Chapter 41

The years of high school flew by amidst the scratching of pens on exam papers. The approaching final exams weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a tightening boulder. The atmosphere in the classroom was so tense it was almost palpable. Breaks were less noisy than usual, replaced by figures buried in their books and the occasional hushed discussion about difficult problems.

Xu Nianlei was taut like a fully drawn bow. She knew very well that her final exam results would not only affect her assessment for the second year of high school, but could also directly impact her chances of entering the honors class in her final year, and ultimately, her university admission. Wang Xiuqin's expectations hung over her like the Sword of Damocles, preventing her from relaxing even for a moment.

Lu Baiyan remained a reassuringly stable presence. His grades unsurprisingly remained at the top, and he even had the energy to prepare for higher-level physics competitions. However, he focused most of his energy on helping Xu Nianlei smoothly navigate this crucial period.

He no longer limited himself to passing notes or anonymously dropping supplies. He began to organize review materials and collections of frequently missed questions for each subject more systematically, marking key points and difficult points with extremely clear ideas and different colored pens. He would always "accidentally" print an extra copy of these materials, or "casually" place them in the common area between their seats, so that Xu Nianlei could easily access them.

He even took the initiative to suggest to the teacher during a math study session that several students with relatively weak math skills (including Xu Nianlei) form an after-school tutoring group, with him and two other students who were good at math taking turns to answer their questions. This suggestion was reasonable, and the teacher readily agreed.

Thus, Xu Nianlei gained an opportunity to openly ask him for help with math problems. In the peer tutoring group, Lu Boyan's explanations were as patient and clear as ever, without the slightest impatience. He could always pinpoint where she was stuck and break it down in the simplest way. With his help, Xu Nianlei, who had previously struggled most with math, seemed to have grasped some of the tricks of the trade. Although her progress was slow, it was real and tangible.

However, just two weeks before the final exams, an unexpected piece of news, like a boulder thrown into a calm (at least superficially calm) lake, stirred up huge ripples.

The homeroom teacher announced at the class meeting that at the end of this semester, classes will be reorganized based on grades and overall performance. The top fifty students in the grade will be divided into two key science classes, equipped with the best teachers, for more targeted intensive instruction.

For students like Lu Baiyan, who were already guaranteed a spot in the top class, this news was no surprise. But for Xu Nianlei, whose grades hovered in the middle to upper range and who was struggling, it was nothing short of an earthquake.

Top 50 in the grade! This was a ranking she had almost never dared to imagine before. Her current grades, while not bad in her class, hovered around 80th or 90th in the grade. To break into the top 50 meant she had to achieve a huge, almost impossible leap in the final exams.

The pressure increased exponentially in an instant.

Upon learning this news, Wang Xiuqin became even more energized, intensifying her supervision and urging of Xu Nianlei. "You must get into the top class! Do you hear me?! This is your only chance!" Such words practically became the background noise at home.

Xu Nianlei felt like she was about to collapse. She started having insomnia, loss of appetite, and even in a math quiz, her hands trembled so much that she could barely hold her pen, resulting in a severely poor performance.

Lu Baiyan saw her anxiety and decline in performance and was extremely worried. He knew that with her current mindset, it would be difficult for her to even maintain her current level, let alone break into the top fifty. He had to find a way to help her unload this heavy psychological burden.

After evening self-study, he invited her to the rooftop again. This time, there were no starlight, only the dim, damp glow of the city sky.

Xu Nianlei stood in front of him, head down, her fingers nervously twisting together, her whole being like a string that might snap at any moment.

"Don't overthink the matter of the honors class," Lu Baiyan said bluntly, his voice particularly clear in the night breeze.

Xu Nianlei suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with bloodshot eyes and disbelief: "How could I not think about it? That's my mother...that's me..."

“That’s just one of many paths, not the only one.” Lu Baiyan interrupted her, looking at her calmly. “Even in a regular class, you can still get good grades. There may be differences in the quality of teachers, but ultimately, the deciding factor is yourself.”

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "What you need to do now is not to stare at that unattainable goal, but to focus on each problem and each knowledge point in front of you. If you do the process well, the result will naturally not be too bad."

“But… what if…” Xu Nianlei’s voice trembled with tears, “What if I don’t pass the exam… my mom…”

“That’s her task.” Lu Baiyan brought up this idea again, his tone resolute. “You don’t need to be responsible for her expectations and emotions. Your life is your own. No matter which class you’re in, you’re working hard for your own future, and that will never change.”

His words struck her heart, which was filled with fear, like a heavy hammer. Yes, the honors class... was it really that important? Important enough to crush her?

She recalled Lu Baiyan's earlier analogy about "seeds" and "flowers." Different soils might affect the growth rate, but they couldn't determine the final bloom.

Seeing the wavering in her eyes, Lu Baiyan knew his words had worked. He pressed his advantage, took a USB drive from his bag, and handed it to her.

"Here are the core exam points for each subject that I've compiled, along with review suggestions for the final sprint, and several sets of targeted mock exams. Time is running out, so stick to this pace, stay calm, and fill in the gaps in your knowledge. That's much more effective than being blindly anxious."

Xu Nianlei looked at the small USB drive as if it were a lifeline. Her hands trembled as she took it, clutching it tightly in her palm, as if she could draw strength from it.

"Thank you..." she said, her voice choked with emotion.

"You're welcome." Lu Baiyan looked at her with an unprecedented seriousness in his eyes. "Xu Nianlei, remember, no matter what the final result is, you have already worked harder than many people and come a long way compared to your past self. That's enough."

That's enough.

Those four simple words were like a gentle breeze, dispelling the heavy clouds of gloom that had settled in her heart. Yes, she had tried her best, given it her all, and that was enough. As for the outcome… she had done her best and left the rest to fate.

She took a deep breath of the humid air and felt the suffocating pressure in her chest lessen somewhat.

"I...I will try my best." She looked into his eyes and said earnestly. This time, it wasn't for her mother, not for anyone else, but only for herself, to live up to her own efforts, and to not let down his heavy trust and support.

Lu Baiyan nodded and said nothing more.

The two walked down the rooftop one after the other. The dim light cast long shadows of them on the cold stairs.

Xu Nianlei held the small USB drive, feeling its immense weight. Inside were not just knowledge, but also his unconditional trust and a map pointing to the future.

She knew the road ahead was still difficult, with the final exams looming like a mountain in her path. But at this moment, her heart was no longer filled with fear and confusion, but with a calm strength and a do-or-die courage.

Lu Baiyan, I won't let you down. Whether or not I get into that so-called elite class, I will go all the way, go as far as I can.

As Lu Baiyan walked ahead, he heard the faint yet remarkably firm footsteps behind him, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Leilei, that's right. Take off your shackles and go into battle lightly. I'll be by your side, fighting this tough battle with you. No matter where the finish line is, you'll always be the bravest warrior in my eyes.