Why didn't they go to Beijing in Chapter 82?
Since the beginning of March, the weather has been getting warmer day by day.
Once we took off our winter school uniforms, it felt like we could never go back to wearing them. Even if it rained for a couple of days and the temperature suddenly plummeted like a roller coaster, everyone would just pull up their collars and shrink their necks to get through it.
Just like the "1" in the hundreds place that was erased from the countdown to the college entrance examination on the blackboard after the 100-day countdown rally, it will never be written back on.
Shedding our heavy coats one by one, and doing endless practice problems day after day, spring arrived quietly.
Walking back to the classroom from the cafeteria after lunch is a rare moment in the day when you have time to appreciate the spring scenery on campus.
The short five-minute walk was enough for Jiang Wan to experience the changing seasons.
The grove of trees beside the artificial lake is sprouting tender green buds from the branches of the sycamore trees, and the willows along the lake are growing new green leaves, like thin slices of emerald with a yellowish tint, which are illuminated with a beautiful peach-pink color in the setting sun.
Lincheng is not a city with four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are short, while winter and summer are long. There are usually only two months between the chilly spring and the sweltering summer.
These short but precious two months happen to cover the most important second round of review before the college entrance examination.
Teachers no longer focus on textbook knowledge in class. They spend their days doing tests, explaining problems, and taking mock exams. Apart from reviewing test papers, other classes are essentially turned into self-study periods.
In the top classes, self-study periods don't require much supervision. The homeroom teacher, Lao Fan, assumes everyone is aware of the rules and lets the students have their own freedom, without emphasizing rigid self-study discipline.
Those who want to go out to memorize can go, those who want to go out to discuss questions can go, and even those who are tired from studying and want to take a nap on their desks can do so.
A few seats in the classroom are often empty, and everyone has gotten used to it.
However, not all people with empty seats are studying or discussing problems in the corridors or stairwells.
Some people were absent from school because they had asked for leave.
Since the beginning of March, major universities, led by Tsinghua University and Peking University, have launched their independent admission examination procedures.
The written exams for Tsinghua University and Peking University are scheduled for the same day, a Saturday, at the provincial admissions office. For local candidates in the provincial capital, Lincheng, there is no need to travel to other places; they can simply arrive at the exam venue an hour early on the day of the exam.
That week happened to be a long week, and before school ended, Jiang Wan said "See you tomorrow" to Zhou Chong as usual, without saying anything else, and went home with her schoolbag on her back.
She believed that with Zhou Chong's abilities, he didn't need any encouragement; a steady performance would be enough to pass. Deliberately cheering him on would only make him nervous.
Moreover, Zhou Chong seemed to have always been concerned about her not getting a recommendation for the independent enrollment program, and never mentioned anything about it in front of her.
Jiang Wan only learned about the written test date from Sun Qianyu. She heard from Sun Qianyu that Jiang Shengming had been busy preparing for the self-enrollment written test these past few days, and that's how she found out that the test was this Saturday.
Based on her hazy memories from her previous life, Jiang Wan only vaguely remembered that the written test and interview were both in March, but she definitely couldn't remember the exact dates.
A few weeks after the written exam, the list of candidates shortlisted for the second round of interviews will be announced. Only the candidates themselves can check the specific interview notice on their admission ticket.
Although Jiang Wan couldn't remember the exact date, and the interviews for Tsinghua University and Peking University weren't on the same day, and the interviews for different majors were held in batches, she knew that the interviews were held within the universities and that candidates needed to travel to Beijing to participate.
Not only Tsinghua University and Peking University, but other universities also have similar interview arrangements.
Therefore, during the period at the end of March, it became an unspoken understanding among the students that some students would ask for leave from time to time.
No one asked any questions, but everyone knew what was going on.
After dinner, Jiang Wan and Sun Qianyu walked along the artificial lake toward the teaching building, the weeping willow branches swaying in the wind and brushing against their cheeks.
Jiang Wan suddenly noticed that the willow leaves, which were once as clear as jade, had turned into a deep green.
Week after week, time flies so fast.
Jiang Wan sighed inwardly at the fleeting nature of spring, then silently looked away and quickly walked upstairs with Sun Qianyu back to the classroom.
The two walked through the back door of the classroom. Jiang Wan glanced at the empty seat next to Sun Qianyu and casually asked, "Speaking of which, why did Jiang Shengming take the day off today?"
"He went to Beijing." Sun Qianyu walked to her seat. "He has an interview tomorrow."
"What?" Jiang Wan stopped abruptly and grabbed Sun Qianyu. "He has an interview tomorrow?"
“Yeah, Cheng Rui also took leave.” Sun Qianyu gestured towards the front of the classroom. “They’re taking leave tomorrow morning and afternoon, so they should both be at the hotel by now. I’ll call and ask tonight…”
Sun Qianyu turned around halfway through her sentence, only to find Jiang Wan standing there blankly, looking dazed.
She abruptly stopped talking, raised her hand and waved it in front of Jiang Wan, "What's wrong with you?"
Looking past the gaps between Sun Qianyu's outstretched fingers, Jiang Wan stared intently at Zhou Chong, who was sitting in a seat not far away.
Whether it was Tsinghua University or Peking University, Jiang Shengming and Cheng Rui went to Beijing for the interviews. So what about Zhou Chong?
Why is he still sitting in the classroom?
Why……
"Wanwan, Wanwan!" Sun Qianyu suddenly withdrew her hand and patted Jiang Wan's shoulder.
Jiang Wan suddenly snapped out of her daze, "Wh...what's wrong?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you what's wrong?" Sun Qianyu tilted her head to look at her. "What were you staring at like that? You were so dazed. What were you thinking about?"
"N-nothing...it's nothing." Jiang Wan pursed her lips and glanced away. "I'll go back to my seat now."
"Are you really alright?" Sun Qianyu asked anxiously.
"It's really nothing."
Jiang Wan waved her hand and walked to her seat.
Noticing the shadow looming over him, Zhou Chong looked up and smiled slightly at Jiang Wan, "You're back."
Jiang Wan pursed her lips, letting out a soft "hmm" through her nose. She stood beside her seat, head down, staring motionlessly at Zhou Chong.
"Why don't you sit down?" Zhou Chong raised an eyebrow and pulled out a physics test paper from the table. "I just redid the problem you mentioned this afternoon, and I'll explain it to you now."
After saying that, Zhou Chong spread the test paper out between the two desks, took out a pencil and draft paper, and planned to explain the questions to Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan remained standing still, neither pulling out a chair nor looking down at the exam paper, but staring blankly at Zhou Chong.
When Zhou Chong looked up again and met her gaze, Jiang Wan snatched the pencil and test paper from his hand.
She parted her lips slightly, her voice trembling.
"Why are you still explaining problems to me now? Why...didn't you go to Beijing?"
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