Ni Yang walked to the Examination Room with her things.
The examination rooms of the eighties, although lacking the electronic gadgets of later generations and without the need for security checks, were still very solemn affairs. In a large classroom of 60 square meters, only 20 desks were placed, spaced generously apart. With four proctors on duty and rotating inspectors overseeing the room, cheating was all but impossible.
Ni Yang’s seat was by the window in the first group. As the exam had not yet begun, murmurs quickly spread from the surrounding.
Beauties, regardless of the era, would always receive special treatment.
"My God, which school is she from? She’s so pretty."
"Idiot, didn’t you see the uniform? She’s from Third City Middle School."
"Third City Middle School, could she be... the school beauty?"
Hearing the words "school beauty," someone curiously asked, "What school beauty?"
"The one from Third City Middle School, I think her name is Ni Yang. Our cousin goes there too, and he said that their school beauty is really amazing! She often ranks first!"
The whispers rose and fell, but Ni Yang, as if not hearing them at all, twirled a black pen in one hand and rested her chin in the other, gazing out the window. A breeze lifted her waterfall-like black hair as a serene expression rested on her clear-cut face.
The room only returned to quiet when the proctor walked in with the exam papers.
"Students, quiet down now," said the proctor, "please place your pencil cases on the desks; we’re going to start checking them." In the future, students would use transparent pencil bags during national college entrance exams, but at that time, there were none, and pencil cases were standard. To prevent cheating with notes hidden inside them, teachers inspected every pencil case before the exams.
Everyone set their pencil cases on the desks, and the proctors divided into four groups, meticulously checking, careful not to overlook anything.
Ten minutes later, the distribution of exam papers began.
The first exam was Chinese, from nine to eleven-thirty.
The Examination Room was incredibly quiet, save for the sound of rustling writing.
Chinese was not stressful for Ni Yang. Even the text completion section posed no challenge, as the time spent studying Chinese texts had not been in vain.
The essay portion was more interesting.
It was to write an essay based on the philosophy contained within an ancient poem, with a self-determined stance and self-created title.
The poem was "Pear Blossoms by the Eastern Fence" by the Northern Song dynasty poet, Su Shi.
The most classic lines from the poem were: "Melancholic is the snow on the eastern fence, how much of life can be discerned and understood."
Ni Yang’s brows quirked up slightly, and, as if struck by inspiration, she settled on the title of her essay—
In the two-and-a-half-hour exam, Ni Yang finished all the questions in an hour and a half.
However, leaving early was not permitted, so after thoroughly reviewing her answers twice, Ni Yang spent the time doodling on scratch paper.
She had wanted to sleep, but this was the national college entrance Examination Room, after all, and openly sleeping might affect the other students.
A proctor passed by Ni Yang and noticed her drawing. Firstly impressed, then shook their head in resignation. Although her drawing looked decent, this was an exam after all, and these exams determined one’s future path in life.
How could she be so carefree?
That was irresponsible to her own life!
An hour quickly passed, and outside it was the peak of the sun’s strength. The scorching heat was uncomfortable.
As soon as Ni Yang stepped out of the door, a shadow enveloped her from above, and the burning sensation on her skin immediately lessened considerably.
It was Mo Qishen coming over with an umbrella, "Yangyang, you must be burning up. Have an ice pop first."
Ni Yang replied with a smile, "It’s okay, it wasn’t hot in the classroom. I didn’t realize it was so hot outside. Where did the ice pop come from?"
"Over there," Mo Qishen pointed towards the roadside.
At that time, ice pops were sold out of insulated boxes, and knowing today was the day of the national college entrance exam, the seller had timed his arrival perfectly. At the moment, the uncle was surrounded by a crowd.
Ni Yang turned her head and raised an eyebrow in surprise, struggling to imagine Mo Qishen jostling with so many people for an old-fashioned ice pop.
Taking a bite of the ice pop handed to her, the coolness was refreshing and the flavor classic, loaded with memories.
"Brother Mo, want a bite?" Ni Yang offered the ice pop to Mo Qishen’s lips.
The two had already kissed, so sharing an ice pop was naturally not a concern, and moreover, Mo Qishen had bought only one ice pop precisely to share it with Ni Yang.