Chapter 593

Countdown to Gaokao: 85 days.

In the senior high building of Fu No. 1 High School, as the Gaokao drew nearer, both students and teachers had entered a state of intense tension.

Especially this week, from Wednesday to Friday, was the second mock Gaokao—a provincial-wide exam organized jointly by dozens of key high schools in the Qianjiang Province Z20 Alliance.

For many students, this exam was essentially a rehearsal for the Gaokao; the third mock would generally be easier, while the second mock was relatively closer to the true difficulty of the Gaokao.

For this reason, Xu Yinghuan had been actively preparing and diligently reviewing since the start of the term.

Every morning at six o'clock, she woke up, joined Li Luo and the other three, pulled Zhao Rongjun and Qiao Xinyan along, and went for a slow jog around the track to maintain sufficient stamina.

After morning run, she went to the cafeteria for breakfast, then returned to class to memorize vocabulary and texts.

She listened attentively in class, especially to the explanations of problems she had gotten wrong the day before—if she didn't understand, she raised her hand to ask.

If she still didn't get it, she'd ask Zhao Rongjun after class; if that didn't work, she could ask Qiao Xinyan.

Finally, if it still couldn't be resolved, wasn't there Ying Chanxi?

She occasionally relaxed during breaks between classes; all other free time was devoted to reviewing and improving.

Even before her Junior High School entrance exam, Xu Yinghuan didn't feel she had ever worked this hard.

But whenever she thought about how her close friends all had the ability to easily get into Qianjiang University, while she still faced some risk, Xu Yinghuan pushed herself to the limit—she must sprint hard during these final dozens of days!

And under this atmosphere, after math class ended, Xu Yinghuan turned to look at her desk partner, Zhao Rongjun.

Seeing him still staring at a problem in thought, her gesture to ask a question paused.

Looking at his profile, he always seemed simple and earnest, especially when deeply focused—this quality became even more obvious.

Xu Yinghuan couldn't help smiling. Zhao Rongjun heard the laugh and turned to look at her, his expression puzzled: "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Xu Yinghuan quickly shook her head, then shoved her test paper toward him. "Help me check this one—how exactly should I think about it? Teacher Zhang explained too fast, I didn't get it."

"This one…?" Zhao Rongjun scratched his head. "I understand all the steps Teacher Zhang wrote, but that transformation between the size comparison formulas—during the exam, it's really hard to think of."

"Teachers usually don't teach this, because even if you change the problem—even if it's the same type—the thing here gets replaced with something else."

"It feels like pure mathematical intuition—some people just instantly think of it and use it right away."

Zhao Rongjun spoke with a headache, because he'd also lost points on the final sub-question of this problem.

It seemed only Ying Chanxi and another student who had participated in the math competition solved it—Li Luo didn't get it right either.

So in the end, Zhao Rongjun could only say: "Why don't you ask Xi Xi?"

"Xi Xi…?" Xu Yinghuan clicked her tongue and turned to look toward the window-side corner seat behind them.

At that moment, Ying Chanxi was holding the mug Li Luo had given her, gently sipping from it with lowered eyes.

Li Luo sat right behind her, chatting idly with Yan Zhusheng while reaching out to stroke Ying Chanxi's hair.

Seeing this, Xu Yinghuan quietly withdrew her gaze and shook her head repeatedly: "I'm not going over there—it's too terrifying, nothing like the atmosphere of someone preparing for the Gaokao!"

Especially since tomorrow was the second mock—how could these three still be so relaxed? It was infuriating!

The more Xu Yinghuan thought about it, the angrier she got; she quickly buried her head back into the problems, striving hard to achieve a good score on the second mock.

Her goal this time was the top 80 in the entire school—only then would her chance of entering Qianjiang University be relatively secure.

At the start-of-term exam, she ranked 91st; after entering the top hundred, every step forward became harder.

But she hadn't performed her best at the start-of-term exam—Xu Yinghuan felt that if she had given her full effort, she could have made it into the top 80.

As Xu Yinghuan was thinking about this, Zhao Rongjun suddenly reached over and gently tapped the edge of her desk.

Xu Yinghuan immediately reacted, turning to look at Zhao Rongjun.

Usually, if Xu Yinghuan had something to say, she'd just slap Zhao Rongjun on the shoulder.

But Zhao Rongjun was always very rule-abiding; when he needed to get her attention, he dared only to tap the corner of the desk.

"What's up?" Xu Yinghuan asked, puzzled.

"Here, take this." Zhao Rongjun handed her a draft notebook, opened it to show her. "I've written down some transformed formulas."

"The ones that appear most frequently in the final big math problem."

"Memorize these—if you encounter a similar problem type in the final big question, try these formulas first."

"If you still can't get it, just give up and save the time to check your earlier answers."

Xu Yinghuan carefully studied the transformed formulas, then happily slapped Zhao Rongjun on the shoulder: "Only you, Jun Ge~ Hehe~ You're way too nice to me."

Zhao Rongjun's ears turned red from her words; he hurriedly said: "We're classmates—helping each other is only natural."

"You're always helping me—I haven't helped you much at all," Xu Yinghuan said. "You're too modest."

"When I teach you problems, I'm also reinforcing my own knowledge system—look, didn't I make it into the top 40 in the whole school?" Zhao Rongjun said seriously. "So it really is mutual help."

"Alright." Xu Yinghuan smiled as she saw his earnest explanation, then picked up another problem and handed it over. "Then I won't be polite—I'll help you again!"

…

After the second evening self-study session, Li Luo and the other two packed their bags and prepared to go home.

But in Class 8's classroom, besides the three of them, all other day students had stayed behind to attend the third evening self-study session.

Hmm… according to Fu No. 1 High School's rules, day students only needed to attend two evening self-study sessions to leave.

But after entering senior year, the school would send parents a voluntary application form for the third evening self-study, indicating the student chose to stay longer.

The choice of most parents and students was obviously clear.

But Li Luo didn't buy into this—he had originally planned to stay, but Yan Zhusheng told Yuan Wanqing not to bother with the form, so Ying Chanxi also chose not to stay for the extra session.

She didn't want to give Yan Zhusheng and Li Luo an extra evening self-study session of alone time every day.

So after the second evening self-study ended, the senior high building was almost empty—only the three of them walked out.

"Will you practice piano tonight, Zhusheng?" Li Luo asked.

"Yes." Yan Zhusheng nodded obediently. "Why?"

"Nothing. Just practice well."

Back in Bihai Lanting 1502, Li Luo watched Yan Zhusheng put down her backpack and enter the piano room, then waved to Ying Chanxi.

Ying Chanxi, puzzled, walked over: "What's wrong?"

"Today's the 14th." Li Luo took her small hand and went to the door to put on his shoes. "Let's go out for a walk."

"Aren't birthdays already over?" Ying Chanxi said this, but she put on her shoes faster than Li Luo, as if afraid Yan Zhusheng would find out.

"You're saying one thing but thinking another?" Li Luo finished putting on his shoes and saw Ying Chanxi standing neatly by the door, already dressed, her hand already on the doorknob.

"I didn't say I wouldn't go." Ying Chanxi huffed, lifting her cute little chin. "Having a birthday twice isn't a big deal."

"Then let's go." Li Luo smiled, taking Ying Chanxi's small hand, and the two pushed open the door and took the elevator down to leave.

But just as the front door closed, Yan Zhusheng opened the piano room door, stepped into the living room, glanced at the entrance, then walked to the balcony and watched the distant backs of Li Luo and Ying Chanxi holding hands, pressing her lips together.

Then she returned to the piano room to practice.

……

Walking along the path between Qianjiang University and the First Affiliated High School, Ying Chanxi, hand in hand with Li Luo, turned her head to look at the school playground behind the fence, then looked down at her still-worn uniform.

Probably because they were so close to the school, Ying Chanxi felt a slight thrill.

At this moment, the third evening self-study session at the First Affiliated High School had already begun; the playground was empty, and no one could see them.

Li Luo held Ying Chanxi's small hand and walked toward the Yinjiang Riverbank nearby.

"We never really go out for casual walks like this," Li Luo said to Ying Chanxi, looking at the dim street scene.

"Yeah." Ying Chanxi nodded, seeing no one around, swinging their linked hands back and forth, her steps light and bouncy. "This road's always empty, no shops, just walls from the two schools on either side."

"Feels like the last time we walked here was when Director Ying took me out at midnight to film the MV?" Li Luo teased with a grin. "And I got sexually harassed by Director Ying back then."

"What are you talking about!" Ying Chanxi puffed out her cheeks, her face turning rosy as she clearly recalled the memory. "That was all back in Gao Er."

"But I'll remember it for life," Li Luo squeezed her small hand. "That was my first kiss."

"It was mine too, you know." Ying Chanxi huffed.

"Mainly, it hurt." Li Luo stifled a laugh.

"You die!" Ying Chanxi, flustered and angry, recalled her past embarrassment.

Too nervous, she didn't know you had to tilt your head when kissing—she slammed straight into Li Luo's nose, and both of them were in agony.

Now thinking about it was still embarrassing.

"Want to review it?" Li Luo led Ying Chanxi to the riverside, finding the exact spot they both remembered. "How did we film it again?"

"You stand here, then walk along the riverbank over there." Ying Chanxi still remembered clearly, enthusiastically directing him. "I'll run from this side to chase you. When you reach that spot, turn around—I'll throw myself into your arms, then…"

"Then you kiss."

"Hmph! You only remember the last step, don't you?"

"Remembering the key scene is enough."

The two moved to their starting positions.

But Li Luo completely ignored the script—he ran straight toward Ying Chanxi.

While she was still stunned, he swept her into his arms.

"Mmm… what are you doing… we agreed it wouldn't be like this…"

"Performance needs spontaneous inspiration," Li Luo said, holding her soft, petite body, leaning down to kiss her, smiling. "Director Ying, satisfied with my improvisation?"

Ying Chanxi's face flushed crimson from the kiss, breathing lightly; hearing his words, she gave him a sly, flirtatious glance.

But the next second, she rose on her toes and kissed him fiercely.

……

Long after.

The two by the riverwalk resumed holding hands as they headed back.

Li Luo squeezed Ying Chanxi's small hand and turned to smile. "Today you're officially eighteen. What are your thoughts, Young Lady?"

"No thoughts."

"Nothing you've been wanting to do now that you're an adult?"

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi immediately recalled the birthday gift Xu Youyu had given her on the weekend—her face flushed instantly.

She spat softly and stepped on Li Luo's foot, whispering, "You're such a bad person."

"Huh?" Li Luo blinked, then asked in confusion. "I was talking about getting your driver's license. Where did your mind go?"

"Ah?" Ying Chanxi froze, then her face turned bright red; she quickly lowered her head. "I—I didn't think of anything else! Just… just the license!"

"Then how am I bad?" Li Luo laughed, pulling her into his arms. "What exactly were you thinking just now?"

"I wasn't thinking anything!"

(End of Chapter)