When students finished turning in their comprehensive science exam, cheers erupted from the first and second-year teaching buildings. They were starting their holiday break.

Meanwhile, the third-year students still had to attend supplementary classes, with their schedule extending until the twenty-eighth day of the last lunar month. There wasn’t much to be happy about. Unlike the monthly exams where subject teachers graded their classes, the final exams were graded collectively across the entire grade, so it took longer. The pace of learning didn’t slow down because of one final exam; the gears of the third year continued turning.

Because of Qi Xiulei’s two books, the class remained exceptionally excited for two consecutive weeks. During every break, students would gather to discuss universities and majors. Sheng Xia’s ears were filled with “humble brags” from the top students, leaving her both envious and melancholic.

In this class, everyone she knew well was either steady enough for regular key universities or competing for top-tier ones. They discussed things Sheng Xia didn’t dare to imagine. The only one who didn’t participate was Hou Junqi, who was either sleeping or playing games.

Sheng Xia could only talk with Tao Zhizhi. At No. 1 High School, Tao Zhizhi was in the upper-middle range, with grades similar to Sheng Xia’s. Tao Zhizhi also had a target school – a regular key university in Dongzhou.

When she heard about Sheng Xia being arranged to study abroad, Tao Zhizhi wasn’t surprised at all.

“Your father seems like he has no expectations for you, but that’s actually because he’s already planned everything out.”

Indeed, she was the only one with the surname Sheng, the only child Sheng Mingfeng showed to the outside world.

If she didn’t amount to anything, where would he put his face?

How could he possibly let her truly live without ambition?

She had always understood this logic.

“Do you want to go?” Tao Zhizhi asked.

“No,” Sheng Xia answered decisively.

“Why?” Tao Zhizhi asked.

Why indeed.

Besides her mother’s reasons, she had her considerations.

Sheng Xia said, “I feel like not attending university in China would be a regret. I still want to spend my college life with my people.”

Sheng Xia understood herself – she was nostalgic and slow to warm up to others. If she went abroad, cultural differences would become a huge barrier. She knew many people who studied abroad still mainly socialized within Chinese circles, maintaining their comfort zone and living quite well, but Sheng Xia felt she probably couldn’t do that. She was too sensitive to her environment; for instance, though she liked quiet places, she felt more at ease reading in a temple than in a church.

Moreover, university was perhaps the most important period for forming one’s worldview, and she hoped to develop and shape hers in her own country.

While not dismissing that many foreign schools were excellent, the majors she wanted to study leaned towards humanities, and there didn’t seem to be much necessity to study those abroad.

It wasn’t that studying abroad was bad, it just wasn’t suitable for her.

Lost in her thoughts, Sheng Xia received a reply on her phone.

Tao Zhizhi: “Your people, who? Zhang Shu?”

Sheng Xia: “…Chi-nese peo-ple!”

Tao Zhizhi: “Hehe, don’t get excited, don’t get excited! So what are you planning to do?”

Sheng Xia: “Keep two options open. If I can get into a good university, I won’t need to go abroad.”

Two options, or perhaps it should be called outward compliance but inner opposition. She had been an obedient child for seventeen years; this time, she wanted to make her own decision.

Tao Zhizhi: “You mean while dealing with your dad and preparing for studying abroad, you’ll also continue preparing for the college entrance exam? That will be tough, and TOEFL is very difficult too!”

Sheng Xia: “Yes, I’m prepared for that.”

It was already in progress.

It was a very risky dream, but she hoped it would come true when daylight broke.

…

On the first Friday of supplementary classes, the full results came out.

A major upset: The top spot in the grade had changed hands.

Zhang Shu, the perpetual number one, ranked eleventh.

What kind of Waterloo was this? Dropping straight out of the top ten!

The entire grade was in an uproar, and this is no exaggeration because this wasn’t just about one person’s rise and fall.

The new first place was someone who had been hovering between second and fifth place, from Class 12.

The experimental class.

This was the first time since the second-year class divisions that an experimental class had taken first place in the grade.

This wasn’t just one person’s victory.

Class 12 happened to be directly above Class 6, and during evening study hall, Class 6 could hear the cheers and screams from Class 12. The long-suppressed experimental class students felt like they were witnessing a historical turning point, just short of waving class flags and shouting battle cries.

Class 6 was filled with whispers, with some rolling their eyes at the floor above.

The scene of their proud speech under the national flag at the start of the semester was still fresh in my memory – how did it end up like this at the end of the term?

Zhang Shu’s English and comprehensive science scores were normal, and his math score of 130 wasn’t low, but he usually scored near perfect or perfect, so this time it seemed quite ordinary. What dragged down his score was Chinese – his essay didn’t even get 30 points, as it was incomplete and scored based on the number of lines written.

If his essay had scored 45 points, he would have tied with the new first place.

At Zhang Shu’s level, grades were no longer just his matter. The vice principal, grade director, Wang Wei, and Fu Jie gathered for a meeting, and sure enough, they soon called for Zhang Shu.

At the grade director’s office.

When Zhang Shu reached the door, he heard the vice principal questioning Wang Wei: “Besides academics, we must also keep a firm grip on students’ lives and thoughts – these directly affect their studies too, isn’t this what you’re best at, Teacher Wang?”

Wang Wei nodded repeatedly: “Yes, that’s right, yes, yes.”

Zhang Shu met Fu Jie’s innocent gaze, both their eyes showing helplessness.

Zhang Shu didn’t understand – just because he didn’t get first place in the finals, did that make him a student with life and thought problems?

“Reporting in,” he coldly interrupted the grade director’s next words.

The grade director turned around, “Come in.”

Zhang Shu sat down on the other side of the conference table, his expression indifferent.

The grade director first went around in circles, spinning similar wheels of “school leadership’s concern” no less than five times. Zhang Shu listened patiently, and when it was finished, merely said, “Mm, thank you, teacher.”

Politeness and attitude somehow didn’t conflict in his case.

Wang Wei kept trying to catch his eye.

“You didn’t do well this time – what do you think the problem is, student Zhang Shu?” the grade director asked.

Zhang Shu said, “Didn’t do well? This score is fine for getting into any university, I think it’s quite alright?”

He spoke matter-of-factly, and Wang Wei, remembering Zhang Shu’s frequent saying that “as long as the score is enough to use, it’s fine,” sighed inwardly.

In the end, the brainwashing hadn’t succeeded!

The grade director and vice principal were speechless.

It seemed there was nothing wrong with what he said.

“But your ability isn’t just at this level – you’re our school’s potential provincial top scorer!” the grade director said earnestly.

Zhang Shu said, “Our school should still have others who can score top in the province.”

The implication is, I don’t want to be the top scorer.

This…

The vice principal had also worked up from being a grade director, and had conducted countless ideological work sessions, but had never heard this kind of logic. Among students with scores at this level, who wouldn’t want to aim for the top?

The grade director shot another glance at Wang Wei, his eyes saying: Look at the good student you’ve taught.

The vice principal changed the subject: “What happened with your Chinese exam?”

Zhang Shu glanced at Fu Jie, who was looking at him sternly with an expression that said ‘You dare blame me and you’re dead’, making Zhang Shu want to laugh, but he held it in and told the truth: “I fell asleep.”

Everyone: …

Wang Wei said harshly: “Didn’t you know you were in an exam? Falling asleep?”

Fu Jie asked: “Were you feeling unwell that day?”

Zhang Shu: “No.”

“Were you feeling down then? Whether it’s something at home or in your personal life, if you need the school’s help, you should speak up in time.”

Zhang Shu: “No, I was quite happy… well, not exactly.” He paused, then smiled. “I was very happy.”

Everyone: …

Looking at the four confused adults, Zhang Shu suddenly felt it was too boring. Why bother trying to express and output anything here? What a waste of time.

So he compromised by retreating: “I’ll be careful next time and guarantee I won’t sleep, but grade fluctuations are unavoidable. Even without sleeping, there’s still a possibility of not doing well.”

Everyone again: …

The grade director had never had a conversation go like this before – not only did they have zero intimidating effect on the student, but they were almost being led by him.

Seeing the situation, Wang Wei hurriedly smoothed things over: “I’ll work more on his thinking. Zhang Shu has always been stable; perhaps something did distract him. His other subjects are still steady, and the Chinese issue isn’t related to Teacher Fu’s teaching. This won’t happen again.”

“Right, Zhang Shu?”

Zhang Shu thought Old Wang wasn’t bad this time, knowing which trench held his allies. He nodded: “Right.”

The grade director gave many more instructions, even bringing out the threat of “changing classes.” Wang Wei kept making promises until the meeting finally ended.

Outside the grade director’s office, Wang Wei’s face darkened. “Come here!”

Zhang Shu looked to the sky.

With no one else in the office, Wang Wei put his hands on his hips, furious. “Tell me, are you in puppy love?”

Zhang Shu replied frankly: “Does unrequited love count?”

Wang Wei’s eyes widened. “You dare admit it? Let me tell you, don’t think you can slack off just because you’re smart. Don’t you know what you should be doing at this time? Don’t say your grades are just your business anymore. If you… if you have something with that girl, your grades won’t be just your business anymore, understand?!”

Zhang Shu looked up at the fuming Wang Wei, and after a long moment, raised his eyebrows. “Teacher Wang, you’re eye-opening today!”

Wang Wei: …

The affiliated middle school wasn’t too strict about puppy love – as long as it didn’t affect grades, most teachers turned a blind eye. But for someone like Zhang Shu, it was unlikely they’d let him do as he pleased.

Zhang Shu understood this point; actually, he had thought about it the moment he put his head down.

“Old Wang, Teacher Wang?”

Wang Wei’s body jolted – this kid never called people formally unless something was up.

“There’s no one else here, can you drop the stern face?” Zhang Shu said seriously. “Keeping someone tied to the peak isn’t realistic. I can maintain first place because I’m strong, but it’s not my obligation. I’ve never promised anyone I would get first place. Grades have never been set in stone, rankings even less so. What I can guarantee is being responsible to myself, responsible to the present, responsible to the future – not being responsible to scores or rankings.”

Wang Wei stared at Zhang Shu, his thick eyebrows tightly knitted.

“I haven’t slacked off just because I’m smart. At this point, I know very well what I should be doing,” Zhang Shu used Wang Wei’s words to respond, then added, “Isn’t it good to experience some ups and downs in advance? I’m taking it normally, can you all take it normally too?”

Wang Wei felt like he was the one being brainwashed.

He was starting to accept the possibility that Zhang Shu might not get first place.

[Keeping someone tied to the peak isn’t realistic.]

Wang Wei mulled over this sentence, looking at the seventeen-year-old youth before him with complex emotions.

Imagine if he had been in the position of first in the grade when he was young – could he have maintained such equanimity as the youth before him?

Very difficult.

Though he hadn’t been teaching for many years, he had seen many students crumble at the first setback. Especially those who fell from the peak – that psychological barrier was very hard to overcome.

Indeed, the reality was that no one stays at the peak forever; everyone must experience falling at some point.

“You two…” Wang Wei could barely get the words out. “What were you doing the night before the exam?”

Zhang Shu: “You’re asking about that too?”

Wang Wei looked serious: “What couldn’t wait until after the exam? If I hadn’t seen Sheng Xia’s grades improve so much, I’d want to take a whip at you!”

Zhang Shu said seriously: “I understand, I know my limits. Don’t worry, I’ll try to win back both face and substance for you in the first mock exam.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving. Thanks for today, Old Wang!”

Wang Wei was still angry and shouted at Zhang Shu’s back: “What do you mean win back for me? What’s it got to do with me? Are you studying for me or yourself!”

Oh, so now studying had finally become his own business.

Zhang Shu turned his head and smiled: “Whatever you say. I’m going to comfort Teacher Fu!”

His casual nap had blackened Fu Jie’s face.

Teaching isn’t easy, Wang Wei sighed.

Sheng Xia ranked 29th in the class – her progress was like riding a rocket.

Except for scoring 119 in math, her improvement in other subjects wasn’t particularly large, but somehow when added together, it shot up dramatically. According to the mock exam cutoff lines, she was nearly 20 points above the first-tier university line.

When she first got her score slip, Sheng Xia spent a long time incredulously checking the student ID number – it was indeed hers.

However, the joy didn’t last long. As the discussions around her grew louder, she also got the news that Zhang Shu had met his Waterloo.

Because of the Chinese exam score.

Sheng Xia knew without thinking that he had fallen asleep that day and hadn’t finished writing.

Was it because he was too tired from staying up late? If so, wasn’t that because of her?

That phrase popped up in Sheng Xia’s mind again: Dating affects grades.

“Sheng Xia, Teacher Fu is looking for you.”

Just as she was thinking, a voice called from the back door.

Sheng Xia’s heart jumped.

Before she even left, the classroom was already buzzing with whispers.

Zhang Shu and Sheng Xia had “left” together before the exam in full view of everyone, and now this Waterloo had happened – these two would probably be watched closely now.

“Will their parents be called in?”

“But Sheng Xia improved a lot!”

“Of course she did, didn’t you see Zhang Shu teaching her hands-on?”

“I’m envious, but what’s up with Zhang Shu?”

“Who knows…”

Sheng Xia anxiously went upstairs, but at Fu Jie’s office door, she ran into Zhang Shu coming out.

She became even more flustered.

Zhang Shu saw her and looked a bit surprised, then put on a tragic expression and stopped her, asking: “Worried about me?”

Sheng Xia: … Actually, she was quite worried, but…

“No, Teacher Fu is looking for me…”

Zhang Shu raised his eyebrows – had he asked for trouble himself?

Sheng Xia had just answered casually, but catching his slightly hurt expression and thinking about the reason for his “Waterloo,” she “worriedly” asked: “Was it because of the Chinese exam… why didn’t you hold on a bit longer?”

You’d already written more than twenty lines, what difference would a little longer have made?

“Couldn’t hold on anymore,” Zhang Shu said very naturally, even with a hint of self-blame. “I was so sleepy my soul was leaving my body. I was afraid if I wrote anymore, the exam paper would be full of thoughts about you.”

Sheng Xia’s ears turned red, her heart thumping chaotically.

Could he talk normally?

She lowered her head, her voice so small she could barely hear herself: “How can that be… then, then don’t think about me in the future.”

Ah, help, she had just complained about him, and now what was she saying?

The words came out embarrassing even to herself.

Sure enough, Zhang Shu laughed: “That won’t work. That’s harder than getting first place.”

Sheng Xia: …

Fu Jie, who hadn’t seen anyone come in and was about to go down to find Sheng Xia herself, had been forced to eavesdrop by the door with an aunt-like smile: …

Enough, don’t bully an auntie with a weak heart.