Time passed by as Xia Minmin went to and from school day after day. She was still the same person, and the things she did were the same, repeating the same routine every day.

The only difference was the flowers in the neighborhood, ranging from bright red bougainvillea to various colors of camellias—white, red, and pink. Xia Minmin and Tang Meng would often pick up a few whole flowers that had fallen to the ground when they went to or from school.

Recently, the roses and cosmos flowers in our neighborhood have gradually bloomed, adding vibrant colors to summer.

As the roses and cosmos flowers bloom, Xia Minmin and Tang Meng's entrance exams for junior high school also arrive.

Tang Meng looked at her admission ticket in her hand. "Xiao Min, which floor is the exam room on? I'm in exam room 502 in building 1."

"I'm in exam room 303 in Building 1. All our exams should be in the same building, and the exam rooms are randomly assigned."

After seeing everyone discussing the exam after receiving their admission tickets, Teacher Wang had to frantically bang the blackboard eraser on the podium to maintain order.

"Quiet! Quiet!"

"I'm talking to you! Are your ears just for decoration?"

The classroom of Class 1, Grade 6, finally quieted down.

"I'll say it again! You must keep this admission ticket safe. When you go to the exam room at the neighboring middle school tomorrow, the teachers will check it. If you lose it, tell me immediately! Otherwise, you won't be able to take the exam."

"Do you understand?"

The whole class shouted, "We heard it clearly!"

"During the exam, you must check the test paper carefully. Don't fill in anything carelessly. Check every number carefully and repeatedly!"

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, everyone in our class will get into the neighboring junior high school. If any of you fall behind because of your own negligence, don't blame me for beating you up after the exam."

When the students in the class heard Teacher Wang say that he was going to beat someone up, they laughed and wanted to say something, but Teacher Wang stopped them!

"There's one more thing I want to emphasize to you all: tomorrow we'll meet in our classroom first, and then walk together to the neighboring junior high school."

"You must check all the stationery carefully, make sure nothing is missing, and let me know immediately if anything is missing!"

"You're all big kids now, I don't need to repeat these things to you. If there are no other problems, you can go home from school. Remember not to be late tomorrow. Do you understand?"

"I understand!"

Teacher Wang packed up his things and left the classroom.

Xia Minmin and her friend packed their bags and left. The entire sixth grade was in a cheerful atmosphere after school, probably because they were about to leave elementary school and would be more free in the future.

"Xiaomin, are we not going to the Sanda class today?"

"No, the coach told us to rest well and prepare for the junior high school entrance exam tomorrow."

Xia Minmin was also very happy that she would be able to enter university in six years.

"I'm so worried about my grades. I don't know if I'll be able to get into a good school!"

Tang Meng has changed a lot, but she still lacks self-confidence and is habitually timid when faced with problems.

"Don't worry, if you can't get into a good school, then it will be even more difficult for others. Don't think too much about it. Go home and get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll just go to school and take the exams together, just like usual. I'll treat you to hot pot when you come back at noon!"

When Tang Meng heard that Xia Minmin was going to treat her to lunch, the worry on her face immediately disappeared.

"Xiaomin, it's a deal."

It's a deal.

The two parted ways at the entrance of the residential complex.

After the peak customer flow at the small supermarket subsided, Li Chunmei and Xia Jianguo looked at Xia Minmin's admission ticket again and again, filled with emotion.

"I can't believe how old I am. I'll be starting junior high in the second half of the year."

"The photo on the admission ticket still shows him looking like a child."

"In a few years, I will be leaving home to go to university in another city."

"Time flies! In the blink of an eye, the children have grown up."

"Yes, when the children grow up, we'll get old!"

Xia Minmin returned to the small supermarket carrying the takeout she had brought back from next door. "Mom and Dad, dinner's ready!"

Li Chunmei quickly put the prepared stationery and admission ticket into a stationery bag for Xia Minmin and handed it to her, saying, "Xiaomin, check yourself to see if there is any stationery missing."

Xia Minmin put down the food and took the pencil case. "Everything is perfect!"

Li Chunmei was worried that there wouldn't be enough pens, so she specially prepared a few extra.

Xia Minmin's routine the night before the exam was no different from usual; she was confident that she would pass the exam.

Compared to Li Chunmei's composure, Xia Jianguo was still a little nervous. He got up early to buy breakfast for Xia Minmin and repeatedly checked her schoolbag and pencil case.

Xia Minmin opened the door in a daze to go to the bathroom, but was startled by Xia Jianguo standing at the door. Her sleepiness vanished instantly.

Xia Minmin kept patting her chest to catch her breath, "Dad, you scared me so early in the morning!"

Li Chunmei sat down on the sofa and said calmly, "Your father couldn't sleep at five o'clock this morning. He tossed and turned in bed and woke me up too. I've already bought breakfast for you!"

Xia Minmin looked at the dining table and sure enough, breakfast was already laid out, and many of them were her favorite dishes.

Xia Minmin hugged Xia Jianguo's arm and said, "Thank you, Dad!"

Xia Jianguo patted his daughter's head. "Alright, go wash your face! Dad and Mom will take you to your exam today."

After breakfast, Xia Minmin and her family went downstairs and happened to run into Tang Meng and her parents on the road in the community.

The two families' parents took their two children to school together. There were many parents at the school gate who were also there to drop off their children who were about to enter junior high school.

Xia Jianguo and Tang Wu encouraged the two children throughout the journey.

"Remember to stay calm and composed during the exam, don't panic, and think carefully."

"Caring about temporary gains and losses means it doesn't matter if you don't do well on the test."

"Believe in yourself, you'll definitely be fine!"

Xia Minmin and Tang Meng were tired of hearing it on the way, but luckily the school wasn't far away.

After arriving at the school gate, Xia Jianguo put the schoolbag on Xia Minmin's shoulder and asked, "Xiaomin, do you need your parents to come pick you up after the exam?"

Xia Minmin shook the backpack on her shoulder, "No, it's so close, I can get home by myself!"

Upon hearing Xia Jianguo's words, Tang Meng quickly replied, "Mom and Dad, you don't need to pick me up. Xiaomin is treating me to hot pot for lunch."

Luo Yang poked Tang Meng's head and said, "You're really shameless, letting your sister treat you to lunch!"

Li Chunmei quickly defended Tang Meng, "Sister Yang, don't say that. Mengmeng has treated Xiaomin to meals quite a few times. This is a matter between the two sisters, so let's not interfere so much. Besides, a relationship will last if there is give and take."

Tang Meng agreed with Li Chunmei's words and kept nodding beside her.

After saying goodbye to their parents, Xia Minmin and Tang Meng hurried to the classroom. They wondered if it was because of the exam, but almost all the students in the class had already arrived.

Teacher Wang arrived at some unknown time and sat on the podium. The students in the class were completely silent, quietly flipping through their textbooks.

The only one who seemed relaxed going into the exam room was Xia Minmin, whose schoolbag contained nothing but a pencil case.

Teacher Wang glanced at Xia Minmin a few times and could only shake her head. She really didn't know whether to say she was carefree or very confident in herself.