However, as they read the questions, they found that their happiness had only been short-lived. What may have been easy, at first, became a test that had been filled with so many small traps.

Every student read the questions even more carefully, cautious with what they were going to answer. As soon as they finished the examination paper, they were still not at ease. They lowered their heads and checked again, afraid that they answered the wrong choice.

As soon as they passed the paper, they all released a collective sigh of relief.

The exam was finally over!

This set of exams was considered the most difficult set they have ever faced yet. Not only were the questions extremely comprehensive, but there were a lot of small traps.

It was a good thing there were a few real, easy questions, otherwise, they would’ve cried right then and there.

Once the exam was over, the school announced a day off to allow the students to check the papers themselves.

The students had agreed to go out for dinner that night–just to destress from the stressful events that had come to pass. After all, after what had happened, a slow dinner was what they deserved.

There were a bunch of students who had been checking their exams online. A few of them turned their heads and instead spent the rest of their hours talking with their friends.

Turning on her phone, Yao Tang saw Cheng Yanwas calling her.

When she answered it, his pleasant words filled her ears, “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“I haven’t really thought about it.”

She held her phone close to her side as she strolled back to her classroom.

After the exam, Yi Xian informed everyone that they still had a class meeting before they could all be collectively released.

“If you’re free, my grandmother needs a follow-up consultation,” he replied. “Then, maybe we can go out for a meal? What do you think?”

His voice was low and hopeful.

Yao Tang headed upstairs to the student department. After a few seconds, she slowly nodded. “You got it,” she stated.

Although her voice was still as faint as before, he could hear a hint of gentleness in her tone.

A warm feeling rushed into his chest, and his lips twitched.

Just the thought of her was enough to make him smile. “How did your exam go?”

Upon asking the question, he couldn’t help but cringe. Asking about her grades made him feel as if he were her guardian. He certainly didn’t want that.

“I did fine.”

There was a short pause when she finally entered the classroom. “I’m hanging up now. I still have some classes.”

She was immediately greeted by the other students’ complaints.

“Why did the exam have to be so difficult?”

“God, I’m already prepared for my mother’s screams.”

“Damn, and here I thought I could finally get that car my Mom had promised me. How the hell was I supposed to know it was going to be that difficult?”

“Did you know that Yao Ran scored higher than 700 points? She’s a genius!”

“If only I could around 400 to 500 points. Damn it! You think she’d be at the top of our class?”

Everyone was in heated discussion.

Seeing that Yao Tang had finally returned, everyone shared glances. They were obviously curious as to how she had done in their exams, but they didn’t dare ask.

Meng Yang pulled out a stool and let her sit down.

Instead of worrying about her exams, she simply proceeded to read all the unread messages she had received during her exams. She looked calm and unbothered, unlike the others in the room.

They sighed in longing,

Meng Yang glanced at his exam paper worriedly. He roughly corrected a few of the comprehensive science questions had written down, but he did not get a couple right.

Qin Jing, who was sitting in the front, also glanced at her own paper and frowned.

It wasn’t easy to get a high score these days, especially with such a comprehensive exam like this one.

She wasn’t a genius like Yao Tang.

“Now that you see the answers on the test paper, you should understand and learn from them. Don’t be so anxious.”

Xi Yan, upon seeing everyone’s furrowed eyebrows and frowns, shook her head.

The exam was difficult, but it should not serve as a tool to lower everyone’s morale.

Standing on the podium, she knocked on her table and stared at the crowd. “Although this is the city-wide exam, it is still not the college entrance exam. There is still a chance to improve. There is still a chance to learn from what you’ve gotten wrong.”

“This exam will simply be used as a stepping stone to do better.”

“Let’s continue to work hard, okay?”

Xi Yan’s continuous encouragement seemed to have lifted everyone’s spirits.

Right. This wasn’t the college entrance exam.

“Got it!”

“We can do this!”

The students raised their heads in unison, nodding at the teacher. They all grinned. Some of them even saluted in agreement. They could do this!

“It’s time to attend the meeting.”

Seeing that everyone was relieved, Xi Yan smiled and continued writing on the board.

..

Everyone’s estimated score was out that night.

Yao Ran had gotten the highest score–a full 717 points!

It was a pretty high score, in not just No. 1 High School, but around the world.

Qin Jing had gotten the second place, but her score was 702–still more than ten points lower than Yao Ran’s score. The gap was just too large.