Chapter 5: A Second Chance at the College Entrance Exam

Xu Chen walked straight back to the classroom. Looking around, he saw over twenty boarders still buried in their studies.

The slightly messy desks and chairs, piles of test papers and books towering like small hills, the rustle of pages and scratching of pens, the sharp scent of medicated oil mingling with the faint aroma of paper and ink…

Hidden in the boys’ desks were Conan, Naruto, One Piece; the girls’ desks were plastered with Chen Guanxi, Xue Zhiqian, Li Yuchun…

This scene filled the reborn Xu Chen with waves of nostalgia.

Had he not been given a second life, Xu Chen might never have realized that these comics and idols dated back twenty years.

Those girls crazily crushing on Brother Guanxi would, two years later, face the explosive rise of Mr. Zhaomen—what would their feelings be then…

He slipped into his seat by the window in the back row.

Everything on the desk looked both strange and familiar. Memories stirred as the test papers, books, and pens seemed to reactivate one by one.

Silently, Xu Chen flipped through a stack of mock exams, his expression calm and focused.

After a while, he closed the last paper and let out a long, relieved breath.

With his rebirth came all the knowledge and test-taking skills of senior year!

Xu Chen’s grades weren’t top of the class, but he always ranked near the front.

In his previous life, he scored 595 on the gaokao.

In their province, students chose their colleges after seeing their gaokao scores.

With that score, getting into a solid first-tier university was a breeze, and even a 211 school posed no pressure.

But last time, during the application process, his homeroom teacher ‘gently guided’ him to aim for a 985 school, causing him to miss the cutoff by five points. By a twist of fate, he ended up at a second-tier university…

That old bald donkey of a teacher—was he after bonuses or his title? Steering students wrong like that was downright heartless.

Only getting into a second-tier school was Xu Chen’s biggest regret in his last life, and he’d resented that teacher for years.

He picked up the pen on his desk, spinning it between his fingers as he furrowed his brow in thought.

This time, when it came to college applications, he wouldn’t be fooled. A first-tier school was guaranteed.

And Xu Chen’s rebirth came with another huge secret advantage no one could know about:

He remembered that year’s gaokao essay topic!

He also recalled the final math problem—an application involving arithmetic and geometric sequences…

With three months until the exam, he’d already reviewed all the necessary material. Now it was all about drilling papers to build confidence.

And he had three months to polish that essay, maybe even memorize it word for word.

As for that sequence problem, even if he couldn’t recall the exact question, drilling that topic guaranteed at least half the points.

Last time he’d rushed through the essay in a panic, and never finished the sequence problem.

With careful preparation now, boosting his score by another ten-plus points shouldn’t be an issue.

Maybe this time, a 985 school really was within reach!

Of course, Xu Chen wasn’t blind with optimism—he still needed to study hard and stay humble.

Secure a first-tier offer, then aim for 985. That was his gaokao goal after rebirth!

He stayed in the classroom until ten that night.

Those exams that once gave him headaches now held a strange sense of fun.

Compared to the unsolvable problems adults face, these questions were a breeze.

At least they had clear answers—right or wrong was obvious…

Only when the lights went out did Xu Chen put down his mock exam, reluctantly leave the room, and walk slowly toward the dormitory building.

…

Boys’ Dorm, Room 406.

An eight-person room; the other roommates were all in.

A couple of diligent guys still sat on their beds, racing the lights-out curfew.

“Young Master Xu, back from your date?”

The speaker, Chen Dahai, was tall and half-lying on his bed, staring off into space.

He slept on the bunk below Xu Chen and was his sworn friend.

Chen Dahai was a high-jump athlete. In Xu Chen’s last life, he got into the provincial sports university and later taught PE at an elementary school in the provincial capital, living worry-free.

His mention of a ‘date’ naturally meant Zhao Linlin, the so-called nonconformist girl.

Xu Chen was too tired to respond.

“Go to sleep. We’ll grab soy milk and youtiao together in the morning.”

Chen Dahai sat up: “You’re paying?”

Xu Chen: “I’m paying.”

Chen Dahai: “Young Master Xu is so generous. I’ll set an alarm right away.”

…

…

The next morning, Xu Chen and Chen Dahai rolled out of bed at 6:30.

Reborn, Xu Chen really craved his hometown’s soy milk and youtiao.

The cafeteria food was bland. As the son of the village’s richest man, he preferred eating off campus in style.

A street north of school, known as ‘Back Street,’ was lined with food stalls.

Old Deng’s Soy Milk Shop opened before dawn, with a dozen tables set by the road.

Xu Chen casually picked a table while Chen Dahai went to order.

Since Xu Chen was picking up the tab, Chen Dahai happily played the junior role.

The freshly fried youtiao was golden and crispy; the rich soy milk formed a thick skin on top.

With fermented tofu and pickles on the side, one bite felt like heaven.

Chen Dahai chewed enthusiastically, looking like an eight-foot-three kid at heart.

As they ate, noise came from behind Xu Chen.

Chen Dahai glanced back, then immediately lowered his head in fear.

Xu Chen looked at him and smiled: “What’s the matter? You’re a jock—afraid of these guys?”

Chen Dahai pouted but stayed silent.

He wouldn’t explain, and Xu Chen wouldn’t pry—bros never questioned each other’s pride.

Two yellow-haired lackeys carried steaming soy milk and youtiao to Zhao Feng’s table.

One reached out to hand a youtiao to Zhao Feng, but Zhao Feng snapped, “Brother Bing isn’t here yet! Where’s your manners?!”

Hearing that, Chen Dahai ducked even lower.

Xu Chen’s expression shifted when he heard the name ‘Brother Bing.’

Chen Dahai whispered, “What’s up?”

Xu Chen: “Nothing…”

Chen Dahai froze for a moment and whispered, “Brother Bing…you mean Xie Bingran from Class 3?”

‘Brother Bing’ wasn’t actually a brother.

Xie Bingran was the ‘Big Sister’ of Tiancheng No. 1 High School, a top beauty and the real campus queen.

A genuine school celebrity, adored by boys and girls alike.

Legends about ‘Brother Bing’ abounded, and she had many nicknames, such as:

‘Cloud-Cleaving Hero Xie Brother Bing’…

‘Female War God of No. 1 High’…

‘Unstoppable Boss Xie’…

‘Wolfdog Xie Bingran’…

But for Xu Chen, hearing ‘Xie Bingran’ stirred different emotions.

In middle school, he’d been in the same class—and even sat next to her for over a year…

Now reborn, he also knew her future fate.

In a few years, Xie Bingran would become a sizzlingly popular sports star!

A twisted smile tugged at Xu Chen’s lips.

The gears of fate were turning again.

His second track after rebirth—the ‘Rich Lady’ plan—was ready to launch!