Just in Time Chapter 110
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 110 Grand Finale
What Yun Fang had said to him seemed to have an effect. Yi Chenliang finally stopped being so tense. In the second mock exam, he performed exceptionally well, scoring 650 points, only six points behind Yun Fang. In the third mock exam, he scored 635 points, at least narrowing the gap significantly.
After working so hard for so long, Yi Chenliang finally saw hope, but he didn't dare to relax at all.
Later, when they looked back on their entire senior year, it seemed that only exams and problem-solving remained. A group of people struggled together towards the same goal, a process both monotonous and difficult, but there were always some things that would make them smile when remembered.
Old He would stand on the podium every day, holding his thermos, earnestly giving them pep talks, telling them that perseverance was victory.
They didn't know if they could actually achieve victory, but they knew that as long as they persevered, they would eventually reach an outcome.
Chen Qianyang and Wu He had monopolized the first and third places in the grade for nearly a year. The two had become deskmates again, burying their heads in studying every day, occasionally raising their heads to argue with each other when the mood struck, then continuing to study.
Ji Shumo was still struggling at the subsistence line of 600 points. His scores fluctuated between 598 and 603, and he worried every day about stabilizing those five or six points.
Zhang Haize finally broke into the top twenty in the grade. He painfully refused his deskmate's invitation to play basketball and had even grown a ring of fat around his belly.
Qin Jun and Qi Xian became deskmates. One was laid-back about everything and didn't care about fame, accepting whatever score he got. The other had returned to being the eternal second place, holding his breath every day trying to surpass Chen Qianyang. The contrast between these two was considered a unique sight in Class 4.
Shen Zhouzhou maintained his steady pace of three years, studying when it was time to study, being happy when it was time to be happy, as stable as an old dog.
Qi Huo, who had successfully overcome a relationship crisis, was working hard as if injected with chicken blood, receiving specialized tutoring every night from his boyfriend across the ocean.
He lay on the desk doing test papers, while in the video, Chang Ziqi was also lowering his head to do problems.
"Do the second-to-last big question again," Chang Ziqi told him. "Your problem-solving approach was wrong from the start."
Qi Huo flipped through the test paper, biting his pen. "I thought it was quite right."
"But the answer is wrong," Chang Ziqi discovered that nothing exercised his patience more than tutoring Qi Huo. Zoning out and getting distracted was his daily routine. He not only had to be responsible for explaining problems but also had to call back the person who had zoned out. "What are you thinking about?"
Qi Huo reflexively said, "Thinking about you."
Chang Ziqi: "..."
Qi Huo nervously rubbed his nose. "Actually, Old He asked everyone to fill in their ideal university today. I thought for a long time and didn't know what I want to do in the future. I feel like everyone else has their own ideal goals."
"Actually, most people don't know what they truly want," Chang Ziqi told him. "Or even if they know what they want, it might change along the way. Just go with the flow."
Qi Huo sighed, "You're not studying philosophy, are you?"
Chang Ziqi cleared his throat, "Try to recall, up until now, when was the moment you wished for something most strongly?"
Qi Huo stared at him blankly, and after a while said, "When you... shielded me from the gunshot."
"At that time, I was thinking, if only I could protect you. If... if only I were a real police officer."
"Then I could defeat the criminals and keep you safe."
Chang Ziqi was stunned.
—
Time flew by quickly, and soon it was June.
The countdown on the blackboard turned to single digits, and finally became 1.
There was no evening self-study on this day. As usual, Old He stood on the podium, looking at another class of students he had taught.
He had left Wu City No.1 High School, returned to it, and taken root here, sending off batch after batch of students. Many of these students, once parted, might never meet again, even in a place as small as Wu City.
He had long since gotten used to farewells.
But when he stood on the podium, looking at the familiar young and naive faces below, he couldn't help but feel emotional.
"Although I often say you're the worst class of students I've ever taught, although I often scold you for being naughty - though you really are quite naughty."
The classroom erupted in laughter.
"But, you're all very good, all very diligent children, and I'm honored to be your teacher..."
"Tomorrow you'll step onto the battlefield of the college entrance exam. No matter how your grades were before, put it all aside. Keep a relaxed mindset, travel light. Remember to keep your admission ticket safe, 2B pencils, erasers, those whose exam sites are not at No.1 High School should leave early, absolutely can't be late..."
He stood on the podium giving detailed instructions, repeating things he had said countless times, but never tiring of it.
"...I wish all students victory from the start, and may your names be listed on the golden board!"
The classroom burst into warm applause.
The countdown on the blackboard finally became 0.
Yi Chenliang and Yun Fang's exam site wasn't at No.1 High School, but at No.7 High School.
Yun Fang and Yi Chenliang had visited the exam site before. On the day of the college entrance exam, Tang Yi and Yun Heyu personally sent them to the gate of No.7 High School, just like countless other parents, nervous and excited.
Tang Yi adjusted Yun Fang's collar, then helped brush off some dust that had somehow gotten on Yi Chenliang's pants. He said to both of them, "Don't be nervous, just perform normally and you'll be fine."
Yun Heyu checked their pencil cases and admission tickets for them. "Make sure to keep them safe and don't lose them. Go to the bathroom before the exam, don't put your water bottle on the desk, and if anything happens, tell the teacher."
Yun Fang and Yi Chenliang nodded in unison.
"Alright, go on now," Tang Yi patted their shoulders. "Sugar, Xiao Yi, good luck!"
Tang Yi and Yun Heyu, like many other parents outside, waited under the scorching sun at the gate.
No.7 High School was in the city center, an old school occupying less than a fifth of the area of No.1 High School. The gate's wall was covered with green glazed tiles, and one had to climb many steps to enter.
Yi Chenliang and Yun Fang blended into the crowd of exam-takers as they went in. A main road led straight to the teaching building, with lush plane trees on both sides casting patches of shade under the intense sunlight.
Their exam rooms were in different buildings, so they parted ways at the intersection.
"Xiao Yi, good luck," Yun Fang smiled at him in the sunlight.
"Good luck, Big Yi," Yi Chenliang also stood in the sunlight, his smile radiant.
Then they turned and headed to their respective battlefields.
Even after countless exams, they still couldn't help feeling nervous facing the college entrance exam. Yi Chenliang's seat was the first one on the left side of the classroom. The sun was a bit strong, but it didn't affect him much.
Yun Fang's seat was in the middle of the third row. He lowered his eyes, carefully recalling the knowledge points in his mind.
The exam bell rang.
They began distributing the test papers.
The moment Yi Chenliang got his paper, he felt more nervous than ever before, finding this nervousness strangely inexplicable.
Yun Fang took the answer sheet handed by the teacher and neatly wrote his name.
Yi Chenliang flipped through the test paper to check it, briefly scanning the questions.
Yun Fang spread out his test paper and started looking at the first multiple-choice question.
They both took a deep breath and put their pens to the paper.
For a moment, only the sound of writing filled the exam room.
On the afternoon when the exam ended, outside it was scorching hot, the trees were lush, and large, soft white clouds floated in the azure sky. It looked like a scene from a fresh-colored comic, carrying an unreal intensity.
Yun Fang walked to the intersection in front of the teaching building and immediately saw Yi Chenliang waiting for him there.
Yun Fang walked over, and they smiled at each other. Bathed in the June sunlight, they walked shoulder to shoulder out of the gates of No.7 High School.
Their high school life, at this point, came to an end.
——
Yun Heyu and Tang Yi took them out for a big meal. By the time they returned home, it was completely dark.
"Finally, you can have a good rest," Tang Yi smiled at them. "During this period, you two seemed to have made a pact, each getting thinner than the other."
"Relax well, let's take a family trip during the summer vacation!" Yun Heyu said. "We haven't traveled together before, you two think about where you want to go."
Yi Chenliang and Yun Fang sat in the back seat, their slumped postures identical.
"Anywhere is fine, Dad and Mom can decide," Yun Fang said lazily.
"Agreed," Yi Chenliang raised his hand slightly.
Tang Yi turned to look at them and couldn't help but laugh, "Hey, these two kids."
That night, Yun Fang and Yi Chenliang returned together to the third floor of the opposite building.
It was still that same path that took less than five minutes to walk, with the leafy old elm tree between the two buildings.
Looking up, there was a bright, clear moon.
The cool moonlight enveloped Wu City, this lively and gentle small town. The criss-crossing roads were busy with traffic, pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, cheerful square dance music played in the park, old people cooled off under trees, and children chased each other in the square.
Old He turned his gaze from the window, picked up the tea on the table and took a small sip, remarking to his wife that this year's physics questions were a bit too difficult.
Qi Xian finished comparing physics answers with his classmate, felt he was doomed, and collapsed on the bed with a loud groan.
Qin Jun got up from his comfortable bed, took a bottle of cola from the fridge, and gulped it down with satisfaction.
Shen Zhouzhou put down her drink bottle, grinning at the beautiful image on her computer screen, typing away.
Chen Qianyang took her hands off the keyboard, grabbed her long braid in frustration, wanting to stamp her feet, cursing Wu He as an insensitive fool.
Wu He sprawled in his chair, plucking petals from flowers his sister had picked earlier that day, trying to choose between confessing to Chen Qianyang now or five minutes later, flower petals scattered all over the floor.
Ji Shumo held a broom, pitifully sweeping the floor, grumbling that his mom was too harsh, forcing him to clean his room right after the exams, her attitude completely different.
Zhang Haize folded his newly put away clothes, fist-bumped the basketball player on his wall poster, calling him "brother".
Song Cun, having listened to Song Ming's chatter, heaved a long sigh, feeling he didn't need any brothers, he just wanted to sleep well after the exams.
Sun Yuan, asleep, heard his parents arguing outside, and desperately covered his head with his blanket.
Li Kai squatted by the street smoking, with a sizzling barbecue stand nearby. He took a final drag, stubbed out the cigarette, and put on the apron beside him.
Not far from the barbecue stand, a little girl in a pretty dress was helping her mother mind their stall, which was full of shoes and socks. She smiled sweetly when her mother called her "Lan Lan".
Across the street, Xu Xiaobao was playing with an Ultraman toy while sitting in a chair. His mother was handing sugar to Huang Chu opposite them.
Huang Chu returned to the store with the sugar and was immediately hugged around the legs by Zhao Xiaoxiao. He scooped up the little girl into his arms and handed the sugar to Zhao Fang, who was making milk tea. Zhang Fang put down the spoon she was holding.
Su Qingbai picked up the envelope on the table, glanced at the sleeping Chu Xia on the bed, and left the room. He handed the envelope to Su Shengwen, who was waiting outside. Zhou Ang behind him sighed softly and started the car.
Qi Huo was driving fast when suddenly a special ringtone sounded. He reluctantly gave up on the game coin he had just inserted and answered the call from Chang Ziqi across the ocean. He walked out of the arcade, talking while looking up at the moon.
"The moon seems especially bright tonight," Yi Chenliang said to Yun Fang, kicking small pebbles by the roadside.
"Perhaps the moon is particularly happy tonight," Yun Fang smiled.
They walked hand in hand, their shadows elongated by the dim street lights.
The light in room 302 of the old dormitory building turned on.
It became one of the countless points of light.
Merging into the myriad lights of homes.
–End of main story–