MM | Chapter 20

Review

Teenagers often remember the pleasure but forget the pain.

After two days, Gao Tianyang and the homework army only remembered the barbecue and beers. Except for a few still wondering who ratted them out to Yang Jing, most of Class A’s attention shifted to the weekly exam.

In the past, they wouldn’t have taken the weekly exam so seriously. With daily exposure to test papers and a major exam every week, anyone would become desensitized. Except for the crucial midterms and finals, Class A’s prep atmosphere was usually relaxed.

But this weekly exam was different.

Firstly, it affected the upcoming city “Top Three Students” list. Secondly, the school introduced a new exam regulation.

Homeroom teacher He Jin explained the new rule: “To keep you calm and less anxious for the college entrance exam, we implemented a weekly major exam. But now we realize, are you a bit too calm?”

“Especially our class! The school leaders criticized us, saying some of you are fake hardworking. How? You only work hard for midterms and finals, showing great results, but treat weekly and monthly exams casually. Some even drop to the middle of the grade, nearly 200th place.”

Although she didn’t name names, her gaze swept over several students.

“So, to keep you respectful of exams without being nervous, the school decided that starting this weekly exam, seating will be based on grade ranking. Our class has 45 seats. The 46th goes to Class B, then Classes 1 through 12. Your last weekly exam rank determines your seat. Do well, sit forward. Mess up, and you’ll be in another classroom.”

The new rule was hardcore, and about ten students in Class A went crazy on the spot.

As soon as He Jin left, Gao Tianyang dramatically collapsed onto Sheng Wang’s desk.

He was the typical midterm and final hard worker.

“This is it. I’m done for. With last week’s crappy score, I’m definitely over 100th.”

“Shut up, 100th is good. I’m 5 points lower than you!”

“I’m sure I’m 150th.”

“150th isn’t the worst. When Old He mentioned nearly 200, I made eye contact with her, and my heart stopped.”

Gao Tianyang lifted his chin with difficulty. “You all step aside. Who’s worse than me? I messed up my English answer sheet last time, wasted 30 points. I was at peace with it.”

“Don’t be. Relive it,” class committee member Song Sirui teased mercilessly. “Even if you didn’t mess up, those 30 points might still be wasted.”

“Get lost!” Gao Tianyang kicked at him.

Amidst the lamentations, he turned to Sheng Wang. “Sheng-ge, those beasts are trampling my wounds. I might have to take the exam in Class 4. I need comfort.”

Sheng Wang leaned back in his chair, looking at him with a numb expression.

“Sheng-ge, why are you looking at me like that?” Gao Tianyang continued his fake crying.

“Because you’re complaining about your score to the last-place student,” Sheng Wang said quietly.

Gao Tianyang froze for two seconds, finally realizing—he almost forgot, Sheng Wang was the one who should be crying the most. He only studied for a day before the last weekly exam.

Even though his Chinese and English scores were good, they couldn’t make up for the gaps in math, physics, and chemistry. In short… it was bad.

Jiang Tian returned from the restroom, playing with a narrow strip of paper in his hand.

He stopped by Sheng Wang’s desk, glanced at the sprawled-out Gao Tianyang, and tapped the desk, saying to Sheng Wang, “Old He wants you.”

Gao Tianyang sat up with a start. “Old He? What for?”

Jiang Tian: “Not you.”

“Oh.” Gao Tianyang obediently turned back, slumping onto his desk.

Sheng Wang felt a bit uneasy. “What does she want with me?”

Jiang Tian said, “To pick up your score sheet from the office.”

Every exam at No. 1 High School came with class and grade rankings. Whether to announce them and how was up to each homeroom teacher. He Jin was always gentle, cutting out each student’s score on a long strip of paper, listing name, scores, total, and rank. Students could pick them up if they wanted, but couldn’t see others’.

With the new seating rule, He Jin’s method lost its meaning, so she had to distribute the remaining score sheets.

That’s what Jiang Tian was holding.

He didn’t care much about his score sheet, folding it several times while talking.

The white strip swayed, piquing Sheng Wang’s curiosity. He couldn’t help but ask, “Can I see yours?”

Jiang Tian let go, and the strip fell on the desk.

He pushed it to Sheng Wang with his finger, revealing a row of 1s:

Class Rank 1, Grade Rank 1, Exam Seat 1.

Most people would either envy or resent such a score sheet, but Sheng Wang’s reaction was a bit different. He felt… reluctant.

When Jiang Tian took back the score sheet, Sheng Wang looked like he was selling a child.

“What’s the problem?” Jiang Tian couldn’t stand it.

“Nothing.” Sheng Wang’s eyes were still glued to the strip. “My score sheet used to look like that. Just borrowing yours for nostalgia.”

“…”

Sheng Wang finally tore his eyes away, meeting Jiang Tian’s incredulous gaze.

“Give me a pen,” Jiang Tian gestured with his finger.

“What for?” Sheng Wang asked, puzzled, but complied.

Jiang Tian dramatically crossed out his name on the score sheet, wrote “Sheng Wang,” and pushed it back with the pen. “Nostalgia over, remember to throw it away.”

Then he returned to his seat, leaving Sheng Wang and the score sheet staring at each other.

Gao Tianyang overheard the whole thing, shaking with silent laughter, while Sheng Wang… wanted to bite someone.

A few seconds later, Jiang Tian was getting bombarded on WeChat by Canned.

Their interaction had become a bit odd—

In the morning, Jiang Tian would read an English newspaper while waiting for Sheng Wang to leave. But he wouldn’t show any “initiative” in front of Jiang Ou and Auntie Sun.

When Sheng Wang came downstairs, Jiang Tian would still be organizing his backpack in the living room. Only when Jiang Ou said, “Wait for Xiao Wang,” would he naturally put down his backpack and sit on the sofa, playing on his phone.

Once in the classroom, the awkwardness would disappear.

Like with other classmates, Sheng Wang would borrow a pen from Jiang Tian when his ran out of ink. Jiang Tian would tap his shoulder to hurry him with the papers. They didn’t talk much, but not too little either. Occasionally, they’d chat, but more often, they bickered.

During lunch and dinner, most classmates would rush like hungry wolves, with Gao Tianyang always the fastest. He tried to drag Sheng Wang along, but Sheng Wang claimed he was too weak and feeble, unable to keep up, asking Gao Tianyang to pursue his dreams alone.

In truth, Sheng Wang just thought running was ungraceful and exhausting, and he hated sweating.

Naturally, he and Jiang Tian became the only ones not fighting for the cafeteria, so they paired up.

They’d walk together for a while, passing through “Xiushen Garden” and the sycamore shade outside the sports field, then Sheng Wang would head to Xi Le Convenience Store, and Jiang Tian to the west gate.

Sheng Wang was curious about where Jiang Tian ate lunch but didn’t ask for some reason. Since he didn’t ask, Jiang Tian wouldn’t bring it up either.

So they were only half lunch buddies.

Jiang Tian often disappeared at night, but he learned to cover for it, sending Sheng Wang a WeChat message before evening self-study ended, and Sheng Wang would head home alone.

If there was no message, they’d go home together, sometimes sitting in the back of Uncle Xiao Chen’s car, each playing on their phones, sometimes chatting.

Regardless of their conversation, finished or not, they’d stop talking the moment they entered the house, taking their bags to their rooms.

The gate of Baima Lane was like a barrier, and they both understood it without saying.

Gao Tianyang complained about what he saw, saying, “I believe you weren’t close before. Really, you two are like co-living roommates, at most with a layer of ordinary classmate relationship.”

This notorious loudmouth surprisingly kept quiet about it, probably fearing Jiang Tian’s displeasure.

But what Gao Tianyang didn’t know was that in places he couldn’t see, Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian’s weekly WeChat chat volume had already surpassed what Gao Tisnyang had with Jiang Tian in a whole semester.

The night before the weekly exam, Sheng Wang was in his bedroom, reviewing his mistakes.

Only then did he realize how many papers and workbooks he’d gone through that week. Class A’s progress had reached the second semester of the second-year curriculum. He followed the teachers during the day, learning new content, and after finishing his homework at night, he had to catch up on what he’d missed. Except for the night they drank, he hadn’t slept before 2 a.m. once.

Young Master Sheng was petty. He couldn’t stand others slacking off while he suffered. If others around him were also being tortured, he’d feel much more balanced.

After reviewing his math and physics mistake collections, it was already late.

Baima Lane was an excellent residential area, located in a bustling district but deep enough to be free from noise. At this time, it was utterly silent.

Sheng Wang glanced at his phone. The screen showed 2:10 a.m. He chewed on his pen cap, turning to glare at the wall behind him.

At this time, the person next door should be asleep. He’d hear the soft shuffle of slippers from the desk to the bed, then silence.

But usually, at this hour, Sheng Wang would also be heading to bed, so he wouldn’t be envious.

Today was different. He still had a chemistry mistake collection to review.

He stared at the wall for about half a minute, and sure enough, the familiar sound of slippers began.

See, he’s going to sleep.

He was the only night owl left in Baima Lane.

Sheng Wang slammed his head on the desk, sulking for a while. The slipper sound resumed, from the bed back to the desk.

Huh? Sheng Wang blinked, lifting his head in confusion. He listened for a while, hearing no further movement, finally confirming Jiang Tian wasn’t asleep. There was a second living soul in Baima Lane at 2 a.m.

He instantly felt relieved, pulling out a sheet of scratch paper to start solving problems from the mistake collection.

After finishing two pages, there was movement next door again.

Sheng Wang perked up, listening intently. He guessed Jiang Tian was just looking for something in his bag. So he relaxed and continued with his mistakes.

This cycle repeated three or four times before Sheng Wang finally snapped.

He jabbed at his phone screen, opening WeChat, and started typing to the person at the top—

What are you doing walking around???

After typing three punctuation marks, Sheng Wang hesitated but didn’t send it. He felt like a creep.

He rested his forehead on the desk, holding his phone in both hands, deep in thought. Two seconds later, he deleted the message and typed: Are you still up? Auntie Sun left some red grapes in the fridge. Want some?

No, too fake.

Sheng Wang deleted it all and started a third message: You’re working hard today?

He read it over a few times, thinking it was okay. Just as he was about to send it, his phone buzzed.

Startled, Sheng Wang saw a new message in the chat box.

Jiang Tian: ?

Sheng Wang almost sent his message by accident. He hurriedly deleted it and retyped.

Canned: ???

The next second, Jiang Tian sent a screenshot. It showed his chat box, with “The other party is typing…” at the top.

Jiang Tian: It’s been a while. Still not done?

Sheng Wang felt a “damn” inside, an awkwardness from being caught. But since Jiang Tian had noticed, he decided to drop the pretense. He’d embarrassed himself countless times in front of Jiang Tian anyway.

The young master closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and decided to be direct.

Canned: When do you plan to sleep?

He added a kneeling and crying emoji at the end, making his meaning clear.

Now it was Jiang Tian’s turn to be “typing.” Moments later, the chat box jumped.

Jiang Tian: How much more do you have?

Canned: One correction notebook…

Jiang Tian: Which subject?

Canned: Chemistry.

Jiang Tian: Is your door locked?