Two days later, Li Wu returned to school to get his final exam results.
As a transfer student, he had surpassed his peers, leading Class Ten with excellent scores of 146 in mathematics and a perfect score in comprehensive science, even surpassing the second-place student by nearly twenty points.
But dramatically, his grade ranking was thirty-first.
Staring at his report card, Li Wu was completely stunned—how was this any different from being one point below passing?
Their homeroom teacher was proud, praising him enthusiastically during class. But the one being praised showed no joy, leaning against his chair, dejected.
On the way home, the sky was dark gray, as if gathering mood for snowfall.
Li Wu’s expression wasn’t any better than the weather. He walked with his hands in his pockets, passing through crowds almost in a state of withdrawal as he entered the subway station.
In the train car, he held onto the hanging strap, staring unfocused at the advertising light boards flashing past outside, wondering how to explain this unsatisfactory report card to Cen Jin.
Lost in thought, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
Li Wu took it out to look—it was a message from Cheng Rui. He had sent a photo of him on the student honors board, with a red background and yellow text, showing his serious face.
The top fifty students in the second year’s final exams would receive this recognition as encouragement.
Cheng Rui could barely contain his excitement: Did you see it? When I went there, several girls were taking pictures of you!!
Cheng Rui: They even wanted to post it on Douyin! I told them they couldn’t violate portrait rights. Don’t thank me, brother.
Li Wu: “…”
He still replied: Thank you.
Cheng Rui celebrated his success for quite a while as if he were the one who had topped the class. Li Wu’s mood brightened from all the praise.
After chatting with him, Li Wu opened the photo again, thought for a moment, pressed his lips together, and forwarded it to Cen Jin, emphasizing three times: I didn’t take this, my classmate sent it to me.
Walking out of the subway station, Li Wu received her response.
Her first reaction wasn’t to ask about his grades, but instead: This photo looks good.
Li Wu was slightly stunned—wasn’t it the same as how he looked in person? What was good or not good about it? He couldn’t tell the difference.
The inevitable topic still had to come up, as Cen Jin asked: Is it the top thirty that makes the honor board?
Li Wu: …
Li Wu: Top fifty.
The other side’s quick mind immediately guessed most of it, sending back the same brick-wielding emoji as before.
Li Wu: …
Might as well face death: I’m ranked 31st. I’ll show you the report card when I get back.
Cen Jin seemed to share his regret: Just missed it by one spot?
Li Wu: Mm.
Cen Jin encouraged: Still amazing! Work a bit harder next semester, and getting into the experimental class will be a piece of cake.
Li Wu felt comforted: Okay.
Seeing she wasn’t as disappointed and angry as he’d imagined, Li Wu’s mood improved somewhat, and he brought up something else: Do I still need to be beaten?
Cen Jin: You want to be beaten?
Li Wu: …
Cen Jin: That can be arranged, I’ll keep an eye out for bricks on my way home.
Li Wu: Better not.
―
It was past eleven that night when Cen Jin returned. She took off her coat, massaging her shoulders and back, placed her bulging shopping bag on the coffee table, and called Li Wu’s name twice.
The young man came out with big steps, stopping at a distance.
“Eat something,” Cen Jin pointed at the shopping bag, walking to get water from the refrigerator: “A reward for you, you worked hard this semester.”
Li Wu walked to the coffee table, leaning down to look at what was in the bag—all sorts of snacks, a wide variety. He turned to ask her: “Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not eating, I just want to shower and sleep now.” She was exhausted.
Li Wu didn’t touch any of it, asking: “Is it snowing outside?”
Cen Jin replied: “No.”
“Oh right,” she suddenly remembered something after gulping down half a bottle of water, turning her head to remind him: “There are also two boxes of masks in there. Try not to go out if you don’t have to recently, and wear a mask if you do go out. Seems like there’s some new coronavirus in Hancheng, and it’s quite serious.”
Li Wu looked at her: “When do you start your holiday?”
Cen Jin screwed the bottle cap back on: “Probably around the twenty-seventh or twenty-eighth of the lunar month,” she then asked: “Are you going back to Shengzhou for Spring Festival? Or staying with me?”
Li Wu was speechless for a second, his head-warming slightly: “With you.”
“Wise choice,” Cen Jin casually tossed up her bottle of water and caught it deftly, glancing at him sideways: “Perfect chance to meet my parents.”
“Ah…?” Li Wu was caught off guard by this statement.
Cen Jin raised her eyebrows slightly: “Is there a problem?”