Chapter 66: Dream Realized

Sun Manning deliberately interrupted, “Don’t tell him—he’s just trying to total up the scores to steal your top scholarship slot.”

That was exactly what he meant; Li Heng made no effort to hide it: “Let me die early and be reborn—how much?”

Mai Sui said softly, “591.”

Eleven points less than mine; with the scholarship exam accounting for 50% weight:

11 x 0.5 = 5.5

This time, I’m ahead of Mai Sui by 5.5 points.

Li Heng then asked her for her midterm and final exam scores from last semester—and was stunned by the results.

Last semester’s midterm, Mai Sui beat him by 12 points!

At 20% weight: 12 x 0.2 = 2.4

The final exam was slightly better—Mai Sui only beat him by 10 points.

At 30% weight: 10 x 0.3 = 3

5.5 - 2.4 - 3 = 0.1

“Whoa! After adding up all three exams, you’re only ahead of Mai Sui by 0.1? Just 0.1!!!” Sun Manning, who had been leaning over the pile of books watching his calculations, exclaimed in shock.

Damn, just 0.1 short…

Li Heng was also stunned—he’d initially thought he’d lost completely when he heard her scores.

In the end, against all expectations, he’d won by a mere 0.1-point lead.

Mai Sui showed no emotion at the result.

She’d already quietly calculated it all in bed last night; at first, she admitted she’d felt a pang of disappointment.

But after a full night’s rest, her emotions had completely settled.

Mai Sui offered a generous blessing: “Keep going—I hope you push out Luo Zhijie and fulfill your dream!”

She didn’t mention Song Yu or Xiao Feng, because both had scored higher than her in last year’s final exam and scholarship exam—Li Heng couldn’t overtake them.

Li Heng sincerely replied, “Thank you!”

Then he added jokingly, “If I actually pull it off, I’ll buy you a bottle of soda right away.”

Mai Sui’s dark eyes sparkled as she smiled and said yes.

Morning self-study was Chinese class, but the headmaster hadn’t shown up, so everyone was freely reviewing and reciting.

Yet the occasional sharp reprimands echoing down the hallway kept the class on edge.

Halfway through morning self-study, the school loudspeaker suddenly crackled to life.

A moment later, two "Hello, hello" sounds rang out—clearly a school official testing the microphone.

Upon hearing those two "Hello, hello," the class gradually fell silent, and a tense atmosphere quickly spread through the room.

This wasn’t the first time—it was an automatic reflex: Had the scholarship list been announced?

Was the school about to reveal it?

Perhaps because he was so close to fulfilling his greatest wish from high school, Li Heng felt an unexpected surge of nervousness.

Old Chinese doctors often said sugar calms the nerves.

Li Heng thought for a moment and wrote on his notebook: Got any candy?

He handed the notebook to Mai Sui.

Mai Sui loved candy and always carried some—sometimes wrapped in paper, sometimes loose grains, the one-cent-a-piece kind.

She took the notebook, glanced at it, then reached into the right corner of her desk and pulled out a handful of candy.

Looking closer—wow! It was the rare Dabaitu milk candy.

“This is a real treat, hard to come by—just one piece is enough,” Li Heng said, not greedy, taking only one from the pile.

Mai Sui didn’t respond; gently, she placed the rest of the candy on his desk and turned back to her book.

This girl was quite generous, Li Heng thought, then, by muscle memory, automatically split half of it and passed it to Song Yu.

He felt nothing odd while doing it.

Only after finishing did he realize—given their current relationship, this was too abrupt.

But it was done now; he didn’t care. Let it be.

If there was anyone in this world who could make him lose reason and do foolish things, who could trigger violent emotional swings—it had to be Song Yu, Xiao Han, and Chen Zijin.

Only Song Yu, Xiao Han, and Chen Zijin.

No one else—not even his own parents.

Like the first time he’d come back to life and impulsively grabbed Song Yu’s hand—she must have found it incomprehensible, irrational—but he’d done it instinctively.

Seeing a large hand reach beneath her nose, palm full of candy, Song Yu smiled beautifully and wrote on her notebook: I have candy.

Li Heng replied: These are Dabaitu.

Song Yu wrote: Same.

Li Heng asked: Did Mai Sui give them to you?

Song Yu wrote: Mm.

Li Heng joked: “Looks like there’s a difference—I have to ask before I get any. Suddenly, this candy doesn’t taste sweet anymore.”

Song Yu’s smile deepened, spreading to her eyes.

Li Heng wrote: Give me your candy and swap—it’s the one I want to eat.

Seeing those words, Song Yu, who had been quietly happy, gradually erased all expression, sat still and composed for a long moment, then opened her bag.

And then…

And then nothing more—the bag’s mouth remained open, calmly waiting.

Having lived with her for years in his past life, Li Heng knew her nature well—he no longer hesitated, reached into her bag with his right hand, placed his candy inside, and pulled out the other pile.

The whole thing was swift, clean, under three seconds.

Li Heng peeled one candy and popped it in his mouth, wrote: Should you say thanks?

Song Yu replied: No, these candies are Mai Sui’s.

Li Heng wrote: Just “No” is enough—cross out the rest.

Song Yu looked at him, then closed her notebook.

The school loudspeaker seemed to have a problem—static was loud; it took over ten minutes to fix.

"Hello, hello..."

After two more hesitant "Hello, hello" tests, the official began:

“The scholarship list for senior year is as follows: students whose names are called should report to the academic office…”

It was the scholarship list!

After a wave of stifled gasps, the classroom fell utterly silent.

The broadcast continued:

“Top Scholarship, Humanities: Xiao Feng, Song Yu, Li Heng…”

If the first two names were expected, met with no reaction,

then the third: Li Heng!!!

The entire class turned their heads in unison—shocked!

A math score of 120, total of 602—already impressive. But everyone assumed the third slot still belonged to Mai Sui.

For years, Mai Sui had been a regular top scholarship winner, only once losing it to Luo Zhijie.

Now, she missed it again—replaced by the newcomer, Li Heng.

Yes! That’s right—Li Heng was now the new elite.

To students and teachers alike, Li Heng, with his improved English and Chinese, had reached the same level as the four top scholars—a top contender for Tsinghua or Peking University.

Song Yu passed him a note with two simple words: Congratulations!

Just those two words—yet they were his first blessing, weighty as a thousand gold pieces, profoundly meaningful to him.

Li Heng replied: Thank you!

Inside, he shouted triumphantly: Half my high school dream is fulfilled!

Damn, it was hard-won!

(End of chapter)