Jinan University's campus is so large it's like a maze.
As the sun rose higher, the formation of thousands of people silently disintegrated at several crossroads.
The dense crowd was divided into more than a dozen thin streams following the signs, flowing into every corner of the campus.
The main road, which was bustling just moments ago, is now only filled with the sounds of hurried footsteps and the rustling of paper.
At the fork in the road, Shen Qingqiu stopped.
She didn't offer any more exam tips, but simply reached out to straighten Zhang Yali's collar.
His gaze lingered briefly on the three faces before finally nodding slightly to Lin Que.
"Go."
The group from Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School dispersed.
Zhang Ya went to the Yifu Building, while Li Bowen was assigned to the farthest Science and Technology Museum.
Lin Que glanced at his admission ticket, pointing towards the century-old auditorium next to Shuhua Building.
The further you go in, the quieter it becomes.
The auditorium is a landmark of Jinan University, with withered ivy climbing all over the red brick walls and huge Roman columns supporting the heavy portico.
Standing under the porch, even before going inside, a chilly feeling was already seeping out.
Push open that heavy solid wood door.
"Squeak—"
The sound was muffled, as if a long-forgotten history had been unveiled.
Contrary to expectations, the interior was not dark; instead, it was as bright as day.
The dome was extremely high, and the air was filled with a mixture of aged wood wax oil, old paper, and some indescribable cold and austere smell.
It makes you subconsciously want to hold your breath.
Lin Que raised an eyebrow.
The venue was chosen quite interestingly.
It doesn't feel like an exam hall; it's more like a courtroom.
What's even more surprising is the interior furnishings.
The rows of red velvet armchairs that used to be there have all been removed.
Instead, there are hundreds of neat, uniform single desks.
On each table, a black portable laptop was prominently displayed.
A thick stack of answer sheets and two spare pens were thoughtfully placed next to it.
This leaves a way out for both "keyboard warriors" and "handwriting warriors".
Lin Que found his seat according to his examination number—number 107.
As soon as he sat down, Lin Que habitually glanced around, then raised an eyebrow slightly.
The organizing committee played a brilliant move.
The boy sitting upright on the left is wearing a gray school uniform with "Xicheng Senior High School" printed on his chest.
On the right is a girl with a ponytail, wearing a red and white school uniform, which looks like the style of the port city.
Clearly, the organizing committee utilized big data.
Students from the same school, or even the same region, were completely separated.
In this massive formation, each person is an island.
"Candidates are requested to place their personal belongings in the designated area of the examination room, turn off their mobile phones, and hand in all electronic devices."
The voice on the radio was a gentle female voice.
The red countdown on the big screen began to jump, the bright red numbers like a countdown dripping blood.
There are 15 minutes left before the exam starts.
"Da, da, da."
The sound of orderly footsteps came from the side door.
More than a dozen proctors filed in.
They weren't dressed in civilian clothes; they were all wearing white shirts and black trousers, and there were even two examiners with body cameras, standing expressionlessly at the front and back of the auditorium.
The once quiet auditorium fell silent instantly; even coughs were suppressed.
The chief examiner was an elderly man with gray hair. He walked to the front of the stage.
Even without a microphone, his voice resonated powerfully under the empty dome.
"Dear students."
The old man's eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the entire room.
"I know you are all top students from various regions, and getting over 50 points on your essays is as easy as drinking water for you."
But I must remind you to put away your exam-taking templates.
"The preliminary round tests one's intuition; it's about who can have a flash of inspiration."
The old man paused, pointed to the large screen behind him, and pressed a button on the remote control at the same time:
"The semi-finals test your foundation, your endurance, and your ability to sit on the bench!"
"Buzz—"
The screen suddenly flashed.
A huge line of text popped up; it wasn't the title, but the time.
Exam Time: 09:00-17:00
Total Duration: 8 hours
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com