16

I made a name for myself in one battle!

At home, my parents were constantly laughing foolishly.

Several times, my mom would start laughing foolishly while eating, looking at me with a dazed expression.

"Ahh, am I dreaming?

"I was able to give birth to such a smart daughter, I should have gone to university too, maybe even Tsinghua or Peking University...

"Hey, are you my daughter? Did someone switch you out?

"I'm so lucky, this is too beautiful!"

My dad, on the other hand, was rolling his eyes:

"It's definitely not because of you that our child is smart, it's definitely because of me.

"Do you think it's possible that our daughter is a genius, with an IQ of 180 or something? Let's go get it tested."

My mom loudly put down her chopsticks.

"Bullshit, it's definitely because of me. You can't even buy the right vegetables at the supermarket!"

...

The two of them started bickering back and forth, and I laughed on the side.

Before, the atmosphere at home wasn't this good. Even though my parents doted on me, I didn't study, spent all my time hanging out at bars, and only came home late at night.

Their only activity at school was getting scolded.

Or they would sit in the back at parent-teacher conferences and feel embarrassed.

At home, it was often my parents sighing and complaining about my lack of ambition.

But since I started studying hard, it seems like everything has changed, I really gave my mom something to be proud of.

...

After eating, I lay on my bed thinking about when to tell Yin Xiucheng about this good news.

I know that in addition to my own efforts, I have to thank Yin Xiucheng for my achievements.

I know that without him, I would never have made such progress no matter how hard I studied.

As a true genius, he taught me not only knowledge but also study methods.

These are things that no amount of money can buy.

I closed my eyes and pressed my arm against my face.

All kinds of past events flashed before my eyes.

It's too hard, really too hard.

To be honest, I don't even know how I got through this period.

Even if I had to do it again, I'm not sure I would have the courage to go through it all again.

Others see only my glittering surface, how I miraculously got first place.

But those sleepless nights, those wandering days, those awakening nightmares...

I haven't slept through a noon nap since, it doesn't matter if it's raining or if it's a school holiday, I only sleep five hours a day every day.

At first it was really tough, I felt like my entire being had been emptied.

I also thought countless times about giving up, about taking a break, about resting.

But in the end, I gritted my teeth and persevered.

Behind this miracle is my tears and sweat day and night.

Only I can understand the bitterness involved.

...

Just as my eyes were getting teary, the door was suddenly knocked on.

I sat up and saw it was Yin Xiucheng.

He leaned against the door frame in a black outfit, his hands crossed over his chest, his face showing an unusual lack of cold laughter or mockery, just a proper smile.

"Hey." His eyes were full of laughter, his cherry-colored thin lips slightly tilted up.

"I heard you got first place, congratulations."

I felt my heart racing and excitedly jumped off the bed, grabbing him and saying:

"I got 706 points! I got first place! Am I awesome?!"

Before this, I had never shared my joy with anyone, but at this moment I realized that the only person I really wanted to share it with was him.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yin Xiucheng laughed as he pulled on my face.

"Looks like you're not a complete idiot, no need for a check-up."

I was muddled by his pulling and simply dragged him to the desk to show him my test papers.

I told him how difficult the last question was for me and how I eventually solved it.

I told him that it was because Qiu Ting made a mistake on this question that she lost to me.

I also told him that I realized that in the future, I have to study for myself...

Yin Xiucheng didn't interrupt me, he just leaned his head to the side and smiled as he watched me, constantly nodding.

By the end, my mouth was dry and I was looking at him with shining eyes: "Teacher Yin, what are we going to study next semester?"

Yin Xiucheng was silent.

After a while, he reached out and ruffled my hair.

"You have graduated now, so I can rest assured.

"Were you really planning for me to be your lifetime family teacher? I also have to go back to class."

I was stunned and the words I had just wanted to say got stuck in my throat, causing me discomfort.

I looked at him, wanting to say please don't go, this is too sudden.

But I couldn't say it.

That's right, I had forgotten, Yin Xiucheng is not my family teacher.

He is a PhD student at Tsinghua University...

His future is bright and far more promising than mine.

Teaching me was just an accident, and now he has to go back, back to his place where he shines.

I can't hold him back.

"Oh... this is too sudden."

I forced a smile and said, "Time has passed too quickly."

Yin Xiucheng didn't say anything, he just looked at me intently.

His eyes are like black diamonds, deep and shining.

I feel the warmth on my face increasing with the rising temperature in the room, and the atmosphere becomes awkward.

Just as I can't help but want to speak, Yin Xiucheng suddenly stands up.

Outside the window, cars are rushing by and the lights are dazzling.

The night sky is enveloped in magical neon light and shadows, squeezing into the room through the window.

He stands leaning against the vast night sky and smiles at me.

"Qiao Ru, I'll be waiting for you at Tsinghua."

My eyes become teary and the tears flow down.

"Okay," I wipe away a tear, "I'll come find you in a year!"