Chapter 52.4

Li Zhuiyuan didn’t return to class. Instead, he went to a small classroom that wasn’t usually in use.

There were already more than a dozen people inside, from both junior and senior years of high school—handpicked by the math department teachers to prepare for the city’s Olympiad math competition.

The mainland’s craze for Olympiad math was at its peak. Performing well in these competitions could offer a significant boost in college admissions.

Originally, Li Zhuiyuan had been invited by Teacher Yan to participate as a student. But within a few days, several math teachers were already asking him to write questions.

The problems in these competitions were more challenging and flexible. From the moment he joined, Li Zhuiyuan often saw scenes of both students and teachers huddled together, struggling to solve them.

He quickly realized he’d been living comfortably without understanding how tough it was for others. His own access to study resources was incredibly privileged—something common only in big cities. Nationally, the commercialization of educational and competition prep materials was still in its infancy. Many schools still begged bigger schools for copies of mock exams.

On the blackboard were problems Li Zhuiyuan had written the day before. Half were already checked off. He picked up a piece of chalk and began writing solutions to the unchecked ones.

One by one, the students and teachers below revealed enlightened expressions and let out strings of:

“Ohhh, so that’s how it is.”

Li Zhuiyuan found it much easier teaching them than teaching Binbin. He didn’t have to spell out every step or worry about balancing difficulty to keep someone motivated.

Even if someone didn’t understand after seeing the solution, they’d just ask the person next to them. If they still didn’t get it, they’d be weeded out and sent back to regular class.

After wiping off the board, Li Zhuiyuan began composing more problems.

The teachers and students below started copying them down. Outside of competition season, they all had either teaching or study duties and couldn’t stay holed up in here all day.

Outside, Principal Wu quietly brought a few vice principals and department heads to peek in.

Watching the small figure standing on a stool to write on the blackboard, they all wore expressions like they’d struck oil in their own backyard.

“I think we’ll definitely have a few students make it past the city level this time.”

“I’d say we’ve at least got one sure bet…”

“Let me guess, you’re thinking that one sure bet might even take first place in the city?”

Nantong had always been an educational powerhouse. Every county and city under its administration had its own top-tier schools.

Yet their own school wasn’t even top tier within their own county—more like starting out on nightmare mode.

Principal Wu Xinhan stroked his chin, deeply gratified. It hadn’t been for nothing that he’d personally driven to recruit the kid.

Every meeting in the past, he had to watch others pretend to be modest while subtly showing off. Wu Xinhan had penned more sarcastic counter-points in his mind than he could count. Looked like this time, it was finally his turn to shine.

At that moment, a department head got a little too excited and blurted out, “Does this count as a college entrance exam transplant?”

Everyone nearby stared at him like he’d grown another head.

Wu Xinhan burst out laughing and joked, “Who moves all the way from Beijing just to take the Jiangsu college entrance exam?”

After a pause, he added, “You genius, why don’t you ship coal from the Northeast to sell in Shanxi?”

The department head quickly raised his hands to clarify, “I meant this kind of happiness!”

After the Olympiad prep session, Li Zhuiyuan returned to the principal’s office.

He saw the principal and two PE teachers hanging a curtain. Behind it was a spring mattress.

“Xiaoyuan, you’ll rest here from now on. The desks in the classroom are too hard.”

After finishing the afternoon exam, there was still some time before school let out. Li Zhuiyuan returned to class.

The classroom was like a graveyard. Everyone looked drained from a whole day of tests.

Even Tan Wenbin had his head down.

But there were still more exams in the evening. To save time, they were cramming them all into one day.

Which meant Tan Wenbin wouldn’t be walking home with him tonight.

“Binbin-ge, you going home tonight?”

“No, I’m heading to Zhuangzhuang’s place after the exam.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll go back once the monthly test scores come out.” Tan Wenbin lifted his head, flipped open a book, and started reviewing key concepts.

After a while, he slumped down again, clutching his stomach—probably hungry and running on empty.

Li Zhuiyuan took a chocolate bar from his pocket and handed it over.

“Huh?” Tan Wenbin grabbed it, unwrapped it, and popped it in his mouth. “Where’d you get this?”

“From the principal’s office, hehe.”

“Not bad, tastes great. No wonder it’s principal-blessed.”

He mimed a basketball shot and lobbed a chocolate at Zheng Haiyang. It nailed him on the head. Startled at first, Zheng Haiyang laughed when he realized it was candy.

The class monitor looked up at the commotion and glared.

Tan Wenbin glared right back.

As if he’d be scared of the class monitor. How could he hold the title of Right Guardian otherwise?

But after the glare, he lobbed another arc.

“Ding-dong.” The chocolate landed squarely on the class monitor’s desk.

Her face instantly flushed red.

Everyone nearby chimed in: “Ooooh~”

But Tan Wenbin seemed oblivious. After tossing it, he lowered his head and asked Li Zhuiyuan, “Xiaoyuan-ge, aren’t you anxious without any Dead Sinkers to retrieve lately?”

“Nope.”

“Didn’t you love dragging up Dead Sinkers the most?”

“Yeah, but I can’t help it if I don’t run into any.”

“You’re not gonna go looking? Dead Sinkers don’t just show up at school for inspections. They’re not officials.”

“My eyes were messed up last time.”

“Eh, but they’re better now, right?”

“Great-Grandpa was worried.”

“Oh, got it.” Tan Wenbin nodded. “Makes sense. Let’s leave it to fate then.”

“Ding-ling-ling!!!”

The bell rang.

Students dragged themselves up and sluggishly left the classroom in search of food. Knowing there were still more exams tonight, they moved like a horde of Dead Sinkers.

“Binbin-ge, lend me a few books and worksheets. I’ll take them back.”

“Lighting incense and praying to the exam gods for me?”

“Ah Li needs them.”

“Alright, I’ll carry them for you. Haiyang and I are heading to the gate for dinner anyway. I’ll drop them with Runsheng. Haiyang, Haiyang, why are you still sitting there? Let’s eat!”

Everyone else had left the room except Zheng Haiyang, still slumped over his desk.

Tan Wenbin walked over, patted his back, and asked, “What’s up? You okay? Weren’t you fine just now?”

But with that pat came a disturbing “squelch.”

Zheng Haiyang jolted upright as if shocked. Water leaked steadily from his mouth, nose, ears, and eyes.

A puddle had already formed at his feet and was spreading rapidly.

His face was pale, eyes glassy. The next second, like a drowning man craning his neck, he began to scream:

“There’s a bastard buried under the sea; whoever digs him up, their whole family dies!”

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