If he stayed here – Song Cong thought – it would just be repeating the past three years anew.
A classmate approached, “You’re the city’s top scorer, right? Please help us out in the future.”
“Yes,” Song Cong nodded, then added, “But I probably won’t be able to help, I’m changing classes soon.”
Though not loud, these words thrown into the quiet classroom caused an uproar.
People from the front, back, left and right immediately surrounded him. Even students sitting far ahead turned around and pricked up their ears. Everyone asked the same question, “Why change classes?”
After all, it took every ounce of effort just to earn a chance to sit here.
And those chances were limited.
Song Cong didn’t want to say much, but he had to give a credible reason, so he told them, “I don’t want to do competitions.”
Everyone’s expressions varied. Some nodded in understanding, some relaxed at having one less strong competitor, and some regretfully commented “With your grades, it’s a waste not to do competitions.”
Song Cong silently took out his books, no longer responding to the surrounding discussions.
What path to take and how to take it were two different matters – the former had never been an obstacle to the latter.
At the afternoon opening ceremony, Song Cong stood on the stage under the gaze of over a thousand people.
He adjusted the microphone, took out his speech, and after slightly regulating his breath, began, “Respected…”
These three words were like fish food scattered over the sea, with students in the playground gathering like small fish in groups to whisper. “So that’s the middle school top scorer, he’s so handsome” “He’s also first in the Olympic class test, didn’t you see the big board?” “His voice is nice too, wow, why wasn’t I at his middle school?”
Chen Huan’er stood in the crowd, her head spinning from the surrounding praise. She poked Qi Qi’s back in front of her, snickering softly, “Even if they were at the same middle school, they might not have seen him.”
As an important member of Song Cong’s friend group, she was excited enough to fly.
Qi Qi half-turned and made a “shh” gesture, “Don’t make noise, listen to the speech.”
Huan’er obediently closed her mouth, unconsciously straightening her back amidst the surrounding comments.
After a while, Qi Qi turned back again, “Song Cong hasn’t changed classes, right?”
Song Cong had been called away by teachers at noon to rehearse for the ceremony, so he hadn’t eaten with them. But if the city’s top scorer switched to a regular class, the news would have spread already, and there had been no such information in the school so far.
Huan’er didn’t pay much attention, “He’s been busy today, and probably hasn’t brought it up yet.”
“That’s true.” Qi Qi nodded, turning back to watch the radiant person on stage. If you change – you must, must change to this class.
Song Cong finished his speech and bowed before leaving the stage.
Huan’er applauded enthusiastically like everyone else. She was proud of her mother who possessed medical skills to save lives, proud of her father who shouldered great responsibilities to protect the country, and among friends who made her proud, Song Cong was the first.
Every day, setting out together from the residential compound to school, sometimes gathering around the same table to eat the same meals, reviewing and doing problems to face one test after another that they dared not slack off on – because of all these ordinary, common things, she hadn’t realized just how excellent her friend was.
Or perhaps in the process of growing familiarity, she had forgotten.
Chen Huan’er watched the spirited youth walking down from the stage, suddenly feeling that forgetting was a good thing.
Only when he wasn’t the lofty top student could they share the unwillingness to fall behind, the self-doubt buried in their hearts, and the troubles and confusion that had nowhere to go.
You can be excellent, but as my friend, you don’t need to be that excellent.