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Chapter 93: Chapter 90: The Gaokao

June 3rd. Only four days remained until the day that would decide the fate of countless people.

Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School, Advanced Class.

The classroom wasn’t full today. The first and second-year students had been granted special leave by the school and had already gone home.

Those currently in the classroom were exclusively seniors, all about to charge onto the battlefield of the college entrance exams.

The Advanced Class didn’t have a traditional homeroom teacher. Instead, the top coaches from each subject jointly managed this class of geniuses.

And today, the one taking this final watch was Elder Chen of the physics department.

Today, Elder Chen wasn’t on the blackboard drawing Lagrangian equations or models of rigid body motion for them.

This decorated coach from Sixth Middle School now stood at the lectern, his gaze softer than ever as he looked down at the students.

”Class, this is our last lesson of high school.”

Elder Chen’s voice was quiet, but everyone listened intently.

”Over the past three years, we’ve covered all the material and drilled all the problems we needed to.”

At this moment, Elder Chen was no longer a competitive coach, but more like a regular high school teacher, painstakingly going over every last detail.

”When you go home today, get your clear document pouch ready! Sharpen two 2B pencils, bring several extra 0.5mm black gel pens, an eraser, a ruler, a compass, and most importantly, your ID card and your admission ticket! Pat your pockets for them three times before you leave the house!”

”Also! If you encounter an unusual question on the exam that you’re really not confident about, don’t be stubborn! Don’t waste time wrestling with it!”

As he said this, Elder Chen’s gaze swept past Qin Yan, finally landing on Li Dong in the back row, his tone growing heavier.

”Don’t think you have to crush the final problem just because you’re in the Advanced Class! Skip it if you need to. The real strategy is to secure the points you know you can get! That’s what truly matters!”

”Got it?”

The academic aces below, their eyes glistening, shouted in unison.

”Understood!”

BRRRING.

The dismissal bell rang right on time.

Normally, the school bell didn’t mean much to Li Dong.

Back in his first and second years, he couldn’t wait for class to be over. After he joined the group, he’d started to tune it out completely.

But now, listening to that bell, an indescribable, bittersweet feeling suddenly washed over Li Dong.

’I wish the bell had rung just a little later...’

Li Dong watched as the students around him began to silently pack their bags.

’Goodbye, Sixth Middle School,’ he thought.

...

「The next day, June 4th.」

All classes had been canceled, giving students free time to prepare and visit their assigned exam locations.

Li Dong was assigned to take his exam at Jiangcheng Second Middle School, a school renowned for ”dominating the competition.”

That morning, Li Dong took a bus to Jiangcheng Second Middle School to scope out the location.

His seat was in a classroom on the third floor, by the window.

After scoping out the site, Li Dong saw it was still early and headed to Wenchang Pavilion, the most popular temple in Jiangcheng.

Praying before the college entrance exams was all about achieving that perfect synthesis of materialism and metaphysics.

Wenchang Pavilion was packed today with students from various high schools.

Students from Sixth Middle School, Seventh Middle School, Second Middle School, Tianli Academy...

Here, it didn’t matter if you were a top student from a prestigious high school or a slacker from a regular one; everyone felt the same nervous anticipation.

They were all counting on Wen Quxing to bless the multiple-choice questions they were planning to guess on.

”Bless me, Wen Quxing! Your humble devotee isn’t greedy. Just guarantee me a baseline of 240 on the science comprehensive so I can get into Sichuan University. Please, I’m begging you!”

A boy in coke-bottle glasses muttered under his breath, his hands pressed together in prayer.

Another, more energetic-looking boy next to him also whispered,

”Wen Quxing, I’m not picky! Any Project 211 university will do. I’ll even take whatever major they assign me!”

This was the reality for most students hovering on the cutoff line for first-tier universities.

While everyone else was making serious wishes, one guy suddenly dropped to both knees.

He began to chant...

”They say a good vocational program is better than a bad bachelor’s degree! Wen Quxing, please, just bless me and let me get into a decent vocational college...”

The nearby students all looked like they’d seen a ghost, wondering if they’d heard him correctly.

Li Dong, however, simply shook his head and walked to a prayer cushion.

’There’s no reason to be so shocked,’ he thought. ’Everyone has the right to choose their own school. A vocational college is a perfectly fine choice. At least the guy has a goal.’

’Unlike me...’

’I’m so conflicted right now.’

’I really don’t know how to choose between Shuimu and Yan University. They’re both excellent schools, and their QS rankings are almost identical.’

’Since I can’t decide on my own, I’ll just have to leave it to Wen Quxing...’

Li Dong gripped the container of fortune sticks with both hands. Closing his eyes, he began to shake it, muttering softly.

”A long stick means I go to Shuimu for physics. A short stick means Yan University for math!”

”And if two fall out at once... I’ll go with whichever one offers more money!”

At this, all the other students who had been praying with their eyes shut snapped them open in unison.

”Damn, we’ve got a real pro here.”

...

「Time slipped by quietly.」

「June 7th.」

The college entrance exams had arrived, right on schedule.

The area outside the police cordon at the main gate of Jiangcheng Second Middle School was already packed solid.

Two police cars were parked by the road to maintain order, and enormous signs were posted in conspicuous locations.

”Exam Site Ahead, No Honking” and ”Students-Only Lane, Parents Prohibited.”

Countless parents crowded behind the police line, their eyes fixed on every student walking through the school gates.

Li Qin had specially taken the day off from the supermarket and put on a dark red qipao, a symbol for ”a victorious start.”

She stood before the ”Parents Prohibited” sign and straightened Li Dong’s collar.

Her eyes filled with pride as she looked at her son, who had somehow grown a full head taller than her.

”Xiaodong, go on.”

Li Qin gently patted Li Dong’s back, smiled, and waved.

”I believe in you.”

Li Dong looked at his mom in her slightly ill-fitting qipao, and a wave of warmth spread through him.

He turned, facing the morning sun, and strode towards the main gate of Jiangcheng Second Middle School.

Just as he crossed the threshold of the school gate, Li Dong glanced back and gave his mother in the crowd an ”OK” sign.

Then, his figure disappeared into the stream of students flowing toward the exam halls.

At nine in the morning, inside the exam hall, a proctor with a solemn expression tore open the sealed envelope of exam papers and began distributing them to each student.

A clear female voice echoed from the PA system across the entire campus:

”Attention, all students. The exam will begin in five minutes...”

Li Dong sat at his desk, verified his barcode sticker, and filled in his exam admission number.

He lifted his head to look at the sky outside the window.

BRRRING...

At that moment, the exam bell rang.

Everyone understood.

Twelve years of bitter study, countless nights spent poring over books, mountains of practice tests, and rivers of sweat—it had all been leading to this explosive moment.

All for this one, final battle.