I turned reality into a romantic comedy.

"...Now I know why Youyou's political history grades have always been so-so. Don't completely neglect it just because it's an open-book exam. You still need to memorize the basic knowledge points and do some practice tests."

"It's not that we don't value it, but it feels like the time spent on it is not worth it."

Looking at Xu Youwei's face, which seemed to say, "Memorizing? Memorizing is impossible. I feel like I can easily solve the exam by buying a quick reference book," Chen Junqian could somewhat understand why Lin Mu had left her behind in terms of grades during her final year of junior high.

However, since he had promised Xu Youwei during the physical test a couple of days ago that he would tutor her properly, Chen Junqian could only patiently explain:

"Relying entirely on this kind of thing will easily lead to disaster. Even if you pass the high school entrance exam, you'll still have to memorize history and politics in high school, right? And if Youyou chooses humanities later, it will be useful to master these knowledge points early on. Besides, the people who set the high school entrance exam these days are all idiots. They would never directly ask you to copy from the book if you were asked to 'recite the significance of a certain event'."

As he spoke, Chen Junqian pulled up a chair and sat down beside her, looking directly into her eyes, and addressed her by her full name: Xu Youwei

"Youwei, opening a book does not mean you don't need to review."

"I won't say anything like open-book exams are always harder than closed-book exams, but open-book exams definitely don't mean you can just copy directly from the book. The exam time is very limited. Take politics as an example. If they ask a big question that combines current events, if you don't have a foundation of knowledge in your mind, you won't even be able to tell whether the question is testing 'economic life' or 'political life'."

When the time comes, you'll be holding this thick "Quick Reference Guide," but you won't even know what keywords to look up. How are you going to navigate through it? By the time you've finished reading it from beginning to end, it'll be too late, and the exam will be long over. In the actual exam room, what you should rely on is the textbook framework that you can recall even with your eyes closed, not this so-called shortcut summarized by someone else.

"And I'm worried that you've been studying this kind of stuff too much before, and now you haven't even remembered the most basic knowledge points. Can you answer my questions about the most important articles of the Treaty of Nanjing?"

"Um... well, the beginning of a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society..."

Seeing Xu Youwei's hesitant and stammering appearance, Chen Junqian, who was a liberal arts student in his previous life, felt a bit embarrassed. He could only say that his habitual thinking from his past life had made him forget that some people really don't like memorizing, especially in the case of an open-book exam. At least his ex-girlfriend was a typical example of someone who was completely fooled, as she hadn't memorized a single point of knowledge.

"Well, it's not too late now. After all, we don't expect you to memorize all these textbooks verbatim. Just having a general idea in your head will make it easier to look things up later, and that should help you get a few more points in these two courses."

As he spoke, Chen Junqian pulled out a handful of colorful things he had prepared in advance from his pocket, as if by magic. They were transparent fluorescent index stickers of various colors and shapes. He had gotten these from Lin Mu, and they were also the magical little gadgets he had used in his previous life.

As a former liberal arts student, Chen Junqian would borrow the notes of the top students in his class before every major exam in his previous life to fill in any gaps in his knowledge and copy them into his own notebook. In the case of liberal arts, a well-made and complete set of notes is the most helpful tool for reviewing, which can greatly improve one's review efficiency. Unfortunately, he already has the knowledge accumulated from his previous life and the buff that enhances his learning efficiency, so he can't pull out a few ready-made notes.

However, it's no problem for me to help Xu Youwei with a simple review and search of knowledge points on the spot.

"Put away all your nonsensical books and black-and-white scrolls, and bring out all the political and historical textbooks from the first to the third year of junior high school."

Chen Junqian issued this order.

Upon hearing this, Xu Youwei hurriedly cleared the table and neatly arranged the twelve textbooks that had been randomly piled up on the side onto the table.

After she finished doing all this, Chen Junqian also picked up an eighth-grade history book, wrote the four characters "Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895" on a red index sticker, and then accurately pasted it on the edge of the side of the first lesson of the textbook. Half of the label was sticking out of the book, making it easy to see at a glance.

"Watch closely."

Chen Junqian turned to the side, the two of them shoulder to shoulder, and pointed to the red label, saying:

"For these two books, we use red labels to represent modern Chinese history, yellow labels to represent the development of contemporary Chinese history, blue for world history, green for political systems and laws, and purple for economy and culture."

"What's the point of labeling it? I still can't remember what's inside."

Xu Youwei blinked and asked.

While rapidly writing down "Westernization Movement," "Hundred Days' Reform," and "Xinhai Revolution" on labels, Chen Junqian methodically pasted them onto the edge of the book pages and continued answering:

"Rote memorization won't work; you need to build muscle memory and conditioned reflexes. The material-based questions in the high school entrance exam are all based on the same principles. When the question mentions 'early explorations of modernization,' you don't need to look for those long, rambling articles in a quick reference book. Just scan the red labels on the side of the textbook, and you can instantly locate these four movements. Turn to that page, and the main headings and subheadings in the book will form the framework for your answer."

"Xu Youwei, please remember, the textbook is the best supplementary book because its logic is the clearest and most authoritative, understand?"

For the next two hours, the only sounds in Xu Youwei's room were the scratching of pens on paper and Chen Junqian's gentle explanation.

It has to be said that, faced with the pressure of knowledge and the high school entrance exam, even the most love-struck Xu Youwei subconsciously put away those messy and romantic thoughts. She was completely swept up and submerged by the tide of knowledge points, and all she could see were the colorful index bars that Chen Junqian had helped her paste there one after another.

"The entire ninth-grade political science textbook is of utmost importance. Write down 'Basic National Policies and Development Strategies' and paste it on this side of Unit Two. Opening up to the outside world, family planning, environmental protection, and revitalizing the country through science and education... You don't need to memorize these word for word, but rather remember their positions. In the exam room, you only need to glance at the question material, determine that it is about technological innovation, and immediately turn to the page labeled 'Revitalizing the Country through Science and Education Strategy,' and then find the points that can be used."

Xu Youwei obediently took the pen. Although the characters were of different sizes and a bit crooked, she still followed Chen Junqian's example and carefully pasted the labels onto her textbook.

Summer afternoons are always drowsy, but Xu Youwei was unusually clear-headed at this moment. Looking at Chen Junqian, who was focused on organizing the knowledge points for her, she suddenly had the thought that her failure to jump rope on the day of the physical test might not be such a bad thing.

"Qinqin..."

After several hours, Xu Youwei finally put down her pen and called his name softly once again.

"Hmm? What don't you understand?"

Chen Junqian didn't even look up; he was writing 'First Industrial Revolution' on a blue label.

"Actually, even if we all went to Ningzhong, it would still be the difference between a regular class and a special admission class."

"You're talking as if you've already entered a regular class at Ningzhong High School."

"Because you, the top student in the city, are teaching me, if I still can't pass the exam, I might as well kill myself."

Xu Youwei rested her chin on her hand, looking at the textbooks on the table that had been covered with colorful hedgehog-like stickers. Under Chen Junqian's transformation, they no longer seemed to be dry and boring piles of words, but had become well-organized mazes of knowledge.

Those colorful sticky notes were the signposts Chen Junqian left behind in this maze, holding her hand.

Whether it was the prosperity of ancient China or the smoke of world wars; whether it was the concept of the rule of law or the wave of economic globalization—they were all neatly and concretely visualized on the edges of the pages. Xu Youwei picked up a history textbook for eighth grade again, her eyes scanning the side labels, and a clear timeline miraculously appeared in her mind.

"I think I understand Qinqin's meaning a little bit now. Although I saw Mumu do it before, I thought it was too troublesome at the time. But now it seems to be effective."

Chen Junqian also stood up and stretched, his mind also recalling Lin Mu's meticulously prepared political and historical textbooks, before continuing to instruct:

"That means Youyou isn't too stupid. The rest is to go through those places you labeled yourself several times in the next couple of days. Don't try to memorize the details; focus on the location and the table of contents. When you encounter something you don't know in the exam, take a deep breath, look at the label, find the corresponding location in the book, and copy the original text from the textbook, along with the provided material. Got it?"

"I understand, Qinqin, don't worry! Everything is completely fine now."

"Is it possible that this is just for politics and history? Someone's physics and chemistry don't seem to be much better, right? And English, Mu Mu's Hengshui style of writing is so good that our English teacher can use it as a model for getting full marks on the test, while this person's writing is crooked and messy. They need to work on these things, right?"

Only then did Chen Junqian finally open the bag he had brought with him today. Inside were notebooks full of practice questions, but they weren't the kind of supplementary teaching materials he had bought. Instead, they were notebooks of his own compiled mistakes for Xu Youwei, as well as many new questions that he had found and designed based on the types of mistakes she made, to ensure that she had truly mastered the material.

Of course, there was also a small gift that he gave to Xu Youwei as a bonus.

The middle school entrance exam in his previous life was a distant memory, but Chen Junqian still vaguely remembered the last multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank question in math and part of the solution to the final, most challenging question, because he almost missed getting into the top class due to getting two questions wrong.

All of these were recorded in the error notebook given to Xu Youwei.

Lin Mu also received the same copy.

I just don't know how much it will help the two of them.

As for Youyou, under his guidance, the best they can hope for is to enter Ningzhong.

As for Mu Mu's side...

Chen Junqian's gaze swept over the description of their "childhood sweethearts" relationship once more, and then he recalled what Lin Mu had once said:

The so-called childhood sweethearts... are basically those who have been in the same class since childhood.

Compared to the random class assignments in junior high, this time I have the opportunity to continue being in the same class as Qianqian.

Actually, it's in my own hands.

Image: "Colorful little notes!", Location: "Images/1775568254-100437844-114675643.jpg"

P.S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: I checked and found that the teaching materials used now seem to be not much different from those ten years ago. Since I can't find my own book anymore, I found a picture as an example. Back then, many people did this when the middle school entrance exam in our area was open-book for politics and history.

Chapter 100: I've figured out the mechanics, you've lost! (Two chapters combined)

As the best class in Ningzhong High School and even the entire Ningzhong High School, the special admission class only considers academic performance. The scores of physical fitness tests and physics and chemistry experiments are not included in the ranking. Apart from those candidates who passed the exam in the early selection, the remaining candidates are selected directly from top to bottom according to their middle school entrance examination scores.

Generally speaking, the top 100 students in the city have the opportunity to enter the special admission class. Although the number of students admitted through the special admission class is only around 70 each year, those students who are admitted through the early admission process are often able to continue to perform well in the formal high school entrance examination and secure a place in the class.

Secondly, it's not that all top students will unconditionally choose to enter Ningzhong's special admission class. After all, Ningzhong has never had just one regular high school. Every year, the neighboring Jinzhong High School also spends money to poach students under the guise of scholarships and grants in order to improve its college entrance examination pass rate.

In the final mock exam, or diagnostic test, held in the city before the high school entrance exam, Lin Mu ranked 302nd in the city. This result guaranteed her admission to the key class of Ningzhong High School. For Lin Mu, who was struggling to get into the regular class three years ago when she first entered the school, this was undoubtedly a huge and amazing improvement. In the words of her homeroom teacher, if she could maintain this result in the final high school entrance exam, she would definitely pass on Lin Mu's academic progress over the past three years as an inspirational story to the younger students.

This is certainly one of the highest praises a teacher can give a student, but for Lin Mu, it still doesn't feel enough.

If it's a special admissions class... will I have a chance?

After finishing another set of math test papers, Lin Mu didn't rush to check the answers. Feeling a bit tired, she slumped onto her desk for a short rest and relaxation. The pen she was using seemed to have run out of ink again. After shaking it a couple of times, it could only leave faint white marks on the paper. She casually pulled out the pen refill and put it in the drawer next to her. The drawer was already piled with dozens or even hundreds of empty pen refills, which looked quite impressive.

In the romance novels written by Zhu Wenyun, some childhood sweethearts want to leave traces at every moment and try to prove that they have liked you for a long time. Others will carefully keep and collect every little thing the other person gives them. They will keep the candy wrapper after the candy is finished, and they will not throw away the pen after it is used up. It makes people wonder if she will wrap up the leftover chewing gum that the other person eats in front of her and take it back to seal it.

However, Lin Mu felt that she hadn't reached the stage where she needed to leave proof of her 'liking'. After all, the more she would dwell on the interactions and gifts between the two of them, the more it would prove how rare or even scarce their relationship was. So, compared to that, she would definitely prefer to leave proof called 'effort,' which was more tangible and visible.

For example, there's the almost full drawer of blank pen refills that she intentionally accumulated, and there are also the collections of wrong questions that Chen Junqian recently helped her organize.

Lin Mu didn't really have any particular thoughts about her childhood friend starting to tutor Xu Youwei again these past two days. Rather, she was puzzled from the beginning as to why everyone's studies had been going so well before, but suddenly these two intentionally avoided meeting each other. Even Xu Youwei's tutor had become Zhu Wenyun. Now, it should be considered that things are back on track and back to the way they were before.

Lin Mu couldn't help but recall the day Chen Junqian's photo was hung at the very top of the school gate bulletin board. That was probably a rare period of mental turmoil for Lin Mu. After all, after participating in the early selection exam for the special recruitment class, Chen Junqian hadn't come to school for several days. He wasn't even in Guoning. First, he went out with Zhu Wenyun, and then he went out with Gu Lingguo.

Although they were childhood sweethearts, it seems that apart from their classmates, they didn't interact as much as other people knew them. They never lived together and rarely went to and from school together... But Qianqian still hugged her that day, and it was a princess carry.

Well, the truth is that even if Lin Mu herself didn't say it, that period of time, which felt like being put on a play, was still unbearable for her. However, all these little emotions came to an end on the day of the physical test. After all, even the most temperamental girl couldn't resist being carried away in a princess carry by her childhood sweetheart in public. Besides, she wasn't hard to coax anyway.

Therefore, you must work hard to get into the top 100.

Even the random class assignment, which would have been the easiest way to separate her and Chen Junqian, failed to separate them. Now that she had this opportunity in her hands, she should at least try her best for it, because being in the same school and being in the same class are indeed two completely different concepts.

Although it might make Lin Mu feel a little embarrassed to say it, a certain classmate surnamed Xu had indeed made her realize this fact over three years by taking the time to do so. Moreover, Lin Mu felt that she did not have the same personality as Xu, who was completely indifferent to other people's opinions and could casually come to other classes' doors to look for people every day after class. Therefore, if possible, she would still want to continue to be in the same class as Chen Junqian.

Thinking this, Lin Mu unconsciously picked up the diary that was on the other side.

Unlike her usual diary entries, this one was filled with entries that Zhu Wenyun had taught her, called a future diary. It was like a beautiful vision and wish for the future, and also somewhat like a short-term time capsule.

After flipping through the document, I casually checked off the entry I wrote a month ago: "With Qianqian's help, I finally passed the physical test and even broke my best score." I can only say that I was clearly too imaginative and conservative back then. So this time, let me make a slightly bigger wish:

[July 1, 2015: The middle school entrance exam results are out!]

[I can finally say that line I've wanted to say to Qianqian for so long.]

We'll stay together for all three years of high school!

If Gu Lingguo is the female protagonist who is most adept at taking advantage of others and pushing her luck, then Xu Youwei can probably easily take second place on this list.

It was originally just simple tutoring, but Chen Junqian's ex-girlfriend soon started to include all the preparations for the high school entrance exam in this scope. She even wanted him to accompany her when she went out to buy stationery. Her reasons were naturally the same old saying: "A workman must first sharpen his tools if he wants to do his work well" or "Sharpening the axe will not delay the work of chopping wood."

When they actually reach the age where going to the exam hall is like going to war, and the pen in their hand is like a gun, even if they see toy stationery that can be assembled into a gun at lightning speed, not many people are willing to excitedly stop in front of the counter. In this final moment before the high school entrance exam, students dressed in school uniforms shuttle between the shelves, and each of them has a tension unique to the exam.

Of course, this does not include Hsu Yu-Wei.

"Hey, Qinqin, do you think that one looks good?"

Xu Youwei's eyes were drawn to a pink correction tape with a cute cat paw print on it. Just as she was about to reach for it, Chen Junqian stopped her in mid-air.

"Correction tape or correction fluid is prohibited in the high school entrance exam room. If you want to get used to it, you have to use these things less now, otherwise you'll end up with a big black mark and you'll lose points for neatness."

"But I can't quit. I've been using these things for three years. If that's the case, they shouldn't have been invented in the first place. What's the logic behind allowing us to use them during regular classes but not during exams?"

Despite her small complaints, Xu Youwei obediently stopped what she was doing and, together with Chen Junqian, bought the corresponding black pens and pencils according to the stationery requirements in the exam room instructions, as well as commonly used geometric tools such as set squares and compasses.

Watching Xu Youwei constantly trying out the writing feel of various black pens, Chen Junqian recalled the pens he had bought for Zhu Wenjun and Lin Mu in these stores. The former didn't have many, but each one was carefully kept together by the person involved. As for the latter, there were countless of them. Even the couple's pens that had made the other person blush and their heart race when they bought them were now nowhere to be found, even though he still had them safely kept.

"Speaking of which, could this kind of 'Confucius Temple blessing' pen have some kind of magical or mystical enhancement?"

"Then you might as well pray to me, and I'll print out a 'study master' blessing for you later."