Hmm? Renew for sixty sessions?!!!
Jiang Nian was speechless. Can't deny, the system is really something.
But it has to be renewed anyway. It's making money for someone, right?
However, today is Tuesday. The results might be out today or tomorrow. The homeroom teacher could call for a promotion talk anytime, so it's not convenient to take a leave.
Jiang Nian planned to head to the gym for some tasks once the promotion results are confirmed.
He was busy with a million things, truly worried sick.
Being ranked first in class, Jiang Nian claimed it didn't feel much different. Everyone in class knew he was up for promotion, joking about how he was going to ascend.
Nobody questioned if he cheated; no one in class was stupid. Over two days, teachers had asked him at least a dozen times to answer questions, and he got them all right every time.
Some words, which even the top English students hadn't heard of, Jiang Nian could spell out casually. As for short sentence grammar, anything related to recitation just popped right out.
Apart from math and some calculations, Jiang Nian wasn't strong.
For some memory-based science knowledge points, even teachers sometimes forgot them. Yet Jiang Nian remembered them clearly, answering effortlessly during class interactions without even flipping through his book.
With a memory like this, only a fool would jump out and question him.
Afternoon.
The September weather was hot and stifling, with the classroom's ceiling fan creaking ceaselessly.
The first three periods in the afternoon were all science subjects, covering the unfinished test paper from the previous day. Students were drowsy, nodding off endlessly.
The wind blew outside the classroom, making the curtains dance wildly.
Jiang Nian propped his head with his hand, his thoughts already drifting to the horizon. The teachers of all three science subjects knew he was up for promotion, so they turned a blind eye.
Near the end of the school day, there was half an hour of self-study.
Usually, self-study and listening practice alternated, and coincidentally, today was Tuesday, so it was time for English listening. The trial audio for listening practice played through the broadcast, and the classroom was filled with the sound of pages flipping.
"Jiang Nian, can I borrow your listening answers later?"
"Uh, okay."
Actually, he didn't want to do the listening exercise at all, but to maintain his image and stand his last post, he reluctantly opened the listening book and begrudgingly looked at the questions.
The dusk outside poured into the classroom, casting a layer of twilight on all the students leaning over their desks looking at the questions. Thanks to the evening glow, even the pages of the books looked yellowish.
This is what senior year is like; bow your head, and it's a sea of questions; look up, and it's the homeroom teacher.
"Hmm? Homeroom teacher!!"
The homeroom teacher paused in front of his seat and said, "Come to the office, I need to talk to you about something."
Jiang Nian was slightly relieved, thinking it should be about the promotion talk. So he calmly got up, left his seat, and followed them out of the classroom.
After he left, whispers erupted around his seat.
"The old teacher is looking for Jiang Nian, is he going for promotion?"
"Must be, scoring over 570 and not getting a promotion, I'd ascend to heaven instead."
"How did he study over summer break to become this impressive? Damn, how did his brain grow to remember so much stuff?"
Zhou Yuting felt restless hearing this, gripping her pen tightly until her knuckles turned slightly white. She wanted to shout at them to shut up, but she held back.
In front of others, she couldn't show any sign, or else it would be truly embarrassing.
What would the homeroom teacher say to Jiang Nian? He should also call her in for a chat, right? As she thought about this, Zhou Yuting became absent-minded, suddenly reacting only after half of the listening practice had passed.
She swallowed a bit, thinking that if only one person could be promoted, she wasn't entirely without a chance.
As long as...
Office.
The homeroom teacher was talking to Jiang Nian, first confirming his intention to be promoted.
"Promotion doesn't necessarily mean better grades. Changes in environment, interpersonal relationships, study pace, teaching focus; these all can affect your performance."
"Staying in the current class doesn't mean you can't improve; all our teachers have master's degrees. With years of teaching experience, they are also excellent with talented students... cough cough."
"They teach according to ability, which is commonly known as... giving special lessons."
Saying all this, it's clear they're reluctant to let me go.
Ah, come on.
Sorry, but I've definitely decided to move to another class. Even Jesus can't stop me.
The homeroom teacher spoke about a lot and was parched, so they took a sip from their goji berry thermos.
"So, what have you decided?"
"Hmm." Jiang Nian nodded and, seeing the delighted expression on the homeroom teacher's face, began, "Can I choose my new class for the promotion, or is it randomly assigned?"
The homeroom teacher's smile froze, forever losing joy and sorrow.
You kid... really don't care about anything!
"Since you've decided, then... cough cough." The homeroom teacher cleared their throat. Since they couldn't make him stay, there was no choice, "They're all assigned; do you have any preference?"
"Can it be arranged?" Jiang Nian, of course, preferred to go to Xu Qianqian's class.
"Theoretically, yes, but practically..." The homeroom teacher sipped their water again, not speaking, "The grade head teacher has more influence, I'm just too insignificant."
Hmm, trying to play hardball, huh?
During the short break after school in the afternoon, Xu Qianqian returned from the cafeteria and found Jiang Nian.
The teaching building was lit, and the two of them leaned on the corridor railing, chatting.
"I heard from Yunyun that you scored 573?" Xu Qianqian turned her head, her hair tied in a bun, "Did you ask the homeroom teacher which class you'll be promoted to?"
"I don't know, if I can choose, then I'll go to your class." Jiang Nian leaned lazily on the railing, looking at the heavy evening clouds ahead, "If not, then I'll leave it to fate."
"Choose... our class?" Xu Qianqian was startled, "Why?"
Jiang Nian glanced at her and casually said.
"Isn't it better to be closer to you?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Qianqian's face turned red in an instant, but luckily the twilight covered her blush, making it not so obvious. A soft whisper, only audible between the two of them, floated through the night breeze.
"Don't come, you'll regret it."
"Tch."
During the second evening self-study session, Zhou Yuting was also called out by the homeroom teacher.
Jiang Nian lifted his head upon hearing this, looking towards the door, just as Zhou Yuting turned back. Across more than half the classroom, their eyes met in mid-air.
Cold and distant, Zhou Yuting couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart.
In the corridor, she couldn't help but recall the saying circulating in the class. Jiang Nian was supposedly inspired over the summer break, burying himself in books for two months to become who he is now.
Zhou Yuting didn't feel guilty, only troubled. She needed Jiang Nian to voluntarily give up on the promotion.
In the brightly lit office, the homeroom teacher repeated the afternoon's words.
"With your current grades, aiming for promotion is quite difficult. Even if you barely make it, the class environment in the Olympic class might not suit you."
"Moreover, the class currently only has one spot for promotion in principle, Jiang Nian scored forty points higher than you and has confirmed this afternoon that he will take the promotion."
"So, you understand that..."
"Hmm, what if Jiang Nian gives up voluntarily?" Zhou Yuting asked.
The homeroom teacher was momentarily speechless, "You'll have to ask him that, I don't recommend either of you to move classes; an unfamiliar environment takes time to adjust."
"I understand, teacher." Zhou Yuting stood up, "I'll find my own way, thank you."
Homeroom teacher: "???"