Chapter 628: Gaokao Scores Are Out!

June 26, morning.

Li Luo's alarm rang on time.

After turning off the alarm, Li Luo wiped his face, opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling, then turned his head left and right.

To his left was Yan Zhusheng; to his right was Ying Chanxi.

Both girls had clearly been woken by the alarm—Yan Zhusheng didn't open her eyes, just snuggled into Li Luo's arms.

Ying Chanxi mumbled and groaned under the covers, then struggled to sit upright.

Seeing Yan Zhusheng still nestled in Li Luo's arms, she puffed out her cheeks and climbed right onto him.

Pushing both girls' heads aside, Li Luo sat up on the bed, yawning and stretching as he said to them: "Hurry up and freshen up—we need to catch the high-speed train."

Li Luo and the others had a high-speed train at 7:30 a. m.; it was already past six, so they still had plenty of time.

But hearing Li Luo say that, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng obediently got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up.

When Li Luo walked in behind them, Ying Chanxi had already handed him a toothbrush with toothpaste already squeezed on.

"By the way, can we check our scores today?" Li Luo said while brushing his teeth.

"Mm." Ying Chanxi nodded. "If we're lucky, maybe by morning—but I don't know exactly when."

"Nervous?" Li Luo asked, glancing between them with a smile.

"Not really." Ying Chanxi said.

"Same." Yan Zhusheng replied.

"How boring…" Li Luo sighed.

All three of them had scored so well that they weren't really worried about their results, so there was little sense of tension.

Although Yan Zhusheng had the lowest cultural subject score in their study group, among art candidates she was practically a bombshell.

Not to mention her provincial unified exam score of 94, which placed her in the top hundred statewide.

Her scores in the individual school exams were also solid; passing the comprehensive cutoff would be effortless.

As for Li Luo and Ying Chanxi… if they were aiming for Tsinghua or Peking University, they might feel a little nervous—but if their goal was Qianjiang University, there was truly nothing to worry about.

"But I feel my score this time will be pretty high," Li Luo winked at Ying Chanxi. "Maybe I'll even beat you on the Gaokao."

"We'll see," Ying Chanxi sniffed, never once fearing this kind of competition. "I think I performed pretty well this time."

Of course she would… otherwise, all that subtle, gradual injection of Gaokao questions into their daily study sessions before the exam wasn't for nothing… Li Luo thought to himself.

He just didn't know how high he'd rank statewide.

In the last mock exam, Li Luo had ranked only around 80th to 90th.

With memories from his past life to boost him, he should gain a lot more points this time.

Climbing up a few dozen spots shouldn't be too hard, right?

As Li Luo thought this, if he could make the top ten statewide, he'd like to see how many readers would show up begging him for extra chapters.

"I'm done," Yan Zhusheng said after freshening up, looking at Li Luo with a bright expression.

Li Luo glanced at her and asked: "Where's your luggage?"

"I had Xiao Wen bring it over," Yan Zhusheng said, waving his phone, "It'll be here any minute."

"Then let's pack up too," Li Luo said after finishing his routine, stepping out of the bathroom to organize his suitcase.

Soon after, a knock came at the door.

Yan Zhusheng ran to open it, took the suitcase from Xiao Wen, then pushed her curious head out.

"You just slept here last night?" Xiao Wen couldn't help asking. "Did you sleep together?"

"Mm," Yan Zhusheng didn't hide it at all, nodding outright. "So what?"

"Nothing, nothing," Xiao Wen shook her head, then grinned foolishly. "Hehe, hehe."

"Has Mom woken up yet?" Yan Zhusheng asked.

"Not yet. Sister Qing didn't sleep until early this morning," Xiao Wen said. "She said if you guys wake up early, just head back—you don't need to say goodbye."

"Oh."

After saying goodbye to Yan Zhusheng, Xiao Wen turned and walked toward Yuan Wanqing's suite, still savoring the sweetness she'd just witnessed.

Meanwhile, Li Luo and the two girls packed their luggage, went downstairs for breakfast, then set off for the high-speed rail station to return early to Yuhang City.

Around nine a. m., the three of them arrived at Bihai Lanting, Unit 1502, dragging their suitcases.

Just as Li Luo pulled out his key, the door swung open from inside.

"Mom, why are you here?" Li Luo exclaimed, seeing Lin Xiuhong open the door. "Dad's here too?"

Walking in, Li Luo spotted Li Guohong sitting on the sofa and couldn't help exclaiming.

"What's with the dramatics?" Lin Xiuhong rolled her eyes. "Aren't scores coming out today? Go check them right now."

"It's not that fast," Li Luo said helplessly. "What if they release scores in the afternoon or evening? Why are you two in such a rush?"

"How could we not be in a rush? The Gaokao is a lifetime event!"

"Our scores? You have nothing to worry about."

"Just check them. Now. Don't bother unpacking your luggage."

"Why so impatient?" Li Luo, utterly baffled, was shoved by Lin Xiuhong into the bedroom, right up to the desk and computer.

Only then did Li Guohong speak: "Your mom's just eager to show off—she dragged me out of bed this morning."

"Too much talk. Shut up," Lin Xiuhong shot him a glare.

Li Luo had no choice but to humor her—he checked the official website, and sure enough, scores hadn't been released yet.

"Why is this so slow?" Lin Xiuhong complained.

"No need to rush," Li Luo said, standing up to stretch, then noticing Ying Chanxi had already brought his suitcase in and was organizing clothes in the closet. "What are we having for lunch?"

"I bought groceries," Li Guohong said. "Where's Yu? We didn't see him when we arrived—wonder if he's still asleep."

"She's taking final exams at school this weekend, so she didn't come home to stay," Li Luo said. "I'll ask her if she wants lunch."

He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Xu Youyu. No reply.

Probably still sleeping in.

The morning passed quickly.

Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong were cooking lunch in the kitchen, a small celebration for today's college entrance exam results.

But every half hour, Lin Xiuhong had to call Li Luo to check if the scores were out, seeming more nervous than the students themselves.

Midway through, Li Guohong came out to use the restroom and took the chance to chat with Li Luo for a moment.

"Don't get annoyed by your mom—she's just bored now," Li Guohong said. "She quit the breakfast stall, and since Li Xiang started interning at Chongran Culture, her workload's dropped even more."

"These days, your mom only occasionally comes over to cook for you, otherwise she just plays mahjong with Aunt Cui."

"But at least Aunt Cui has a job at Qianjiang University's library—she still has things to do."

"Your mom's got nothing to do now, so she's putting all her attention on you kids."

Li Luo could understand that.

In his past life, he would've found Lin Xiuhong annoying.

But in this life, seeing her still-dark hair and far healthier spirit compared to her bedridden state in his past life, he no longer found it bothersome.

He actually hoped she'd nag him more.

Around eleven-thirty in the morning,

Xu Youyu rushed back from her dormitory. Upon entering, she looked at the three on the sofa and asked curiously, "Are the scores out?"

"Not yet."

"I thought I'd come back to some big news."

"What kind of news could there be?"

"Like…" Xu Youyu rolled her eyes, thinking, "Chanxi got provincial top scorer?"

"Why only mention Chanxi and not me?" Li Luo chuckled. "Looking down on me, huh?"

"I suggest you have a bit more self-awareness," Xu Youyu laughed. She knew perfectly well Li Luo's mock exam scores were around 80th to 90th place—provincial top scorer wasn't that easy to get.

"What if I did get top scorer?"

"If you can get top scorer, I'll do exactly what you said in your launch speech—just add more chapters," Xu Youyu said boldly, puffing out her chest.

"Ten thousand extra words?"

"Uh…" Hearing that number, Xu Youyu immediately backed down. "One thousand… no, four thousand words per chapter! No more than that."

"You're scared now, huh?" Li Luo grinned.

Xu Youyu rolled her eyes at him: "This is called not standing under a crumbling wall. Better to be cautious."

"Four thousand's fine. Even a mosquito's blood is blood," Li Luo said indifferently.

"Now you're playing along, are you?" Xu Youyu walked behind the sofa and ruffled Li Luo's hair with both hands. "Then what if you don't get top scorer? Ten thousand extra words?"

"You're only doing four thousand. Why should I do ten thousand?" Li Luo retorted. "I'd match you—if you lose and do ten thousand, then I will too."

"You're sure?" Xu Youyu raised an eyebrow, not believing he could be top scorer. "If I promise a million extra words, you'll do a million too?"

"You wouldn't dare," Li Luo chuckled.

Xu Youyu's eyebrows shot up, thinking, Who's afraid of whom?

But then she reconsidered—Li Luo looked so confident, there must be a trick. Better to play it safe.

"Fine, four thousand words. Hmph~"

"Dinner's ready!" Lin Xiuhong brought the last dish to the table and called to the three. "Go wash your hands."

The six of them washed their hands and sat down to eat lunch.

Just as they were nearly finished, Lin Xiuhong scrolled through her phone and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my!" The next second she hurriedly told Li Luo, "The college entrance exam scores are out! I saw parents posting on Moments already! Go check right away!"

"Don't rush," Li Luo said, finishing his last bite before slowly standing and heading toward the bedroom.

Ying Chanxi and the others also rose and followed, crowding around the desk computer in the bedroom.

Watching Li Luo log onto the official website and find the college entrance exam score inquiry page, which required entering the exam number, Lin Xiuhong asked, "Do you still remember your exam number?"

"Of course I do." Li Luo didn't check his own score first—he entered Yan Zhusheng's exam number, then the ID number and student name.

Soon, after the webpage loaded, Yan Zhusheng's college entrance exam scores appeared before everyone.

Lin Xiuhong had no time to scold Li Luo for not checking his own score first—she leaned forward curiously to look at Yan Zhusheng's results.

【Candidate Name】: Yan Zhusheng

【Chinese】: 112 points

【Mathematics】: 104 points

【English】: 140 points

【Physics】: 94 points

【History】: 97 points

【Geography】: 100 points

【Total Score】: 647 points

【Provincial Rank】: 5,668th

【Specialty Exam】: 94 points

【Specialty Rank in Province】: 57th

【Composite Score】: 676 points

【Provincial Rank for Music Composite Score】: 1st

Looking at the dizzying numbers above, Lin Xiuhong barely understood: "What do these later rankings mean?"

"Her provincial ranking is her actual ranking," Li Luo explained. "But Zhusheng took the arts candidate route, so this ranking doesn't mean much—what really matters is her final comprehensive score ranking."

"Oh..." Lin Xiuhong nodded half-understanding, then suddenly realized, "So Zhusheng is number one among arts candidates!?"

"Indeed," Li Luo smiled at Yan Zhusheng. "Though it's only first in the music comprehensive score, it's still a little top scholar."

Yan Zhusheng blinked, showing no particular reaction to the result.

Lin Xiuhong, however, beamed with delight and hugged Yan Zhusheng tightly, patting her head: "Our Zhusheng is amazing! So incredible—you actually got first place!"

Li Guohong also chuckled, pulling out his phone to take a photo of the college entrance exam data on the computer: "Now check Xixi's scores—I'll send a message to Lao Ying and Wanqing."

Li Luo nodded and returned to the inquiry page, entering Ying Chanxi's details and clicking search.

Soon, Ying Chanxi's college entrance exam scores appeared before everyone.

【Candidate Name】: Ying Chanxi

【Chinese】: 140 points

【Mathematics】: 149 points

【English】: 146 points

【Physics】: 100 points

【History】: 100 points

【Geography】: 100 points

【Total Score】: 735 points

【Provincial Ranking】: Rank 1

"Holy shit!" Xu Youyu exclaimed upon seeing the ranking, immediately looping his arm around Ying Chanxi's neck and shaking her vigorously. "Xixi, you're number one! Provincial top scholar!"

【129】 Lin Xiuhong was equally stunned with joy, urging Li Guohong: "Quick, take a photo! Send it to Lao Ying and the others!"

Lin Xiuhong was also beaming with pleasant surprise, urgently urging Li Guohong: "Hurry up and take it! Send it to Lao Ying and the others!"

Ying Chanxi was also pleased, though far calmer than Xu Youyu—she simply smiled faintly.

She had once wondered if she might win top scholar, but only as a passing thought, without much hope.

Still, now that she had, she was naturally delighted.

Xu Youyu grinned and slapped Li Luo on the shoulder, feigning a sigh: "I should've bet you a million words earlier—what a regret!"

"Don't rush so fast," Li Luo returned to the inquiry page and entered his own information. "I haven't checked mine yet."

"The top scholar is already Xixi's—no matter how high you score, it won't matter," Xu Youyu chuckled. "Looks like you're doomed to be the eternal number two."

"Hmph," Li Luo, though aware his chances were slim, still insisted: "What if my score ties with Xixi's? Wouldn't that make us co-top scholars?"

"If you think that's possible, go buy a lottery ticket instead," Xu Youyu rolled his eyes. "Just check already—let's see your score."

"Checking now," Li Luo finished inputting and clicked search.

Soon, his college entrance exam scores appeared before him—

【Candidate Name】: Li Luo

【Chinese】: 145 points

【Mathematics】: 144 points

【English】: 146 points

【Physics】: 100 points

【History】: 100 points

【Geography】: 100 points

【Total Score】: 735 points

【Provincial Ranking】: Rank 2

When everyone saw the final result, the bedroom fell silent.

(End of Chapter)