58. I just try harder

Two days after the midterm exam, the test papers for each subject were distributed one after another.

Xu Wenqiang's performance in science was pretty good, with full marks in mathematics and relatively high scores in physics and chemistry. However, her performance in liberal arts was not optimistic, especially Chinese and English, which became the subjects that held her back.

The final results, namely the class and grade rankings, were announced by Fu Dongqing at the midterm exam summary meeting on the third day after the exam.

"Our class performed well overall in this exam. Xiao Cheng is still number one in the grade. Meanwhile, Su Xiaoshan is second in our class and third in the grade. Our class's average score is second out of the twelve classes in the grade."

"In addition, I would like to praise XX, XX, XX, and Xu Wenqiang. These students have made great progress. Especially Xu Wenqiang—"

Fu Dongqing stopped and looked at Xu Wenqiang, his eyes filled with affirmation and appreciation. "She ranked last in our class in the entrance exam, but she ranked 22nd in this exam. Her progress this time can be said to be rapid..."

Lin Tong grabbed Xu Wenqiang's hand under the desk, using all his strength. Ning Yi turned around to look at Xu Wenqiang and gave her a thumbs-up. There were also looks from all around, some with envy, some with jealousy, some with curiosity, some with suspicion...

Xu Wenqiang only heard the word "twenty-two" and ignored what Fu Dongqing said next. She knew that in the eyes of others, she had already done well enough. Going from last to twenty-second in the class was, to exaggerate, a miracle.

but--

Xu Wenqiang repeatedly wrote the math number "20" on a piece of paper. She hadn't made the top twenty on the test, so her undeserved position as the math class representative had finally come to an end. Xu Wenqiang accepted the result calmly, believing she had done her best and had no regrets. The only thing she couldn't accept was that she had disappointed Wang Rui.

"Everyone, take a look at the ranking list. Seeing your own ranking will be very helpful for your future studies." Fu Dongqing handed the ranking list to the people in the first row. "Okay, I've said everything I need to say. After the class meeting, Xiao Cheng and Xu Wenqiang come to my office."

As soon as Fu Dongqing left the classroom, anxious people rushed to the first row to look at the ranking list.

Lin Tong looked at Xu Wenqiang in admiration. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Wenqiang stopped him, "Stop!"

Looking up and seeing Ning Yi also turning around, Xu Wenqiang made a stop gesture and said, "Stop here!"

Lin Tong and Ning Yi were both choked.

Xu Wenqiang said, "Twenty-second isn't a very high ranking. If you guys consider me a friend, we won't talk about the exam anymore, okay?"

Lin Tong and Ning Yi looked at each other and nodded.

But Lin Tong extended his hand. "Xu Wenqiang, you've made such great progress. Shake hands to show your friend how happy you are, okay?"

"If this doesn't work, then what kind of friends are we!" Xu Wenqiang waved her arm and held Lin Tong's hand.

Ning Yi silently stretched out his hand. Xu Wenqiang smiled and held Ning Yi's hand with her other hand.

The scene of the three people shaking hands was so funny that all three of them burst out laughing.

"Xiao Cheng, first again!" Gao Zhe hit Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng hummed, his gaze sweeping across the bustling classroom to the carefree Xu Wenqiang. Her previously short hair had grown longer, the fine ends falling between her eyebrows, swaying with her movements.

Although it is a pity that I am only two places away from the top 20, it is enough.

"Xu Wenqiang, you are awesome!" Xiao Cheng murmured with a smile.

He didn't actually believe she could even get into the top 20. That's why he didn't ask about her studies, and instead kept dragging her to the basketball court to play, trying to win people over with her charisma on the court and dispel the gossip. But he never imagined she'd actually put her heart into it, and really, truly, rely on "study" to make it.

It turned out that he had underestimated her.

Xiao Cheng walked over to Xu Wenqiang and knocked on her desk: "Xu Wenqiang, go to the office. Don't keep the head teacher waiting too long."

"Well, let's go." Xu Wenqiang followed Xiao Cheng and walked out of the classroom.

The two of them walked up the stairs, Xiao Cheng on top and Xu Wenqiang on the bottom. Their footsteps echoed in the stairwell, and no one spoke. It wasn't until they reached the third floor that Xu Wenqiang spoke up. "Xiao Cheng, remember when you congratulated me on becoming the math class representative, and I said I wanted to congratulate you after the midterm exam, too?"

Xiao Cheng stopped but didn't look back: "It's been a long time, I forgot about it."

Xu Wenqiang walked over and said, "How did you get first place in the grade with your memory?"

Xiao Cheng glanced at Xu Wenqiang and said, "You are the top student in the grade, so you don't need to remember these things."

"Alright then, you're the top student in the grade, so you have the final say." Xu Wenqiang didn't bother to argue with him. "Anyway, I'm going to keep my promise. Congratulations on becoming the math class representative."

Xiao Cheng put his hands in his pockets, his expression indifferent: "How can you be so sure that I will be the math class representative?"

"According to the agreement, if I don't make it into the top 20, you will naturally become the math class representative." Xu Wenqiang felt that this was a foregone conclusion.

"Let's listen to what the head teacher has to say first." Xiao Cheng did not comment and continued walking towards the office.

"Could there be more changes?" Xiao Cheng's expression made Xu Wenqiang feel uneasy. She chased after him and asked, "Do you know something?"

Xiao Cheng suddenly stopped, and Xu Wenqiang, who was following closely behind him, bumped into his back.

"Ouch!" Xu Wenqiang covered her sore nose, tears welling up in her eyes. "Xiao Cheng, is your back made of cement and steel?"

"Let go first, let me see if your nose is hurt." Xiao Cheng coaxed.

"My nose..." Xu Wenqiang groaned, "Tell me first, what exactly does the teacher want to talk to us about?"

Xiao Cheng understood immediately that Xu Wenqiang was taking advantage of the situation to trick him. Too lazy to argue with her anymore, he reached out and took Xu Wenqiang's hand off her nose, then leaned forward to see if her nose was alright.

The tip of the nose is red, like a strawberry, which is quite cute.

Xu Wenqiang looked at Xiao Cheng's face approaching her and suddenly held her breath. Her entire face turned redder than the tip of her nose.

Xiao Cheng noticed it and chuckled, "Idiot." Then he turned and walked towards the office.

As soon as Xu Wenqiang and Xiao Cheng walked into Fu Dongqing's office, the other teachers in the office started to stare at Xu Wenqiang.

"Did you take some magic medicine?"

"Did you practice some peerless magic?"

…

Xu Wenqiang said cheerfully, "Teacher, if I had a magic pill and peerless magical skills, I wouldn't be ranked last in the high school entrance exam."

"Do you have any special or convenient learning methods?" The teachers did not give up and continued to inquire.

"I do have a study method, but it's not special or convenient. Everyone understands it once I tell them." Xu Wenqiang continued to laugh, not trying to hide it. "I just wake up before 5 a.m. every day to study. I study a little longer than others and work a little harder than others."

The teachers looked at Xu Wenqiang, speechless for a long time. They had been teaching for so many years, yet they still hoped for some shortcut to learning. They knew better than anyone that any good grade was the result of hard work and perseverance spent hunched over a desk.

Xiao Cheng watched Xu Wenqiang from the side, as if he saw her yawning, rubbing her eyes, and sitting down at her desk in the early morning, still pitch black outside the window. Perhaps she had dozed off the moment she opened her textbook, or perhaps she was so sleepy that she banged her head on the desk...it must have hurt.

Fu Dongqing glanced at his colleagues with a hint of sarcasm, stood up and said, "Let's go to the conference room."

Xu Wenqiang and Xiao Cheng followed Fu Dongqing to a small meeting room on the third floor and found that Wang Rui was already there.

Xu Wenqiang stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Wang Rui. She felt ashamed to see her. But Wang Rui strode over and put her arm around Xu Wenqiang's neck. "Xu Wenqiang, you're great! You've made it over 20 places!"

Xu Wenqiang hesitated, "Teacher Wang, I didn't make it into the top 20."

"If you didn't get in, then you didn't get in. It's okay." Wang Rui let go of Xu Wenqiang and asked, "Xu Wenqiang, do you still want to be my math class representative?"

Xu Wenqiang was stunned and then asked, "Can this matter still be discussed?"

"This matter can indeed be discussed further." Fu Dongqing took over the conversation.