146: The meaning of effort

During Evening Self-Study, Su Wenwen looked suspiciously at Du Zhaoyu, then at Lin You. Although she couldn't see anything unusual, her “Spider-Sense” still detected a difference between the two.

"Did you two go out on a date behind my back?"

"That's right," Lin You raised the Chinese Language and Literature supplementary material in his hand, quickly changing the subject. "We went shopping at the bookstore this afternoon. Su Wenwen, just you wait, I'll score higher than you next time."

Your "enemy" always knows you better than you know yourself, knowing exactly what will ignite your "fury."

"Y-y-you, you're actually starting to hyper-compete in Chinese Language and Literature!"

"Who in the entire grade 12 class 7 doesn't know that Chinese Language and Literature is my favorite subject!"

Su Wenwen felt a deep sense of crisis, stopped bickering with Lin You immediately, and buried her head in her studies.

Wang Xinxin nearly burst out laughing, because in his memory, Lin You hadn't done his Chinese Language and Literature homework much since junior high, nor had he ever scored highly in Chinese Language and Literature.

Just as Wang Xinxin was about to laugh, he suddenly realized that Lin You's total score was already more than thirty points higher than his, and he immediately stopped smiling.

Study! Study until you drop!

Wang Xinxin gripped his pen tightly, wishing he could write his homework until smoke came out.

Wang Xinxin admitted that he had been slacking off a bit before. Since the cancellation of Evening Self-Study and weekend make-up classes, although he often studied alone at home, the intensity and duration were not comparable to when he was at school.

Since officially joining the Self-Study Squad, Wang Xinxin realized that the study intensity of his good brother Lin You and the two beautiful Top Students from the Experimental Class had not diminished at all compared to when they studied at school before—in fact, it was even greater.

Wang Xinxin could accept being surpassed by his good brother, but he couldn't accept not putting up any resistance.

Even if he really couldn't beat them in the end, he had to prove that he only failed because he had studied to his limit, right?

Playing together is youth, but studying diligently together is also youth—both are memories that will be valued years later.

When self-study ended, the four walked side-by-side, the two girls standing in the middle, with Lin You and Du Zhaoyu walking close together.

Su Wenwen was anxious. "Hurry up, hurry up, I need to rush home. I have to keep studying at home, otherwise, I don't even dare imagine if my score is lower than Lin You's next time..."

Du Zhaoyu gave Lin You a reproachful look. "It's all your fault. Look, Wenwen is so scared because of you."

"I wasn't comparing anything else with her, is comparing scores wrong?"

Wang Xinxin agreed with Su Wenwen. "I think Wenwen is right! Study! I'm going to study when I get home too!"

Monday.

Today's flag-raising ceremony included the commendation meeting for the Eight-School Joint Examination. Lin You had been reminded by Old Zhang over the weekend to wear his autumn school uniform.

The autumn school uniform of Ancheng No. 7 Middle School was red and white. It wasn't particularly good-looking, but when worn by someone with a tall and straight posture, it still looked youthful and vibrant.

When Lin You walked into the classroom, Wang Xiaoyi was still the first to arrive, but the "throne" where Lin You usually sat eating steamed buns was occupied by its original owner, Xu Sisi.

"Huh, Xu Sisi, why are you here so early? You're not trying to steal the steamed buns Xiao Yi brought for me, are you?"

Just as Xu Sisi was about to retort, Wang Xiaoyi spoke up, "Lin You, you misunderstood Sisi. Sisi didn't eat your steamed buns, and she even brought soy milk for both of us..."

Lin You took a few steps to their seats, plopped down, holding a steamed bun in his left hand and soy milk in his right, and said with a smile, "Xu Sisi, is this a 'good friend fee'? The soy milk is delicious. From now on, your position as English Class Representative will be as stable as Mount Tai!"

Xu Sisi pursed her lips. In ancient times, the Pardon-Death Medals usually couldn't actually guarantee immunity from death, because the final right of interpretation belonged to the Emperor.

"I just wanted to study hard. Also, Xiao Yi shared Du Zhaoyu's notes with me. She said you told her to share them... Lin You, thank you."

Lin You's action was like a Great Hero in ancient times who obtained a secret manual and shared it freely with others—rich and generous!

Lin You finished the steamed bun, drank the soy milk in a few gulps, and clapped his hands. "You're welcome. The soy milk is delicious, where did you buy it?"

"I made it myself at home using a soy milk maker."

"Why does it have a packaging box?"

"I bought the packaging boxes online over the weekend... I was afraid you'd dislike it, and I thought if the packaging looked nice, you wouldn't mind."

"..."

Lin You silently left, casually patting Wang Xiaoyi's head, and then reflected for a moment on whether he had "bullied" Xu Sisi too hard, as Xu Sisi being so obedient made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Just before the flag-raising ceremony, Old Zhang arrived in the class early and announced a piece of news.

"Classmates! After today's flag-raising ceremony, there will be a commendation meeting for the last Eight-School Joint Examination. This time, the school has invited a professor from Nandu University to present awards to the commended students, and senior alumni from Nandu University will share their grade 12 experience and college life with you. Make sure you all perk up later! Don't embarrass our class, understand?"

"Understood!!!"

Students in the Regular Class might not have good grades, but they always provided plenty of emotional value.

Soon, Lin You walked alone toward the Academic Affairs Office where the last commendation took place, while the rest of the Classmates, led by Class Monitor Hu Yunfei, headed toward the sports field.

Last time, Lin You was not only first in the Mathematics single subject but also a model student, but this time he was merely first in the Mathematics single subject.

After more than a month, returning to this office felt like Lin You was coming home.

After entering, he immediately walked toward Du Zhaoyu, who was silently reciting a speech draft. Only after the two met up did Lin You start looking at the others.

Among the others this time, Qian Manzhi was still present, predictably ranking first in the English single subject, as stable as Mount Tai.

"Hello, hello, Lin You, you're here."

Since the scores had been released earlier this time, the list of the top three in the grade and the first place in each single subject was already clear, so there was nothing surprising in the Academic Affairs Office this time.

"Classmate Qian Manzhi, long time no see."

Lin You absolutely would not let his gaze drop this time, lest Xiao Yu'er catch him out again! So what if she was an E-cup girl? Lin You viewed beauties as mere skeletons!

After a brief greeting, everyone had arrived, and the teacher leading the group began calling roll.

The teacher leading the group this time was still Teacher Wang Xiaotian. As soon as Lin You entered, he joined Du Zhaoyu, and combined with their previous closeness, as a young male teacher, he clearly understood what this implied.

However, if Teacher Wang Xiaotian had shown some "disdain" for Lin You last time, this time there was only envy.

As a teacher in the Academic Affairs Office, Wang Xiaotian knew Lin You's scores for every exam: 447, 550, 631, 648—although the improvement was smaller each time, he was indeed progressing with every test, and the value of each improvement was significant.

Moreover, Wang Xiaotian was the one who executed the plan to promote Lin You exceptionally to grade 12 class 1 at the beginning of the month, responsible for communicating with the Class Teachers of the two classes. Yet, Lin You refused the promotion without hesitation, and then continued his momentum of progress in this Eight-School Joint Examination, advancing from twentieth place in the grade last time to the top ten this time.

Once the personnel were assembled, Wang Xiaotian led the team out.

Walking all the way to the sports field's rostrum, Lin You saw a group of people standing next to the platform. Among them was an unfamiliar elderly man being surrounded, who must be the professor from Nandu University mentioned by Old Zhang. Next to the professor stood several young people in their twenties, male and female, who should be the senior alumni who entered Ancheng No. 7 Middle School from Nandu University.

Following the previous procedure, the flag-raising ceremony and commendation proceeded normally. This time, the names were still called out collectively, and the title of model student was awarded to Du Zhaoyu, who was first in the Science Stream.

The elderly professor presenting the awards was introduced by the Director of the Academic Affairs Office, who was acting as the host, with a long list of titles. Lin You only remembered that he was a professor in the Mathematics Department, named Zheng Boyan, and was a native of Ancheng.

Although this old teacher's name contained the character 'Yan' (strict), he looked very amiable. When presenting Lin You with the small certificate for first place in Mathematics single subject, he smiled and said, "Lin You, perfect score in Mathematics, very good. I heard you also acted bravely and saved someone? Are you interested in applying to the Nandu University Mathematics Department?"

Lin You was somewhat flattered. Although he had the System and didn't feel inferior to others, having an elderly professor like this actively strike up a conversation with an unknown student like himself during a small high school commendation still made him very excited.

Wasn't this the meaning of his effort? To constantly become stronger, allowing more people to see and recognize him.

"Thank you, Professor Zheng! Being able to apply to the Nandu University Mathematics Department is a dream I have always strived for. I hope I will have the opportunity to study under you in the future!"

Although he had already set his goal on competing with Xiao Yu'er for the top scorer in the college entrance examination, with Qingbei also within reach, he still had to provide the necessary emotional value to the elderly professor.