Chapter 327: Triumph in the Exam Hall

After the scorching heat of May, June arrived with an even more intense summer. The sun treated every place equally, spreading its warmth everywhere.

For humanity, June is a month of harvest, especially for students who face their exams. Fang Zhou’s sister, Fang Wenjing, was among those taking the gaokao this year. Despite not attending school, the private tutors Fang Zhou hired had prepared her well.

On June 7th, Fang Zhou watched his sister walk into the exam hall, feeling a mix of emotions.

“Time flies, doesn’t it? I remember when we took the gaokao, Wenjing was just a little girl. Now, she’s taking the exam herself!” Li Siming said, standing amid the crowd.

Fang Zhou nodded, lost in thought. “Yeah, it’s been eight years since we graduated high school. Time really does fly.”

Fang Zhou’s expression darkened as he recalled his own gaokao. Back then, his parents, grandparents, and sister had all been there to support him. They had gone home together, celebrating with a family meal. It had been a happy, united time.

But now, it was just him and Li Siming seeing Wenjing off, making the moment feel a bit lonely.

Sensing Fang Zhou’s mood, Li Siming patted his back, trying to cheer him up. “Come on, don’t be so down. Your sister’s a top student. She’s going to ace this.”

“Ow, that hurts!” Fang Zhou winced. The stitches on his back had only been removed a couple of days ago, and the pain shot through him like a sharp reminder.

“Really? I didn’t think I hit that hard…” Li Siming looked at his hand, surprised.

Thinking Fang Zhou’s reaction was a sign of weakness, he teased, “You need to work out more, man. You’re too fragile.”

Fang Zhou wasn’t weak; his wound just hadn’t fully healed yet. Li Siming had been so focused on training that he hadn’t even known Fang Zhou was injured until Zhang Zhiyin told him. Even then, he didn’t know the specifics.

Rolling his eyes, Fang Zhou followed the other parents toward the parking lot. “I’m not fragile. I could still take you down with one hand.”

Li Siming laughed, hooking an arm around Fang Zhou’s shoulder. “Stop kidding yourself. Let’s go back and settle this. Loser calls the winner ‘Dad’.”

“Deal. Let’s see who’s the real champ,” Fang Zhou replied, their banter fading as they walked away.

Inside the exam hall, Fang Wenjing sat down, handing her ID to the proctor.

“Fang Wenjing?”

“Yes.”

The proctor verified her ID and exam barcode, then attached it to her answer sheet. The first subject was Chinese.

Fang Wenjing focused, reading through the exam questions. Every second in the exam hall was precious. For her, just being able to take the exam was a victory.

Her brother had asked if she wanted to wait until the next year when she was healthier, but she insisted on taking it this year. She wanted to share this experience with her classmates, creating a collective memory of their youth.

The exam hall was silent, with each student fighting for their future. Their pens didn’t just scribble answers; they marked the culmination of twelve years of hard work.

Before she knew it, the three days of exams were over. On the afternoon of June 9th, Fang Wenjing left the hall feeling a deep sense of peace. Regardless of the results, she had completed the most important task of her youth, honoring both herself and her brother.

Outside, the crowd was bustling. Fang Wenjing searched for her brother but was intercepted by a reporter.

A microphone was thrust in her face, and the reporter asked cheerfully, “Are you one of the exam takers? How did it go?”

Fang Wenjing, having seen such interviews before, was momentarily taken aback but then smiled shyly. “I think it went well. The difficulty was moderate.”

Her gentle smile was like a pure flower blooming on camera, capturing the hearts of countless viewers online.

“You’re finally free! What’s the first thing you want to do now that the exams are over?” The reporter, charmed by her, couldn’t help but ask more questions.

Fang Wenjing’s eyes lit up, and she grinned mischievously at the camera. “I want my brother to start dating.”

The reporter laughed, intrigued. “Why do you want your brother to date instead of yourself? Now that your exams are over, your family probably won’t mind if you start dating.”

Before she could answer, a hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see her brother, Fang Zhou, wearing a baseball cap that covered half his face, though his handsome features were still evident.

Fang Zhou handed her a bouquet, wrapped an arm around her, and gently pulled her away from the reporter. “Sorry, we’re in a rush to celebrate. Please interview someone else.”

“Wait, just one more question!” the reporter pleaded, but they only watched as the siblings walked away.

“Today’s youth, they really don’t care about fame,” the reporter sighed. “Anyone else would have jumped at the chance to be on camera.”

The live stream viewers shared their disappointment in the comments.

“She’s so pretty! I wanted to see more of her.”

“Yeah, her smile was like a breath of fresh air in this summer heat.”

“I need to know everything about this girl in 30 seconds!”

“Wait, that guy looks familiar. Isn’t he a streamer I follow?”

“Oh my god, is that Fang Zhou? Has he got a new girlfriend?”

The siblings’ banter continued as they left, their bond evident to anyone watching. The warmth of family and the excitement of youth shone through, making this a moment to remember.