The director’s voice was incredibly excited, so much so that the happiness couldn’t be concealed even over the phone: “586! Luo Chuxia, you scored 586 points, which is higher than expected. You’re the top science student in the province! Do you know that? The top science student in the province!”

The director didn’t know what else to say and kept repeating that Chuxia scored 586 and was the top science student in the province.

Although Chuxia was confident in herself before, she still felt anxious until the results were out.

Now that she heard the confirmed score, she smiled with relief.

Listening to the director’s incoherent word’s, she didn’t interrupt because she was just as happy as the director.

The director continued, “Do you want to return to the school? Many students who did well want to thank you in person for sharing the exam papers. And since you’re the provincial top student, do you have any words of encouragement for the next year’s students?”

Of course, the banner announcing Chuxia’s score of 586 and her status as the provincial top science student had already been hung up at the school, and now there wasn’t a high school in Liangzhou that didn’t know that No. 9 High School had produced a top science student.

The person who regretted the most was the director of the academic office at No. 6 High School.

Seeing the red banner made his heart ache because he was the one who had sent the provincial top science student away!

If he had accepted Luo Chuxia back then, No. 6 High School would now be the one in glory, not No. 9 High School, which had always lagged behind in terms of graduation rates.

Chuxia declined the director’s offer: “There’s no need for personal thanks. I’ve received their gratitude. It’s inconvenient for me to return to Liangzhou right now, so I won’t go back.”

The director thought for a moment and said, “How about you say a few words of encouragement to the junior students over the phone? They all look up to you as a role model now.”

Chuxia didn’t refuse this time and said some encouraging words, wishing the next batch of students all the best in achieving their goals.

Knowing her results, Chuxia asked the director when her university admission letter would arrive.

The director replied, “It depends on when your university starts mailing them, but it won’t be long. Don’t worry; with your score, getting into university is a certainty.”

The director then remembered Chuxia had applied to the Imperial Capital University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Considering her status as the top science student, he thought, “I can’t think about it anymore; it’s too painful.”

The first thing Chuxia wanted to do after knowing her score was to share it with Cen Zhengnian.

But Cen Zhengnian was not at home, and Cen Huai’an had taken Huang Zi and Hei Zi out to play.

She called Jiang Shengnan in the Northwest.

Chuxia had maintained contact with Jiang Shengnan in Beijing, who would occasionally send things, and Chuxia would also send things to the Northwest.

Before the college entrance exams, Jiang Shengnan had called Chuxia to tell her not to be nervous.

When the call connected and Jiang Shengnan’s serious voice came through, Chuxia’s lips curled into a smile: “Mom, it’s me. My college entrance exam results are out.”

Jiang Shengnan’s voice immediately turned from serious to affectionate and somewhat anxious: “How many points?”

“586. I should have no problem getting into university.”

Jiang Shengnan knew the admission scores for universities in Liangzhou through her elder brother, so Chuxia’s score guaranteed her acceptance to any university!

Jiang Shengnan’s tone became very excited, and she regretted not being in Beijing to celebrate with Chuxia properly.

Chuxia declined Jiang Shengnan’s offer to send a gift and called her grandfather Jiang to share the good news.

The Jiang family had helped Chuxia a lot, and now that the results were out, Chuxia planned to prepare a gift and thank her grandfather Jiang and Uncle Jiang in person.

But she needed to discuss it with Cen Zhengnian first.

When Cen Huai’an and the dogs, Huang Zi and Hei Zi, ran home, he was sweating all over, and the two dogs were panting heavily from the heat.

“An’an, Mom’s exam results are out. I scored 586.”

Chuxia smiled at Cen Huai’an.

She had previously explained to An’an what the exam scores represented.

So, as soon as Chuxia finished speaking, Cen Huai’an’s eyes sparkled with excitement: “Mom, you’re amazing! Does that mean you can go to university now?”

Cen Huai’an remembered the Liangzhou University that Mom had taken him to visit and liked it very much.

Seeing Cen Huai’an’s admiring gaze, Chuxia’s smile grew wider: “Yes, when your summer vacation starts, Mom will also be going to school.”

“A university like Liangzhou University?”

Chuxia nodded: “Something similar.”

Cen Huai’an’s eyes lit up even more: Mom is indeed the best mom!

He also wanted to grow up and go to university. It would be even better if he could go to university with Mom.

Cen Huai’an then asked Chuxia, “Mom, when you go to university, can I visit you?”

“Of course.” Chuxia wanted to pat his head but saw that his hair was drenched in sweat.

She lowered her hand and instead pinched his nose, saying, “I’ll take you with me when I report to the university.”

Cen Huai’an was eagerly looking forward to the start of Chuxia’s school term.

In the afternoon, when Cen Zhengnian came home, he learned about Chuxia’s college entrance exam results and that she was the provincial top science student.

Cen Zhengnian wasn’t surprised; he was just happy for Chuxia.

He had seen how hard she studied, always reading books and solving problems whenever she had free time, asking him or Grandfather Jiang when she encountered difficulties.

Regardless of the exam results, she never relaxed.

Jiang Zhida said that she was still studying the day before the exam, so with her hard work, this score was well-deserved.

Cen Zhengnian wondered how to celebrate Chuxia’s achievement.

He had many ideas, but kept rejecting them—some he thought were inappropriate, and others he couldn’t do due to work reasons.

“What are you doing?” Chu Xia looked at her bowl filled with food and then at Cen Zhengnian, who was still piling more food into her bowl.

She stopped his hand.

Cen Zhengnian snapped back to reality, looking at Chu Xia’s heaping bowl and rubbing his forehead. “I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll eat yours.”

Chu Xia didn’t switch bowls but continued to look at Cen Zhengnian’s face. “You don’t usually do this, do you? Has my exam results stunned you? It shouldn’t. If you had participated, your score would probably be high too.”

Cen Zhengnian shook his head with a smile. “No, I’m just very happy.”

He knew how hard Chu Xia had worked for the college entrance exam. It was rare for him to be this joyful.

He just wanted to express his feelings by serving her more food, but ended up putting too much.

Cen Zhengnian asked if Chu Xia had informed her parents and grandfather about her results.

“Yes,” Chu Xia replied as she ate. “But I haven’t told my uncle and aunt yet. I was thinking of buying some things tomorrow to thank them and then tell them the news. What do you think?”

Cen Zhengnian thought for a moment and nodded. “That’s a good idea. Grandpa and Uncle have helped us a lot; we should be grateful. Is tomorrow Sunday?”

“No, it’s Wednesday.”

Cen Zhengnian said, “If it’s not Sunday, Grandpa and Uncle might not be at home.”

Grandpa Jiang is still teaching at the university, though his classes aren’t many. Uncle Jiang and the others are often busy even on weekends, let alone weekdays.

“I see. Then let’s go on Sunday.”

Cen Zhengnian wanted to go with Chu Xia, but his days off weren’t fixed and he might not have Sunday off. “I’ll see if I have time on Sunday. If I do, I’ll go with you.”

He furrowed his brow, feeling uncomfortable because he couldn’t make any guarantees.

He felt he should be with Chu Xia during such an important moment.

Though he was enjoying the delicious food, he found it hard to swallow.

Chu Xia didn’t mind whether Cen Zhengnian accompanied her or not.

She had gone to her grandfather’s house by herself before, as she regularly took An An there to learn chess.

She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. If you’re not free, I’ll just take An An with me.”

In the evening, Cen Huai’an sat at his desk writing letters to Hu Pandeng, Xiaohe, and Bangzi.

He specifically wrote: My mom is going to college soon. It’s college! Not elementary school, and not middle school! Mom says that once she’s in college, she’ll be a college student, learn a lot of things, live in the university, visit the library, and eat in the cafeteria.

I’ve been to the university before. The university library is huge and full of books. I want to go to college too and be a college student like Mom.

On Sunday, Cen Zhengnian was indeed unavailable.

He had been dragged into an experiment by Yan Hemin and encountered some minor issues.

Chu Xia carried the medicinal wine she had recently prepared and went to Grandpa Jiang’s house with An An.

The medicinal wine she had given Grandpa Jiang before was finished.

Medicinal wine can be consumed three times, which means after finishing, you add two more portions of white liquor.

Once the medicinal properties are exhausted, it’s no longer effective.

Chu Xia refilled the wine with new white liquor, but didn’t give him more medicinal wine, as he wouldn’t be able to finish it in the short term.

With the high temperatures, the time for soaking the medicinal wine couldn’t be too long because the alcohol evaporates once the bottle is opened.

If left for too long, the alcohol evaporates, which affects its antibacterial properties and the medicinal ingredients can spoil.

Such medicinal wine would not only be ineffective but could also be toxic.