NOVPUB
Chapter 531: Chapter 349 From Today Onwards, I Am the New Me
Junior year, midterms were to take place next week, which held more significance than the smaller monthly tests, so the students took them more seriously.
Class 8’s study atmosphere had thickened compared to before, with less noise and commotion.
Back row.
Guo Kunnan stared at the screen, where the chat box showed only his own one-man show.
He deflatedly put down his phone. Ever since the sports meet, Xu Yan had scarcely paid him any attention, occasionally replying to messages after a day or two. His friendship with Xu Yan existed in name only.
Despondently, Guo Kunnan observed the gray-white sky outside the classroom, devoid of piercing sunlight. The Moji Weather app on his phone predicted rain for the next day.
A sudden epiphany struck Guo Kunnan, "Even the sky changes, what about me?"
He had changed, yet it seemed he hadn’t.
His gaze soared, landing on Kaiquan in the front row. Kaiquan had undergone a massive transformation but had fallen into the throes of melancholy.
Guo Kunnan surveyed the entire class. Jiang Yanan, holding a mobile phone, walked into the classroom. Her phone had been confiscated by Gao Heshuai, leading her to rent one from Shen Xu of Class 9.
Shen Xu had nearly gone mad with his earnings lately, and Guo Kunnan could only feel envious.
He saw Huang Yuzhu, saw Jiang Ning, saw Cui Yu.
Suddenly, Guo Kunnan asked, "Longlong, what kind of person do you think I am?"
Wang Longlong, engrossed in watching Ma Shicheng play games, replied, "A person with a tenacious spirit."
"You understand me, Longlong," Guo Kunnan said, contentedly.
"Longlong, do you think people should remain unchanged, or should they seek change?"
Wang Longlong said, "Survival of the fittest, the adaptable thrive."
Guo Kunnan sank into contemplation, thoughts drifting to Xu Yan, to Manman, to Shen Qing’e, and back to middle school, elementary school, to all the girls who had appeared in his life and then vanished—such a pity...
’If I stay where I am, I’ll forever just miss out.’ Guo Kunnan had a sudden revelation.
’Yes, people can’t live in the past, they must dare to step out of their comfort zone and change!’
He pumped himself up a great deal and without realizing it, his spirit soared to new heights.
The Guo Kunnan of a second ago was dead, and now, from his old shell, a new Kun Nan had been born!
From that moment on, Guo Kunnan decided to change. His tone was resolute,
"Brother Ma, Brother Long, witness my transformation!"
Ma Shicheng and Wang Longlong were baffled and didn’t know what got into him.
Math class.
Gao Heshuai roared from the podium, his voice reverberated throughout the classroom, with no one daring to challenge his authority.
The students had no choice but to silently endure his scolding.
Gao Heshuai swung the test papers and bellowed, "Look at Class 11, their math scores are much better than yours, even physics is better, what do you have that’s better than their class!"
This was a common technique used by teachers to put students down, explicitly designed to belittle them, with comparisons like one grade being worse than another.
In fact, Class 8 was not bad at all. Cui Yu really wanted to stand up and shout, ’Our top students are better than theirs!’
But Cui Yu could not confront him directly.
At that moment, Guo Kunnan made his move.
The former Guo Kunnan would never have done such a rash thing, but to change himself, he decided to take a stand.
Guo Kunnan spoke out, "Our class’s math teacher is better than Class 11’s!"
...
After class.
"Brother Nan, I underestimated you; you’re pretty clever!" Cui Yu swayed over to the four-connected desks.
Wang Longlong said, "Brother Nan has a high EQ indeed!"
"It’s alright," Guo Kunnan was doing math problems, appearing nonchalant on the surface, but internally he was extremely pleased.
When Brother Nan made a move, it had to be earth-shattering.
Classmates around him were still discussing him. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝖚𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
Guo Kunnan worked on math problems alone, stumbling upon a difficult one. If it had been before, he would have definitely given up, but now it was different, he was determined to conquer it should it appear on the exam.
Guo Kunnan scanned the room, his gaze settling on the top students—Chen Qian?
No, Chen Qian held a grudge against Kaiquan, he couldn’t betray his friend.
Huang Zhongfei? No, his mind always wandered to Manman, he couldn’t get past that hurdle in his heart.
Bai Yuxia? No, she was the unattainable love of Kaiquan.
Ultimately, Guo Kunnan settled on Jiang Ning. Jiang Ning had excellent grades, a gentle nature, and was someone who rose from the back row.
He picked up his book and approached Jiang Ning with his questions.
Jiang Ning, upon seeing this, thought Guo Kunnan must have been influenced by some motivational speech, exhibiting ’sporadic bursts of effort’.
Jiang Ning casually explained the problem in a few sentences.
Guo Kunnan was immensely shocked, his mind a tempest, but soon after, he revealed a smile of confidence and composure. As long as he kept working hard, he would inevitably become a powerhouse!
’If others can do it, so can I.’
Guo Kunnan studied intently until school was dismissed, impressing Wang Longlong with his effort.
It wasn’t until dismissal that Guo Kunnan stood up, feeling his whole body infused with the fragrance of knowledge.
"Kaiquan, Xiao Qi, let’s go, play basketball!"
Guo Kunnan aimed not only to be a champion of knowledge but also a powerhouse on the basketball court.
...
After school in the afternoon.
Jiang Ning took Xue Yuantong home for dinner.
"Yesterday’s spicy mix was so delicious, but there were too many people," Xue Yuantong lamented in the back seat.
Jiang Ning said, "Then next time we’ll skip evening self-study to go eat."
Xue Yuantong was a good student and had never skipped class, so she couldn’t help asking, "Isn’t that a bit wrong?"
Jiang Ning resorted to reverse psychology, "Are you scared?"
"I’ll skip if I want; who’s afraid!"
They cycled home, where Aunt Gu was still cooking as she had been delayed at work and returned late.
Upon seeing her, Xue Yuantong grabbed a badminton racket and went to the open space in front of the house to play with Jiang Ning.
After about ten minutes, Xue Yuantong was exhausted. The dastardly Jiang Ning, taking advantage of his height, deliberately played high shots causing Xue Yuantong to keep jumping for the shuttlecock.
When dinner was ready, a thoroughly spent Xue Yuantong had a ruddy face.
