Zhang Zhaomu was getting a little frantic.
"Everyone's so positive, huh? Looks like I'll have to unleash the Demon Orb!"
"You like studying? Then go to class and sleep it off!"
"Give me the [cat] persona too!"
Loading failed.
Almost instinctively, Zhang Zhaomu realized that he could only have two personas at the same time.
Fortunately, loading and unloading do not require a cooldown period, so he unloaded the [ Refined ] persona and successfully loaded the [cat] persona this time.
Sleepiness immediately washed over me.
"I really want to go back to sleep... But I can't. I already missed the flag-raising ceremony last week, and if I miss it again this week, even Chen Yongchao will be furious."
"Damn it, if I'm sleepy all day, I can't concentrate on studying at all. Looks like I'll have to go buy another serving of extra spicy konjac."
Zhang Zhaomu instantly shed her "cat" persona.
It seems even the Demon Orb can't stop its thirst for knowledge...
"Fine, let's leave it at that..."
"Looking at it from another angle, being a Academic Ace isn't so unacceptable. This week's persona is at least a positive one, much better than the 'cat' persona of someone who's always sleepy and worried about stress."
Zhang Zhaomu quickly accepted this fact and incidentally put on the " Refined " persona again.
Even if you're going to be Academic Ace, you have to be a Refined Academic Ace! After all, being handsome lasts a lifetime!
She nimbly got out of bed, folded the blankets, washed up, and changed into her school uniform.
Then I went out and walked towards Liu's Noodle Shop.
A new week should definitely start with a bowl of bright red rice noodles!
Unsurprisingly, Zhang Zhaomu ran into Chen Zhenzhen, who was also eating noodles. He plopped down next to her and, as usual, called out, "Chen--Zhen!"
Chen Zhenzhen was already used to it and didn't even bother to correct her. She looked up at Zhang Zhaomu and then showed a surprised expression. "Why are you wearing your school uniform again today? And you look... a little different."
"What's different?" Zhang Zhaomu sat down opposite her. "Isn't he even more handsome?"
"Stop being so narcissistic!" Chen Zhenzhen scrutinized Zhang Zhaomu.
She knew Zhang Zhaomu too well. Although his facial features hadn't changed at all, she felt there was a subtle difference between him and yesterday.
She quickly noticed the difference. Zhang Zhaomu's eyes usually had a tired and lazy look, but today they seemed more profound. He looked less carefree and more composed and deep.
This change in his demeanor made Chen Zhenzhen feel that he did indeed look more handsome...
Of course, she wouldn't tell the truth, otherwise, given Zhang Zhaomu's personality, she would probably be strutting around with her head held high.
" Chen Zhen, what kind of look is that?" Zhang Zhaomu smirked, "Are you swooning?"
"You're overthinking it." Chen Zhenzhen quickly looked away and said, "I'm already used to your face. I see you no differently than a dog on the street now."
"Even if it's to cover up your guilty conscience, you don't have to say it so harshly." Zhang Zhaomu clicked her tongue and changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, where did you rank in your class in the last diagnostic test?"
"You're actually interested in something like grades?" Chen Zhenzhen asked in surprise. "Has the sun risen in the west?"
"Can't I even show some concern for my buddy?"
"Eighth place." Chen Zhenzhen curled her lip.
"The eighth-ranked student in Class One is practically the eighth-ranked student in the entire grade, right? Wow, that's an improvement from before," Zhang Zhaomu said with a smile. "You used to be in the top ten or so in the whole school, weren't you?"
"No, not at all." Chen Zhenzhen sighed, "It's just that after the division into arts and sciences tracks, a few people above me went to arts..."
"But I'm already satisfied with maintaining this ranking."
Zhang Zhaomu raised an eyebrow. "How can you be satisfied with just that? You're a genius! Try to get first place in the grade next time!"
"What are you thinking?" Chen Zhenzhen rolled her eyes. "I don't want to associate with those guys who study all day except when they're sleeping. I can't just stop playing games because I'm studying, can I?"
Zhang Zhaomu replied without hesitation, "Why play games! Studying is more important!"
Then a feeling of embarrassment washed over me.
Damn! What kind of outrageous things am I saying?!
He looked at Chen Zhenzhen, and sure enough, she looked speechless and said:
"Such words have absolutely no credibility coming from your mouth. You're probably the person in the whole school who loves playing games the most and hates studying the most!"
Zhang Zhaomu inwardly agreed, but said earnestly, "I really enjoy studying now."
"That's a good joke." Chen Zhenzhen said, and actually laughed. "It's mainly because of your expression; it sounds so real... I declare you can make this your signature joke. Anyone who knows you will find it hard to hold back their laughter."
"How dare you bully me, you brat!" Zhang Zhaomu raised an eyebrow. "When my grades surpass yours, I will repay this humiliation in full!"
"Oh." Chen Zhenzhen was too lazy to reply, assuming the other person was just spouting nonsense about role-playing again. She pointed to the noodles that had just been served. "So, are you going to eat or not? I won't wait for you if you're late."
"... eat."
Zhang Zhaomu, as the class monitor, stood at the head of the line just in time for the flag-raising ceremony.
The school leaders on stage gave a long speech about disciplinary issues, and then student representatives gave speeches, all of which encouraged everyone to study hard.
In the past, Zhang Zhaomu would always be distracted during flag-raising ceremonies, but today his attention was drawn to the student representatives.
Those who can become representatives are naturally those with excellent academic performance. For example, the person who is on stage today is the class monitor of Class 1, Grade 11 Science, named Gong Xueqian.
He wore black-rimmed glasses, a school uniform, and had an average appearance with a buzz cut.
Zhang Zhaomu could remember his name mainly because this guy had consistently held the top spot in the grade since the beginning of high school, never falling from it, and was a positive example frequently mentioned by teachers of all subjects.
"Giving a speech from up there must be really cool, right? I'd like to try it sometime."
The thought that suddenly popped into Zhang Zhaomu's mind seemed a bit absurd.
He simply couldn't imagine himself standing on that stage as a student representative. For a mediocre student, the only way to get onto that stage was probably after being disciplined and publicly executed by reading a self-criticism in front of the entire school...
"No, I'm Academic Ace now."
Zhang Zhaomu thought for a moment and said, "With plugins already, how could we be inferior to the top student in a mere county high school?"
"With my ' Academic Ace ' persona, I'll top Xinxi No. 1 High School in the next monthly exam and then thoroughly humiliate Chen Zhen!"
The thought that Chen Zhenzhen, though filled with grief and indignation, would have no choice but to submit to his report card and allow himself to be humiliated filled Zhang Zhaomu with motivation.
As soon as the flag-raising ceremony ended, I couldn't wait to return to the classroom and open my math textbook.
"I feel the intelligence surging! It's starting to ignite!"
"So you call yourself Math? I used to be all timid and subservient in front of you, but from today onwards, I'm going to completely conquer you! First, I'll do a hundred problems!"
" From Academic Ace's perspective, start!"
[Given that the ellipse C: x^2/a^2 + y^2/b^2 = 1 (a > b > 0) has an eccentricity of √6/3, and the distance from one endpoint of its minor axis to a focus is √3, find the standard equation of ellipse C.]
Zhang Zhaomu: "..."
I don't understand it at all.
Wait, I promised myself I'd be Academic Ace this week!