Chapter 53
On the last day of June, the sun was so intense it seemed to bake the asphalt into a hazy heatwave. Xu Nianlei woke up at six in the morning; or rather, she had barely slept a wink all night. Her heart pounded irregularly in her chest, as if gripped and released by an invisible hand. Today was the day the college entrance exam results would be released.
Wang Xiuqin got up even earlier than her and busied herself silently in the kitchen, even walking on tiptoe, afraid of disturbing anything. A simple breakfast was laid out on the table—plain porridge, boiled eggs, and a small dish of pickles that Xu Nianlei liked. But neither mother nor daughter had much of an appetite.
Time crawled slowly in silence, each minute and second stretching out infinitely. Xu Nianlei sat at her desk, her fingers unconsciously tracing the cool cover of the blue notebook. She tried to read, but the words blurred before her eyes; she tried to listen to music, but the melodies wouldn't register. The clamor of the world seemed shut out, leaving only the pounding of her own heart, deafeningly loud in the quiet room.
The query channel opened at 9:00 AM sharp.
Wang Xiuqin could no longer contain herself. She walked to her daughter's bedroom door, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Nianlei, can... we investigate now?"
Xu Nianlei took a deep breath, as if facing certain death, and clicked on the query page she had already logged into. As expected, the network was congested, and the page repeatedly failed to load. Each failed refresh felt like an even tighter tightening of her already taut nerves.
Finally, after what seemed like the umpteenth refresh, the page that bore the weight of twelve years of hard study slowly and clearly loaded.
Xu Nianlei's gaze was fixed on the total score column.
The moment the numbers appeared, time seemed to stand still.
It was twelve points higher than her most optimistic estimate.
She froze, her mind blank, even forgetting to breathe. Until Wang Xiuqin's tearful, incredulous voice rang out behind her: "How...how much? Nianlei, is this real?!"
Xu Nianlei seemed to have been freed from her spell, suddenly standing up from her chair and turning to hug her mother tightly. No words were spoken, only a torrent of tears and violently trembling shoulders conveyed the immense relief and ecstasy she felt at that moment.
Wang Xiuqin also cried, hugging her daughter tightly, repeating over and over, "Good child... my good child... you did it, you really did it..."
At that moment, all the barriers, all the grievances, and all the past hurts seemed to be briefly washed away and healed by these scalding tears. They were simply two women who had endured a long period of suffering together and finally saw a glimmer of hope, embracing each other and weeping.
After her initial excitement subsided, a more detailed and brutal examination ensued. Xu Nianlei's hands trembled as she checked each subject's score line by line. Her Chinese and English scores remained consistently excellent, while her math and combined science scores were significantly higher than in her usual mock exams. Physics, in particular, seemed to have yielded a considerable number of partial credits on that electromagnetism problem that had previously baffled her.
She immediately thought of Lu Baiyan. It was his precise tips, his efficient review methods, and his subtle guidance whenever she got stuck... He deserves indelible credit for this achievement.
The class group chat had already exploded. Cheers, groans, inquiries, and screenshots of scores flooded the screen. Xu Nianlei watched silently, feeling happy for the students who did well and sad for those who didn't perform as expected. She saw Li Yue and Zhang Xiao's scores, both quite good, and their small group chat was filled with jubilation.
Then, she saw that person's name.
Lu Baiyan.
His total score, with a commanding lead, hovered above everyone else, nearing a perfect score. There was no doubt that he was this year's top pick.
The group chat was instantly flooded with messages of "worship the academic genius" and "congratulations to the class monitor." Looking at that familiar name and the astonishing number following it, Xu Nianlei felt not only admiration but also a complex, indescribable emotion. He had indeed... reached a height she could only look up to.
She opened their private chat window, the cursor blinked for a long time, and finally sent only four simple words:
Congratulations. Thank you.
She didn't know if he would reply, or what else she could say besides those two words.
Putting down her phone, she and Wang Xiuqin began consulting the college application guide, researching potential schools and majors. Her score was high enough for her to get into many top universities she had never dared to dream of before. This time, Wang Xiuqin didn't interfere too much, only offering advice; the final choice was entirely up to Xu Nianlei.
When Xu Nianlei's gaze fell upon A University, a top-tier university in the south, and its renowned chemistry program, her heart raced once more. That was Lu Baiyan's destination, the place where he had once told her by the lake, "I'll wait for you."
Can she go? Her score is just barely passing; there's a chance, but the risk is extremely high.
Just then, her phone screen lit up. It was a reply from Lu Baiyan.
Congratulations. What are your thoughts on your college application?
He replied! Xu Nianlei's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers trembled as she typed:
"Still looking at it. Chemistry at University A... it's a bit risky."
This time, his reply was very quick:
"With your score, applying to University A for Chemistry is risky, but you can try. Alternatively, University F also has a strong Chemistry program, is located in the south, and offers more opportunities, making it a safer option. This is just for your reference; follow your own heart."
His advice was calm and objective, as was his usual style. He didn't show any disappointment that she might not get into University A, but simply offered the most rational analysis. University F, also a key university in the south, has an outstanding reputation in chemistry, and with her score, she has a very good chance.
“Thank you, I will seriously consider it,” she replied.
"Um."
The conversation ended there. No further pleasantries were exchanged.
Xu Nianlei put down her phone, staring at the codes for University A and University F on her application form, lost in deep thought. Follow her heart… But what was her heart? Was it chasing after that dazzling figure, gambling on an uncertain future? Or was it choosing a path more suitable for her, a more secure one?
Seeing her serious expression, Wang Xiuqin said softly, "Nianlei, choose what you really want to go. Mom... supports you."
Xu Nianlei looked up and saw the cautious, trying-to-make-up tenderness in her mother's eyes, and felt a mix of emotions.
The next few days were spent in even greater anxiety regarding college application. Xu Nianlei consulted a large amount of information, sought advice from her teachers, and discussed the matter at length with Li Yue and Zhang Xiao. Finally, in the last hour of the application period, she made her decision.
First choice: University A, Chemistry. (Aim high)
Second choice: F University, Chemistry. (A safe bet)
Third choice: ...
The moment she clicked "Confirm Submission," she felt as if she were entrusting her fate for the next three years to someone else. Regardless of the outcome, she had made the choice that best suited her heart at that moment.
Waiting for the admission results was another ordeal. But this time, Xu Nianlei was much more at peace. She began packing, reading university life guides, and even started self-studying some basic university courses. She no longer passively awaited her fate, but actively prepared for the new life that was about to begin.
During this time, she logged into the submission email address of Xinzhi Bookstore again and found that several of her previous essays on "growth and farewell" had been accepted, and the payment had been deposited into her pre-registered account. Seeing the editor's affirmative reply in the email and the increased balance in her account, a clear sense of accomplishment welled up within her.
She didn't immediately reply to the bookstore's invitation to the sharing session; she wanted to wait until everything settled down before making a decision.
The summer night was deep, and the stars twinkled outside the window. Xu Nianlei sat by the window, looking at the outline of the county's No. 1 Middle School teaching building in the distance. It held so much of her pain and struggle, and also witnessed her quiet transformation and growth.
Grades are just a comma, and admission notices are just a new beginning. The road ahead is still long, but she has already grasped the pen to write her own life story.
And that silent guardian, no matter where he is in the future, has become the most profound and warmest part of her youthful memories.
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