This humble Taoist priest wants to take the college entrance exam.

Chapter 29 We'll borrow what we can.

He didn't know what Teacher Zhang did with Chen Shi'an's test paper.

All that is known is that when the test paper was returned to him, there were several obvious puncture marks and creases on the surface, as if it had been poked with a finger during an argument...

"Um... Shi'an, it's okay if you can't keep up in math class. Just study on your own first, and write down any questions you don't understand. Just ask me later."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhang."

Teacher Zhang looked as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, and sighed heavily as he looked at the refined and gentle young man in front of him.

She should have been a promising talent... How could she have never even gone to school? Fate is cruel, fate is cruel!
The bell rang.

Teacher Zhang returned to the podium and continued explaining the last two major questions on the test.

Chen Shi'an glanced at the test paper in his hand again, still completely clueless about the questions, so he stuffed the paper back into the drawer and continued studying his seventh-grade math.

Lin Mengqiu glanced at him.

It's back to the same state again...

In the field of psychology, this state has a specific term and explanation: flow.

It refers to the state of complete concentration and immersion people exhibit when doing something. In this state, a person's thinking and reaction speed are maximized, and they may even lose track of time, resulting in a feeling of energy and great satisfaction upon completion of the task.

Having focused on learning for many years, Lin Mengqiu has naturally encountered similar situations.

When you enter this state, you don't actually feel anything. You just feel very calm and have a strong ability to resist distractions. Whether it's reading, writing, or solving problems, everything is unusually smooth and efficient. Only when you come out of this state do you realize how amazing you were.

Everyone wants to be in a state of flow, but even for Lin Mengqiu herself, it's something she can only experience a few times. —When others call her and she doesn't respond, it's not because she's in a state of flow; she simply doesn't want to interact with them.

But unexpectedly, Chen Shi'an appeared in this state just like that!
Is it really possible for anyone to adjust and control their mental state so quickly and effectively?
Considering Chen Shi'an's identity as a Taoist priest, Lin Mengqiu felt relieved—perhaps only a remote, secluded place like a mountain valley could cultivate such a person. In modern society, people who are constantly bombarded with short videos and all sorts of chaotic information can only focus for about twenty minutes at most…

Time ticked away.

After two lessons of self-study, Chen Shi'an has finished learning the first chapter, "Rational Numbers," and the second chapter, "Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials," in the textbook. He has read more than seventy pages, which is about half of the "Seventh Grade Mathematics Textbook."

From the perspective of someone who has been through it, the content of these two chapters is naturally basic and simple, but for Chen Shi'an, it was his first time encountering it, and he was also learning it on his own. In just two lessons, he had completed half a semester's worth of material for seventh graders, which was quite fast.

Just as he put down his pen, the bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

The classroom was noisy, and Chen Shi'an looked a little tired. He interlaced his fingers and stretched them out to relax slightly.

When he turned his head, he found Lin Mengqiu looking at his math book, which was still open on his desk.

As if sensing something, the girl shifted her gaze and met his eyes.

"How do you like it?"

For the first time ever, she took the initiative to start a conversation.

However, his tone wasn't one of concern, but rather curiosity.

"It's alright. We've just learned addition and subtraction in full form. The next chapter should be linear equations in one variable."

Is there anything you don't understand?

She asked again, her tone still not showing much concern, but rather a hint of eagerness.

"I haven't met him yet."

"..."

The girl lost interest in chatting and picked up her water glass to drink.

"The exercises in the textbook are too easy. I don't feel like I can learn anything from them. Class monitor, could you give me a couple of problems to solve?"

"..."

Lin Mengqiu didn't say anything, but she switched the water glass she was holding in her right hand to her left hand, and at the same time picked up the pen on the table with her right hand and started writing on the draft paper.

Before Chen Shi'an could even come over to look, she moved the draft notebook with the completed questions to the middle of the two people's table.

After all, the question was just something Lin Mengqiu came up with on the spot, so the difficulty was limited and it was similar to the one in the textbook.

Chen Shi'an took the question, and without even using a draft, he finished writing it in a couple of quick strokes.

"Is this the right answer?"

"Ah."

Lin Mengqiu nodded, then added, "But you'll lose points."

"Why?"

"Points are awarded based on the steps taken to solve the problem. If you skipped several steps, even if the answer is correct, you won't get full marks." "I see..."

Chen Shi'an humbly accepted the instruction. Although he didn't care much about the so-called skipping a few steps in the problem-solving process, he should still abide by the requirements since the exam had them.

"Thank you, squad leader. None of these things are in the books. I wouldn't have known if you hadn't reminded me."

"~~~"

"Could you give me a more difficult question?"

"You can find relevant practice questions yourself."

Where can we find it?

"Buy workbooks at the bookstore outside."

"Okay. How much does one book cost approximately?"

"A few dozen yuan."

After Lin Mengqiu finished speaking, she noticed that Chen Shi'an looked troubled.

This workbook costs only a few dozen yuan, and we don't even know how much content it covers. Even if each workbook corresponds to a math book, considering the many years of schooling he missed and the many subjects he missed, how much money would that add up to?

Upholding the fine tradition passed down through generations, Chen Shi'an sincerely asked:
"Class monitor, do you still have any junior high school workbooks? Can I borrow them?"

"...Why not buy a new one?"

"No money."

"..."

All the guys who have ever been around her have either liked to flaunt their wealth, act cool, or show off how many books they've read or what awesome skills they've learned. Only Chen Shi'an has been honest with her, telling her that he's never been to school and that he has no money... and he's even borrowing from her!
Lin Mengqiu was stunned for a while before saying in a nonchalant tone, "They're all at home. I'm not sure if there are any left. Besides, I've already done them all, so they might affect your problem-solving. If you really want them, I'll bring them over another day and give them to you."

"Grateful."

"..."

Confirming that the Taoist priest in front of her didn't seem like the type to rummage through her used exercise book, Lin Mengqiu reluctantly agreed.

She never borrowed anything from anyone, and no one would borrow anything from someone like her who was "hard to talk to at first glance."

To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing to give away things you've used...

Especially things like workbooks, which record her learning trajectory, such as whether her handwriting was neat back then, whether she made many mistakes on seemingly simple questions, and whether she wrote anything strange or silly in her notebook.

Of course, it would be ridiculous to say these things out loud, and it's not her style.

But she is a living, breathing person, not a block of wood, and naturally she has her own thoughts and ideas; it's just that she keeps them in her heart rather than speaking them aloud.

Anyway, borrowing a workbook is much easier for her to accept than being taught math head-to-head...

Lin Mengqiu held the water glass and poured for a while before realizing that the glass was empty.

She took the cup, pulled her long legs out from under the table, and turned to face Chen Shi'an.

That's the downside of having a deskmate; it's inconvenient to get in and out.

Chen Shi'an noticed the commotion and turned to look at her.

Just as Lin Mengqiu was about to speak, Chen Shi'an stood up with his book, stepped to the side in the aisle, and pushed his chair under the table as well.

Chen Shi'an's thoughtfulness and quick reaction surprised Lin Mengqiu. Seeing that he had already made way for her, she picked up her cup, stood up, and walked straight out.

When they got this close, Lin Mengqiu realized that her height when she stood up was just around his mouth.

As she brushed past him, the girl kept her mouth tightly shut, but her nose involuntarily began to breathe. A scent like the grass and wood fragrance emanating from a pine forest after the rain, mixed with a faint, refreshing smell of soapberry, wafted into her nostrils. She realized that this was Chen Shi'an's scent.

Lin Mengqiu inexplicably felt her heart racing and her earlobes burning.

She lowered her head slightly and walked over even faster...

Gulu gulu——

Bubbles rose from the translucent blue water tank in the water dispenser.

She then turned around and glanced back.

Chen Shi'an was still standing there, leaving her a space to go back, and using the height of the books piled on the table, he started doing his homework again...

(End of this chapter)