Chapter 13: Growing Up

“This is from the final exam of the first semester last year,” Teacher Liu said after rummaging through his drawer for quite some time before finding a slightly crumpled test paper. As he smoothed it out, he added, “But this was the final exam paper for the advanced class. Even now, not many students in that class can pass this set of questions. Many of the problems cover material from the second semester of the first year, and the last question is of competition-level difficulty.”

“Last year, the highest score was only 135. No one could solve the last big problem,” Teacher Liu handed the paper to Chen Ran. “Come to the office after lunch and work on this. If you can pass, you can do whatever you want in my class this semester. If you score over 120, then not just this semester, even next semester you can study high school math in my class, and I won’t interfere.”

Chen Ran looked at Teacher Liu earnestly and asked, “Is that really true, Teacher Liu?”

“Absolutely,” Teacher Liu patted Chen Ran’s elbow. “Go ahead, come to school right after lunch. As long as you do well, you can do whatever you want in my class.”

“But Chen Ran,” Teacher Liu continued, “I have to remind you: do what you’re capable of, and don’t take on more than you can handle, understand?”

“I understand, Teacher Liu. Don’t worry,” Chen Ran took a deep breath and left the office. Outside, Teacher Gao asked, “Teacher Liu, is something wrong with Chen Ran?”

“That kid has been keeping his head down for the past couple of days,” Teacher Liu replied.

Teacher Gao thought for a moment. “That’s true. Since he came back to class, he’s been keeping his head down. I didn’t know what he was up to. I thought maybe he wasn’t feeling well.”

“Sigh, I caught him red-handed today,” Teacher Liu shook his head. “I don’t know what he’s doing in other classes, but today I saw him looking at the second semester of the second-year math textbook during my class. You can’t say he doesn’t like studying, but it’s only the first semester of the first year, and he’s already reading the second semester of the second-year textbook. I think that’s a bit too much.”

“That kid,” Teacher Gao frowned, “he’s not reading math in my class too, is he?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“By the way,” the English teacher suddenly said, “didn’t he say he was going to participate in a math competition? Could it be that he’s been busy studying math textbooks to prepare for it these past few days?”

“That...” Teacher Liu thought the English teacher’s suggestion made sense. Maybe Chen Ran felt that preparing for the math competition meant finishing all the third-year textbooks. But just finishing the textbooks wouldn’t be enough to succeed in the competition. Many of the problems, although at the middle school level, require more than just familiarity with the material; they require the ability to apply concepts flexibly, deep thinking, and often guidance from excellent competition coaches.”

“Ningchuan No. 5 Middle School doesn’t have any competition coaching classes or coaches. I’ve been a math teacher for over ten years, but I wouldn’t be qualified to teach a math competition class. Besides, there really aren’t any students with competition potential here. If there were, Ningchuan No. 7 Middle School would snatch them up the moment they showed any promise.”

“There’s absolutely no chance for No. 5.”

“Forget it, I’ll talk to him after he finishes the test at noon,” Teacher Liu said cheerfully. “Besides, Chen Ran is eager to learn, and that’s a good spirit. Who knows? Maybe he will be able to get into high school someday!”

“Exactly,” homeroom teacher Gao nodded in agreement. “I really think Chen Ran is a good prospect; maybe he can make it to high school.”

The English teacher smiled and said, “Just now, I was grading Chen Ran’s homework. Apart from his handwriting being a bit ugly, his answers were quite good.”

Back in the classroom, Wang Weidong watched Chen Ran approach and whispered, “So? What did Teacher Liu say?”

“Nothing much,” Chen Ran stepped aside to let him pass and sat down. “He just told me to come to school at noon to take a test.”

“Is it a punishment?”

“No,” Chen Ran shook his head. “Thanks, Wang Weidong.”

“No problem,” Wang Weidong shrugged, still with his usual expressionless face. “We’re classmates, and besides, we live in the same complex.”

Chen Ran lowered his head and stopped talking to Wang Weidong.

Lying on his desk, Wang Weidong went back to sleep.

Throughout the morning, Chen Ran noticed that the teachers kept staring at him. Even with a thick skin, he had to raise his head and pretend to listen; besides, he wasn’t naturally thick-skinned. Being under the teachers’ watchful eyes made it awkward for him to continue reading other grade textbooks.

When the final class bell rang, Chen Ran started packing his things, guessing that all the teachers knew he was reading textbooks from other grades in class, which explained their attention. Maybe Teacher Liu or someone overheard him in the office.

While the other students rushed out of the classroom, only Chen Ran and Wang Weidong walked out slowly, not in a hurry.

Wang Weidong stretched and said, “Shall we go back together?”

Before Chen Ran could answer, Wang Weidong continued, “That guy Sun Ze is probably still waiting for you at the school gate. Come with me. If he dares to make a move, I’ll take him on first. You run.”

“What about you?” Chen Ran looked at Wang Weidong. “If I run, what will you do? He won’t come after me alone.”

“Don’t worry,” Wang Weidong said confidently. “Sun Ze has been afraid of the police since he was a kid. His dad has been caught by your dad so many times; he definitely won’t dare mess with me.”

Chen Ran said nothing. Wang Weidong put his hands in his pockets and followed Chen Ran out of the classroom.

The teaching building was mostly empty. The playground was bustling with people chatting and laughing. Wang Weidong quickened his pace and walked alongside Chen Ran out of the school gates.

“Hey, Teacher Liu told you to come to school at noon?”

“Yeah,” Chen Ran nodded, glancing at Wang Weidong’s handsome face. Wang Weidong still wore his usual expressionless look, but honestly, he was quite good-looking. No wonder he was the campus heartthrob. Among all the students outside on the playground, Chen Ran hadn’t seen anyone more handsome than him.

Besides being expressionless and liking to sleep, Wang Weidong had no significant flaws. His temperament was actually quite good, but his tall stature and poker face made him seem unapproachable.

After getting to know him, Chen Ran thought Wang Weidong was a genuinely good person.

“Are you going to school right after eating?”

“Mm,” Chen Ran nodded softly.

Wang Weidong stepped in front of Chen Ran. “I’ll come with you. My parents aren’t home anyway.”

“Wang Weidong,” Chen Ran looked cautiously at him, “I heard your dad is a detective?”

“Yeah,” Wang Weidong replied casually. “Why all of a sudden?”

“N-nothing,” Chen Ran smiled. “Just curious.”

“How about your mom? Is she not home either?”

“My mom’s a police officer at the local station. She’s pretty busy.”

That made sense. Chen Ran thought to himself as the two left the school and headed toward their housing complex. Sun Ze stopped halfway but, seeing Chen Ran and Wang Weidong walking together, didn’t stop Chen Ran.

“Sun Ze will still hang around here. He’ll stop you on your way to school. I’ll come to school with you after lunch. I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

“That… might be too much trouble, right?” Chen Ran looked at Wang Weidong. “I don’t want to bother you.”

“No,” Wang Weidong shook his head. “I’ll just come get you later.”

Back at the complex, Chen Ran entered the stairwell. Wang Weidong stood expressionlessly at the entrance, watching Chen Ran disappear before turning to leave.

“Mom!” Chen Ran opened the door and was greeted by the aroma of food. Though his mother didn’t cook often, it didn’t mean she couldn’t cook.

Luo Mingxiu carried a tray and quietly said, “Xiao Ran, you’re home.”

“I have to go to school early today,” Chen Ran put down his bag and continued, “Teacher Liu wants me to come early to take a test.”

“Is it to catch up on classes you missed?”

“Mm,” Chen Ran wasn’t sure how to explain it to his mother, so he just nodded.

“Xiao Ran,” Luo Mingxiu hesitated, making Chen Ran’s heart ache. She probably thought that relying on his father’s pension at home, he wouldn’t even finish middle school.

Chen Ran sat obediently on the chair. “Mom, just say it.”

“This is what your mother thinks, you know your father has already…” Luo Mingxiu covered her face, her voice trembling with sobs. “Xiao Ran, now it’s just me and your sister at home.”

“Your sister just started university and needs tuition,” Luo Mingxiu wiped her tears and forced herself to be strong. “We don’t have much money.”

“I want to go out and do something. We’re not a wealthy family; we can’t just sit and wait for the money to run out. You still have to go to university; living expenses and tuition are a big burden,” Luo Mingxiu gently wiped her tears. When Chen Ran’s father was alive, she never worried about these things. Now, after his passing, all these responsibilities fell on her shoulders. If she didn’t hold the family together, Chen Ran might end up homeless tomorrow.

“Mom just wants to discuss something with you,” Luo Mingxiu looked at Chen Ran, afraid he might be upset. “Didn’t you see all those snacks being sold outside the school? I want to try selling some too.”

“All right,” Chen Ran nodded firmly. “Mom, I’ll help you.”

“I’ll help you sell after school too,” Chen Ran knew his mother was resolute and wanted his support. He had memories from a past life, not just a twelve or thirteen-year-old kid. Saying he wouldn’t study was impossible. Besides, he had the learning system. The only thing he could do was help her after school.

“Xiao Ran won’t be mad, right?”

“How could I be?” Chen Ran shook his head. “Working with your own hands to earn a living is never something to be mocked.”

“Mm,” Luo Mingxiu nodded firmly. “Mom plans to sell for a while, so you don’t have to help. Studying is more important.”

“Let’s eat quickly.”

Luo Mingxiu felt a great weight lifted from her heart. Indeed, Xiao Ran had grown up.