The Mediterranean Principal Young Man Also Stands at Attention

"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.

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