Restarting your life starts with filling out your college application.

Seeing this, Chen Zhiyuan comforted them, "Mom and Dad, it's okay. Right now, millions of students and parents across the province are desperately trying to dial this number. It's perfectly normal that they can't get through."

He said calmly, "Dad, let's not rush. Let's wait a few minutes and try again when we've avoided this peak period."

Chen Jianjun put down the phone, took a deep breath, and looked at his son's calm demeanor, unable to help but admire him: "Son, aren't you worried or nervous at all?"

Chen Zhiyuan smiled confidently: "I'm very confident in my estimated score, which is around 530, not exceeding 540. The score is there; whether I find out a few minutes earlier or later, it's the same."

Perhaps sensing his son's unwavering resolve, Chen Jianjun's anxiety eased somewhat.

After waiting patiently for about three to five minutes, Chen Jianguo couldn't hold back any longer. He picked up the phone again, took a deep breath, and redialed.

This time, I was lucky!

"Beep...Connected!"

Chen Jianjun perked up and quickly followed the cold electronic voice prompts on the phone, carefully entering his son's exam admission ticket number, and then decisively pressed the speakerphone button.

"Quick, quick, grab a pen and paper and write it down!" he said, frantically searching for paper and pen.

A clear, electronically synthesized female voice filled the quiet living room via hands-free calling, each word resonating deeply:

Candidate's name: Chen Zhiyuan.

"Chinese: 101 points"

"Mathematics: 111 points"

English: 92 points

Physics: 124 points.

"Chemistry: 110 points."

Total score: 538 points.

After the score was announced, a notification tone came through the phone saying "Query complete".

The invisible stone in Chen Zhiyuan's heart finally settled down with a "thud," and a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

The score was exactly the same as the score I remembered, without a single difference!

This means that the major historical trajectory has not changed.

Therefore, getting a spot at Jiangnan University is a sure thing, 100% guaranteed!

After hearing the scores, the tension and worry on Chen Jianguo and Zhang Hui's faces quickly receded like a tide, replaced by a sense of relief.

Chen Jianguo put down his pen, slowly exhaled, and said with a sense of relief, "Although there's no hope of getting into a top-tier university, it seems like getting into a decent regular university is no problem."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhiyuan smiled and reminded him, "Dad, that's not necessarily true. Maybe I'll get lucky and snag Jiangnan University. Don't forget, we still have a bet."

Chen Jianguo took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and shook his head amidst the swirling smoke: "Let's talk about it after you're actually admitted to Jiangnan University."

He had absolutely no hope—it was Jiangnan University! Last year's admission score was over 620, and this year it could only be higher.

Chen Zhiyuan didn't argue, he just smiled. Everything would wait until the admission results came out.

Those admitted to key undergraduate programs are in the first batch of admissions, and the results will be available in about ten days, around August 10th.

Less than two minutes after I hung up the phone, it rang urgently again.

As soon as Chen Zhiyuan picked up the receiver, Jin Liang's signature voice, brimming with immense surprise, burst out impatiently: "Zhiyuan! Guess! Guess how many points I got!"

Even through the phone line, Chen Zhiyuan could imagine the chubby boy's beaming face.

He laughed heartily: "You guessed right, it's your treat. How about we go to the internet cafe and play for a few hours later?"

"No problem! Leave it to me!" Jin Liang agreed readily.

Chen Zhiyuan paused deliberately before slowly saying, "If I'm not mistaken... your score should be 522, right?"

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the phone for two or three seconds.

Then, Jin Liang's incredulous exclamation almost shattered the receiver: "My God, how could you guess so accurately! Not a single point off! I got 522 points!"

Chen Zhiyuan chuckled inwardly: I've been reborn, of course I know.

But he wouldn't say it aloud; he just laughed loudly, "Am I right? Remember to treat me! See you at the internet cafe later!"

"Okay! I'll go reserve a computer right now, hurry up and come over!" Jin Liang's voice was filled with excitement at getting an unexpectedly high score.

He was so happy because he estimated his score to be only around 510, but he actually scored 522, which was an unexpected surprise for him.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Zhiyuan explained to his parents that it was Jin Liang calling; he had scored 522 points on the exam and would treat them to a meal at an internet cafe later.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Chen Jianjun checked the time, got up, and prepared to go to work—he had specifically taken an hour off to check his scores.

After Chen Jianguo left, Zhang Hui picked up her shopping basket, a relaxed smile on her face: "Son, what do you want to eat today? Mom will make it for you!"

Chen Zhiyuan replied with a smile, "Mom, I like to eat anything you make."

"Your words are getting sweeter and sweeter; you always know how to make me happy," Zhang Hui said with a beaming smile. "Then let's have braised fish today, haven't you been talking about it?"

Seeing his mother getting ready to leave, Chen Zhiyuan quickly followed, saying, "Mom, I'm going out too. We're basically going the same way, let's go together."

The mother and son chatted and laughed, both in good spirits, and walked out of the community one after the other, slowly strolling along the familiar tree-lined path.

Chen Zhiyuan paused slightly after walking a short distance.

Zhang Hui noticed her son's unusual behavior and turned to ask, "Son, what's wrong?"

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Chen Zhiyuan's lips as he glanced diagonally ahead: "It's nothing, Mom. Look, isn't that Li Chenghua's mother?"

Zhang Hui followed her son's gaze and, sure enough, the middle-aged woman with her head down and hurried steps not far away was Liu Lanxiang.

Just a week ago, that "former colleague" was still nagging her at the market and subtly boasting about her son's grades.

That day, Liu Lanxiang said excitedly that her son, Li Chenghua, was estimated to score over 570 points, which was at least 20 or 30 points above the cutoff score for top-tier universities, and that he was almost certain to be admitted to Jiangzhou University of Science and Technology.

Then, with an air of superiority, she repeatedly and "concernedly" asked Chen Zhiyuan how many points he had estimated and where he had applied.

Zhang Hui remembers clearly that she was furious that day and remained sullen for a long time after returning home.