Chapter 192
Intensive tutoring lasted for three weeks.
Although there were some setbacks (mainly referring to Qi Shaobai's setbacks), overall it went smoothly.
The final results were reflected in the last exam before the winter vacation.
This final exam was a city-wide standardized test.
Over forty thousand senior high school students in Beijing were ranked together.
On the day when the scores were released,
the entire senior year building was bustling with excitement.
The students shed their tiredness from the previous days.
Just the thought of the long-awaited winter vacation starting from today made them elated.
Although they were physically present in school, their hearts had already flown far beyond.
In the middle of the building, inside the offices,
the homeroom teachers seemed to have made an appointment and walked out at the same time.
With a teacup in their left hand and a stack of score sheets in their right hand,
they slowly made their way to their respective classrooms.
Inside the classroom with the sign "Grade 12 Class 4," there was a lively atmosphere.
A few girls in the front row gathered together, discussing how to spend the winter vacation.
A girl with a ponytail announced cheerfully,
"I've already packed my luggage. Tomorrow morning, I'll go to the airport and play until the Chinese New Year. Let's go, go, go~"
The girl sitting next to her with long hair showed an incredulous expression and responded,
"I admire your energy, but that's not for me. I have to spend a week at home first, regain my vitality, catch up on my anime, read novels, and eat all sorts of junk food. I won't go out no matter who calls me."
"Ah, it's finally the time to rest, and you want to go out and have fun. Is that still called resting?" the girl with the ponytail exclaimed.
"Resting means not going out!" another person interrupted their argument.
"Stop! You're one 'i' person and one 'e' person, you're not going to agree," the person said, and everyone burst into laughter.
In the corridor behind the classroom's back door,
a few boys were fooling around.
You kick me, I kick you.
Both of them ended up hurting but had silly smiles on their faces.
With indignation, they shouted and prepared to retaliate.
Suddenly, the head of the homeroom teacher appeared outside the window of the back door, glaring inside with a stern face.
The boys were startled and immediately retracted their legs that were halfway through a kick.
One boy reacted slowly and didn't have time to retract his leg, so he slid out and stumbled, grabbing his cramped thigh in pain as he fell into a chair.
In the back row, by the window seat,
Qi Shaobai had his head buried on the desk, resting with his eyes closed.
His hair was messy, with a few strands sticking up like silly antennae.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in.
The cold wind made the curtains billow and then slowly settle.
The raised corner of the curtain brushed against Qi Shaobai's head.
The young man shivered and slowly lifted his head.
With laziness, he opened his eyes.
His handsome facial features were not at all affected by his hairstyle but instead added a touch of unruly handsomeness.
After a moment of hesitation, Qi Shaobai furrowed his brows.
He stretched his leg and kicked the chair in front of him.
With a cold and impatient tone, he said,
"Damn it, can't you close the window? You're freezing your old man to death."
Wei Zhaonan, who was playing with his phone, turned his head at the words.
He reached out and closed the window.
Almost instinctively, he replied,
"Dad forgot."
Qi Shaobai shot him a sharp glance.
Just as he was about to speak again, the homeroom teacher appeared at the podium, clearing his throat...
"Cough cough—"
Within a few seconds, everyone returned to their seats.
The homeroom teacher placed the score sheets on the podium and spoke up,
"The final exam scores are out."
"This time, our class has achieved overall good results, allowing most students to enjoy a peaceful holiday and relax a bit."
"But..."
The class teacher paused and glanced towards the back row by the window.
With a slightly stern tone:
"...there are a few students who are extremely unaware!"
"After the school canceled evening self-study, it seems they haven't even touched a book at home."
As the words fell,
Everyone's gaze followed the direction pointed out by the class teacher.
In the center of their attention, Qi Shaobai's eyes dimmed imperceptibly.
"Qi Shaobai," the class teacher suddenly spoke up.
Qi Shaobai raised an eyebrow and looked over.
His heart tightened suddenly.
Although he appeared indifferent on the surface, with a nonchalant expression on his face,
Internally, he was nervous to death.
His palm, hidden under the desk, clenched silently.
Could it be that the class teacher was referring to him with those words just now?
It seemed like it...
At this thought, a hint of desolation flickered in the young boy's eyes.
His father and stepmother personally tutored him, but not only did he fail to improve, he was even called out for criticism.
He felt ashamed to face them.
During his melancholic moment, the class teacher suddenly changed the direction of the conversation:
"You did well on this exam..."
Qi Shaobai's eyes froze: "!!!!"
The class teacher smiled at him.
Then, she took out a report card and handed it to him, nodding approvingly:
"Qi Shaobai, you've made the most progress in the class."
"Special commendation."
"Wow!"
As the class teacher's voice fell, a wave of commotion swept through the classroom.
The development of this plot caught everyone off guard, leaving them astonished.
Qi Shaobai was actually praised by the class teacher?
You see, previously, whenever Qi Shaobai was called out, it was only for criticism.
Did he suddenly turn things around?
Qi Shaobai had his day too?
Impressive.
Amidst the surprised gazes of everyone, Qi Shaobai pushed his chair back and walked through the aisle to the teacher's podium, where he received his report card.
His chin was slightly raised, still displaying an unruly demeanor.
But there was no trace of his former arrogance in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.
Only a faint sense of pride could be discerned.
Just as he reached out to grab the report card, the paper suddenly tightened.
The class teacher held the other end, looking him straight in the eye:
"Keep up the good work, don't get complacent, maintain this momentum in the next semester."
"Sure," Qi Shaobai's lips curled up slightly, responding.
"Amazing!" Suddenly, a loud voice rang out.
Wei Zhaonan cupped his hands around his mouth, mimicking a megaphone.
He stood up and cheered:
"Qi Shaobai is awesome!"
"Qi Shaobai is invincible!"
The class teacher's mouth twitched, releasing her grip on the report card.
She fished out a short piece from the chalk box.
With a flick, she threw it.
"Qi Shaobai is awesome... uh... ah!" Wei Zhaonan's shouting abruptly stopped.
He covered his forehead, which had been accurately struck by the chalk.
The expression on his face was one of pain.
The class teacher: "Wei Zhaonan, do you still have the audacity to cheer? Can't you tell that when I said 'certain students,' I was referring to you?"
Wei Zhaonan: "???"
The class teacher: "Was my expression not clear enough?"
Wei Zhaonan: "..."
The whole class burst into laughter.
That evening,
As soon as school ended, Qi Shaobai picked up his backpack and headed out.
He declined Wei Zhaonan's invitation to "celebrate a bit."
He just wanted to get home quickly.
To share the good news with his father and stepmother.
They would surely be very happy to hear it.
Qi Shaobai couldn't help but quicken his pace as he speculated about their reaction upon learning about his results.
As the school day came to an end, the playground was bathed in the warm orange glow of the setting sun.
Melodious music wafted through the air from the speakers.
The corridors of the teaching building buzzed with a lively and relaxed atmosphere.
A slender and upright figure of a young boy, carrying his bag on one shoulder, dashed past like the wind.
The crisp wintry air was suddenly swept away by this joyful figure.
Qi Shaobai's stray bangs lightly brushed against his forehead, tracing an arc of unrestrained freedom in the air.
Bold and vibrant.
Impatiently waiting.