Chapter 142

East Wing

Looking at Henry walking into the room empty-handed, Dana asked first, "Weren't you going to borrow some books?"

Henry sat down on the bench and said, "They won't lend them. They're afraid it will interfere with Calvin's study time."

Caroline chimed in, "How can that be? He has so many subjects to study; he can only focus on one at a time. Can't they lend us the materials they're not using?"

Henry replied, "We tried that. But Ada said Calvin rotates his study materials to keep things fresh. He needs everything on hand so he can grab what he needs immediately."

Not wanting to continue the conversation, Henry simply said, "Let's drop it."

Seeing Henry's reluctance, no one asked further. Dana, with a hint of frustration, added, "I always thought they were stingy, looking down on others. I wonder if Calvin, with all his materials, will even get into college."

Clement interjected, "He probably will. Most of the test-takers have been out of school for years and forgotten what they learned. Plus, they have jobs and no time to study. Calvin has nothing to worry about except his studies."

Caroline, agreeing with Dana, said, "I'm not so sure. Calvin seems to lack any spirit, trained like a little dog. He follows Ada's every command. He's obedient, but he doesn't think for himself. That kind of attitude might not fare well in exams."

Speaking of brains, Dana said, "Our Henry has always been smart. If he put his mind to it, there's nothing he couldn't do. But he's always been a bit of a drifter."

Caroline added, "Henry just hasn't grown up yet."

Talking about their own children wouldn't change anything, and everyone knew it. Henry cut in, "Let's focus on getting some study materials for Henry. He should at least have a chance to review. We don't know when he'll be back."

Clement agreed, "I'll go out and see what I can find."

***

Summer had been up since 2 a.m., queuing and searching through bookstores. By the time she finished, she was exhausted. After lunch, she went to her room to sleep.

When she woke up, she didn't let herself get distracted. She washed her face in the courtyard to clear her mind, then returned to her desk to study.

From morning till night, apart from eating, washing, and bathroom breaks, she spent all her time at the desk, skipping the questions she knew and scratching her head over the ones she didn't.

The next day, she woke up early to study before going to work.

At work, she and Jenny, a fellow new employee, asked around to see if anyone had managed to get a hold of any review outlines. But knowing few people, they didn't get far.

During lunch, they noticed a crowd around the factory's bulletin board, all discussing something related to the college entrance exams.

Curious, Summer and Jenny joined the crowd. As people cleared out, they got close enough to read the notice.

The notice was about setting up night school classes for exam preparation, replacing the previous literacy classes. Each subject would be taught by a professional teacher, with optional attendance.

Excited, Jenny asked Summer, "Are you going?"

Summer replied without hesitation, "Of course. Self-study can't compare to having a teacher."

Jenny agreed, "Let's go together after dinner."

Summer nodded, and they hurried to the cafeteria.

***

Despite her busy days of work and study, Summer didn't feel tired. Many young people shared her enthusiasm, having found new hope and direction in their lives.

At work, she kept her study materials in her bag. After work, she and Jenny rushed to the cafeteria for a quick dinner, then hurried to the night school to grab good seats.

The classroom filled quickly, mostly with young workers eager to learn. They reviewed their notes while waiting for the teacher.

When the teacher arrived, they paid full attention, starting with the basics they'd forgotten.

The classroom, initially occupied by older workers, was now filled with younger ones aged 18 to 30. The seats were packed, with some sharing desks.

Logan sat alone at the back, undisturbed. During the break, while others chatted and went to the restroom, he continued studying.

Suddenly, a girl in the third row called out, "Summer! Summer Walker!"

Hearing the name, Logan paused and looked up, recognizing the girl as Summer. She was more striking than he remembered, standing out in the crowd.

Summer walked down the aisle, stopping to help some girls with their notes. After explaining the points, she turned to go back to her seat but caught Logan's gaze.

Their eyes met, and she recognized him instantly. But she quickly looked away, showing no reaction, and returned to her seat.

Logan watched her go, his mind filled with unspoken thoughts.