Chapter 4: You're Affecting My Progress
The dormitory building was only secured by a simple padlock that could be opened from the inside, a practice the school tacitly allowed, making it convenient for early-rising students to get to class.
Xu Ming made a beeline for the academic building. It was quiet all around, not a soul in sight.
The sky was still pitch black.
"I must be the first one up in the whole school, right?" he whispered excitedly to himself.
He was already itching to start studying.
He soon reached the classroom door and found it still locked.
"Chen Lu isn't here early either," he grumbled with a frown. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a rolled-up English notebook and muttered to himself, "Good thing I prepared a little beforehand."
These were words he had copied before, as well as various grammar rules.
He had specifically brought it with him, intending to pull it out and read it while using the restroom or waiting in line for food.
Now it came in handy.
Using the light from the overhead corridor lamp, he immediately started memorizing right there.
"Match."
...
[After diligent study, your [English] level has increased. You gained 2 experience points.]
Not long after.
Xu Ming finally heard urgent footsteps sounding from behind him.
He put down his English notebook and turned to look, only to see Chen Lu quickly running over, her face full of embarrassment.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Chen Lu was always the first to enter the classroom every day, responsible for opening the door. It had long become a habit, so she wouldn't easily give her key to others. Today, she still left the girls' dormitory building when her alarm rang, but from a distance, she saw someone standing at the classroom door.
After confirming the figure was Xu Ming, although she felt a bit surprised, she didn't forget to quickly unlock the door.
Panting, she approached, pulled out her key, and just as she inserted it into the keyhole, Xu Ming's calm reply reached her ear.
"It's fine, I've only been memorizing words for about twenty minutes."
Her expression immediately froze.
He's been standing outside for that long?
She hadn't taken Xu Ming's words seriously yesterday, believing it impossible for him to arrive earlier than her. She never expected he'd already been up since five o'clock, and a pang of guilt welled up inside her.
Unfortunately, this kind of situation was usually just a sudden burst of enthusiasm.
When you're on a high like that, let alone getting up at five, you wouldn't feel sleepy even staying up all night.
But it's hard to maintain.
Xu Ming didn't pay attention to what Chen Lu was thinking. He walked directly into the classroom and sat down at his seat.
He continued to memorize words and grammar.
Memory is sharp during morning self-study, making it perfect for reviewing subjects like Chinese and English.
Later, other students arrived one after another, making the sound of reading in the classroom deafening.
As for Qian Hong, he only just managed to dash into the classroom right as Li Wenhui picked up his small notebook, ready to mark down latecomers.
As soon as his butt hit the seat, he looked at Xu Ming.
"Why didn't you call me today?" he asked in a low voice, a hint of complaint in his eyes. "When I opened my eyes, the dorm was empty."
Xu Ming calmly replied, "I got up at five."
When Qian Hong heard the time, the rest of his words immediately got stuck in his throat, and he habitually gave two thumbs up.
"That's crazy."
After expressing his feelings with just two words, he sighed and said, "Then you'd better not call me anymore."
The English teachers at Dongping No. 1 High School were mostly young and stylish female teachers.
Today, Han Xiaolan wore a black women's trench coat, which, paired with her neck-length wavy hair, made her look quite elegant. Since it was her morning self-study session, she came to the classroom and walked around twice.
As she passed Xu Ming, she couldn't help but glance at him a few extra times.
She felt a sense of gratification.
She could tell Xu Ming was indeed very focused and serious, completely different from how he usually was during morning self-study.
For a senior high student, this was a good thing.
In contrast, Qian Hong next to him, although he was also holding a textbook and memorizing words, clearly wasn't studying with his heart.
Throughout the entire self-study session, Xu Ming was completely immersed in his own rhythm, not even noticing the English teacher entering the classroom. By the time class ended, his English experience value had increased by another 4 points.
For breakfast, he still ate with Qian Hong and specifically added two fried eggs.
In the last few months, the study intensity would be very high, and the more it was this time, the more his body couldn't afford to have problems.
Especially regarding food, he had to take good care of his diet.
Currently, he was focused on reviewing, and without Zhang Yingxin as a stumbling block, he simply couldn't spend all his living expenses.
Back in the classroom, Xu Ming continued his review mode, taking out his second-year high school math textbook (Volume 1) to review key concepts. Only a few minutes had passed when the class monitor, Li Wenhui, walked in from outside and suddenly called out loudly to the back of the room.
"Xu Ming, there's a girl looking for you outside." He feigned impatience, trying to hide the slight hint of jealousy in his tone.
Xu Ming frowned slightly. "Looking for me?"
He placed his math book face down on the desk and stood up, walking towards the classroom door.
After seeing the person who came, his brow immediately furrowed tightly.
Zhang Yingxin had her hair down, standing alone in the corridor. While her looks weren't outstanding among the girls in the school, she possessed a mature, well-developed figure.
Seeing Xu Ming emerge from the classroom, she quickly stepped forward and was the first to speak, asking with a tone of concern.
"Why haven't I seen you these past two mealtimes? Is something wrong?"
"I'm fine." Xu Ming's expression was cold.
He now wanted no connection with her whatsoever, so he chose to speak clearly and directly: "The Gaokao is coming soon. I want to focus on my studies and I don't want anyone to affect my progress. Let's not meet again in the future." As he said these words, his gaze was as resolute as a soldier's.
Zhang Yingxin clearly hadn't expected Xu Ming to do this, and she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
She stood frozen for a few seconds, unsure if she understood something, and put on a pained expression.
"Xu Ming, please don't force me, okay? I want to wait until university to date."
As if she were the biggest victim.
Seeing this scene, Xu Ming almost laughed out of anger. So, she thought he was using this method to force her into a relationship.
Utterly narcissistic.
Without wasting even half a second, he directly raised his hand and retorted:
"Please don't."
"When I get into university, I also only want to study. You'd better find yourself another free meal ticket, someone who will get your meals and buy your groceries every day."
The moment his words fell, he immediately turned and returned to class, without any lingering.
Struck by these sharp words, Zhang Yingxin only felt wronged.
As her mind went blank, she saw Xu Ming stop again, and a sudden glimmer of hope surged in her eyes.
"You..."
However, just as she uttered one word, she was interrupted by Xu Ming's words.
"Oh, right. Please return the twenty yuan I lent you last week as soon as possible. I need it."
She was thunderstruck.
Xu Ming brought up the matter of the money casually, and only then, fully satisfied, he strode into the classroom.
As for what Zhang Yingxin thought, it had nothing to do with him.
The classroom windows weren't soundproof to begin with, and with them still open, it was hard for the classmates not to overhear the conversation. After seeing Xu Ming come in, many eyes turned to him in unison.
Xu Ming automatically ignored it, not taking it to heart at all. It was only Li Wenhui's inexplicable lecture that made him frown.
"Who talks to a girl like that? Men should be more magnanimous."
"None of your damn business," he retorted, giving the other party no face whatsoever, blurting out four loud words.
Li Wenhui felt as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat; he wanted to retort but couldn't find the right words, and his entire face quickly turned beet red from holding it in.
...
(End of Chapter)
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