It wasn't just Li Yang; Li Xue also had a complicated expression as she watched Zhao Qianxing on TV.
"Alright, Yangyang, you should go study. There's nothing good on TV."
She turned off the TV and said.
"Okay, Sis." Li Yang nodded.
...
「The next day arrived quickly.」
Early in the morning, Li Xue was at their home again.
Today was the first day of her younger brother's college entrance exam, and Li Xue was going to take him to the testing site.
"Yangyang, do you have everything? You can't forget anything," Li Xue nagged beside him.
"Don't worry, Sis. I've already checked several times," Li Yang said with a smile.
"Let's go. It looks like it's going to rain."
It was like an unwritten rule of the college entrance exam that it would rain in many places during the two days of testing.
The sky was now overcast with dark clouds. Muffled thunder rumbled, even though it was early in the morning. It looked as if a downpour was imminent!
The brother and sister arrived at the testing site. A large crowd was already waiting, mostly parents talking with their children. They were also worried it might rain.
However, though the sky was filled with dark clouds, the rain held off. Soon, it was 8:30, and the school gates opened.
"Dad, I'm heading in."
"Qianqian, you can do it!"
"Son, don't feel any pressure. Just do your best. You know our family's situation; even if you don't do well, it's okay. Your old man will support you."
...
Under the expectant gazes of the many parents, the students finally walked into the examination site one by one.
"Sis, you should head back first," Li Yang said to his sister with a smile.
Li Xue didn't answer. She made a fist and said to Li Yang, "Yangyang, you can do it!"
Li Yang smiled and finally walked into the testing site.
Entering the school campus, Li Yang took a deep breath. He wanted to calm his heart so he could perform at his best and get a better score.
But at this moment, Li Yang couldn't do it. His heart was anything but calm.
'Dad's health... even with medication, he won't last more than a few months without the Anticancer Agent.'
Although he couldn't bear the thought of his father leaving him, Li Yang was very clear about his father's current physical condition.
Fewer than two hundred doses of the Anticancer Agent were produced each month, and they were distributed worldwide!
How many cancer patients were there in the entire world? The probability of his father getting even one dose in the past six months was actually very small.
'Getting into a good university is Dad's greatest wish! So this time, I have to do well!'
Li Yang took another deep breath, his eyes filled with a desperate desire for a good score!
If they performed poorly, some people would choose to repeat the year and try again. But if he failed this time, even if he did well next time, his father might not be there to see it.
He forced himself to breathe deeply. In... out.
Li Yang kept breathing, trying to adjust his state of mind. He was now fifty meters away from his exam hall.
'This time, I can only succeed. I cannot fail!'
RUMBLE!!!
Just then, a sudden clap of thunder echoed from the sky. The muffled roar struck Li Yang's heart like the beat of a giant drum.
POUR!
At the same time, it was as if a hole had been torn in the dark clouds, and the accumulated rainwater poured down. Fat drops of rain splattered, striking the ground heavily.
No one saw the faint flash of light that vanished within the rain.
"It's raining!"
"Quick, get to the exam hall!"
Seeing the downpour, many people around started running, opening their umbrellas as they went.
Li Yang did the same, sprinting toward the nearby academic building.
"Hiss..."
He hadn't taken more than two steps when he suddenly sucked in a sharp breath. It felt like he had stepped on a nail, as if it had pierced straight through the top of his foot.
An indescribable, piercing pain shot from his instep straight to his brain. His mind went blank, and he felt as if something was about to burst out of his skull.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Oh no, someone fainted!"
...
In his last moments of consciousness, Li Yang only heard a few voices by his ear.
'Someone fainted? Who fainted?'
The thought had just flashed through his mind when Li Yang lost consciousness completely.
...
「On a hospital bed in Coastal City, Li Yang slowly opened his eyes.」
"Why... why am I here?"
Seeing his surroundings, Li Yang was a little dazed. Wasn't he taking the college entrance exam? How did he suddenly end up here?
The memories flooded back, and Li Yang instantly understood.
'I fainted earlier?'
While he was still dazed, Li Xue walked in from outside the hospital room. Her face lit up when she saw Li Yang. She hurried over and said, "Yangyang, you're awake! That's great!"
Her face was still etched with worry.
When her brother had fainted and been taken to the hospital, she had been terrified, afraid that something terrible had happened to him.
"Sis, what time is it?" Seeing his sister, Li Yang, who had now come to his senses, quickly asked.
Hearing this, Li Xue's expression changed. She said, "Eleven o'clock."
'Eleven o'clock? Does that mean I missed a subject?' A flurry of thoughts raced through Li Yang's mind.
His scores in Language Arts weren't the best; his real strengths were in Science and Math. If he did well on those, he still had a good chance of getting into a top-tier university!
Thinking of this, Li Yang looked at Li Xue and quickly asked, "Sis, how hard was the Language Arts exam this year?"
Hearing her brother's question, Li Xue knew what he was thinking.
She didn't know what to feel, but she gritted her teeth and said, "Yangyang, it's the 8th today."
"The 8th?"
Hearing this, Li Yang froze. He had been unconscious for over a day?
The only subject left in the college entrance exam was Math. Even if he got a perfect score, his total would only be 150 points.
This time, Li Yang had no chance at all in the college entrance exam.
For a moment, Li Yang fell silent.
Seeing her brother's expression, Li Xue couldn't help but try to console him. "Yangyang, it's okay. If you didn't take it this time, you can take it next time."
Right now, she was only worried about Li Yang, afraid that this incident with the exam would affect his mental state.
He didn't speak for several seconds before finally shaking his head and saying, "Sis, I'm fine."
He wasn't someone who couldn't handle a setback. He had already come to terms with the major crisis concerning his father.
After a moment's thought, Li Yang asked, "Sis, do Mom and Dad know what happened to me?"
"Yeah." Li Xue nodded. "I told them. But Mom's in Hu City right now and can't get away. I'll tell them you're awake right now; they must be worried sick. They also told me to tell you that if it didn't go well this time, you'll do well next time."
Between grades and health, family would definitely care more about health.
After speaking, Li Xue added, "I'll go get the doctor to come check on you."
With that, Li Xue left the room.
Watching his sister leave, Li Yang couldn't help but feel a sense of loss from his hospital bed.
'A complete failure!'
He had placed so much importance on this exam. He worried he might perform poorly, but instead, he missed it entirely.
'Dammit, what kind of bastard leaves a nail inside the testing site?!'
Li Yang thought about how he had stepped on a nail, felt an excruciating pain, and then everything went black. For the first time, he couldn't stop himself from cursing.
After cursing inwardly, Li Yang looked down at his injured foot.
"This..."
Suddenly, Li Yang's pupils contracted slightly.