WuxiaWorldEU

CH 42.2

Translator: minodayz

Editor: maripaz, Miss Bookie

Proofreader: Librismuse

The days after the snow had melted became extremely monotonous. Day after day came the same repetitions of classes, same regulated set times for morning and evening self-study. Peng Zige, besides being picky with the cafeteria’s offerings, had also begun to concentrate on his studies. Normally, he would have been the rowdy one, stirring up the rest of them. However, since mucking up the last exams, he would *grit his teeth and dig in his heels to study even after classes were over.

(T/L: The text actually said he bit the dead skin of his upper lips – sounds a little odd)

With Ruan Mingxian’s help in opening up new avenues of thinking, Rong Si was better able to tutor her, and Li Erqin no longer had a worried frown on her face because of physics.

As everyone studied, the usually hardworking and diligent Su Zi naturally became even more diligent and hardworking.

Every time the Form teacher patrolled the rows of students during the self-study class and looked at the corner of hardworking students putting in their utmost effort, he couldn’t help but feel gratified. That Peng Zige student had finally stopped disrupting everyone’s studying.

So it was that amidst those days of diligent studying, they ushered in the second monthly exam of the second term of their second year.

The ‘took-a-big-drop-in-rankings’ Peng Zige and the ‘bombed-physics’ Li Erqin were in the same examination hall.

Before the exams had begun, Peng Zige had anxiousness written all over his face. “Li Erqin, what would happen this time around if we don’t do well on this round of exams?”

Li Erqin pondered before replying, “We will get poor results?”

Peng Zige couldn’t resist rolling his eyes. “Was I asking about that?”

Li Erqin lined the three pens she had neatly on her table. “Well, if we don’t do well, then we have to work harder next time.”

“I’m not like you.” Peng Zige’s face was dispirited. “My mum has very strict expectations regarding my grades.”

“You’ve already put in a lot of effort.”

Peng Zige persisted, “But they don’t know that.”

Li Erqin looked at him strangely. “Isn’t what really matters is that you know it?”

Peng Zige was still puzzled.

“Moreover, it would be an anomaly if you bombed the exam.”

Peng Zige pursed his lips.

Li Erqin stroked her chin. “Not to worry, you’ll definitely do well this time.”

“Then I should believe you?”

Li Erqin laughed. “Yup.”

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Half an hour before the end of the last paper, Li Erqin handed in her paper and walked out of the class. Rong Si was, as usual, waiting outside the door. Their eyes met and Li Erqin laughed. “No problem at all.”

Rong Si turned his head and continued to watch some boys playing basketball below.

This time the questions for the exam were exceptionally easy, and as such, a lot of students had handed in their papers much earlier. Some had gone off to shoot some hoops, while some headed to the cafeteria for something to eat and others had returned to their hostels to rest.

Since the exams were still in progress, everyone had respectfully kept their voices down. However, even their low voices resounded like a multitude of buzzing bees across the school grounds. It was the power of many people gathered in one place.

Li Erqin copied Rong Si and leaned against the railing to look down at the basketball courts. In the setting sun, their figures cast long and thin shadows that slanted away from them and onto the dim red ground.

Li Erqin watched the games for a bit and then, suddenly, laughed out loud.

Rong Si looked over at her questioningly.

Li Erqin cupped her hand to the side of her mouth and whispered in glee, “Peng Zige’s mum’s beatings must have put the fear in him.”

Rong Si was baffled at how this lady could be watching a basketball game and somehow have her thoughts wander over to Peng Zige’s mum.

Li Erqin swept a glance into the exam hall to roughly where Peng Zige sat. “Up until now, Peng Zige still hasn’t dared to hand in his exam papers and come out.”

Rong Si smiled. “Checking things over a few more times isn’t such a bad thing.”

Li Erqin turned back to her original position. “Peng Zige and Su Zi are really a destined pair.”

Rong Si lifted his brows.

Ultimately, Peng Zige held on right until the bell rang for the end of the exam before walking out. He was totally pleased with himself as he gave a big stretch. “*Oh my goodness, finally the exams are all over!”

(T/N: the exclaim “Oh my mother!” Lol – a Chinese way of exclamation.)

LI Erqin didn’t understand how she could stand idly out in the corridor for over half an hour as if in ‘punishment’. Her legs had pins and needles when she began to move. “How about we go look for Su Zi?”

Peng Zige was clutching his revision notes and his heart yearned to utterly chuck them into oblivion. “What a pain! I really wish there wasn’t such a thing as exams coz I really don’t want to study anymore. How much longer do we have to endure this life of exams?”

Li Erqin turned back. “Two and a half years.”

Peng Zige retorted, “… I knew that.”

He folded his revision notes and stuffed them into his pocket. He was well aware that both Rong Si and Li Erqin weren’t the kind that liked to compare answers after the exams. He had to wait to see Su Zi before he could indulge in that particular activity.

(MissBookie: Li Erqin is onto something!)

However, he wasn’t able to resist asking, “Li Erqin, for the third question, what did you choose?”

Li Erqin took a moment to recall before answering, “A.”

“Yes!” Peng Zige was delighted. “What about the second to last question? I wasn’t too sure about that answer.”

Li Erqin was not too sure herself. “I think it’s a C?”

Peng Zige was stunned momentarily before exclaiming, “How can it be C! Ah Si, what about you?”

Rong Si replied, “I’ve forgotten.”

Peng Zige was dumbstruck.

In the end, the answer was indeed C. Peng Zige had gotten the answer wrong. However, so did Li Erqin.

Peng Zige spied from afar the exam papers that Li Erqin had just received. “Didn’t you say that you answered C?”

Li Erqin was too baffled for words. Surely someone had gone and changed the answer on the paper!

Unlike the last month’s placing results, there were a few surprises this time. Peng Zige had successfully triumphed with his achievements. It was not just that he placed second in the class, he had also placed within the top ten in their grade.

Not only were the teachers confounded, Peng Zige himself found it hard to take it all in.

Li Erqin felt that the weekend after he had taken his results back home, Peng Zige had returned slightly plumper.

Su Zi couldn’t resist teasing him. “Was the weekend feast good?”

A smug-looking Peng Zige replied, “A lavish banquet of fish and meat.”

Su Zi needled, “I think you’ve eaten so much that your face has gotten a greasy shine.”

Peng Zige rebuffed, “I think you’re just envious that I placed ahead of you.”

It was unclear who had been influencing Su Zi lately, but she neither refuted this nor was she upset. “At the next round, I will just have to score better than you.”

Peng Zige harrumphed, “Have you ever even made it to the top 10 of the whole school?”

Su Zi glared at him. “JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!!!”

(MissBookie: You go girl!)

Li Erqin quietly pinched her own face. The meals at her house this weekend were also exceptionally good. Her mom knew that her physics grade had crept up from the minimum passing mark and figured that she must be enduring no small amount of hardships at school. Thus, she had prepared a feast that Li Erqin could not refuse.

Now, however, Li Erqin gave a worried sigh. Maybe her own face also had an oily shine to it from the weekend’s repast.

Her line of thinking stopped as she suddenly thought of Rong Si and how his meals every weekend at home must be very good as well.

She turned towards Rong Si who had his ear phones on while reading a book. “Rong Si.”

There was no reply.

Li Erqin was puzzled.

What book was he reading?

A manga?

Li Erqin was rather surprised. She quietly edged closer with the intention of taking a peek to confirm her suspicion.

The manga book was closed abruptly.

The cover was closed so quickly, in fact, that she was not able to get a good look.

Rong Si was very composed as he calmly looked at her. He had already removed his earphone from his left ear.

“What’s the matter?”

“What manga are you reading there?”

Rong Si counter-questioned, “You wanna read it?”

Li Erqin shook her head.

An excited Peng Zige butted into the conversation. “Is that the manga that I had recommended to you?”

Rong Si nodded.

“Isn’t it a good read?” Peng Zige’s eyes were beaming. “Which part of the story are you at?”

“Where the main character died.”

Peng Zige was stunned. “But the main character didn’t die.”

“The white-haired guy.”

Peng Zige was momentarily speechless. “…. He isn’t the main character…”

Rong Si was enlightened.

Peng Zige asked, “Do you really get what you’ve been reading? How in the world did you think he was the main character?”

Without any change to his expression, Rong Si replied, “I liked his character the most.”

Peng Zige was totally exasperated. “The main character isn’t based on your personal preference. It’s decided by the author. Haven’t you ever read a manga before?”

“No.”

Minodayz : I just knew the answer was a big fat NO! Lol – RS is just RS! Also I was laughing hard when LEQ thought someone had tweaked her answer and the cherry on the top was her thinking she might have a oily fat facetoo! SZ is slowly coming out of her shell and her character is developing. This group just keeps making me laugh with delight.

Also, I am out of town for a month and we have special guest translators coming in to assist, so the next chapters will see some cameo translators. Do give them a MG fan welcome! Lol!!!! My heartfelt thanks to them indeed. Til Friday & cheers to an awesome year ahead!