Chapter 66: The Meaning of the Entrance Exam

Parents probably have a special ability.

No matter what topic they start with, they always somehow drift back to studying.

If you've graduated from university, they'll shift to matchmaking or marriage.

If you're married, they'll shift to having children.

In short, dinner table topics rarely escape these few subjects.

"I heard from Chanxi that your school has an entrance exam tomorrow?" Lin Xiuhong asked suddenly halfway through the meal, "Have you been reviewing properly lately?"

"No." Li Luo answered honestly.

"... How can you say that so confidently?"

"Isn't this just military training?"

"What about Chanxi?"

"She reviewed."

"Look at that," Lin Xiuhong pointed, "Why did she review and you didn't?"

Great… here comes Mom's old habit again.

Lin Xiuhong was fine in every other way, but her "other people's children" technique always hit Li Luo's sore spot with pinpoint accuracy.

If Li Luo hadn't returned from age 35 and become immune to this trick, the 15-year-old version of him would've already scoffed and sulked by now.

"Mom, you don't understand," Li Luo said seriously, "What's the point of an entrance exam, do you know?"

"Huh?" Lin Xiuhong paused, then said, "Isn't it just to see if you studied during summer break?"

"No, no, no," Li Luo held up one finger, shaking it gently, "An entrance exam is meant to expose problems and plug gaps."

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it, Mom," Li Luo guided patiently, "Like final exams or the high school entrance exam—we all cram frantically before, scrambling to learn last-minute."

"Maybe you get lucky and one question happens to be one you've practiced before, so you answer it right."

"But in reality, you don't truly grasp the principle or knowledge behind that question; if you tried again a week or two later, you probably couldn't solve it."

"That means you got the score, but you didn't truly master the knowledge—it's fake progress."

Lin Xiuhong stared, bewildered: "And then?"

"Then comes the entrance exam," Li Luo said solemnly, "If you cram hard before it like you do for finals and get a good score…"

"Then you still haven't truly mastered those last-minute memorized facts—and because you got them right again, you never realize the problem."

"So next time, when luck runs out, you won't get the score, because you never truly mastered it."

"The purpose of the entrance exam is to let you rest fully during summer, without reviewing, so your true weaknesses are fully exposed."

"Only knowledge you've truly absorbed will let you use it effortlessly, as if it were an extension of your arm."

"The questions you get wrong? Those are the gaps you need to plug and study further."

Lin Xiuhong was half-dazed, wondering if he might actually be right.

After all, she'd never attended high school herself—maybe Li Luo's logic was correct.

So Lin Xiuhong turned to the girls, seeking confirmation from them.

"Cough…" Xu Youyu stifled a laugh and nodded vigorously, "Li Luo's actually got a point."

After all, Xu Youyu hadn't reviewed much either… Lately, spurred on by Li Luo's 250,000-word manuscript, she'd been frantically writing.

As of today, she'd already saved 20,000 words of draft!

When would she have time to review?

"Still, you need to do well on the exam, understand?" Lin Xiuhong sighed, feeling she was losing the argument to her grown son, "You ranked 86th in the district on your high school entrance exam—that's pretty high in your class, right?"

"That was just an outlier performance," Li Luo preempted her, "I can't keep scoring that well every time."

"I don't ask much of you then," Lin Xiuhong gave up, only warning him, "Just don't come in last in class—you're the monitor, aren't you? Don't embarrass yourself academically."

"Got it." Li Luo picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of meat on her plate, "Mom, eat more vegetables."

After dinner, Ying Chanxi took Qiao Xinyan home.

Lin Xiufeng also stood to take his leave.

Lin Xiuhong cleared the table and went to wash dishes in the kitchen; Li Luo slipped back to his bedroom.

At that moment, Li Guohong walked in, glanced at his computer, then asked, "I read your novel."

"Huh?" Li Luo jumped at the sudden remark, "Dad, what did you say?"

"I said I read your novel," Li Guohong sat on the bed, pulled out his phone, and smiled, "It's pretty interesting—I don't know how your brain works to come up with this stuff."

"Like the college life, how singers release songs, how they fight for rankings, corporate rivalries…"

"It all seems plausible, but you're just a high school student—where did you learn all this?"

"Cough…" Li Luo felt goosebumps rise, "I read it online."

"Your mom even recommended it to your uncle," Li Guohong reminded him, "But your uncle doesn't know how to use smartphones or computers—I don't know if he even looked at it."

I hope he didn't!

Li Luo gritted his teeth, feeling like he was branded with the words "EMBARRASSMENT."

"Your mom and I agree on this," Li Guohong said, "We don't mind if you treat it as a hobby, but don't let it interfere with your studies, understood?"

"Don't worry—I have self-control."

"Good," Li Guohong chuckled twice, then sighed, "You're a Gao Zhongsheng now. Your mom never went to high school, and I only attended a vocational school back then—those were still pretty respected, you know?"

"But now that you're in high school, your mom and I can't help you much—we don't understand college admissions or anything like that."

"If you have any questions, ask your teachers—don't be shy."

Li Luo fell silent, stunned by his father's sudden heartfelt words.

"Dad."

"Hm?"

"Is it tiring running a breakfast shop?"

"Why ask out of the blue?"

"When I make a lot of money," Li Luo said, "you and Mom can rest properly—I'll support you."

"You kid," Li Guohong chuckled, though his eyes were filled with deep satisfaction.

He stood up, walked over to Li Luo, and patted his shoulder: "Your old man's still strong. Your job right now is to study hard—there'll be plenty of chances for you to earn money later."

Li Luo pressed his lips together, wanting to say more, but finally just nodded and gave a firm "Mm."

More than half an hour later, Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong washed the dishes and utensils in the kitchen, then cleaned the entire house inside and out before taking their leave.

"Do you want to review today?"

Ying Chanxi, just out of the shower, pushed open Li Luo's bedroom door and poked her head in to ask.

"Mm." Li Luo nodded, shut down his computer, stood up, and walked out of the bedroom to the living room desk. "I'm counting on you again today."

"I'm coming too?" Xu Youyu leaned out from the study, grinning. "You don't mind, right?"

"Xuejie, sit here," Ying Chanxi took the center seat at the desk, let Li Luo sit on the left, and offered the right seat to Xu Youyu.

"Here I am!"