Chapter 162: Skip a grade?

Jiang Liangjin lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, his gaze gentle, "Wherever you want to go, we'll go."

Mu Youyu wasn't surprised he answered that way again.

Her gaze flickered for a moment.

She was indeed hesitating; skipping a grade would mean advancing her studies faster.

Staying put and studying step by step, she also felt that, given her pace, it was overly easy and wasted a lot of time.

Although even Lan Lin found senior year easy, she actually wanted to graduate sooner.

"Actually…" she paused, looking at Jiang Liangjin beside her, "I'm wondering whether I should just skip straight to senior year."

As soon as she finished speaking, the private room fell silent instantly.

Yu Ci almost spat out his cola, but he reacted quickly and swallowed it back, only to choke violently: "Cough cough cough cough… Youbao! What… what did you say?"

Gu Xingnan's hand holding the water cup paused slightly, and the cold water rippled in concentric circles.

He lifted his eyes to Mu Youyu, a flash of surprise crossing his gaze, but he quickly regained his composure.

Stay calm, stay calm—after all, this isn't the first time she's skipped a grade, right?

Lin Ning went even further, eyes wide and voice rising several pitches: "Youbao! We're only in sophomore year! School started less than ten days ago! You were in our class in elementary school only because you skipped a grade, and now you want to skip straight to senior year?"

That intense?

She's over a year older than Mu Youyu, and they've known each other since childhood due to family ties.

Naturally, she knew Mu Youyu had skipped a grade.

Ye Zeli sat upright to the side, his posture elegant.

He had long heard stories about Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin, that childhood‑sweetheart pair, knowing they were no ordinary people.

But hearing it himself now… a fifteen‑year‑old girl saying she'd jump straight to senior year still surprised him, though he didn't show it.

If I recall correctly, Mu Youyu has several older brothers who are big shots, especially her twin‑brother Mu Xin, who completed a combined master's‑and‑doctorate program, started a business young, and has achieved some success.

……No wonder they're twins—both are freaks of extraordinary talent.

He, who considered himself fairly outstanding as an ordinary person, really couldn't keep up with them.

He simply couldn't compare.

Mu Youyu didn't understand why everyone was reacting so strongly; even A Jin and Ningning‑senior were calm!

This wasn't the first time she'd done something like this.

She met everyone's varied gazes, nodded slightly, and said, "Well, getting used to the senior‑year pace early isn't bad."

Although she had her own rhythm.

Jiang Liangjin heard that, a hint of smile flickering in his eyes: "I can do anything; as long as you want it, I'll support you."

Ye Zeli rarely spoke, his tone tinged with appreciation: "Having a goal is good, but senior‑year coursework is tough and the pressure is significant—you need to be prepared."

Although it wouldn't be too hard for him, he had friends who would complain like that.

Mu Youyu gave Ye Zeli a bright smile, her tone carrying a youthful vigor: "How hard could it be? I've already learned all the senior‑year material—no problem."

Jiang Liangjin added, his tone carrying a faint threat: "Pressure? Whoever dares to pressure her, I'll chop them up."

Yu Ci wanted to say: It's not that easy.

Mu Youyu, however, thought it was a joke: "It's not that serious."

How could you chop someone?

Ye Zeli: "……"

He silently withdrew his gaze, lifted the water cup and took a sip, "…as if I never said anything."

Lin Ning snapped out of her initial shock, rushed to Mu Youyu's side, affectionately patted her shoulder, eyes full of admiration: "Come on! You're my incredibly awesome best friend—just that amazing! No matter what you decide, I'll support you unconditionally!"

Yu Ci also nodded: "Right, right! If we skip a grade, we'll be alumni someday—just thinking about it gets me excited!"

Mu Youyu: "……" She looked at Yu Ci somewhat speechlessly; saying that was pointless, since they were already from the same school and class.

Only that their grades might differ in the future—or maybe not……

Gu Xingnan glanced at the person beside him: "What do we say?"

The four of them have always been on excellent terms; aside from that one time they fell out and some occasional reasons, they've never been separated for long over anything.

Now that the two of them are going to skip a grade, Gu Xingnan naturally thinks he'll follow if he can, and even if he doesn't follow Yu Ci, he'd still want to.

Besides, he mainly looks to his childhood friend Yu Ci for the decision.

Yu Ci brimmed with confidence: "I'll put in the effort, and I can…… "

Gu Xingnan didn't wait for him to finish, nodded, already having made up his mind: "Sure, I'll tutor you."

Yu Ci broke into a delighted smile: "Fine! With A Nan around, I definitely won't have a problem!"

His grades aren't bad either—he's consistently been in the top twenty of the sophomore division, and with his family background, a little effort makes skipping a grade no trouble.

Mu Youyu smiled: "Keep it up."

Jiang Liangjin replied: "Seeing how you feel, I'll take care of it when the time comes."

Ye Zeli wasn't close with them, so he said nothing.

Lin Ning watched them each gain new goals and plans, suddenly feeling abandoned, she let out a wail, felt her food lose its flavor, and slumped against the sofa back: "……You guys, could you at least spare a thought for me, the sole sophomore struggling hard here?!!"

Although they weren't from the same school, thinking that Mu Youyu, Jiang Liangjin, Gu Xingnan, and Yu Ci would become senior‑year upperclassmen while she lingered in sophomore year made Lin Ning feel a pang of heaviness.

"Wuu wuu wuu wuu wuu, from now on I'll be a junior, and I'll be mercilessly crushed by you all, this bunch of top students……

As she spoke, she deliberately wiped away nonexistent tears: "How do I even compare to you all, these academic aces……?"

Ye Zeli looked at her lifeless demeanor, paused, and said gently: "You should skip too."

Lin Ning immediately lifted her head, as if hearing some Arabian‑night fantasy: "I haven't even grasped freshman‑year material—how could I skip? I'd probably end up at the bottom if I skipped, with the teacher summoning me to the office every day for tea!"

That remark was naturally a joke; teachers at Nanfeng Gaozhong basically wouldn't call students to the office for tea over anything bad.

Mu Youyu knew her best friend's disposition—she could never muster any interest in studying, preferring to research her cosmetics instead.

Her grades have constantly hovered around the passing line.

She had indeed considered helping Ning's grades before, but Ning always lets her words go in one ear and out the other, saying her lectures sound like... a monk chanting sutras—no, like a beauty chanting sutras—pleasant to hear, she understands every word, yet just can't retain them.

Mu Youyu didn't press her either, after all, no matter what, given Ning's Family Background, her future is bright.

Mu Youyu looked at Ning's pitiful appearance, thought for a moment, and said: "Actually, there's no need to rush; stay in this class for a while, and once you've adapted better, skipping a grade will be just the same."

Anyway, the ultimate goal is to enter senior year before the June college entrance exam; it's only September now, so staying a bit longer—even eight months—is fine.

Jiang Liangjin immediately nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Ning thought her best friend was worried she'd be lonely, which moved her even more: "Dear, we're not in the same school; you can skip a grade if you want—don't wrong yourself for me..."

Besides, she's only slightly worried that several people will go to college while she remains in high school.

However, being in sophomore year is fine; this way she can stay longer with her dear best friend, since after the college entrance exam she'll be going abroad.

By then, with the time difference, wanting to meet as often as they do now, to eat and chat together, will probably be difficult.

Just thinking about this makes Ning feel even more uneasy.

Wuu wuu wuu wuu wuu—how pitiful she is, how good her best friend is!

Good best friend, forever!