Chapter 570

During evening self-study, Li Luo was called to the office by Kong Junxiang and received the Class 8 final exam results.

After briefly explaining a few matters, Kong Junxiang added, "Write a speech tonight—five or six hundred words is fine. You'll be speaking tomorrow at the flag-raising ceremony."

"Huh?" Li Luo blinked in surprise. "Me?"

"Who else?" Kong Junxiang chuckled. "It's tradition for the grade's top scorer to speak after every exam—you know that."

"Oh… right." Li Luo nodded. "It's my first time, so it just slipped my mind."

Carrying the results, Li Luo returned to the Gao San Class 8 classroom and posted the report card on the notice board by the door.

Some classmates who hadn't gone downstairs to check rankings got up and walked over to glance at their own scores.

They also took the chance to admire their class monitor's remarkable achievements in this final exam.

Even though they'd already heard from other students that Ying Chanxi had lost the top spot, seeing it with their own eyes still made them sigh.

Back in Gao Er, some top students might still fantasize about challenging for first place.

But after entering Gao San, most had long given up that idea, accepting reality.

By Gao San, everyone had grown used to it—Ying Chanxi's name always at number one seemed perfectly natural.

But when someone shattered this image, everyone suddenly snapped back to awareness: Ying Chanxi's undefeated top rank wasn't unbreakable.

At least Li Luo could do it.

Enjoying the glances from classmates, Li Luo returned to his seat and noticed Ying Chanxi's gaze turning toward him—he sighed dramatically.

"What's wrong?" Ying Chanxi shot him a sidelong look. "You got first place and you're sighing?"

"It's because of tomorrow's flag-raising ceremony," Li Luo groaned, shaking his head. "Teacher Kong asked me to prepare a speech—I have to get up and talk."

"Stop acting like you've been wronged," Ying Chanxi rolled her eyes. "That's always been my job. Besides, you've spoken before."

Li Luo had previously ranked in the school's top forty, holding his ground in the elite class territory despite being from a parallel class, and had been invited to speak before.

"But this is the first time in my life I'm speaking as the grade's number one," Li Luo blinked innocently. "I'm actually a little nervous."

"Hmph." Ying Chanxi saw right through his act and ignored him. "You won't get this chance again—enjoy it while you can."

"So what should the speech say?" Li Luo asked humbly. "Ying Chanxi, you've got more experience—can you teach me?"

"... I think you're asking for a beating."

"I'm serious. If you won't teach me, I'll just copy yours."

"Go ahead and copy. See how you do it."

"Respected teachers, dear classmates, hello! Today, standing here, I feel deeply honored..."

"... Classmates, studying is like a marathon..."

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Ying Chanxi realized he'd memorized her midterm speech word-for-word—his absurd memory had slipped her mind—and hurriedly stopped him. "You're not copying me!"

"I've got all your versions," Li Luo grinned. "Even your Gao Yi ones."

"Write your own!" Ying Chanxi snapped. "Just share your own study habits—how you study normally, write that."

"But it's hard to write."

"How's it hard?"

"Should I just write, 'I read books every day, memorize all the key points, and my grades naturally improve'?"

"That's so fake," Ying Chanxi sneered. "You'll get hit."

"I just wanted to be honest... but the world keeps forcing me to be dishonest," Li Luo sighed helplessly, picked up his pen, and began writing on paper.

Ying Chanxi rolled her eyes, heard the class bell ring, turned back around, and ignored him.

The next Monday, Li Luo and the other two arrived at school for morning jogging.

After breakfast in the cafeteria, they returned to the classroom to wait for the bell.

When the flag-raising ceremony's background music played, all teachers and students moved into action.

The Gao San Class 8 students gathered by the classroom door, led by Zhu Yufei and Yan Zhusheng, the two PE monitors, and marched in formation toward the playground lawn.

Li Luo and Ying Chanxi had vanished early. In the preparation area behind the flag-raising podium, Li Luo stood quietly beside another student preparing to speak.

The other student was the one with the biggest grade improvement this term—just like Li Luo had been before.

As Li Luo waited for the ceremony to begin, he spotted a furtive figure approaching with a camera.

Closer inspection revealed it was Ying Chanxi.

"What are you doing here?" Li Luo asked, puzzled.

"I'm handling the camera for today's flag-raising ceremony," Ying Chanxi held up her camera, as if it were obvious.

"You're not even in the Photography Club—how'd you get in?" Li Luo asked, dumbfounded.

"I have a friend in the club, and I used to be an unofficial member anyway."

Ying Chanxi blinked innocently, then pointed to another student with a camera on the track. "She's covering the track; I'm covering the podium. Beg me nicely, and I'll film you looking handsome."

"Heh, Ying Dao, still stuck in your shady habits?" Li Luo teased. "Threatening me now?"

"Hmph~" Ying Chanxi pouted slightly, spotted the vice-principal approaching, and ignored him, rushing off with her camera to begin filming.

Li Luo also noticed the vice-principal, who walked up, patted both his and the other student's shoulders, and offered warm encouragement.

Then the national anthem began.

The school's flag-raising team slowly ascended the podium, hoisting the national flag. Li Luo saluted and sang along as the flag rose to the top and fluttered proudly. The vice-principal straightened his suit and stepped calmly onto the podium.

Soon, it was the other student's turn to speak.

He clutched his speech, hands trembling as he stepped up.

His voice wavered at first, but steadied by the halfway point.

A few minutes later, it was Li Luo's turn.

When he stepped onto the podium again, facing thousands of spectators below, Li Luo felt no real nervousness—and noticed, out of the corner of his eye, Ying Chanxi's camera already set up.

With a memory palace inside him, he didn't need any speech script.

After a few routine opening greetings, he got straight to the point.

"... As for study methods, they're all just common advice."

"So here, I won't dwell on them—I just want to thank one person."

"Well, the person I want to thank is Ying Chanxi."

"Back when I was in junior high, my grades were actually terrible."

"Even so, the day before the high school entrance exam, she still helped me review, marked the key topics for me, and taught me various problem-solving techniques."

"After entering Fuyi High, we often studied together and improved, and I benefited greatly from that."

"Ying Chanxi has already shared many insights on learning on this flag-raising stage, so I have no need to show off before an expert."

"When I got first place, Ying Chanxi was genuinely happy for me—I think this kind of healthy competition is the driving force behind our continuous progress."

"A single lucky victory isn't the goal—it's just a beautiful sight along the path toward the finish line."

"Moving forward, I'll keep pushing myself, hoping to maintain this momentum and give Ying Chanxi even more pressure and motivation."

…

When Li Luo's speech turned to Ying Chanxi, Ying Chanxi, who was holding the camera to record, instantly blushed.

She never expected Li Luo, of all people, to say such things during the flag-raising ceremony.

You were supposed to come up and share your study experience, okay?!

What on earth did you just say?!

Ying Chanxi's cheeks burned red with embarrassment.

Among the students in Class 8 of Gao San, quiet laughter broke out.

"The monitor really is the monitor... even in front of the vice-principal, he dares to show off like this?"

"How's that showing off? Didn't the monitor say it's healthy competition?"

"So I'm only one Ying Chanxi away from being number one in the grade?"

"Wake up, kid—it's early morning, why are you sleeping again?"

…

"It's all your fault—everyone's looking at me weirdly now that we're back."

Back in the classroom, Ying Chanxi lightly hit Li Luo, whispering in annoyance.

"What's wrong with what I said? Every word I spoke on the flag-raising stage was true."

"You're kidding me—how does your good grade have anything to do with me? You're the one who worked hard."

"But you still played a part," Li Luo said, and before anyone noticed, he swiftly kissed Ying Chanxi on the cheek.

Ying Chanxi jumped in surprise, her face instantly blazing red; she frantically glanced left and right, and only when she saw no one had noticed did she exhale in relief.

"Y-you scared me to death!" Ying Chanxi hit him again, but her tone was soft, showing no sign of anger.

"Actually, I have a superpower," Li Luo whispered. "When I kiss you, I can absorb knowledge from you and turn it into my own."

"You're just making that up," Ying Chanxi muttered, her small face flushed. "Then why can't I absorb it from you?"

"Of course you can't—you don't have the superpower," Li Luo said seriously. "But if you practice enough, maybe you can develop it—try it more often in daily life."

"Pfft!" Ying Chanxi spat at him, huffed, and walked back to her seat.

But after sitting down, Ying Chanxi turned around and said, "I'll send you the recorded video of the speech tonight."

"Why would I want to watch that?"

"To show your parents and Lin Yi."

"Oh~ So you want your mom and dad to see how I thanked you on stage?"

"You're such a nuisance—I'm being nice and you treat me like dog's liver."

The two bickered until Li Luo ended it by playing with Ying Chanxi's ponytail.

…

That night, when Li Luo got home, he received the video Ying Chanxi had sent to his email.

So Li Luo forwarded it to his parents to show them.

Upon learning their son had taken first place in the grade, Li Guohong gave a compliment, while Lin Xiuhong asked about Ying Chanxi's situation.

After all, if Li Luo was number one, wasn't Xixi pushed to second?

Lin Xiuhong still cared deeply about her future daughter-in-law.

But once they learned the video had been recorded by Ying Chanxi herself, the couple relaxed.

【Lin Xiuhong】: Even if you got first, don't get arrogant—stay humble. Next time, Xixi will take it back. If you're capable, keep holding onto it.

Okay.

Classic mom speech.

Li Luo was used to it by now, so he didn't argue—just murmured a few vague "yeahs" and changed the subject to ask about their travel plans.

【Li Guohong】: We're planning a self-drive trip to the northwest. Your uncle's family is going too—we'll just follow them. Your uncle has experience.

With Uncle's family along, Li Luo felt perfectly at ease.

But Lin Xiuhong was a little uneasy about her son.

【Lin Xiuhong】: When you go to Tianhe City with Xixi and the other two, be careful, don't do anything reckless, got it?

Seeing his mother's concern and warnings, Li Luo blinked—he had a strange feeling her wording was off.

【Li Luo】: Got it, don't worry.

I won't do anything reckless.

If anyone's going to be reckless, it'll be Xu Youyu first.

He's a good, honest, and hardworking boy.

Thinking this, Li Luo had already finished exchanging words with his parents.

After listening to Lin Xiuhong's instructions, Li Luo ended the chat and began tonight's writing work.

……

January 13, Friday.

At noon, Fuyi Middle School dismissed students, and everyone welcomed the long-awaited winter break.

After packing his backpack, Li Luo immediately took Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng and hurried home.

Xu Youyu had already been waiting there; the three of them pulled out their suitcases, prepared the night before from their respective bedrooms, and got ready to head to the airport.

"Why is Aunt Cui here too?" Li Luo asked curiously, seeing Cui Suling sitting on the sofa. "Are you coming with us?"

"She's not coming," Xu Youyu waved her hand and explained. "I originally planned to drive you, but my mom needs the car these two days, so she just came to see us off."

"What kind of talk is that?" Cui Suling gave her daughter a disapproving look. "You leave the car parked at the airport for days—what if it gets scratched or dented? It's better if I drive you."

"It's only when it's with you that it's likely to get scratched or dented," Xu Youyu muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

The five of them went downstairs and set off.

Cui Suling got into the driver's seat of Xu Youyu's red BMW and drove the four of them to the airport.

Along the way came another round of instructions, until finally they arrived at the airport entrance.

Xu Youyu quickly got out and escaped her mother's nagging, dragging her suitcase into the airport terminal.

Li Luo, however, stayed by the car and chatted with Cui Suling for a few more moments before watching her drive away.

"Let's go!" Xu Youyu, finally freed from her mother's grip, became excited and cheered as she ran toward check-in.

Li Luo pulled out his phone and sent a safety message to his parents.

Seeing the photos his parents had sent of themselves setting off on a road trip, Li Luo picked up his phone, aimed it at the backs of the three girls ahead, took a picture, and sent it to his mom.

"Li Luo, hurry up and catch up!" Ying Chanxi called from ahead.

"Coming."

(End of Chapter)