Chapter 277: The road ahead is long

Zhang Cunwen stood there dazed, then burst into loud laughter; but as he kept laughing, he ended up squatting on the ground, crying bitterly.

Everyone gathered around him, and Ning Hanmo gently patted his shoulder.

"A man, a true man—what's there to cry about?"

Although that's what was said, how could he not understand the pressure Zhang Xiao San was under?

In the last joint examination, twelve people took it, and he was the only one who failed; that sense of loss, that unwilling-to-give-up fighting spirit, had always been the motivation driving him to persevere.

Everyone was tired, but he was the most tired of all.

Whether mentally, in terms of pressure, or the things he needed to study, it was all an intangible drive constantly urging him forward.

"I am, I am……"

Zhang Cunwen wiped his tears, unable to express how he felt at that moment.

Was he feeling wronged? Not really.

Was he happy? Not really.

Was he unwilling? Not exactly.

In short, it was a complicated emotion—a mix of feelings all blended together, leaving him somewhat bewildered and at a loss.

Over the past month, he slept only two hours a day, spending every other moment either studying or asking questions.

He didn't want to disturb his peers' progress, so he could only ask the teacher; if the teacher wasn't around, he had to ask the assistant teacher instead.

"The Dean asked me to give you a message." Just as Zhang Cunwen stood there dazed and at a loss, Ningguang looked at him and said with a gentle smile.

When Zhang Cunwen lifted his eyes, Ningguang could even see the bewilderment and lack of focus in his gaze.

He felt even more admiration for Yun Chu, even though she was no longer at the academy.

But she knew these kids too well—whether their temperament or their disposition, she understood them completely.

How well must one know a person to be able to predict their reaction?

"Teacher, what did the Dean say?" Zhang Cunwen was a bit dazed, but when he heard the two words 'Dean,' he snapped to attention, and his gaze toward Ningguang gradually focused.

Ningguang saw his state and then smiled.

"She said she's always believed in you, always known you could do it."

"The road ahead is long."

"This step right now is a major obstacle for you."

"But in the grand scheme of life, it's just a small hill—if you're willing, you can get over it."

"She said…" Ningguang pondered, recalling how Jiang Yun Chu's expression back then had unfolded exactly as she had predicted……

"After a nap, the new challenges will begin right away."

"You……"

Then Ningguang looked at everyone and said, "You……"

"Are you ready?"

Everyone hesitated for a moment, then each broke into a smile, saying, "Always ready!"

Exactly!

How could the dreams in their hearts allow them to stand still? This time's results were just a number.

"Not bad."

"The Dean said that if each of you makes progress, he's prepared gifts for you in the cafeteria……"

Before Ningguang's words had finished, Ning Hanmo stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ningguang."

Then a group of children ran and jumped straight toward the cafeteria.

Those innocent, youthful smiles always made people unconsciously smile back.

"How is it? Is your mindset steady?" Kang Mengxian looked at Ningguang, having come in from outside; today Qing Feng had sent him to the academy for a bit, and since the results were posted today, he was only slightly late.

"Yeah, it's steady."

Ningguang withdrew his gaze, looked at Kang Mengxian, smiled, and asked, "What did Qing Feng say?"

Upon hearing that, Kang Mengxian burst into loud laughter, stroked his whitening beard, and his whole being seemed filled with a smug satisfaction.

"What can I say?"

"He said, he's convinced."

But upon reflection, was it only Qing Feng who was convinced?

Or was he not the same?