"Liang Jing, huh." Ma Mingfan rubbed his nose and swung around with a clatter.
"During the National Day holiday, when I went back home, I found out she was traveling the same way. On the coach back, she was sitting right next to me."
"From the same hometown?"
"Sort of."
"How can that be 'sort of'?"
Ma Mingfan organized his words. "We were just on the same route. I live in the city, she's from the town. I got off halfway, though it's not that far apart really."
"She was sitting next to me, her phone was dead, so she just watched me play games the whole time. I even let her have a go. She said she'd download it sometime and play with me."
"What were you playing?"
Could playing Naruto really help you find your own Hinata?
Ma Mingfan shook his head. "Mobile Minecraft."
"Oh, that's alright then." Shen Nian felt relieved.
Ma Mingfan waved his hand, then, seemingly remembering something, complained to Shen Nian, "Let me tell you, Shen Nian, there are too many scams in those ten-yuan stores nowadays. I went into one and asked the owner, and he clearly stated everything in the store was ten yuan."
"I spotted a fridge in his shop, but he wouldn't sell it to me. How ridiculous is that?"
Shen Nian: ?
When I type a question mark, it's not that I have a question, it's that I think there's something wrong with your brain.
Shen Nian now had reason to suspect that Ma Mingfan's head was filled with the awful apple pie from the old lady next door.
He doesn't talk to idiots.
Unless it was raining, the flag-raising ceremony was mandatory every Monday. After raising the flag, a student would come out to read a speech, followed by a speech from the school leadership.
Not just the students, even some of the more motivated teachers didn't like it either.
The leadership speeches often ran long, eating into first period. Teachers couldn't finish their lesson plans, revision schedules got messed up, causing the progress of two classes to fall out of sync.
Especially when the ground was still damp. The school field had turf, and walking on it for a bit would get your shoes covered in grass clippings.
But there was an awards ceremony today, so Shen Nian didn't mind.
While lining up, Su Kexi intentionally walked over to Shen Nian and informed him about going up to receive his award, instructing him to stand by the main stage.
There were quite a few people in the class who got second and third prizes, but because there were too many winners, it wasn't practical to hand those out on stage. Those would be given out by the homeroom teacher back in the classroom.
The special prize, first prize, and most improved awards would be presented in front of the whole school.
Shen Nian had no experience receiving awards. He followed behind Xia Yanchun, watching her little ponytail sway back and forth, and felt in high spirits.
"Hey, later, do we just stand anywhere, or should we stand together?" Shen Nian leaned over, peering around as he spoke to her. He was a bit excited about going up on the big stage for the first time to receive an award.
Shen Nian hadn't even tried to guess why she was in a sulk, but her mood had already lifted on its own. "The ten special prize winners stand together. You can stand anywhere. Just stand next to me."
"Okay, okay."
A petite girl, who got first prize, was also with them.
The petite girl was excellent too—good at studies, cute looks, lucky, and even came from a fairly well-off family.
Did this good luck start from the moment she was born?
"If I can't find a job after graduating from university, will your family's company hire me?"
"Huh?" Li Shiyan was stumped by the sudden question, her small hands twisting together. "Y-you got such high scores, would you really not find a job?"
"Probably not, I'm just saying 'if'."
"Probably... yes?" Li Shiyan said cautiously.
After all, her family didn't have a company, just a slightly larger studio. She'd think about whether to hire Shen Nian if they ever actually started a proper company.
Thinking about it logically, with Shen Nian's grades that were a sure bet for a top-tier university, as long as he didn't completely slack off and not study, there's no way he wouldn't find a job, right?
If that really happened, society would probably be entering a major unemployment era.
Awards ceremony.
The students whose names were called stood in a row on the stage. The balding principal personally presented the certificates to the special prize winners.
It was Shen Nian's first time receiving a special prize certificate. It was just a piece of paper, same as the third prize one, but it somehow felt much more significant.
That's how it is. Compared to third prize, the special prize has more technology and... more perseverance and hard work!
Everything I have now is entirely due to my own efforts. Deep Blue, add points, show me your limits!
Haha sorry, System, I got your name wrong.
After the ten special prize winners took a group photo, it was the first prize winners' turn, followed by the 'Three Good Students' awards, and finally the most improved awards.
Compared to the consistently high-achieving top students, the dark horses of the most improved award were clearly better material for a story. Before presenting the awards, the principal had a long speech to read.
"Now, we will present awards to the students who showed significant improvement in their midterm exam scores compared to their previous major exam."
"Huang Zixin, Class 3, Senior Year 3, total score 621, school ranking improved by 92 places."
"Wu Ting, Class 5, Senior Year 3, total score 584, school ranking improved by 103 places."
"..."
The students whose names were called all beamed with pride, standing a little straighter.
While the total scores might not sound incredibly high, hearing 'school ranking improved by X places' afterwards was truly satisfying.
As the saying goes, scores might be inflated, but rankings don't lie.
"Zhao Zhichao, Class 23, Senior Year 3, total score 636, school ranking improved by 190 places."
Shen Nian watched the guy who had seemed a bit tired from standing snap to attention the moment his name was called to receive his certificate, and couldn't help but crack a smile.
The lad stood at attention.
"Shen Nian, Class 11, Senior Year 3, total score 688, school ranking improved by..."
The principal, reading aloud, paused and looked Shen Nian up and down.
Hold on, young man, you look familiar.
Weren't you just up here for the special prize?
The principal was baffled. The most improved award was for a significant jump in ranking between two exams. How could the same person receive both the special prize and the most improved award?
He continued reading, but the data compiled by the other school officials made him hesitate.
"Shen Nian, Class 11, Senior Year 3, total score 688, school ranking improved by... five hundred and thirty-nine places..."
The boy next to Shen Nian, who had been grinning, stopped smiling.
Bro, what?
How many?
Total score what? Ranking improved by how much?
Are you telling me that from last semester's finals to this midterm, excluding the two summer months, in just three short months, you improved by five hundred places? And your total score is 688?
You wouldn't even dare dream that.
The students below started buzzing. Shen Nian couldn't make out what they were discussing, but he could roughly guess.
After all, his grade improvement was indeed a bit exaggerated.
When he read out the ranking, the principal's look towards Shen Nian changed completely.
From teacher to principal, in all his years, he had never seen anyone this impressive.
With newfound respect, the balding principal also stood a little straighter.
Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato's request for 3 million+ daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other major platforms.
iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
