"Damn, what's gotten into this kid?"
"I heard he even beat up Liao Zhijie!"
"Seriously, is that true?"
The boys were particularly astonished by Xiao Han's change in personality.
Just as everyone was buzzing with discussion, Liu Jinmei walked in with a stack of math papers.
The classroom that had been noisy suddenly quieted down.
Liu Jinmei's expression was gentle. Yesterday afternoon, all the teachers worked overtime to review the test papers, and all the papers had been graded. This time the mock exam was quite challenging, and overall scores were low, but Liu Jinmei was pleased. Because this simulation method and its rigor had thoroughly assessed the students' real abilities.
Last night, Liu Jinmei and some teachers had a brief meeting.
Because there was a huge controversy over the scores of Xiao Han from senior year class three. This time, Xiao Han scored seven hundred and twenty points, claiming the first place in class and second place in the grade. He got perfect scores in English and Math, and scored two hundred seventy-three in the comprehensive science test.
This exam, Chen Zihan only scored six hundred ninety points, a thirty-point gap from Xiao Han.
Who would have imagined that a student who scored only three hundred points last month, ranking last in the class, would suddenly achieve first in class and second in the grade this month? The jaws of all the teachers nearly dropped. If it weren't for the isolated examination method this time, they would probably all think Xiao Han had cheated.
In the brief meeting, Liu Jinmei said only one sentence, "Perhaps, this is a miracle."
Indeed, this is a machine, an unbelievable miracle.
Liu Jinmei seemed as refreshing as a breeze, stepping on auspicious clouds as she entered the classroom.
"Old Witch seems to be in a good mood today."
"Could it be because our exam scores have generally improved?"
The students in the back row buzzed with discussion.
Standing on the podium, Liu Jinmei's piercing gaze swept across the forty-five students in the classroom. Finally, her gaze rested on Xiao Han, her eyes revealing a complex expression. Perhaps for Liu Jinmei, Xiao Han's score was both unexpected and perplexing.
Xiao Han also felt something was off about Liu Jinmei's gaze, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Oh no, could it be that my score is too good, making them suspicious?" Xiao Han was somewhat worried inside, and also a bit nervous. To be honest, with his ability, he could have scored even higher on that set of papers, but Xiao Han didn't. He was afraid of arousing the teachers' suspicion and conjecture.
If a student who was last in the class last month suddenly became the top of the class this month, leaving the second place far behind by dozens of points, it would be hard for any teacher to accept. Xiao Han himself found it hard to accept as well.
Xiao Han was starting to regret his impulsiveness. After all, this was a secret, a huge secret. Of course, Xiao Han couldn't even explain his own transformation, which seemed almost unbelievable. Photographic memory and a brilliant brain were enough to astonish anyone.
Facing Liu Jinmei's direct stare, Xiao Han appeared somewhat timid and nervous. He quickly lowered his head.
"Students, the results of this exam are generally unsatisfactory," Liu Jinmei smiled and said. "This time we used the Huanggang test papers. The questions were very difficult, so I understand your struggles. However, one student did exceptionally well this time."
Whoosh...
All forty-five students spontaneously turned their gaze towards Chen Zihan.
Feeling so many eyes on her, Chen Zihan's face turned slightly red. Although she was used to such attention, she still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"No!" Liu Jinmei shook her head, said, "Not Chen Zihan."
"Could it be Jiang Xiaoliang?" someone couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, considering the difficulty of the Huanggang test papers, both Chen Zihan and Jiang Xiaoliang did well, outstanding indeed," Liu Jinmei smiled and then said, "Chen Zihan scored six hundred ninety points, ranking fifth in the grade, and Jiang Xiaoliang also scored six hundred eighty points, ranking tenth in the grade. However, one student in our class scored seven hundred twenty points, achieving second place in the grade."
Wow!
The room instantly buzzed with surprise.
"Who?"
"Could it be Liu Xiaojun?"
Everyone then turned their gaze towards Liu Xiaojun. Liu Xiaojun, the class representative of senior year class three, was top-ranking in terms of academic performance. Not tall, he wore a pair of thick glasses, looking like the bottom of beer bottles.
Seeing everyone glance at him, Liu Xiaojun quickly shook his head, "No, not me; I know my score, and it definitely wasn't six hundred eighty."
The classroom erupted into commotion.
The three top students in the class were all ruled out, so who else could it be?
"If not even those three, could it really be Xiao Han?" someone jokingly retorted.
"Haha..."
The whole class suddenly burst into roaring laughter. Jiang Xiaoliang laughed louder and more arrogantly than anyone else because he knew his score of 680 was very good and that Xiao Han, with his scores, could never surpass him. So, today he was moving away from Li Dapang. He had already packed all his textbooks into his bag, ready for the reassignment order.
"This time, the one who took second place in the grade with a brilliant score of 720 is..." Liu Jinmei slightly raised the corners of her mouth, actually filled with childlike curiosity about what kind of shock and stimulation this news would bring to Class Three.
"Who is it?" The crowd asked curiously.
"Xiao Han!" Liu Jinmei declared clearly and forcefully.
Hiss...
All forty-five students in the class instantly fell silent, their faces showing disbelief.
The room fell so quiet that one could clearly hear a pin drop.
The silence lasted for more than ten seconds.
Xiao Han felt a sense of calm inside him.
"Teacher, stop joking," said Jiang Xiaoliang awkwardly. "How could Xiao Han score 720, unless he cheated?"
"Exactly, how could a drag like that score so high?" the others began to protest.
Li Dapang lay on his desk, a grin spreading across his face, drool trailing from his mouth as if he was dreaming of a beauty. Suddenly, unexpectedly, he said, "You trash, compared to Xiao Han, you are nothing but crap!"
However, Li Dapang's voice was drowned out by the noise of the others.
"No!" Liu Jinmei looked at them seriously and said, "I am not mistaken, Xiao Han, through his effort this month, has overcome himself. He traded his effort and sweat for returns. Maybe you have forgotten, but Xiao Han was once the top scholar of the Wangjiang District middle school exams; he has a foundation. Previously he disdained studying, but now, the scholar Xiao Han has returned!"
Liu Jinmei thought a lot, for a long time.
The only explanation for Xiao Han's performance was that he was an exceptionally talented student. As long as he was willing to put in the effort, he was bound to succeed. Being a past scholar and with his talent, through continuous simulation and sprinting over a month, he finally got back on the right track.
To verify her thoughts, Liu Jinmei had even called Mother Xiao yesterday. Mother Xiao told her that Xiao Han studied every night until two in the morning, which further confirmed Liu Jinmei's thoughts. Thus, Liu Jinmei was moved, pleased that an excellent student, a former exam topper, could pull himself back from the brink, stepping out of the shadow of his father's death.
"No... it's not possible!" Jiang Xiaoliang panicked, remembering the bet he had made with Xiao Han, and the humiliation he would face if he lost. He hurriedly shook his head and said, "Teacher, Xiao Han must have cheated."
"Right, he cheated!" some academically better students grumbled unwillingly. None of them wanted to be outshone by someone they had once despised, insulted, and trampled upon.
"I understand your feelings," Liu Jinmei waved her hand and said, "but touch your heart and think seriously. If you were in Xiao Han's place, how much do you think you could score? With walls behind and beside you, no one around to copy from. Even if you had the answers, are you sure you could copy them all in such a short time?"
The previously clamorous students were immediately silenced.
Chen Zihan stared blankly at the blackboard in front of her.
Xiao Han had actually taken the second highest score in the grade, first in the class. She felt as if she was dreaming. The recent quarrels and disturbances in the classroom seemed like a fleeting cloud to her as she was completely immersed in her own world, tears brimming in her eyes, overwhelmed with emotions... the Xiao Han had returned.
"Xiao Han..." Chen Zihan said, her eyes reddening.
"Zi Han, what's wrong?" Xiao Han smiled at Chen Zihan.
"I..." Chen Zihan bit her red lip, wiped the corner of her eye, and said, "I'm really happy for you!"
"Really?" Xiao Han heard this and immediately laughed: "I thought you would be upset that my scores surpassed yours!"
"I wouldn't!" Chen Zihan shook her head and said, "Xiao Han, I forgive you."
"Thank you!" Xiao Han was deeply moved.
In Chen Zihan's eyes, there appeared a complex hue as she shyly glanced at Xiao Han. Then she lowered her head and laughed to herself.
At that moment, Xiao Han stood up and said, "Jiang Xiaoliang, haven't you forgotten your promise?"
"What promise?" Jiang Xiaoliang panicked.
"Move your seat up to the lecture podium on your own accord," Xiao Han said with a cold smile. "The whole class knows about it. As the class vice president, you wouldn't renege on your word, would you?"