"Are you asleep?"
Just three simple words on the phone screen.
Other than that, there was nothing else.
Evan Lin picked up his phone and called back right away.
After a few rings, someone finally answered on the other end.
"How have you been lately, Lily Zhong?"
Before Lily Zhong could reply, Evan Lin was already speaking first, giving a little laugh as he asked.
"Still calling me Teacher Zhong? I haven't been a teacher for a while now."
Lily Zhong sounded a bit nervous at first, but when she heard Evan's words, she couldn't help laughing and instantly relaxed.
"Got it, Teacher Zhong."
Evan Lin chuckled.
"Is it okay that I'm calling you now? I'm not interrupting your studying, am I?"
On the other end, Lily Zhong rolled her eyes, showing a helpless smile.
Recently, with Lily Zhong’s help, Big Tank finally got a clear list of all the assets he’d taken over. Lily also gave sharp, practical advice on managing the shops and handling cash flow, so income has been growing at a geometric rate these days.
Right now in Minghai, Big Tank basically runs the whole show. As for Imperial Grand, Damon Wang decided not to compete for business after all.
"Not at all. I’m naturally gifted—just a little studying and I can easily get high marks. You know that." Evan Lin lay on his bed, looking out the window, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
"Of course I know. Ever since you started at school in tenth grade, your grades were never that great. I always wondered if you were just faking it, hiding so deep you could win a Math Olympiad medal out of nowhere. You really opened my eyes." Lily Zhong spoke seriously: "Evan, I honestly think if you put in a little effort, you could get into Huaqing or even Yanjing University."
"We’ll see. I haven’t really thought much about those schools." Evan Lin chuckled. For now, he hadn’t decided what college to pick, but honestly, it wouldn’t make much difference to him either way.
"How’s it working with Big Tank? Are you getting used to it?"
Evan Lin asked.
"Pretty good. By the way, when you have time, I’ll show you the books." Lily Zhong’s tone turned a bit serious when she brought it up.
She’s living well and eating well now. The work is a little tiring, but at least she’s working for herself, and Lily Zhong is really grateful for that. Even though she often handles large sums of money at work and it looks like nobody’s watching her, so she could easily take some if she wanted, Lily has never even thought about doing anything dishonest.
No need to show me the books. Whether it’s the businesses or the money, you two can handle it. I don’t need to do anything for now." Evan Lin paused, then added, "Oh, if you have time tonight, could you go keep my mom company? If she asks, just say you’re my teacher."
Right now in Whitewood County, thanks to Thomas Liu, nobody’s giving Joy Zheng a hard time anymore. She happily tutors students and even helps a few kids financially, so she’s living pretty well. But Evan Lin still worries that Joy might not be used to living in such a big villa.
On the phone, Evan and Lily chatted for a bit longer, then Lily hung up first.
After hanging up, Lily Zhong stood up from her chair and stretched. The computer screen in front of her was still filled with data reports, and her desk was piled high with financial ledgers she hadn’t gotten to yet.
Lily rubbed her eyes, glanced at the phone in her hand, and smiled sweetly. "It’s enough just to help you carry a little of the load. In life, it’s best to be content."
She shook her head, quickly pushed aside those odd thoughts, and got back to work.
Night fell, deep and quiet.
The next day, the sun rose in the east.
Evan Lin got up a little after five. After washing up, he went downstairs and jogged a few laps around the small park next to his apartment complex.
Jogging doesn't really do much for Evan's body these days, but this slow, relaxed routine helps him completely unwind.
By eight o’clock, Evan was in the classroom, sitting at his desk.
The first period was supposed to be Byron Yang’s math class, but he didn’t show up the whole time. Another teacher came by and told everyone to study on their own.
All the teachers were working overtime grading papers and tallying scores.
It wasn’t until second period that Byron Yang finally walked into the classroom, holding a sheet of test scores.
He stood at the podium and looked around the room.
All the students below were tense and anxious.
The results for the second monthly exam are basically out. This time, our class didn’t do so well.
Byron Yang looked a little grim.
Our class average is twenty points lower than the experimental class. That’s a huge gap.
Out of a total score of 750, only three students in our class scored above 600! Normally, our Class Twelve’s grades are already behind other classes. Because we’re behind, every bit of progress is an improvement, and we can keep climbing. But if you keep this up, what’s the point of even taking the college entrance exam?
Bang!
Byron Yang suddenly slapped the desk.
The sudden noise startled a lot of students, their faces changing.
I’m announcing the scores now. I’m going to spend the whole period reading out these results! Sit up straight and listen carefully! Pay attention, all of you!
Byron Yang looked furious.
Then he began reading out the scores.
Chen Chunyu, six hundred and twenty!
Li Shikai, six hundred and twelve!
...
Zhao Nan, five hundred and forty!
Yu Xue, five hundred and twenty-three!
...
Byron Yang read the scores from front to back. The students who heard their names breathed a sigh of relief, while those who hadn’t were tense and anxious.
He kept reading out names, one after another.
The ranking continued down the list.
Outside the door of Class Twelve, Wang Xiu led Chen Linyan and Yu Yingjie, along with Director Lu Binyu and Wen Yitong. The four of them walked down the corridor and stopped at the classroom door.
Lu Binyu reached out, about to knock on the door and interrupt Byron Yang, planning to call him out.
But just then, he happened to hear Byron Yang announce the next name inside the classroom.
Evan Lin...
Byron Yang paused when he said the name.
Lu Binyu’s hand, about to knock, also paused for a moment and instinctively slowed down.