Chapter 573: Chapter 573

As April arrived, with Qingming Festival behind them, it seemed as if everything started to revive. Even though spring had come, there was willow catkin floating everywhere, and Zhou Yiyi was allergic to it, so she had to wear a disposable mask wherever she went.

Today, as soon as class began, the homeroom teacher entered excitedly. Seeing his expression, she guessed what had happened, and Lin Mu noticed too, nudging Zhou Mo’s arm with his elbow, "Looks like it’s good news!"

Indeed, Zhou Mo had topped the city-wide Physics competition at the end of March. He truly lived up to his reputation as the top scorer in the entrance exams. He was remarkable.

"This June, there’s another provincial Physics competition. If you can win First Prize there, your direct admission into Qingbei is practically set in stone."

The classmates let out exclamations of admiration and cast envious glances toward Zhou Mo.

"Moreover, Zhou Yiyi achieved Third Place in the municipal English speaking competition. Although it’s Third Place, it’s still quite an impressive achievement. Everyone, keep up the good work to win more awards in different competitions. This way, you can lay a solid foundation for being selected as the municipal outstanding students. Oh yes, I heard Zhou Yiyi is going to Beijing this June to participate in a major competition organized by the Calligraphy Association, right?"

Zhou Yiyi, embarrassed, stood up, "It’s the Lanting Award, and it’s the first edition this year."

"Then let’s all wish Zhou Yiyi good luck in advance. I’ve heard this event is highly prestigious. Zhou Yiyi, give it your all. If you achieve a good placing, you might even be favored by the Central Academy of Fine Arts or Beijing Normal University for early admission."

Zhou Yiyi thought that indeed was a possibility. Calligraphy was categorized under fine arts, and both schools were prestigious. If she could be admitted early, she could really develop in this field. Yet, she didn’t want her life to be too serene. Although it would be smoother for a girl to pursue this field and have an easy future, she craved something different, like Computer Science. By the time she graduated from university, it would be the peak of her youth; a life lacking excitement wouldn’t do justice to her one journey through this world.

However, she wouldn’t openly express such thoughts now. As for which university she could attend, she wanted to decide through the national college entrance exams. As for early admissions, she dared not think about it for the moment.

For the three-day Labor Day holiday, Lin Mu invited her to Qingdao, but Zhou Yiyi declined. Going with someone else’s family would just be awkward, so she politely refused. Zhou Mo’s mom had enrolled Zhou Mo in a Physics summer camp, so he left for Hong Kong before the holidays and definitely wasn’t returning during Labor Day.

Zhou Yiyi wouldn’t allow herself to idle away the holiday. After all, L city was a famous tourist spot, so she found a tourist attraction and set up a small stall at the entrance, continuing to earn her living expenses.

By the end of the three days, she had made a clean profit of about three to four hundred US dollars, which wasn’t too bad.

After Labor Day, schoolwork intensified again. Zhou Mo and Lin Mu were also back, and the homeroom teacher let them know beforehand to discuss the matter of class division for the second year with their parents. After all, this semester was almost over, and in just over a month it would end, and in early June, everyone would be required to fill out application forms.

Zhou Yiyi also seriously considered her future direction. Now that her Science grades had improved as she increased her frequency of solving problems, pursuing Computer Science definitely required a focus on Science, unless she opted for calligraphy. Otherwise, Science was her only way forward.

Unexpectedly, before June, application forms for dividing arts and sciences classes were distributed at the end of May. Zhou Yiyi, Zhou Mo, and Lin Mu filled them out immediately without taking them home. If not for the requirement of having their parents sign them, they probably would have directly handed them to the teacher. Zhou Yiyi had no parents, so she didn’t need anyone to sign, and the homeroom teacher, considering her feelings, even omitted the parent’s section for her, which was extremely thoughtful.

On June 3rd, Zhou Mo went to the capital to participate in the provincial high school Physics competition. Although he was only a freshman, his abilities should not be underestimated.

Zhou Yiyi’s competition was after the final exams, on June 20th. The exam dates were the 15th, 16th, and 17th, a seamless sequence.

The remaining half-month was spent in anxious revision. Her overall score this semester had improved compared to the last, especially in Chinese, successfully breaking the 130 mark, and she made a few points progress in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. However, Zhou Mo seemed to be doing even better, maintaining the first place in the grade without fail, while Zhou Yiyi could only stay within the top five. The other contenders were top scorers from other cities, so it seemed that aside from Zhou Mo, it was indeed these few who were competing.

As for Lin Mu, he maintained his position in the top thirty of the grade, a commendable feat. To still work so hard after deciding on art school was truly admirable. Chapters first released on novel✦fire.net

"I’m going to Shanghai during the summer to study body movement and dance. My mom has arranged for a teacher. I was originally thinking we could spend the summer together, but looks like it’s off the table again. Zhou Mo will probably be just as busy after his exams; Mr. Zhao is quite strict and might have enrolled him in some other hodgepodge summer camp. So, Zhou Yiyi, are you planning to go home this summer?"

Zhou Yiyi’s summer plans were already laid out. "It won’t be any easier for me. After the competition, I’ll stay in Beijing for two months to study."

That was indeed true. Teacher Meng and Teacher Zheng, along with Yang Kai from the Y City Calligraphy Association, had concurrently found her a more qualified teacher, who was highly respected in the Hua Country Calligraphy Association and also an expert judge in this competition!

A week later, Zhou Mo’s exam results came out, but unfortunately, he just missed First Prize and received Second Prize instead.

"No worries, there’s still next year in 11th grade, we just have to try harder," the homeroom teacher comforted him, but Zhou Mo didn’t seem to care as he casually said,

"It’s a provincial competition after all, filled with talented individuals, quite thrilling!"

Out of the ten students from First High School who went from freshman to senior year, only three won awards – one First Prize, one Second Prize, and one Third Prize. A senior clinched the First Prize, securing his early admission.

Zhou Yiyi, seeing Zhou Mo’s stable attitude, felt relieved.

Soon, the final exams for their freshman year arrived. After three consecutive days with a tense face, she finally felt her muscles relax after completing the last exam.

Zhou Yiyi didn’t have the luxury of pondering too much. While others were packing to go home, she was packing for Beijing. She had already purchased her train ticket the week before, a sleeper berth, paid for by herself. This time, Teacher Zheng wouldn’t be going, but Teacher Meng would as he had students competing too. However, he went ahead early to meet friends in Beijing, unlike her, a hard-pressed child, still caught up with exams and busy as ever.

Zhou Mo and Lin Mu came over in the evening to see her off, treating her to KFC. Rather than a send-off, it was more of a farewell, as their trio would be heading in different directions the next day.