Winter Vacation

"That one, the student sitting next to me."

Her cousin smiled. "A handsome guy."

"Tch, not as handsome as me."

"You wish."

The classroom was noisy, with some happy and some worried.

Su Yan looked at the score sheet without joy or sorrow.

The homeroom teacher motioned for everyone to quiet down and announced, "Let's take a moment to review this exam before heading to the multimedia classroom for the school-wide awards ceremony. First, the top student in total score from our class: Su Yan!"

Su Yan stood up to make an appearance, and the other parents were full of envy.

"Su Yan's parents are both out of town and couldn't make it back, so they're absent today," the homeroom teacher said with a smile before continuing. "Second in total score: Lin Qiang."

Lin Qiang stood up with his father. The other parents congratulated his father one after another, and the man's face was glowing with pride.

"Third in total score: Liang Kui." The homeroom teacher's voice rang out loudly. He felt rather emotional inside. Liang Kui was quite playful; he had never expected his grades to be this good. What an unexpected gain.

Liang Kui stood up with a grin.

"Fourth in total score: Chen Wanwan."

Chen Wanwan had entered Class Two, Year One of high school with the top score, only to fall to fourth place after one semester. Chen Wanwan was unhappy, and so was her mother.

The homeroom teacher did not stop until he had read out the top ten, then specifically mentioned, "The student who improved the most in the class this time was Chen Yan. I hope Chen Yan will keep working hard."

Chen Yan slowly stood up. Her mother was pleasantly surprised and said happily, "It's all thanks to the teacher's excellent guidance."

"Next, please proceed to the multimedia classroom for the meeting. The principal will personally present the certificates and scholarships. Our class did very well this time, so please look forward to it." The homeroom teacher gave a mysterious smile.

Everyone headed toward the multimedia classroom. Lin Qiang excitedly slapped Su Yan on the shoulder. "Damn, Su Yan, your total score scared the hell out of me. I'd bet my life that first place in the entire grade is yours. I wonder how much the scholarship is."

The multimedia classroom was the largest meeting room in the school, and it was packed at the moment. Lin Qiang led the way to their class's seats. Before long, everyone had arrived, and the principal went onstage to give a speech.

Forty minutes later, the long-awaited awards ceremony began.

"First place in total score for Year One of high school: Su Yan of Class Two, Year One. Scholarship: one thousand yuan. Su Yan, please come onstage to receive your award."

The students of Class Two, Year One applauded vigorously. When Su Yan stood up, he stood head and shoulders above the crowd. The top student in the whole grade was actually this handsome!

Countless girls screamed excitedly. The principal's ears suffered terribly, and his brows twitched wildly.

Su Yan accepted the red certificate booklet and the thousand-yuan red envelope without expression. The principal said, "Su Yan, share some of your study experience and encourage the other students."

Su Yan frowned slightly. Holding the microphone, he fell silent for a few seconds. "Eat more fruits and vegetables. A healthy body makes for better studying."

A number of boys below snickered.

The principal froze for a few seconds, then coughed lightly several times and hurriedly sent Su Yan down. "Second place in total score for Year One of high school: Class Three, Year One..."

The second-place scholarship was five hundred yuan, and the third-place scholarship was two hundred yuan.

The principal continued, "Next are the remaining seven places among the top ten. There are twenty students in total. Those whose names are called, please come onstage. Each will receive a fifty-yuan scholarship."

"Lin Qiang of Class Two, Year One... Liang Kui of Class Two, Year One... Class Three, Year One... Chen Wanwan of Class Two, Year One..."

The twenty students went onstage and stood in a row. Ten teachers handed them red certificate booklets and prize money.

When it came to Liang Kui, he suddenly burst out laughing. The teacher asked strangely, "Why are you laughing, student?"

"I'm just too happy. It's my first time receiving a scholarship." A fifty-yuan scholarship made Liang Kui hold back his laughter until it hurt.

After Liang Kui returned to his seat, he collapsed onto the desk and could no longer hold it in. Clutching his stomach, he laughed so hard that his whole body shook.

His cousin said helplessly, "Settle down. The money may be little, but it's still encouragement. Many high schools don't even have a scholarship system. You should be glad you got one."

"I know, hahaha... but fifty yuan..." Liang Kui held the crisp new fifty-yuan bill, laughing until tears came out.

"If you think it's too little, then take first place next time. A thousand yuan won't look so bad."

"..." Liang Kui fell silent and looked at Su Yan. Su Yan's grades had surprised him. He knew Su Yan was good, but he had not expected him to be this good. Su Yan had beaten him by so many points.

They had no interest in the Year Two and Year Three awards that followed. Su Yan quietly slipped out through the back door, rode his bicycle away from campus, and planned to head straight to the market.

Once he left the street outside the school and turned a corner, the campus vanished from sight. But the moment Su Yan turned, several people sprang out in front of him. He braked sharply, planted his right foot on the ground, and stopped.

There were five people in total. Su Yan recognized them. They were notorious troublemakers at school, hoodlums and thugs wearing the label of students. Every school had a few people like that.

"Hand over your one-thousand-yuan scholarship, Su Yan, you great scholar."

Winter Vacation

"Robbery?" Su Yan raised a brow, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. He directly pressed the 1 key on his phone, and the call to 110 went through. This was a habit Su Yan had developed during the year of his college entrance exam in his previous life: setting emergency numbers such as 110, 120, and 119 to quick dial, just in case.