Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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Some observant people noticed that the gaze wasn’t fixed on the lines of equations Yan Han had written, but on Yan Han herself!
More and more people gathered around, many of whom also glanced at the questions, and all stared in shock at the thin boy. “Wow, Ran Guanjun, you’re already doing college entrance exam questions!”
“What? Ran Guanjun is doing college entrance exam questions?!”
Someone’s comment was naturally overheard by those with sharp ears.
Many of them were “residents” of Class 10, some having spent more than a semester together. They knew each other’s general abilities and levels and would often keep an eye on each other. If someone started studying earlier or became exceptionally diligent, the others would feel the pressure.
Moreover, it was unclear when or who started this habit, but if someone was noticed to be suddenly diligent or making progress, others would invariably gather around them and, just like they did with Yan Han before, inexplicably belittle that person.
Now, upon learning that their former rival seemed to have studied diligently this summer, two couldn’t help but say, “Ran Guanjun, you’re so diligent! So hardworking!”
“Yeah, Ran Guanjun, you’ve really worked hard this summer! I bet you’ll do very well on the next exam, hehe.”
The short boy, surrounded by several classmates, blushed slightly and looked somewhat indignant.
But he simply stood there without saying a word, trying to appear completely calm as he waited for Yan Han to finish writing the solution.
He actually didn’t know how to do this problem at all— it was not the kind of problem you encounter while doing practice problems, but one he hadn’t even learned that part of the material. He had just randomly picked a seemingly difficult problem to stump Lin Jianlu.
Of course, he wasn’t so reckless in practice. He also considered that if Lin Jianlu couldn’t solve the problem either, he could at least offer some explanation to belittle him. So, he reviewed the solution process and memorized the relevant knowledge points beforehand.
Unexpectedly, Lin Jianlu didn’t get the answer, but Yan Han next to him solved the problem easily!
What he didn’t expect was that he was not only shocked but also very angry. He was mainly angry at his classmates. Every time he studied hard, they would inevitably praise him like that. On the surface, it was praise, but their tone was full of sourness, which made people uncomfortable.
And what was wrong with these people? Shouldn’t they be united against a common enemy at this time? Instead, they started by being sarcastic towards him. How could he not be angry!
Ran Guanjun was also angry at himself. Why did he have to provoke the top student? He was really bored!
While the others were making sarcastic comments and flattering Ran Guanjun, Yan Han solved the problem smoothly.
He ignored what the people around him were saying, handed the scratch paper to Ran Guanjun, and said, “I didn’t calculate the final result, but the process should be fine, right?”
The last part of the question was directed at Lin Jianlu.
Lin Jianlu: “Yeah, not bad.”
Reassured by Lin Jianlu’s approval, Yan Han then said to Ran Guanjun, “Take a look at the steps. You can ask me if you don’t understand anything.”
Ran Guanjun: “…”
He had seen the solution steps beforehand, and he knew that Yan Han could solve the problem as soon as he wrote the third line of equations.
Moreover, he could do it effortlessly without any special analysis.
He really wanted to tell the sarcastic classmates next to him to stop being sour, that these two were the ones they should be envious of.
But even if he couldn’t say such things, pointing it out would make him seem petty and lacking in manners. This was probably a long-standing unspoken rule in Class 10 and Ran Guanjun knew this well and wouldn’t break it.
He still kept his gaze on Yan Han and Lin Jianlu.
A student who had fought his way up from Class 17, someone never seen on the school’s honor roll before, could solve this problem…
Judging from their interaction, it was obvious that Lin Jianlu had been explaining the problem to Yan Han. The fact that Yan Han didn’t look for the answer after finishing the problem but directly asked Lin Jianlu showed that Lin Jianlu definitely knew the answer too; no testing was needed.
Unable to offend the old classmates, he could only vent his anger on the newcomer.
Ran Guanjun deliberately didn’t look at Yan Han’s scratch paper again, instead muttering, “I didn’t expect the top student to be so arrogant, too lazy to even answer a question.”
He said this with a smile, sounding like a joke.
Then he turned to Yan Han, giving him an even brighter smile: “Thank you, Yan Han, I’ll analyze it when I get back.”
He reached for Yan Han’s scratch paper, but before he could touch it, Yan Han slammed it onto the table.
His movement was too fast, so he didn’t notice the force, and his palm slammed onto the table with a loud “thud.”
The students who had been enthusiastically discussing the problem earlier fell silent at the sound.
In the quiet atmosphere, Yan Han spoke up. His gaze then fell on Ran Guanjun, and a sudden irritability and hostility appeared in his eyes. He gave off a completely different vibe than when he was engrossed in solving problems; it was as if his entire demeanor had changed.
Yan Han said, “Regardless of who you asked or who told you in the end, didn’t we solve this problem for you?”
Ran Guanjun: “…”
He was startled by Yan Han’s imposing manner, and when he suddenly heard him say “we,” his heart skipped a beat.
It was common for people in the class to make jokes like, “XXX is putting on airs again, not even explaining the problems,” but nobody really cared or took it to heart.
Because if you asked someone about truly valuable and insightful problems, unless you were very close, no one would genuinely and honestly explain them to you.
Everyone wanted to keep their knowledge to themselves.
Those who made it into Class 10 all shared a common trait: they were all academically weak, excelling in a few subjects while being relatively weaker in others.
Asking those who excelled in a subject they were weaker about often resulted in rejection.
The reasons for this refusal are twofold: first, they didn’t want to waste study time on questions; second, they feared the other person might master the subject and put it on their own in the next exam.
This was common in Class 10, almost a given.
Some were more tactful, glancing at the question and then regretfully saying they didn’t know; others were more direct, saying they didn’t know without even looking at the question.
Therefore, in this atmosphere, people weren’t used to asking each other questions or explaining problems. If they encountered something they don’t understand, they either asked the teacher or tried to figure it out themselves.
Many were afraid to interact with the teacher and chose to study on their own, discuss with a few close friends, or, as a last resort, hire a tutor at home on weekends. In short, this was the prevailing atmosphere in the class; mutual help?
It didn’t exist in this class.
Everyone was used to it, and they even jokingly mocked those who refused to explain.
Those who were truly capable, who simply didn’t want to share, didn’t care what others said.
They were all in the same class, and all top students. Even if they weren’t particularly sociable, at least they wouldn’t cause too much trouble on the surface. They could just laugh off any sarcasm, knowing they’d still excel in exams and get into Class 9 anyway. No matter how much others envied or mocked them, it wouldn’t matter.
But when it came to Yan Han, while Lin Jianlu didn’t care, he couldn’t adapt to this distorted learning environment.
The elder brother always spoke his mind.
He continued, “First of all, we answered your questions seriously. This isn’t an obligation or our duty. Do you think I’m bored?! I wrote such long formulas for you, and you just say thank you with a grateful heart. I don’t want to hear anything else.”
“…”
Unexpectedly, the school beauty’s words were so sharp that Ran Guanjun blushed, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.
He tried to argue, “I didn’t mean I wasn’t grateful to you. Didn’t I just say thank you?”
“That’s my second point.” Yan Han stood up. He was taller than Ran Guanjun, almost looking down at him, and then, under the other’s evasive gaze, he held up two fingers: “Not just me, but watch your words in front of him in the future.”
Yan Han was getting angry. Didn’t he even know who Lin Jianlu was?
Daring to mock him, he must have a death wish.
He wasn’t originally this angry, but although the class representative had also had ulterior motives, he had at least asked a math question.
Everyone knew that Lin Jianlu’s math was top-notch, so asking him any difficulty level wouldn’t be unreasonable.
But this Ran Guanjun directly asked a rather difficult college entrance exam physics question to a second-year student who had switched from arts to sciences, and a student who hadn’t gotten into Class 9 because of the science section of the placement exam. This was clearly making things difficult for Lin Jianlu.
Yan Han had seen countless people, and he could spot this kind of petty person at a glance.
From the other person’s initial tone and attitude, it was clear he was there to embarrass Lin Jianlu.
Normally, Lin Jianlu was capable enough and didn’t need to prove anything to these people, so Yan Han hadn’t taken it to heart.
But this guy dared to insult him with his words?
He wouldn’t tolerate this.
Whatever the class was like before was none of his business, and he didn’t want to interfere.
But anyone bullying Lin Jianlu was absolutely unacceptable.
Wasn’t the class’s atmosphere unhealthy?
Well, he’d set the record straight today.
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