When the bell signaling the end of the exam rang, all the examinees seemed to wake from a great dream, their expressions blank and dumbfounded.
Over?
Yes, they were done for.
“Help me up, my legs are soft.”
“The moment I saw the multiple-choice questions, I knew things weren’t simple. Sure enough, afterward I was dumb as a dog.”
“Someone please type the word ‘hard’ on the public screen for me! Thanks!”
“During biology I needed to pee, during chemistry I was dizzy, by the time it was physics I could just lie flat, because from start to finish it had nothing to do with me.”
“I heard someone actually fainted in the first exam room…”
“On my diagonal a girl broke down crying on the spot—gripping her pen with one hand, wiping tears with the other. Tragic or not?”
“Math was hard, the science comprehensive even harder. The exam setters were doing it on purpose, right? D*mn!”
“Whoever set this paper, tell me. I swear I won’t puncture his tires.”
“Is this even meant for humans?”
“No, I’m unworthy.”
“…”
Two invigilators standing at the end of the hallway exchanged glances—
“Was it really this hard?”
“I don’t know about the other subjects, but physics was for real.”
“Who did the third-years get to set the paper? Director Zhao joked before that it could make students cry, I didn’t believe it…”
That afternoon was the English exam.
Everyone thought it would be another storm of misery, but unexpectedly the paper was especially easy.
“Ah! This is the original formula, the original taste.”
“Say no more, I love English!”
“The exam setter’s name was finally written down—it’s Teacher Fang from our grade.”
“No wonder, Old Fang is famous for being beautiful, kindhearted, and writing non-trashy papers.”
“Then the question is—who on earth set the math and science papers? Honestly, not only hard but trash!”
“My marks, my lifeline—those two subjects chopped at least half off!”
…
Two days later, results came out.
Chinese and English were still decent, but math and science…
Only two words could describe them: a wreck!
Math average score: 72. Highest score: only 133.
Science comprehensive average: 151—the lowest in history.
The moment teachers saw the scores, they too were stunned.
“Wasn’t this a bit too harsh?”
“I saw the paper, it wasn’t beyond the syllabus. How could the results be this bad?”
“The multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blanks were full of loopholes, the application questions had traps in every single one, targeting weak spots in knowledge. One slip and it was fatal. How could scores not crash?”
“Let me make an improper analogy—it’s like fighting. Before, it was like hitting the body, the students barely felt it. This time it was all blows to the face—how could they not end up bruised and swollen?”
“Who upstairs set the paper?”
“Not sure… oh right, wasn’t Old Huang assigned to grading? Ask him, he should’ve been in contact with the paper setters.”
“Hey! Old Huang, just in time! Who set the math paper for the third-years this time?”
Teacher Huang recalled something, his eyes going oddly strange for two seconds: “…Do you really want to know?”
“Well of course! Hiss—why’s your expression so weird?”
“Fine, I’ll tell you. It was Jiang Fuyue.”
“Oh, Jiang Fu—” The teacher’s voice caught, then the pitch shot up. “Who?!”
Teacher Huang kept his smile: “Jiang Fuyue.”
That teacher turned stiffly to another homeroom teacher beside him: “Is there a teacher named Jiang Fuyue in the third-year?”
“No teacher named Jiang Fuyue. Only a student named Jiang Fuyue.”
Full marks in the college entrance exam—even the gate guard’s dog knew her name.
Teacher Huang nodded: “Mm, that’s her.”
“!” I’m dumbstruck.
…
When the students learned this news, the reaction was even louder. Across the ten classes of the second-year, almost every class let out a thunderous, unified—“Holy crap!”
“So this is what they call dimensionality reduction strike?”
“Big Sis Yue of society, cutting down study chicks with a thousand blades.”
“Just hearing that name, I’m already trembling.”
“Don’t panic! I’ll tremble with you!”
“The strongest top student isn’t the one who scores full marks, but the one who makes everyone else score zero.”
“Even if ladders fall, I won’t bow—except to my Goddess Yue.”
“So… do we still want the exam setter to come out and take a beating?”
After a strange silence—
“I don’t dare, afraid it’ll be worse.”
“Can’t afford to offend, better slip away.”
“This question is beyond syllabus, next one!”
“Beat her? This is Sister Yue’s love~”
“Once you’ve done a test set by the study god, the next full mark will be yours!”
…
Because this semester exam stirred up such “heated” reactions—
“After unanimous discussion among all the second-year teachers, we’ve decided that for the placement test after school starts in September, we’ll again invite your senior Jiang to set the papers. This time not just math and science, but also Chinese and English. Surprised? Happy?”
Everyone: “…”
Will this summer vacation still be peaceful?
…
As for setting papers, after handing over the tests, Jiang Fuyue never asked again.
So, about what kind of psychological shadows she left on the tender hearts of the second-year study chicks—she knew nothing.
Many years later, during a Q&A session at an academic exchange, when chatting with a veteran reporter, Jiang Fuyue learned that after that exam she had gained a nickname: The Terminator of High Scores.
Later generations of juniors all called her that.
“Wuwu… the papers she set made my sister cry back then, and now she’s making me cry too.”
“With a total score of 520 I took first in the grade, my mom was so shocked she almost beat me, but when I said it was Jiang Fuyue’s paper, she silently put down the feather duster. Later I heard from my dad, back then she didn’t even break 300.”
“The name ‘High Score Terminator’ isn’t for nothing. Whoever takes her test cries. One and only.”
But that was later; let’s not dwell.
After agreeing to set a full set of placement exams for the second-year, Jiang Fuyue stayed home for five straight days.
One day to research materials, one day to comb through the exam syllabus, then three days keeping a steady pace of two papers per day. On the fifth day, everything was complete, with reference answers, and handed to Xu Jing.
He then passed them to the second-year.
Xu Jing curled his lips: “Why didn’t I ever see you this enthusiastic about your own grade?”
Jiang Fuyue glanced at him: “You never asked me to set papers for my own grade.”
Xu Jing gave a cold hum: “If I asked you, you’d do it?”
Jiang Fuyue thought a moment: “That’s true…”
Xu Jing: “?”
“About your application to Ming University…”
Since that phone call, this topic had become a taboo between them.
Xu Jing didn’t ask, Jiang Fuyue didn’t speak.
You pretend ignorance, I play dumb, and neither of us mentioned it.
Unexpectedly, Xu Jing brought it up now.
He sighed: “Though I don’t know why you chose Ming University, I know you’ve always been thoughtful and measured. Since you chose it, you must have a reason you couldn’t not choose.”
Jiang Fuyue quietly listened.
Xu Jing continued: “Before, I was narrow-minded. I always thought an outstanding student who didn’t get into a top-tier university was the greatest waste. But now I’ve figured it out. Outstanding students, no matter where they are, can find their own direction and walk their own path.”
“Before, your teacher didn’t understand. Now I still don’t fully understand. But I believe you will prove with actions to everyone who questions you today—that your choice was not wrong.”
Who knows how long Xu Jing wrestled with himself before saying this.
From the end of the entrance exam till now, not only hadn’t he gained weight, he’d slimmed down, his complexion not great.
Jiang Fuyue smiled softly, promising in a low voice: “Don’t worry.”
A glimmer of moved emotion flashed in her eyes.
Xu Jing exhaled: “No matter what happens, remember you are always your teacher’s pride! From now on… take good care, okay? Come back to No. 1 High whenever you can, visit your juniors. Teacher will treat you, cafeteria food’s on me.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Fuyue walked him to the gate of the community.
“Alright, let’s leave it here.” No banquet lasts forever; to walk together for a while is already a great fate.
“Teacher Xu—”
“Hm?” Xu Jing turned back.
Jiang Fuyue: “Eat more, you’ve gotten thin.”
“Sure,” Xu Jing chuckled, “I’ll have your teacher’s wife stew chicken soup when I get home!”
…
Back home, Jiang Fuyue thought of Xu Jing’s tear-brimming eyes and earnest words, and felt an unexplainable sigh stir within her.
He said she was his pride—but wasn’t he also a true good teacher?
Ding-dong!
A WeChat message came, then more in quick succession.
Xie Dingyuan: 【How’s your holiday going?】
Xie Dingyuan: 【Weather’s nice today】
Xie Dingyuan: 【My flowers are about to die. If you have time, could you please help water them?】
He quickly added: 【Zhong Ziang went back to the Imperial Capital. I gave Aunt Liu a long vacation.】
Jiang Fuyue: 【I don’t have your house key.】
Xie Dingyuan: 【Under the mailbox at the door, I left a spare.】
Ten minutes later—
Sure enough, Jiang Fuyue found an electronic key under the mailbox.
It could open not only the outer iron gate, but also the entry door inside.
She replied to Xie Dingyuan: 【Okay】
Xie Dingyuan: 【Thanks】
Watering flowers carries risks—agree with caution!
