Chapter 33: There's Something Strange About This Essay Prompt
That evening, after Pu Tong accepted Xie Mu's friend request, the guy immediately sent him a screenshot.
It was the profile of a second-year high school girl from the same city.
Xie Mu: [Master, I found one of her posts in the discussion square. Her handwriting is so elegant. They say "you can know a person through their handwriting," right? She's definitely my type! How should I start a conversation with her?]
Was this guy crazy?
He fell in love at first sight... because of someone's handwriting?
Had hand fetishists, leg fetishists, and long-black-hair enthusiasts already become outdated?
Were handwriting enthusiasts the new trend now?
Pu Tong: [Uh... I still think you should focus on studying. The exams start the day after tomorrow, and you know exactly what'll happen if your grades are bad.]
Xie Mu: [Ugh, you're right... I really haven't studied much. Wait... Master, do you mean I should use studying as an excuse? Ask her academic questions first, then gradually get closer to her?]
Pu Tong: [I never said that!]
He honestly had no idea how this guy's brain worked.
Perhaps Xie Mu had become so disappointed in the entertainment industry's idea of love that he'd begun treating Pu Tong—the so-called "Love Sage"—as his last lifeline.
Because of his family background, Xie Mu had developed an almost obsessive desire for genuine love.
Being mocked online with "You don't deserve love" had only intensified that obsession, driving him to hypnotize himself into believing online dating was the answer.
It sounded ridiculous.
Yet somehow...
That really did seem to be what was happening.
A celebrity... running off to date strangers online?
Would anyone actually believe that?
"Sigh... I'd better keep reviewing."
Pu Tong had no intention of getting involved in Xie Mu's bizarre adventure.
The only thing he cared about was the upcoming exams.
Although the monthly exam only covered recently learned material, there were still nine subjects to review.
Before students were divided into arts and science tracks, that was simply unavoidable.
Pu Tong's weakest subject was history.
It wasn't that he couldn't learn it.
The problem was that, as someone who had transmigrated into this world, he lacked any real emotional connection to its history.
No matter how well he memorized it...
He simply couldn't relate to it.
"If there's any chance I'll lose to Yu Wanwan..."
"History is probably her only opportunity."
"It all depends on whether she can seize it."
Pu Tong studied late into the night.
Just before going to bed, he noticed two unread WeChat messages from Xu Lei.
He rarely used WeChat and had it permanently set to silent.
The first message was the electronic contract for the second episode.
The second contained only one sentence.
"You won't have a single frame of screen time ever again!"
Looks like Manager Jiang's pressure had worked.
Xu Lei had given in.
From now on, Pu Tong no longer had to worry about appearing on the show.
Wonderful.
His screen time in Episode Two hadn't been substantial, so the payment wasn't much.
At best, it would probably cover one month's salary for his future employees.
"There won't be any more contracts like this."
After signing the contract and saving a copy for himself, Pu Tong casually sent it back.
Now all that remained was waiting for Director Xu to transfer the money.
After two days of intensive review...
The first monthly exam officially began.
Three consecutive days.
Three subjects each day.
The schedule was packed.
On exam day, Pu Tong woke up especially early.
Even so, he still felt a little nervous.
This was his first exam since becoming a student again.
He absolutely had to start things off with a victory.
Otherwise...
He'd be too embarrassed to show his face.
Students took the exams in their own classrooms.
However, both the proctors and graders came from other classes, ensuring complete fairness.
The celebrity students received no special treatment.
It had to be said...
Xu Lei's variety show really stayed true to its concept.
Since it claimed to portray authentic high school life, there wasn't the slightest bit of fakery.
Even the celebrity participants were treated exactly like ordinary students.
Realism was its greatest selling point.
Somehow, news of the exams leaked.
The school entrance—which had only recently returned to normal—was once again crowded with fans waving banners and cheering.
They clearly understood the significance of this episode.
If their idols performed poorly...
The "academic genius" image they'd spent so much effort promoting would completely collapse.
Their idols would merely lose reputation and casual fans.
The fans themselves, however...
Would lose face.
"Xie Mu! Good luck on your exams!"
Glancing at the giant support sign held by Xie Mu's fans, Pu Tong's expression twitched.
Your beloved idol is busy trying to find true love online...
"Isn't that Pu Tong?"
"I think it is! He's even more handsome in person!"
"Pu Tong! If Wanwan doesn't want you anymore, consider dating me!"
The person shouting...
Was a guy.
Pu Tong didn't dare linger.
He dashed through the school gates in just a few strides and sprinted straight toward the classroom without looking back.
That's freaking terrifying.
Stay alert against this new generation of male admirers.
Inside the classroom...
Every desk had been turned around so the storage compartment faced forward, leaving each student seated alone.
There was virtually no chance of cheating beneath the desks.
Even if it were possible...
Nobody would dare.
Forget the school's surveillance cameras.
The variety show's fixed cameras alone were enough to scare anyone into behaving.
The entire country is watching.
You're really going to cheat on an exam?
Pu Tong located his assigned seat according to his student number and quietly waited for the test to begin.
Since the celebrity students had transferred into the class midway through the year, their student numbers had all been placed at the end.
They occupied the last row, far away from him.
Yu Wanwan raised her fist at him, wearing a provocative grin.
What a little brat...
Pu Tong ignored her completely and casually began spinning his pen to calm his nerves.
"Hmph!"
Yu Wanwan puffed out her cheeks.
"When you lose the bet..."
"I'm definitely going to make you suffer!"
Had Pu Tong heard that...
He would have answered without hesitation:
"I'm already ridiculously good-looking."
Fifteen minutes before the Chinese exam officially started, two teachers from another class entered the room one after the other.
They discreetly glanced at the celebrity students, unable to hide a hint of envy.
Why couldn't their own class have gotten this opportunity?
Even substitute teachers could appear on television.
If they performed well, they'd become the school's biggest advertisement.
Promotion and raises would surely follow.
"We'll hand out the papers ten minutes early."
"And collect them ten minutes early as well."
The familiar announcement.
Teachers always said that during exams.
In reality, if students hadn't finished writing, they'd usually wait a little longer.
Receiving the exam paper from the student in front of him, Pu Tong caught the familiar scent of fresh printing ink.
For a moment...
His mind drifted.
That smell was deeply engraved into his memories.
After filling in his personal information, he carefully smoothed the paper flat.
Then he began answering the questions seriously.
One invigilator sat behind the podium reviewing his own copy of the exam.
The other stood beside it with his hands behind his back, scanning the classroom from above.
Every few minutes, he'd leave the podium and slowly patrol the room, occasionally stopping behind a student to observe their work for a while.
He was extremely strict.
It was obvious that he lingered behind the celebrity students much longer than everyone else.
Each time, he'd eventually walk away wearing an expression that seemed to say:
"Just as I expected."
Eventually...
He reached Pu Tong.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
He'd almost forgotten about this student.
An ordinary high schooler...
Who had somehow stirred up a massive storm across the internet.
Stopping behind him, the teacher began watching him solve the exam.
Five full minutes passed.
Pu Tong felt miserable.
Having a teacher stare at you throughout an exam was an awful experience.
It was incredibly stressful.
You're actually affecting my exam.
Pu Tong deliberately coughed.
Then he leaned halfway over the desk, shielding his paper almost completely with his body.
Keep looking.
What exactly are you trying to see?
Only then did the invigilator realize he'd gone a little too far.
Embarrassed, he quietly walked away.
Pu Tong finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly and effortlessly finished everything on the front side of the answer sheet.
Only the essay remained.
Turning the paper over...
He glanced at the essay prompt.
Read the following material and write an essay according to the requirements below.
Thirty years ago, dancer Lin Lan represented China at the World Dance Competition. With her solo performance, "Spirit of the Butterfly," she won the gold medal and was promoted to become one of the world's Ten Great Dance Masters.
Her achievement greatly advanced China's artistic and cultural development, filled a gap in Eastern dance on the international stage, and possessed epoch-making significance.
From childhood, Lin Lan had been deeply fascinated by traditional Chinese dance.
To one day stand on a greater stage, she often practiced alone in deserted forests, dancing again and again.
After years of relentless effort and overcoming countless hardships, she finally realized her lifelong dream and created achievements that astonished the world.
Based on the above material, write an essay discussing your thoughts and reflections.
Requirements:
Choose an appropriate angle.
Determine your central theme.
Select your preferred writing style.
Create your own title.
No copying or plagiarism.
Do not reveal personal information.
Minimum 800 words.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Wasn't the Lin Lan mentioned in the prompt...
Lin Yuxi's grandmother?
After being shocked by Yu Wanwan's powerful family background last time, Pu Tong had looked up the family backgrounds of all the celebrity students to avoid being caught off guard again.
Among them...
Lin Yuxi's grandmother had left the deepest impression.
She was a truly world-class master.
Someone whose accomplishments had earned universal international recognition and inspired countless others.
And now...
The Chinese essay prompt was literally based on her life story.
Wasn't this practically an open-book exam for Lin Yuxi?
It was hard not to suspect that the school had other motives when choosing this topic.
As far as Pu Tong was concerned...
The production team definitely had something to do with it.
Of course...
Setting Lin Yuxi aside...
This was still a classic character-biography essay prompt.
It fit perfectly on a Chinese exam.
One had to admit...
Whoever designed this question had been rather clever.
After thinking for a brief moment...
Pu Tong immediately lowered his pen and began writing.
There was no doubt in his mind.
The highest essay score this time...
Would definitely belong to Lin Yuxi.
After all...
Who could possibly understand her grandmother better than she did?
(End of Chapter)
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