The next day, morning study had barely begun, and Cheng Che had just opened his English textbook when Guo Xin leaned over and lowered his voice. "How'd you do?"
"Not bad," Cheng Che said.
Guo Xin pursed his lips toward somewhere up ahead.
"Zhao Lei's been acting like he's been injected with chicken blood all morning, telling everyone how much he's improved. From the sound of it, his math score went up at least ten points."
"Oh," Cheng Che said, leaving it at that.
Guo Xin grew anxious. "Aren't you worried? What if he actually beats you?"
Cheng Che turned a page. "Then nothing. I'm not taking the exam for his score."
He really wasn't in the mood to compete with Zhao Lei now.
The trial objectives on the system panel were perfectly clear. He needed the top 50, full marks, professional level, and 1,000 people watching him.
Whether Zhao Lei had improved a lot or made the top 100 had nothing to do with him, did it?
Besides, if Zhao Lei really jumped from 380th into the top 100, Cheng Che could make his peace with that.
If the guy was even more ridiculous than a cheat user like him, what was there not to make peace with?
Zhao Lei was indeed very pleased with himself.
He sat ramrod straight in his seat, his desktop immaculately tidy.
For the past two weeks, he had been grinding practice questions until midnight. Even his mother had praised him for becoming much more sensible.
He had checked his answers last night. His math score alone was nearly ten points higher than last time.
This time, he had a very good chance of beating Cheng Che.
He stole a glance toward Cheng Che, but he didn't let his pride go to his head.
I need to keep a low profile for now.
Once the papers are handed out, everything will be clear.
The first lesson was math.
Old Xu entered with his tea mug in hand and that signature stack of exam papers tucked under his arm.
A chorus of sharp gasps immediately filled the classroom.
"Same rules as always. Lowest to highest."
Old Xu unhurriedly called names and handed out papers.
The scores came out one by one, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.
Guo Xin had scored 113, three points higher than last time, and was so happy he nearly sprang out of his chair.
"Zhao Lei, 121."
Zhao Lei stood and walked steadily up to the teacher's platform.
121, an improvement of nine points over last time and thirteenth in the class. As he accepted his paper, his chin lifted slightly without his realizing it.
But he didn't get carried away.
Because he knew Cheng Che's score hadn't been announced yet.
Still, it wasn't a big problem.
He had improved so much this time. Cheng Che had scored 128 last time, so this time he would probably only be about even with him at best.
Maybe his score had even dropped.
He just had to wait and see.
"Lin Xiao, fourth place, 135."
Zhao Lei's heart lurched.
Fourth place already.
Cheng Che still hasn't received his paper.
He turned to watch Lin Xiao collect the paper, then looked at Cheng Che.
He wasn't alone. Quite a few people in the class instinctively looked toward Cheng Che.
After looking over, several girls' gazes changed.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window and fell across that face, which grew more appealing the longer one looked.
He was looking down, writing something on scrap paper. His lashes cast a small patch of shadow beneath his eyes, and the clean lines of his profile looked as though they had been sketched in pencil.
So handsome.
"Su Qingyue, third place, 136."
Everyone turned their heads in unison again.
Still not Cheng Che?
Could he be second?
Zhou Mingxuan also turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Cheng Che.
"Zhou Mingxuan, second place, 138."
The classroom erupted in a buzz.
"Holy shit?"
"No way..."
"Cheng Che's first???"
Old Xu ignored the commotion below. He pulled the final paper from the bottom of the stack and looked up at Cheng Che, his smile creasing his entire face.
"Cheng Che, first place. 140."
The entire classroom fell silent for three full seconds.
Then, like someone had splashed a ladle of water into sizzling oil, it exploded.
"What the hell?!"
"140 in math? The total's only 150, and he got 140?"
"Is he even human?"
Zhao Lei sat dazed in his chair, the paper in his hand having slipped to the floor at some point.
121 points. His proud 121 points looked like a joke next to 140.
He suddenly remembered how he had been thinking earlier, Maybe his score has even dropped.
Dropped?
He's almost at full marks!
Old Xu handed Cheng Che his paper and patted his shoulder. "Keep it up. Your math score this time ranked third in the entire grade."
Third in the entire grade!
Cheng Che accepted the paper and said, "Thank you, sir."
When he returned to his seat, Guo Xin snatched his paper and cradled it in both hands like a sacred relic.
"Bro, I'm yours from now on. Teach me math. I'm begging you, bro."
"Get lost." Cheng Che pulled his paper back.
He looked down at the questions he had gotten wrong and noted them down to study once he got home.
After a moment's thought, he folded the paper and tucked it into his mistake notebook.
As soon as the bell rang, the students streamed out of the classroom.
As usual, the noticeboard was surrounded by people.
Guo Xin squeezed to the front, wriggling through the crowd like a loach while muttering under his breath.
"Let me see, let me see. Where's Cheng Che? Thirtieth? Fortieth? Holy shit!"
His voice suddenly rose so loudly that half the corridor could hear him.
"Cheng Che! Thirtieth in the whole school! Total score, 630! First in the class!"
"What?!"
"Thirtieth in the school? 630?"
"Cheng Che from Senior Year Class Five?"
"The guy who beat Class Seven with that buzzer-beater last time?"
More and more people gathered around.
Guo Xin grew even more excited. He simply jumped onto the edge of a flower bed, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "My bro Che is here! Who else wants some!"
Cheng Che's toes had already clawed a three-bedroom apartment with a living room into the insides of his shoes.
He rushed over, clamped a hand over Guo Xin's mouth, and dragged him down from the flower bed.
"Shut your mouth!"
Guo Xin struggled, still shouting indistinctly through his hand, "Mmph, mmph-Bro Che's fucking awesome-"
Several girls from other classes standing around the noticeboard turned at the commotion.
Once their eyes landed on Cheng Che, they couldn't look away.
Today, he wore a school uniform washed pale with use, with a spotless white hoodie underneath. Standing among the crowd, he looked as though a soft-focus filter had automatically settled over him.
His hair had become a little disheveled from running over, and a few sweat-damp strands clung to his temples, making his youthful air even more striking.
"So that's Cheng Che..."
"He's actually even better-looking up close than in the basketball video."
"His grades are this good too? Is he going to leave the rest of us any room to live?"
Cheng Che knew he couldn't stay any longer.
The Stars Surrounding the Moon talent already drew enough attention normally. In a situation like this, it was practically shining a spotlight on him.
He released Guo Xin, turned, and ran.
He ran halfway across the sports field in one go and came face-to-face with a figure carrying a tea mug.
"What are you running for?"
Old Xu stood at the entrance to the teaching building, wearing the ghost of a smile.
Cheng Che skidded to a stop and took a couple of breaths. "Nothing. No reason. Guo Xin's going nuts by the noticeboard."
"Oh." Old Xu looked him up and down for a while, then suddenly said, "I was just looking for you. Say a few words at tomorrow's flag-raising ceremony."
Cheng Che froze.
"Say... what?"
"You made the biggest improvement this time, so the school has arranged for you to share your experience." As Old Xu spoke, he pulled two folded sheets of A4 paper from his pocket and handed them over. "Here's a sample. Take it home, have a look, and write a speech. It doesn't need to be too long. Three to five minutes will do."
Cheng Che accepted the two sheets, his heart suddenly beating faster.
The flag-raising ceremony.
He tightened his grip on the sample speech and suppressed the upward curve of his lips, which he could barely hold back. "Okay. I'll make sure I give a good speech tomorrow."
Old Xu nodded, turned, and left.
Cheng Che stood where he was and took a deep breath.
The entire school's teachers and students, all watching him at once.
There would be at least 3,000 people there. Their school had a junior high division too.
He raised his head and looked toward the silver-white flagpole at the far end of the sports field.
The opportunity he had been waiting for had arrived.
That evening, he returned home.
Before Cheng Che even stepped through the door, there was already a buoyancy to his steps.
He walked with the wind at his heels today, his schoolbag slung over his shoulder, his strides long and light. He felt as though he were walking on clouds.
Cheng Jianguo was watering the flowers on the balcony. Hearing the door open, he looked back and grinned. "Well, whose boy is this coming home? Walking like you've topped the imperial exams."
Cheng Che chuckled, pulled his report card from his schoolbag, and waved it in front of him.
Cheng Jianguo snatched it and narrowed his eyes to read.
"630?" He read it once, then again. "Six... six hundred and thirty? Thirtieth in the entire grade?"
Jiang Xue happened to be carrying a dish out. At his words, she nearly lost her grip on the plate. "How much?"
"630! First in his class, thirtieth in the whole grade!" Cheng Jianguo slapped his thigh, his voice loud enough for the neighbors to hear. "The Cheng family is going to have a university student! No, a Project 985 university student!"
Jiang Xue snatched the report card and read it over three times, her eyes suddenly reddening.
"Cheche, this... you've improved so much. Mom hasn't even caught up yet."
Seeing how happy they were, Cheng Che felt his little swell of pride slowly settle instead.
He walked over to the table, sat down, and said quietly, "It's just one monthly exam. It's not the college entrance exam yet."
"That's still worth celebrating!" Jiang Xue turned and headed into the kitchen. "I'll make another dish! Where's my phone? I need to call your grandparents."
"No, no, don't." Cheng Che hurried to stop her. "We haven't even drawn the first stroke yet. Wait until I've finished the college entrance exam to share the good news."
"How could we do that!" Cheng Jianguo chimed in beside him. "We have to tell them now. Give your grandpa something to be happy about."
Unable to stop them, Cheng Che could only let them do as they pleased.
After dinner, he returned to his room and closed the door behind him.
The two sheets of the sample speech still lay spread across his desk.
Cheng Che sat down, picked up his pen, and took a deep breath before beginning his preparations for tomorrow's mission.