Chapter Twenty-One: Exceptional

Wu Tong returned to the classroom, feeling that the gazes from her classmates—some obvious, some discreet—were full of inquiry and complexity. She could guess the reason, but didn't pay much mind, heading straight to her seat. The three students sharing her row began their little performance: when they saw Wu Tong, they stood up early, pulled out their chairs to make it easier for her to reach the innermost seat.

"Thank you!" Wu Tong nodded in gratitude.

"You're too polite, genius. Please sit, and share with us—how did you manage to score such an extraordinary result this time?" Zhang Shumei was the first to ask.

She was still in awe; just a summer ago, Wu Tong was a fellow slacker, and now, after a brief separation, she'd risen to the top! Earlier, Zhang had inadvertently glanced at the scratch paper on Wu Tong's desk, which was covered in mathematical formulas that dazzled her eyes—definitely not anything they were studying yet. It was clear that "top of the class" hardly described Wu Tong anymore; she'd already ascended to a legendary tier.

She couldn't believe her own blindness—how had she not realized her desk partner was a hidden academic prodigy?

The students in front and behind also raised their heads, curiosity gleaming in their eyes as they looked at Wu Tong.

"I just read more books and did more exercises. During the summer, I found my foundations shaky and couldn't solve many problems, so I redid all six science subjects. I also went through all the supplementary materials I'd previously bought again—it was quite fruitful!" Wu Tong answered honestly, though she omitted the pace at which she'd studied; there was no need to elaborate here.

She had actually only spent about a month truly focused on studying—her methods weren't necessarily suitable for everyone.

"I'm usually in class with everyone. Whatever I do, it's visible to all!"

"Between classes, I tend to preview the next lesson ahead of time," Wu Tong said, pulling out her language textbook and beginning her review. "Consistency pays off; what you learn never betrays you."

The importance of the college entrance exam, awakening memories of her previous life—Wu Tong understood these deeply. If she could have a positive influence on her classmates, that would be her honor.

With Wu Tong's explanation, everyone recalled that, indeed, since the start of the semester, she'd almost always had a book in her hands—either reading, writing, or solving problems, just as she said.

Zhang Shumei spread her hands; others felt much the same.

What did this explain? That some people's minds simply operated differently. Academic prodigies, once they decided to learn, could soar to the top by reading and practicing more, while the rest of them only gained a few more points or rankings from their efforts.

Now, while others were busy gossiping, Wu Tong had already begun studying. It was clear: someone both smarter and more diligent naturally deserved to score full marks and take first place.

Thinking of this, what was the point of gossiping? Better to open their books and preview or review as needed. If they could accumulate more points, maybe they'd advance and achieve better scores! Most students, save for a handful, had a good attitude toward learning, and under Wu Tong's influence, many were eager to improve just as she had.

Of course, not everyone was so broad-minded; take, for example, Fu Jiajia, the English class representative in the middle row.

"Hypocrite!" Fu Jiajia stabbed her notebook irritably. Until now, she and the class monitor Lin Yang competed for the top spots in class. In the grade rankings, she could reach fifty or sixty at best, and at worst hovered around a hundred. Her grades were her pride; no other girl in class could match her.

This summer, she hadn't spent all her time playing—she'd reviewed and thought she might surpass Lin Yang and become class number one, impressing everyone. When the time came to share, she had debated whether to say she'd played wildly all summer and was surprised by her results, or to present her well-organized study plan for others to emulate and for the teachers to praise.

But when the scores were released, hers were decent—a total above six hundred, ranking eighty-third in the grade—but the class monitor Lin Yang was seventieth, ahead of her. And Wu Tong, with perfect marks in five subjects, made her own achievement seem insignificant. Even in Wu Tong's weakest subject, language, she hadn't surpassed her, scoring only 130.

Jealousy gnawed at her; she wished the glory belonged to her and suspected Wu Tong had been pretending, not trying hard before just to attract attention now.

... The envy, admiration, curiosity, jealousy—all sorts of complicated emotions from others were nothing but fleeting clouds to Wu Tong, not worth her time. She opened her book and entered her study state; what drew her most was still the mastery and progress of knowledge.

The more she studied, the more Wu Tong felt her own inadequacy.

The morning classes consisted mostly of distributing and reviewing test papers. Every teacher who came to Class 7 of Grade 11 praised Wu Tong in much the same way—their special treatment had become so routine that students' ears had grown calluses from hearing it.

The physics teacher, before beginning, stated bluntly: "Wu Tong can do whatever she likes. The rest of you must listen carefully. If any of you can score full marks next time, I'll treat you equally and give you absolute freedom."

He, together with the class advisor and the biology teacher, had participated in grading Wu Tong's comprehensive science paper, witnessing another miracle. This year's comprehensive science exam paper was completed perfectly; mathematics was full marks; language and English, surely, wouldn't be far behind. If Wu Tong took the college entrance exam this year, she'd be a contender for the top scorer—not just someone who could simply get into college!

Wu Tong had already mastered all high school knowledge; today's basic content was hardly worth wasting her time. Let her arrange her own study schedule.

Students like her, they couldn't really teach; absolute freedom was the least they could offer.

Wu Tong smiled helplessly, touching her forehead, and thanked the teacher for his kindness. She pulled out the advanced mathematics book she was studying, turned to chapter three, spread out her scratch paper, and continued her calculations—not letting the teacher's goodwill go to waste.

Zhang Shumei glanced curiously at the cover—Advanced Mathematics. Uh... that's a university textbook, isn't it? She remembered hearing her cousins talk about it—they'd been battered by advanced math, suffering immensely. Yet now, the very textbook that tormented college students was being smoothly worked through by her classmate...

Ah, she wished she could absorb a bit of Wu Tong's academic aura, and soar in math, physics, chemistry, and biology herself!

The English teacher handed Wu Tong this year's college entrance English paper directly. "Today we're mainly correcting papers. Wu Tong, please do this one!" Wu Tong had already done the math and science papers, both with astonishing perfect scores, and the teacher wanted to see how thoroughly she had mastered high school English.

"The rest of you, focus up! How many times have I covered these points in class? And you still make mistakes? Aren't you ashamed?"

...