Chapter 23: Sharing: Ranked fourth in grade and twelfth in the city, Gu...

Guicheng's third exam was scheduled for Thursday and Friday. As usual, besides Xichen Middle School, several other key middle schools would also be included in the unified exam, with the rankings compiled.

The rest of the time was dedicated to independent review, and the usually bustling atmosphere on the third-grade floor had become tense. Even the hallways and corridors were filled with students leaning against the railings or sitting on small benches, diligently studying and memorizing.

Although the students here were either wealthy or prominent, most families also held extremely high academic expectations. As Xie Buchuo observed, the richer and more powerful, the stricter and more demanding the students were.

But there were exceptions.

Shang Zui, who had just returned from dance practice, was in rest mode. He leaned back in his chair, comfortably forking a piece of cantaloupe into his mouth, and then expertly opened the school's forum to browse the latest gossip, his attention drawn to the day's top trending post.

He glanced at the still-empty seats in the first row, then considerately switched to another fruit fork, pierced the cantaloupe, and placed it against Gu Ci's lips, reminding him, "Ah—"

Gu Ci, scrambling to correct his mistakes, only realized what was happening when he heard Shang Zui's voice. His soft, rosy lips parted obediently.

"Thank you, Shang Zui!"

The refreshing taste of the cantaloupe permeated his mouth, dispelling much of the tension from his review.

Shang Zui asked with a smile, "Another piece?"

Gu Ci shook his head, "No, just eat it."

Shang Zui had no choice but to give up. Thinking of the trending post he had just seen, his curiosity piqued again: "Little Gu Ci, do you think Huo Gou can finally get this done?"

"Huh?" Gu Ci paused, puzzled, and asked Shang Zui, "What do you mean by 'completed...'?"

"Uh..." Shang Zui, feeling he couldn't articulate it immediately, simply flashed his phone screen to show him, "Look, everyone's making a bet. Today's top trending post is whether Huo Wenyuan will come and share his experience."

Gu Ci, even more confused, tilted his head to see if it was a poll.

The main post read: [Guide friends, I heard Class 9 (1) is sharing their experience, and it's Huo Shen. Is this true?] 1L:

[Additional text: This main post doesn't mean anything special, I just really want to hear Huo Shen share! If it's true, can I sit in on the class? Or can anyone in Class 1 help record or videotape it? Notes are also welcome. Feel free to submit them for a fee!] 2L

: [What?! There's actually such a shocking event! So is this real? Can you take me with you?]

3L: [It has to be fake, right? Huo Wenyuan only spoke to the whole school as a student representative in his freshman year... and it was less than four minutes (so depressing)]

4L: [The class is sharing their experiences, and Crab Bro also said they'd invite Huo Wenyuan, so it's a sure thing!]

5L: [What a coincidence, I'm in Class 1 too. While what the above person said is not bad, Huo's position is still vacant... so sad!]

6L: [Huh? Isn't he coming again?]

In just this morning, the thread has already grown to over two hundred posts. Optimists and pessimists are arguing endlessly, and in the end, they just voted based on points.

The opposition is currently leading by a large margin.

222L: [I'm leaving it at that. Huo Wenyuan will never come! I heard your classmate Crab Bro is already asking our class teacher. Maybe Brother Qu will go to Class 1 to share!]

...

The clamor downstairs intensified.

Until the latest reply from the first floor: [Whether he's coming or not, just ask Gu Ci and you'll know. Isn't he that person's younger brother?]

Gu Ci suddenly felt something was wrong. Sure enough, Shang Zui's eyes lit up, and he pointed to the messages constantly popping up at the top of the screen and said, "They want to know too."

"They," presumably referring to Shang Zui's equally gossipy "guazi friends," among whom Gu Ci accidentally spotted the names of several classmates.

Gu Ci instantly felt several gazes converge on him. Cautiously looking up, he happened to see several classmates stealing glances in that direction. Turning back, he met Liu Zhihe's gaze.

"..."

Shang Zui pressed the issue, "Little Gu Ci, is Huo Gou really capable?"

Gu Ci: "..."

He was thinking back to what Huo Wenyuan had said to him that morning.

Shang Zui waved his hand in front of him, "Little Gu Ci?"

Gu Ci, regaining his composure, unconsciously pressed a pen against his cheek, leaving a red mark.

But his tone was no longer hesitant.

"He can do it."

Shang Zui's hand, just touching the phone screen, paused. "Huh?"

"Huo Wenyuan is very capable." Seeing he didn't understand, Gu Ci repeated, "He told me he'd definitely come."

This sentence was carried over to the Gua Tan forum, unaltered.

The Gua Tan forum erupted in excitement. The previous votes had overwhelmingly rebounded. Shang Zui, estimating his potential points, couldn't help but pump his fist in triumph. "Yes!"

Just as he was savoring the glory of victory, a voice suddenly rang from behind: "Or no?"

Shang Zui's smile froze, his hand frozen in mid-air.

Xie Buruo easily snatched the eighth phone from him, his brow furrowed.

Seeing the contents on the screen, his brow furrowed even more.

Shang Zui and Gu Ci exchanged

bewildered glances. Xie Buruo remained silent.

After a long moment, his frown relaxed: "You actually caused such a scene in so many buildings over such a trivial matter?"

No matter how many times, he was still impressed by the students' abundant energy and curiosity.

Shang Zui honestly nodded.

Xie Bu Ruo: "... Very good. Since it's so popular, I will propose to the Dean of Studies that this class sharing be turned into a grade sharing."

"Everyone come and listen at three o'clock this afternoon."

Xie Bu Ruo's voice was loud enough for the whole class to hear.

The whole floor could hear the enthusiastic cheers and applause of the Grade 9 (1) class, but they didn't know the reason.

In the afternoon, they found out the reason.

The second-floor auditorium of Zhiya Building was full of people. In addition to students of the same grade, students from lower grades were also in the back row to learn from the lecture. At the same time, there were also many students from higher grades who came to join in the fun.

"I've lived long enough to see Huo Wenyuan actually agree to share his experience. It's incredible..."

"I'm really curious about what he will share... Is the thinking of a top student different from ours?"

"Nonsense, he even got full marks in Chinese, how can it be the same? Besides, am I looking at experience sharing? I'm looking at faces--"

"Although I lost all my points, I have no regrets to see Huo Shen. I should have listened to my younger brother earlier... By the way, I heard that the younger brother is also good-looking. Which one is the younger brother?"

"Oh my God! Is it the one with glowing white hair? Such big eyes? Such pink lips? Are all the people in the Huo family so good-looking???"

"So cute! Can you share your contact information? I want to hook up~"

"Sorry, I didn't bring my phone with me. It may not be convenient to add WeChat now."

Gu Ci, seated in the first row, blushed and pursed his lips as he addressed the girl who had asked for his contact information.

The girl, with a look of regret on her face, asked, "Can I leave you my number, or give me yours?"

"I want to be your friend,"

Gu Ci hesitated. The Dean of Students and the class teachers nearby urged everyone to take their seats. He didn't want to waste any more time. He picked up his notebook and was about to respond when a slender, fair hand pulled it out.

He looked up in surprise, meeting a pair of dark, deep eyes.

Gu Ci's eyes lit up. "Brother Wenyuan!"

Huo Wenyuan responded, placing the heavy, delicate bag in front of him.

Gu Ci helped him steady it and asked, "What's this?"

Huo Wenyuan: "For you."

For him?

Gu Ci peered in curiously. Inside were several large boxes of colorful cut fruit and a cup of orange milk tea.

"This... is so much?"

Huo Wenyuan: "Not much."

The onlookers gasped.

Ever since Huo Wenyuan entered, a one-meter barrier had been set up around them. Naturally, the entire scene's focus fell on him, and also on Gu Ci, who sat obediently across from him.

"What's this? Brotherly love?"

"I didn't expect Mr. Huo, who usually seems distant, to be so attentive to his younger brother."

"Excuse me, if I had a brother as handsome as this, I'd spoil him too..."

Huo Wenyuan raised his eyes and asked the girl in a flat tone, "Classmate, is there anything else?"

The girl felt uneasy at being stared at. She felt the temperature plummet around her, even though she wasn't near the air conditioner. She quickly shook her head tactfully, "No...no more."

Huo Wenyuan concealed the satisfaction in his eyes, opened his milk tea, inserted a straw, and placed it in front of Gu Ci, saying, "Wait for me, we'll go together later."

Gu Ci nodded vigorously.

Huo Wenyuan turned around, his back straight and tall. Under the spotlight, the boy on the stage, dressed in a bright white school uniform, seemed composed and serious, yet his spirited demeanor was unmistakable.

"Hello everyone, I'm Huo Wenyuan from Class 1, Grade 9."

With just one word, the room erupted in thunderous applause.

Xie Buruo proudly joined in the clapping, his eyes filled with pride and emotion.

Clear logic, well-reasoned arguments, and powerful persuasiveness... this fifteen-year-old student truly was... the best he'd ever met.

Gu Ci diligently took notes, and Shang Zui, who hadn't been met with the expected disdain from the academic genius

, felt a little disappointed. Shouldn't Huo Wenyuan's usual style have simply included a few words and concluded with "Any hands will do"?

Why was he taking his time this time?

Oh no, it looked like he really wanted to make them the best in the city.

Huo Wenyuan spoke for nearly forty minutes, even patiently answering a few questions at the end, drawing waves of applause.

Gu Ci also clapped enthusiastically, his dimples etched in a sweet smile, his pen filled with notes.

Before they parted that morning, Huo Wenyuan had said, "If you want to hear my experience, I'll go."

Gu Ci, surprised, asked why.

Huo Wenyuan touched his head lightly and smiled, which was very rare.

"No reason, I just want to do that."

He would do whatever Gu Ci wanted him to do.

He still couldn't understand the meaning of sharing, but as long as Gu Ci was happy, he would do anything.

The sharing meeting was over. The sun was still high outside the auditorium, and the shadows of the trees were swaying. The teenagers walked back shoulder to shoulder, facing the endless fragrance of flowers and the breeze, and heading for a new stage and future.

The sun rises and sets, the clouds gather and disperse, and after the third diagnosis, another face with a beautiful smile and a striking eye-catching face was added to the honor roll in front of the teaching building.

Gu Ci ranked fourth in the grade and twelfth in the city.