Chapter 28: The Examination Turmoil (Part One)

There were still thirty minutes to go before the first exam, yet many students were already waiting outside their designated classrooms for the teachers to unlock the doors. The teachers would open the doors twenty minutes before the exam began, then check each student to ensure no one was carrying cheat sheets, electronic devices, phones, or similar items, only allowing entry afterward.

The Innovation Exam was known for its strict invigilation. Every classroom was equipped with a signal jammer; even if you managed to bring in a phone, you wouldn’t receive a signal. Each exam room held over thirty students, with two invigilators overseeing the process. Cheating was almost impossible.

In front of Exam Room Thirty-Five, Wang Yuqing hugged her small backpack, hiding behind Xiao Lin, occasionally revealing a sweet smile as she chatted with him.

Xiao Lin turned his head to talk with Wang Yuqing. He understood why she was keeping behind him; among the students waiting for the teacher to open the door, aside from Wang Yuqing, there was only one other girl—a dark-skinned, chubby girl. The rest were all boys.

At that moment, those boys were all looking their way—more precisely, at Wang Yuqing. Wherever a beauty appeared, she naturally became the center of attention. Many of the boys deliberately struck what they believed to be their most handsome poses, hoping the goddess would glance their way. Unfortunately for them, Wang Yuqing’s eyes were fixed solely on Xiao Lin.

“All right, stop crowding around. Make way, make way,” barked a middle-aged male teacher, pushing aside the students clustered at the door. He took out a key to unlock it. Behind him followed a plump, stern-faced female teacher who exuded an air of unapproachability.

A student groaned, “No way, it’s the She-judge from Hell invigilating us. We’re finished. Completely finished.”

The female teacher’s name was Xu Chunmin. In any room she supervised, few students dared to cheat; those who tried were invariably caught. Thus, the students had given her a nickname: She-judge from Hell.

Xu Chunmin wore a look as if someone owed her money, her expression fierce as she barked, “Line up quickly! What are you dawdling for? Do you even want to take the exam?”

The students obediently formed a line to be checked. Some furtively switched off the phones hidden in their pockets or slipped them into their backpacks. One boy, looking particularly glum, spat into his palm and rubbed it over his arm to erase the notes he’d written there.

Wang Yuqing was at the very end of the line, with Xiao Lin just ahead of her. She noticed how fearful the students were of the female teacher and asked Xiao Lin in puzzlement, “Is this teacher really that strict?”

Xiao Lin turned to her, his face solemn. “No, not just strict—she’s especially formidable. She’s the right hand of the King of Hell himself!”

Wang Yuqing was left bewildered by Xiao Lin’s words—what did he mean by the King of Hell’s right hand? Just as she was about to ask further, Xu Chunmin had already produced a metal detector and was sweeping it over Xiao Lin.

When the detector reached Xiao Lin’s waist, it suddenly beeped. Xu Chunmin’s eyes widened, her tone brooking no argument, “Take out the phone you’re hiding.”

Xiao Lin, faced with the fierce She-judge from Hell, sighed and unzipped his coat. “Teacher, look carefully. It’s just a belt,” he said, pointing to his waist.

Xu Chunmin actually bent down to examine his belt closely, tapping it to check. Once she was sure it was only a metal belt, she waved Xiao Lin into the room.

Behind him, Wang Yuqing couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle at the sight of Xu Chunmin bending down to inspect Xiao Lin’s waist.

“What are you laughing at? Hurry up and raise your hands. Honestly, with grades that poor you’re still so cheerful. What kind of student are you?” Xu Chunmin said, looking at Wang Yuqing with clear annoyance.

Though even she was slightly surprised by Yuqing’s elegant, ethereal presence, her attitude didn’t change. She knew that all the students in this exam room were at the bottom of the senior class academically. She never had a kind word for underachievers.

Wang Yuqing’s mouth parted in surprise at her words, but she didn’t try to explain. She simply stuck out her tongue and obediently raised her hands.

Xu Chunmin swept the metal detector over Wang Yuqing, found nothing amiss, and waved her in with a look of impatience.

Wang Yuqing entered the exam room carrying only a pencil case; bags were not allowed inside. Several tables had been set up outside each exam room for students to leave their bags.

As Wang Yuqing was the last to enter, the one remaining empty seat was hers. There were four rows of desks, each with nine seats. The vacant seat was in the row by the window, second from the back. Wang Yuqing walked over, sat down, and took out her pens, preparing for the exam.

Xiao Lin was seated in the adjacent row to her left, third from the back—the two were quite close.

Behind Wang Yuqing sat a boy who, from the moment she entered, hadn’t taken his eyes off her. He wore a bright red coat unzipped at the front, his hair styled in a rebellious fashion, his face exuding mischief, his eyes darting restlessly—one look told you he was trouble.

His name was Sun Feifei, a classic delinquent—a problem child in every sense. Smoking, drinking, fighting—he’d done it all. He’d only gotten into this school thanks to family connections, though those connections were nothing compared to someone like Gao Zheng.

Staring at the pretty girl in front of him, Sun Feifei’s beady eyes gleamed with open desire. He didn’t actually know Wang Yuqing; he’d skipped the last lecture, choosing instead to play games at an internet café. He’d heard her name, but never imagined that such a top-notch beauty would be sitting for the exam in this room.

Sun Feifei was secretly delighted. He found these exams boring, but with a pretty girl sitting ahead, it was a different story. He was already scheming how to tease her.

“I’m going to lay down the rules,” Xu Chunmin announced from the front. “No whispering, no borrowing of items—if you have a question, raise your hand and ask us. No handing in your papers early…”

The students all kept their heads down. Faced with the She-judge from Hell, no one harbored any hope of cheating. They’d all prepared crib notes, but had already discarded them. As for copying from others—everyone inwardly scoffed. In this room, everyone was at the same level: not a single one of them knew the answers.

Xiao Lin twirled his pen, bored. The first exam was Chinese, which was no challenge for him—his Chinese was excellent. He’d only ever failed because he deliberately left papers blank and slept through exams.

Wang Yuqing, on the other hand, sat upright, waiting for the papers to be handed out. She was a serious, diligent girl, always giving her best effort in everything she did.

What she didn’t know was that this would not be an uneventful exam.