Chapter 58: Exam Day Interlude

“Hmph, mere lip service.”

She sneered at me, uttering those words before falling silent. From her demeanor, it seemed she intended to provoke a response, perhaps to then summon a crowd to corner me. Hmph, I would not fall for such a ploy.

Indeed, there was no need to engage in verbal sparring. It was simply better to ignore her entirely. She was nothing more than an irksome mosquito, buzzing incessantly by my ear.

Observing my lack of further engagement, Fang Kehan mistakenly believed I dared not challenge her. The disdain in her gaze deepened, becoming increasingly pronounced.

“Hmph, just wait until I crush you underfoot.”

With that final pronouncement, I merely watched her turn and depart. After all, with me refusing to engage, her solitary taunting would surely lose its luster.

‘No matter what she says, I simply won’t listen.’ ‘La la la, I can’t hear you, you old turtle reciting scriptures.’ ‘When the time comes, I’ll just directly slap her face. Why bother with so much idle chatter?’

Due to this minor interlude, the brief break between classes quickly elapsed.

‘I wonder if any of you have experienced that peculiar feeling before an exam: knowing you need to study, yet having no idea where to even begin.’ This period could arguably be considered the most agonizing of all.

Tang Xiao Rou was diligently reviewing her notes. As for Huang Beifeng, there was no need to wonder; she remained in her usual dazed state. However, this prolonged period of inertia concerned me, fearing she would remain this way even after the exam commenced.

I casually picked up a book and flipped through a few pages, merely to pass the time. Truthfully, this interval felt even longer and more arduous than the actual class itself.

Fortunately, after idly attempting a few practice problems and glancing at some classical poetry, the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the break. Gathering my own stationery, I also helped Huang Beifeng prepare her writing tools for the exam hall. Disregarding the curious stares of others, I simply took Huang Beifeng by the arm and led her out of the classroom.

‘Let me think, our examination hall should be in the first-year’s lecture theatre.’

Pushing open the door to the exam hall, I found it mostly empty, as we had arrived a little early. Considering this lecture theatre could accommodate thousands, our group of merely fifty-odd students made the space feel rather vast and hollow.

Huang Beifeng’s exam number was six, while mine was eighteen, leaving a considerable number of students between us. First, I guided Huang Beifeng to her designated seat, arranging her stationery. Then, it was time for me to proceed to my own.

The remaining time was spent in anticipation of the exam’s commencement.

Just as expected, the moment the exam papers were distributed, Huang Beifeng, who had been slumped dejectedly over her desk, suddenly jolted. Seizing the pen I had placed beside her hand, she immediately began to write on the paper. Compared to her previous despondency, she seemed like an entirely different person.

‘It seems she has recovered.’ ‘I cannot afford to lag behind either; it is time to begin answering the questions.’

The questions were not difficult, primarily consisting of foundational concepts. While some challenging problems appeared, they posed no real obstacle to me. Once the exam began, the only sounds discernible were the soft scratching of pens on paper and the rustle of turning pages.

Though not inherently difficult, the sheer volume of questions was considerable, demanding significantly more time to complete. With about thirty minutes remaining in the exam, I finished answering and set down my pen.

Glancing towards Huang Beifeng, it appeared she too was nearing completion. After another minute or two, her pen finally stilled. Her writing ceased, and she relapsed into her former state of languor. Setting down her pen, she slumped weakly onto the desk. One unfamiliar with her might assume she had given up, resigned to failure after being unable to answer the questions.

However, knowing her as I did, Huang Beifeng’s rank had always been a steadfast tenth place, from childhood onward. Of course, this tenth place referred to the tenth position in the entire grade. Essentially, as long as she was present, no one could usurp that tenth spot. She had consistently occupied that very position.

Throughout the years, I had never once seen her achieve any rank other than tenth. While others’ scores might fluctuate, rising or falling, Huang Beifeng’s remained immutably stable, a paragon of consistency.

Upon the ringing of the bell signifying the end of the exam, the invigilator collected all the test papers and departed the classroom. Now, it was merely a matter of awaiting the next examination.

Having just completed the Chinese language exam, history was next. A thirty-minute break was allotted before the next test, typically used for restroom visits and discussing answers. However, adhering to my principle of never checking answers immediately after an exam, I certainly wouldn’t join the small clusters of students gathered to do so.

‘Let them discuss their answers; it concerns me not.’ ‘I might as well go check on Huang Beifeng.’ As expected, she was still slumped on her desk, unlikely to return to her usual self until all exams concluded tomorrow.

Suddenly, an urgent need to use the restroom struck me. Fortunately, there was ample time. Though the restroom my aunt had mentioned was a bit far, I believed I could still make it.

As I quickened my pace towards the restroom, the corner of my eye seemed to catch the figure of an acquaintance. Yet, it must have been my imagination. This was the second-year section; I knew no one here, so how could I possibly spot a familiar face? ‘It definitely must have been my mistake.’

Pushing open the door and stepping inside, I found the restroom as my aunt had described: almost entirely unused. There was no need to worry about encountering anyone within.

In truth, the familiar figure I had just glimpsed was no mere illusion. It wasn’t that I knew no one in the second-year section; rather, I had simply assumed Mo Yuyan was a third-year student. In fact, the person I had seen out of the corner of my eye was none other than Mo Yuyan.

I had not recognized Mo Yuyan, yet she had certainly recognized me. After all, I was the only person in the entire school with silver hair. However, seeing me here piqued Mo Yuyan’s curiosity. ‘The first-year students are clearly taking their monthly exams today,’ she pondered, ‘so why would he be in this section? Even if he needed to use the restroom, there are facilities in the first-year building. Why travel all the way here?’

After pondering for a moment, unable to deduce a reason, she simply walked directly to the restroom door. Gently, her hand rested upon the doorknob.

“………”