Chapter 10: One Hundred Days of Hard Work—I’m Getting In [Please Keep Reading]

Xu Ming hadn’t expected the homeroom teacher to act this way, but after a brief moment of surprise, he calmly met the gazes directed at him.

At that instant, he felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

Most of the classmates were simply curious, whispering among themselves, unable to resist quietly discussing the matter.

“I remember Xu Ming’s math score on the final exam was the same as mine. How did it suddenly improve so much?” Yang Huijuan nudged her deskmate with her arm, trying to confirm her recollection.

Chen Lu looked up and said, “Maybe he’s been working harder these past few days.”

Thinking of how Xu Ming rose at five every morning, she was sure she wasn’t mistaken, then returned to studying the complex problems.

Wang Qingtao’s attitude toward Xu Ming had undergone a significant change by now, glad to have found a promising student.

“I’ll bring a few more test papers tomorrow. Try to find time to work on them, so you won’t need to come to my office.” He turned and spoke gently, then, seeing most students had returned to their seats, headed toward the podium.

Qian Hong hadn’t timed his arrival deliberately this time. After using the restroom early, he stood outside the corridor, watching the homeroom teacher through the window.

But upon hearing that Xu Ming’s practice test score had risen to 130, his eyes immediately widened in disbelief.

No way.

Could it really be done like this?

As soon as the homeroom teacher stepped away, Qian Hong dashed back in, almost pressing his face against Xu Ming’s test paper.

“That’s not fair. Why did I only get just over eighty?”

He was well aware that Xu Ming had redone this test paper.

After all, on the day of the exam, Xu Ming had just quarreled with Zhang Yingxin and had no mood to answer questions, which was understandable. But this new, high score was truly astonishing.

Having been classmates for two and a half years, they knew each other well.

“Did reviewing math your way really work, or did you secretly work hard during winter break?” Qian Hong looked Xu Ming straight in the eyes, asking.

Xu Ming replied with a challenge, “Why don’t you try it with me for a few days?”

Upon hearing this, Qian Hong seemed to realize something and immediately shook his head vigorously, as if rejecting the very idea with his entire being.

“No, forget it. I just can’t get up early. Going to a vocational college isn’t so bad anyway.”

Seeing this, Xu Ming didn’t insist. When the class bell rang, he resumed his study mode.

With his score nearly perfect, there was no need to waste time listening repeatedly to the homeroom teacher.

Nightfall quickly came for the advanced class evening study session.

The classroom was still occupied by Xu Ming and Chen Lu, steadfast until the very end.

Just as Xu Ming was packing up to return to the dormitory, Chen Lu surprisingly approached him.

“Xu Ming… how about you come to get the keys from now on?”

Looking at the small rabbit keychain in Chen Lu’s palm, Xu Ming was momentarily taken aback but then smiled and shook his head.

“Keep it yourself. The homeroom teacher said tomorrow he’ll give me the one from the office.”

Indeed.

Since his improved grades had brought him closer to the homeroom teacher, there was no reason not to take advantage of it. So, after ordinary class dismissal, he brought up the matter.

“Is that so?” Chen Lu replied.

But for some reason, when she took back the keys, she felt a fleeting, inexplicable sense of loss.

Yet it lasted only a few seconds before her expression returned to normal, and as she left, she made sure to say goodbye.

“See you tomorrow.”

“Mm.” Xu Ming nodded politely.

—

Li Wenhui had held back while in class and hadn’t gone to question the test paper.

Mainly because he hadn’t spoken to Xu Ming for two days.

However, lying in bed back in the dormitory, he felt a weight pressing on his heart. If he didn’t clarify things, he feared he wouldn’t sleep well that night.

So, when Xu Ming pushed open the door and entered, he blurted out:

“Xu Ming.”

“I remember you turned in a blank paper, right? How come the homeroom teacher said you scored 130 on the evening study test?”

This topic had obviously become the hot subject in class today, and the roommates on the nearby beds joined the discussion eagerly.

“I’m curious too.”

“That score’s almost as high as Chen Lu’s.”

Xu Ming glanced at Li Wenhui, then shifted his gaze to the others and sat on the bed, untying his shoes as he answered calmly.

“I was in a good state tonight, so I just redid the whole test.”

“So that’s how it is.” Li Wenhui was the first to respond, his tone visibly tinged with jealousy. “Never thought you could get such a high score.”

Xu Ming smiled and countered:

“Didn’t the class monitor say this test was very easy? How much did you score?”

Li Wenhui was speechless.

He wanted to regain some ground, but the test he considered easy only netted him 120 points.

After struggling for a while, all he could do was repeat the homeroom teacher’s words.

“Discussing individual subject scores is meaningless. The key is to pass the overall cutoff. Otherwise, at best, you’ll only get into a mediocre university.”

“Isn’t it too early to say that? The college entrance exam is still a hundred days away. Who in our dorm rises earlier than Xu Ming? Maybe that could raise your score by a hundred points,” Qian Hong took off his headphones and spoke up in defense of his good friend.

By now, everyone had adapted to the high school’s competitive atmosphere. Comparing study scores was nothing unusual.

No one really got upset over it.

At most, a little irritation.

Soon after lights out, the topic was dropped.

Only Li Wenhui seemed affected, hiding his head under the covers and secretly reading with a flashlight.

Early the next morning, Xu Ming rose promptly.

On his way to class, he ran into a familiar figure: Chen Lu, the class’s top student.

“You’re up this early too?” he asked, breaking the silence.

Chen Lu hadn’t yet tied her ponytail, and her bangs still bore traces of water from washing her face. Although students nowadays typically just applied some moisturizer, under the streetlights, her fair skin was still clearly visible.

Xu Ming scanned from her forehead down to her neck and couldn’t find a single pimple.

Perhaps sensing his gaze or for some other reason, Chen Lu turned her head and replied softly,

“The second mock exam is next month. I figured I’d get up a few minutes earlier.”

The two walked together to the classroom door. Chen Lu took out the keys and unlocked it. After Xu Ming stepped inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.

...

A new week began, and the countdown to the college entrance exam was already written on the blackboard along the back wall of the classroom.

Every day, the class monitor updated the number.

During the morning break, all the third-year high school students moved their stools to the playground, lining up by class.

They gathered for the 2006 Eastping First High School Hundred-Day Sprint Oath Ceremony for the college entrance exam.

Following the procedure, the principal, teachers’ representatives, and outstanding student representatives were to give speeches on stage. Since all were chosen from the advanced class, for the other regular class students, the event was mainly about reciting the oath at the end.

Xu Ming paid it little mind and brought along his physics textbook from the “Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Simulation” series.

Once the ceremony began, he placed the book on his lap and continued reviewing.

As his memory of topics like thermodynamics and electromagnetism gradually resurfaced, he fully understood and mastered all the formulas and theorems from his high school physics studies. While the outstanding student representative spoke passionately on stage, Xu Ming’s mastery of physics was rapidly increasing.

[Through diligent study, your [Physics] skill has improved, gaining 5 experience points.]