Chapter 59 – Please Guide Me, Teacher Xu
Thanks to Chen Qianxi’s comforting words, Lin Yuejiu felt she could now face Xu Nianshen properly. At the very least, when their eyes met, she no longer instinctively dodged his gaze.
The monthly exams were approaching. This time, Lin Yuejiu felt confident and composed, not nervous at all.
The results were released the following day.
“I’ll read out the rankings and scores for this exam,” the homeroom teacher said, holding the results sheet. “First place, just as everyone expected—Xu Nianshen. Score: 723.”
The class applauded as usual.
“Impressive”—those two words had been said so many times, they were starting to lose meaning.
“Second place, Lin Yuejiu. Score: 713.”
Applause broke out again, with hushed whispers spreading among the students.
“Wow, worthy of being the goddess Lin—she’s back to her old spot again.”
“The two of them will stand side by side once more.”
“Lin Goddess’s strength is the real deal.”
“Third place, Chen Qianxi. Score: 702.”
“Fourth place, Du Zhuo. Score: 700.”
As soon as Du Zhuo heard this, he nudged Chen Qianxi with his elbow, excited. “Desk-mate, we’re only two points apart!”
Chen Qianxi’s face remained expressionless—she didn’t feel all that happy inside.
Du Zhuo asked, “Aren’t you happy?”
Chen Qianxi rolled her eyes inwardly. Just two points away from catching up to me—why should I be happy about that?
She answered perfunctorily, “Mm-hmm, I’m happy. Really happy. You’re amazing.”
Du Zhuo: “…”
Don’t think I can’t tell you’re just humoring me.
“Eighteenth place, Lin Rumeng. Score: 548.”
Lin Rumeng lowered her eyes. By rights, she should be pleased—after all, this was an improvement compared to before. But… she lifted her gaze to the first row where Lin Yuejiu sat, and bit her lip. The gap between her and Lin Yuejiu was still far too wide.
She wanted her family to feel proud of her, the way Father and Mother Lin once were of Lin Yuejiu.
She scribbled her score on a piece of paper and poked the tip of her pen against it again and again. 548 points. At her old school, that would’ve ranked very high—she might even have won awards. But here, it wasn’t enough. This school had too many top students, and her class was an elite class. Winning awards was impossible. The chance would never come to her.
Lin Rumeng stared at the back of Lin Yuejiu’s head, thinking: She can’t just be naturally smart. She must’ve gotten there through effort and tutoring. If Lin Yuejiu can do it, then why can’t I?
Her eyes lit up at the thought. I can ask Mom and Dad to find the same teacher who used to tutor Lin Yuejiu. If I work hard, my grades will definitely improve!
With that, Lin Rumeng’s mood lifted.
The homeroom teacher finished reading all the names and scores, then looked around at the students. “That’s it. All done. Now let’s switch seats—the usual rule, pair up one by one.”
The students began looking around for classmates with the same or similar scores. Xu Nianshen sat still as a mountain, not moving an inch from his seat.
Lin Yuejiu didn’t move either. She had just pulled out her Chinese workbook to start writing when the person next to her asked, “Aren’t you changing seats?”
Lin Yuejiu: “??? Why would I? I’m sitting perfectly fine here—why should I change?”
Xu Nianshen chuckled softly. “I thought you’d want to switch seats.”
Lin Yuejiu gave him a strange look. “Where’d you hear that from? Right now I’ll avoid switching seats if I can. Moving around is such a hassle.”
He agreed lightly, “Mm. I think so too.”
With that, Xu Nianshen lowered his head and went back to solving problems, and Lin Yuejiu focused her attention on the workbook in front of her
Very soon, it was the last class of the day. Before class began, the homeroom teacher called the two of them to the office.
The two exchanged a glance, then stood up and followed the teacher out.
“Teacher, did you need something from us?”
“Yes,” the teacher nodded. “There’s a math competition coming up, organized at the provincial level. Both of you have excellent grades, and your math scores are particularly strong, so I’d like to recommend you to participate. Take a look at this.”
The teacher handed them the competition flyer. Lin Yuejiu’s sharp eyes immediately spotted the rewards: “First prize is nine thousand?”
“That’s right.” The teacher took a sip of water. “The competition has preliminaries and finals. If you’re eliminated in the prelims, you can’t go on to the finals. The finals are scored on-site by the judges, with results announced directly, and the prize money is handed out to the winners on the spot.”
“So this nine thousand is the prize for first place in the finals?”
“Of course.”
“Why don’t they have a prize like that for the prelims?”
The teacher chuckled. “Already counting the money in your head?”
Lin Yuejiu scratched her head sheepishly.
“Is it just the two of us?” Xu Nianshen asked.
“No, the school will also pick students from other classes to join the prelims.”
“But from our class, it’s just the two of us?”
“Yes. Unless you’ve spotted someone else with math talent who you think should join?”
“No.”
“Then it’ll just be the two of you. The competition’s tomorrow, so prepare yourselves well.”
“Tomorrow? That soon?” Lin Yuejiu was taken aback.
“That’s right. So do your best. I believe in you.”
After leaving the office, Lin Yuejiu tilted her head back and let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Nianshen asked, curious—it wasn’t often he saw her like this.
“The teacher just said he believes in us. But me? I don’t even believe in myself.”
“What’s wrong?” He looked at her slumped figure, half amused.
“My math isn’t even that good. I have no talent for it. The only reason I can even score above a hundred is because I crammed like crazy—and because you tutored me. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d ever reach that score.”
“You’ve already built a solid foundation. What’s there to be afraid of? Weak foundations make for shaky buildings.”
“I know that principle,” she said, “but a foundation isn’t enough. When I face tough problems, I’m still clueless. The moment I see math, my head hurts—hurts so much it feels like I have four heads instead of one!”
She raised her left index finger and then four fingers on her right hand, vividly acting it out.
Amusement softened Xu Nianshen’s eyes. “Isn’t that what I’m here for?”
“Huh?” She turned her head in confusion, only to meet the smile at the corners of his brows and eyes.
“You already said it yourself—I tutored you before. So, from now on, I can keep tutoring you.”
Realization dawned on Lin Yuejiu, and she smiled back. “Then please take care of me, Teacher Xu.”
September 18th.
In Lin Yuejiu’s room, by the desk near the window, the boy was holding a book, patiently explaining problems. The girl sat in her chair, eyes closed, propping her head with one hand as it drooped lower and lower toward the desk. Just before her forehead hit the surface, she jerked awake, sat up straight, only to lean on her hand again—her head beginning to droop once more.
“Did you get that?”
Xu Nianshen looked down to see her dozing off. Both exasperated and amused, he called out, “Lin Yuejiu.”
She shot up to her feet. “Present!”
Xu Nianshen, unable to hold back, rolled his math book into a tube and gave her forehead a light tap.
