My IQ has been increasing year by year.

(Based on the suggestion, the first few images were deleted; they were indeed useless and somewhat watery, and had burned out.)

the next day.

5:50 a.m.

Chen Zhuo woke up.

No alarm clock is needed; his biological clock wakes him from light sleep on time.

He sat up in bed and turned to look out the window.

Before dawn, the view outside the window was a hazy gray-white.

There was no sound of rain.

The long-awaited downpour last night ultimately failed to materialize, instead turning into a dense fog that blanketed the sky.

This is a rare instance of advection fog.

The residential buildings across the street have completely disappeared, leaving only a few blurry lights suspended in mid-air.

The camphor tree downstairs was reduced to a black trunk, its crown completely melted into the mist.

A fine layer of water droplets condensed on the glass window, flowing down the glass and leaving winding streaks.

Chen Zhuo got dressed and left the room.

The living room was brightly lit.

Chen Jianguo and Liu Xiuying had gotten up long ago, and probably hadn't slept well all night.

Chen Jianguo, wearing the jacket he usually couldn't bear to wear, was doing a final check on the red mesh bag to make sure the tea eggs inside weren't broken.

Liu Xiuying was busy in the kitchen and brought out a bowl of steaming hot noodles with poached eggs.

"Eat up, one ham and two eggs, and you'll get a perfect score on your exam."

Liu Xiuying set out the bowls and chopsticks and urged Chen Zhuo to hurry up.

Chen Zhuo sat down and ate his noodles in silence.

The noodles were very hot and had a sesame oil aroma.

Chen Jianguo paced back and forth, muttering to himself:

"The fog is so thick, will cars be able to drive? Will the highway be closed? Or should I ride my bike and take you to the station?"

"Come on, riding a bike in this fog is even more unsafe." Liu Xiuying glared at him. "The bus has fog lights, what are you afraid of?"

6:20.

The family of three left home on time.

Chen Jianguo insisted on carrying Chen Zhuo's schoolbag on his back, while holding that incredibly heavy net bag in his other hand.

Liu Xiuying was holding a large black umbrella. Although it wasn't raining, the fog was so thick that it could wet her hair.

The streets were quiet, with only the occasional taxi passing by, its yellow fog lights on, gliding by like a ghost.

The air was damp and cold, carrying a chill that seeped into your bones.

At the bottom of the steps in front of the administration building of the No. 1 Middle School.

The huge, champagne-colored King Long bus was already parked there.

The car headlights shone with two highly penetrating yellow beams, like two lightsabers, piercing through the thick fog and illuminating the wet cement ground.

The engine was idling, emitting a low, rhythmic roar.

Beside the car.

Several figures appeared and disappeared in the mist.

Those were the school leaders.

Principal Zhang Dajun, Dean of Studies Li Tie, and two vice principals.

They were all there.

And judging from the looks of it, they've been waiting for a while already.

Their suit jackets, with their fine downy lining, were covered with a layer of glistening water droplets.

But none of them used umbrellas, nor did anyone seek shelter in the car. (Actually, Lao Zhou and the others guaranteed that Chen Zhuobao could win a national award.)

He stood there straight in the fog, his expression serious and his eyes piercing.

This is not like an ordinary exam escort.

This is more like a pre-battle rally, or a tragic farewell.

Old Zhao was wearing a gray Zhongshan suit.

Even more unusually, Lao Zhou didn't wear slippers, but instead put on a pair of shiny black leather shoes and a slightly oversized suit jacket with sleeves that were long enough to cover half of his hands.

Chen Zhuo followed his parents over.

He glanced at the leaders.

He glanced again at Wang Yang and Li Hao, who were standing to the side, their necks shivering from the cold.

Wang Yang's face appeared deathly pale in the mist, and his lips were trembling slightly.

I don't know if it was from the cold or from being frightened by the scene.

Chen Zhuo pushed up his glasses.

This is more than just an exam.

For this key municipal high school located in a third-tier city, which hasn't produced a provincial first-prize winner for several years.

That's quite a large-scale operation.

These six students were the few chips on which their entire fortunes were staked.

"You're here?"

When Principal Zhang saw Chen Zhuo and his family, he strode over to greet them.

"Oh, Mr. Chen, thank you for your hard work."

Principal Zhang grasped Chen Jianguo's hand and shook it vigorously.

Chen Jianguo was flattered and quickly handed over the net he was holding.

"Principal, these... these tea eggs are just for the teachers to have a little something to eat on their way..."

"Great! Great! That's very thoughtful!"

Principal Zhang did not refuse; he even patted the net bag.

"This is the logistical support we get at No. 1 High School!"

After exchanging pleasantries.

Principal Zhang turned around and glanced at the six students standing in a row in front of him.

His expression turned extremely serious.

"Students."

"I know that with such thick fog, everyone might be a little unsure of what to do."

"but!"

Principal Zhang raised his voice, which pierced through the fog.

"This is the path for us, the students of No. 1 High School! Even if we can't see clearly, even if there's fog, we will force our way through!"

"Those people in the province have always thought of us as a rural school, that we only know how to study by rote. This time, you've come to vindicate our school!"

"Bring that trophy back to me!"

"Come on, everyone, come here."

At the opportune moment, Li Tie, the director of teaching affairs, stepped forward.

He pulled out cans of glittering gold from a cardboard box at his feet, like firing ammunition.

Red Bull.

Those short, stout, golden tin cans.

In the morning mist, the gold color was particularly dazzling.

"One can per person! Take them all!"

Li Tie forcefully stuffed Red Bull into each student's hand, leaving no room for refusal.

"This is a special supply provided to you by the school!"

"Drink this, it'll refresh your mind! We can't let our school's spirit be lost!"

"drink!"

Wang Yang held the ice-cold can of Red Bull, his hands trembling even more violently.

He didn't think it was a beverage.

This is like some kind of contract, some kind of pledge.

If you drink it, you're guaranteed to win a prize.

Once you drink it, you can't lose.

This kind of psychological suggestion, which is heavily utilitarian, is simply fatal for a junior high school student who is already extremely stressed and whose stomach is starting to cramp.

"Thank you, Director..."

Wang Yang's voice was weak, as if he was about to cry.

But he dared not refuse to drink.

He instinctively pulled the tab.

"laugh--"

The sound of the gas being ejected was particularly jarring in the quiet morning.

He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and gulped down half a can of medicine in one go, as if he were drinking Chinese medicine.

On an empty stomach.

Iced carbonated drinks.

High concentration of caffeine and taurine.

It rushed into his already fragile stomach in an instant.

Chen Zhuo, who was standing at the end of the line, also had a can handed to him.

He looked down at the golden jar.

He glanced again at Wang Yang, whose face was turning pale and who was forcing himself to swallow.

Chen Zhuo did not drink.

He silently stuffed the Red Bull into the side mesh pocket of his backpack, right next to the black CD player.

He sighed inwardly.

Good intentions gone wrong.

In such a high-pressure, even somewhat oxygen-deficient foggy weather, a group of children in a state of stress were given this strong stimulant.

This is not a way to refresh yourself.

This is induced vomiting.

"Alright, it's time to get on the bus!"

Principal Zhang waved his hand and gave the order to depart.

"Remember! Stay calm and collected! No matter who you are, you only have two shoulders and one head to carry in the exam room, so what's there to be afraid of!"

"Set off!"