Chapter 18

Time flew by, and it was exam day.

The seating for the exams was based on grades, with Xu Zhilu in the first seat of the first exam room and Shen Siyan in the last seat of the last exam room.

They each held a different kind of first place.

Xu Zhilu had slept well the previous night and wasn’t particularly nervous on exam day.

Though she felt a bit rusty, overall, she felt okay about the exams.

The exams lasted only two days, so the pressure wasn’t too intense.

The boy sitting behind Xu Zhilu was someone she knew but wasn’t very familiar with.

In the first exam room, the only person she was close to was Jian Anran.

After entering the exam room, Xu Zhilu leaned against the wall, casually flipping through her book.

While she was reading, she heard a conversation behind her.

“Zhao Wencheng, why aren’t you reviewing?”

“What’s the point?” said Zhao Wencheng, the boy sitting behind Xu Zhilu. “Cramming at the last minute doesn’t help.”

Xu Zhilu paused her page-turning.

The other student laughed. “It does help.”

Zhao Wencheng glanced at Xu Zhilu’s back and scoffed. “Last time, I just wasn’t focused and forgot to answer a question. That won’t happen again.”

Listening to their conversation, Xu Zhilu thought even top students could be childish.

If you didn’t do well, you didn’t do well. Why do you find so many excuses?

She refocused on her book, reviewing the classical Chinese poetry and prose likely to be on the exam, until the teacher walked in.

Xu Zhilu placed her book on the podium and concentrated on the exam.

Exam time passed faster than class, and in the blink of an eye, two days flew by.

After the exams, students inevitably compared answers.

Xu Zhilu wasn’t interested in this and didn’t want to participate.

“Xu Zhilu, what did you choose for the first reading comprehension question?”

Xu Zhilu replied, “I don’t remember.”

The classmate was taken aback and pouted at her indifferent expression. “Oh.”

She added, “The exams are over, it’s okay to talk about it.”

Xu Zhilu clarified, “I really don’t remember.”

But such explanations didn’t convince some of my classmates. They assumed she, as a top student, didn’t want to share.

Xu Zhilu didn’t bother explaining further and started packing her things to return to the dorm.

Shen Siyan glanced at her. “How did the exam go?”

“Not great.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t do well?”

Xu Zhilu nodded. “Maybe.”

What Xu Zhilu didn’t know was that her casual response to Shen Siyan would spread.

That evening, Xin An’an came to her with a screenshot, looking upset.

Xin An’an: They are too much! They’re saying you look down on everyone by saying you didn’t do well! They think you’re looking down on them, saying it on purpose to make them feel bad.

Xu Zhilu: ?

Xin An’an: You told Shen Siyan you didn’t do well, and everyone is saying top students are so humble. They’re sarcastically saying you’re not sincere.

Xu Zhilu: …

She felt helpless.

She genuinely thought she didn’t do well. After not dealing with monthly exams for so many years, no matter how strong her foundation was or how hard she studied, she couldn’t expect to return to the level she was at four or five years ago in just a month.

Xu Zhilu: I really didn’t do well.

Xin An’an: When the results come out on Monday, they’re sure to start making sarcastic comments again.

Xu Zhilu: It’s okay, I truly didn’t do well.

Xin An’an: Why?

Xu Zhilu: No reason, just unsure about the answers.

Xin An’an: Don’t worry, it’s just one bad test. There will be plenty more chances.

Xu Zhilu: Yeah.

She wasn’t too concerned about the exam. One setback didn’t matter; she could catch up. Having lived a second life, she couldn’t afford to live worse than the first time around.

—

Xu Zhilu quickly put the matter behind her. She was busy, so much so that she didn’t even want to deal with Xu Zhijia, let alone anyone else.

On Saturday morning, Xu Zhilu told Shen Siyan she wouldn’t be attending their study session and went out alone.

She went to the place where she used to take dance lessons.

Xu Zhilu had learned dance for a long time. Her mother had strong opinions about it but never stopped her from pursuing these skills.

The reason was simple: the Xu family always wanted to climb higher, and her mother wanted to turn her daughter into a refined lady, so she enrolled Xu Zhilu in these classes.

Xu Zhijia indeed had many talents, all of which were preparations for the future.

Xu Zhilu had learned dance and piano, but she always fought with Xu Zhijia over the piano, so she stopped learning it. Later, when she heard Shen Siyan say he liked the piano, she picked it up again and dropped dance.

Xu Zhilu re-enrolled in dance, finally feeling at ease.

She didn’t rush to fix all her regrets; she just wanted to complete them one by one.

If she couldn’t finish, then there would still be regrets left.

Life couldn’t be without regrets, even in a second chance.

For two days, Xu Zhilu left early and returned late, attending dance lessons.

During class, she followed the teacher’s instructions, and when there were no classes, she stayed to practice since the place didn’t restrict student practice.

—

By Sunday afternoon, Xu Zhilu returned to school alone.

During evening self-study, she inevitably heard her classmates discussing their exam results.

Xu Zhilu wasn’t interested and, feeling a bit tired, leafed through her book.

She hadn’t had dinner and was starting to feel hungry.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated in the desk drawer.

She pulled it out and saw a message from Shen Siyan.

Shen Siyan: Back at school?

Xu Zhilu: Yes.

Shen Siyan: Have you eaten?

Xu Zhilu: ?

Shen Siyan: Want to come out for dinner? Cheng Song and the others are here too.

Xu Zhilu responded without thinking: No.

Shen Siyan didn’t message back. After a while, Xin An’an called.

Xu Zhilu answered quietly, “Hello?”

“Zhilu, come out for barbecue! We’re all here.” Xin An’an shouted, “Tomorrow the results come out, and I won’t be able to be this happy, so come join us.”

Xu Zhilu: “…”

She could guess who Xin An’an was with. After a pause, Xu Zhilu replied softly, “No, I’m not hungry.”

Xin An’an sighed, “Alright, but didn’t you just tell me you hadn’t eaten dinner?”

Xu Zhilu: “I’m not hungry now.”

Xin An’an understood, “Okay, you study well then.”

“Mm.”

After hanging up, Xu Zhilu tried to focus on her studies.

After a while, her phone vibrated again, and this time it was from someone unexpected—Peng Jin, whom she had had dinner with before.

They had exchanged contact information after that dinner, and Peng Jin occasionally messaged her to discuss problems.

Xu Zhilu wasn’t very responsive, often replying much later, but Peng Jin didn’t seem to mind.

She looked at Peng Jin’s message; it was a registration link.

Peng Jin: This is the registration link for a national English speech contest. I think you should try it.

Xu Zhilu bit her lip and replied: Okay, thank you.

Peng Jin: No problem. I heard you had your monthly exams last week. Have the results come out?

Xu Zhilu: Not yet.

Peng Jin: I was going to congratulate you.

Xu Zhilu stared at the message for a while before replying: Don’t mock me when the time comes.

Peng Jin: Didn’t do well?

Xu Zhilu: Not sure, I need to study now.

Peng Jin understood and didn’t press further: Alright, good luck. See you at the competition.

Xu Zhilu didn’t reply.

She stared at the registration link for a long time before clicking it.

Upon opening it, she saw the requirements and the prizes for winning.

Seeing that the first prize was ten thousand yuan, she immediately clicked to register.

In less than half an hour, Xu Zhilu had successfully completed the registration.

She didn’t guarantee winning first place, but the prize was tempting enough to give it a try.

After registering, Xu Zhilu continued studying.

Meanwhile, Xin An’an, having hung up, looked at Shen Siyan and said, “She’s not coming.”

Shen Siyan wasn’t surprised, merely nodding, “I know.”

Xin An’an and Cheng Song exchanged glances.

Cheng Song said, “Let’s eat. Xu Zhilu must not be hungry. She probably didn’t do well and wants to study.”

Xin An’an nodded.

When they were almost done eating, Shen Siyan suddenly asked, “Are you finished?”

Xin An’an, puzzled, nodded, “Yes.”
Shen Siyan nodded and turned to the boss, “Boss, please pack a portion of rib porridge and fried dumplings.”