Su Zelin spoke with certainty.
Because he had taken the test before.
Although it was more than a decade ago, he remembered this essay question clearly, as it was related to major current events.
"Makes sense!"
Tang Yan nodded in agreement.
"I've seen quite a few college entrance exam essays from different provinces, and some indeed feature current events, but they usually cover events from a year or two prior, not the current year!"
"Xiaoyanzi, you can't go wrong by listening to me. Don't forget, I'm known as Su Iron Tongue, and I can predict the future just by making a calculation!"
Su Zelin smiled slightly, concealing his skills and reputation.
The group saw his deliberately mysterious demeanor, which made them believe him even more.
After all, Su Zelin's grandfather once appeared in a dream and advised him to buy a lottery ticket, which won second prize, so his intuitions might very well be accurate.
"Why don't we look at some sample essays on related topics? It won't take much time anyway."
Qin Shiqing hesitated for a moment, then made the decision.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll go read a few as well. Better safe than sorry!"
Tang Yan and Lu Haoran were convinced, and each went to look for sample essays.
Su Zelin's lips curled into a faint smile.
Guessing the essay topic correctly for the first subject in the college entrance exam would undoubtedly boost their confidence for the subsequent exams.
Qin Shiqing's cold symptoms were also subsiding. She surely wouldn't mess up this time, right?
You must do well and get into Tsinghua or Peking University, far away from a jerk like me!
...
On the eve of the college entrance exam, the school canceled evening study sessions, allowing students to arrange their time freely.
Different students might prepare for the exam in varying ways, adjusting their state differently; some chose to completely relax the night before the exam and stopped reviewing, allowing their minds to rest.
For example, Su Zelin decided to let loose the last night, casually chatting with Lu Haoran in the classroom before heading back to the dorm around nine.
Some students chose to stick to their usual routine, continuing to review until their usual study time ended, believing that staying unchanged was the best way to maintain their state; Qin Shiqing was one of these students.
At 9:50 PM, everyone returned to the boys' dormitory.
The classroom lights went out at ten. Even those who usually stayed until lights out left a bit early to rest tonight.
The exam was the next day; everyone was a bit nervous, except for Su Zelin, who remained unaffected.
He always had a good mindset and only aimed for admission to a second-tier university.
The lower his expectations, the lesser the pressure.
He had also experienced a college entrance exam in his past life, so it was a walk in the park for him.
"Splash, splash..."
Suddenly, a downpour began outside.
The summer weather changed faster than a woman's mood.
Su Zelin walked to the balcony, watching countless raindrops cascade down from the dark sky like a flooding Milky Way; the distant scenery was blurred in the rain curtain, resembling a carelessly painted oil painting, with occasional flashes of lightning and rolling thunder, creating a striking scene.
His brow furrowed, feeling a heaviness in his chest.
Su Zelin didn't like the rain, especially hating stormy nights.
Ever since that night in his past life when Qin Shiqing turned and rushed into the rainstorm, storms made him inexplicably restless.
Such nights always seemed ominous to him.
He had also been struck by lightning and died on a stormy night in his past life...
Standing absentmindedly on the balcony for several minutes, Su Zelin eventually came back to his senses, suddenly feeling as if he caught onto something, the thoughts in his mind gradually becoming clear.
In his past life, Qin Shiqing underperformed in the exam, perhaps related to this rainstorm!
He checked his watch; the hands pointed to ten o'clock, and the classroom lights were already out.
Without hesitation, Su Zelin grabbed a maple leaf-patterned umbrella and dashed out of the dormitory, racing into the rain.
...