Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling onto the flagstones outside the teaching building. Xu Mengyao stood there, her eyes occasionally drifting toward the building entrance, waiting for Huang Wenrong's presence.
Her thoughts drifted back to the afternoon when she parted with Chen Chen. The promise of monthly correspondence seemed to still echo in her ears. But now, the seat next to her was empty, and she no longer had the companion who fought side by side with her on the road of learning.
Just as she was lost in thought, a discordant voice shattered the silence. A bald man followed Huang Wenrong, speaking frivolously. The tug-of-war between them was unsettling. Xu Mengyao immediately became alert and quickly stepped forward, placing herself between Huang Wenrong and the bald man.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Her tone was firm and warning.
The bald boy was stunned, then showed an unhappy expression.
Huang Wenrong gently tugged at Xu Mengyao's arm and comforted her, "It's okay, Wenjuan. He just wanted to give me a scarf, but I didn't want it, so he chased me out. Let's go home quickly." A hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes.
Xu Mengyao looked back at Huang Wenrong. Her delicate face looked even softer in the setting sun. Her curved eyebrows were like willow leaves, and her big eyes seemed to contain the stars and the sea, sparkling with intelligence and tenderness. Her small nose was straight and delicate, and her plump yet soft pink lips were slightly raised with a faint smile.
Although she is only fifteen or sixteen years old, she already has a tall figure of more than 1.6 meters. The graceful and slender girl is like the most dazzling flower on the branches in early summer. It has not yet fully bloomed, but it makes people unable to take their eyes off it.
Xu Mengyao recalled Huang Wenrong's unfortunate fate in the original story, and alarm bells suddenly rang in her heart. The image of the bald man made her think of those ominous moments. She secretly vowed that as long as she was there, Huang Wenrong's life would never be ruined by a gangster again.
The next morning, Xu Mengyao knocked on the door of the head teacher's office, her expression serious and resolute: "Teacher, I have something to ask of you."
The head teacher put down the pen in his hand and responded gently: "What's wrong, Huang Wenjuan, is there anything I can help you with?"
"I want to skip to the third grade and be in the same class with my sister." Xu Mengyao's eyes were extremely determined.
The homeroom teacher showed a surprised expression, then asked with concern, "Skipping a grade is a big deal. Are you sure? Your grades are excellent, but you still need to study steadily and steadily."
Xu Mengyao took a deep breath and explained her concerns and plans one by one:
"Teacher, I understand your concerns, but I have my reasons for doing this. My sister has been harassed unnecessarily recently, and I want to be there to protect her. Also, I have already completed the junior high school curriculum on my own, so skipping a grade won't put any academic pressure on me."
The homeroom teacher was silent for a moment, then proposed a compromise: "How about this: In next week's city math competition, if you can win first prize again and prove that you have the ability to handle higher-level courses, I will fully support your decision."
Xu Mengyao nodded, feeling both pressure and hope. She devoted the next week to preparing for the math competition.
On exam day, the sun was exceptionally bright, as if even the sky was cheering her on. She entered the exam room with composure and confidence, the clatter of her pen against the paper like a drumbeat. Each answer was a declaration of her future. Her thoughts were clear, her writing flowed with gusto, and by the end of the exam, she felt a certain degree of confidence.
When she stood on the podium again, holding the first prize certificate in her hand, she felt not only joy in her heart, but also expectations for the future.
A familiar figure reappeared, and Teacher Zhou's face was filled with a satisfied smile. "Student Huang, congratulations on winning first prize again. Are you still working part-time during this recent holiday?"
"Yes, Teacher Zhou, I have always remembered your encouragement. I didn't expect that you would present the award to me this time. What a coincidence!" Xu Mengyao's words were full of gratitude.
Teacher Zhou smiled and explained, "This is no coincidence. As a teacher in the high school department of No. 2 Middle School, I have the honor of presenting awards to the best students in mathematics competitions every year. This is also one of the ways we discover potential students."
Xu Mengyao's eyes lit up, and she immediately asked, "Teacher Zhou, can I go to No. 2 Middle School?"
Teacher Zhou nodded, his eyes full of praise: "Of course, with your achievements in winning first prize in math competitions twice in a row, I'm afraid any school you want to go to will open its doors to you, not to mention No. 2 Middle School."
"Then if I want to go to high school here with my sister, are there any requirements?"
"It's simple. Just register in advance and pass our entrance exam. Let me give you the contact number of our office. If you decide to come to our school to study in high school, you can consult me at any time." Teacher Zhou enthusiastically offered help.
Xu Mengyao thanked him repeatedly, and a new plan was already in her mind. On the way home, her mind was full of how to convince her family, especially Huang Wenrong and her parents.
The family meeting was held after dinner. She took out her certificate and explained to her family first the quality of the teaching at No. 2 Middle School and secondly that going to school in the city was a better choice for both her and Huang Wenrong.
Huang's mother seemed a little hesitant after hearing this: "Isn't there a high school at the mine? If you two go there, you'll have to live in the dormitory. How can it be better for us to be together as a family?"
Xu Mengyao held Huang's mother's hand and said gently but firmly, "Mom, we don't live in the dormitory. We can live at Grandma Qi's house. It's close to school and safe. Moreover, during the holidays, we can go directly to Pengcheng to purchase goods, so we can balance study and business."
Huang's father pondered for a moment and then spoke slowly, "You have your own ideas about studying, and we can't help you much. If you have made up your mind, go ahead."
Grandma Huang stood aside, her eyes sparkling, "Second girl, I told you that you are an ambitious child. Sooner or later, you will fly out of this small place. Don't worry, I believe in you!"
After dealing with the elders, the situation with the eldest sister and Wenxia was completely different. Huang Wenrong was both excited and worried about the unknown high school life, while Wenxia burst into tears because she couldn't bear to leave her sister. Xu Mengyao patiently comforted them, making promises one by one, and finally the whole family reached an agreement.
With her first-place finish, Xu Mengyao successfully skipped a grade and moved to the ninth grade, where she sat next to Huang Wenrong. Over the next two months, she not only fended off the bald man's harassment but also became Huang Wenrong's personal study advisor, preparing together for the No. 2 Middle School entrance exam.
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