The winter in Qingzhou is dry and cold, catching people off guard.
The students usually wear a down jacket or a padded coat over their school uniforms. Inside the classroom, the heating is cranked up so high it feels like a furnace.
Sitting by the window, Shen You’an always has the window cracked open slightly, letting in the crisp cold air as she works on problems.
After the math class ended that day, Chen Zhou announced so news: "The math league results are out. This ti, Qingzhou has a total of fifty-seven winners. Our class has twenty-five. You all will represent the school and attend this year’s winter camp during the break. I hope the students who qualified will stay humble and work harder to achieve great results at the camp. Next year, you’ll compete on behalf of the nation."
The mont Chen Zhou finished speaking, the quiet students burst into chatter.
There are thirty students in Class A—who are the five unlucky ones that didn’t qualify?
Apart from the few perennial academic gods at the top of the rankings, the rest of the students were on roughly the sa level. The difference ultimately boiled down to individual effort.
Qin Xiangge tightened her grip on her ballpoint pen, her heart filled with unease.
The athletic committee mber, Zhang Zirui, lively and restless as ever, couldn’t help but blurt out, "Mr. Chen, who are the five unlucky ones?"
Chen Zhou shot Zhang Zirui a glare and replied irritably, "You’re definitely one of them."
Zhang Zirui froze for a second and then howled dramatically, "No way...."
Chen Zhou straightened his expression and warned, "Don’t think just because you made it to the winter camp, you’ve got it all figured out. That camp gathers the absolute top scorers from across the country. Once you’re there, you’ll truly understand the phrase ’there’s always soone better.’ If you disgrace yourself, don’t you dare say you’re one of my students."
The students, previously buzzing with anticipation, deflated like balloons losing air.
Only the few standout students remained unmoved.
Chen Zhou nodded in satisfaction. As he grabbed his teaching plans and prepared to leave, his gaze swept toward the corner of the room. "Shen You’an, co to my office."
In an instant, every pair of eyes in the room turned to Shen You’an.
She rose slowly, her movents leisurely, and walked out the door.
Gao Yuyue followed closely behind her.
The other students stared at her back and began whispering among themselves.
Mr. Chen is showing favoritism—he’s surely giving her so extra coaching.
Leng Yunyang lay down on his desk for a nap, while Liu Runxi retracted his gaze and focused on writing notes.
Gu Bichen picked up his water cup and walked to the water room next door to fill it with hot water.
Not long after, Gao Yuyue returned with a sheet of paper, scanned the room, and let her gaze linger pointedly on Qin Xiangge, her brows arching slightly, her expression carrying a tinge of schadenfreude.
Qin Xiangge felt her stomach drop, her face growing increasingly pale.
"The list for the students from our class who will attend the winter camp is out. To save ti, I’ll focus on naming those who didn’t make it. For those who didn’t, don’t be discouraged—learn from your shortcomings and work harder. There’s always next year."
She deliberately stressed the word "shortcomings."
Hao Yun, nerves wracked, timidly asked, "Yuyue, I’m not on the list, am I?"
Her grades had always bounced between diocre and below average. In this league exam, she happened to perform poorly again, and for days now, her heart had been a ss. If she really turned out to be one of the five, she’d be humiliated beyond words and wouldn’t know how to face her parents at ho.
Gao Yuyue bead and said, "Hao Yun, you’re lucky. You snagged the last spot."
Hao Yun jumped up in excitent, covering her mouth: "Oh my god, I actually made it!"
"Waaah, this is amazing." Hao Yun was practically crying.
Gao Yuyue read out the nas of the other four one by one, and the students nad slumped in dejection.
When it ca to the last na, the students who were always hovering in the middle to lower rankings couldn’t help but hold their breath, their heartbeats quickening.
Qin Xiangge grabbed a pencil casually and gripped it tightly in her hand.
Gao Yuyue’s gaze landed lightly on Qin Xiangge, her voice taking on a rare gentleness. "Congratulations, Xiangge. This winter break, you’ll have plenty of ti to practice your piano at ho."
The entire class fell silent.
A soft "crack" echoed as the pencil in Qin Xiangge’s hand snapped in two.
She lowered her gaze, her face blank, her emotions concealed from everyone’s view.
But the general sentint was easy enough to guess.
Qin Xiangge’s deskmate quickly chid in, "Xiangge’s going to apply to the Royal Art Academy anyway. Participating in the winter camp wouldn’t help with her art school ambitions. She just needs to focus on playing the piano well."
Gao Yuyue smiled sweetly. "You’re right. After all, she’ll be a pianist soday, a great artist. What she has to do is put on her makeup, wear glamorous gowns, and perform elegantly on stage to gain fa and fortune. Of course, we who sweat and toil just to get into university can’t compare to her."
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