Chapter 52: Bai Qingxia Appears at the Final Examination Hall, Astonishing the Underachievers [First Update]

“Dongdong, time for breakfast!”

“Lu Yuanqiu, get out here and eat!”

Lu Tian untied his apron and emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates, shouting at his son and daughter as he went.

Since both kids had midterm exams at school today, Lu Tian had decided to let them have breakfast at home.

After brushing her teeth, Lu Yidong came to the dining room in her nightgown, still half-asleep. Just as she was about to sit down, Su Xiaoya grabbed her by the ear and pulled her up.

“How many times have I told you, Lu Yidong! Don’t sit in your brother’s seat!”

Su Xiaoya scolded her daughter sternly. When she saw Lu Yuanqiu coming out of the bathroom with his books, her face lit up with a smile. “Qiu’er, you worked so hard reviewing last night. Come, sit down and eat. I specially asked your dad to go out and buy red date cake for you today.”

Lu Yuanqiu was about to sit when Lu Tian kicked him. “I bought two! You want to eat it all yourself? Give one to your sister!”

“Thank you, Dad!” Lu Yidong happily swung her legs as she sat on the bench, watching Lu Yuanqiu’s emotionless expression as he brought her food. She snorted, stuck out her tongue, and teased her brother.

Their parents’ attitude toward the siblings was a world apart—Lu Yuanqiu was long used to it. Even after he turned thirty, the two elders never changed their ways.

Su Xiaoya turned to her son, puzzled. “Qiu’er, why do you keep pressing your textbook to your forehead?”

Lu Yidong glanced up as well.

“Hush!” Lu Yuanqiu put his finger to his lips. “Don’t disturb me—the knowledge is seeping in.”

Lu Tian responded with a mocking smile worthy of Wei Xiang.

Lu Yidong rolled her eyes. “That’s nonsense. Do you really believe that? I tried it for an hour last night. Didn’t help at all. My deskmate must’ve been messing with me.”

“Ah, Lu Yidong, don’t say that. Maybe it didn’t work for you, but I think it actually helped me a little. That’s probably the difference between natural talent and a blockhead.”

Lu Yuanqiu looked at his sister with utter seriousness. As he finished, he realized both parents were staring at him with odd expressions.

Lu Yuanqiu explained, suddenly less confident, “...I really do feel the classical Chinese text is a bit clearer in my mind.”

Lu Yidong was surprised. “Maybe this knowledge transfer trick only works for the humanities?”

Who could say... Lu Yuanqiu pursed his lips. For the sake of an exam, he’d resorted to even such absurd methods.

He didn’t want to disappoint too many people.

His parents, who had never seen hope in him since childhood; his uncles, who had done everything they could to pave his way; and the girl who, rain or shine, would come by on weekends to tutor and encourage him.

And of course, his own soul, now thirty years old and still unwilling to admit defeat.

After breakfast, Lu Yuanqiu rode his bike to Lucheng No. 7 High School.

His exam room was Room 30.

Upon entering the second floor of the teaching building, he didn’t head straight up, but glanced toward Class 1 of the senior year, also known as Room 1.

His first impression was the silence.

Complete silence.

Not a sound from anyone in the room—everyone sat quietly in their seats, hands pressed over their ears, heads bowed, silently reciting classical texts and ancient poems.

As Lu Yuanqiu watched, he suddenly felt someone at the door staring at him.

It was Zhong Jincheng, who sat in the top spot.

The moment Zhong Jincheng saw Lu Yuanqiu, his face lit up as if he’d seen a savior. He rushed out, grabbed Lu Yuanqiu’s arm, and pleaded, “Lu Yuanqiu! Don’t go! Chat with me for a bit!”

“Damn! These people are just like Bai Qingxia—boring as rocks. Every exam, I’m bored to death!”

Lu Yuanqiu tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That’s what straight-A students are like. You’re the odd one out, always looking for a way to shoot the breeze.”

“Screw you!”

After venting, Zhong Jincheng lowered his voice. “I saw that the proctor for Room 30 today is Su Miaomiao.”

Lu Yuanqiu replied, “So? You want to fool around in my exam room?”

Zhong Jincheng hesitated, scratching his head in embarrassment. “Could...could I? I really need it today.”

...Unbelievable. Seriously.

Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t be bothered. Just as he was about to leave, a thought struck him and he turned back, asking seriously, “By the way, what’s your secret to getting good grades?”

Zhong Jincheng answered with a straight face, “Goofing off, of course. Three times a day keeps my mind sharp. Last night I did it five times just to be sure—should be enough to land me second in the grade again.”

Seeing that he was dead serious, Lu Yuanqiu was dumbfounded.

...Forget it. That training regimen clearly isn’t for him.

“Waste of time. I’m leaving!”

“Don’t forget to come chat later! I’m dying of boredom!”

What kind of weirdos are these?

Baffled, Lu Yuanqiu slung his backpack over his shoulder and climbed the stairs. The higher he went, the louder the noise became—the further back the exam rooms, the greater the clamor.

Reaching the floor for Room 30, the din was almost deafening, reminiscent of a bustling northeastern morning market.

The classroom was empty; many students gathered in the corridor, chatting. One boy lay sprawled over the railing, while another leapt onto his back, ramming into him with raucous, lascivious laughter.

“Don’t, Jie-ge~”

That meme didn’t exist in 2010, so the boy behind must actually have “Jie” in his name.

Lu Yuanqiu, with his backpack slung over one shoulder, walked through the scene as if he didn’t belong in this world of underachievers.

Yet as he appeared, the students all turned their heads.

Lu Yuanqiu was well-known among them.

Mainly because he was notorious enough—he had a reputation among the school’s troublemakers, and nobody else in school was as generous with their spending. Add in his performance at the recent sports meet, and almost everyone here knew him.

“Qiu-ge!”

A boy with bangs covering half his eye approached with a grin, offering Lu Yuanqiu a piece of gum.

Lu Yuanqiu recognized him: Cao Shuang, a so-called “enforcer” on campus.

If you wanted to teach someone a lesson, you could bribe him and he’d round up a group to block your target at the classroom door.

Cao Shuang had great respect for Lu Yuanqiu—for many reasons: basketball, family background, wealth... To put it simply, he was a die-hard fan.

Lu Yuanqiu accepted the gum, just as Cao Shuang asked, “Bro Lu, was what you said on the podium true? Are you taking someone down this time?”

“Yeah.” Lu Yuanqiu nodded. “Help me find out which girls were behind that incident at the sports meet. Focus on Xu Yan’s freshman classmates.”

“The one who got expelled?”

“That’s right.”

“Got it. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

As they finished speaking, the entire corridor suddenly fell inexplicably silent.

The chatter died down, everyone’s gaze slowly turning toward the stairway.

A girl in a blue-and-white school uniform, carrying a pink backpack, stepped gracefully up the stairs.

A breeze swept through, and as the girl turned, her hair was swept to one side, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful, porcelain-white face.

Lu Yuanqiu and Cao Shuang turned to look, both transfixed by the sight.