Chapter Nineteen: A Prominent Figure

Chapter 19: The Rising Star

Wang Lixin, who also taught math to Class Five, found Zhou Luoyao quite likable. Without much thought, he continued speaking to Lin Cheng, “Every senior year, there’s always a boy whose grades soar dramatically—not just through hard work, but because something just clicks! I want to ask if you have any good study methods to share with your classmates.”

“I… don’t really have any,” Lin Cheng replied hesitantly.

Wang Lixin took a sip from his thermos and said, “Next Monday, the school plans to have some top students give speeches. I’ve signed you up.”

Lin Cheng was taken aback. “Only the top ten in the grade get to share their study experiences, right?”

Lin Cheng used to be an average student in the grade; standing on stage to give advice to everyone else wasn’t something he expected.

Wang Lixin didn’t answer but handed him a ranking sheet.

Lin Cheng’s total score was 656 points, ranking fifth in the class and tenth in the grade.

The top of the grade was Su Xiang.

The top of the class was Chen Zishi.

Actually, Chen Zishi was guaranteed admission to Tsinghua or Peking University—he had passed assessments for both schools in his previous life. However, he wasn’t satisfied with the major he’d been admitted to and had taken the college entrance exam to get into Tsinghua on his own merit.

The class monitor, Zhuang Sijing, later went to Fuda University in Shanghai.

He Yueyue ranked seventh and went to Beijing Institute of Technology…

Lin Cheng wanted to check Chen Guangtao’s ranking, but he was probably outside the top twenty in the class, so he didn’t find it at a glance.

He thought to himself, “I never expected to become a rising star academically. Maybe now I can finally shed Lin Junjie’s shadow. Being mocked by classmates for over a decade… that feeling was infuriating!”

There were several types of “rising stars” in high school:

First, students with top academic achievements.

They often took the stage to share study tips, like Su Xiang and Chen Zishi.

Second, those with significant family backgrounds.

For example, Zhou Luoyao and Zheng Nange, or just extremely wealthy students…

Lin Cheng? Well… sort of. Mostly because of his notorious admiration for He Yueyue.

Third, those outstanding in basketball, musical instruments, or singing…

If you broadened the scope a bit, he and Zhao Guangtao were already prominent figures—famous for skipping class and getting hung on the fence, becoming the school’s legendary stars: Zhou Jielun and Lin Junjie…

So, being a campus “rising star” didn’t necessarily mean success later in life; it just meant being widely known in high school.

Seeing Lin Cheng remain silent, Wang Lixin said, “Don’t feel any pressure. You can talk about seizing the day and the urgency of time.”

Lin Cheng thought this was somewhat condescending. After all, he had attended emergency meetings and given multiple reports at provincial and city industry conferences. How could he feel psychological pressure talking to high schoolers?

After finishing, Wang Lixin let him return to class.

Just as Lin Cheng reached the door, Wang Lixin called out, “Wait…”

Lin Cheng turned around.

“Since your Chinese has improved so much, what about chemistry…” Wang Lixin’s serious face suddenly held a hint of hope. “There’s a tutoring class. Want to try it? I can talk to the teacher there.”

“Thanks, but no,” Lin Cheng replied briefly.

Wang Lixin hadn’t expected the refusal.

Lin Cheng had no real reason to decline—after all, the teacher genuinely wanted to help him.

Wang Lixin just looked at him regretfully.

Lin Cheng replied honestly, “Thank you, Mr. Wang, but tutoring might waste my time. I’ll find a way to improve on my own.”

Leaving the office, Lin Cheng didn’t go straight back to class. At the door, he nodded and waved to Chen Yan…

Zhou Luoyao saw his sly expression and waved him in, signaling him to enter.

Lin Cheng shook his head vigorously, pointing at Chen Yan.

Zhou Luoyao rolled her eyes and nudged Chen Yan.

Chen Yan looked up, saw Lin Cheng gesturing, and shook his head helplessly before coming out.

“What’s up? Want me to praise you a bit?”

“Ah, no, Mr. Chen, do you read Science Fiction World?”

“Why? Is it good? If you have one on your desk, I’ll confiscate it!”

Lin Cheng chuckled, “There’s an author named Liu Cixin in that magazine. He wrote ‘The Three-Body Problem’—no, actually, it’s a serialized story called ‘Remembrance of Earth’s Past.’ It’s really amazing!”

Chen Yan said seriously, “You’re in your senior year. Study hard. Read it after the exams.”

“No, no, I’m recommending it. It’s really, really good! You absolutely have to read it!”

“Why should I?”

Chen Yan then added, “Alright, I’ll find time to buy a copy.”

Lin Cheng, a little anxious, said, “Ah, forget it. I’ll buy one for you later. Read it carefully!”

“You little rascal, mind your own business!”

“Reading it will overturn your view of the universe! Anyway, Mr. Chen, you’re a person of taste. I’m counting on you!”

With that, Lin Cheng dashed off.

...

While Lin Cheng was away from the classroom, the entire class was buzzing.

“No way! Lin Cheng ranked fifth in the class? That means he must be in the top 20 of the grade!”

“His family’s ancestors must be blessing him.”

“Oh my god, how is that possible?”

No one could believe that a previously poor student could leap to fifth place. This kind of rocket-like rise was uncanny.

This wasn’t progress; it was soaring!

“Did he cheat?”

“Are you dreaming? Who else did better than him in that exam room?”

...

When Lin Cheng returned to the classroom, he once again felt the intense gazes of his classmates.

Unlike before, when he requested to change seats, now there was something more in their eyes. After all, in a key class, everything revolved around grades.

Did Lin Junjie slack off after changing seats?

Did Zhuang Sijing bring luck to her husband?

Uh… no, He Yueyue brings bad luck!

It was like a sect’s grand competition: a low-ranking disciple who was once a mere ‘first-grade’ suddenly burst forth to reach the ‘land immortal’ realm, overturning the original order.

He Yueyue’s gaze followed him for a moment, then quickly looked away.

Could he be the legendary “score controller”?

Impossible!

At first, her father had arranged for her to tutor Lin Cheng to tie the Lin family closer.

She knew Lin Cheng’s level best—his science subjects were mediocre, and his humanities were hopeless!

Boys and girls spent meals, homework, and school commutes together.

The daily playful teasing and whispered closeness led Lin Cheng to rush into her value system with gratitude and joy:

The world belongs to men, but women can command men;

Thus, the world of men becomes the domain of women!