podium, cleared his throat, and said:

"Very good. Very impressive!"

"I, Li Wenzhong, am a man who honors his bets. Liu Shang, you won't need to attend my classes from now on. Personally, I won't hold it against you."

"After all, perhaps I'm simply not knowledgeable enough as a teacher, with nothing worthwhile to attract my students with?!"

"However, according to school regulations, I will not give you attendance credit."

"Liu Shang, I hope you can continue to give me a surprise after the final exam!"

Then Li Wenzhong cast a glance at the other students in the classroom, his eyes faintly burning with anger.

"I hereby announce that there will be no exam-topic outlines for Surfactant Chemistry this semester, nor will there be any designated exam content."

"Even the exam questions will be based on the textbook but extended beyond it."

"If you don't want to fail the final, then I think you should start preparing with everything you have right now."

"All right. The second half of class is for self-study. Class monitors from each class, please maintain order."

With that, Li Wenzhong tucked his lesson plans under his arm and strode out of the classroom, leaving everyone inside frozen in shock.

"W-What?"

"No exam outlines for the final? No designated exam content? Even the questions will go beyond the textbook?"

"Oh my God! Is he trying to kill us?"

"My heavens, he can't be that cruel, can he?"

"How are we supposed to survive this?!!!"

It was not just them. Even several top students were dumbfounded. One of them even slapped his forehead in frustration. "Sigh, when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer too."

"If we want to avoid failing the final, we'll probably have to study with the same intensity we had for the college entrance exams..."

Just as the classroom descended into complete chaos, a girl standing by the door shouted in a voice an octave higher than usual, "Hero Liu Shang, there's a beauty outside looking for you!"

At her teasing remark, everyone immediately turned toward the door and saw Jiang Ruolin's lovely figure, carrying a lavish breakfast.

Instantly, teasing, envious cries, and wolf whistles rose all around the room.

Liu Shang smiled, greeted the people he knew, picked up his bag, and turned to leave with an easy swagger.

Now that even the teacher had left, staying here any longer would only be a waste of time. Someone stood up, intending to leave as well, only to be stopped by their class monitor.

When questioned, the class monitor, who was already brooding over how to avoid failing, was clearly in a foul mood.

"The guy from the class next door got the teacher's imperial decree and even made a military pledge."

"If you want the same level of special treatment, I definitely won't stop you!"

Just as those students sheepishly returned to their seats, Liu Shang had already met Jiang Ruolin and Zheng Jiao outside the classroom.

Zheng Jiao took out seven thousand yuan in cash, intending to pay Liu Shang back, but he refused with a smile.

He said that he was treating everyone at this gathering. They were all classmates, so it did not matter who paid.

After offering several times and seeing that Liu Shang truly would not accept it, Zheng Jiao could only say goodbye and leave Liu Shang with Jiang Ruolin.

"You drank so much last night. Your stomach must be feeling awful now, right?"

After finding an empty classroom with no one inside, Jiang Ruolin opened up the breakfast for Liu Shang one item at a time.

Faced with her concern, Liu Shang drank his porridge while looking at Jiang Ruolin with a blissful, foolish smile, drawing an annoyed glare from her.

"You'd rather throw up outside the bathroom all night than turn your phone on and answer me, wouldn't you?"

"If that's how it is, why did you ask me to be your girlfriend?!"

Liu Shang was visibly startled. "How did you know?"

"Wasn't I just afraid you'd worry? Girls need enough sleep for good skin!"

"How else would I know? Of course I asked someone."

"Liu Shang, seven thousand yuan for last night's gathering isn't a small amount. How about I cover it for you first, and you can pay me back after you start working?"

"Just consider it a loan from me, okay?"

Seeing her like this, Liu Shang simply smiled and shook his head. "No."

Then he gently placed his hand against Jiang Ruolin's soft, delicate cheek. "Don't worry about me. Seven thousand yuan is not a small sum, but it really isn't that much either."

"And from now until forever and ever, I'll be the one earning money and supporting the family. You only need to stay beautiful like a flower!"

"I won't allow you to be so tired or worry about so much. Trust me, okay?"

His determination moved Jiang Ruolin, but it also made her heart ache. "Don't be so foolish, okay?"

"The objective world won't change just because of your subjective wishes. At our age, there are still many burdens beyond what we can bear."

"Liu Shang, I'm really afraid. Afraid that one day, this cold, realistic society and all these burdens will suddenly crush you."

"Or even if that day truly comes, I hope I can stay by your side forever, supporting each other through hardship."

"Right now, shouldn't the first thing we consider be avoiding failure and completing our studies successfully?"

"Your instructor must have been very angry today, right? Won't he make trouble for you later?"

To Jiang Ruolin's surprise, Liu Shang seemed to harbor no ill feelings toward that teacher at all. Instead, he earnestly began to comfort her.

"Silly girl, remember this: aside from our parents and relatives, our teachers truly are among the most lovable people."

"They won't make trouble for me. I won't fail either, and I definitely won't be unable to finish my studies."

"Like I said, trust me."

"As for my wife's philosophical question about the objective world and subjective consciousness, it's simple. I won't change the world through subjective consciousness. I'll change it through my actions."

Jiang Ruolin shot him an adorable glare. "Who's your wife?"