Chapter 20: The Graduation Reunion

“Ha ha, 533, 372.”

533 points was Li Fan’s college entrance exam score, while 372 was Yang Tong’s.

Li Fan, once the top student at the city’s number one high school, had fallen below the first-tier university cutoff.

Li Fan chose to retake the exam; after all, his foundation was solid.

As long as he worked hard next semester, getting into an undergraduate program wouldn’t be a problem.

As for Yang Tong, with her score, her family forbade her from retaking the exam.

She either had to go to a vocational school or start working.

There was no other choice; after all, Yang Tong was a girl, and her family held some patriarchal views.

Yang Tong didn’t come to school today because she had become the biggest joke at the city’s number one high school.

Here was a once perfect-score academic prodigy breaking up and now flunking the college entrance exam—it was all her own doing.

After submitting their university applications, Gu Zhaoyue prepared to take the entire class out for some well-deserved relaxation.

There was still plenty left in the class fund, and the school had also awarded a substantial bonus to Senior Class 2.

Originally, there were over forty students in the class, but only thirty-three showed up today since the applications could be submitted online.

Some students lived far away and didn’t want to waste the time traveling back and forth.

Gu Zhaoyue first took all the students to the cinema, where, after a vote, they chose to watch a science fiction film.

Unfortunately, Gu Zhaoyue sat with the girls, while Zhou Chen sat with the boys.

However, two couples boldly announced their relationships after graduation, no longer hiding it.

Gu Zhaoyue happily offered them her blessings.

After the movie, they went to an amusement park and played until dusk.

Those with strict households were allowed to leave early.

Next, they headed to a karaoke bar in the city center.

Given Gu Zhaoyue’s family values, she had some reservations about karaoke bars, but with the boys and girls clamoring to go, she relented.

At karaoke, it was mostly about drinking and singing.

The dim lighting and scent of alcohol easily stirred the most primal instincts.

Even some previously reserved classmates, under the influence of alcohol, revealed their true natures.

Many of the girls had lovely voices; their singing was pleasant and melodious.

The boys, however, were another story—many sang off-key.

Zhou Chen, as a perfect-score academic prodigy, was also urged to sing.

Since Zhou Chen wasn’t skilled at singing and didn’t usually listen to music, he felt quite embarrassed.

Fortunately, Gu Zhaoyue noticed his predicament and joined him in singing a love song they both knew well.

Cai Yameng was also at this graduation party but looked troubled the entire time.

No one invited her to sing, fearing rejection.

Naturally, Zhou Chen didn’t seek trouble either.

At that moment, he was quietly planning how to have Gu Zhaoyue accompany him for a day of fun and leisure tomorrow.

He had won the national top scorer title, so Gu Zhaoyue owed him a full day of eating, drinking, and playing.

That was their bet.

First, they had to watch a movie, and they would sit together.

They would have a date just like any couple.

Gu Zhaoyue knew Zhou Chen’s feelings for her.

Zhou Chen knew that Gu Zhaoyue knew.

Gu Zhaoyue also knew that Zhou Chen knew she knew about his feelings.

But neither dared to break the tacit understanding; they remained teacher and student, even though tomorrow they would spend the day like a couple.

With the college entrance exam over, it also meant they would part ways.

Not only Zhou Chen looked forward to tomorrow; Gu Zhaoyue did as well.

She was eager to find out whether Zhou Chen was the mastermind behind turning her blind date, Shen Feng, into a mental patient.

Humans are always curious about the unknown and can easily get caught up in it.

Zhou Chen had thought something unexpected might happen at the graduation party, but it ended uneventfully.

When Gu Zhaoyue and the students left the karaoke bar, a few drunken men tried to harass her and some female classmates with words.

But they had no courage behind their lustful intent.

Zhou Chen had no chance to play the hero.

Just as they were about to leave, students from Senior Class 1 at the city’s number one high school emerged from the karaoke bar.

Senior Class 1 was also holding a graduation party, coincidentally at the same karaoke bar.

It was a classic clash of rivals.

At school, Senior Class 1 and Senior Class 2 regarded each other as competitors.

Gu Zhaoyue and Senior Class 1’s homeroom teacher were not on good terms either; women often compared themselves.

“I never thought Ms. Gu, coming from such a scholarly family, would come to a place like this karaoke bar. It’s an eye-opener,” sneered Senior Class 1’s teacher.

She looked decent but paled in comparison to Gu Zhaoyue.

Gu Zhaoyue was not annoyed in the slightest by the passive-aggressive tone.

She pulled Zhou Chen close and said, “What can I do? I taught a national top scorer. Today, I’m just celebrating a bit.”

“Oh, I heard your class’s academic star didn’t even reach the first-tier cutoff this time. If the students have problems in their studies, you as the homeroom teacher must bear much responsibility!”

“Back when our class’s national top scorer Zhou Chen got injured saving someone, I rushed over to his house and personally tutored him.”

“That kid is remarkable—he turned things around and became a national top scorer in return.”

Hearing Gu Zhaoyue repeatedly mention “national top scorer,” Senior Class 1’s teacher had no retort.

There was no helping it; as fellow homeroom teachers, this exam result was a major embarrassment.

For a long time to come, she would be overshadowed by Gu Zhaoyue.

Watching Gu Zhaoyue’s triumphant expression, Zhou Chen couldn’t help but smile.

Teachers really are quite endearing!

“What’s the use of studying? In the end, it’s all about making money. I’ve been winning at the starting line from the beginning,” Li Fan sneered.

Coincidentally, Li Fan, who hadn’t attended the graduation party, was at the karaoke bar tonight drowning his sorrows with some disreputable friends.

Hearing Gu Zhaoyue’s words, he couldn’t resist coming over to mock.

“Let’s be realistic. After you graduate from university, you might end up working at my family’s factory.”

Li Fan’s family was wealthy and had the right to say such things.

Tonight, Li Fan was no longer low-key; his luxury brand clothes showed off his extravagance, and the prestigious watch on his wrist gleamed.

Especially with two beauties in black stockings draped on either arm, he practically wore his wealth on his face.

Senior Class 1’s teacher seemed to have found a savior.

“Although Li Fan’s words are harsh, they’re the truth. In this society, money is king.”

Having attended Cai Yameng’s birthday party, Gu Zhaoyue’s perspective had broadened.

Compared to the wealthy heirs at that party, Li Fan was far inferior.

Li Fan’s family rank probably wasn’t even high enough to attend such elite gatherings.

Gu Zhaoyue remained true to her beliefs. “Wealth rarely lasts beyond three generations. No matter how rich a family is, it will eventually decline. Only spiritual legacy is eternal.”

The topic was lofty, but people’s hearts were restless.

Zhou Chen was also restless, secretly hoping Li Fan would call some thugs to teach him a lesson.

Then he could show off and humiliate him.

By now, Zhou Chen’s seven soul-devouring bugs had all reached level one, but he hadn’t yet displayed their full power.

But Li Fan just snorted coldly, turned around, and left with the two beauties, driving off swaggeringly.

He actually wanted to find connections in the underworld and spend some pocket money to have Zhou Chen taught a lesson.

For some reason, the more he looked at Zhou Chen, the more annoyed he became.

He also harbored a suspicion.

Why had his own grades suddenly dropped while Zhou Chen’s suddenly improved?

Was there some conspiracy?

But he eventually gave up on the idea, since Cai Yameng was there.

Cai Yameng was the daughter of the Cai family; he had pursued her before.

But the next day, he and his father were threatened.

If he dared to bother Cai Yameng again, the entire Li family would be uprooted from Baoqing City!

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