Chapter 4

It was plausible, considering that many of the test papers at Seaton High School were obtained from Crestfield High School's confidential materials. It was likely that Jack had already worked on these papers before transferring and had received guidance from his teachers. Marcus felt a strong disdain for Jack's potential cheating, viewing it as shameful. While one could cheat in the mock tests, it was almost impossible to do so on the college entrance exam. Marcus decided to have a conversation with Jack about his attitude. After the morning study session, he called Jack into his office. He noticed that Jack appeared calm, showing no signs of panic or embarrassment about being caught cheating. Marcus' contempt deepened as he asked, "What do you think about your exam results?" He hoped that Jack would confess to any wrongdoings. Jack was taken aback by the question. He didn't fully grasp how well he had performed and was confused by Marcus' suspicions. He responded honestly, "I think I did pretty well." Jack's innocent expression only fueled Marcus' anger. He interpreted it as Jack deliberately playing dumb and insulting his intelligence. Exasperated, Marcus slammed his hand on the desk and said bluntly, "I don't tolerate cheating. That will never get you into a good college. It's just deceiving yourself and your parents; it won't change the reality of your situation." After hearing Marcus' accusation, Jack finally understood what was going on. Marcus had mistakenly believed that he had cheated to achieve such high scores. Although Jack felt somewhat helpless about the misunderstanding, he firmly replied, "I think you're mistaken." Marcus didn't believe Jack's words at all; he thought Jack couldn't achieve such high scores on his own. He pressed further, "You didn't cheat? Then, how do you explain scoring nearly 700 points?" Jack took a deep breath and calmly responded, "I did the test myself." While he did feel that luck played a part in his unexpected results, he knew he hadn't cheated. Hearing Jack's resolute and confident answer made Marcus hesitate for a moment. He considered that if Jack had indeed worked on these papers at Crestfield High School and received guidance from his teachers, then achieving high scores wouldn't necessarily mean he had cheated. It could indicate that he had been attentive in class and grasped the relevant knowledge. Finally, Marcus sighed and said, "I hope you can maintain this level of performance during the college entrance exams. But remember, whatever you do, you must be true to your conscience and honor your parents' expectations." After Jack left the office, Avery adjusted his glasses and remarked, "Mr. Hampton, did this kid really score 688 points? He might even get into Fullerton University. If that happens, you'll break school records and be set for life!" Marcus chuckled and shook his head. It was wishful thinking that Jack could get into Fullerton University. As the college entrance exam drew closer, every student was undergoing a mental and physical trial. Some chose to skip classes to avoid the pressure, while others, like Jack, dedicated themselves to relentless studying, hoping for a final breakthrough. Despite his intelligence, Jack felt he had fallen behind too much over the past three years. Even though he had scored high marks, his grasp of the material was still shaky. He knew he needed to put in ten times the effort this month to achieve great results. Jack was no longer content with merely aiming for a second-tier college or an average first-tier school. He aspired to face the exams with excellence and become an underdog who would make history. His parents watched Jack's intense dedication with pride but couldn't shake off their concerns. They knew that despite his hard work, his past grades had not been promising, and a sense of unease lingered in their hearts. Throughout the month, Jack immersed himself in a sea of books and practice questions. The frequency of tests increased from small assessments every three days and larger ones every five days to exams every two days. To avoid raising suspicion, Jack cleverly kept his scores around three or four hundred. Once he returned to what was considered "normal levels", Marcus relaxed his vigilance, further believing that Jack's earlier high scores were the results of cheating. In addition to studying, Jack understood the importance of relaxation. He knew that relentless studying without breaks would be counterproductive. So, he made sure to relieve stress by playing basketball, practicing martial arts, playing billiards, strumming his guitar, and writing lyrics and music. Since his transformation, Jack discovered that he excelled in strength, perception, agility, and logical analysis compared to others. Where he once struggled to run a few miles without getting winded, he could now easily complete a full marathon. Dunking from a 360-degree basketball net had become effortless. Previously, he had difficulty mastering melodies on the guitar. Now, after just one listen to a song, he could play it almost perfectly the next day—often surpassing the original version. Jack even wrote and composed a campus song expressing nostalgia for graduating students and hope for the future, which he shared online. He believed that the melody was beautiful and the lyrics were artistically rich. As the school bell rang, Jack walked out of campus feeling lighthearted. Despite Marcus' earlier doubts weighing on him that morning, those doubts had transformed into motivation for him to push forward. Eddie and Wesley were already waiting for Jack outside the school gate. They hopped on their bikes and began chatting about their futures, discussing which schools they hoped to attend and where they wanted to study. The conversation soon shifted to their upcoming graduation party and the various farewell messages they would write. Wesley said jokingly, "Jack, a lot of classmates want you to write their farewell messages, so don't slack off!" "Okay," Jack replied with a smile. Despite being expelled from Crestfield High School, he understood that the friendships formed during high school were genuine. The three years they had spent together wouldn't lose their significance because of his situation. In fact, the encouragement and well-wishes from his classmates only strengthened his resolve to succeed at Seaton High School. "Oh, by the way, after the college entrance exam, Class Two and Class Three are organizing a graduation party. Don't forget," Wesley reminded. Classes Two and Three had always shared a close bond, often collaborating on various activities throughout their school years. As they rode their bikes back to the old town, they spotted a sleek black Mercedes parked at the corner. A stunning girl stepped out of the car. "It's Feena Barrett!" Eddie exclaimed, and both Jack and Wesley turned their attention to her. Feena was tall and beautiful, with flowing hair that seemed to shimmer in the light. Her presence made everything around her fade into the background. She was from Class Two next door and also a good friend of Eddie's, having grown up alongside Jack and his friends. Although Feena shared a childhood friendship with them, an invisible gap had formed between them over time due to fate's circumstances. Her father had seized opportunities during times of progress and became a leading figure in real estate. As his business flourished, Feena moved away from the suburbs to live in one of the city's most upscale neighborhoods. Feena was not only beautiful and well-off, but she was also exceptionally talented. Having studied music since childhood, she was now under the tutelage of a renowned music master, Donald Cannon, and she had a bright future ahead of her.