Chapter 17
The icy chill hadn't truly dissipated, but Zhao Jinglu had forced it into the deepest recesses of her heart, transforming it into a faster turning of the pages and a deeper silence as she worked on the problems. Like a plant battered by wind and rain, its roots burrowed deeper into the soil. All the grievances and resentment she felt became nutrients for her silent growth. The days slipped by in a state of near-frozen concentration, until the campus radio, with an unprecedentedly passionate tone, ripped the silence apart.
During the final sprint, the school organized a grand pre-exam rally. The playground stands were covered with bright red inspirational banners: "Strive hard this autumn, winter, spring, and summer, and win a lifetime without regrets!" "Work day and night today, and achieve your dreams tomorrow!" The loudspeakers played a passionate march on loop, and a solemn and enthusiastic atmosphere enveloped the entire campus.
Before the oath-taking ceremony, Ling Peng returned from answering questions in his physics teacher's office and walked through the bustling junior high classroom. At the end of the corridor, several third-year students were huddled together, enthusiastically discussing something.
"I have to apply to the high school department of this school, otherwise my mother will nag me to death."
"I want to get into No. 4 Middle School, but the cutoff score is too high..."
"Lu, your second mock exam score is pretty high. Where are you going to apply?"
Ling Peng's steps slowed almost imperceptibly. He heard a familiar female voice answer, a hint of smile and uncertainty in her voice: "As for me... I'll have to wait and see how I rank in the district in the second model test. I hope I can stay at this school."
It was the voice of that little middle school girl. Several images flashed through Ling Peng's mind: her meticulously correcting movements in the rehearsal room, her neck hunched in the cold but still performing meticulously on the stage, and her laughter at Zhang Hao's amusement.
"She must be studying pretty hard," the thought naturally occurred to him. "She's able to keep dancing and still maintain an above-average academic score—that's not easy." He thought, a pure sense of recognition for those who work hard. But the thought was no more than a fleeting breeze, his steps unwavering. His mind quickly returned to the unsolved exam question as he headed towards the more depressing yet more purposeful floor of the high school department.
On the playground, a huge crowd sat down by grade, with the seniors in the front and the juniors in the back. The air felt like electricity, a peculiar energy of nervousness, anticipation, and excitement.
After the principal’s brief and powerful opening remarks, the real highlight came – sharing by outstanding alumni.
The first student to take the stage was a doctoral candidate at a prestigious 985 university. She didn't dwell on success stories, but instead shared how she bounced back from a crushing defeat in her senior year of high school and how she transformed anxiety into a precise, hour-by-hour study plan. "Dreams aren't slogans hanging on the wall," her voice rang out clearly through the microphone. "They're the first word you learn on the playground every morning, the split-second of ecstasy after solving a difficult problem, and the persistence you must maintain even when you don't see the immediate results!" The audience fell silent, and many students unconsciously clenched their fists.
The second speaker was an entrepreneur in an emerging industry, his story brimming with adventurous spirit. He jokingly joked about his modest Gaokao scores, but emphasized, "The Gaokao is important, but it's never the only answer to life. What's more important is whether you can maintain a passion for learning and exploration, and whether you have the courage to give it your all when you find something you truly love!" His words struck like a stone into the hearts of many students who only cared about studying, stirring a different kind of emotion.
The final performer was the handsome, sunny young singer who had just emerged from a talent show. His appearance caused a small commotion in the audience. Instead of preaching, he embraced his guitar and sang a cappella song about dreams. His clear voice and genuine emotion brought tears to the eyes of many students. After the performance, he said, "It takes luck to get on stage, but it takes strength to hold the microphone. When I was in school, I thought art was an escape, but later I realized that without a solid foundation, your expression will always be pale. I'm grateful to my homeroom teacher for pushing me back then, and I'm also grateful to myself for not giving up on academic studies!" The applause was thunderous, and many art students seemed to see the light.
Each alumnus' sharing was like a fire, igniting different areas in the hearts of the students in the audience. Some found resonance in perseverance, some saw the possibilities of diversity, and some were moved by the power of art.
Zhao Jinglu sat in the crowd, her heart pounding. The senior student's perseverance resonated with her, the entrepreneur's courage inspired her, and the singer's words struck a chord with her. "Where are my strengths? Where is my stage? Should I focus on dance or focus on academics?" The future unfolded before her like a vast star map, awe-inspiring and captivating.
During a lull in the applause, her gaze instinctively drifted toward the tranquil "sea" of her senior year. Ling Peng was so exceptional, his future must be even brighter, right? Where would he go? This thought evoked curiosity and a touch of envy, but more than that, an eager anticipation for her own future, fueled by these role models—she, too, wanted to reach her own pinnacle.
Ling Peng listened intently to the alumni's sharing. When he heard the senior mention the sense of accomplishment in overcoming technical challenges, a light flashed in his eyes, a sympathetic resonance with a fellow student. His goals were clear and resolute, and these sharings lit a brighter beacon for his already established path. His future was drawing ever closer.
At the end of the conference, there was a solemn oath-taking ceremony.
All graduating students please stand up and raise your right fists!
"In the name of youth, let's create a brilliant future!"
"Fight to the end, I will succeed!"
“Go all out and live up to your youth!”
The vows are no longer slogans, but the burning promises and beliefs that burst out from hundreds of young chests, gathering into a huge wave of sound, shaking everyone on the playground and leaving their mark in the hearts of every teenager.
The oath-taking ceremony ended, but an invisible and powerful force remained.
Zhao Jinglu and Ling Peng dispersed with the crowd in different directions.
They are thinking about the unknown sea of stars that they need to explore on their own.
An equation and route that you want to determine and that you need to travel on your own.
The wind has risen, and they will go their separate ways, but at this moment, they are all given the courage to go to war by the same force.
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