The students stared at Xu Liang in shock.
In their eyes, Xu Liang's grades had always hovered just below average—how had he suddenly cracked the top five?
Xu Liang himself was stunned.
Wang Chao glanced at him. "What are you spacing out for, Xu Liang?"
Xu Liang looked at him blankly. "Teacher, you're sure that's me?"
"Absolutely. It's the best payoff for all the effort you've put in lately," Wang Chao said with a broad smile.
"All right, after school you five bring your textbooks to the Sprint Class. Starting today, you'll have two extra periods of remedial lessons there every afternoon."
Watching the five students file into the elite group, plenty of their classmates burned with envy.
After all, the Sprint Class meant instruction from Jiangzhou's best teachers—and a better shot at places like Huaqing or Peking University.
"Ugh, why didn't I work harder…"
"One lousy point—just one!"
"If only I'd pushed a bit more; maybe I'd be in that class too."
At that moment, Yu Weiwei stood up.
"Teacher."
Wang Chao looked over. "Yes?"
Yu Weiwei hesitated, then asked softly, "Besides this Mock Exam, is there any other way into the cram class?"
Xu Liang's results had been about the same as hers; if he could rocket from below-average to top-five in a month, she figured she could too.
Hearing her, Wang Chao's grin widened.
The rest of the class perked up, hope flickering in their eyes.
"Of course there's a way."
At those words every gaze locked onto the teacher, full of expectation.
"There's really another chance?"
"I've got to give it everything—absolutely get in."
Many of the higher-ranked students quietly vowed… Amid the chatter, Wang Chao rapped on the desk. "There will be two Monthly Exams after this. Apart from these five, whoever places first in class will also earn a spot in the Sprint Class."
"In other words, you still have two shots—work hard, everyone."
"All right, let's begin the lesson."
…The bell rang for the end of class.
Yu Weiwei suddenly carried her books over to Ye Chen's desk.
"Ye Chen, could you help me with my studies?"
Everyone wondered how Xu Liang had shot up; Yu Weiwei knew the reason—Li Sitong had told her.
Ye Chen tutored Xu Liang every single day.
So now she wanted the same boost.
Ye Chen nodded. "Sure."
"Could you go over this step again?"
Pointing at a problem on the scratch paper, she blushed slightly.
Ye Chen smiled. "Of course."
Admittedly, her foundations were a bit shaky.
"Look, you can solve it with the methods we've learned—just follow these steps…"
Yu Weiwei listened carefully, and finally understood.
Just then Li Sitong walked up, stunned to see Yu Weiwei asking Ye Chen for help.
"Weiwei, are you running a fever today?"
Yu Weiwei shook her head. "Nope. From today on I'm going to study hard and get into a good University."
"Why ditch your Romance Novels all of a sudden?" Li Sitong asked, puzzled.
Yu Weiwei took a deep breath. "Because I've fallen for a guy—I want to get into the same school as him."
Ye Chen blinked, curiosity piqued. "Who is he? Someone in our class?"
Her face flushed. "No, he's in the next class. Yesterday after school my bike broke and he fixed it for me. You should've seen him—so handsome."
As she spoke, her cheeks turned even redder.
Ye Chen and Li Sitong shook their heads helplessly.
Only love could make Yu Weiwei buckle down like this.
After school, Wang Chao appeared at the Classroom door. "You five, come with me."
Ye Chen slung one backpack over each shoulder and carried a third on his back.
"Ye Chen, give me my bag," Xia Yingluo said.
"No."
"We can manage ourselves," Li Sitong added, cheeks pink as students watched.
"Still no."
…Wang Chao, walking ahead, felt awkward.
Can't you three lovebirds keep your PDA to yourselves?
At least spare your teacher the show.
Fine—you're the top three in the Whole School; I'll endure it.
Pretending he'd seen nothing, he led the way on.
The five entered the Classroom; plenty of students were already inside.
They were the cream of Jiangzhou Middle School—its top thirty.
Twenty-two boys and eight girls in total.
Besides Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo, Ye Chen recognized one other girl—Su Xiaonuan.
By now several boys hovered around Su Xiaonuan.
They rattled off small talk, trying to win her favor.
She seemed bored with these lickdogs, offering only perfunctory nods or a soft "mm."
Yet the gentler her aura, the more excited those boys became.
As Ye Chen's group walked in, the room quieted.
Many eyes fixed on Ye Chen, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo.
Or more precisely, on Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo.
Jiangzhou's three famous school flowers.
Su Xiaonuan had once topped the list, but with Li and Xia's arrival many boys had shifted targets.
In both looks and presence the two newcomers outshone her.
Plenty of guys secretly adored them, yet rarely saw them—until now.
At last they shared a class; how could they miss the chance?
Their eyes lit up like hunters'—if Teacher Wang weren't there, they'd have swarmed over already.
Sensing the heated stares, Ye Chen stepped forward to shield the two girls.
Unaware, Wang Chao told the five, "Cherish this chance—find seats and listen well."
With that he turned and left.
The large room seated forty, with plenty of empty desks.
Ye Chen smiled at Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo. "Where shall we sit?"
Li Sitong suggested, "Let's take the back—it's quieter."
Xia Yingluo nodded agreement.
Li Sitong had grown used to admiring stares; Xia Yingluo hadn't—and disliked them.
Sitting at the rear would spare them interruptions.
"Sounds good."
Ye Chen hoisted the three bags and headed for the back row.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo followed.
They'd barely gone a few steps when a boy in Glasses stood up.
"Si Tong, remember me? We were Junior High classmates—Wu Bin. I've got an empty seat here with a great view; sit with me."
Another boy smiled at Xia Yingluo. "Classmate Xia, I'm Zhao Kai from Class 1. I have a spare seat, and I hear you're a math whiz—could I ask for some pointers?"
Damn—those two are shameless.
The other boys cursed inwardly.
Why hadn't they spoken up first? Now these two had seized the chance.