Chapter 115 Rose Thorn

Jiangxi Province is undoubtedly the largest province in terms of mathematics competition.

There are many traditional strong schools, and there are also many parents who are willing to spend money to support their children in this field.

Every year at the National Mathematical Olympiad Winter Camp, the best students selected from the provincial leagues gather together. Jiangxi Province has twice as many places as some provinces, and the number of people who enter the national training team is always the highest, making it the most popular.

Last year, something happened to Xu Jiqing and Li Rui at No. 1 Middle School, and the dark horse withdrew from the competition. Lin Lang, who achieved the best result, only won the second prize in the province.

This year's dark horse is still the same dark horse, and Lin Lang also reached the first prize score line, wiping out his previous shame.

The publicity effect of a dozen scholars is far less than that of one top scholar.

The school leaders were all beaming with joy, and even the bonuses signed in the agreement soared to an astonishing level.

Early in the morning, before the league's red list was posted on the bulletin board, Xu Jiqing and Lin Lang beside him were invited into Zhang Jianyuan's office. Half of the teachers in the room saluted them in unison, the young teachers gave them snacks, and the older teachers came over to pat them on the back.

Coach Hu is even more exaggerated.

He specially took out two bottles of large fruit yogurt for his own children, put them on the edge of Zhang Jianyuan's table as if he was visiting relatives during the New Year, and warmly told Xu Jiqing to "help himself", treating him like a top scholar returning home.

Xu Jiqing had no expression on his face. He stood there with his back straight, accepting whatever was given to him.

Lin Lang died first.

I have been in Class S for more than two years, and every time I enter this office, nothing good happens. I have never seen such a situation before. I am so scared that I almost want to leave.

"Don't stand, come and sit down."

Zhang Jianyuan smiled and said, "As soon as I left the exam room yesterday, I heard those kids say that this year's exam questions were difficult and number theory was simply impossible to solve."

"At lunch, I saw Xiao Xu eating so eagerly without saying a word. Lao Hu even asked me if I was also unsure. At that time, I was too lazy to pay attention to him."

"As expected, I knew it when I saw the results this morning! The Ontario provincial team can't accommodate you. True gold shines everywhere, and you'll still be number one in Jiang Province."

Praising himself always feels like a fraud, but praising his brothers is fine.

Lin Lang agreed with this and silently gave a thumbs up.

Xu Jiqing's expression was calm. "When will the provincial team list be released?"

To get such a result at the beginning of the league is just one step away from being admitted. If it were someone else, they would be so proud.

But the person in front of me was so calm as if he was listening to someone else's story, and he didn't even smile.

Even though Zhang Jianyuan was already used to his temper, he was still stunned.

It is so stable that I don’t know whether to be surprised or admire it.

"It hasn't come out yet," Zhang Jianyuan touched his chin and knocked on Coach Hu's desk next to him. "Old Hu, do you have the new notice? What does it say about an additional exam?"

Coach Hu handed over an A4 paper. "There are sixteen spots for the provincial team, and four more than the first-place scoreline was marked. We have to take another selection exam the day after tomorrow."

"I guess it's because a few kids performed exceptionally well in the league last year, but they went back to their old ways once they got to winter camp. The old guys on the committee were embarrassed, so they're being much more cautious this year."

Math is fair, but where there are people there are gray areas.

Some people's extraordinary performance is due to good luck, relying on the right time and place, while others rely on "harmony among people".

In the past two years, there had not been any scandals. Xu Jiqing's performance in the league exam was enough to sign an agreement with Peking University and Tsinghua University and be admitted directly without taking the entrance exam.

But in recent years, policies have been tightened. No matter if you are first in the province or just barely passing, if you want to be admitted, you must be among the top 60 in the country in the finals. There is no room for negotiation.

Teachers and students have all heard about this kind of thing, but it is not easy to talk about it openly.

Zhang Jianyuan smiled as he looked at his favorite student. "With Xu Jiqing's level, he can just take a casual test and go through the motions. It won't affect him at all."

Then he changed the subject, "Lin Lang should pay more attention to this."

"I know you're the one who pushes the line. Seventeenth place will get you first prize, but you won't make the provincial team. So, move up one more spot in the exam the day after tomorrow. Do you understand?"

Lin Lang stood at attention and said, "Do your best!"

"It's not just about trying your best, it's about having to do it." Zhang Jianyuan rolled up the materials in his hand and mercilessly hit his arm. "The exam room is still the same. Teacher Hu has to go back home for something. I'll stay with you two in a hotel today and tomorrow. Don't be arrogant or impatient, and make a concerted effort to get the spot."

He kept nagging and giving instructions.

After closing the door and leaving, Lin Lang felt as if a layer of skin had been peeled off. "First, save me."

"Is it really that serious? I was just released for a day, and I'm being put under house arrest again in the afternoon. I have to watch over the two of us taking a nap. The last time I was forced to take a nap was in kindergarten."

"Master Zhang and Old Hu, don't you think about this? Can intelligence be gained by sleeping?"

He glanced at his talented friend beside him.

When he caught a glimpse of the slight dark circles under his eyes, he found solid evidence. "Come to think of it, didn't you leave early yesterday? Why are you still sleepless, nervous about the results?"

Xu Jiqing pursed his lips.

He really didn't sleep all night yesterday.

The emotions swelling in my chest overflowed, but none of them had anything to do with today's results.

After Su Xia pushed him away and ran away, he was left alone in the equipment room, maintaining the same posture as when she left, and stood there for a long time.

Then the sun set.

The lights are not on.

In the dark and enclosed space, Xu Jiqing almost knelt down.

The school uniform jacket was still covering his face. It originally only smelled of cheap laundry detergent, but now it was stained with the fragrance of the girl's hair and body, which was made sweeter by his burning body temperature and enveloped him tightly.

He didn't know what he was doing. His usually rational brain was taken over by impulse and became unresponsive.

The scent she left behind will fade, but the memory will not.

Xu Jiqing felt like a complete jerk.

When I got home in the evening, it was already past midnight.

Lin Yuezhen fell asleep first while holding Xu Jiaojiao.

Xu Jiqing took a shower, then sat at the head of the bed with his knees bent, completely sleepless. He covered his mouth and nose with his school uniform jacket again, sniffed a few times as if suffocating, bit the broken metal whistle, and sat there all night.

Perhaps from a long time ago, Su Xia had an indescribable attraction to him. That vigorous, steaming vitality, like the thorns of a rose, penetrated densely into his flesh and bones.

After every physical contact, the discomfort and irritability that spreads from the tip of the heart to the limbs is essentially a desire—

He wanted to touch her.

He wanted to kiss her.

He wants more, even though he himself doesn't know what "more" is.

School uniform is his selfish desire.

It wasn't because it was too bright outside, but because he didn't dare let her see his face clearly.

She was afraid that his infatuated look would scare her, and that he would look like a fool when he was moved.

The night was so tolerant that it forgave all his worst delusions.

At five o'clock in the morning, when the sky was just beginning to brighten, Xu Jiqing, who had been awake all night, washed his face, changed his clothes, walked out of the house and ran to school.

The cool morning breeze brought back his composure, but did not calm the young man's passion.

People like him are not worthy of promising anything, and they only have the determination to burn their boats.

He wanted to give her everything she wanted.

Even if the night ahead is long and endless.

Even if it was himself, even if it was his worthless heart.