HomeSummer In Your NameChapter 74: Score Estimates

Chapter 74: Score Estimates

Sheng Xia was awakened by several muffled thunderclaps. The thunderstorm raging outside contrasted sharply with last night’s clear, starlit sky, making her wonder if it had all been a dream. She instinctively touched her neck, and the metallic sensation under her fingertips confirmed that last night wasn’t a dream.

He had appeared beneath her building, extended an invitation to her, and she had reached out, their fingers tightly intertwined.

Standing before the mirror, she looked at the delicate floral pattern necklace, its simple lines outlining the shape, with a small diamond in the center.

Worried he’d spent too much, Zhang Shu had said it was very cheap, probably crystal.

Sheng Xia only wore watches, never jewelry, and didn’t particularly care about such things, but she’d seen enough to know his taste wasn’t bad – not the typical “male aesthetics” that Xin Xuohe and others often complained about.

He said she was like Jasmine.

Was she?

Her gaze shifted to her face.

From today on, this disheveled jasmine in the mirror, who hadn’t washed her face or brushed her teeth yet, had a boyfriend.

The thought made her shy, and she hurried to get ready.

During breakfast, she felt Wang Lianhua constantly watching her but not saying anything. Feeling uneasy, Sheng Xia voluntarily shared her plans: “Mom, I need to go to school this afternoon to estimate scores, and there’s a dinner gathering in the evening. I might be back late.”

Wang Lianhua had no objections: “Call me when you’re about to return, I’ll pick you up.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Sheng Xia arrived in the classroom, Xin Xuohe examined her while stroking her chin, “You’re wearing a necklace?”

Sheng Xia suddenly grew nervous, finally understanding why her mother had been staring at her.

She must have gotten carried away and forgotten to hide it first.

Almost everyone had arrived, but Zhang Shu wasn’t there yet.

Wang Wei was getting anxious and called Zhang Shu to hurry him up.

Sheng Xia knew he was getting his passport, as Zhang Sujin was planning to have her wedding in Fiji, and time was tight – he needed to expedite it.

Wang Wei finished the call and said: “Let’s not wait for him, everyone start estimating.”

Fujun High had three rounds of score estimation, following the principle of strict first, lenient later, and then taking the average.

Sheng Xia first estimated her most certain subject, mathematics, and wasn’t too shocked – 136 points.

Even accounting for some process and step deductions, it would be above 130.

This gave Sheng Xia great confidence, and she performed surprisingly well in the comprehensive science test too.

By the time she finished estimating English, Sheng Xia had an incredible feeling: she might have performed exceptionally well.

Although they didn’t know the mock scoring lines yet, after completing the first round, Sheng Xia was certain – Heqing University, here she comes.

Because her first round used the strictest estimation method.

“Xia Xia, did you do well!” Xin Xuohe exclaimed excitedly beside her.

Sheng Xia: “Ah, I don’t know.”

“All your facial muscles are bunched up on your cheekbones, and you say you didn’t do well!”

When people are struck by pleasant surprises, they really can’t hide it.

“What about you, Xuohe!”

Xin Xuohe frowned: “Hard to say.”

But from her demeanor, Sheng Xia could tell it wasn’t bad.

“Must be super good!”

“Hopefully!”

Yang Linyu walked halfway across the classroom to ask Xin Xuohe: “How did it go?”

Xin Xuohe: “Not telling you!”

Yang Linyu looked hurt but still managed a slight smile. He encouraged: “It will work out.”

Xin Xuohe: “What will work out?”

Yang Linyu: “Dongzhou University, your dream.”

Xin Xuohe continued her third round of estimation without looking up, “How do you know my dreams haven’t changed?”

Yang Linyu: “…”

“Remember to enter your estimates into the system when you’re done. The school will use your estimates to simulate the cutoff lines, so be responsible to yourself and your classmates. Estimate carefully, don’t just guess randomly,” Wang Wei reminded from the podium.

Everyone started asking each other about their scores, while some who couldn’t let go were still discussing questions. The classroom was noisy when Zhang Shu finally arrived.

He didn’t enter the classroom, just leaning against the window quietly watching inside, or more precisely, watching Sheng Xia at her window seat. As he watched, his lips curved into a slight smile, not speaking, as if waiting for her to notice him.

However, Sheng Xia was busy entering data and completely focused.

“Enough already, stop eye-flirting in public…” Xin Xuohe was the first to spot Zhang Shu, “We’re all graduating, give us a break.”

Everyone looked over at her words.

Sheng Xia looked up and almost bumped into his chin.

Zhang Shu reached out to ruffle her hair, then walked around to the front door and entered the classroom.

The classroom erupted in teasing.

“Oh, some people don’t care about Old Wang anymore now that they’re graduating.”

Old Wang: “…”

“Are you two that now?” Xin Xuohe leaned in, lightly tapping her fingers together.

Sheng Xia’s ears reddened – which “that” did she mean?

Xuohe’s gesture was too strange, was it about becoming a couple, or kissing, or something else?

She certainly wouldn’t ask out loud, choosing instead to give Xin Xuohe a side-eye and ignore the question.

“Really?” Xin Xuohe glanced at Sheng Xia’s necklace, already making assumptions in her mind, her voice suppressed but excited, “Which base?”

Sheng Xia: …

Sheng Xia’s expression was both exasperated and innocent. Xin Xuohe was angry at her lack of initiative, “Hey! You should do what needs to be done! It’s not like you’re dating underage! Don’t tell me you haven’t even kissed yet?”

“Estimate scores, hurry up and estimate!” Sheng Xia futilely protested.

Xin Xuohe shook her head, clicking her tongue twice: “Brother Shu’s not up to par.”

Zhang Shu started estimating late but finished quickly. Many people, including Old Wang, tried to probe indirectly, but he only said: “Entered it.”

He didn’t say another word after that, maintaining an air of mystery that left people guessing.

Xinfeng was now full of posts about score estimation, with one about Zhang Shu trending on the homepage.

[Anyone from Class 6? How much did Zhang Shu estimate? Come share!]

Floor 1: [Want to know +1]

Floor 2: [Want to know +2]

Floor 3: [Want to know +10086]

Floor 4: [From Class 6 but don’t know, your Brother Shu didn’t reveal any subject.]

Floor 5: [Which Class 6 traitor above, hasn’t your Brother Shu been good to you?]

Floor 6: [Did he bomb it? If he did well, wouldn’t he say so?]

Floor 7: [Of course he would, since when did the top student lack personality?]

Floor 8: [Shouldn’t we just wish him high scores regardless? This post is so nosy.]

Floor 9: [Don’t pretend you don’t want to know, everyone hopes Fujun has a top scorer, but Zhang Shu’s condition was uncertain, can’t we even discuss that?]

Floor 10: [Why are we still talking about him? Is Fujun out of people? Don’t understand, he only gets extra attention because he’s handsome. His foundation wasn’t even that good when he enrolled, came from Zhen Middle School, and only stood out in his second year if you think about it. Hasn’t he been dragging since the third year started?]

The post began analyzing Zhang Shu’s past academic performance.

The details went as far as which math problem he got wrong in a certain test that cost him full marks, using it to prove his weak foundation. The detail of the reasoning was astounding.

The class was constantly grumbling, with some people defending him in the post.

This time Zhang Shu didn’t reply using his shiny SHU_xxrmm account, just glanced at it and laughed: “Impressive, I can’t even remember that myself.”

Those scores, even he couldn’t remember them anymore.

Class 6 students defended him, but they weren’t confident themselves.

Regarding Zhang Shu’s scores, everyone tacitly agreed not to mention them on this day.

Sheng Xia didn’t plan to bring it up either, although she was very anxious and wanted to know.

But, regardless of prospects or scores, their fingers were already tightly intertwined.

She tried not to think about it further.

After finishing the estimates, everyone started packing up.

Zhang Shu had to go help Zhang Sujin with the wedding dress selection, so he needed to leave first.

Before leaving, he came to Sheng Xia’s side, crouched beside her seat, looked up at her, and pinched her face, “Did well, didn’t you?”

His affection was completely unconcealed, and those around them did not attempt to hide their watching.

Sheng Xia told herself to get used to it quickly, but her expression was still a bit unnatural, and she hurriedly changed the subject: “Are you coming to the dinner gathering tonight?”

“Yes, I’ll come find you after I’m done.”

Sheng Xia nodded, correcting his words, “You mean find us.”

“No, find you.”

“…”

If on the day the college entrance exam ended, everyone was filled with relief, then now, they truly began to feel the melancholy of parting.

Sheng Xia looked at the desks that used to be piled high with books, now clean and empty, stretching out like a flat plain, and suddenly felt wistful.

The third year of high school had passed in the blink of an eye.

The corridor had turned into a marketplace, like a large flea market.

Junior students came to pick out notebooks and exercise books, exclaiming what great deals they found when seeing new ones, never wondering why they were new in the first place.

They also didn’t know that the senior might have bought it from the previous year’s seniors.

The sound of bargaining was constant. Sheng Xia felt her things weren’t worth charging for, so she left her box of books in the corridor for juniors to take freely.

Zhang Shu hadn’t been seen selling anything.

She and Xin Xuohe’s group toured around the school, hitting all the photo spots they could find, taking group photos everywhere to make up for the rushed graduation photo day.

The teacher appreciation dinner was booked at a restaurant near the school.

When they arrived, they found the restaurant was almost entirely occupied by Fujun students, each class in their private room. Walking through the corridor, they could hear several versions of thank-you speeches to teachers.

Class 6 had booked a small hall with five tables. Hou Junqi imperiously claimed the main table beside the teachers’ table and called Sheng Xia and the others to be seated.

The entire table was filled with familiar faces.

Hou Junqi, Qi Xiulei, Yang Linyu, and Yang Linyu’s two roommates.

Xin Xuohe, Lanlan, and Xiaomai.

With Sheng Xia and Zhang Shu, it made exactly ten people.

When Zhang Shu came in, he didn’t hesitate at all, walking straight towards Sheng Xia’s direction and naturally taking a seat beside her, greeting everyone.

He didn’t even ask whose seat it was as if the place beside her was meant for him.

Yang Linyu: “Brother Shu, take it easy on the PDA later, I want to eat more tonight, don’t want to get full before I even start eating.”

Qi Xiulei: “Seconded.”

“I second that too.”

Sheng Xia was puzzled – how was he showing off? He hadn’t even looked at her, he was just talking to them!

Lanlan: “No, I disagree. Please show off, show off as much as you want. I don’t believe we’ll be able to ship such a perfect couple up close like this once we’re in university.”

Hou Junqi: “This feels like we’re at a wedding banquet.”

“Hahahahaha you’re right!”

“Look look, the MC is starting to speak.”

Just as Xin Xuohe finished speaking, Wang Wei was testing the microphone on stage, “Hey, hey hey.”

“Hahahahahahaha!” their table burst into laughter.

“This is too perfect!”

“I’m dying laughing.”

Their table was the closest to the front, and Sheng Xia and Zhang Shu happened to be sitting in the main guest positions, this scene…

Sheng Xia wasn’t just red in the ears anymore – she leaned back against her chair, trying to hide herself, her cheeks and neck all flushing red. If you didn’t know her, you might think she was having an allergic reaction.

Zhang Shu propped one hand on the table, turning his head to gaze at her.

She was wearing the necklace he gave her – how did it suit her so well?

Thinking this, he unconsciously reached out to pinch her cheek, but his hand was intercepted midair. Sheng Xia swatted his hand away, fuming: “Stop moving!”

She thought she was showing anger, but Zhang Shu just found it adorable.

“Okay, okay okay.” He raised his eyebrows, completely compliant.

Sheng Xia breathed a sigh of relief. The dishes were being served, and Wang Wei was speaking above. Even though they had graduated, it was the same old talk. Everyone ate and drank, occasionally applauding and cheering, being very respectful.

Suddenly, the hand Sheng Xia had resting on her knee was caught. She turned her head to glare at him.

Zhang Shu’s eyes held a smile as he squeezed her hand and leaned closer.

Amid Wang Wei’s passionate speech, another low voice spoke in her ear: “I miss you so much.”

Sheng Xia: …

You’re right here, what is there to miss?!

Then he released her hand, sat up straight, and chatted with people from the next table who came to toast.

Sheng Xia was dazed.

Had he just spoken to her?

The boys’ glasses were filled with real alcohol, and some of the girls could drink too, making their rounds without changing expression.

The room was filled with the clinking of glasses. Sheng Xia used juice instead of alcohol, following along to toast several teachers.

She was with Xin Xuohe and didn’t notice someone standing behind her.

Fu Jie suddenly stood up, looking at Sheng Xia with emotion in her eyes, but called out: “Zhang Shu!”

Only then did Sheng Xia turn around, almost bumping into his chest. Zhang Shu didn’t dodge, looking at her somewhat helplessly, and tapped her forehead to push her away, “Listen to the teacher!”

Fu Jie suddenly sighed, “Now that you’re graduating, Sprite Teacher might need several years to recover, when will I meet students like you again?”

Sheng Xia thought the name was familiar, then suddenly remembered – from Weibo!

“The super strict Sprite Teacher,” Zhang Shu pointed out that user for her, teasing, “Really strict indeed.”

Fu Jie protested: “I strictly require you, Zhang Shu, to cherish.”

She hiccupped right after speaking – and seemed a bit tipsy.

But she was still a teacher, so she kept it brief.

Sheng Xia could hear the meaning behind it, and of course, others could too.

Zhang Shu clinked his glass against Fu Jie’s, “I’ll follow the teacher’s words. I’ll finish mine, teacher drink as you please.”

Then he drained his glass in one go.

Sheng Xia also took a big gulp of her juice.

They naturally started making rounds together, Sheng Xia in front, Zhang Shu right behind her, almost a head taller. When tired of holding his drink, he would rest his arm on her shoulder. Sheng Xia would turn around, annoyed with him.

Lai Yilin whispered to Fu Jie.

“How were Zhang Shu’s estimated scores?”

“The teacher’s portal isn’t open, can’t see?”

“Sheng Xia should be secure.”

“Unexpected that Sheng Xia would be the first to be secure.”

“She’s a girl with great energy, accumulating slowly but breaking through powerfully.”

“Zhang Shu is very strong, the college entrance exam can’t stop him. Even if he does average, this student won’t have a simple future.”

“Students like these, it’s rare enough to meet one, meeting a pair is like a fairy tale, Old Lai.”

“Probably won’t happen again in this lifetime.”

“Perfect match.”

“A match made in heaven.”

After dinner, they moved to the second venue – KTV.

Perhaps because graduation was approaching, everyone was especially uninhibited, even the teachers joined in the fun.

The VIP room was spacious with several areas – some playing cards, some playing dice, some singing – everyone could enjoy themselves.

The boys gathered to play cards, while more girls were singing. Wang Wei selected a song, and everyone stopped what they were doing to watch supportively.

They thought Wang Wei would choose songs like “Wild Geese” or “West Sea Love Song,” but unexpectedly it was “Someone Like You.”

“Wow, Adele, Old Wang’s showing off?”

Old Wang ignored them and started singing with the accompaniment.

His pronunciation wasn’t perfectly authentic, but his tone was spot-on, emotions were in place, and he even nailed that hint of Western emphasis.

It was eye-opening.

The whole class was shocked.

Everyone suddenly realized: Wang Wei was only in his early thirties, just a young man.

During dinner, they noticed that Wang Wei was wearing casual sportswear today, finally looking his age, and even his ringtone wasn’t “Moonlight over the Lotus Pond” anymore.

Fu Jie commented from the side: “Your Teacher Wang, he put on quite an act to make parents feel comfortable entrusting you to him!”

His appearance at school was indeed what most parents expected to see – what an experienced teacher should look like.

This observation made the previously lively room fall into momentary silence.

Some girls’ eyes were already slightly wet.

Including Sheng Xia.

She recalled her first meeting with Wang Wei, recalled their first “Heart-to-Heart Brother Time,” recalled him asking if she didn’t want to study abroad, recalled him signing her leave slip…

He would have many more students.

But for all the classmates in this room, he would be their only third-year homeroom teacher in this lifetime.

When the song ended, thunderous applause erupted.

Wang Wei took off his glasses to wipe his eyes, then called into the microphone: “Dear friends, happy graduation, may your future be bright!”

Friends.

At this moment, they were no longer just his students but would be his lifelong friends.

Most teachers left early, and people gradually departed throughout the evening, but the atmosphere in the room didn’t diminish.

Sheng Xia couldn’t sing or play games, so she just sat watching them play dice.

Zhang Shu rarely lost at dice, as if he had a supernatural vision.

After losing several rounds, Hou Junqi couldn’t accept it: “A-Shu, move aside, are you cheating? Let Little Sheng Xia roll!”

Zhang Shu raised his eyebrows, glanced at Sheng Xia, pulled her over from the girls’ side, had her sit beside him, naturally wrapped his arm around her waist, and said to Hou Junqi: “If you still lose, two drinks per round.”

Hou Junqi: “Fine fine fine, no problem!”

Qi Xiulei: “Hey, bullying a girl? Three drinks!”

Hou Junqi: “Come on, would a girl taught by A-Shu ever lose? Are you brain-dead?”

Qi Xiulei: “Right right right, okay, let’s start!”

Sheng Xia listened to their banter, feeling electricity where his arm wrapped around her waist, while he seemed completely unconscious of this gesture, chatting and laughing normally with his brothers.

“Know how to play?” Zhang Shu turned to ask her.

At the same time, his hand holding her waist stroked up and down, just like a casual gesture to get someone’s attention while talking.

Very natural.

“No.” She was very unnatural!!

“I’ll teach you, you’ll get it in one round, just roll, anyway is fine.”

Sheng Xia gripped the dice cup, “What if we lose?”

“No worries, haven’t lost yet, I’m thirsty anyway.”

“Damn it,” Hou Junqi couldn’t take it anymore, “Stop showing off to your wife, let’s get on with it!”

Sheng Xia was completely rigid.

She never really understood the game rules afterward, just followed his instructions, rolling when he said to roll, calling whatever numbers he told her to call.

In any case, Hou Junqi drank several bottles, while Zhang Shu only had one glass.

She knew they had won.

Hou Junqi threw up his hands in defeat, “I’m done drinking, need a break!”

Zhang Shu turned to ask her: “Was it fun?”

Sheng Xia pressed her lips together: “It was okay.”

Zhang Shu just chuckled, pinching her chin.

She discovered he had so many little gestures!

And how could he just… casually touch her like that!

While she still felt stiff at the waist.

Because he hadn’t let go all evening.

“Sing for us, Brother Shu, haven’t heard you sing in ages.”

Zhang Shu good-naturedly said: “Alright.”

Then turned to ask her: “What do you want to hear?”

“Anything is fine.”

Zhang Shu finally released her waist, went to select a song, and then came back with the microphone, standing rather than sitting to sing.

It was a ballad.

“Young and Promising.”

“The TV keeps flashing, haven’t deleted your contact yet, the kindness you showed me, I wrongly destroyed”

When he sang ballads, it was truly irresistible.

Many people stopped to listen, many people looked at Sheng Xia, and many people were recording.

Zhang Shu just focused on singing.

“If I were young and promising, not insecure, understanding what’s precious, those beautiful dreams I didn’t give you, I’ll regret life”

Whether it was Sheng Xia’s imagination or not, she vaguely felt he wasn’t just casually singing this song.

Every lyric sang of regret as if the singer was warning himself not to have regrets, to be young and promising.

Just as she was thinking this, Zhang Shu suddenly reached out his hand to her. Seeing her daze, he simply took her hand himself, but only held it, still focused on watching the lyrics on screen.

He was standing, she was sitting, he was singing, she was listening.

They were holding hands.

In a room full of people, all eyes are on them.

Sheng Xia wasn’t nervous or afraid at all.

They would surely be young and promising.

When the song ended, the emotional afterglow left everyone wistful.

“Ah, who told you to let him sing, after he sings who dares to follow?” someone joked, breaking the room’s silence. New music started playing, and the room quickly became lively again.

Zhang Shu dropped onto the sofa, leaning back, seeming tired from playing.

Sheng Xia also slowly leaned back, wanting to ask when they should leave.

Just as she leaned back, she felt a weight on her shoulder.

His head was resting on her shoulder, and she turned slightly to look.

At a distance where their breaths mingled, she could smell the faint alcohol on his breath.

He noticed her looking and slightly raised his chin, still resting on her shoulder, looking straight at her.

Too close – Sheng Xia straightened her neck slightly, creating a bit of distance.

After a while, warm breath fanned against her neck, and his deep voice spoke in her ear: “Sheng Xia, September, see you at the River Banquet.”

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