13

The next morning, I arrived at school.

Strangely, I was no longer nervous like I was the night before, but instead had an extreme sense of calm.

Qiu Ting had also arrived very early, and we both looked at each other, seeing the determination in each other's eyes.

She sat in her seat and said to me:

"You don't have a chance to regret this now, Qiao Ru. My grades were not achieved by cheating.

"You'll soon find out that trash is always trash."

I didn't argue, just smiled and asked:

"With all this talk, are you scared?"

Qiu Ting's eyes were full of hatred, and I heard her teeth grinding together.

For a moment, she snorted coldly and turned away.

...

The exam bell rang soon afterwards.

The exam was placed on my desk.

I looked at it, took a deep breath, and began to work on the questions.

The first one, I knew.

The second one, I had seen before.

The third one, was simple.

I didn't even notice the passage of time, and when I looked up after finishing all the questions, only about 60 minutes had passed according to the clock on the wall.

I wasn't proud, but instead carefully checked over my work again and again.

Sure enough, when I checked for a second time, I found a careless mistake where I had misread a question.

I was shocked and covered in sweat, quickly fixing it.

Just as I finished fixing it, the bell rang.

Time to turn in the exams.

...

The second and third exams went smoothly as well.

When I got home that evening, I didn't study anymore and just fell asleep.

At this point, it didn't make sense to study anymore and it was better for me to sleep well and regain my energy.

When I woke up, I felt refreshed.

Before, I only slept about five hours a day.

Now, after sleeping for eight hours, I felt like a new person!

But Qiu Ting was different.

I looked at her, and her dark circles were even more pronounced than before.

Her eyes were sunken in, with huge bags under them, squinting as she silently memorized something.

She looked like... she had been drained of energy by a demon.

One look was enough to see that she hadn't slept at all last night.

I bet she stayed up all night studying.

I shook my head. What was the point of trying to catch up at the last minute now?

Seeing her like this made me calm down, and I became more focused while working on the questions.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

But just when I thought the exam would end smoothly, something unexpected happened.

As I was working on the last question, I looked at the paper and my pupils suddenly constricted.

The last large question was a geometry problem... I wasn't sure how to draw this auxiliary line!

Due to time constraints, the math exam, which should have been the second one, was scheduled for the last one.

Math has always been my weakness, and my logic skills are not particularly good.

But these days I have almost done all the appropriate practice problems I could find, believing that diligence can make up for lack of skill.

The previous questions had been going smoothly, and I hadn't encountered anything I didn't know.

But this large question was very tricky, and if you didn't carefully consider the problem, it would seem very simple, just a normal routine problem.

But after careful examination, you would find the trap!

Sweat began to bead on my forehead, and my hands started to tremble slightly.

This question is worth 15 points, not too high or too low.

But for me and Qiu Ting, who are fighting for every point, if I get it wrong, it's a complete disaster!

I couldn't help but look up at Qiu Ting.

Her face looked relaxed, and after writing down a number on the paper, she confidently put down her pen, then stretched her arms out on the table and began to rest.

Even the corners of her mouth had curled up.

I felt a thud in my chest.

It's possible that Qiu Ting didn't carefully consider this question, or it's possible... she really knows how to do it!

I was in turmoil, and the hot summer of July was unbearable, with the cicadas outside making a restless noise.

A drop of sweat dripped down my chin and landed on the table.

In an instant, my mind went blank.

I'm done, I thought.

I lost.

But just when I was about to collapse, a face suddenly flashed through my mind.

A fair face was half-shadowed by the setting sun.

Yin Xiu Cheng stood in front of the window, calmly looking at me.

He said, 'Qiao Ru, why do you study?'

What did I say then?

I said I wanted to beat Qiu Ting and get into Tsinghua University!

"No," he looked up at the window, his voice mixed with the evening and the breeze,

"You study for yourself, to be able to have the power to choose your own life.

"Qiao Ru, you study for yourself.

"Only you, yourself."

Yes, the power to choose your own life.

I was like I had been splashed with a bucket of cold water, and suddenly calmed down.

Up until now, I have been bewitched.

I put all my attention on Qiu Ting, and I forgot the purpose of learning.

Learning is not just to be chosen, but to have the right to choose.

Qiu Ting is just a small episode in my life.

If I always focus on her, I will never be able to get out of this small place.

I take a deep breath and put my heart down, no longer looking at Qiu Ting who puts down her pen.

Everything in my ears disappears.

I put all my energy into this problem.

The clock's pointer ticks and ticks, and I finally have a flash of inspiration after I don't know how long.

The math teacher's words sound in my ear.

Geometric shapes, you should first think about special auxiliary lines!

I understand how to draw this auxiliary line!

I don't dare to delay, quickly drawing the line and fighting for seconds to write the solution steps on the answer card.

Just as I wrote the last word, the bell rang!

Time is up!

I pushed the answer card away and collapsed onto the chair, almost unconscious.

A gust of wind blew in from the window, making my back wet and cool.

My clothes behind me were soaked with sweat.

After a long time, I finally gathered the strength to look forward.

Qiu Ting is also looking at me, and when our eyes meet, a spark flies between us in the air. We don't say anything.

At this point, unnecessary words are meaningless.

Three days later, it will be clear whether it is god or ghost.