"What?!"
"Who did Lao Ban mention?"
"Ye Xuan?!"
"No way!"
The other students were also shocked by this name.
Because this was completely beyond their expectations!
Ye Xuan—Ye Xuan, who usually struggled just to break into the top ten of the class!
He had actually made huge progress when everyone else performed poorly?
Xiao Nanzhi's pretty lips parted slightly in surprise as she turned her head back again and again.
After the shock subsided, she suddenly remembered what Ye Xuan had said yesterday.
"Could it be... that he really was hiding his strength?"
Campus Beauty Xiao wasn't the only one who thought of this.
Hong Letao thought of it too: "What the hell, Ye Xuan, did you really hide your strength?"
Ye Xuan shrugged. "Don't get so excited. I was just testing the waters this time."
Last night he had "consumed" another 67 experience books across six subjects.
His score on the next mock exam would definitely take another big leap.
Hong Letao's eyes widened. "What? You mean you still didn't use your full strength this time?!"
Ye Xuan nodded. "Yeah, I was afraid I'd scare you guys."
"Keep bragging..."
Hong Letao said that, but in his heart, he was feeling a bit nervous.
Based on his understanding of Ye Xuan, he could tell that Ye Xuan didn't look like he was joking.
Amidst the exclamations, Zhang Guangming took out the score sheet. "Now I will announce the scores of the top ten students in the class."
The classroom instantly fell silent.
Chen Ming perked up again.
"First place, Xiao Nanzhi, 662 points."
"Seven points less than last time..."
Xiao Nanzhi looked somewhat annoyed.
"Second place, Chen Ming, 648 points."
"Phew."
Chen Ming let out a sigh of relief.
So what if Ye Xuan made huge progress? Wasn't second place still his?
"Fifth place, Ye Xuan, 625 points."
"Hiss!"
"What?"
"Ye Xuan is fifth in the class?"
"He was thirteenth last time, and now he's jumped straight to fifth?"
After Ye Xuan's score was announced, another wave of exclamations erupted in the classroom.
Chen Ming's expression turned ugly again.
Although he was still second this time, Ye Xuan was only 23 points behind him.
If he remembered correctly, on the last exam, he had beaten Ye Xuan by more than 60 points!
Could this guy really have been hiding his strength?!
His two best friends' faces flushed crimson.
Yesterday they had been calling Ye Xuan a braggart.
Today they were getting slapped in the face by Ye Xuan!
How humiliating, absolutely damn humiliating!
"625 points... he has a chance of getting into a 985 university!
If he raises his score by another 40 points, he could apply to the same university as me!"
Xiao Nanzhi's bright eyes lit up, but they quickly dimmed.
There were only 29 days left until the Gaokao.
Raising one's score by 40 points in such a short time was almost...
No, it should be completely impossible.
After announcing the scores, Zhang Guangming gave the students another pep talk.
Then he pinned the score sheet to the side of the blackboard and left the classroom.
As soon as Lao Ban left, the classroom instantly exploded into a din.
Some students ran up to the score sheet to check their rankings.
Others ran over to Ye Xuan to ask why he had done so well this time.
Naturally, Ye Xuan trotted out his previous excuse about having hidden his strength.
After all, besides that, he couldn't find any other plausible reason.
Similarly, the classmates couldn't think of any other reasonable explanation, so they simply believed his story.
Just as morning self-study was about to end, Zhang Guangming returned to the classroom.
"Ye Xuan, we just got word.
At 10:00 AM, Bureau Chief Chen from the Mingcheng Branch Bureau is coming to award you a certificate of honor for bravery.
A reporter from Mingcheng TV Station is coming with him, so get ready."
As soon as Zhang Guangming finished speaking, the classroom exploded once again.
"Damn, Ye Xuan is awesome!"
"He's about to be on TV!"
"The bureau chief is coming personally, impressive!"
"Damn, I'm so jealous!"
Chen Ming felt like he was going to vomit blood, seriously going to vomit blood.
First, his breakfast offering was rejected by Xiao Nanzhi.
Then, when the scores were announced, he was utterly shown up by Ye Xuan.
And now he heard that Ye Xuan was going to be on TV...
In the span of a single morning, he had been hit by a triple combo of cruel reality!
After the depression...
"A persistent guy wins over a resolute maiden. Chen Ming, you can do this!"
Chen Ming clenched his fists tightly, his gaze turning resolute once again.
...
At 9:40 AM, at the entrance of the No. 1 High School auditorium.
Gui Jianchou, sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, a white shirt, and brightly polished leather shoes, was spiritedly directing the Grade 1 and Grade 2 students inside.
Today's award ceremony would be attended not only by people from the Mingcheng Branch Bureau and the TV station, but even leaders from the Education Bureau.
As the dean of students, he naturally had to keep a tight grip on the venue's discipline.
On the other side, Ye Xuan came out of the classroom and ran toward the auditorium.
From afar, he saw Gui Jianchou standing at the entrance "directing traffic."
Instantly, he sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth. "How did I run into this guy again..."
The scene from yesterday when he claimed his name was "Bi Yuntao" was still fresh in his mind.
If he walked over now, Gui Jianchou would definitely recognize him!
After a brief moment of hesitation, Ye Xuan bit the bullet, joined the end of the crowd, and filed in line.
Just as he was about to reach the entrance...
"Huh? That student... the student at the very back... stop right there..."
"As expected, I am like a firefly in the dark night—so distinct, so outstanding..."
Ye Xuan sighed, pretending to look blankly as he raised his head. "Teacher, are you calling me?"
Gui Jianchou looked him up and down for a moment and frowned. "Aren't you Bi Yun..."
Ye Xuan looked pleasantly surprised. "You know me?"
Gui Jianchou gave him a look reserved for idiots. "We just met yesterday, aren't you in Grade 3, Class 7?"
Ye Xuan came to a sudden realization. "Oh, you mean my older brother."
"Your older brother?"
"Yeah, my brother Bi Yuntao is in Grade 3, Class 7."
"Then you are...?"
"My name is Bi Yunsheng. We're twin brothers."
Gui Jianchou was completely baffled by the story. "Then you're a third-year student too?"
"I was mischievous when I was in primary school and had to repeat a grade, so I'm in Grade 2 this year."
With that, Ye Xuan glanced at the entrance. "Um... Teacher, the students from my class have all gone in. Look..."
Gui Jianchou waved a hand. "All right, hurry on inside too, and mind the discipline."
"You got it!"
As Ye Xuan's figure disappeared into the entrance, Gui Jianchou stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "Bi Yuntao... Bi Yunsheng... 'Tao still remains as the waves'? This family... is quite interesting!"
...
"Ye Xuan, you're finally here."
In the front row of the auditorium, Zhang Guangming, who had been waiting for a long time, waved at Ye Xuan.
As soon as Ye Xuan walked up to him, Zhang Guangming immediately introduced him to the other school leaders and teachers.
Just then, Gui Jianchou walked in with his hands clasped behind his back after finishing "directing traffic."
Along the way, he kept admonishing the students:
"Keep quiet!"
"Pay attention to venue discipline!"
After giving his instructions, he turned his head and saw Ye Xuan surrounded by his colleagues.
For a moment, he was stunned.
Why was this Bi Yunsheng so popular with the teachers?
At that moment, Zhang Guangming also spotted Gui Jianchou and quickly smiled. "Director Qian, let me introduce you. This is the hero who rescued the victims from the Rainy Night Fiend—Ye Xuan."
Gui Jianchou: "???"