Chapter Forty-Two: Reaching the Pinnacle

As soon as Song Yanni announced the end of class, Zhang Wenhao slung his backpack over his shoulder and darted out of the classroom, heading straight for Class Three of the liberal arts division. At that moment, Ma Qianyong, his face grim and dark, was distributing report cards one by one. Catching a glimpse of Zhang Wenhao standing outside the door, his anger only intensified.

Zhang Wenhao’s grades had shocked the entire faculty, especially Ma Qianyong. He had never imagined that the boy he had once gone to great lengths to expel from Class Three would, after leaving, explode with such formidable academic prowess. A score of 736 was simply terrifying, leaving everyone else feeling powerless. Even Su Ruoran had never reached such astonishing heights.

And yet, such a brilliant student had slipped through his fingers.

Along with him had gone a ten-thousand-yuan bonus, professional titles, and honors.

Ma Qianyong had come to terms with reality. With Zhang Wenhao’s current performance, as long as he maintained it, he was a shoo-in for the top scorer in the provincial college entrance exam. Su Ruoran was outstanding, but compared to Zhang Wenhao, the gap was insurmountable. For students with total scores above 700, every additional point required immense effort, and Su Ruoran could no longer close the distance between herself and Zhang Wenhao.

At this moment, the other students in the classroom had also noticed Zhang Wenhao at the door. Su Ruoran looked up, glanced at Zhang Wenhao, and offered him a gentle smile. Zhang Wenhao smiled back, mouthing the words, "I’ll wait for you here."

Su Ruoran pressed her lips into a smile and nodded lightly. Yet, in the fleeting moment when she lowered her head, a hint of helplessness and reluctance flashed across her features—so brief that even Zhang Wenhao didn’t notice.

After handing out the last report card, Ma Qianyong strode out with a cold face. As he passed Zhang Wenhao, he snorted heavily, brushing past him in a blaze of anger. Su Ruoran finished packing her bag and came out, standing in front of Zhang Wenhao with a smile. “Congratulations on your excellent scores in this exam.”

“It’s all thanks to your help,” Zhang Wenhao replied with a faint smile. “I scored 147 in English. Isn’t it time I treated you to dinner?”

Su Ruoran nodded, her smile bright as spring. “Of course. If you don’t treat me soon, there may not be another chance. How about tomorrow? Does that work for you?”

“Sure!” Zhang Wenhao, oblivious to the deeper meaning in her words, grinned. “I already know what I want to treat you to.”

“Oh?” Su Ruoran asked, laughing. “Can you give me a hint?”

“No,” Zhang Wenhao replied, smiling mysteriously. “Tomorrow at seven in the evening—just wait for my call.”

“Alright.” Su Ruoran nodded, gave him a look, and reminded him, “Remember, don’t be extravagant.”

“Don’t worry.”

The system had yet to react to Zhang Wenhao’s grades. When he returned home, his parents had already prepared dinner and were waiting for him. They didn’t even know the school had held a second mock exam. Upon entering, Zhang Xingping spoke up, “Wenhao, are you busy this Sunday?”

“Not really,” Zhang Wenhao replied. “What’s up, Dad? Do you have plans?”

With a cheerful expression, Xingping said, “Sunday night, some old comrades of Uncle Lei and me will be coming to River City. Uncle Lei has already booked a hotel. You’ll come with me.”

“Really?” Zhang Wenhao knew his father valued friendship dearly, especially those comrades who had once faced life and death together. Whenever an old friend came to River City, his father would drop everything to welcome them, drink, and reminisce, sometimes chatting through the night. This time was even more special. After the last incident, his father and Lei Zhanjun had reconciled. Now, more comrades were gathering in River City. Those who had once fought side by side might finally be able to put all grudges behind them.

“Dad, there must be a lot of people coming this time, right?” Zhang Wenhao asked excitedly.

Zhang Xingping grinned ear to ear, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, twenty-seven. Every surviving, reachable comrade from our company will be here.”

“That’s wonderful! Dad, you’ll probably be so excited these days you won’t be able to sleep,” Zhang Wenhao joked.

Zhang Xingping laughed. “It’s not just me. When Uncle Lei heard the news, he cried for twenty minutes on the phone, so moved he could barely speak.”

Zhang Wenhao couldn’t help but say, “Dad, with so many comrades gathering for the first time in years, I’m just a kid—maybe I shouldn’t tag along.”

Zhang Xingping laughed heartily, “All those uncles and elders specifically asked to see you!”

He sighed, “Actually, they’re just like me. For years, we avoided Uncle Lei, letting him stew in his own pain. We all feel guilty about it, but no one could bring themselves to reach out. This gathering was prompted by your matter, so you must attend. Uncle Lei’s wife and children will be coming from Beijing as well.”

Zhang Wenhao nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you. What about Mom? Is she going?”

Song Huafang came out from the kitchen, smiling. “I won’t go. I can’t bear to see your dad cry, let alone a whole crowd of men crying.”

Zhang Xingping scratched his head and laughed. “We shed too much blood back then. Now, there’s no blood, but remembering those days always brings tears.”

Song Huafang hurriedly said, “Enough, enough. If you keep talking, your dad will start crying right now. Let’s eat.”

After washing his hands, Zhang Wenhao returned to the table. As he picked up his chopsticks, he suddenly remembered his report card, took it out, and placed it on the table with a smile. “Dad, Mom, the second mock exam at school was a few days ago. Here’s my report card.”

“Another exam? Why didn’t you mention it?” Song Huafang exclaimed, picking up the report card. At a glance, she quickly covered it with both hands, looking at Zhang Xingping. “Xingping, pinch me! I must be dreaming.”

Zhang Xingping frowned teasingly, “Look at you—our son is so smart. Why wouldn’t you believe he got a good score? Let me see what this rascal scored.”

He slid the report card out from beneath Song Huafang’s hands. At a glance, his eyes widened like brass bells, stunned into silence.

After a long moment, Zhang Xingping finally held up the report card and muttered, “Dear, you pinch me first.”

The couple checked and rechecked the report card, unable to contain their excitement. Song Huafang laughed and cried, overwhelmed with pride. She had never imagined her son would give her such fulfillment—these scores were beyond her wildest dreams.

Excited, Zhang Xingping brought out the wine, pouring a glass for both himself and Zhang Wenhao, “Good son, tonight drink with your father!”

Song Huafang fetched a glass and handed it to Zhang Xingping, “Pour me half a glass too!”

As the family celebrated Zhang Wenhao’s astonishing grades, Zhang Wenhao finally heard the long-awaited system notification:

“Using the photographic memory skill to achieve first place in the grade, the system rewards the user with 300 points!”

Next, the system prompted, “The user has reached the pinnacle in mock exams. From today, the system will no longer reward mock exam results.”

Pinnacle?

Zhang Wenhao felt a pang of disappointment. The system had determined he’d reached the peak in mock exams; even if he scored full marks next time, the system would no longer be interested. For the next three months, earning points wouldn’t be so easy.

To earn points with the photographic memory skill, he’d have to wait for the college entrance exam. Only its tremendous social impact would be recognized by the system. Otherwise, he could still earn points through real combat, but he couldn’t just go out looking for fights—that would hardly be worth it.

Just then, the system prompted:

“User’s available points: 690. Cumulative points: 1190. You may conduct your first random draw. Would you like to begin the draw now?”