This humble Taoist priest wants to take the college entrance exam.

Stop deducting points from Chapter 25, we're about to run out of points...

The morning reading session was already halfway through when Teacher Liang finally arrived, bringing Chen Shi'an some Chinese recitation materials.

Like other students in the class, Ms. Liang was quite surprised when she saw Chen Shi'an with a new haircut and wearing a school uniform.

"Shi An? I almost didn't recognize you!"

"Teacher Liang, am I doing this in accordance with the regulations?"

"Yes, yes, the school uniform fits perfectly."

As she spoke, Teacher Liang handed him the materials. “These are the must-know materials for all three years of high school Chinese exams. I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to print a copy for you. Keep this one safe. Just memorize the material from here.”

Although you are only in your second year of high school, the pace of each subject has already far exceeded the regular pace of the grade. There will be no new lessons in the third year of high school; the whole year will be spent on review.

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Liang."

Chen Shi'an took the memorization materials from Teacher Liang. This time, he didn't say he didn't need them like he had before. After all, the previous one belonged to Lin Mengqiu, while this one was his. The ownership was different, and whether he used it or not was his own business.

In his view, whether it is "seeking the truth when it is near" or "making things difficult when they are easy," the results are just castles in the air and pointless efforts. Only "coming from the heart and putting it into practice" can truly lay a solid foundation.

Liang Huiyang, a Chinese language teacher, didn't just deliver Chinese recitation materials to Chen Shi'an. He picked up the heavy reusable bag he was carrying and continued:

"These are junior high school textbooks that I borrowed from some teachers. Time was tight, and it was difficult to borrow them all at once, so I only borrowed textbooks for you for the first year of junior high school. They cover all subjects. I also borrowed the elementary school English textbooks for you. Just use these for now. They are all basic knowledge. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me or your classmates."

Chen Shi'an was worried about where to borrow junior high school textbooks, but he didn't expect Teacher Liang to be so efficient. She borrowed the junior high school textbooks for him, and they were all used by junior high school teachers. Each knowledge point was marked and explained in detail. Even if it was only the first year of junior high school textbooks for now, it would be enough for him to get through for a while.

"Thank you so much, Teacher Liang. I will keep it safe and won't break it."

"It doesn't matter if you break it or not, the important thing is to learn well!"

"That's natural."

Yesterday, I gave Chen Shi'an a diagnostic test. No one knows better than Teacher Liang how poor his foundation is, but even as a teacher, there's not much he can do. He has his own job, as do other teachers and his classmates. All I can do is help him borrow some books; the rest is up to him to learn on his own.

"I've already spoken to the other subject teachers. It's okay if you can't keep up in class or don't understand anything. You can do your own thing as long as you're learning."

"Okay, don't worry, Teacher Liang."

It's so hard to put my mind at ease! Will I, Lao Liang, even make it to the other side?
Teacher Liang sighed. Having taught top-performing classes for many years, she had never felt so frustrated by a student's abysmal foundation...

After explaining to Chen Shi'an, Teacher Liang noticed that the reading aloud around them had become quieter at some point. A bunch of little monkeys were hiding behind their books, their eyes wide and ears perked up, secretly eavesdropping on the two's conversation, looking incredibly curious and gossipy.

"What are you doing? What are you doing! Where's the reading sound?!"

After a cold shout, sounds of panic began to rise from the surrounding area.

While Teacher Liang was talking to Chen Shi'an, Lin Mengqiu didn't say a word, but she couldn't help but glance curiously at Chen Shi'an's desktop.

Grade 7 Chinese (First Semester), Grade 7 Math (First Semester), Grade 3 English (First Semester)...

These familiar yet somewhat long-lost textbook covers caught her eye, clashing starkly with the current classroom environment of her second-year high school class. Lin Mengqiu's eyelids twitched at the sight, and even her ever-present expression shifted into an indescribable mix—two parts pity, three parts amusement, and five parts headache…

Dad, what kind of deskmate did you arrange for me?!

Were you just laughing at me?

"..."

The unexpected voice beside her made Lin Mengqiu, who was still immersed in complex emotions, tremble, and she instantly returned to her expressionless state.

"No."

Lin Mengqiu was secretly a little shocked. She hadn't expected this person to have such sharp eyes. He could even see through the three points of amusement that he had hidden so well.

"Oh--"

Chen Shi'an didn't deny her words, but his deliberately drawn-out tone made the girl feel very uncomfortable. —Let's deduct one point from him first.

"You were the top student in science?" Chen Shi'an asked, changing the subject.

"Ah."

What score do you need to get first place?

"..."

Lin Mengqiu turned to look at him. From his eyes, she could tell that he wasn't just asking casually. Rather, it was as if he was measuring the width of a stream to see if he could jump across, revealing a sense of eager anticipation.

?

What do you mean?
How can someone who is still cramming for elementary and middle school foundations expect to get the top science score in the city's top high school?

Overestimating his abilities. — Deduct another point from him.

"Above 700 points".

The most recent exam was the monthly exam after summer tutoring, which was the same test Chen Shi'an took yesterday during his diagnostic test.

Chen Shi'an had no clue about math, but Lin Mengqiu got a perfect score, the only perfect score in the grade.

The total score across all subjects was 706 points, exceeding the second-place finisher by a full 15 points.

Lin Mengqiu's statement that "scoring above 700 will get you first place" is actually a rather conservative estimate. Whether someone who actually scores 700 can surpass her is hard to say, but getting second place is generally not a problem.

700 points! Anyone would be terrified at the mention of that score!

Unexpectedly, Chen Shi'an didn't react much to the number '700 points,' simply because he didn't really understand it. But his calm expression, in Lin Mengqiu's eyes, was a blatant provocation! Look, he's giving that meaningful 'Oh—' again!

Lack of self-awareness. — Deduct one point!
Aiming too high. — Deduct one point!
Speaking in a sarcastic or unfriendly tone. — Deduct one point!

While Chen Shi'an was still pondering how difficult it would be to score 700 points, little did he know that his quiet and silent deskmate was already mentally deducting points from his score...

……

The bell rang, signaling the end of the morning reading session.

The "Athletes' March" began, and then it was time for morning exercises.

The school adjusts the time for morning exercises according to the season. For example, when it's hot, it's done after morning reading, and when it's cold, it's done after the second period.

"Gather up, gather up!" Xu Zihan, the sports committee member, shouted twice, but he was still playing around with his classmates in his seat. The other students naturally didn't take it seriously and stayed in their seats chatting and laughing for a while before slowly gathering up.

Chen Shi'an closed his textbook, got up from his seat, and pushed his chair back under the table.

"Where will our class meet?" Chen Shi'an asked Lin Mengqiu, who was still sitting in her seat.

"The middle of the playground. Just follow everyone." Lin Mengqiu didn't even look up. She didn't like doing morning exercises. Even though she was usually decisive and efficient, she would procrastinate when faced with things she didn't like. However, unlike other students who would play around to pass the time, she would read books and do exercises to do so. It was also a way for her to comfort herself by procrastinating.

Chen Shi'an is not one to procrastinate. In essence, procrastination and being unhurried are two different things. Although he walks and speaks slowly, he will do what needs to be done immediately when it is time to do it.

He left his seat and walked into the hallway outside the classroom.

Most of the male students in the class gathered here.

When Chen Shi'an sat next to Lin Mengqiu, no one dared to speak to him because of Lin Mengqiu's pressure. Now that he had come out, the monkeys swarmed up to him like they had seen a banana, full of curiosity and gossip.

"Master Daoist! Master Daoist, were you really a Daoist priest on the mountain before?"

"Yes."

"Does the Taoist priest know magic?"

"Knows a few tricks."

"Can you show me a couple of tricks?!"

"Not very timely."

Since everyone was a young person of the new era, they naturally didn't take Chen Shi'an's words seriously. When they asked questions, they were mostly joking. Seeing that Chen Shi'an was neither ashamed nor angry and had a kind smile, they knew that this Taoist classmate was a very easy person to get along with.

Most guys make friends like this: they don't care how cool you are, they only care if they get along with you. Otherwise, why would they drag someone along to play games with them every day while cursing them, even though they know that person is a noob?

Chen Shi'an's identity was novel and impressive to everyone. At first, many classmates did not believe that he was really a Taoist priest. They even went online to find some professional questions to ask him. However, they did not expect that he could answer questions about doctrines, classics, and details of practice perfectly. He even had a Taoist certificate, which is the most obvious proof of his identity. Finally, they had to admit that he was a real Taoist priest.

"Awesome! Awesome!"

"Being classmates with internet celebrities is nothing, I'd rather be classmates with a Taoist master!!"

"Master Dao, I saw Old Liang bring you a lot of books just now, what are they?"

Chen Shi'an didn't feel ashamed of not having a basic understanding from class, and honestly said, "They're all from junior high school textbooks, I need to brush up on my basics."

"Huh? Junior high school textbooks?"

"Master Daoist... you didn't go to school before, did you? You've been cultivating Taoism on the mountain all this time?"

"Indeed."

After Chen Shi'an finished speaking, the crowd fell silent for a moment, then became excited again, the atmosphere even more heated than before.

"Awesome! Awesome!!"

"Even with such a dense network of nine-year compulsory education, this Taoist priest managed to dodge it—truly amazing!!"

"Damn! Daoist, how did you do that? I skipped class once in junior high and my mom almost beat me to death!!"

"Zihan, why is your mom still hitting you even though you're in middle school? Last time your mom was in our group chat saying we were leading you astray, turns out it was you who led us astray!"

"What are you saying, Kunkun? Hasn't your mom ever hit you?"

“My mom only hit me once, but she didn’t get rid of it.”

"Damn! You're a leaky slug?!"

"Master Daoist, will you take me as a disciple? I want to cultivate Dao, I don't want to study!"

Chen Shi'an: "..."

Listening to everyone's abstract and disjointed remarks, Chen Shi'an was at a loss for words for a moment. Was studying really this depressing these days...?

Sure enough, after all these years, I still don't fit in with the monkeys...

As they were chatting, Lin Mengqiu, who had been lingering in the classroom for a long time, also came out.

Lin Mengqiu was taller than Wen Zhixia, probably around 1.67 meters, but her chest wasn't as full as Wen Zhixia's, and she couldn't make her school uniform look as voluptuous as Wen Zhixia.

What's most eye-catching about her are her long legs, which are so perfectly proportioned that they're almost unrealistic. When her trousers fall down, they always create tiny wrinkles at her ankles, revealing a slender, fair ankle only when she walks. Her steps are small, yet they land silently. When she turns, her waist draws a soft curve, like the brushstrokes of a willow branch swaying in the wind in a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Chen Shi'an was chatting with the monkeys and didn't notice her, but Lin Mengqiu clearly spotted him among the group of boys.

Hmph, colluding with those idiots... another point deducted!
(End of this chapter)