Holidays for senior high school students are always compressed as much as possible. So as soon as the seventh day of New Year passed, the seniors of No.12 High School were back to their tutoring lessons.

  However, this year, the atmosphere in the senior classes was obviously quite different. Both students and teachers had ruddy cheeks and smiles on their faces. Although they couldn’t completely get rid of the tension brought by the college entrance exams, everyone’s emotional state was much better compared to those from previous years.

  And the reason for this was simple. Last semester, most of the seniors had made remarkable progress in their grades. So much so, that in the final city-wide exam, No.12 High School got a higher grade point average than No.1 High School. It rocked the city’s education community and caused several teachers to doubt the results.

  It was natural for the teachers of No.1 High School to be confused when they saw the scores. They had been the undisputed champion of the city-wide exams for several years already. It was hard to believe that their students were only middling in the rankings, while students of the ordinary No.12 High School were ranking higher. The teachers in No.1 High School immediately asked for a recheck, with some even wondering if No.12 High School released the questions to their students ahead of time.

  Although such suspicions were a bit petty, it also had some merit. No.12 High School’s sudden rise was surprising enough, but the grades of their two bottom classes were just too eye-catching.

  Teachers with many years’ experience knew just how difficult it was to improve the performance of their backward classes. Sometimes, it was even more difficult than raising the scores of top students. At least they had the foundation laid in their study habits. But somehow, No.12 High School managed to raise the average scores of their bottom classes to unprecedented heights.

  How can this not be suspicious!

  So under the strong insistence of several teachers and leaders from No.1 High School, the city actually rechecked No.12 High School’s results. However, the results were clear: There was no mistake in the scores. Their investigation even brought two star players out into the limelight.

  It was also impossible for No.12 High School to have released the test questions early. The exam papers were uniformly issued by the city to all the schools on the day of the exam. What’s more, Rong City had just finished a thorough investigation of their Education Bureau. People like Huo PingChuan and the former leader of the Education Bureau had been caught and were under heavy inquiry. Anyone with a brain cell could understand that right now, they should be laying low instead of taking such risky moves like selling exam questions.

  The only explanation left was that No.12 High School made rapid progress last semester and surpassed No.1 High School solely through their own strength. The took the throne from the champions and became the new top school of Rong City.

  And because super genius Ke MuZi, a student of No.1 High School, was accepted to his first-choice university without needing to take the college entrance exams, he decided to forgo the city-wide exam too. Therefore, the top student in the entire city also ended up being Lin Qian, a student of No. 12 High School.

  No.12 High School became wildly famous, seemingly overnight.

  Parents of senior high school students were always sensitive to their children’s results. After the shocking twist in the city-wide exam, there was a sudden spike in parents trying to transfer their children to No. 12 High School. Most of them had children in the under-achieving classes. Because of this, the education sector of Rong City had gone through a little turbulence immediately after the New Year holidays.

  Lin Qian was also endlessly harassed by Ke MuZi.

  It was because No.12 High School’s achievements were just too outstanding. Teachers in No.1 High School were unwilling to accept the city-wide exam results. Their headteacher even believed that the main reason why No.1 High School’s ranking was so low was because Ke MuZi had been absent. So during the New Year, Ke MuZi’s teacher specifically called the Ke family, hoping that Ke MuZi would take this semester’s city-wide exams and win back the school’s honor.

  Ke MuZi, who was very competitive, was eager to know who, between the two of them, was the real top student of Rong City. During the New Year holidays, Ke MuZi had called Lin Qian several times, bothering him about the next city-wide exams.

  Lin Qian: “.……”


  Finally, it was Zheng PingQing’s millions of yuans that managed to successfully divert Ke MuZi’s attention.

  As a result of this, Lin Qian felt that money really was the root of all evils. Even Boss Ke’s academic heart couldn’t avoid getting corroded by it.

  This triumph also brought another change in No.12 High School.

  Many of the lower class teachers in No.12 High School were actually veterans with decades’ worth of experience. However, because of various schemings by their superiors, they were often shunted off to undesirable classes with no bonuses. Seeing their bleak futures, these teachers became lazy in teaching their students. The underachieving students they taught were similarly lazy and often had no desire to study, so their grades didn’t rise. With such a vicious circle happening, many of these veteran teachers remained in their lowly positions without retirement benefits.

  However, this breakthrough in the city-wide exams finally raised these teachers’ evaluations. Furthermore, the honorable Principal Qiu was still here. If nothing unexpected happens, the teachers would be able to see their students graduate and even get promotions too.

  This was enough for them to do their absolute best in this New Year.

  All the conjectures and assumptions in the outside world couldn’t affect the happy mood of the teachers and students in No. 12 High School. On the first day back, everyone was pumped to study and prepare for the upcoming college entrance exams.

  According to school tradition, there would be a speech from the student representative to motivate the students. In the past few years, this vital task was usually done by a student who took first place in the school rankings. In Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s last life, He YeRui took first place and did both speeches in the first and second semster.

  But this time, the Principal decided to do something unconventional. He chose a representative from both the top class and the lowest class and asked them to give a speech.

  This decision had been endorsed by all the teachers of the senior year. Choosing a representative from the top class was an old tradition, but this year, the ones who made the most progress were the underachievers. Their hard work was obvious to the entire school.

  As for who the representatives would be, it was a no-brainer. Regardless of their results, the only qualified people to take the mantle were Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing.

  So on the first day of the new semester, the senior students were gathered in the school auditorium once more.

  Different from last semester, the students were all sitting together in mixed groups instead of by class. The most conspicuous group was the students in the top class and the bottom class. Before, they were called ‘worst enemies in No.12’, but now, they were one blended group. If one didn’t look carefully, they wouldn’t be able to tell who was the underachiever and who was the student in the top class.

  Nowadays though, the ‘underachievers’ couldn’t be called delinquents. They don’t make trouble in class anymore, and their grades aren’t bad. From time to time, they would even be praised by the teachers which was, of course, was humiliating to these delinquent types. When the city-wide exam results came out, that was the final nail in the coffin. In the end, the underachievers of No.12 High School were kicked out of the unofficial ‘delinquent union‘ of Rong City. Therefore, when they encounter other delinquents from other schools they used to play with in Internet cafes, they could only lower their heads and look away.

  However, this was only a superficial idea delinquents from other schools thought the underachievers were experiencing. In reality, the former delinquents of No.12 High School were far too obsessed with their studies to pay attention to other people’s opinions.

  As for the regular students of No.12 High School, they were long used to the top and bottom classes spending time together. No one thought their relationship was strange anymore. In the end, the entire school had an unexpected atmosphere of harmony and kinship.

  Xu Yao and Jiang TingJun were currently sitting in Class 8, talking with some students in this class. From time to time, other students from the lower classes would greet them.

  “Fuck, do you know? My score from the city-wide exam was 30 points higher than last year! My new year’s money doubled as a result. Ah, I feel like I got rich overnight.”


  “Me too. I didn’t check the price of the candy I bought yesterday, and just bought it!”


  “Hahaha, let me tell you, my aunt used to come over to my house and brag about my cousin. Truthfully, he isn’t even that great! It’s just that he goes to No.1 High School. But during the new year, when they visited my house, she didn’t say a word. I was so happy I could’ve jumped for joy.”


  “God, it’s the same for me. My family’s broken-mouthed relatives used to talk non-stop about my grades. This year though, they only asked me about the transfer procedures for No.12. I was the brightest star in the family, hahaha.”


  “Oh, oh, I was super cool too. My exam results were high enough to qualify for an undergraduate course. My family was so happy we went on a cruise during the New Year. Hey, look, don’t I look tanned?”


  “Ah, my dad used to tell me how he could get me a job in his factory after graduation. But after my grades for last semster were released, my dad said……he’s saving for my college tuition……”


  “Oh speaking of, do you remember my online game buddy from No.9 High School? He dropped out of school last semester, and he’s doing odd jobs now. He came to my house during the holidays to play games, and he told me that it’s miserable trying to find a job without a degree. Now he’s really jealous of me and wants to go back to school……”
……

  The top students hosting the tutoring group had seen this transformation of the underachievers first-hand. Some of them were proud of themselves, some had mixed feelings, but mostly, they were all satisfied from the bottom of their hearts.

  All except Xu Yao.

  Dong MingEn was currently sitting next to Xu Yao in the auditorium, talking to him. “Ah Yao, let’s go to Lin Qian’s home after school and study together.”


  Xu Yao narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think you actually intend to study once we get there.”


  “I do!” Dong MingEn replied.

  After a while, Dong MingEn couldn’t help but ask: “.……is Lin Qian’s older sister at home today?”


  With a sad expression on his face, Dong MingEn sighed. “Sister Shao SiJia will be going back to school soon……I won’t be able to see her for a long while……”


  Xu Yao couldn’t help but ask: “Why are you so obsessed with her, ah?”


  Dong MingEn’s face turned red, but his reply was straightforward. “She’s beautiful.”


  Xu Yao was incredulous. “You’re that shallow?”


  Dong MingEn disagreed with his conclusion and said: “It’s not shallow! I think it’s quite deep. Didn’t you see her graceful figure when she swore at those guys? Ah, so beautiful.”


  Xu Yao: “.……” I didn’t see it before, but it turns out this guy is a weirdo.

  Xu Yao thought for a bit, then said: “If you really like Shao SiJia, then you should work harder and get in her university. Then, you’ll be able to see her every day.”


  Dong MingEn’s eyes brightened. “That makes sense! Which university does she attend?”


  Xu Yao replied: “The Great C University.”


  Dong MingEn was stunned. “.……is everyone in Lin Qian’s family a top student?”


  Xu Yao gave Dong MingEn the side-eye. “Not just his family. Before he became buddies with Zheng PingQing, even his friends were all top students.”


  Dong MingEn silently calculated the gap between his grades and the C University entrance requirements. After a while, he weakly asked: “What’s the nearest school to C?”


  Xu Yao: “.……”


  At this moment, Guo DangLi and Li Gao rushed in with a large, red, rolled up thing in their arms. Guo DangLi shouted: “Keep up, keep up! Ahhh, those shopkeepers are too lazy. Their stores are still closed, even when it’s the eighth day of the New Year……I almost couldn’t find anything……”


  Xu Yao looked at the two, curious. He was about to ask what they were doing when the wall-mounted speakers suddenly turned on and started playing music. Soon, the host started his announcement.

  The host started things off by welcoming the Principal to do his speech. After the Principal was the teacher representative speech, then the student representative speech.

  Certain students in No.12 High School were simply popular with their peers. The host simply needed to say the name ‘Lin Qian,’ and the auditorium immediately erupted into loud applause and shouts. In stark contrast to their previous indifference, Class 8 was now cheering the loudest for Lin Qian.

  It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that everyone had high expectations for him.

  Not only that, but when Lin Qian walked up the stage, a cry sounded out from the back of the auditorium: “Big Boss, look here!”


  The shouts attracted the attention of all the teachers and students. Everyone turned around one after the other and saw Guo DangLi and Li Gao unfurling a sizable red cloth. It was a massive banner with white letters on a red background.

  The banner read: Congratulations to Big Boss for getting first place in the city.

  Xu Yao: “.……”


  He really hated himself for not stopping these people.

  Lin Qian: “.……”


  After a few seconds, Lin Qian pulled himself together and smiled. He smoothly started: “I’d like to congratulate everyone for raising the grade point average of the school in the city-wide exams.”


  The audience broke out in applause and whistles. Some girls ever shouted: “Ah Qian, I love you!”


  Lin Qian calmly replied: “Thank you, you’re so polite.” It caused the audience to burst into laughter.

  “It’s good that the school doesn’t rely on student votes for decision-making, ah. Otherwise, the next principal would’ve been student Lin Qian.” Principal Qiu said with a smile.

  The teacher next to him commented: “.……Principal Qiu is pretty good at jokes this year.”


  Principal Qiu didn’t deny it. “The school has an extraordinarily good atmosphere this year.”


  There was nothing fancy in Lin Qian’s speech. He gave some practical suggestions, encouraged his fellow classmates, and finished with some heartfelt words. However, because of his overwhelming popularity, even a word or two would be met with a warm response.

  After Lin Qian finished, Zheng PingQing took the stage.

  As a former Boss in No.12 High School, Zheng PingQing still had the momentum to attract everyone’s gaze and attention. All the students were also very cooperative, especially the lower classes, as they all held their breaths and waited for the former tyrant to speak.

  Zheng PingQing stood upright on the stage like a tall cypress tree, looming over everyone and exuding a sense of dignity and superiority. It made the hearts and livers of a few students tremble.

  Ah, I want to bow down to this big shot.

  Zheng PingQing held the microphone with one hand and scanned the audience. He opened with the line: “All the people who just confessed to Lin Qian, drag yourselves up here.”


  Everyone beneath the stage: “.……”


  Zheng PingQing continued, sounding particularly bitter: “You’re now in your senior year! In the third year of high school! You should be concentrating on your studies, ah! Stop thinking about Lin Qian and study, study, study! Thoughts of teenage puppy love are no good, my fellow classmates!!!!”


  The audience: “.……”


  Xu Yao’s mouth twitched. Ah, he hates himself for not having the courage to strangle the man on the spot.

  As for Gou XinDou, he was busy silently reciting some English vocabulary. As one of the star players in the lower classes who scored high in the city-wide exams, Gou XinDou was determined to study hard and keep his mind from thinking about other things.

  Omfg Zheng PingQing.

  Gou XinDou, long time no see. You’ve studied so hard to stop thinking about LQxZPQ that you’ve become a top scorer; I applaud you.

  Also, that one dad saving for his kid’s college tuition warmed my heart more than the author probably intended.

  In case people are confused, No.12 High school does monthly practice exams for the seniors to help them get ready for the college entrance exams. This is purely in-school: They write up the exams and mark it themselves. The students are also ranked so they can see how they compare to everyone else in their year.

  There’s also a city-wide exam every semster to judge the schools/students on which one has the best grades. Both students and schools are ranked, with Lin Qian taking first place in the individual rankings. No.12 skyrocketed up the rankings and beat No.1 High School, the previous……Number 1.

  Finally, there’s the big college entrance exam that will affect a student’s eligibility for university. This is a nationwide exam.