Chapter 15: Shut up if you can't speak!

Looking at a question, correct.

Another question, correct again.

The next question, also correct.

Flipping to the next test paper, he found the reading comprehension answers all correct.

At first, Luo Yongjun didn't pay it much mind, but after a dozen consecutive correct answers, his eyes began to bulge. They were all correct?

Impossible!

Keep going!

Luo Yongjun stepped off the podium, cradling the examination in hand. He 'patrolled' around the classroom, eyes darting back and forth from the exam in his hand, determined to find a wrong answer.

After three or four rounds around the classroom, he came upon the last multiple-choice question.

Flip the page again!

Just the short essay correction and composition sections were left.

Luo Yongjun managed to stay patient and focus on the short essay correction section, finding three mistakes.

He heaved a sigh of relief.

Although he wasn't sure about the listening part, it was clear that the total score of the exam in his hand was extraordinarily high. Barring any unexpected circumstances, it should be the best score in the senior grade.

Of this, Luo Yongjun was sure.

The current English test was compiled by several senior grade English teachers from questions of the College Entrance Examination model exams from various provinces over the years. It was relatively challenging for the students who had just started their senior year.

Among the English scores of this year's senior class, a score of 120 points could place a student in the top three of the year, perhaps even first.

The exam was over.

Eager, Luo Yongjun rushed back to the office with the exam papers and immediately started grading Zhao Yi's paper on top.

The other teachers returned to the office as well.

The first one to walk in was Xue Pinggui, also known as Horse-face Xue. He placed the test papers on his desk, took a sip from his water cup and chuckled," Teacher Luo, so diligent! Grading right after the end of the exam!"

Luo Yongjun remained silent.

He was seriously reading at the essay question, even flipping through an English dictionary.

Shen Yan walked in just then and chipped in, "The sooner you finish grading, the sooner the relief."

Xue Pinggui tried to take the papers from Shen Yan's hand.

"I can do it myself!"

Shen Yan dodged him.

The other teachers who walked in were amused by Xue Pinggui and Shen Yan's interaction, and their faces were marked with various expressions of humor.

Ignoring their enactment, Xue Pinggui thickened his face to say, "Teacher Shen, you've been working non-stop since you came to School No. 13. The senior grade is tough. Now that the English exam is over, why not take a break? You can grade papers tomorrow afternoon."

"I'm fine."

Shen Yan said, taking out a red pen and burying herself in the papers.

Actually, Shen Yan did want to take a break, but Xue Pinggui had just complimented Luo Yongjun for his diligence, and now he was lecturing her to relax.

Are you calling me lazy?

Shen Yan felt a bit uncomfortable.

Unaware of this, Xue Pinggui continued, trying to express concern, "Teacher Luo, you supervised the exam of class three, guided by Teacher Shen, right? You should take it easy on them!"

The implication was that Shen Yan had recently joined; it would look good if the average scores were high.

Suddenly.

All the teachers in the office focused on Xue Pinggui.

Take it easy?

This was a classification examination!

If class three achieved high scores, it might mean that students from other classes might not make it to the "elite" class.

Shen Yan couldn't stay shut anymore and put on a seldom serious attitude, "Teacher Xue, that's not correct. This is an examination! The grading should be fair and square! You get as many points as you've earned!"

Xue Pinggui realising his mistake, quickly tried to mend it, "Yes, yes! Just as Shen Yan said, the grading needs to be fair! Even if the English grades of class three drop, it won't be related to Teacher Shen, she's just got here..."

"Teacher Xue, if you can't talk sensibly, then stay quiet!"

Unable to endure further, Niu Lianhua, who just sat down, berated Xue Pinggui to shut up.

There are reasons why Teacher Xue was single!

Isn't talking about declining grades the same as questioning Shen Yan's teaching abilities? Even if everyone knew new teachers generally didn't perform well, no one would say so outright!

Xue Pinggui was left a bit disgruntled by the scolding, yet he complied and stayed quiet.

After a while, he noticed Luo Yongjun checking the dictionary again, and his curiosity once again got the better of him. Looking over, he noticed it was Zhao Yi's paper.

Zhao Yi's paper?

The composition section is full!

Xue Pinggui tried to change the subject, to retrieve the face he lost earlier, "It's interesting about this Zhao Yi."

"Yesterday, when Zhao Yi was in my class, he didn't pay attention. Instead, he claimed to memorise formulas and read books. The good students don't pay attention because they already know what's being taught. Zhao Yi's chemistry is just passable, yet he also doesn't pay attention."

"Why learn to not pay attention instead of something useful?"

"I don't bother with him!"

Shen Yan suddenly paused her pen, unsure whether to continue grading.

Isn't this also 'imitating'?

"You're wrong this time!" Luo Yongjun, after finishing the grading, turned around and opened his mouth astonishingly, "Zhao Yi's English, 144 points!"

Immediately, everyone in the office turned their attention to him.

A few teachers gathered around.

Xue Pinggui snatched the paper quickly and began flipping through it, exclaiming, "All the multiple-choice answers are correct? Did he cheat?"

The expression on Shen Yan's face darkened instantaneously.

She only printed the exam papers last night, and the papers were untouched in the office. To imply that she leaked the questions to the students in Class 3 was essentially accusing her, wasn't it?

Did she go to great lengths to leak the exam to a male student?

Shen Yan was so furious that her face turned red. She firmly crossed out Xue Pinggui's name from her list.

...

There was a math class after the English exam.

Niu Lianhua explained a spatial geometry problem, then let the students continue their self-study.

Zhao Yi also continued his review of formulas and theorems.

He spent two days re-memorizing and understanding all the math formulas and theorems from the first and second year of high school. He couldn't claim to have fully regained his previous academic level, but he was able to solve simple problems now.

The morning passed while studying.

The exam was in the afternoon.

The math exam wasn't as easy as English.

Zhao Yi quickly finished the multiple-choice section. Thankfully, the multiple-choice section was worth sixty points. There were also four fill-in-the-blank questions, and the rest were all long-answer questions.

He started to rack his brains.

Function questions were quite complex, especially the second one!

Spatial geometry was okay, but the last question was difficult.

Probability, this is tough!

Mathematical expectation? Data distribution chart?

Curve function...

While pondering over these, Zhao Yi felt an impulsive desire to take a look at Sun Liang's paper.

It was just a habit...

Sun Liang was the undisputed top in math and physics at Thirteen High. He could get full marks if the paper was an easy one.

Right!

He should ask Sun Liang for more tutoring in the future!

Zhao Yi looked at Sun Liang as if he was looking at a free tutor.

Sun Liang shook his head and pointed ahead.

"Zhao Yi! Focus on your own!"

"Oh~~"

Zhao Yi lowered his head in annoyance, he really didn't plan to copy answers.

The exam ended.

Classes continued in the afternoon.

Teacher Wang explained the techniques for tackling reading comprehension questions. Zhao Yi listened attentively and took down notes on points he found useful.

Then it was self-study again.

Just before the last class, Teacher Sun appeared at the classroom door.

"Zhao Yi!"

"Teacher is calling you!"

Zhao Yi hurriedly left the room.

Teacher Sun stared at Zhao Yi, her face had a strange expression. She tentatively asked, "Zhao Yi, your English score is... absurdly good."

Zhao Yi nodded, "I know."

"You know?"

"Yes!" Zhao Yi had been mentally prepared and calmly replied, "Actually, my English has always been good, I was just too lazy to do exercises before."

"Really?"

Teacher Sun was somewhat skeptical but to doubt a student's grades, barring the possibility of leaked questions, wasn't right.

There will be more exams in the future.

If he really was poor at his studies, it would be impossible for him to score high on every exam.

Conversely.

In the end, Teacher Sun didn't say anything else. She just reminded him, "By the way, did Xiaoqing tell you? If you get into the elite class, I'll help you register."

"Huh?"

Zhao Yi was a bit puzzled.

Teacher Sun didn't notice Zhao Yi's reaction.  After giving her instructions, she walked away.

Zhao Yi returned to the classroom and glanced at Lin Xiaoqing while walking.

Lin Xiaoqing covered her face with her hands.

"Lin Xiaoqing!" Zhao Yi called out seriously.

Lin Xiaoqing shuddered all over, almost burying her head in the desk. She kept moving her hands, "Don't look at me, I didn't do it, it wasn't me!"

Wrong!

Something must be going on!

"Tell me! What did you do! Teacher Sun told me about registration, what registration?" Zhao Yi demanded.

"I don't know!"

Lin Xiaoqing continued to shake her head.

A voice suddenly came from the classroom door, "Big news! Big news!"

Luo Rui, who was petite, almost ran into the room and called out excitedly to the girls in the front row, "I just went to the office, and I overheard the teachers saying... saying..."

"Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi! He scored in English..."

"144 points!!"