In the last two days before the college entrance exam, the school's management had already relaxed, and they were preparing to set up the exam rooms.
Yingyi No.1 Middle School was one of the exam locations, and today they had to let the 10th and 11th graders off for vacation and clear the area for inspections.
The younger students were packing up their things and leaving the school, while 12th graders like Lin Jianzhi were immersed in their books, sprinting to the finish line.
The 12th grade teachers were also hunkered down in the classrooms, ready to go over test questions with the students at any time.
A busy atmosphere permeated the entire 12th grade hallway.
In this kind of atmosphere, Lin Jianzhi also had no mind to think about Zhu Liheng, focusing on memorizing the last bits of foundational knowledge.
At the school gate, Yu E and Ruan Tang were sitting in a car, one in the front row, one in the back, each hugging a laptop and reading academic papers.
Even in their spare time, they were busy with research.
At noon, large groups of 10th and 11th graders poured out from the schoolyard.
They were clearing the area in preparation for the college entrance exam venue, so those students started their vacation today.
Ruan Tang glanced over and lamented, "Ah, youth!"
Yu E gestured: "Shh!"
Ruan Tang: "???"
Just then, some students walked past the car, loudly discussing something.
"Why did Lin Jianzhi and Zhu Liheng break up after all?"
"Did you get that backwards? It was Zhu Liheng who broke up with Lin Jianzhi! What girl with a boyfriend like Zhu Liheng would take the initiative to break up?"
"That's true too. But the gap between those two was also too big, I never thought they were well-matched."
"The rumors that the class monitor of 12th Grade 2 spread seemed so real, he was so arrogant about it!"
"That monitor had hundreds of critical comments on the school forums, he got totally overwhelmed!"
"I said all along that there was no way Lin Jianzhi and Zhu Liheng would work out, it was wishful thinking!"
"I suspect they were never together at all, just baseless rumors!"
"..."
As the students walked away, Ruan Tang and Yu E looked at each other in shock.
Yu E: "Should we tell Zhu Liheng?"
Ruan Tang frowned. "Let's tell him. How did the rumors get so out of hand? My sister-in-law is under a lot of social pressure at school!"
Yu E: "But did those two really break up? Just a little tiff?"
Ruan Tang: "Did Zhu Liheng get dumped?"
Far away in Yanling, Zhu Liheng frowned at the constant incoming messages on his phone during his lunch break.
He didn't think much of it at first, but when he saw the messages from Yu E and Ruan Tang, he was totally confused. He replied with a lone question mark.
What the heck was going on!
The next day.
The 12th graders started cleaning up their personal items, getting ready to take the exam tomorrow.
Students taking the test at other locations had to go scout out the test sites and seats ahead of time.
Luckily for Lin Jianzhi, her exam was at her own school.
She was usually prone to cracking under pressure, but for some reason, the closer they got to the college entrance exam, the calmer she felt.
She had studied everything she needed to study, crammed everything she needed to cram. All that was left was to rest well and ensure she was in peak mental condition.
After checking out the exam room and seat number, Lin Jianzhi went to buy a milk tea at the school gate before heading home.
Behind her, the class monitor Lang Shu and Mu Yin ran to catch up.
"Lin Jianzhi, wait up!" Lang Shu yelled.
Lin Jianzhi looked back at them. "What's up?"
Lang Shu ran up to her. "The college entrance exam is tomorrow. Zhu Liheng really isn't coming?"
Lin Jianzhi: "He's not coming."
Mu Yin stamped her foot in irritation. "Those rumors are so annoying!"
Lin Jianzhi covered her face. "That's why I avoided them on purpose! Don't mess with my headspace!"
Lang Shu: "Alright, good luck on the exam!"
Lin Jianzhi: "Thanks! You too!"
She smiled and waved as she boarded the bus.
Unbeknownst to her, across the street in a small sedan, Yu E and Ruan Tang looked back at the person sitting in the rear passenger seat from both sides.
Zhu Liheng silently rolled up the car window and booted up his laptop to start working.
Yu E anxiously scratched his head. "Zhu Liheng, you came all this way. Why don't you go say hi?"
Zhu Liheng: "Take me to the high speed rail station. I'm going back to Yanling."
Ruan Tang: "Good lord! I just...cannot comprehend this!"
Zhu Liheng: "Same pickup time tomorrow at the station."
Yu E: "..."
Ruan Tang: "..."
When Lin Jianzhi got home, her parents were even more nervous than her, going overboard to soothe her emotions.
Looking at the dinner table with several times more dishes than usual.
Lin Jianzhi: "It's just an exam, not my execution!"
Mrs. Lin spat out: "Don't speak such ill omens!"
Mr. Lin quickly stopped her: "Dear, watch your emotions. Calm."
Mrs. Lin also quickly shut her mouth: "Yes, yes, don't be nervous Little Jianzhi."
Lin Jianzhi heaved a long sigh, utterly helpless.
She discovered an excellent method to stabilize her emotions - making the people around her anxious calmed her down instead.
The college entrance exam was the most important moment in every 12th grader's life.
After eating well, drinking well, and sleeping well, double checking all her required items, Lin Jianzhi declined her parents' offer to take her to the exam location. She took the bus by herself.
On the first day she took the Chinese language exam in the morning, performing slightly above her usual level.
In the afternoon math exam, she was nervous at first, but as she kept solving problems and working through the logic, she became immersed in it.
It was like solving a puzzle game, giving her a sense of accomplishment every time she reasoned her way to an answer.
As for right or wrong, she would know only after getting the answer sheet back.
Lin Jianzhi didn't let her thoughts wander and steadfastly moved on to tackle the exams over the next two days.
On the second day she took the history exam in the morning, which posed no problems for her.
In the afternoon English exam, she went trigger happy!
On the third day, the morning geography exam felt better to Lin Jianzhi than her usual showings.
Finally, after all was said and done, she calmly packed up her things and exited the school gate.
Many parents were already waiting outside. Her own parents had arrived too.
As soon as she emerged, Mrs. Lin started wailing: "We're going for barbecue! Let's go, go!"
Mr. Lin was also excitedly at a loss what to do with his hands and feet. "You finished! How did it go?"
Mrs. Lin fiercely smacked him. "She just finished the exam! Don't say anything unlucky!"
Mr. Lin: "Oh right, of course."
Lin Jianzhi allowed herself be pulled along by her parents and got in the car, but her gaze landed on a black sedan across the street.
Strange. She had an odd feeling someone in that car was watching her.
Her noisy parents prattled on at her, but she didn't pay much attention.
After getting in the backseat, Lin Jianzhi unlocked her phone, wanting to message Zhu Liheng that she had finished the written exam.
Unexpectedly, his message came through first.
'Zhu Liheng: How did the exam go?'
All of Lin Jianzhi's pent up emotions over the past few days erupted at once. Face flushed and heartbeat quickening, she started typing a reply.
Just then, Mrs. Lin in the front passenger seat twisted around to glare at her. "Little Jian! Why are you ignoring me?"
Lin Jianzhi gave a start. "Oh! I was looking at my phone. Yes?"
Mr. Lin turned the steering wheel. "We asked which barbecue restaurant you want to go to?"
Lin Jianzhi: "I don't want barbecue. Let's have something light. I still have the speaking exam in three days."
