Chapter 16 : The Prodigal Son Turns Back: Guan Erye
After being reborn, Guan Ren had three major aspirations:
First, financial freedom.
Second, physical health.
Third, making up for regrets.
The main reason Guan Ren began taking his studies seriously was primarily for the third goal.
The so-called "taking responsibility for oneself, easing the minds of family" was undoubtedly part of making up for regrets.
…
"Good morning, Uncle Lin!"
"Little Guan, out running again?"
"Yeah, taking advantage of the mild weather to run a bit each day."
To be fair, Uncle Lin was quite robust for his age.
Even with National Day approaching, he still got up every morning wearing nothing more than a white undershirt and an earthy-gray jacket thrown over it.
As for Guan Ren, he was still the same—wearing an old T-shirt for his morning jogs, then heading home to shower, change, eat breakfast, and go to school.
By the end of the week, although he hadn't started any extra workouts, Guan Ren already felt that his body moved more lightly during his usual activities.
…
But compared to the subtle changes in his body, Guan Ren’s transformation in the classroom was even more noticeable.
…
“…So, in conclusion, the line segments PF1 = PF2 = a…”
During math class, every time Mr. Hu said something, his eyes couldn't help but glance toward Group Four.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t focused on teaching—
It was just that someone sitting by the window was acting oddly out of character.
That look in Guan Ren’s eyes?
Gleaming with focus on the blackboard, and even filled with… a thirst for knowledge?
When did paying attention in class ever have anything to do with this guy?
Was this really that legendary moment—the prodigal son’s return?
…
Math class was like this, and chemistry class was no different.
“These ionic equations aren’t in your textbook, but they will be on the test. Make sure you write them down carefully!”
Tap tap… tap tap…
Mr. Sun, the chemistry teacher, wrote formulas nonstop on the blackboard while occasionally turning around to let the students copy them down.
“Done writing?”
“All done—”
After hearing responses from most students, Mr. Sun erased the content and wrote a new batch.
There was no choice. The blackboard was only so big, and if the writing was too small, the students couldn’t see it clearly. So he had to write in batches.
All of this was just a standard classroom routine.
But what made it feel out of the ordinary for Mr. Sun was that today, the class’s legendary “phantom god” Guan Ren… was actually writing!
Mr. Sun had been teaching Class 7 chemistry since their first year.
When had he ever seen this guy take notes?
Of course, with his years of experience, Mr. Sun had seen all sorts of tricks students pulled.
So, to verify whether Guan Ren was faking it, he continued teaching while casually stepping off the podium.
Only when he reached Guan Ren’s row did he steal a quick glance at him.
Well…
The kid was actually taking notes properly…
Impressive.
Change, after all, was a good thing.
Mr. Sun nodded to himself, but when he looked at some of Guan Ren’s peers, he couldn't help feeling a surge of frustration.
"Zhang Chi!"
"!?"
"What are you staring at under your desk? What’s so fascinating?"
Zhang Chi’s heart sank. Just his luck.
He’d discovered a new novel, Supreme Confucianism and Taoism, and had been totally absorbed in it. He hadn’t noticed Mr. Sun stepping down—right into his vicinity.
Now caught red-handed, with Mr. Sun glaring at him, sweat started to bead in Zhang Chi’s palms. All he could do was look up at him pitifully.
"Why are you staring at me? Is there something written on my face?!"
Zhang Chi gulped and immediately buried his head in his textbook.
"You little—"
Enraged, Mr. Sun slapped the back of Zhang Chi’s neck.
"Look at the blackboard! The blackboard!"
…
And so, after a week of classes, talk about Guan Ren started to spread through the teachers’ office.
“Ms. Li, that Guan Ren in your class—he’s been doing pretty well lately.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed too. He’s been paying attention in class.”
“Right? I even randomly picked him to answer a formula yesterday, and he actually got it right.”
Listening to these comments from her colleagues, Li Min, the English teacher and homeroom teacher, was genuinely surprised.
So Guan Ren wasn’t just focusing in English class.
She wasn’t the only one noticing the change.
Interesting…
Could it be that, because of that sticky note incident, her heartfelt words had truly moved him?
“Ms. Gu, what do you think?”
“?”
At the desk near the door, Gu Wancheng was fully immersed in lesson prep, red pen in hand. She looked up in confusion when she heard Li Min’s question.
“What do I think about what?”
“That Guan Ren from my Class 7—you know who I mean, right?”
“Mhm.”
Gu Wancheng nodded, her delicate features tinged with seriousness.
Of course she knew Guan Ren.
Knew him too well.
Wasn’t he the one who wrote a note to Youli, distracting her from her studies? A classic early-romance problem student.
If Youli hadn’t turned him down, Gu Wancheng would’ve already asked Li Min to help change her sister’s seat.
But then again…
Gu Wancheng recalled for a moment and had to admit. Just like the other teachers said, Guan Ren really had been performing well this week…
Though she remained wary of him for her sister’s sake, as a teacher known for fairness, Gu Wancheng wouldn’t deny a student’s strengths just because of personal reasons.
“Guan Ren has been pretty normal lately. None of that zoning out and daydreaming like at the beginning of the semester. The question is just how long he can keep it up.”
As soon as this was said, the other teachers chimed in with agreement.
“Yeah, Ms. Gu is right. Let’s just hope it’s not one of those short-lived bursts of motivation.”
“They’re in their second year now. The first monthly exam is coming up. Anyone serious about this should be buckling down by now…”
“Sigh, well, you never know. We’ll just have to keep observing.”
…
These teachers were indeed seasoned veterans. Their words hit home.
Back in Year One, Jiangzhou County No. 2 High School didn’t hold monthly exams, so this first one held particular weight and was taken relatively seriously by the “newbies” in Year Two.
“You guys think the monthly exam counts as a big test or a small one?”
“Big one, obviously. Only starts in Year Two. Once a month—if that’s not a big exam, what is?”
“Once a month sounds kind of frequent, doesn’t it? I think it’s more like a small test. Basically like an in-class quiz.”
“Heh, ever seen a ‘quiz’ with assigned exam rooms? With bubble sheets?”
“Brother Xiong, what’s your esteemed opinion?”
Liu Xiong, as the central figure of the Three Illusory Gods, known for remaining calm even as Mount Tai collapses before him, uttered a thirteen-character pearl of wisdom:
“Big exam, big play. Small exam, small play. No exam? Go wild.”
The group felt instantly enlightened.
“Brother Xiong! I’ve seen the light!”
“Wise words! So true!”
…
In the corner of the classroom, Liu Huangshu’s divine proclamation stirred an uproar.
Meanwhile, Gu Youli silently shook her head.
Regardless of how seriously others took the first monthly exam, Gu Youli definitely took it seriously.
Especially Chinese.
No matter how good her other subjects were, she refused to allow any weak spots.
She couldn’t allow any.
She had to maintain excellence in every subject.
At the very least, her grades had to rival her sister’s back in high school.
Only then—only if she could be like her sister, or even surpass her—would their mother…
No. Don’t go there.
Gu Youli shook her head, burying those unproductive thoughts deep down as she habitually returned to silently memorizing ancient poetry.
---
The night before the monthly exam, the classroom buzzed with restless energy.
Exam room assignments, student ID numbers, and the same old testing guidelines were posted beside the blackboard, attracting a crowd of onlookers.
Oddly, most of those gathered weren’t the top students.
In fact, it was mostly the underachievers.
“What the—! I’m taking the test in Class 8’s room? All the formulas I wrote on my desk were for nothing?!”
“Lemme see… Damn! They’re seating us by student number? I’m Number 1—I’m totally screwed!”
“Why the hell are you all pushing?! I can’t see anything now!”
“Where’s the strategist? Where’s our tactician?!”
The entrance was packed, and just as someone called for a hero, one appeared.
“Lords, please remain calm.”
Xu Hui sat serenely at his desk, having already stuck a paper goatee on his chin to mimic a sage’s beard. He waved a plastic fan covered in urology clinic ads, striking a pose reminiscent of a famed tactician with feather fan and silk scarf. Stroking his “beard,” he began divining the heavens.
“Xu Tianle, what’s your student number?”
“Prime Minister, I’m Number 16.”
“Number 16…”
Xu Hui checked the chart he’d copied in advance and cross-referenced it with a student number list he’d sneakily torn from the podium on the first day.
“You’re seated next to Zhang Ming.”
“Ah…”
Xu Tianle immediately looked crestfallen.
Zhang Chi rushed forward.
“Strategist! What about me?”
“You… Tch. Tough luck. You’re surrounded by students from other classes.”
“Sh*t!”
Zhang Chi’s face darkened. He was already thinking up excuses to soften the scolding he’d get from his family after the exam.
“Prime Minister, check mine!”
“You’re seated in front of Liu Xiong.”
“Damn it!”
A sigh followed, and someone started horsing around with Liu Xiong.
“Prime Minister, I’m Number 30.”
“You’re fine. Behind you is Wang Chao.”
Over on Wang Chao’s side, a fawning voice piped up.
“Wang Chao, hehe, I’ll be counting on you for English.”
“Call me Brother Chao.”
“Brother Chao!”
“Good boy~ Oh, right, forgot to tell you. I’ve got family stuff, already took the day off for the exam.”
“You son of a @#￥%#￥…”
Wang Chao’s side devolved into chaos too.
“Hui-dog, check mine!”
“You’re… Ah, found it—Chen Yaozu.”
“How is it? Who’s around me?”
“Karma.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“Damn you!”
Chen Yaozu wailed in despair, while Xu Hui grinned like a madman.
It could be said that even before the monthly exam began, some people’s fates were already sealed.
In the past, Guan Ren would’ve undoubtedly been among them.
But this time…
Might just be different.