Soon, Zhu Yaya heard the notification from Mr. System. This time, it had switched to Xu Mo's voice: "Congratulations on successfully completing the fifth task. Reward: three years of lifespan and twenty thousand RMB."
Zhu Yaya, overjoyed, put away her fruit box.
Gu Tao had also performed well on the exam, ranking twelfth in his grade. He was held back by his English score. Seeing that Zhu Yaya had a perfect score in English, he wanted to ask her for study tips.
"Sure!" Having completed her task, Zhu Yaya felt refreshed and readily agreed. "Let's head back to the classroom together. We can talk on the way."
"Alright."
The crowd around them had thinned a bit. Zhu Yaya spotted Yan Heng, whose height made him stand out from the crowd. She told Gu Tao to "wait for her a moment," then clattered over to Yan Heng's side. Looking up at him excitedly, she said, "Brother Yan, Brother Yan, I got first place in the whole grade. Thank you for your notes."
"I know. That's the result of your own hard work."
"And I broke your record."
"Mm, very impressive. Keep it up."
Zhu Yaya happily agreed, her two small dimples appearing as she smiled. She then turned to clatter back.
He couldn't help but take a step forward: "Zhu Yaya."
"Hmm?" Zhu Yaya stopped and looked back.
He cleared his throat, his face turning slightly away. "Maintain an appropriate distance from other male classmates."
Zhu Yaya: ... Why was Yan Heng acting like her dad, Zhu Jianjun?
But since it was her big brother's instruction, underling Zhu Yaya answered "Understood" and went to find Gu Tao. As she and Gu Tao walked up the stairs discussing English study methods, she kept a certain distance between them.
Yan Heng watched their retreating figures and still followed them. When Gu Tao leaned slightly closer to Zhu Yaya, Yan Heng deliberately cut between them. "Excuse me, let me through."
Zhu Yaya: ...
Zhu Yaya and Gu Tao moved to either side of the stairway to make way for Yan Heng.
Yan Heng went up a few steps, then turned back to say to Zhu Yaya, "Have you read the 'Code of Daily Conduct for Middle School Students'?"
Zhu Yaya was baffled. "Yes, I have."
Yan Heng gave a slight nod. "Read it again, study it well. Also, go take a look at the 'Scotch High School Student Handbook'."
Zhu Yaya: "...Okay."
After Yan Heng left, Gu Tao leaned over and whispered to Zhu Yaya, "The seniors from the second year are so overbearing. Especially that senior Yan Heng. I've heard even the school bully, Murong Beichen, doesn't dare provoke him."
Zhu Yaya silently increased the distance between them, murmuring in agreement, "Yeah, yeah."
"By the way, you know Senior Yan Heng?"
"He's my newly acknowledged big brother."
Gu Tao: "...You didn't hear anything just now, right?"
Zhu Yaya chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't snitch." She then continued discussing English learning methods with Gu Tao.
In just one afternoon, Zhu Yaya's name became somewhat famous in a small circle at Scotch High School. For a moment, her limelight even surpassed that of the female lead, Xu Chun, who had previously beaten Yan Heng. After all, those in the know understood the twists and turns involved. Zhu Yaya was hailed as the representative of "the new generation surpassing the old."
Her exam papers had just been handed to her when Chang Wen took them away, saying the papers of the top-scoring student in each subject would also be posted on the bulletin board on the first floor. So, Zhu Yaya ended up gloriously without a single paper in her hands.
Xu Baoying went to the restroom during the break and returned to find her seat occupied. Several people, including some from other classes, were surrounding Zhu Yaya with their exam papers, asking questions.
It wasn't until the class bell rang that she managed to reclaim her seat.
Sensing Xu Baoying's slight jealousy, Zhu Yaya put an arm around her. "My dear Baoying, you must understand my heart has always been with you. No matter what happens, we will always be best friends and good deskmates."
Xu Baoying's expression softened, and she gave a little humph.
True to her word, Chang Wen called Zhu Yaya to the office. She first praised Zhu Yaya, then emphasized the condition of "maintaining a top-three grade ranking."
Zhu Yaya confidently stated that would be no problem.
"Oh, right, Director Zhou wants you to prepare tonight. Tomorrow morning during the assembly, there will be an award ceremony for this monthly exam. You will go on stage as an outstanding student representative to give a speech in front of the entire school," homeroom teacher Chang Wen added.
A speech? Top-scorer Zhu Yaya wasn't afraid of public speaking. She was concerned about another matter. She narrowed her eyes with a smile, rubbing her hands together excitedly. "Um, Teacher Chang, I heard the top three in the grade get cash prizes."
"That's right. First place gets 1000 yuan, second and third get 800 and 500 yuan respectively."
1000?! Zhu Yaya, a perennial first-place winner who was used to only receiving notebooks as prizes, was extremely satisfied.
But she still hadn't forgotten to keep a constant eye on Xu Chun. After leaving the teachers' office, she headed towards Class 17, Grade 2.
"You're too amazing! First in the grade! What's more important is you broke Brother Yan's record. Only ten points away from a perfect score, that's insane!" Li Hao was full of admiration. "And here I was worried for you. Turns out, I was the clown all along!"
Zhu Yaya covered her mouth, laughing. "I just got lucky to beat Brother Yan. I owe a lot to his notes."
"To be honest, I borrowed Brother Yan's notes too. But I found I couldn't understand them at all," Li Hao said mournfully.
"There were some things in them I didn't understand either. I had to ask Baidu," Zhu Yaya said, wiping away a cold sweat.
"Brother Yan, have you ever given a speech? Director Zhou told me to speak as the outstanding student representative tomorrow." Zhu Yaya was curious about what a speech from the stoic, taciturn Yan Heng would be like.
Hearing this, Li Hao couldn't help but laugh. Trying to hold back his laughter, he told Zhu Yaya, "Brother Yan has definitely given a speech. The entire time, he only said two sentences—'Study hard, improve every day. Live up to your youth, live up to your country.' After that, Director Zhou never asked him to give a speech again."
Zhu Yaya was amused too. That was so typical of Yan Heng!
The tips of Yan Heng's ears turned red, and he shot Li Hao a warning glance out of the corner of his eye.
Li Hao immediately stopped laughing. "By the way, Yaya, you might not know this yet. Originally, it was supposed to be our class's Xu Chun giving the speech, but you snatched it. Who told you to be so incredible, surpassing Brother Yan's record and shocking all the teachers."
"Is that so!" Zhu Yaya glanced at Xu Chun sitting in the front row.
Of course, she still didn't forget to continue tailing Xu Chun. Yan Heng, who mistakenly thought she was following him, saw that trying to stop her was useless and let her be. Anyway, he had to go home first to take care of his mother, then go to the south district for a temporary job. He could walk Zhu Yaya home later.
Returning home and opening her phone, Zhu Yaya found that Yan Heng had somehow accepted her QQ friend request and had sent her a huge chunk of text: the entire 'Code of Daily Conduct for Middle School Students'.
Zhu Yaya: ... Oh, come on. Was she that unruly?
Morning arrived, another sunny day.
The entire student body and faculty of Scott High School were gathered on the vast sports field. Zhu Yaya first took to the stage with the second and third-place students from the freshman grade to receive their certificates and scholarships. Then, she stood to the side, waiting for the sophomore and senior students to receive their awards. She saw Xu Chun and Yan Heng.
She blinked at Yan Heng.
A glint of amusement appeared in Yan Heng's eyes. After receiving his certificate and scholarship, he quickly walked over to Zhu Yaya and stood beside her.
Once all the awards and scholarships had been presented, the host announced, "Next, let's give a warm welcome to our outstanding student representative, Zhu Yaya from Class One, Grade One, to deliver a speech and share her study experiences with us."
Yan Heng leaned over and whispered, "Good luck." He was a little worried she might be nervous.
However, Zhu Yaya treated it as no big deal and wasn't nervous at all. She performed exceptionally well, delivering the entire speech without notes. Her words were witty, eliciting frequent bursts of laughter from the audience, yet the content was substantial and insightful.
The most discussed post on the school forum that day remained pinned at the top. It featured a photo of Zhu Yaya giving her speech on stage. She wore a ginger-yellow knit sweater paired with a white skirt, her jet-black hair cascading down. A gentle breeze swept by, lifting a few strands. Her small, palm-sized face featured large, grape-like eyes and sweet little dimples, giving off a vibe of pure, first-love innocence.
Yan Heng was also in the shot, standing next to the petite Zhu Yaya, creating an adorable height difference. He stood at the edge of the photo, his expression mostly neutral, but his gaze remained fixed on Zhu Yaya with unmistakable tenderness.
After this event, Zhu Yaya became an instant sensation throughout Scott High School. For a time, her popularity even overshadowed that of the school belle from Class One, Grade Two, the supporting female character Shen Wandang.
