The second round of testing did not begin immediately, giving Tong Yang a day to rest and prepare.
Tong Yang was sweaty and sticky, so she had Zhan Zicheng find her a change of clothes. After taking a shower, she slept for a while.
Less than seven hours later, Tong Yang woke from her sleep. Zhan Zicheng brought her some relevant books. Tong Yang skimmed through them; the mathematics differed slightly from that of the real world, but was largely the same.
Moreover, most of this knowledge could be mastered by middle school level and wasn't difficult.
However, for people from the slums, very few ever got the chance to study, so passing was an extremely difficult feat.
"How's the preparation going? The test starts in another two hours," Zhan Zicheng entered the room and looked at her.
Tong Yang sat on the bed, holding a physics book, and said, "Are you sure the exam content is within these few books?"
Zhan Zicheng nodded, "That's what the examiner said, anyway."
Tong Yang said, "Then there's no problem."
"Wow! You're so confident. Do you know how hard math and physics are?"
"But isn't it explained quite clearly in the books?"
"Don't you think those numbers look like a foreign language?"
Tong Yang said, "I think it's okay."
"Tsk! Talk after you pass."
"Mm."
A few hours later, someone notified her that the test was about to begin and told Tong Yang to pack her things and get ready to leave the room.
Tong Yang took her belongings and followed the person down a corridor to a bright, spacious room.
In the middle was a table with paper, pens, and a thick stack of test papers.
Directly opposite the table were three chairs, all empty.
"Go on in."
"Okay."
Tong Yang pulled down the brim of her cap, hung her backpack on the chair, and sat down.
Looking around, the room was unusually empty.
Shortly after Tong Yang took her seat, a broadcast sounded from the front, announcing that the test would begin in approximately ten minutes.
After the broadcast ended, footsteps gradually echoed from the corridor.
Not long after, three examiners entered the room, one of whom was Zhan Zicheng.
He winked at Tong Yang, looking rather pleased with himself.
Tong Yang's attention, however, wasn't on him; she was watching the two people walking in front.
Their footsteps were light, almost soundless.
The leading man had a crew cut, a black stud on his brow bone. Despite his fierce and intimidating features, he wore a smile. When his eyes met Tong Yang's, he gave a slight nod in greeting.
The one in the middle was a woman wearing glasses, her expression quite stern. She walked into the room without glancing sideways, not paying Tong Yang the slightest attention.
"The test duration is six hours. You may choose to submit your paper early. You cannot leave the room during this period," the woman said.
She checked her watch and said, "There are nine minutes until the test begins. You may choose to look over the test papers."
Tong Yang nodded, "I understand."
"Please note, maintain silence during the exam."
"Mhm."
Tong Yang wasn't worried about them seeing her face, as there were now three worlds, and it was possible for three identical people to exist.
Furthermore, the First World didn't intend to kill her. Even if they knew what she looked like, they wouldn't make it public. After all, the fact that the United Government didn't want her dead didn't mean others didn't. So, they couldn't possibly reveal Tong Yang's identity.
For either reason, it conveniently gave Tong Yang an opportunity.
Nine minutes later, the test officially began.
The room was exceptionally quiet, with only the sounds of turning pages and pen tips scratching against paper.
Tong Yang chose not to use her usual method. She didn't force herself to be flawless or to calculate everything mentally. Instead, she wrote long strings of formulas on the scratch paper, even making some deliberate mistakes.
No matter what, her current identity was still that of a slum dweller. She had to keep up appearances and avoid raising suspicion as much as possible.
Tong Yang didn't think her desire to enter the civilian district was rash. After all, she wasn't the first person to take this test, nor the first to leave this place.
Tong Yang wrote diligently, trying to keep her scores right around the passing line. She intentionally omitted some questions that required more thought or wrote wrong answers, even having to think about how to make the mistakes seem plausible. It felt more meticulous than her own middle school entrance exams.
Time passed slowly in the quietness, until suddenly, snoring came from the front.
Interrupted in her thoughts, Tong Yang looked up and saw Zhan Zicheng, sound asleep, slumped in his chair.
The woman in the middle backhanded Zhan Zicheng on the back of his head.
"Who, who hit me?" Zhan Zicheng jolted awake, looking around angrily.
"Maintain silence. Do not disturb the test," the woman said.
Zhan Zicheng grumbled, "I wasn't disturbing the test."
"No sleeping."
"Hmph."
Tong Yang's gaze shifted to the woman. Since the exam started, the woman's eyes hadn't left Tong Yang, staring at her fixedly like a surveillance camera.
Fortunately, Tong Yang had strong mental fortitude. She acted as if the woman didn't exist the entire time, burying her head in her work.
The crew-cut man kept his head down, playing on his phone, not making a sound.
Tong Yang lowered her head again, turned the test paper over, and continued answering.
Zhan Zicheng, probably bored from sitting, got up and paced over to her. He stood by the table and glanced at her paper.
Tong Yang was working on a problem-solving question.
Zhan Zicheng read the question stem along with her. Before he could even process it, Tong Yang swiftly wrote out a formula on the scratch paper with two strokes.
Zhan Zicheng followed her train of thought, perhaps too engrossed. When Tong Le deliberately miscalculated a step, he reminded her, "You wrote that wrong."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the three people in the room simultaneously looked at him.
"Go away."
"Get back here!"
Tong Yang and the woman spoke in unison.
Zhan Zicheng slunk back to his seat and continued dozing off. He should have known better than to come watch; he might as well have slept soundly in his room.
Four hours later, Tong Yang finally finished the last test paper. By then, she felt it was even more exhausting than the college entrance exam.
She didn't choose to submit the paper immediately. Instead, she checked the papers inside and out, while also estimating her scores along the way. Math and physics were around sixty-seven and sixty-four respectively, just over the passing line and unlikely to raise suspicion, as all this knowledge was in the textbooks Zhan Zicheng had given her.
"I'm finished," Tong Yang said.
Zhan Zicheng said in surprise, "You're not going to check again? There's still time."
Tong Yang said:
"I've written all I know. Give me ten more days and I still wouldn't be able to write the rest."
"That's true."
The crew-cut man said, "Are you sure?"
"Mhm."
"Alright, then proceed to the next test."
Tong Yang wasn't surprised there were more tests. She shouldered her backpack and left the room.
The following tests were worlds apart from the first two rounds, consisting entirely of questions about common sense and ideological morality. Although Tong Yang wasn't a particularly moral person, it wasn't hard to answer correctly.
Three days passed, and Tong Yang completed all the tests required to enter the civilian district.
"All tests are concluded."
Tong Yang stood in the room, looking utterly exhausted.
The testing period was too long and too tedious. Apart from the first two rounds, which posed no difficulty for her, there were just too many questions. She also had to pretend to only half-understand, which was very draining.
"Yang Tong, our investigation shows this is not your first time taking these tests," the woman suddenly said to her.
Tong Yang was momentarily taken aback, but replied calmly, "Yes, it's been a while."
"Last time you fell just short. I hope you can pass this time."
Tong Yang nodded. "Thank you."
She didn't ask further questions, but already understood the situation perfectly.
In the parallel world, Tong Yang had once lived with her in the real world under the alias "Yang Tong," with Tong Yang covering all her daily expenses.
At the end of April, she returned to the parallel world. Before parting, she said she would prepare a gift for Tong Yang in the First World. The password to receive the gift was the name "Yang Tong," which was precisely why Tong Yang had chosen "Yang Tong" as her alias to stay in the slums.
If "Yang Tong" participated in the Commoner District test before she herself entered the First World, her existence would become legitimate, unrelated to the Time Anchor, because at that time the "Time Anchor" was still in the real world.
The woman said, "The test results will be out within a week. We will inform you whether you passed or not."
Tong Yang asked, "If I pass the test, can I bring people close to me into the Commoner District?"
"No more than five people."
"I understand," Tong Yang nodded.
As she left the testing area, the man with the crew cut was leaning against the door frame watching her.
"Is there something?" Tong Yang asked.
The crew-cut man said, "Yang Tong, I look forward to seeing you again."
"Then let me pass the test," Tong Yang replied.
Prior to this, Tong Yang had already managed to get Zhan Zicheng to reveal the crew-cut man's attitude towards her.
Safely passing the exam wasn't an impossible task.
The crew-cut man said, "If you have the capability."
Tong Yang glanced at him and walked straight down the corridor, leaving without another word.
The crew-cut man looked at the woman in the room and asked, "When was Yang Tong's last test?"
The woman replied, "May fifteenth."
The crew-cut man narrowed his eyes. "That means she must have obtained test qualification by at least May first."
"Correct."
"That doesn't align with the time the Time Anchor entered the First World."
The woman narrowed her eyes. "You suspect her?"
"I suspect anyone I haven't met before," the crew-cut man shrugged. "Anyone unfamiliar is a potential suspect."
The woman said, "Yang Tong existed before the Time Anchor appeared."
"Indeed."
"How were the first-round test results?"
"Just barely passed."
The man's pupils contracted slightly, murmuring, "Just barely passed..."
Tong Yang was led back to the original corridor by a staff member.
"You can return from here."
"Mhm."
Tong Yang slung her backpack over one shoulder. Having lived for days in a sunless place, it felt like forever since she had seen such brilliant sunlight.
She stretched. She needed to get a good sleep when she got back.
If nothing unexpected happened, she would enter the Commoner District in a week. Then she could contact people from the real world. She wondered how many calls Tong Le had made to her during this time.
Reaching the end of the corridor, she opened the small door on the right side of the large iron gate and returned to the slums.
The area near the exit was almost deserted except on the first and fifteenth of each month. Tong Yang closed the door, raised her eyes, and caught a glimpse of something in the corner behind the door.
Looking closer, she saw a thin, small figure curled up hugging her knees, dressed exactly as she was before Tong Yang left, unsure how long she had been waiting.
Tong Yang walked over and saw Miaomiao had fallen asleep with her head tilted, cookie crumbs still clinging to the corner of her mouth.
"Miaomiao?" Tong Yang called softly.
She was sound asleep, showing no sign of stirring.
Tong Yang patted her shoulder and noticed her body temperature was higher than usual. "Miaomiao?"
After a couple of gentle shakes, Miaomiao gradually stirred, opening her bleary eyes. Her gaze was empty and numb until she heard Tong Yang's voice. Slowly lifting her eyes, light seemed to flood into them.
"Big sister... cough... You're back!" Miaomiao grabbed the hem of her shirt.
Tong Yang frowned, placing her right hand on Miaomiao's forehead. "You have a fever."
Miaomiao brushed her hand away, using the wall to push herself up. "I'm fine. I just fell asleep accidentally. Let's go back."
"How long have you been waiting?" Tong Yang asked.
"I've been here the whole time, so big sister would see me as soon as she came back."
Tong Yang's expression was complex. "Are there any doctors in the slums?"
Miaomiao shook her head. "No."
"When people here get sick, they can only wait to die slowly... Big sister, am I going to die?"
Tong Yang tapped her forehead. "Don't talk nonsense. It's just a fever. You won't die even if you want to."
"That's good then..."
Tong Yang sighed helplessly, handing her backpack to Miaomiao, who obediently took it.
"Get on my back. I'll carry you home."
"Okay..."
Miaomiao climbed onto her back, wrapping her arms around Tong Yang's neck.
There were no doctors in the slums, but there were some medicines available. Tong Yang bought a few boxes on the way back.
After giving her some fever reducer, she let her sleep.
Miaomiao's cold wasn't severe; it was just that long-term malnutrition had weakened her immune system. After a few days of medicine and rest, she was fine.
After Tong Yang returned from the test, people occasionally came to visit them, inquiring about the test situation.
Now, the entire First World had its eyes fixed on the slums.
On the sixth day after the test ended, the owner of the grocery store rushed to find Tong Yang, breathlessly saying, "They're here... people from the Commoner District are here..."
At that moment, Tong Yang was practicing combat techniques with Miaomiao.
"Where?" Tong Yang asked.
"At my shop! You'd better hurry over."
"Mhm."
Tong Yang patted Miaomiao's shoulder, signaling her to get ready. "I'll go check first."
"Got it!"
Miaomiao scurried into the room, while Tong Yang returned to the grocery store with the owner.
By the time they arrived, a huge crowd had gathered outside the shop.
"She's here, she's here! Yang Tong is here!"
"Move aside! Make way!"
The crowd automatically parted to both sides, creating a path down the middle.
Tong Yang entered the grocery store and saw several people, led by the crew-cut man, sitting inside.
The TV behind the counter was broadcasting a news report: the Time Anchor had entered the First World. Since both the Commoner and Elite Districts had identity registration, initial judgment indicated the Time Anchor would likely appear in the slums.
Shifting her gaze to the crew-cut man, he smiled at her.
"Yang Tong, long time no see."
Tong Yang gave a slight nod. "Long time no see."
The crew-cut man said, "How have you been these past couple of days?"
Tong Yang was puzzled. "Did you come here to catch up?"
The crew-cut man smiled. "Of course not."
"Then let's get to the main point," Tong Yang said.
The crew-cut man nodded. "Alright, let's get to the main point."
"The results of the test you took on July 15th are out. We came here to inform you of your test results."
Tong Yang nodded, her expression unreadable. "Go ahead."
The crew-cut man sighed. "I'm very sorry. You did not pass the test."
As these words were spoken, a murmur of disappointment rippled through the crowd.
"Just as expected."
"The Commoner District tests are never that simple. We already guessed this would happen."
"It's okay. At least you're still alive."
"Right, being alive is what matters."
No one seemed particularly surprised, including Tong Yang.
These guys definitely wouldn't let her enter the civilian district easily. Although Zhan Zicheng had told her the Joint Government had ulterior motives and wasn't completely forbidding her from passing the test.
Tong Yang remained unflustered by favor or disgrace, asking, "I understand."
The man with the crew cut said, "You don't seem surprised at all? If you miss this opportunity, you probably won't get another chance to leave the slums."
Tong Yang said helplessly, "What can I do about it? I participated in two tests and failed them all, proving I'm not qualified to enter the civilian district."
Tong Yang spoke lightly, but she didn't truly think that way. She had to find a way to leave this place, otherwise, her connection to the real world would be completely severed.
"But I have a question, and I hope you all can answer it," Tong Yang said.
The crew-cut man lifted his chin. "Go ahead."
Tong Yang said, "I want to know, in which round did I fail? Or did I fail all of them?"
The crew-cut man said, "You performed very well in every round of testing, especially the first round."
"So?"
"It's just that, for the first round, the math and physics test papers... you failed them all."
Tong Yang's jaw tightened. Failed them all? What a joke?
How much effort had she spent to reasonably control her scores to that specific value?
She might fail at anything else, but she would absolutely not fail the first round of tests!
However, this was clearly just an excuse to keep her out of the First World. Tong Yang couldn't reveal any flaws. Even though she knew they were blatantly lying, she had to accept it and couldn't show that she knew the scores inside out.
"Is that so." Tong Yang lowered her eyelashes. "It seems I'm not qualified to enter the civilian district."
"I express my deepest regret regarding this," the crew-cut man said.
Tong Yang continued, "However, I still firmly believe that the slums are not a garbage dump. We are just lacking opportunities to contribute to humanity. I simply... am not among those who qualify."
The crew-cut man looked at her, his smile thought-provoking.
"Perhaps you're right. What a pity."
Rage surged in Tong Yang's chest. These bastards dared to tamper with her results.
They actually said she failed her science exams? Tong Yang felt there was no greater insult.
"If there's nothing else, I'm going back," Tong Yang said coldly.
"Wait a moment, my phone is ringing." The crew-cut man pulled a phone from his pocket, swiped it casually, and held it to his ear.
Everyone exchanged glances. Wasn't there no signal in the slums? How could he receive a call?
"Hmm, I've met Yang Tong. What is it?"
"What?" The crew-cut man sat up straight, a look of surprise on his face. "The first-round scores were miscalculated?"
Tong Yang narrowed her eyes, watching the man with an inscrutable expression.
"She passed? She passed them all?" the crew-cut man said, shocked.
"What?!"
"Passed? Yang Tong passed!"
"Yang Tong passed the first round of tests, so doesn't that mean..."
"Oh my god! She passed the civilian district test!"
"My heavens!"
Tong Yang's expression was a mix between a smile and a sneer. Was this crew-cut guy deliberately testing her?
A moment later, the crew-cut man put down his phone and said to Tong Yang with a face full of remorse, "My sincerest apologies. The staff responsible for reviewing the first-round tests missed some answers and miscounted a few points. You just barely passed math and physics. You've passed the first round."
Tong Yang's eyes darkened. "Who reviewed the first-round tests?"
The crew-cut man stood up, stepped forward, and patted Tong Yang's shoulder. "I know you're angry, but please understand. People aren't machines; mistakes are inevitable."
Tong Yang was silent for a moment, then asked, "So, I passed the test?"
"Yes." The crew-cut man proactively took her hand and shook it. "Congratulations, congratulations."
Tong Yang pressed her lips together and pulled her hand back.
The crew-cut man said, "Why aren't you happy even though you passed the test?"
Tong Yang said, "If you had told me from the start that I had passed, I probably would be happy. But I almost lost my qualification to enter the civilian district forever because of your mistake."
"I proved my point was correct. The slums are not a garbage dump."
The crew-cut man said with great seriousness, "You are right. We are deeply sorry. It was entirely our negligence. Fortunately, they were able to correct it in time."
Tong Yang pressed her lips together, thinking this person was insane.
"Wh-what does this mean..."
"Yang Tong really passed the civilian district test?"
"Then doesn't that mean... doesn't that mean..."
"The slums will receive aid from the affluent district?"
"We can go to school too?"
...
The crew-cut man looked past Tong Yang at the crowd present and said, "That's correct. Yang Tong has passed the civilian district test. We will fulfill our promise and provide aid to the slums."
"However, processing the identity paperwork will take some time. Yang Tong can bring up to five family members or close friends with her into the civilian district."
"Additionally, apart from this matter, there is one more thing we need to ask of everyone. The Time Anchor might be within the slums. Because the slums are... a sensitive area, the Joint Government cannot conduct direct searches. We hope during this time, everyone can spread the word and look for traces of the Time Anchor."
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
"The Time Anchor is actually in the civilian district?"
"Why would the Time Anchor enter the First World?"
"If we catch her, kill her, we can go to the Third World! Then there won't be any slums anymore!"
"Catch her! We must catch her!"
"Sir, who is the Time Anchor?"
The crew-cut man said, "The information we have about her is very limited. We only know she is a young woman who often operates alone."
"We understand!"
"The Time Anchor... we must capture her!"
Tong Yang watched them coldly. Thinking about it this way, she herself was somewhat suspicious. After all, when she first arrived, she had acted somewhat unusually. Thankfully, she often kept Miaomiao by her side.
The crew-cut man changed tack, saying, "She likely carries items not commonly seen in the slums, such as electronic devices."
Hearing this, Tong Yang's heart sank.
Except for that day at the noodle shop, she had never taken out any electronic devices. But the few people who had seen it that day and later tried to rob her, only to be thoroughly beaten by Tong Yang, were standing not far away.
She wouldn't be exposed in this way, would she?
Tong Yang curled her fingers into her palms, nails digging into her flesh.
What to do? If they spoke up, suspicion towards Tong Yang would increase.
"Electronic devices aren't common in the slums, but they aren't unheard of either."
"Right, sometimes there are first-hand goods in the supplies, they're just sold at a higher price."
Tong Yang looked at the speakers—they were precisely the ones who had tried to rob her and gotten beaten up.
The several men, meeting Tong Yang's gaze, each gave her a look that seemed to say "don't worry."
Tong Yang: "?"
What did that mean?!
