Lu Lingxi stood at the principal’s right side, also startled by the news.
She could understand Yang Lin’s score – it was a desperate gamble to break free from constraints. Whatever heights Yang Lin might reach in the future, Lu Lingxi wouldn’t be surprised.
In this game of chess, both Bai Lian and Yang Lin were players who clearly knew what they wanted.
But…
Lu Lingxi stared at Lu Xiaohan’s name. As the homeroom teacher, she truly couldn’t understand it! She knew exactly what her students were up to – with the heavy workload in their final year, few students besides Bai Lian and her friends could finish their weekly test papers.
And Lu Xiaohan usually just copied homework from Bai Lian and Ning Xiao.
How did she manage to rank in the provincial top 50?!
“Teacher Lu, how did your students achieve these scores?”
Lu Lingxi knocked on her head, trying to maintain composure: “Don’t ask me, I don’t know either.”
Their province was known for its competitive college entrance exams, with 900,000 students taking the test this year – the competition was fierce.
Having six students in the provincial top 50 might not seem exceptional for other schools, but this was Xiangcheng, a border city lagging behind major cities in educational resources and information. In previous years, even getting one student in the provincial top 50 was difficult. Now they had six, with four from the same class!
Xiangcheng First High School had never achieved such success before.
The principal’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “Order more banners!”
Though other teachers envied Class 15’s four stars, all of Xiangcheng First High’s exam scores were high this year. While waiting for the six blocked students’ scores, teachers quickly checked their own classes’ scores to see the university acceptance rates.
This year’s exam was difficult, with a total possible score of 750. The second-tier university cutoff was only 431, and the first-tier cutoff 492, compared to last year’s second-tier cutoff of 499.
“Our class has fifteen students above the first-tier cutoff?”
“We have thirteen!”
“…”
As teachers tallied their class scores, the computer room bustled like New Year’s. “Teacher Lu, thanks to your class sharing their study materials!”
The top students’ study methods and mind maps were crucial – likely the study methods of this year’s provincial top scorer.
Few top students would spend time meticulously sharing study methods and organizing mind maps.
Xiangcheng First High’s excellent performance this year was largely thanks to Bai Lian and Ning Xiao.
Lu Lingxi found an empty computer and pulled up Class 15’s total scores.
Excluding the four students whose scores weren’t released yet, the rest of Class 15’s scores were astonishingly high.
The academic director and principal, curious about Class 15’s other scores, came to look at Lu Lingxi’s screen after checking other classes.
“Your class did so well in Chinese?” the principal asked in surprise.
This year’s Chinese exam had difficult early sections but an unusually simple essay portion, though essays rarely received high scores.
Other classes’ Chinese scores weren’t very spread out.
But Class 15’s Chinese scores were remarkably high.
“They…” Lu Lingxi scrolled through the scores, calmly watching the numbers on screen: “Probably wrote slightly better essays.”
Lu Lingxi was certain.
The principal was surprised at how Lu Lingxi knew but didn’t ask further. Holding his cigarette, he asked, “Teacher Lu, what do you estimate Bai Lian and Ning Xiao’s scores to be?”
The computer room grew quieter.
“Ning Xiao’s should be high. As for Bai Lian…” Lu Lingxi’s finger stopped as she took a small breath.
“What about Bai Lian?” the principal pressed.
Lu Lingxi remained silent.
Her mind went back to exam day, when she learned the essay topic right after the Chinese test:
[“What mortals can’t keep most is youth, as beauty leaves the mirror and flowers fall from trees.” “Wanting to buy osmanthus and share wine, still nothing compares to youthful wandering.” “When the army recovers the Central Plains, remember to tell your father at the family sacrifice.” Write an essay based on these themes, any style except poetry.]
Class 15 always had good chemistry.
Lu Lingxi had a feeling most of the class would write excellent essays this year. Yang Lin, Ning Xiao, and others…
About half probably wrote about Zhang Shize, about his absence from their graduation photo – sincere, heartfelt essays deserving high Chinese scores.
But this essay topic was what she feared most.
After just a year together, Lu Lingxi understood Bai Lian well enough. These kinds of exam topics never constrained her. She lived without regrets or what-ifs, rebellious by nature, always pursuing what she believed in.
Lu Lingxi truly feared Bai Lian might write something like:
[Sorry, I was born bold – I have no regrets.]
Thinking of this, Lu Lingxi pressed her temples.
Bai Lian was absolutely capable of writing that. Until her exam score was released, Lu Lingxi couldn’t stop worrying.
After all—
Lu Lingxi had no doubt that even without the essay score, Bai Lian could rank in the provincial top 50.
**
In Ji Heng’s small courtyard.
Learning his exam score was blocked, he took his Go board to find people to play Five-in-a-Row with in the streets.
Jiang He crawled out of bed, swaying as he brushed his teeth.
Last night Ji Heng stayed up all night talking with Jiang He, who finally fell asleep at 3 AM.
After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he stood by the phoenix tree where Ji Heng had marked his height measurements.
Jiang He compared his height – almost no change from last month’s mark. Still under 1.2 meters, he stared at the height line with his dark eyes.
After a while, he wandered to the kitchen with a blank face. The rice cooker held breakfast and milk that Ji Heng had kept warm for him.
Nibbling on his steamed bun, he slowly walked to Bai Lian’s room.
Her guqin was still on its stand. She sat at the desk with a pile of abbreviated sheet music, her phone resting on documents in front of her.
She hadn’t muted the group chat.
With exam scores released today, Class 15’s messages quickly hit 999+.
Additionally, WeChat friends were asking about her exam score.
“Just getting up?” Bai Lian watched as Jiang He sat beside her, taking small bites of his bun.
Wearing beige cotton-linen clothes with cabbage-shaped buttons, his legs swinging slightly, he remained silent, feeling dejected from staying up late and not growing taller.
Seeing his silence, Bai Lian stole his milk and leisurely inserted a straw to drink it herself.
She gestured for him to go get another bottle.
Biting the straw, she opened her phone to photograph her completed music.
Opening WeChat, she saw people tagging her in the group chat.
Wen Qi: [Holy crap, our class has four blocked students, @Bai Lian @Ning Xiao I can accept the study gods, but @Lu Xiaohan what’s your deal?!]
Wen Qi: [I knew it, you were all secretly working hard behind my back!]
The group chat messages were dizzying, all discussing the blocked students. Bai Lian hadn’t checked her score yet, only learning from the group chat that it was blocked.
So there was such a thing as blocked scores.
She switched apps – her friend who usually bothered her daily hadn’t messaged today.
Bai Lian checked Dean Jian’s profile and sent him the new song score.
Dean Jian: [1]
A minute later, he realized—
[Exam scores came out today, what did you get?]
Dean Jian was the only one hoping she wouldn’t get into Jianjing University but would go to the Music Conservatory instead.
Bai Lian replied leisurely: [Blocked student, understand?]
Read more popular novels at Book Bar 6.9*!
Dean Jian: [….]
He fell silent, quietly looking at the abbreviated score Bai Lian sent.
**
At the Ren household.
Ren Wanxuan’s exam scores were out. Ren Qian was on the phone with Ren Jiawei, his face full of joy. “Yes, 641, ranked 89th in the province, within top 100! North City University called her, she can choose any major.”
Ren Wanxuan had never scored this well before.
Usually only Chen Zhu scored in the provincial top 100.
Historically, Xiangcheng rarely had students in the provincial top 100. Ren Qian was obviously delighted.
He made calls one after another to share Ren Wanxuan’s exam score.
The servants nearby offered congratulations, “Congratulations to the master and young miss.”
Ren Qian beamed, “The young miss did well, though it’s unfortunate to be in the same year as Chen Zhu.” He turned to Ren Wanxuan beside him, “Xuanxuan, what did Chen Zhu score?”
Ren Wanxuan held her phone without speaking.
On her screen was Class 8’s group chat – everyone in Class 8 had done very well this time.
Ren Wanxuan had performed beyond expectations and should be happy, but she stared at the group messages—
Class Monitor: [Six blocked students, Class 15 has four! Bai Lian and Ning Xiao are among them, and word is Bai Lian might be this year’s provincial top scorer!]
She could anticipate Bai Lian and Ning Xiao being in the top 50.
But why was Lu Xiaohan, someone she’d never heard of, included?
And Tang Ming – initially he was just in the school’s top 10. Even she hadn’t made the top 50, how did he? Without answering Ren Qian, Ren Wanxuan clutched her phone and ran upstairs.
“This child?” Ren Qian watched her leave, surprised, then laughed, “Such a high score, and still not satisfied?”
The servants respectfully added, “The young miss has high standards for herself.”
Ren Qian held his phone, eyes narrowing slightly, “I wonder what score Ji Heng’s granddaughter got…”
He asked Ji Shaorong and Ren Jiawei, but neither knew.
How strange.
**
The 25th.
Xiangcheng First High’s first-tier university acceptance rate reached an unprecedented 21% this year. While not matching North City First High, it definitely showed potential as a provincial key school, especially with…
Six students’ scores still unreleased.
First and second-year students hadn’t started vacation yet. Teachers eagerly discussed the third-years’ success, and had already copied the top students’ study methods and mind maps for the younger students.
Third-year homeroom teachers were calculating subject scores and averages.
In the principal’s office, he had ordered new banners and personally bought fireworks, firecrackers, and two large boxes of celebration candy.
Lu Lingxi brought printed scores to the principal’s office and saw the two boxes of candy on the floor.
“Teacher Lu,” seeing her, the principal cheerfully greeted her, “Did Ning Xiao estimate around 700? Just heard that Song Min from North City estimated around 690, so this year’s provincial top scorer will definitely be from our school – just don’t know if it’ll be Ning Xiao or Bai.”
Lu Lingxi nodded, handing the score sheet to the principal: “He said so.”
“Why don’t you look happy?” the principal wondered.
“I’m fine.” Lu Lingxi sighed, changing the subject, “Is it difficult to become a key high school?”
“21% first-tier acceptance rate, provincial top scorer at our school,” the principal calmly sipped his tea, confident, “Not difficult at all.”
Becoming a provincial key school would be good.
After delivering the scores, Lu Lingxi walked to her office, receiving congratulations from many teachers along the way.
The liberal arts class teacher, who often visited Lu Lingxi’s class, stopped her, “How did your student Bai Lian do in Chinese? This year there was a perfect score essay.”
“What perfect score essay?” Lu Lingxi stopped.
Sunlight fell on her face.
She felt somewhat dazed.
“A perfect score essay from this year was posted online, without the student’s name,” the liberal arts teacher marveled, “I’ve only seen Bai Lian write perfect score essays before, wonder how she did on the exam essay.”
Getting a perfect score on the essay wasn’t easy.
Hearing about the perfect score essay, Lu Lingxi suddenly had a strong premonition.
After briefly speaking with the liberal arts teacher, she quickly took out her phone and opened the short video app.
While some students’ scores weren’t released yet, the perfect score essay was officially revealed first.
Perfect score essays in recent college entrance exams were rare. Once officially released, it ranked third in trending topics on the short video platform. Lu Lingxi opened it to see:
College Entrance Exam Perfect Score Essay [Hot] [“The General”
On a night in the 25th year of Chengyuan, General Bai Li guarded Xiangcheng City.
Drums suddenly sounded. The general woke at midnight, dressed and alone ascended the high city walls. Before him lay a hundred thousand enemy cavalry, behind him a million common people of Xiangcheng. But the city’s provisions weren’t ready, caught between survival and destruction.
Now the northern desert wasn’t secured, enemy forces weren’t exhausted, the city faced danger. The general swore to serve loyally until death – how could he retreat? Thus he guarded the city gates with the people.
…
The general spent half his life in war, fighting across nine provinces, never regretting entering the battlefield despite facing death nine times.
His regrets? You haven’t seen his son abandon the brush for the sword to slay enemy horses; you haven’t seen his iron cavalry drink wine in the desert; you haven’t seen today’s peaceful prosperity in the capital.
** The general’s blade drinks thousand-year blood, Buried in yellow sand admiring sunset’s glow. Today flags wave red across four seas, Marching east ten thousand li to plant peach blossoms. —— Afterword]
General, how was the sunset below Xiangcheng’s towers today?
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