College Entrance Exam Results

“Hey, lunatic, have you checked your scores yet?” It was nearly ten o’clock when Gao Xiaohua suddenly called.

“Not yet. I tried twice just now, but it kept saying the line was busy. Looks like a lot of people are checking their scores at this hour; I might not be able to get through tonight,” Chen Fengyun replied.

“You’ll definitely get into a top university. My parents are hoping I can get into Rongcheng University, but I’m not sure if my scores are enough. It’s driving me crazy,” Gao Xiaohua said, clearly under a lot of pressure.

“Relax, fatty. Didn’t you do well on the last few practice exams? I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Chen Fengyun comforted him.

“If you say I can do it, then I can!” The chubby boy was clearly calling to seek reassurance, and now hung up, feeling much happier.

What Chen Fengyun didn’t know was that there were people even more anxious than himself—namely, the leaders and teachers at Fifth High. This year, with Chen Fengyun likely to break into the top fifty in Rongcheng’s liberal arts rankings, they had already rushed to the Provincial Examination Institute to await the results.

And those waiting weren’t just the leaders of Fifth High. Leaders from other schools in Rongcheng were there, as well as principals from national key schools from other regions. Every year, when the college entrance exam results were released, this scene was repeated. All the heads of national key schools were most concerned about which school would claim the province’s top scorer.

Most years, the top science and liberal arts scorers came from Rongcheng’s Four, Seven, or Nine High Schools, but occasionally, the crown was snatched by a national key school from another city. So, if any school felt their star student had a chance, they would send their leaders to wait at the Provincial Examination Institute, hoping to be the first to know.

One vice principal from Fifth High was among them, but his purpose was different from the others. He wasn’t expecting to claim the provincial top scorer—he only wanted to know Chen Fengyun’s ranking among liberal arts students statewide, and whether he’d made it into Rongcheng’s top fifty.

“Principal Zhou, will your school produce this year’s provincial top scorer again?”

“That’s hard to say. This year, Four High has some outstanding students; the top scorer could come from their school.”

“You’re too modest. It all depends on how students perform on the day. Nine High has a shot at the top, too.”

“Old Liu, don’t underestimate the heroes out there. Remember, last year’s provincial top scorer came from the national key school in Neijiang. Anything is possible.”

“That’s true. Your Mianyang Education Group is formidable—you’ve claimed the provincial top before.”

“And Rongcheng Foreign Language School has produced several provincial top scorers in recent years. They’re strong contenders as well.”

The heads of these national key schools exchanged polite words. They had all claimed the province’s top scorer at some point. Though competing, they shared a common language and chatted amicably, even with a hint of humility.

Only Vice Principal Yu from Fifth High stood quietly in the corner, head bowed, avoiding familiar faces and dreading any questions about his school’s history—or whether they’d ever produced a provincial top scorer.

Yet, someone recognized him—a vice principal from Four High who not only knew Yu, but had been his college classmate. After graduation, they’d worked together for several years, though their paths had diverged since.

“Yu, is that really you? I thought I was mistaken. What brings you here? Could it be your school has a student in the running for provincial top scorer?”

“Oh, Zhu, it’s been a long time. Our principal insisted I come to check a student’s score. The provincial top is out of reach; I just want to see if he made it into Rongcheng’s top fifty.”

Though old classmates and colleagues, their current situations had created an invisible divide, so Vice Principal Yu felt a bit embarrassed, but answered honestly.

“Yu, you’re still so modest. Why not dare to dream? What if your student does claim the provincial top scorer?” Vice Principal Zhu seemed to be joking, but his words caught the attention of those nearby.

Some quietly asked who Yu was. Hearing he was just a vice principal from Fifth High, some smiled silently and lost interest in talking with him.

Just then, a commotion arose from inside, followed by someone announcing loudly, “This year’s top science scorer is Liu Yan’er, with a score of 718!”

“Wow, the provincial science top scorer is out! Liu Yan’er, 718 points—whose school is she from?”

“Everyone, which school does Liu Yan’er belong to? Who’s claimed this year’s provincial science top scorer?”

“What? Liu Yan’er is the top science scorer—she’s from Luzhou Second High.” Instantly, a voice called out from the edge of the crowd, revealing that the top scorer was from a national key school in southern Sichuan.

“Ah, are you the principal of Luzhou Second High? Congratulations!”

“Luzhou Second High is renowned in southern Sichuan, we’ve all heard of you. You truly deserve the honor.”

“Congratulations to Luzhou Second High!”

A chorus of voices rose. Although the provincial top scorer had gone to another school, it was still a national key school—no one was surprised.

“The top liberal arts scorer is Chen Fengyun, with a score of 687!” Another voice rang out from inside, but with the crowd outside being lively and Vice Principal Yu standing far off in the corner, he didn’t catch the announcement.

“The top liberal arts scorer is Chen Fengyun—whose school is he from?”

“To score 687 in liberal arts—that’s more than twenty points over last year’s top scorer.”

“Which school has a student named Chen Fengyun?”

The hubbub spread outward from the center of the crowd. By the time it reached Vice Principal Yu, he only heard the name “Chen Fengyun,” without understanding what had happened.

Moreover, in Yu’s mind, the idea of claiming the provincial top scorer was unthinkable, so he didn’t connect Chen Fengyun’s name with the honor, not until Vice Principal Zhu from Four High walked over, muttering.

“Yu, I have something to take care of, so I’ll leave you to wait here.”

Four High hadn’t claimed any top scorers this year, so Zhu had no reason to stay.

“Zhu, I just heard them mention Chen Fengyun inside—what’s going on?” Yu grabbed him to ask.

“Chen Fengyun? Wait, does your school have a student by that name?” Zhu replied, incredulous.

“We do—a liberal arts star named Chen Fengyun. I’ve been waiting here half the day just to check his score. I thought I heard them mention him inside, but I don’t know what it’s about,” Yu said, a little embarrassed.