"Dad, I’m going to class, and he is going to class too."
Tan Yunlong understood: "Who is Xiao Yuan teaching?"
"The school organized the Olympiad class," Tan Wenbin replied.
"Can you get in? I heard that winning awards is very helpful for the college entrance exam."
"My genes are not good."
The car suddenly sped up.
After being dropped off at the school gate, Li Zhiyuan looked at Tan Wenbin: "Brother Binbin, aren’t you afraid of getting beaten by Uncle when you go home after saying this?"
"He beats Binbin, what does that have to do with me and Zhuangzhuang."
"I’m hungry, let’s go to the cafeteria to eat."
"You know, Xiao Yuan, ever since my academic performance improved, I feel particularly strong now.
Previously I was aware that if I performed poorly in the college entrance exam, I’d have to rely on my parents for everything including getting married and having children, living under their shadow for a lifetime.
Eating their food, using their stuff, occupying their space, I’d have to endure their constant nagging about my life.
Now, I feel like my wings have started to harden."
"Brother Binbin, that’s not a shadow."
"It’s just a hyperbolic expression, which parent would deliberately cast a big shadow over their child."
"Yeah, you’re right."
Before the fourth class ended, the cafeteria was empty. Tan Wenbin went to get food while Li Zhiyuan went to get the free soup.
This soup is free to take, and many students rely on it with their own dry food.
After finishing the meal, the class bell rang.
Tan Wenbin walked lazily towards the classroom, while Li Zhiyuan entered a small classroom by himself.
To his surprise, there were already quite a few people inside, some students were nibbling on steamed buns, some had rushed in with books immediately after class without eating.
They all cherished the opportunity to compete, which was also their chance to change their lives.
Li Zhiyuan felt somewhat dazed; what was readily available to him was what others dreamt of.
Conversely, he envied their health.
Upon Li Zhiyuan’s arrival, everyone greeted him with grateful smiles, they had heard rumors that the genius had taken the morning off.
Someone with a steamed bun in their mouth rushed over to help lift a stool, while another stood by ready to assist.
Li Zhiyuan stood up, picked up the chalk, and began to write the solution process for the unchecked problems on the blackboard.
Those below were watching and discussing eagerly, the city competition was just around the weekend, and logically, a few people still had to be eliminated.
After completing the solution, a tall student helped wipe the blackboard, and Li Zhiyuan continued posing problems.
After finishing, he clapped his hands and a student handed him a wet cloth.
Mr. Yan and a few other math teachers were also sitting there. When Li Zhiyuan stepped down, Mr. Yan stood up and distributed the test papers:
"After copying the problems from the blackboard, work on this test paper. You have two hours. You can hand it in early, don’t worry about the afternoon classes."
This was to determine the final team members based on rankings.
Seeing that he wasn’t given a test paper, Li Zhiyuan bid farewell to the teachers and left the small classroom, heading towards the principal’s office.
Zheng Haiyang was in the principal’s office eating, Wu Xinhao sat opposite him sharing the meal, which was a small stir-fry from the cafeteria.
After the funeral was over, he returned to school immediately; after all, there were no tedious affairs since the body was not transported back.
"Xiao Yuan, have you eaten?" Wu Xinhao asked with a smile.
"Principal Grandpa, I have eaten."
Zheng Haiyang stood up awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
He was grateful that the principal specifically found him in the morning to invite him for lunch and chat, but he still couldn’t adapt to this atmosphere, which most students would find uncomfortable.
But from another perspective, for a principal to do this much was already commendable.
"Brother Binbin is back too," Li Zhiyuan said to Zheng Haiyang with a smile, then walked into the curtained area, lay down on the spring bed, and closed his eyes to nap.
He soon fell asleep, and even had a dream.
In the dream, he was standing on the deck, and it seemed he had grown taller, about the same height as the current Brother Binbin.
He was holding Alii by the hand, and Cui Cui was standing by his side;
Further away, there were Run Sheng and Tan Wenbin, and behind them, there were many other figures whose faces could not be clearly seen.
The boat dropped anchor in one area.
In the dream, he stood at the edge of the boat, pointing downwards: "This is the spot, get ready, we are going down!"
Behind him, a chorus of responses came, and then everyone began to put on diving gear.
Li Zhiyuan also put on a set and after putting on the mask, his vision became somewhat blurred.
Some people used the boat ladder to go down, some simply took a leap.
Li Zhiyuan chose the latter, jumping boldly.
The moment he hit the water, he sat up, awakened.
The curtain was pulled back, and Wu Xinhao asked with a gentle face, "Had a dream?"
"If you’re tired, rest more, the school has given you a heavy responsibility."
Li Zhiyuan felt embarrassed to say he was tired, as he either slept or read extracurricular books during classes.
"Xiao Yuan, this is the scholarship and subsidy from the school, the detailed list and the money are inside, you can give it to your parents when you take it home."
"Thank you, Principal Grandpa."
"That is, um..." Wu Xinhao pulled out some money from his pocket, "This is some pocket money I’m giving you privately, as a grandfather."
"I cannot accept this."
"Take it, do your best in the weekend competition, I’ve already ordered banners for a grand celebration, uh, don’t blame Grandpa for putting pressure on you."