Chapter 82 1/2

The test papers were scanned into the computer, and Jiang Li was using the computer to grade. The speed was impressive, taking only three or four seconds to complete a large question.

Cen Lang, persistent and annoying, asked, “Can you clearly see my scoring points like this?”

Jiang Li replied, “Your scoring points are meagre.”

Cen Lang questioned, “How am I meagre?”

He watched helplessly as Jiang Li gave a rough zero to the well-reasoned and well-founded drug liver metabolism process he had written.

He lamented, “Professor Jiang, you missed a scoring point.”

Jiang Li asked, “Where?”

Cen Lang said, “My handwriting is so beautiful; why not give me some credit for presentation?”

Jiang Li nodded solemnly, went back, retrieved his question, and changed the zero to one.

Seeing an opportunity, Cen Lang insisted on getting presentation points whenever his handwriting was encountered during grading.

Jiang Li said, “I haven’t heard of giving presentation points based on handwriting.”

Cen Lang persisted: “Consider it an effort score.”

Jiang Li agreed, and Cen Lang managed to earn ten extra points through persuasion, making Dr. Xiao Jiang’s ears turn red.

The dull task of grading, accompanied by Cen Lang, was completed in two hours. They pressed the total score button, added the multiple-choice scores generated by the machine, and saw ten failing grades. The system suggested assigning regular scores.

Jiang Li clicked “OK,” reducing the failing count to seven.

“59 points,” Jiang Li said to Cen Lang before the official release of grades.

Cen Lang teased, “No wonder you were generous with presentation points. Is it accurate? Can’t you give an extra point?”

Jiang Li replied, “There’s nothing extra.”

Cen Lang accepted it, using his charm to gain ten points, sparing himself from ten days of sleepless nights in the study.

Jiang Li asked, “I still want to know why you failed my course.”

With the other two grades already out, Jiang Li’s chosen courses seemed suitable for him. Cen Lang breezed through without knowing if sympathy played a role.

Cen Lang explained, “I couldn’t focus in your class.”

His gaze couldn’t move from Dr. Xiao Jiang’s face; the teaching style was imposing and scholarly, as if there were insurmountable academic barriers between him and the world. In reality, Professor Jiang’s spouse was medically blind.

Cen Lang said, “I haven’t tired of not seeing you for a whole semester.”

Jiang Li suggested, “Maybe a different major would suit you better?”

Cen Lang scoffed, “Retake? Kid, lend me your New Year’s money.”

“Sure,” said the lively boy, bringing out a milk can from under the bed, grabbing a handful of bills, and presenting them to his father. “Dad, here you go. No need to pay back.”

Cen Lang thanked his son and placed the money in front of Professor Jiang, saying, “No retake, just a fee for re-enrolment.”

The boy repeated, “Re-enrolment fee.”

Jiang Li, looking at Cen Lang, said, “You won’t regret this.”

Cen Lang assured me, “I can afford this little money.”

The boy generously added, “Dad, you can take the exam many times. I have New Year’s money.”

Cen Lang covered his mouth, saying, “Don’t tease, kid.”

Jiang Li sought the boy’s opinion, but he preferred not to attend preschool and play with grandparents at home. In the fall, the four-year-old boy went directly to kindergarten.

Jiang Li and Cen Lang brought him to the kindergarten gate. Bending down, they said, “Dad is going to class; you’re going to class too. When dad finishes class, you finish too. Dad will pick you up, okay?”

The boy agreed, “Okay, dad.”

The kindergarten, jointly opened by Cen Wei and Jiang Wanlan, had carefully selected teachers and students, not based on financial status or intelligence but avoiding children with a tendency to violence.

“Don’t worry,” Cen Lang patted Jiang Li’s back, revealing, “Your dad is hiding in the kindergarten office.”

Jiang Wanlan didn’t send the child to kindergarten to avoid separation anxiety, so he stayed inside, checking and patrolling. He would work in an unseen location all day.

Cen Lang assured, “It’s not an orphanage; no one will bully or isolate him. I guarantee that.”

Jiang Li looked up, and Cen Lang saw his slightly red eyes. He hugged him comfortingly, saying, “It’s all in the past.”

With Dad overseeing and Cen Lang understanding his thoughts, Jiang Ping took a deep breath. What was there to worry about?

“Let’s go to class. Professor Jiang, your student is waiting for you.”

Jiang Li glanced at the number one troublesome student and said, “From now on, you’ll sit in the front row.”

Cen Lang wondered why but followed the order. The new school year brought new students; those who failed last year had passed the makeup exams, except for Cen Lang.

Most people didn’t associate the handsome guy in the front row with Professor Jiang. Cen Lang sat more conservatively in the front, not as isolated as sitting alone in the back, with someone besides and behind him.

However, in the second class, people swiftly evacuated a metre around Cen Lang because Professor Jiang would ask questions!

Jiang Li randomly called names from the student list: “Cen Lang, answer this.”

Cen Lang’s expression froze, standing—