Chapter 4: Class 1-1’s Moon God

The monthly exam at Zhuming Girls’ High School lasted for two days.

According to the current “3+1+2” system, Zhuming Girls’ High had not yet adjusted the subjects for first-year students.

The so-called monthly exam was actually a diagnostic test to gauge students’ performance across various subjects.

Lin Yi had already decided to use the Clear Mind Black Tea to boost her exam scores, but she hadn’t yet figured out whether taking just one sip would activate the effect or if she needed to drink the whole thing.

After being woken up by Yan Jianxing in the morning, still bleary-eyed, she followed behind Yan Jianxing for a jog in her tracksuit.

It was roughly at the point where Yan Jianxing had run two and a half laps that Lin Yi barely managed to finish one.

Even that was enough to make her legs tremble.

But compared to before, this was considered great progress, according to Yan Jianxing.

“You know, two weeks ago, I couldn’t even see your face.”

Yan Jianxing held a fried dough stick in her hand, walking side-by-side with Lin Yi as she spoke.

“When we first got assigned as roommates, you were always so mysterious, never returning to the dorm until midnight.”

Lin Yi walked while peeling a boiled egg.

“I didn’t disturb you, did I?”

“Nope, I’m a heavy sleeper. Even thunder and wind can’t wake me.” Yan Jianxing was quite confident about this.

“Oh? Then I’ll test that tonight.”

Yan Jianxing narrowed her eyes, a slight smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

“Heh, try me.”

As she said this, she broke off half of her fried dough stick and handed it to Lin Yi.

“Here, this is your reward for running with me this morning. Remember to come again tomorrow.”

“Mmh, thank you, Physical Education Committee Member~”

Lin Yi specifically checked that the dough stick was new and hadn’t been bitten.

When they reached the classroom, Lin Yi took out the drink and poured it into her thermos.

The monthly exam wasn’t as strict as midterms or finals; students were allowed to bring their own water bottles.

The Old Class Teacher walked in carrying a packet of exam papers, cleared her throat, and the noisy classroom gradually quieted down.

“Sit according to your entrance exam scores. Put your backpacks and any items that shouldn’t be here out in the hallway. Prepare for the Chinese exam.”

Everyone bustled about getting ready.

As Lin Yi carried her backpack to the hallway, she saw Su Kui.

On this golden September morning, the sunlight was never stingy with its affection for the young girl.

Su Kui’s waist-length hair was illuminated, appearing somewhat translucent, with a soft, fuzzy halo of light floating around the edges.

Dressed in her blazer-style school uniform, she gave Lin Yi a gentle smile, tucking away a few stray hairs at her forehead.

“Good morning, Lin Yi. You look much better than yesterday.”

After chugging two potions from the System, if my complexion still wasn’t good, I might as well go cosplay a zombie.

Lin Yi nodded.

“Thank you for the cake yesterday. I’ll treat you to a meal another time.”

This girl, completely unaware that I don’t have the means to treat anyone to a meal.

Su Kui, however, took it seriously, clasping her hands together.

“Then I’ll look forward to it.”

Returning to her seat, Lin Yi sat in the second-to-last position.

After all, she had spent the first two weeks mostly working part-time jobs and hadn’t reviewed much at all.

If I’m the “Sleeping Dragon” (the underachiever), then who’s the “Young Phoenix” (the other underachiever)?

The last-place student arrived fashionably late, entering through the back door.

Lin Yi’s brain immediately sounded an alarm.

Feng Chuyue.

The goddess of Class 1-1, and that was no joke.

Bathed in a warm, high-saturation yellow light, the girl named Feng Chuyue was gently pressing a hand to her chest, adjusting her breathing.

Her caramel-colored eyes were framed by long, slender eyelashes.

A small, delicate nose and plump, rosy lips formed her adorable face.

Her light, shoulder-length bob was slightly fluffy.

The black bow on the hair clip at the side of her ear was very eye-catching, and her bangs seemed to intentionally block the view from the side.

The navy blue blazer and black-red plaid pleated skirt of Zhuming Girls’ High, worn on her, made her appear delicate and slender.

Due to her excellent looks, prominent family background, and her own extremely shy yet kind nature—she had even generously covered the entire class’s activity fees for the school year—she was revered by everyone as the “Moon God.”

After being glanced at by Lin Yi, Feng Chuyue immediately trembled twice like a little hamster, then hunched her shoulders together, her eyes darting away.

Having such a beautiful girl sitting behind me… I feel filled with motivation.

This kid is just too kind-hearted.

For the sake of her classmates’ pride, she actively shoulders the title of the class’s last-place student.

It’s enough to bring tears to one’s eyes.

I absolutely won’t forget this kindness.

I must immediately get good grades and escape this misery.

Downing a cup of Clear Mind Black Tea, Lin Yi unsheathed her Exam-Specific Confucius Temple Blessing Black Pen.

Her concentration instantly maxed out, and a flood of memories surged into her mind.

I’m going to soar to the sky!

The Chinese exam began.

The only sound left in the room was the swish-swish of writing.

Lin Yi’s pen moved as if guided by a god.

The key texts she had skimmed last night continuously replayed in her mind.

As the saying goes, the human brain is a super hard drive; the only shortcoming is the efficiency of data retrieval.

Once concentration is boosted, eliminating various distractions, the images stored in memory naturally become available for her to access.

Just as Lin Yi was about to twist her neck and tackle the essay question, the System spoke up.

[A timed mission opportunity has been detected: You, single since birth for many years, surely have the desire to communicate with a beautiful girl, don’t you? Don’t rush to deny it; you definitely do!]

[Now, a perfect opportunity lies before you. A socially anxious beauty is currently frightened. The best course of action for a light novel protagonist is to encourage her!]

[Mission: Use writing to convey goodwill to the girl behind you]

[Mission Time Limit: 30 minutes (Hard), 10 minutes (Very Hard), 3 minutes (Extremely Hard)]

—Kami!

Now?

Here?!

Lin Yi fell into deep thought, her CPU beginning to operate at full capacity.

The longest time limit was thirty minutes, but there was still one hour left in the exam.

Unless she gave up on this mission, she had to complete it within the exam hall.

Then there was the communication aspect.

It had to be through written words.

Passing written messages during an exam… wasn’t that just cheating?!

Hachi System, do you really want me dead that badly?

If this mission had been assigned during a break between classes, she was confident she could bury Feng Chuyue’s desk in little notes.

But now…

Lin Yi glanced at the Old Class Teacher, who was vigilantly watching everyone from the podium.

At this point, I have to go for it!

…

Feng Chuyue’s hands were tightly gripping her pen.

Since childhood, she had suffered from stage fright, and she still hadn’t been able to overcome it.

Knowledge she had reviewed perfectly well usually couldn’t be written out completely during exams, resulting in her test scores always being less than satisfactory.

This time was the same.

Suddenly, she felt her desk move slightly.

Feng Chuyue slowly looked up and saw her deskmate in front of her—a female classmate who seemed to be named Lin Yi—slowly stretching.

Immediately after, Lin Yi’s arms assumed a very awkward posture behind her back…

What is she doing?

Lin Yi’s hands slowly opened.

Upon seeing the palms of Lin Yi’s hands, Feng Chuyue’s eyes widened, her pupils contracting slightly.

On the left hand was the character for “Add.” On the right hand was the character for “Oil.” Together, they formed a word.

Jia You (Go for it / You can do it).

It was a word only visible from Feng Chuyue’s angle.

After confirming that Feng Chuyue had seen the two characters, Lin Yi immediately withdrew her hands.

I feel like I’m about to become a member of the Joestar family.

That pose just now felt so much like a JoJo pose; my bones are almost twisted out of shape.

The Old Class Teacher on the podium coughed and said, “Focus on the exam! No fidgeting!”

Lin Yi immediately lowered her head and began answering questions.

[Mission completion detected. Although the girl behind you was shocked by why you suddenly engaged in performance art, your goodwill was sufficiently conveyed overall.]

[Basic Reward: Unlocked Skill Writing Lv.1; Additional Reward: Writing Skill increased to Lv.2; Bonus Reward: Mood Emoji (Effect: Can observe a specified target’s current mood by consuming stamina)]